2 Amazing Chickpea Recipes!

A few years ago I did a Plant Based Challenge with the FASTer Way community. I've never been a big plant eater, so this challenge forced me out of my comfort zone. Surprisingly, I found a lot of recipes that have become favorites and want to share two of them with you!

Chickpeas are legumes and a great source of plant protein and fiber. Eating chickpeas is good for gut health and digestion and can help lower cholesterol. You should be eating at least 100 grams of protein daily if you have reached peri-menopause. Fiber will help balance blood sugar levels which can help reduce hot flashes.

I have two go-to chickpea recipes. One is simple and one is not. Both are delicious and both are from FASTer Way Vegan Meal Guides.

BBQ Chickpea Salad

1/2 can chickpeas

3 TBS BBQ sauce - I use Primal Kitchen

2 cups romaine lettuce

1/4 cup corn, carrot and onion

For BBQ Chickpeas -> Add chickpeas and sauce to pan and cook over medium heat until sauce starts to get sticky (8-10 minutes). Stir as they cook.

Dressing:

1 TBS tahini

1 TBS lemon juice

1/4 tsp garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley

1/8 tsp dried dill

3/4 tsp apple cider vinegar, water

Chickpea Hummus Burgers

1/2 cup dry rolled oats

1/4 cup cooked chickpeas

2 2/3 TBS hummus - I use Cedar's

2 TBS finely diced red onion

1 TBS fresh chopped parsley 

1 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/16 cayenne pepper

salt & pepper to taste

1 1/2 tsp olive oil

2 TBS chopped baby spinach (optional)

Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until rough chop. Add more hummus if needed to bind the burgers together. You want the mixture to hold together easily when squeezed, but you don’t want it too wet. Because moisture levels in hummus can vary, I suggest starting with less hummus then adding a little more at a time until your mixture holds together when you squeeze it. Divide the burger mixture into fourths. Using your hands, form four patties about 4 inches in diameter. Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil. When the olive oil is hot, add the burgers. Cook on one side for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. Flip and cook on the other side for 2-3 more minutes, until browned. Serve immediately over a salad, or on its own.

*I used the same dressing from the BBQ Chickpea recipe!

Bonus - Chickpea Tuna Avocado Salad

1/2 can tuna

1/2 cup cooked chickpeas

1/4 cucumber

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

1/4 avocado

2 TBS red onion

Italian dressing - or same from above!

Want to try more FASTer Way recipes? Join 5 Days to Melt Your Middle here or download my FREE Anti Diet Guide here.

Questions? Leave a comment below or message me on my socials!

Winter Swimming in Hawaii

I've been wanting to write a post about our time open water swimming in Hawaii for, well years now. Today is the day!

 

mrC is a good swimmer. I used to swim in my grandparent's pool as a kid, but that's not the same as ocean swimming.

While living in Hawaii, I wanted to take advantage of two things:

1. warm water - the average temperature ranges from 76-81 degrees 

2. clear water - reduces my fear of what might in the water

One winter day during our first year in Hawaii, I came across a swimming group that met at our local beach in Kailua every Sunday: One With the Ocean. I reached out and they assured me that all are welcome, even beginners. The first time we went, we decided to paddle out on our SUP boards with the group to learn more about the route which started at the beach, out to Flat Island (some swam around it) and back. Our second week, we joined the group and we were quickly left behind. They were already around the island by the time we made it there!

Most of the group were previous competition swimmers and no one was a beginner. Although super nice, I knew I wouldn't feel comfortable swimming with them if mrC wasn't there. We decided to modify the route to something a little more manageable.

After that, we would meet the group on the beach to say hello and then walk down to our starting point and swim our route to the island. Usually we were the first to arrive, which gave us a much needed break waiting for the group coming from farther away. 

Sometimes, mrC and I would wear fins to make our swim a little easier. It's amazing how much faster you can go with those things on!

There are a lot of things I miss about living in Hawaii and swimming is definitely on my top 10 list. It was hard, but making it to the island was a huge accomplishment.

Maybe one day I will be able to swim in the waters here in Maine & New Hampshire....I won't hold my breath though, haha!

What is something you miss about a place you used to live or visit?

Healthy Habits Change with Age

Healthy looks different for me in my early 50’s than it did in my 20’s and 30s and even my 40s. What I thought was healthy back then doesn’t serve me now and isn’t going to provide the same results.

Here's what I do now at age 52 to keep my body, mind, and hormones happy and healthy:

✨ Prioritize protein - protein with every meal! I shoot for 114 grams of protein a day!
✨ Lift heavy weights 3 days a week
✨ Complete 30 minute strategic workouts - I don’t overdo it!
✨ Focus on whole foods as much as possible
✨ I’ve found balance! I don’t cut out treats and I enjoy myself on special ocassions!
✨ I give myself grace. I’ve ditched the all or nothing mentality!


What I DON’T do (anymore!):

❌ Cut out entire food groups
❌ Cut calories
❌ Punish myself for ‘bad’ food choices by making myself workout more
❌ Use the scale as the only measure of progress
❌ Hours of cardio daily

It’s ok to adjust and pivot our mentality and our strategies as we age! Even throughout the Faster Way program, we’re constantly pivoting and changing things up to keep our bodies responding and changing! 

Learn more about the program I follow and coach here!

How have your habits changed with age?

Creatine: Myths vs Facts for Midlife Women

I started taking creatine about two months ago to help rebuild muscle mass I lost while going through breast cancer treatment and dealing with an autoimmune condition that affected my joints last year. I use it as a supplement to the food I eat, especially protein and carbs and to make sure I'm getting the most of my FASTer Way workouts.

What people think about creatine:
It’s a steroid
It makes muscles bulky
It’s only for men & athletes

Well, creatine is for women too! In fact, women are probably the one's who should be first in line to use it. 

What creatine does:
Help you build lean muscle
Help you torch more fat in workouts
Help you push harder and maximize your workouts
Helps you bounce back quicker after a tough workout

Creatine is a game-changer for boosts workout performance and results. 

Ready to supercharge your workouts and redefine your fitness goals? Join us for a FREE Creatine Webinar on Jan 30. 🎓 We'll spill the secrets on maximizing your fitness journey with creatine. Sign up for the training here.

I’m really excited to switch to the FASTer Way brand when it launches, so I put my name on the waitlist. You can too! Join the waitlist here

Microwave Protein Pancake Bowl Recipe

Last week I came across a recipe for a pancake you can make in the microwave and I said, SIGN ME UP! Who wouldn't love a pancake you can make in 90 seconds???

I LOVE pancakes, but I have never been very good at making them...I think it's because it takes some real patience in the kitchen which I don't have. I like quick and simple recipes.

On Saturday, I tried making the pancake in the microwave and it was sooooo good! I ended up making it again and one for my husband when he got home from a work trip on Sunday.

Here's the recipe:

Microwave Protein Pancake Bowl

Spray dish with cooking spray

1/3 banana (mashed)

1/3 cup eggs whites

1/4 cup gluten free pancake mix - I used Birch Benders Gluten Free Mix

1 scoop protein powder - I used FASTer Way hydrobeef vanilla 

Microwave for 90 seconds 

Add toppings like fruit, nut butter & syrup 

The original recipe is from Eating Bird Food. I modified her recipe to add the protein.

Do you like pancakes? Do you like making them?