As I was putting this post together I realized that, while it doesn't look like it, I sneakily consumed a lot of veggies over the course of these two days. I don't know when the habit started, but I can't help but sneak veggies into most of my meals, breakfast included!
These photos were taken a couple weeks ago, but I hope this post still gives you some inspiration for plant-based meals to try and also shows you some creative ways to eat more veggies!
Breakfast Day #1:
Chocolate Pumpkin and Carrot Oatmeal. Yes, I know this will sound gross, but trust me, it's good. I cook my oats and about 1 teaspoon of chia seeds in water until beginning to thicken. Then I add in some Homemade Pumpkin Puree, shredded carrot, cacao powder and usually ½ of a ripe banana for sweetness. Then I topped it all off with more banana, granola and peanut butter. So creamy, sweet and full of veggies!
Lunch Day #1:
As I've mentioned before, I've been getting sick fairly often since moving to China, and this afternoon I wasn't feeling the greatest. Not horrible, but no food appealed to me. I ended up eating fruit "cereal" with chopped banana, apple, rice puffs, granola, raisins, dried mulberries and a peanut flour sauce. It was the only thing that sounded good and it ended up hitting the spot.
Dinner Day #1:
Dinner was delicious, even though it looks really messy. I roasted a tray of cauliflower, carrots and chickpeas and we ate that over brown rice with a side of tomato, cucumber and avocado salad. Of course, I then topped everything with buffalo sauce and nutritional yeast. I used to hate buffalo sauce, but I've slowly grown to like it. Spicy and flavorful!
P.S. I always add more veggies to my bowl as I eat, so know that I usually eat more than I show in my pictures!
Breakfast Day #2:
Even though it's been really warm in China lately, I've still been craving my warm oatmeal in the morning. This day I made simple oats by cooking oatmeal in water with chia seeds and ground flaxseeds and then added a sliced banana, peanut butter, raisins and granola.
Does anyone else think that food eaten out of a mug tastes better?!
Lunch Day #2
After a hot and tiring trip to the market, I enjoyed a green chocolate smoothie. This smoothie was made using 1 small head of romaine, 3 frozen bananas and cacao powder. Then I topped everything off with a little more banana, granola and dried mulberries. I've found that when I eat a smoothie as a meal I have to add either greens, chia seeds or nut butter--some kind of vegetable or protein/fat source. Otherwise I get a sugar rush and then crash. Greens really help me feel satiated longer. If you've never tried a green smoothie with romaine, I really recommend it!
Snack Day #2:
If you've been reading along for a little while, then you'll know that dried persimmons are my current obsession. I had one as a snack with a homemade match a late made with match a powder, hot water, coconut milk and soy milk. I recently got a milk frother and it's perfect for making matcha lattes.
Dinner Day #2:
Dinner was very weird and ugly because I was finishing off lots of leftovers. In this random bowl was brown rice, marinara bow-tie pasta, roasted veggies and chickpeas, Sriracha and nutritional yeast. #Strangebutgood
Nighttime Snack Day #2:
We ate a really early dinner and stayed up later than normal so I ended up having a late night (un-pictured) snack of two rice cakes, one topped with mustard (weird, I know) and the other topped with peanut butter and sliced banana.
Tell Me:
How do you sneak vegetables into your meals?
What is your favorite kind of latte?
Would you currently choose to eat a smoothie or oatmeal?
Kate @ Kate Lives Healthy says
I've been on a sriracha and nutritional yeast kick lately. I've been adding those two to my bowls. Such a good combo! Don't know what took me so long to pair them together. Happy travels Faith!
Faith says
They're such an amazing combo aren't they! Glad you found them!!
Cora says
I seriously love the sounds of both of your dinners. My meals seem to be getting more and more strange as I'm constantly just throwing various leftovers together into a bowl. The roasted cauliflower, rice, chickpea combo is screaming comfort to me.
I love sneaking veggies into my meals but have been feeling like I'm losing my touch with that one. I did just make a baked macaroni and cheese and snuck steamed cauliflower in it - couldn't even notice. Its been a while since I baked muffins with spinach in them...
Faith says
Thanks Cora! And definitely give the roasted cauliflower and chickpea bowl a try! And spinach muffins is a great idea! I'll need to make some savory muffins soon!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
That all looks delish! I love mustard or rice cakes too... but I usually add tuna. Gross, I know...
Faith says
Totally not gross!! Tuna and Mustard is yummy!!
oscar says
I thought you were in the US of A.
Faith says
On my way back, but these eats are from a little bit ago. I scheduled posts before I went to America so I could fully enjoy time with family:) sorry for the confusion!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says
Your first breakfast looks and sounds so good! I'll eat veggies at breakfast everyday in that form, like pumpkin pie meets carrot cake in a bowl <3 And all your roasted veggies look so tasty! I've been eating a lot of veggies lately too, but mostly in salad form. A good dressing can get me to eat tons of veggies without even realizing what I'm doing. I would probably still go smoothie at this very moment, but I usually do two sweet meals a day so there's room for both oatmeal and smoothie 🙂
Faith says
I need to start having a salad dressing on hand cause a good dressing really does make me eat lots of salad! And I LOVE days when I have breakfast meals for breakfast and lunch (usually a smoothie and oatmeal too) cause I have such a sweet tooth. But then for dinner I'm ready for veggies;)
Marina @ Snackie Bird says
It can be sounds weird, but your photo of persimmon looks great. I like atmosphere! Also, all your food is delicious 😉
Faith says
Thanks Marina!!
Leah M @ love me, feed me says
I used to do a lot of sneaky vegetable meals like cauliflower grated into my oats, but now I eat so many vegetables for lunch and dinner I don't really bother sneaking any in at breakfast. Except for the occasional green smoothie bowl because I get legit cravings for those!! Carrot oats are delicious though <3
I love all the lattes, as you know I'm currently obsessed with dirty chai lattes which I really need to learn to make myself! I had a smoothie bowl for breakfast but am thinking of oatmeal for lunch. My love for the two is so strong!!
Faith says
I forgot we talked about dirty chais!! I just brought decaf coffee back with me from America so I need to get on that too. And I can't wait to be home to my blender so I can eat ALL the smoothie bowls!
Miss Polkadot says
Am I weird for not seeing anything gross with your first oatmeal in this post ;)? Shredded carrots are always part of oatmeal for me and I've added homemade pumpkin puree to cocoa oat bran before, too. Both of these vegetables have a natural sweetness that fits so well into oats. And sneaking vegetables into my meals in general? All. the. shredded. carrots. They're my kind of cereal to eat as is with some coconut milk and a sprinkle of flaxseed throughout the day, too.
I'm sorry to hear your stomach still has been feeling off in China but your fruit cereal idea sounds delicious.
How long will you stay in the US/Europe before returning to China?
Faith says
Yay! Glad to know you don't thing my meal combinations are strange:) And I'm on my way home now )stopping in Switzerland) after 2 quick weeks in the states. It was so good, but went too fast!