Chop, Chop!

Vegetables are not the only thing I've been chopping lately...I cut off 10+ inches of hair today! I typically go through hairstyle cycles of long-short-long-short...so this is my third time to donate to Locks of Love. I'm sure someone else will appreciate my hair much more than I did. Check out the new 'do:
I have lots to share with you today, so I'll just dive right in.

Wednesday
As promised, I tried a new protein powder on Wednesday evening: Nutiva Berry Pomegranate HempShake. I have tried Nutiva's chocolate variety before and loved it, so I was pretty pumped to try this flavor, plus it includes a popular superfood: pomegranate. I am happy to report that this flavor was a hit--I'll be using it again in the future.
Thursday
For a quick breakfast yesterday, I whipped up a pineapple smoothie in the MB. The smoothie was good, but I think my beloved Bullet is dying a slow death...good thing I have a spare! On the side I nibbled on some honey roasted peanuts and Kashi Cinnamon Harvest cereal.
My packed lunch included a Health is Wealth vegan Chik Patty on whole wheat (with Nayonaise and mustard), broccoli slaw (with red wine vinegar), and a tropical trail mix I made from raw cashews and diced dried papaya. I think this was a tasty lunch, but I can't really say--it started to raining (er, pour) as I was eating it (outside), so I stuffed everything in my mouth and ran! I was soggy for the entirety of my anatomy lab. Boo.
For dinner, I inadvertently cooked up a meal consisting entirely of vegetables: steamed squash, salad, a baked potato, and spinach/beans cooked in Annie's BBQ sauce and cumin. I highly recommend cooking your veggies in BBQ sauce. Oh, and my prankster dad snuck that teal M&M into the picture without my realizing it. Yum, candy-coated squash.
The shake of the evening included another Nutiva HempShake flavor: Amazon Acai. I was psyched about this one too for its inclusion of acai, another uber-trendy superfood. Maybe it was just the combination of ingredients, but this flavor tasted a little too "hempy" to me. I still ate it (of course), but the amazing Amazaon acai wasn't so amazing in my opinion.
Friday
Today I woke up refreshed and ready for the weekend...so I had another breakfast parfait! I can't really make these during the week because it's a more labor intensive dish than, say, oatmeal or cereal. Displayed in my new $2 parfait glass is two crumbled bran muffins, vanilla soy yogurt, and sliced peaches. Yum!! Allison from Sweets by Alli requested a recipe for the muffins, so here it is (adapted from Clean Eating Magazine):

Agave Wheat Bran Muffins
1 c wheat bran
3/4 c soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
2/3 c whole wheat flour
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 T flax + 1 1/2 T water
1/2 c vanilla soy yogurt
1/3 c agave nectar
1 t vanilla
1/4 c pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 375*.
In medium bowl, combine wheat bran with soymilk and let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients in another bowl.
In the bowl with the wheat bran mixture, add flax + water, soy yogurt, agave, and vanilla.
Combine the wet ingredients into the dry ones.
Spoon batter into lined or greased muffin cups and bake for 15-18 minutes.
Eat:)
My lunch today was incredible. I still can't get over how tasty it was (yet so simple!). I decided on a "cookout" theme (because I'm cool like that), and here's what I came up with: broccoli slaw (with Nayonaise, rice wine vinegar, and stevia), baked beans (ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and minced onions), BBQ Soy Crisps (purchased for $1.79!!), and fresh strawberries. In all honesty, I baked the beans for only 15-20 minutes--no time for that slow-cooked nonsense.
For dinner I made a dish from V-con: Israeli couscous with pistachios and dried apricots. I didn't have any dried apricots, so I used dried pluots (plum/apricot hybrid). I really like the texture of this Israeli couscous--it's not whole grain, but it's more fun to eat. Steamed zucchini, spinach salad, and an Stonyfield organic blueberry yogurt also joined the party.
Check out what came in the mail today...my Amazon order! Living Harvest Vanilla Spice Hemp Protein, new ear buds for running, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I just finished The Poisonwood Bible and really liked it, so I thought I'd read another book by Barb. Plus, her daughter just graduated from Duke:)
OK, I apologize for this excessively long post. Happy 7-11 Day--celebrate with a healthy homemade slurpee!