Currently coming to you at 13 weeks out and feeling extremely proud of myself for the work I’ve put in the past 3 weeks. I have not had any cheat meals, have not missed a single workout and I am feeling great! Yeah there are some days when my energy isn’t 100% there. These are the days when discipline beats out motivation.

let’s talk about what to do when motivation isn’t enough…

This Thursday was a perfect example of that. I had gone to sleep late the night before and woke up feeling extremely exhausted! I had absolute zero desire to get out of bed and honestly, I laid there as long as I could before I had to get to the gym with enough time to bust out 15 minutes of fasted cardio while still getting to work on time. On top of this, I woke up feeling bloated and softer than previous days, which might have been because I finished my last meal late at night or because I’m supposed to be starting my period soon…

Days like these are when you just have to PUSH.

Did I want to do fasted cardio? NO

Did I end up doing it? Of course.

I have a fucking GOAL to reach and I refuse to let anything stop me when I’m 3 weeks in. I’ve already put in a ton of work into this! And it was ONE bad day. How can I let that stop me from all the GOOD days I’ve had. It’s only been 3 weeks yet most days, I wake up seeing the smallest changes in my body that make me feel like this is already paying off. Plus, I’ve gained so much mental clarity in doing this. I can control my portions now. I can genuinely stop eating when I’m feeling full and I feel like I am in charge of this transformation (with the help of coach, of course ).

It feels fucking AH MAY ZING to be 100% focused on yourself, so on the difficulty days, I just remember how bad I want this. And when that doesn’t work, I just say fuck it, it has to be done anyways.

I saw a quote on IG recently that said something along the lines of “imagine what you could have done with all the time you wasted wondering if you were good enough?”

Instead of doubting yourself, JUST FUCKING GO FOR IT.

If you can’t stop thinking about it, why not just go all in? I mean, really, what the hell do you have to lose?

I know I have such a long way to go, but writing helps. Sharing my journey on IG helps. I know there’s going to be many more taxing days but that’s why you gotta just learn to push yourself. Step outside of your comfort zone because babying yourself isn’t going to build those goals you want so badly.

May 19, 2018

In my last bikini prep series post, I mentioned that coach changed up my macros, giving me a little wiggle room to fit certain things in IIFYM style.

So, I just wanted to share some of the things I started to include and other staples that have already been a part of my prep diet.

The post 13 Weeks Out: Random Grocery Haul + Discipline vs Motivation appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

Today I’ll be sharing another Bikini Prep Meal Diary featuring what I ate on a high carb day!

After checking in with my coach this Sunday, she changed up my macros a bit so I got more carbs on high carb day, higher fats on low carb day and a liiiitle less protein on moderate carb days. It’s already Thursday and every day has left me feeling fully satiated with enough energy to kill my workouts, so I am hyped! I can’t wait to see how this ratio affects my physique.

Oh! Speaking of changes, coach also added in fasted cardio 3 times a week and 15 minutes of HIIT after every workout! My workouts at the gym have been pretty solid this week, although I haven’t upped the weights I use that much. Instead, I’ve been focusing on a mind-muscle connection and making sure to focus on the eccentric movement, i.e. slowing the f*ck down and concentrating on being able to control lowering the dumbbell / barbell / etc. that I’m using. Yeah, we tend to just call it “lifting” and sometimes people are more eager to grab a big ol’ dumbbell and jerk it up BUT from a muscle building standpoint, you’ve got to be able to focus on the negative movement. In order to build muscle, a muscle has to be exposed to high tension. If you hurl a big weight around but just let gravity take it back down for you, you aren’t letting that muscle WERK!

Little challenge for you if you aren’t doing this already: focus on the negative!  AKA, make sure you are controlling that weight and see how it affects your muscle soreness the next day!

Alright, now to the meal diary! I’ll be sharing what I ate yesterday since Wednesdays (& Saturdays) are my high carb days!

Breakfast {392 cal}

• Chocolate protein pancakes
  • So freakin’ bomb AND easy to make. I’ll share the recipe very soooooon!
• 2 TBSP chocolate PB2

Protein Shake {195 cal}

Literally like the greatest thing I’ve come up with recently! It’s basically a take on Coffee Bean’s “Pure Vanilla”or Starbucks’ “Vanilla Bean Frappuccino”!

