why not thrive? + socca to me!

Good morning rays of sunshine:) How are you?

Okay so this morning I have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. The Padre is going on the Brendan Brazier Thrive Diet for 30 days!!

GUYS I AM SO EXCITED this means the Padre will be eating just. like. me. I have never been so excited in my entire life.

Aren’t you proud of him?!

This is going to SKYROCKET his running performance and recovery, plus it will help him when he goes back to work (April 1st!). Padre will soon be eating a Cookie Dough Bowl and a Quinoa-Hummus-Raisin-Balsamic Bowl. Oh yes. Just you wait.

Here is a rough meal plan I made for him:

Thrive Meal Plan

Breakfast:

In a bowl:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 tbsp. almond butter
• 1 tbsp. chia or ground flax seeds
• Fruit
• Almond/hemp/coconut milk, etc.

Or

In a bowl:

• 1 scoop Vega protein powder (black canister in snack cabinet)
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 tbsp. flax seeds
• ½ cup – 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 tbsp. carob powder (optional)
• Non-dairy milk

Or

In a bowl:

• 2 tbsp. almonds
• 1 tbsp. chia or ground flax seeds
• 1 tbsp. hemp protein
• Fruit
• Non-dairy milk
• Carob powder (optional)

Or

Smoothie (blender)

• Recipes in Thrive Diet Recipe section
  • Generally, include lots of fruit, a few tablespoons of seeds and nut butter, and some hemp protein powder.

Lunch/Dinner:

• Big salad (romaine/spinach/mixed greens) or veggies
• 1 cup cooked pseudograins (quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth)
• 1 cup lentils/beans/hummus
• Handful of seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, chia, flax, sesame, hemp) or almonds
• Top all with balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice, and hempseed oil or EFA oil blend
• For other ideas, there are fantastic recipes in the Thrive Diet book.

Snacks:

• Energy Bars
• Vegetables with hummus
• Fruit with a handful of almonds
• Smoothie (see Thrive Diet recipes)
• ½ cup quinoa mixed with ½ cup lentils and your choice of dressing (marinara tastes great!), with veggies
• Banana with almond butter or handful of almonds

Pre-Workout Nutrition:

• About an hour before working out, Energy Pudding is best. In mini-chop, combine:
  • 1 banana
  • ¼ cup dates (about 6-8)
  • 2 tbsp. ground flaxseed
  • ½ tbsp. coconut oil (cereal cabinet)
  • 1 tbsp. carob (optional)
  • Splash of water
• Immediately before working out, if necessary, eat carbohydrates. This includes all fruits, mainly bananas, dates, and other dried fruits.

Post-Workout Nutrition:

• After a workout, a smoothie is best. Within 45 minutes, ingest a high-carbohydrate drink with small amounts of protein and fat. The general smoothie recipe is:
  • 1 banana
  • ¼ cup dates
  • 1 tbsp. hemp protein
  • 1 tsp. EFA oil blend
  • 1 tsp. dulse flakes
  • Water
  • Grated ginger (optional)

• One to two hours after your smoothie, eat a high-protein meal, such as the lunch and dinner suggestions above.

SO this means he will also be eating some of the food I cook. Sharing is caring🙂

Last week during a day when I got to come home for lunch, I (successfully) made socca! My first attempt was rather um burnt, but it’s fine this one turned out amaze and tasted even better.

And since I can’t eat things just plain (um hello, Quinoa-Hummus-Raisin-Balsamic Bowl), I had to make it socca pizza. And let me tell you, it was so good I ate it for lunch AND dinner.

So make this tonight, or you will be kicking yourself in the pants when you actually do try it and realize you should have made it sooner.

You have been warned.

Socca Pizza

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup garbanzo bean flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• Pinch of stevia
• Marinara sauce
• Nooch (nutritional yeast)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and grease a round 9-inch cake pan with EVOO.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine garbanzo bean flour, salt, stevia, and some hefty shakes of Italian seasoning.
3. Add water and oil, and mix thoroughly until all clumps are gone.
4. Pour into your cake pan and sprinkle with more Italian Seasoning.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until top is firm.
6. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then invert and let it cool on a cooling rack, or upside down on a plate.
7. Cut and top with marinara, nooch, and spinach lettuce or other veggies if desired.
8. Enjoy!

This was absolutely perfect.

I was expecting a funny flavor (pre-baking, the batter tastes horrendous), but it was so. good. Subtly sweet, yet savory at the same time.

I topped mine with Amy’s Low Sodium Marinara and nooch.

On my Pooh plate, obvs.

Can I just eat this every day for the rest of my life?

Sooo dense. My fave. Don’t give me fluff, give me substance.

Devoured.

So as I said, make this tonight. Don’t be kicking yourself in the pants later on;)

See you tomorrow loves!

Have you ever tried socca?

YESSS thank goodness I finally made it!

Have you ever helped a parent or family member to eat differently?

My sister went vegan thanks to my influence, and now I’m helping the Padre maximize his marathon training!

What are your favorite pre- and post-exercise snacks?

See above:)

xoxox,