Hi guys!! Busy day coming up. I made it to the gym to start things off on the right foot! (Since my left foot is weaker due to surgery
) I had to drive today because the husband was "too sleepy" to go. I really missed biking!! It helps me wake up and the fact that it’s exercise too means I can spend less time at the gym. I did 30 minutes on the Stairmaster (and almost had to get off early due to bad breath next to me but I just closed off my nose and breathed through my mouth only for the last 10 minutes) followed by 16 minutes on the ET and 5 or so of ab work.
I woke up pretty hungry today so I had a snack before I left. The thought of a snack certainly does make a 5am gym appearance more worthwhile! I bought these frozen waffles after they were reviewed in some magazine like 6 months ago. I didn’t even think about the fact that they aren’t whole grain or high fiber. They’re not very good.
But since we don’t have any bread for toast, I thought I’d work on using them up –
I think all of us Southerners are just going through the fall motions and eating our fall foods in hopes that the 90* weather goes away sooner. Although I don’t want to wish too hard , or I’ll end up cold for the next 6 months straight!
So today Pumpkin Oats made a reappearance.
I always start with my banana-oat base because I think the pumpkin really needs the sweetness of the banana (or I’d want to add splenda).
- 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 1% milk, 1/3 water
- 1/2 large banana
- 2 tbsp kamut berries
- Vanilla + salt
- ~1/3 cup pumpkin
- 1/4 cup homemade granola topping
- Drizzle real maple syrup on the top
With English breakfast tea and milk –
I’m off!
Molly says
Looks delish!
ttfn300 says
delish!! I had one of your oatmeal bars shmeared with dark chocolate dreams 🙂
rhodeygirl says
it is pretty hot here too, but I am just dying to get out the fall candles and decorations. guess I’ll pretend too.
breakfast looks delish, as always
VeggieGirl says
Haha!! Love the “right foot/left foot” joke 😀
Pumpkin oats = divine!
Happy Monday!
Laurie says
Ewww….I totally know what you mean when you work out in the morning right next to someone who has bad breath, and you can smell it! I hate that! I always end up having to move to another machine, ugh!
Rose says
mmm. Pumpkin Oats. I have yet to try them – your bowl looks great.
Hope your day goes well!
HangryPants says
It’s too hot up here in New England for my fall needs, too.
Have a good Monday.
Heather
Betsy in Pittsburgh says
I bought a can of pumpkin yesterday just so I could make that this week… yum!
ModelBehavior says
I’ll share some of my fall weather with ya Kath, Labor day it was a high of 89, it’s been around 65 ever since! Perfect temp if you ask me 🙂
Christie I. says
mmm…. I was just thinking of pumpkin oats this weekend.
Kath and commenters, when you make oats with a non dairy milk, do you have problems with the milk curdling? Is there a secret method that I just don’t know about?
BC says
I curse Texas for not having a fall every year. It was 70ish this morning when I walked to the gym, but add 80% humidity and it’s terrible. I just want pumpkin oats and root vegetables. Is that too much to ask?
lucy says
Yuck, I also bought Van’s waffles after reading something good in a blog and they are gross. I’m sticking to Kashi waffles.
cindyrae says
Ahhh! Give your poor husband a break! He is a good sport to keep up with on most days! Not many people have the dedication that you to do waking up early and working out!
Megan says
Why don’t my pumpkin oats ever look this beautiful?
Nat says
I may have missed this, but where are those New York chocolates from? (Brand?)
Biz says
Today’s weather is perfect! It was 60 degrees when I dropped my daughter off at school.
I have to buy pumpkin so I can make that oatmeal, it looks delish!
Happy Monday all!
flickflak says
Fall does not start for another 2 weeks.
Liz H. says
Enjoy all the warm weather you can! It’ll be cold before you know it and we’ll all be wanting the warm weather back!…maybe I’m just jealous cause I live in Canada and I’ve already pulled out my jacket and boots…
runjess says
I hear ya. I’m in Texas and it is nowhere near cold, but I mixed pumpkin into my oatmeal yesterday.
Those waffles are probably excellent for pre-workout snacks. It’s the one time you don’t want a lot of fiber and the simple carbs will get into your bloodstream quickly to fuel your workout.
If you want to know what high fiber snacks before a long workout can do to you, see my blog post from Saturday. But be forewarned.