I work at a Coffee Bean and seeing how much sugar & crap is in an Ice Blended drink is SCARY. We’re talking a whole 450 calories, 87g of carbs in one regular 16oz Pure Vanilla!! I don’t know about you but I think that’s insane! Apart from the calorie content, we’re talking about a drink that is made of artificial flavoring, dairy by-products, carrageenan, etc. Just all around, no bueno.

Soooooo, to satisfy my sweet tooth, I’ve made my own protein ice blended!

• 1 scoop Vega Vanilla Performance Protein
• 2+ cups of ice
• 1 cup Califa Coconut Almond milk blend
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• Splash of vanilla extract (optional)
• Dash of cinnamon, to top off

I personally like mine chunky enough to eat with a spoon as opposed to just drinking it so if you’re on the same page, add more ice to desired consistency. If you’d rather have it like a shake/smoothie, use less ice and more water.

Lunch {130 cal}

• 6 strips (85g) Beyond Meat Chicken Strips
• Sautéed veggies

Snack {238 cal}

• Silk blueberry yogurt
• 200g banana

Dinner {416 cal}

• Hilary’s Eat Well veggie patty
• Sweet potatoes baked at 400 F until soft / browned on both sides with NO oil
• Steamed broccoli + spinach
• 1/2 cup short grain brown rice

Snack {360 cal}

Munk Pack protein cookie which are SO good!!

Comparable to Lenny & Larry’s Complete Protein Cookies but softer and more brownie like!

Leg Circuits

Obviously a big focus on bikini competitions is those glooooooots (glutes)! So I’ve been having a whole lotta fun working my booty ON.

Here are two circuits I included in today’s chest/booty workout which had me sweating!!

• 10 slow & heavy barbell hip thrusts
• 15 heavy dumbbell sumo squat
• 20 elevated hip thrusts

4 rounds, 1 min rest

• 15,12,10,8 pyramiding weight dumbbell chest press on flat bench
• 10 each leg Bulgarian split squat holding 17.5 dumbbells

4 rounds, 1 min rest

I hope you found any of the meals or workouts I shared informative! Off to get my last two meals in for the day and KO early enough to hit the gym at 4am for fasted cardio!

Sending you lots of luuuuuv!

-Atty

P.S. Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to see in this Bikini Prep series! I have a looong way to go but I want to document all of it! <3

The post meal diary: 93 days out {vegan protein frappuccino + leg day circuits} appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

Tomorrow marks 14 weeks out from my very first bikini comp. That means I am two weeks into prep. I’ve followed all of my macros/workouts to a T, and here’s a little recap…

MOTIVATION

I am taking 100% full advantage of the fire I have lit inside of me right now. I’ve tried doing a bikini prep twice before and failed miserably – I completely gave up both times. This time, however, it just FEELS different. The last two times I tried this, I was in a relationship that consumed way too much of my time. Right now, I’m single and besides work / school, I have nothing else distracting me from my goal.

I will be on that stage come August 18th. I will bring my absolute best. I will overcome any obstacle. And most importantly, I will make myself fucking proud.

A bikin competition is something I have always wanted to do for the sole purpose of proving to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. Plus, I recently made the connection that some of the happiest times in my life have been on a stage – I grew up in dance and cheer, so the satisfaction of having prepared to showcase something you worked your ass off (or in this case, your ass ON) for is so incredibly rewarding. There’s no other feeling like being on stage in front of a full crowd and being 110% proud of the material you are presenting to the audience/judges/friends/family and strangers alike.

AHH…I miss it so much! That adrenaline is what I live for, and I realized I have been missing it for quite a bit now! The last big performance I did was about 2.5 years ago with my community college cheer team! I have to step on stage again, and now having fallen in love with fitness, I thought combining the two would be the perfect goal!

In these past two weeks alone, I have noticed a huge difference in less bloating, higher energy and a more focused mindset. Quite interesting since I am now “dieting” and I was afraid I would have less energy but it’s all been going amazing so far!

I’m so happy to have a coach that promotes volume eating on a whole foods diet! 

MACROS

That leads me into the next section I wanted to talk about…macros!

I don’t quite want to share my exact macros but I have been doing carb cycling – here’s the schedule I currently follow:

Sunday: moderate carbs

Monday: moderate carbs

Tuesday: lower carbs / higher fat

Wednesday: high carbs

Thursday: moderate carbs

Friday: lower carbs / higher fat

Saturday: high carbs

My carbs don’t drop below 120g and fat is always an essential part of my diet! Oh yeah, and as far as being a vegan on prep, I get plenty of protein…don’t worry.

