The chilly wind is here. Do you crave for a warm breakfast these days? I know we do. This is one of my version of “oatmeal”. We hardly if ever have oats anymore. Generally over rated in nutrition value, I actually find ourselves become hungrier easily than eating a protein + fat rich breakfast. 
Since I have been making our almond +cashew milk blend on a weekly basis, we have pulp left over. This is perfect for using left over pulp. 
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The luxury of breakfasts. What’s yours? We love our breakfasts in our household. Mine is usually boring- yogurt with my home made granola, or different variations of eggs + kimchi. For the guys in my household, it would be the same but with a variety of banana bread, buckwheat cracker with avocado and tomatoes, smoothie bowls and pancakes. On a Sunday, we may even have sausages, mushrooms, spinach and an egg.
I get excited when it is a long weekend. A chance to take my time to cook up something different. You could grate the sweet potato, but I just mashed some up, mix it with zucchini and egg. Pan fry it and serve it with poached egg. We are very lucky to have some gorgeous fresh ricotta cheese- that totally lift the fritters up.
Asher is nearly 3. With that comes language. His reasoning skills and bank of vocabulary have increased almost on a weekly basis. Here are some conversations we had recently 
Toddler Talk P3
Me: Sorry Asher. That’s enough milk. You can have water instead
Asher: “No! I want to cry instead.”
Dinner table
Asher: “are you happy?”
Me (Feeling frustrated with repeated attempts to get him to sit at the table): “NO asher, I’m upset because you are not sitting at the table finishing your dinner.”
(After a few seconds)
Asher: “Mummy! You are pretty! (Big smiles)
“Are you happy now?”
Me (with raised eyebrows): “Thank you for the compliment. But you still need to sit at the table and eat.”
Asher: “awwwwww” (cheeky smile on his face)
Daddy:” Ok asher, we have to share watermelon with mamma”
Asher: “OK! I share a big piece”
Daddy: “Thats good sharing!”
Asher: “Give mamma the big skin of watermelon!”
me: “Why did you wake last night?”
Asher: I wanted to see mummy”
Me: “But why? Was it a nightmare?”
Asher: “Because I like you mummy.”
Dinner time
Me: “That’s enough crackling. The last one is for daddy.”
Asher: “Can daddy share with me?”
Me: “There is only 1 left. If you have that, daddy won’t have anymore.”
Asher: “Mummy cut it in half. Then Asher and Daddy can have!.” 
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Is being a father/mother = to being a good husband/wife?
The other day hubby and I had a conversation about roles in parent hood. While it may seem clear cut on what our roles are, it can often be more murky than what it seems. 
First up, it does depends on your definition of what a husband or wife should be. For some people, it is about being a partner in life. We uplift each other, we give honest thoughts, we pray. Perhaps we enjoy checking out cafes and coffee. We have heart to heart conversations, have similar thoughts on current affairs. We may share a love for musicals. We do housework together and is there for each other when the going gets tough.We have a good laugh. Most of all we like each other.
Then we have definition of what a parent is like. The usual routine, caring for a child, playing. We may think that providing financially is also one of our roles. 
Gently, we teased out the differences. Being a mother/father may contribute being a partner in a relationship but it does not define it. I love seeing hubby being a dad. It gives me great joy when I see hubby plays with Asher or teaching him a skill that I did not even think of teaching. I love seeing how Asher looks up to his dad with those eyes that says “daddy is his hero”. It makes me warm and fuzzy. It fills me with love. Yet I also long for those days and luxuries when I have hubby’s undivided attention. Flowers and gifts. Notes in my lunch box and sweet words. Hubby too realises that he misses being the centre of my attention where I am more flexible in my scheduling, more spontaneous in checking out food places and perhaps less snappiness when I’m tired. He misses my messages on why I love him, and why I respect him. He cares for those evenings when we do not have to rushed to finish getting ready for the next day but just enjoy each other’s company. He would like our conversation to be round us and our dreams/goals- and not just be around what we need to do and need each other to do.
Being a parent is hard work. Being in a marriage and a parent = triple the hard work. The unspoken is that it takes a lot of effort to keep a family together. I certainly appreciate having this conversation to keep me in check, but in reflection of our day to day actions as a couple. 
This is one of hubby’s favourite breakfast in summer. The sweetness and creaminess of mango means the bread does not need any other sweeter. Asher for some reason does not like mangos. I think it is the texture (I’m sure he will come around though). Sometimes I may not make something (in order to maximise amount of return for the energy output to make it) because Asher doesn’t eat it as much- but this time, it is for hubby because he likes it.
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Yes. Another pancake recipe. We pretty much make pancakes on a fortnightly to a weekly basis. Asher really likes his pancakes! Blueberries of course is another favourite of us. 
