Cravings

Yesterday, when Lindsay asked what I was craving, I could have written an essay about it.  Why not a blog post?

While I never got sick during the first trimester, I had serious cravings and aversions.  Prior to finding out I was pregnant, Binks (and even I) thought I was just being weird.  I did not want any bacon or be near it – pork in general.  Meat was just hard for me altogether.  I could not stand the smell or sight of mushrooms.

What I lacked in aversions, I sure made up and keep making up for in cravings.

Pickles

I cannot get enough.

Yep that is mustard and pickles.  Together.  It’s a fabulous thing.  Try it.  I eat a pickle everyday.  This is my pickle of choice these days.

Turns out pickles actually quell sugar cravings, which makes sense because I do have a huge sweet tooth.  Body – 1; me – 0.

Spicy Food

I ate spicy food before, but this is another issue altogether.  I can drink this stuff:

I cook a lot with this:

I don’t know why I crave spicy food.  I don’t know any reason behind this except to know that spicy food does rev up your metabolism a bit.

Cereal/Granola

I could eat this morning, noon and night.  I limit it to just breakfast because pickles don’t go with cereal.

I love to drown my cereal in the almond milk – which is something I did previously anyway.

I love granolas/cereals – it makes me feel like I’m eating a dessert and I swear to the heavens that the vanilla macaroon granola I picked up at Sprouts tastes like a cookie.  So, I’ve been eating cookie cereal.  My favorite these days is Cascadian Farm’s Dark Chocolate Almond Granola.  Again, tastes like cookies!

And, it keeps me full.

Cold Crazy Breakfast Bowls

To the exclusion of cereal, I’m in love with smoothie bowls and yogurt bowls.

This purple goodness is a mixture of prepared banana oatmeal, blueberries and almond milk.  Topped with Justin’s Maple Almond Butter.

That my friends is Noosa Blueberry.  If you haven’t tried Noosa yet, you need to.  I don’t know what they do to make it delicious, but it is.

Miscellaneous

Other cravings include:

Justin’s nut butters.  If you notice my pictures above you seethat I use it often.  I wish it were a mental thing but it’s not.  I have other Natural Peanut butters and nut butters but something about this one sets it above the rest.  So much so that I’m contemplating buying a $10 jar.

Bananas.  Maybe I’m needing potassium but I find every which way to sneak in bananas – usually at breakfast.

Coconut.  As seen above, I love the stuff.  And let me tell you coconut sprinkled on banana slices – O.M.G. dessert for sure!

Actually coconut has been not just a dietary supplement but an all-over body routine lately.  I use it on my face as a mask and I notice a huge difference.  I’m working on different anti-inflammatory (natural) masks and once I get together a palatable ‘recipe’, I’ll share!  I also use coconut oil on my stomach for stretch marks.

Being from Kerala, coconut is used often and widely.  Not for nothing.  Coconut is a power house of nutrition and other health benefits.

Are all my cravings healthy?  No.  I frequently crave and sometimes eat (sometimes because these are not every day foods):

(1) potato chips – Kettle Sea Salt & Vinegar.  ‘Nuff said.

(2) french fries – Always and forever

(3) fried chicken – This will never go away

(4) pizza – With garlic powder, red pepper flakes and Sriracha sauce for toppings.  I dare you to try it.

(5) Magnums – Shall we go there again?

Pregnant or not – tell me what you crave – a healthy craving and a not-so-healthy craving.

More Protein Please!

With the pregnancy, I’ve been hungrier than ever.  The best way I keep myself filled and fulfilled?  Protein.  Lately, my oatmeal and smoothie breakfasts have not been able to keep me full long enough.  I must admit that my oatmeal bowls are heavy on the fruit but I totally forget to incorporate protein.

So, recently when a vendor came to visit and do a little ad blurb, she brought breakfast.  The best kind – the Central Market kind.

{Cranberry Blueberry Muffins}

Plus fresh strawberries and pineapple

Talk about delicious

And this is no ordinary muffin.  Usually muffins are stingy on the fruit but not this one.

So, why am I talking about protein and showing you pictures of carbs galore?

Because yesterday’s breakfast was given a protein makeover.

Fage yogurt (because, to me, there is none better), Justin’s chocolate hazelnut butter (Nutella’s serious competition), and the fruity muffins.

I split the Justin’s nut butter with Binks.

Okay, I cannot even describe how delicious this bowl of goodness was.  I savored this meal for a good 30 minutes, which definitely beats my usual 30 second inhalation of my morning cereal.

With combos like this, incorporating more protein will not be so difficult!

How do you incorporate more protein into your breakfast? 

The Milk Ladies.

I hated milk as a kid.  It could be that my mom forced me to drink it every morning before school.  I plead with her to stop because it made my breath stink.  She thought I was an idiot, and ignored my desperate cries.  She did the same thing with cod liver oil.  I should have called CPS.

Now, that my mom doesn’t force me to drink milk, my MIL has entered the picture.  She is determined to find me the best milk substance(s).  I think she is trying to butter me up (haha, pun) for keeping milk around for future progeny.

No, I’m not pregnant.

And butter me up she did.

Meet my refrigerator’s new contents:

Lucky Layla Farms is a locally operated dairy store, which offers rBGH free milk products and more.  Please note that I have never been to the farm, and that Lucky Layla Farms has no idea who I am.  My review is my own.

MILK:  DIVINE!  One sip brought me back to my childhood in India when we drank milk produced from our very own family cow.  Yep, we had a cow.  She was adorable.  I really doubt it’s the best for anyone watching their calories as it tastes like drinking beautiful cream!  If you’re not into that, excuse me while I have my moment.

I know that there is a debate about consuming raw v. pasteurized milk.  I have read several studies, theories and opinions prior to drinking this, and have based my consumption on my research, my opinion and what’s best for me. I encourage you to make your own decision.

YOGURT:  DELICIOUS!  Everything about the yogurt tastes natural!  It’s not overly sweet and you can really taste the fruit in the drink.  I was tempted to throw this into a smoothie for breakfast but I would enjoy this more alone.  No need for adulteration.

BUTTER:  You know I saved this for last on purpose, right?  There are no words.  It’s everything that the sticks of butter should be, but isn’t!  It’s the butter that you find yourself dreaming of when you have a slice of bread.  I can promise you that I will never use this in cooking as I want to savor each bite.

Looks like I need to bake some bread.

Have you tried raw milk?  Do you like milk?  Do you drink milk on a regular basis?  Did your mom force you to drink milk every morning?  Cod liver oil?  🙂

Happy VD

On this day of love.

I would like to express love.

To my always and forever.

And to my from this day forth.

Hope you are spending your day with your loves!

🙂

How are you spending (or how did you spend) your day of love?  Who/what do you love?