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I’m finally back in my kitchen after 1st trimester nausea and 6 weeks of traveling and it feels so good. It feels good to be creative again and it feels good to put so many colorful, whole plant foods in my body. I feel like I’m at the best point in my pregnancy so far. I have lots of energy and I don’t have any serious food aversions. Although there definitely are certain foods that I don’t really crave. Chinese food being one of them.
It’s also been fun to start doing more photography again for the blog and for Instagram. I still am so perplexed as to why I find making food look pretty so fun…but I do! I guess it’s just another creative outlet that keeps me sane living in such a different culture.
Yet another thing I’m loving since getting back to China is reconnecting with all my market vendor friends. It’s been so fun to go to my usual vendors and see how surprised they are that I came back. “OOOHHH! You’re back! I haven’t seen you in so long. You haven’t bought vegetables in so long. Where did you go?” My favorite reaction was when the old man who I usually buy onions and pumpkin from just kept giggling saying, “You came back, you came back!”
Gosh I love these people.
And to be honest, sometimes the striking differences in our cultures makes me forget that. After a few weeks, what I initially found cute or unique just becomes annoying. Hence why I think leaving China every once in a while for “fresh air” is so good for Brett and I if we want to thrive here long term.
Reconnecting with my “internet friends” has also been fun since starting to post more on Instagram. I love hearing what recipes you guys are enjoying or want to try. I recently posted a photo of the 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chia Pudding I’ve been obsessed with this week and a bunch of people said they wanted the recipe.
Ask and you shall receive!
This 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chia Pudding has been such a game changer for me this week. It’s full of fiber, protein and healthy fats to keep me full during the 2nd trimester insatiable hunger I’ve started to experience. I love topping mine with banana and cacao nibs and usually just add those two add-ins. But sometimes I make my breakfast extra special with frozen berries, granola and even some mini dairy-free chocolate chips. Yum!
I hope you guys give this simple recipe a try and that it makes your mornings that much more enjoyable…and easy!
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 cup non-dairy milk
- In a bowl or large jar, mix together the chia seeds and cocoa powder until a uniform mixture comes together.
- Add in the maple syrup and non-dairy milk and mix well, adding in more maple syrup if you want a sweeter chocolate pudding.
- Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes and then mix well again.
- Place the chia seed pudding in the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight.
- Once it has thickened you can eat it as is or add any toppings you desire, such as fresh or dried fruit, cacao nibs, granola, nut butter, etc.
Eat Consciously,
Faith
marge201
Can’t wait to try it. I’ll report back. TY!
Faith
Yes, let me know how it turns out for you! Thanks so much!
Yael Tamar
Great pudding! Delicious and your blog is my absolute favorite for meal ideas! This will be on the dessert menu this week for sure 🙂
Faith
That’s great news Yael! I’m so glad you like the pudding and I hope you enjoy it for dessert this week:)
Cleona
I really enjoy reading your blog – for the food and also to imagine life in China! Can I ask though – where do you get all your ingredients? I am from the UK and live in Italy, which is hardly the ends of the earth, but even here certain vegan wholefoods type ingredients are really hard to come by, and if you do find them, unbelievably expensive. So I’m wondering – do you order online? If so, have you any recommendations?
Faith
It’s taken me a while to find a system but many of my health food items I either bring back with me whenever I visit America or different countries or I have people who are coming to visit bring me a few items. In addition to that I LOVE a website called Taobao that is like Chinese Amazon. I can find almost everything on there. It just took me a while to learn how to search for things. Some things can be extra expensive though because their imported, but I’m always surprised what I can find for a good price. That doesn’t really help you much though! But yes, online and through friends visiting are my main ways of getting health food items. Everything else like produce I buy in our city:) Do you have Amazon in the UK? Or iHerb is another site that I love and ships to most countries!
Jennifer T.
This looks super delish! I can’t wait to try it!
Faith
It’s my fav! I hope you like it!
Oscar
Chia pudding is great. Asia can get old fast. It’s good to get away. Off to Croatia next week on a sailing adventure. 🙂 Totally excited.
Faith
Yes. It’s so good to get away. And Croatia! So fun. I was just there a couple weeks ago. We went to Plitvice lakes and Dubrovnik and loved them both. Where are you going? Have such a great time!
Emily
I totally agree that refreshment is so key for being able to come back and really appreciate and love on those people and that environment around you. I’m so thankful that you had a really wonderful memorable restful trip, and it’s wonderful that you came back incredibly refreshed.
Faith
I think refreshment is needed for everyone, no matter where you life. We’re human! I’m so thankful for such a restful memorable trip as well. Thanks so much Emily!