Here’s a meal example I posted on my Insta that shows how I get over 30 grams is just one easy meal!

I’ll have a more detailed post of protein sources during prep but for the most part, it’s basically

• Vega Performance Protein
• Beyond Meat Chicken
• Tofu
• Black bean pasta

MORE…

All in all, I’d say these past two weeks have been freakin’ AWESOME and I cannot wait to see what the upcoming weeks bring!  Please feel free to let me know what you want to see from my Bikini Prep series! Workouts? Meal diaries? Supplements? Let ya girl know! I’ve got 13 more weeks to go so there will be plenty of time for me to share it all!

Much love,

Atty

The post 14 Weeks Out: My Current Macros + Biggest Motivation appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

I feel like I always say that but for REAL this time…consistent posts including workouts, meal diaries, recipes, etc shall be a NORMAL thing from now on. LOL. I have officially assimilated back into my hometown after moving back from San Diego a few months ago with a pretty regular routine so expect this to be part of it for sure! Plus, I’ve made the very real commitment of doing a bikini competition this August, putting me at about 15 weeks out, 101 days to be exact! We are just 1.5 weeks into prep and I already feel a bit leaner, stronger, energized and HYPED. This is happening y’all.

It’s something I have always wanted to do just to prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind. to. Plus, looking back, the happiest times of my life have been on stage – I grew up performing in ballet and cheer, took a break in middle school and then did both the dance and cheer team in high school + the first two years of college. All of these performances were so fulfilling; working your ass off for a few minutes in front of a crowd has always been SO incredibly rewarding for me. Now that I have found the gym as my outlet, why not combine my two loves with a bikini competition?

It’s also great timing; last time I attempted this, I was in a really toxic relationship with someone that did not support this dream of mine. There is so much I can say about that relationship but it goes DEEP. Maybe I’ll share soon because since moving back, I’ve actually met a lot of co workers / new friends that had a very similar abusive relationship situation so to know this is a common thing breaks my heart! No one should be put down or restricted from doing what they love. No one should be threatened or hurt because they did something the other person didn’t like. No one should be yelled at for speaking their mind. Sadly this was my reality.

Thank GOD I found my way out. I’m so much happier and fucking FREE to do whatever the hell I want!

Okay, more on that later…I came on here to do my first bikini comp meal diary post and it just so happened to land on a high carb day! My week is broken down to 2 low carb days / 3 moderate carb days / 2 high carb days.

My high carb days involve a beautiful 200g of carbs.  So here’s a breakdown of it all!

Protein Shake {6.5C | 5F | 30.5}

• Cold brew coffee
• Califa coconut almond milk
• 1 scoop Vega Performance Chocolate Protein Powder

Breakfast {6.5C | 12.5F | 28.5P}

• 1/2 block of tofu
• Zucchini
• Asparagus
• Spinach
• Nutritional Yeast

Lunch {30C | 4.5F | 32P}

• Explore Cuisine Pasta
• No Salt Added pasta sauce
• Steamed broccoli
• Roasted zucchini

Dinner {39C | 4F | 20P}

• Beyond Meat “Chicken”
• Steamed broccoli
• Cucumber
• 1/2 cup brown rice

Snack {42C | 20F | 13P}

• 50 g oats
• Shredded zucchini
• 2 TBSP almond butter
• Cinnamon

Not Pictured

• 2 Rice cakes
• 200g banana + cinnamon

The post Meal Diary: 101 Days Out {HIGH CARB DAY} appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

My loves! Hello hello, I’ve freakin’ missed this! Just sitting down with a hot cup of coffee and letting the words just flow…

As mentioned in the Chocolate Chunk Cookie recipe I posted, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with you guys. Now let me just dive right in.

so, where the f*ck have I been?

In November of 2017, I put a halt on my Instagram without any explanation. In all honesty, I simply could not handle it anymore. I was overwhelmed. I was constantly comparing myself to every other Instagrammer out there. I found myself wishing I had more followers, constantly feeling stuck, running low on creativity…On top of that, I was living alone in a really sh*tty granny flat in San Diego, so my mindset was not in the greatest setup.

My boyfriend at the time had just graduated from UCSD and moved back to our hometown, but I had decided to stay in SD because I felt as though there was more opportunity to grow as a blogger. Although I am certainly grateful for all of the connections I made out there, homesickness took over and I felt extremely lonely. I tried to fill the void by loading up my plate with things I truly loved doing yet I still couldn’t concentrate on anything! I was in the middle of prepping for a bikini competition and preparing to take a booth at the farmer’s markets to grow my Etsy shop, but I broke down…

After 5 months, I finally listened to my intuition (as an Aries, I’ve always had VERY strong and usually correct gut feelings!), put my two weeks in at my job, ended my lease about a month early and packed up my bags.

