clean recovery muffins (and eating clean...)

we have been eating clean in our house going on a month now.  we didn't eat "bad" before, but definitely not clean.  we made a commitment to try it until christmas and after that see how our bodies felt, if it was worth it, and the like.

also, just because we are human and well...human.  we decided to do a cheat meal once per week.  everyone does it different, but we decided what would work best for us,  one cheat meal per week.  and i am not playin'---that cheat meal DOES include appetizer, entree and dessert.  whether we want it or not.  whether we want it or not?...whatever.

to start we waited two weeks, just to get the new lifestyle and to let our bodies adjust to not as much coffee as you want, and no sugar, and no processed food and the headache that follows.  oy.  we had decided to go to the cheesecake factory, it's our favorite.  then we had a hiccup, i thought i was getting off earlier than i actually did---so we ended up not going until nine pm.

so we cheated and we cheated late.  

i think i said one hundred times "i have no guilt, we have done perfectly."  obviously, there was guilt, i hate eating late.  yeah, i got over it real quick.  brad ordered the avocado eggrolls for a appetizer as we were sitting down, i mean, our mouths were salivating...anything we wanted!  then i ordered a pasta dish with tons of veggies and for DESSERT---some god awful oreo, big, chocolate cheesecake that was heavenly.  i kid you not.  the funny thing is, usually when we go to the cheesecake factory, we never ever order dessert because we are full---and we were this night too, but let-me-tell-you-some'un we ordered that cheesecake and we ate it all.  and as we were eating it all, this is how the conversation went:
jessica:  oh, gosh, i feel sick.
brad:  yeah, me too.
jessica:  i think i could lay down right here.
brad:  i feel bloated.
jessica:  i can't wait to eat egg whites in the morning.
brad:  yeah, me either.
then after i licked that cheesecake plate, we rolled out of our booth and crawled to the car.

seriously though.  it was gross how bad we felt, how yuck our bodies felt.  and even though this will not detour us from having a cheat meal once a week or so, it makes you realize how much better your body is working daily when you are giving it the nutrients it really does need.  and not all the crap that is easy.

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because brad works out a ton, he needs a little more than just the normal food that most of us require.  he needs pre-workout and post-workout fuel.  (and keeping it clean) i began looking for something that was easy to prepare for him and something he liked for recovery.  

i found these banana cinnamon muffins that are moist, and delicious.  i have made four batches of them and try and not run out.  he LOVES them and they work great for an easy snack or before or after a workout.  i often add peanut butter to the top if he is having a hard workout---

here's the recipe:

cinnamon banana muffins

1/2 c. stevia

1/3 c. greek yogurt (plain)

2 eggs

2 cups mashed bananas

1/3 c. natural applesauce

1 c. whole wheat flour

3/4 c. oatmeal

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. baking powder

1 t. cinnamon 

3/4 c. protein powder

3/4 c. walnuts (crushed)

mix all the ingredients, stir and cook at 350 for 17 minutes.

+i found this recipe at thegraciouspantry.com

so easy and they are so delicious.  matter of fact, i'm going to make a batch now.

just call me, martha.  martha stewart.

or better yet, tosca.  tosca reno.