Carrot Cake / Loaf gluten free and dairy free

So my friend challenged me to make Carrot Cake healthier and I accepted. Since I love Carrot Cake I decided it needs to be gluten free and dairy free.
So I scoured Pinterest to find a recipe I could adapt and I did.
This Recipe was the base for my Cake Loaf.

Here we go :D Yields 12 slices

Dry Ingredients:
2 cups of gluten free all purpose flour (I used Red Mill)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground Ginger

Mix all together in a medium bowl.

Wet ingredients:
1tsp. orange zest
6 tbsp orange juice
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup blue agave
2 servings of liquid egg whites
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 cup shredded carrots

Mix well and then slowly add the dry ingredients. Add in to a loaf pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 45 mins.

Icing:
1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked in boiling water for at least 30mins better be overnight
1 1/2 tbsp agave
1 1/2 tbsp Lemon Juice
1/4 tsp cinnamon

blend that in a blender until creamy, I used my Magic Bullet Blender, my Cashews weren't soaked enough so I added a tiny bit of water to make it creamy.
Spread on top of the loaf and voila.

Nutrition Facts: 184cals, 3g Fat, 38g carbs, 4gr Protein
Definitely a Treat.

Enjoy!!!

Meal Plan #5

Meals from 2/18/2015 - 2/25/2015

For breakfast my husband and I eat oatmeal and eggwhites with veggies. On saturdays I make protein pancakes and sometimes a casserole. The kids eat cereal but are wanting to eat oats and eggs to now (they are teenagers)

Lunches:
My daughter takes leftovers and so does my son, when he remembers to take a lunch. My husband makes a Salad to take and I eat a salad or leftovers.

Snacks:
I have protein bars, protein shakes, or cooked chicken with rice.

Thursday:
Balsamic Chicken w/Pasta and Zucchini

Firday:
Turkey Burgers, with Sweet potato Friday, and Zucchini Chips

Satuday:
We are going to the Faire so we are eating out for once.

Sunday:
Salmon, Brussel Sprouts and Rice

Monday:
Lentil Soup (Recipe will be posted)

Tuesday:
Fajitas in Lettuce wraps or gluten free Tortillas

Wednesday:
Eggroll in a bowl

Thursday:
Curry Stew

That's our menu for this week. :D

Convention Prep Part 2... follow up

Well this is less of a prep post then a follow up.

I had prepared my foods and packed them. Now here are some things to consider.

Breakfast casserole was a great idea and it's still yummy cold. Ice was available at the hotel so no problem in keeping the cooler cool. I also had grilled Chicken. cherry tomatos, apples, measured out protein shakes, I brought my own coffee creamer and almond milk. I also had measured out Cashews and Lentil Chips.
My main foods were Salads in a Jar.

I made a couple of mistakes... first off I did not put the snacks in my back pack, sometimes during the convention things got hectic and I wasn't able to get back to the room and grab a bite. Also I did not get enough water, even thou I had my water bottle with me.

Also I definitely would pack more chicken.

But other then that I did well, I got a lot of walking done and I didn't bring much food home. All in all it was a very successful weekend.

This was all the food I packed, pre packed. 

Breakfast was egg casserole with a protein shake

My awesome picture with Jared.

Meal Plan # 4

This meal Plan is a bit weird as I am gone Friday - Sunday.


Thursday:
Creamy Asparagus and Lemon Chicken

Friday:
Spaghetti for Steven and Lars

Saturday:
The boys are on their own.

Sunday:
Leftover Chili from the Superbowl which has been frozen

Monday:
New recipe I am trying ! Eggplant Involtini

Tuesday:
Fish Taco Bowls

Wednesday:
Pork Chips, with Cauliflower Rice and Roasted Carrots

Thursday:
Spagehtti Squash

Convention Prep Part 1

I am going to a Supernatural Convention this coming weekend and I don't wanna eat the hotel food or the fast food surrounding the hotel. I have been working to hard for the past 3 months to not eat better. I probably eat yummier food then anybody else with what I am preparing.

So this will be divided into parts, first part is Meal Planning. Make sure you pick foods that are easy put in a cooler or don't need refridgeration. Salads in a Jar survive well in a Cooler, I know, it's a staple when we work at the Renaissance fair and they last till Sunday afternoon easy and you have access to ice at the hotel. I plan for two, cause my daughter is going with me.
Plan meals that are easy and snacks that fit into your con bag, and if you don't have a con bag your should check out SewGeekAustin's Messenger Bags, they are perfect. So Protein Bars, nuts, fruits like Apples, Oranges, Cuties are great.
I have a lot of protein that I eat each day, so I am packing my Shaker and Protein Powder, now you can pre measure in separate baggies to save on space.
I know some of you are flying in. But you can definitely bring those snack onto the plane in your carry on. And a lot of hotels have small kiosks where you are able to buy fruits, or you can walk to a gas station nearby and get some there.
I also bring my water bottle as most hotels nowadays have water fountains and you don't have to pay for bottled water.

Friday:
Lunch - Salad in a Jar
Dinner - Turkey Patty Lettuce wrap with Veggies and Hummus
Snacks - fruit, protein Bar and Protein Shake, also veggies are on hand

Saturday:
Breakfast - either a egg bake in loaf form, or egg and turkey filled Vegan Biscuits. (Not sure yet)
Lunch - Salad in a Jar
Dinner - this might be a going out, but not sure, if not I will have another Lettuce wrap with lunch meat
Snacks - fruit, protein Bar and Protein Shake, veggies

Sunday:
Breakfast - either a egg bake in loaf form, or egg and turkey filled Vegan Biscuits. (Not sure yet)

Lunch - Lettuce wrap

Dinner - Chili at home :D

Snacks - fruit, protein Bar and Protein Shake, veggies

These are all easy things to make a head and that way I know what I am eating, how many calories are in there, the macros will fit mine. 

If you plan ahead you can have a successful con weekend too and you need to eat well and right so you don't get sick after. I will also have Emergen C on hand.

Healthy Superbowl? Yes Please...

I love a good get together, so we are having friends over for Superbowl Sunday. Can you make it healthy? YES ! of course, cause I don't wanna blow my hard work that I did this week by counting my calories and the workout in the gym. So here is our Menu for Sunday:

Chili with Kidney Beans
Chips and Salsa
Veggies and Hummus
Buffalo Cauliflower
Zucchini Brownies

I don't have to eat the chip and the Salsa and since I am making the Chili I know what is in there and I can track it.

Other great alternatives are baked chicken tenders, fruit salad, yogurt dips.

If you can, stay away from fried foods, beer, Queso, Cookies, Chips, Ranch Dressing.

But if you can't just make sure you hit the Gym hard on Monday.

What I really like about my Journey so far is that I am not on a diet, I completely changed the way I eat. Food is no longer a challenge. I go out and eat at restaurants, and I make better choices, but it doesn't keep my from living my life. It doesn't restrict my life anymore.

So please make good choices :D

Weekly Meal Plan #4

Friday:
Salsa Chicken

Saturday:
Trout with Pasta and Asparagus

Superbowl Sunday:
Having friends over, making Chilli, Buffalo Cauliflower, Hummus and cut up Veggies, Zucchini Brownies. Chips and Salsa

Monday:
Zucchini Boats

Tuesday:
Chicken Stir Fry

Wednesday:
Spaghetti

Thursday:
Egg Roll in a bowl

Here is a picture of the weekly grocery haul.