Moving back to Oxnard was the greatest thing I could have done for myself in that moment.

Upon moving back, I immediately got a seasonal job at Whole Foods Market (you bet I enjoyed the heck out of that discount!), scored an apartment with my best friend about a mile from the beach, reenrolled at my local community college, reconnected with old friends, rebuilt a relationship with my parents and reignited my passion for the gym and my Etsy shop, as well as picked up some NEW passions like watercoloring, reading and podcasting!

I was so thankful to have these moments of self-love. Sometimes we think that self-love is just about taking a bubble bath and throwing on a face mask…That’s great and all, but really truly loving yourself means knowing when to take a break, shutting down your ego and becoming in tune with what your body is asking for.

All the while, I have genuinely been enjoying life and taking a lot of time for myself. Restarting Blossom & Balance has been in the back of my mind this entire time but I wanted to make sure I was truly ready for the commitment. No half as*ing anything. Just pure authenticity and transparency.

what I learned from my blogging break…

1. Blogger burnout is REAL and it can hit you hard. Don’t beat yourself up for it; it doesn’t mean you lost your edge or the passion that made you start your blog in the first place. Look at it as a way to rethink your gameplay, take a step back and all new ideas to come your way.
2. That being said, jump when a wave of creativity hits you. Seriously. Even if you aren’t ready to dive back in, jot it down, journal, draw, embrace that energy so you have more to work with when you come back full force.
3. Stay true to your main message. Be authentically YOU. Find your voice, and don’t try to skew your vision. You will never please everyone, so don’t try to. You are here with a unique message; be proud of it.
4. Don’t be afraid to share branch out! Even if you started off as a food blogger, feel free to touch on self-love, millennial issues, home decor, literally ANYTHING YOU WANT. It’s your blog.
5. Have fun with it! Although blogging can turn into your full time job, it shouldn’t be looked at as a dreadful thing to do!

what to expect from here on out

I’ve decided to break down my blog into 3 main topics:

1. Balance

Where I’ll be sharing posts on how I attempt to balance a healthy mindset, active lifestyle, working as a college student, aiming towards a zero-waste practice as a 20 something year old.

2. Thrive

I’ve decided to dedicate this portion of my blog to self-improvement, self-love, holistic remedies, health tips, etc. Anything that makes you become a better version of YOU!

3. Nourish

You didn’t think I’d forget about what got me blogging in the first place right?! Of course, there’s gotta be a special place for all the yummy and healthy recipes I’ll be sharing!

To stay more consistent, I will be following a posting schedule:

Check back here every Sunday, Monday and Thursday for NEW blog posts!

Head over to my YouTube every Wednesday (starting 5/1) for a NEW video!

And of course, follow me on Instagram for NEW pictures every day!

I cannot wait to continue on with Blossom & Balance!

The post Exploring Self-Love, New Passions & A {5 Month} Social Media Detox appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

To be honest, I’ve never truly been a fan of applesauce as a snack on its own. To me, it’s like you’re eating baby food, how gross is that?!

I mean, I’m defiantly not calling you out if you’re into it but I prefer to use it only in baking. If ya didn’t know, applesauce is a great alternative for eggs! Although it’s a lot easier to find in stores than all those fancy egg replacer powders, I still wanted to try my hand at making it in an attempt to reduce my waste.

Yes, glass jars are awesome but I have more than enough at home. And plus, sometimes it’s just fun to learn how to make a staple like this from scratch! Like your own homemade almond butter, or almond milk! 

I’m glad I gave this a shot because it came out great in the chocolate chunk cookies I used it in and was extremely easy to make!

As always, let me know if you tried this out and use #bbhealthybites on Instagram to connect with me! Happy baking!

Homemade Applesauce {Perfect egg replacer in baking!}

 

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Author: Atzimba Pahua

Recipe type: Sauce

Ingredients

• 5-7 apples
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 dash nutmeg
• 1 cup water
• 1 thin lemon slices

Instructions

1. Core and peel the skin off the apples, then cut them into half inch cubes.
2. Add all ingredients to pot, and turn heat on high. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the apples have softened significantly.
3. Stir frequently, making sure that the apples are not sticking to the bottom of the pot. Add more water if necessary. Remove lemon slices.
4. Mash with a fork, or blend in a food processor for a smoother consistency. Use in baking when replacing an egg. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for about 7-10 days.

