Barefoot Baker

Hi everyone! I am still here–I promise–I just forgot how busy the first week of the quarter is! Plus it’s Try Before You Buy week, when anyone can come to any class at the gym, and preparing for that is always quite a process. Between classes, work, and taking as many yoga classes as I can (I’m doing a 2 week for $20 unlimited yoga deal at Akasha downtown–SUCH a great studio! Finally!), my schedule is pretty full.

Anyways, I’ve made it through one week of the elimination diet, and so far so good! The diet is not too different from my regular one, though it does involve more prep time. My only complaint? It’s quite socially isolating—since I have to avoid so many things, it’s impossible to go out to eat anywhere. What I really love about the elimination diet is not just that I will be able to figure out exactly what food(s) triggers a negative response for my body, but also what foods don’t trigger a response, so that I can eat them with no worries of whether or not it will affect me.

Enough rambling—on to WIAW! Thank you Jenn for hosting!

Cheers to 8 am class everyday again! Breakfast was a quick bowl of porridge made of quinoa and amaranth (a gluten-free grain that has an impressive amount of important minerals such as magnesium and calcium and kind of reminds me of cream of wheat) and topped with apple and cinnamon. Thank goodness I can still use spices.

After animal biochemistry and food science, I went to the CoHo with my friend for a coffee break between classes. Since I can’t have caffeine or coffee, I had water as well as an apple and some sunflower seeds.

Next came psych class, then I taught my first yoga class of the quarter (wee!), then trekked back home for lunch. I had leftover spaghetti squash with creamy avocado sauce based off of this recipe.

Yum yum yum! The avocado sauce makes this such a satisfying and filling dish. I could have done without the garlic breath after though!

I met up with a friend from high school who was passing by my college, then went to Fit for Fire, an awesome new class we’re starting where you work out at the campus fire station! Aside from regular interval exercises like burpees and squats, we also do fire fighter drills like running with a hose. It’s a great workout!

Dinner was my new obsession: Red Lentil and Squash Curry Stew, based off the recipe from Oh She Glows (only I used sweet potatoes and used a mixture of spices instead of curry powder). I made 2 batches of this in a row, that’s how good it is.

And to end my night, I went to weekly meeting for my sorority where we were greeted with entertainment by some of the pledges of a frat:

Good ol’ college.

Questions: how are your New Year’s resolutions going? Have you tried any cool classes or new things lately?

As far as my other resolution (to be more creative and not just watch TV in my free time as much), I’m doing well! I went to a meditation center, read In Defense of Food (which i highly recommend), and I’ve been writing in my appreciation journal every night!

Tags: amaranth, avocado, breakfast, cleanse, curry, detox, diet, elimination, gluten free, healthy, phase 1, porridge, quinoa, red lentil, sauce, spaghetti, squash, stew, sweet potato, vegan, yoga