The funny thing is that Asher does not seem to like cheese (or nut butter!?!) by itself. He is generally a great eater so I put it down to personal preference and how that might change as he gets older. We aren’t too fussed about dairy as it does have inflammatory properties, and being Asian just means Asher might be more prone to lactose intolerance later down his life. For us though, it is about teaching him that just because you don’t like one form of food doesn’t necessarily means another form isn’t delicious.
From time to time we have ricotta in the house. This time round, we included ricotta in to our pancakes. The result was smooth and creamy. He scoffed it down in on time. These are nut free too which will be a handy thing to have in the future for school I’m sure! 
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You know my love for creating breakfasts. We have a great start to the new year with the public holidays. That usually means I try to make something up fresh for all of us. On other days though, I like to whip up a loaf of some sort and toast it for breakfasts for the boys. 
I’m a little boring for breakfasts usually- I like my predictable yogurt with home made granola or eggs for breakfasts at home. Somehow, I find comfort in that. At times though, I do break the tradition and have waffles, pancakes or even a slice of loaf.
Breakfasts for lunch or snack? That’s a different story. You can find me eating eggs anytime of the day, or a sneaking in a spoonful of nut butter. Perhaps even toasting up a slice of banana bread before my workouts. 
I love love love this loaf that I made some time back. A very simple Apple Blueberry Lemon Loaf. The sweetness of apples is balanced by the tartness of lemon and blueberries. It is nut free as well which is a good school item if that’s in your territory (not too far for me too!).
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It’s nearly the end of the year. I thought I would like to update myself (and if you are reading) about my thoughts on fitness, food and body image. I have written about scales talk, food judgement, and also my fitness routine. Things have changed since Feb 2015!
There are many reasons. One is that I truly believe fitness is a journey. It does sound cliche, but the more I work out, the more I’m realising other reasons to do so. Yes, it started off as aesthetics, then it was the fear of returning to where I was. Gradually it became a competition with myself on how far I can push my body. Now, I’m at a space where I work out to feel good, be healthy, have energy, be strong and have fun. Do I want to pump out more pull ups? Oh you bet I do! Do I want to run faster, yep or tackle heavier weights? it’s there.
I have also learned though, that it is ok to take breaks. I used to feel SO bad about missing a session. Now, if I missed one, over the weekdays, I might choose to let it go, do something on my usual rest day, or turn on a HITT session. A good stretch or remedial massage is a fitness session too.
Another big change is that my really really awesome gym closed in July 2015. I.grieved.big.time. Thankfully, the people that I work out together felt the same way and so we decided to do something about our grief and channelled it into our own workout sessions. We even have a name! I just have to remember it.
I have a workout buddy now too. We decided that we want to continue the momentum and practice kettle bells. We bought some equipment and transformed one of my living areas into a home gym.
My current work out routine
Monday- Metcon
Tuesday- Weights/Kbs
Wednesday- Boxing
Thursday- HITT or KBs
Friday- Rest day
Saturday- boxing
Sunday- Rest day
Active rest days are the best. I walk, swim, run around, dance with Asher or do a BIG stretch.
The biggest change of course is probably my mindset.
I tracked food in June after discovering a couple of my pants became a little too tight (aka bursting) for my liking. I turned a notch down in snacking and returned to just sensible 3 meals with a snack before workout. I practiced being kind to myself and slip a coffee when I need or feel like one instead of berating myself for too much caffeine. I savoured dark chocolate and ate my berries. I continued to do what I used to do- which is to ask myself is the food item for pleasure or nourishment or both. Enjoying my food rather than freaking out.
I stopped weighing myself.
Surprise surprise. My pants fit, I’m feeling better and I actually conquered turkish get ups. Plus hit a few PB with lifting weights.
So what’s next?
Speaking of kindness, we are not in the US and I am more than aware that pumpkin season is sort of over. Here in my household though, it feels like pumpkin season is weekly. Asher is into pancakes and here is my attempt to include in a good dose of antioxidants and beta-carotene in him. A dollop of coconut yogurt or yogurt completes it. Or if you are Asher, plain is the best way.
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Are you having strawberry fever yet? I know I am. Around two months ago, a good friend went to a strawberry farm and brought back around 4 kg worth of strawberries for us. Freshly picked. It was epic awesome. We went strawberry picking in Tassie as well and was so impressed with their spray free strawberries. Asher was even more impressed by how he can pick and eat them. 
I love strawberries for many reasons. I like the texture, its’ sweetness, tang and of course one of the most nutrient dense food around. The are probably the lowest sugar/frutose fruits but are filled with phytonutrients and antioxidants. 