Jenny says
Kath and Lucy – I don’t care for the Van’s waffles either. Besides being pretty nutritionally void, they’re really bland and just, well, blah and they never seemed to get crisp. I had a coupon and bought two boxes. Even my kids didn’t like them and they love waffles. I like the Kashi, but I have to admit that Nutrigrain Eggo Blueberry are my favorite. Not as healthy as the Kashi, but since I only eat them once in a blue moon (usually when I have a big craving), I usually buy those. If I’m feeling virtuous, I’ll buy Kashi. I love to top them with PB and jam. Yummo!!!!!
majrhoulihan says
Nat,
I could be wrong, but they look like Jacques Torres chocolates to me.
shawna says
Yum! I planned to make Pumpkin Oats this morning, popped onto your blog and there they were. They were delicous! Thanks for the great idea. 4 hours and an early morning run later and I’m still satisfied. Hope your busy day goes well.
Melissa P. says
I have completely had the bad breath at the gym experience… Not pleasant. I cannot understand not brushing your teeth before going to the gym of all places when you know that you are going to be breathing hard. People…
It is weird, but I always chew gum at the gym. It helps me not get “cotton mouth” while running. Someday I am going to choke though and it will be very embarasing (knock on wood).
Brittany says
Ahhh… I’m with you on the eating of pumpkin oats to bring fall weather. And, I always add the banana when I do pumpkin oats to keep it sweet as well.
Chris says
I always wonder how people with bad breath (at the gym or in general) can not know that they have it? It’s so gross, can’t they smell themselves?!
Or maybe they just don’t care.*shudders*
Heather says
EWWW at the gym bad breath 🙁 And it’s really bad if you can actually smell it from one machine over. Gross.
I’m so with you on the fall thing! Can’t wait for cooler weather…
Jessica says
hey i have a random question for you all, i was wondering if nutella is healthier than peanut butter? someone told me this since it has lower fat than peanut butter and just as a whole has good health benefits. I was pretty skeptical becasue i thought that nutella was made from chocolate, but someon told me it comes from the hazlenut? is any of this right? if you could give me some feedback on the health benefits iw ould be very interested!!
magpie says
Jessica – Nutella is very sugary. Maybe it’s “healthier” than a regular PB, like Jif, but it has nowhere near the nutrients that you can get from natural PB. Natural PB has lots of good fats, protein, and fiber. Non-natural PB has lots and lots of sugar, and (for me) no taste at all. Hope this helps 🙂
Kath says
Christie I.,
Yes, when I cook with hemp milk it does separate some, but if you just keep cooking it, it seems to fix itself, or just absorb into the oats or something.
Nat,
They are indeed Jacques Torres
runjess ,
OMG I just read your story. Hilarious but tragic!!
Jessica,
I agree that the sugar in Nutella is the biggest drawback (it’s 40%-ish sugar). And the fats in peanut butter (or even better, almond butter) are really good for you, so even if PB is higher in fat, that’s no reason why it’s less healthy.
Sugar, vegetable oil, 13% hazelnuts, cocoa powder, skimmed milk powder, lecithin, vanilla.
I’ve been meaning to try some Nutella to have for a dessert item but I don’t think I’d eat it nearly as much as PB.
Kath
Erica says
I’m ready for fall, too! Jeans and t-shirt weather is my favorite. We aren’t really getting it here yet in Missouri, either. At any rate, your pumpkin oatmeal looks fall-ish today!
runjess says
Haha just doing my part so that you don’t feel bad for not getting enough fiber 😉
You MUST try Nutella. I wouldn’t call it “healthy,” but it’s not too bad and it is definitely a worth-it food.
Ozlem says
Hi Kath,
Vans actually has other varieties that are whole grain and high in fiber etc. I think I used to get the flax kind. It always helps to check the ingredients and the nutrition facts – I look at the fiber since I find that that really makes a difference for me.
Have fun!
Christie I. says
Nutella is my favorite food, I can’t keep it in the house 🙁
Jessica says
Hello Kath!
I am a fitness instructor for a women’s only boot camp class in San Diego, CA. I have been reading your blog for a few months and absolutely love it. All of your meal ideas are so great, we have talked about your recipes many times in my class. You have inspired me to start my own blog for the girls that are in my boot camp, and for any other exercise/health enthusiast that would like to check it you — you can find me at getfit2wed.blogspot.com.
Talk to you soon!
Jessica
Jess. says
I had the same breakfast- pumpkin oats and tea with milk! It was delicious.
I hope you enjoyed yours as much as i enjoyed mine!
coco says
hi Kath, do you cook your oatmeal in microwave or at stove? and for how long? because mine doesn’t come so creamy as yours.
thanks