Banana Peanut Butter Chip Oatmeal
Banana Peanut Butter Chip Oatmeal
Food is delicious. It's nutritious. There are so many ways and why's to how we feed ourselves. When I see this oatmeal, I do get excited. I know it's good for my body, my mind, and it will keep me full and energized.
When I want a muffin, I will eat it.
When I want a cookie, I will eat it.
But what I've learned about my own eating patterns is that I WANT THINGS ALL THE TIME, so I have to question if this is habit hunger or emotional hunger. Or, my other favorites - smell and visual hunger - as in: I see it, I smell it, I eat it. Then there are true, genuine cravings.
Do you ever find yourself eating something just because it looks good? Like cruising a croissant because it looks so slick and buttery you just gotta have it? But do you? Do I? Do we? In the movement toward intuitive eating, I fully understand and support eating food when you truly, madly and deeply want it. And sometimes it is unavoidable to eat from emotion, sight, smell and that's ok. We're human, we eat for socialization, happiness, boredom, stress. Food supports us and our feelings, but if something becomes a habit, then that's where I've always raised the flag, at least with myself.
I had a habit of emotional eating, which would then trigger more eating, cravings and comfort I couldn't see my way out of. Questioning ourselves is hard at first, but once we build that mind muscle - it becomes an innate understanding. It's a practice.
In my workshop last night one of the attendees repeated the word muffin at least 15 times. MUFFINS. I swear, I went to bed with visions of muffins dancing in my head, typical Tina. I was thinking about the muffin, but did I really want a muffin? The psychology of food is interesting, how we can hear about a food and think about it non-stop, then go and seek it. How we reward ourselves with food. But if we question why we're ruminating about it - what does it all go back to?
I woke up this morning and said to myself, Tina, do you really want a muffin?
No was my answer. I liked the idea of a muffin. Of waking up with family around and eating muffins together as this is how the muffin scenario was described. I thought about Christmas morning and the piece of Panettone I will share and enjoy with my dad. I'll really enjoy it and the moment.
This oatmeal is not a muffin, not by any stretch of the imagination, nor do I want it to be. After I realized where my muffin rumination came from and checked in on my food emotions, I concluded I did not want or need the muffin - I was simply thinking about it without a real physical need to have it. Being aware of why and how we eat is the work of mental and physical health. Taking this moment to be mindful may not be for everyone, but I think it is something to notice and is an integral part of my coaching practice.
Think about where your food needs come from.
Get in the kitchen, try something new, and think about how food makes you feel or what you're seeking to get from it.
XO
Ingredients
*serves one
- 1/2 c. rolled oats *I like Trader Joes, Bob's Red Mill or Quaker rolled or quick oats
- 1/2 c. water, milk or nut milk of choice
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 of a frozen banana sliced *I got frozen because they're much sweeter
- 1 T. peanut butter powder *PB powder goes the distance in flavor and adding a super creamy texture to oatmeal and can also be used for smoothies
- Pinch of salt
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- 1 T. Foods Alive cacao nibs
Method
- Place all ingredients in a pot EXCEPT FOR CACAO NIBS and simmer on low flame for 7 minutes
- This can be made in the microwave in 2-3 minutes and I would never dream of judging anyone, convenience is key in the kitchen
- EAT AND ENJOY!