With the amount of strawberries, I made this chai jam that was perfect for our coconut chia pudding that I made for hubby’s breakfast. Chia Jam is awesome because they are so quick to whip up, using chia seeds as the thickening agent.
I usually have a few tbsp of chia pudding pre work out too. For a toddler like Asher, he would have his chia pudding topped up with 1/2 cup of milk (with 1 tsp of chia seeds). There are times I give him cows milk or almond milk for variety. While chia is full of omegas, fibre and are “good for you”, I think there can be too much of a good thing especially for a toddler and choose to dilute chia seeds with more liquid for easier digestion. 
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With the little amount of strawberry jam left, and some miracle left over tart (see previous post on my savoury tart) pastry in my fridge, a tart is inevitable. Now, this pastry recipe is a little vague because I used left over pastry from my silver beet tart. One thing with the jam though. I forgot that we are essentially double cooking it when the crumble tart enters the oven. I felt that the strawberry flavour was there but there was a missing strawberry freshness to it. Next time, I would add a few slices of fresh strawberries on top of the jam for that freshness. 
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You probably guessed that I’m a big breakfast person. Truth be told, I never thought I will be a morning person too. I think it is not entirely by choice though. I love my bed and I certainly like to have that extra 5 minutes (if it ever do happen!). Since having Asher, and more so recently with work, waking up early = getting heaps of things completed before 9am. Take this morning for instance,
6am- all awake
6:30am- I’m scrambling eggs for the boys.
6:45am- everyone is eating breakfast OR dad is out of the house as he eats breakfast
(sometimes, hubby will be awake by 5:15am, and having his breakfast at 6am to get to work early)
7am- clean up, Asher gets dressed
Between 7-8am: Batch of pear and yogurt cakes in the oven, chickpeas are cooked, floors and toilets cleaned.
8-9am: Mummy and Asher play time, laundry get folded while I ring my dad on FaceTime.
Yes, I’m trying to convince myself that early morning wake ups are cool.
On the rare occasion, like when hubby works from home, or a public holiday, I like to make us a hot breakfast that we don’t usually have. I love fritters and so with zucchini and haloumi on hand, I created some! Yummy, easy and good to be reheated for the next day (for when hubby needs to rush out of the door!) 
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We found a lovely organic pear shop at the Manning Road markets. Their pears are so sweet and juicy that we cannot help but purchase a few from them each week.
I have been experimenting baking more without adding any sweeteners to it. No raw honey or rice malt. Just simply the sweetness from the natural fruits. Cinnamon and vanilla naturally enhances the sweetness of most fruits. 
We love banana bread in our household. When we first started out eating clean, we found that we needed to add some form of honey in our banana bread to get the desire sweetness. Now, we don’t even need that anymore. The sugar from bananas usually suffice.
Adding pear though, brought it to another level. I reduced the amount of bananas in this as a small chopped pear is enough to compensate for it. We love the slight crunch of chopped pears that goes so well with pecans. It tasted even better when it is toasted. Asher cannot have enough of it, and I have to say, it makes the mornings that I work a lot easier when he munches down his breakfast faster.
It is also nut free which makes me think I can refer to this recipe 
again when he starts school.
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“What are your favourite foods Asher?”
He rattled off a list.
Hubby was saying that was what Asher said in one of their conversations. I was impressed. Not just that he can remembers all those food items but he was able to understand the question and rattled off foods that he does get excited when they are given to him. 
Pancakes are his current thing. We make pancakes mini size. My understanding is that they are similar except pikelets are thicker. Of course since we do not have flour in our pantry, we use coconut flour. After some experimentation, I like this ratio of coconut flour and eggs best.
For some reason, Asher does not like nut butter. A pity because I LOVE THEM. I think it is the sticky feel that he isn’t a fan of. He has also grown to like nuts which is a big horror to me after reading and knowing that whole nuts are a no no to kids due to it being a possible choking hazard. It reinforces how he copies our eating habits as he knows I always have a small box of nuts in my handbag! 
One of my ways of getting some great protein into him is using nut butter in pancakes. In my pantry we have jars of nut butters. Cashew, almond, ABC and dare I saw it… peanut. Yes peanut is a legume and it is not “paleo” but we love it and believe that we can have some of it if it sits ok with us. We do choose a brand without any other ingredients.
I love these pancakes because I can make a big batch and fridge or freeze them. On my work day mornings, Asher will eat them without a fuss and they are easy to re heat. On some Fridays or Mondays, we make them together. He loves whisking the eggs and seeing me our the batter into the pan. An activity that 1) helps him to learn cooking/measuring/counting, 2) bonding between us, 3) he eats it, 4) less fuss on work mornings!
Killing 4 birds with one batch of pancakes. 
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Words That Nourish 