Notes

To use as egg replacer in baking recipes, use ¼ cup of homemade applesauce per 1 egg.

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The post Homemade Applesauce {Perfect egg replacer in baking!} appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

Hello hello!

I feel like it’s been FOREVER since I’ve sat down and typed up a new recipe!

I am so freakin’ happy to be back and I cannot wait to share what I’ve been working on with you guys! I haven’t uploaded anything since November and I can honestly say I’m extremely happy I’ve waited this long to jump back into Blossom & Balance because I think I’ve truly wrapped my head around the message I want to share.

This blog is for the 20-something babes.

The ones who are a little bit (or a lot) lost.

The ones finding their balance.

The ones learning how to love themselves.

The ones embracing their endless passions.

The ones making a difference.

The ones who are learning and unlearning.

The eco-warriors.

The early risers and go-getters.

I have a lot that I’m planning on sharing and I hope it doesn’t overwhelm you but I can never stick to just ONE topic. Everything from vegan recipes, to new workouts, to DIYs, spirituality, mindfulness tips, minimalism, zero-waste activism, etc. truly spikes my interest so B&B is the place for it all!

I’ll have a post about where I’ve been and the personal growth I’ve found after a 3 month break from blogging but for now, I’d like to ease back into it with a good ol’ recipe featuring vegan chocolate chunk cookies!

Ya can’t go wrong with this one.

Besides the fact that this is the perfect healthy treat to satisfy that sweet tooth, it’s also extremely easy to make and there’s no waiting around for a ripe banana to add into the mix!

Lots of vegan baked goods call for ripe bananas, but let’s be real…sometimes I forget to keep ’em on hand and there’s absolutely no spotty ones in the grocery store, so homemade applesauce is a great alternative to bind these cookies together and add in a natural sweetener.

You can check out my easy homemade applesauce recipe here, or grab some from the store!

I’m definitely planning on baking an extra batch to add into my meal prep for this week since the first round may or may not already be gone…

As always, please let me know what you think of this in the comments! And make sure to use #bbhealthybites on Instagram so I can see your creations!

XO

Vegan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

What do you use when you haven't got any ripe bananas on hand for vegan baking? Use apples instead and make some delicious protein packed treats!

Author: Atzimba Pahua

Recipe type: Snack

Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• ½ cup oat flour
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup homemade apple sauce (or store bought)
• ⅓ cup almond milk
• 3 TBSP peanut butter
• About ¼ cup of broken up dark chocolate or chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine oat flour, rolled oats, protein powder, baking powder and cinnamon until uniform. Add in apple sauce and almond milk.
3. Once combined, add in the peanut butter. I found that mixing with your hands at this point is the easiest, but you can use a wooden spatula.
4. Grab enough dough to make about 8-10 one (1) inch cookies and line them up on a non-stick baking sheet. Top each cookie with a chocolate chunk in the middle.
5. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Let cool before enjoying!

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The post Healthy Vegan Chocolate Chunk Cookies {No banana needed!} appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

I’m happy to say I’ve grown out of that phase. 22 years into livelihood and I can finally appreciate a good pie.

I knew I wanted to make my own this Fall but I didn’t want to make anything that was A) too complicated or B) too high in unnecessary macros.

This version was a good outcome! Yummy fall flavors without excess sugar!

Be pre-warned that the crust is very flaky so be careful cutting your piece(s) out!

I loved the nutty flavor that came from the coconut-almond crust but if that’s not your thing, feel free to experiment with other flours.

You can also choose to add in a tablespoon of arrowroot powder or cornstarch to help the filling bind but I didn’t have either on hand and thought it came out just fine without it.

I know Thanksgiving 2017 just flew by but if you’re anything like me, pumpkin flavor anything is a MUST for the rest of the year. Happy baking!

Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie {High in Protein}

 

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Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 30 mins

 

Author: Atzimba Pahua

Recipe type: Pie

Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 8

Ingredients

Crust

• 5 heaping TBSP coconut oil
• 2 cups almond flour
• 3 TBSP ice cold water

Filling

• ¾ cup pumpkin puree
• 2 TBSP maple syrup
• 2/5 of a block (170 g) extra firm tofu, pressed
• ¼ cup unsweetened plain almond milk
• 1¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice (or sub mix of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves)
• Dash sea salt

Instructions

1. To make the pie crust, mix together the coconut oil, flour and water until uniform. Shape into a ball and refrigerate overnight for freeze for at 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line pie pan, coat it with a bit of coconut oil, or use non-stick spray.
3. To make the filling, combine pumpkin puree, tofu, maple syrup and almond milk in a blender and run until smooth.
4. Pour filling into a bowl and add in pumpkin pie spice and salt.
5. Press pie crust into pie pan, making sure to push the crust to the top of the edges.
6. Pour filling in and distribute evenly.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Chill before eating. To store leftovers, freeze and reheat in oven or microwave when ready to eat.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 Calories: 163 cal Fat: 13 g Carbohydrates: 8 g Fiber: 2 g Protein: 4 g

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The post Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie {Healthy + Easy} appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

I’m here today to share a recipe that is actually my favorite thing to have for breakfast, and takes about 5-7 minutes to throw it all together!

It’s simple + creamy + delicious + packed with tons of plant based protein, complex carbs and fiber!

If you follow me on Instagram, you might already know what I’m getting at since I tend to post about it every. single. day. I mean, I can’t help it. Zucchini protein oats are just toooooooo good. *heart eyes*

I haven’t talked about it much in detail, but I decided to take this past Fall semester off from school. Mostly because living in San Diego in a granny flat on my own was starting to become way too much than what I had bargained for, but also because I really just needed to catch a grip on the whirlwind of life events happening.

Long story short, I’ve invested a lot of time into self care both physically and mentally; I ended up starting therapy, found fitness as an outlet and moved back to my hometown.

So far, Oxnard has been good to me. The power of manifestation has been prevalent in just this week! I signed a lease for a FAR more affordable place with my BFF, found two well paying jobs, adjusted to my new (“old”) gym and even found myself working with to an old friend I had lost touch with in high school! I can tell it’s only the beginning of something great; I am so eager to welcome this new chapter in my life.

ANYWAY, I mentioned all of this because I found myself falling head over heels for fitness. I even debated doing a bikini competition! My coach was AH MAY ZING; the timing however, was just not there. I definitely do see myself competing sometime in the near future, though…

Thanks to the meal plans I did get from my coach, I was able to find a way to make the BEST post workout meal. EVER.

Lo and behold at the marvelous chocolate zucchini protein oats!

They have:

Complex carbs

Plant based protein

Fiber

A serving of veggies

Zucchini Protein Oats

 

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Prep time

1 min

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

6 mins

 

Author: Atzimba Pahua

Recipe type: Breakfast

Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup rolled oats
• ½c - 1c shredded zucchini
• 1 scoop plant based protein (this is my favorite)
• 1⅓ cup filtered water, divided
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Instructions

1. In a small pot, place the rolled oats, zucchini, ⅔ of the water and the cinnamon stick over medium heat. Cover with a lid, and leave until all moisture is soaked up, about 3 minutes.
2. Shut heat off. Add protein powder, along with the rest of the water and mix until uniform.
3. Top with desired fruits, superfoods, nut butters, etc. and enjoy.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 Calories: 256 cal Fat: 6 g Carbohydrates: 28 g Fiber: 5 g Protein: 30 g

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My favorite things to top them off with are frozen fruit, cacao nibs, coconut shreds, hemp seeds and almond butter or PB2, depending on my macros for the day!

I hope you guys enjoy this as much as I do! You will literally be having it every single day.

The post Zucchini Protein Oats (Proats) – The Perfect Post-Workout Breakfast! appeared first on Blossom and Balance.

Back at it again with yet another Fall recipe! I hope you guys aren’t tired of these yet because I sure aren’t. ?

I am definitely feeling all the “Fall feels” this year. Something about the cool, crisp morning air and smell of pumpkin spice when I arrive to my coffee shop every morning has got me hooked.

If you guys have been following along, then you may have already seen my Pumpkin Chai Donuts or my Pumpkin Overnight Oats recipes. Both of which where a huge hit and extremely easy to make. This granola recipe is just as simple and delicious!

Easy Vegan Pumpkin Granola

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Author: Atzimba Pahua

Recipe type: Snack

Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 5

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• ⅓ cup pumpin puree
• ⅓ cup maple syrup
• ¼ tsp pumpkin spice
• ¼ cup pepitas
• ¼ cup pecans

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The post Easy Vegan Pumpkin Granola appeared first on Blossom and Balance.