Hi, guys! What a beautiful morning! 
Murphy and I just returned from a longer-than-usual morning walk. Typically, we walk for about 10-15 minutes in the morning, just so he can do his “business.” But, today, we did an extra loop around the block and walked for close to 25 minutes. It was so nice to enjoy the sunshine, hear the birds chirp, and breath crisp, fresh air. I think we both wanted to keep walking, but I needed to get home and start my day.
Breakfast
Mal needed to be at school early this morning, so I was on my own with breakfast. I made myself a big, creamy batch of pumpkin oatmeal.
In the mix:
- 1/4 cup oats
- 1/4 cup spelt flakes
- 1/2 cup vanilla hemp milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 scoops of Nuttzo
- Granola
Nuttzo was easily the star ingredient of this morning’s breakfast. (The company sent me a jar to sample the other day.) I’ve never tasted (or even heard of) a nut butter like it.
Nuttzo is a “omega 3 multi-nut butter” made with peanuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds. I love that it’s a blend of all of those healthy nuts and seeds– and it’s really delicious! 
The flavor it sort of hard to describe– it just tastes like nuts! I guess the peanut and flaxseed (or maybe sunflower seed) flavors come through strongest for me. The consistency is thick and chunky with pieces of nuts and seeds throughout. I’m a big fan!
I always thought that banana oats were my favorite, but maybe it’s pumpkin now?
To drink, I had a mixture of iced coffee, non-fat milk, and chocolate-flavored Amazing Grass.
Feel Great Weight
I didn’t make my husband breakfast this morning, but you can read about how our little ritual has changed my thinking about food: Food Is Love: How Healthy Choices Mean More Than the Number on a Scale
Question of the Day
Do you associate food with love? Why or why not?
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I definitely think food can help show love. Cooking a good meal for someone you care about is always the best.
Oooh, good topic.
I used to associate love with food, for a very long time actually. Especially around the holidays. After a tremendous amount of effort though I have a new appreciation for food but it is surrounded by a level of balance. I can still experience the joy an event can bring and how many of my memories of Christmas involve food. And I eat some of it all! But…it is no longer an overwhelming sensation where I felt I couldn’t limit myself. Make sense?
I definitely do! My mom used to wake up with my dad and I to make us breakfast when I was growing up and whenever we could (baring my dance schedule), we ate together. Even when I go home, I sit down with them if I don’t have other dinner plans and it’s a nice tradition. Likewise, when friends come visit me, I cook for us whenever we’re not exploring a new recipe because it’s comforting and shows that you care.
I need this nutzo stuff for sure!! Food is love for me for sure!!! I live to eat!
I could go for some sun today. I think Va. is making us choose: either warmer temps or sun. Not both. I don’t really associate food with love, but more with security.
Pumpkin Banana oats are awesome! Try it with both. I think you will love it! Nuzzo sounds awesome! I need to try iced coffee with Chocolate Green Superfood in it, sounds great and I have never thought to put it in coffee.
I don’t know if I associate food with love, but I do associate food with happiness.
I definitely express my love with food. Whenever I’m headed over to a friend’s for a special event or even “just because” I always like to bake something healthy and delicious for a thank you treat. It may sound corny but I bake all my goodies with love and completely enjoy sharing them!
chocolate wheat grass?! where’d you get it? i want!
When the husband’s away, the pumpkin will play, hmm?
Yet another nut butter we’re bereft of in Australia! Sigh.
Great article! Meals have always been about family for me too, I think it is important to spend that time together
I love your article! Food is definitely love. I joke with my long distance boyfriend that when he isn’t around..food is my lover. It’s not that I eat a lot.. I just generally enjoy putting together healthy meals and it passes the time. I love baking and cooking for him too. I never thought of myself as domesticated, in fact I am quite the opposite but there is something special about making him his favorite cookies.
Plus cooking together is always fun
Thanks for the great article!
I most definitely associate food with love. I think I learned that from my grandparents who cooked tons of food every Sunday and Thursday for the whole family. As I’ve gotten older and learned to cook for my fiancee, I think of food as love in a different way. For instance, I know that he won’t eat a healthy balanced meal most of the time, unless I cook it for him. He usually just grabs what is convenient. But I show him love by carefully preparing something that he will love and is healthy for him. If you have ever read “Love Languages” – I have always thought “cooking” was missing from that book. It should definitely be a love language all on its own.
Great article Tina!
You know, I definitely think that food and love are connected. That connection can be both positive and negative. I have patients/clients who have the relatives who “love” them with food by enabling.
But, definitely, you can love people well with food. I love that you get up early each morning to make breakfast for your husband. I need to do that.
And, I can’t wait to try Nuttzo- it looks delish!
Nuttzo sounds so good! I’m googling it right now
Nuttzo sounds great. I looked but no where in my town carries it. Looks like I will have to order it online! Happy wednesday!
I really do associate food with love. My mom loved us and fed us good food even if it wasn’t good for us when things were going bad.
I try to think of food as love now when I buy healthy food for Hunni and cook us great healthy meals so that he is healthy and so am I. I love being the chef.
Nuttzo is so good! I just wish it was a little more affordable :-/
i most definitely associate food with love. i don’t think there’s anything wrong with that as long as it doesn’t EQUATE love.
I’m dying to try Nutzo but I can’t bring myself to buy it on my student budget
I keep my eye out if there’s ever a deal on it though!
I just read/commented on your article on making breakfast for your husband…which is absolutely lovely! I love your attitude (food is love…especially when you’re “dishing it out”
, and I love your blog, too! Keep up the great writing, Tina!
Mmm I want to try the nutzo so bad, but I can’t justify the cost yet. But it looks soo good.
My family used to eat dinner together a lot, until my dad went overseas for work. My mom and I would then retreat to our own separate spots in the house (we loved each other – we just had different agendas) to eat. Now, my husband and I eat dinner together, and usually all meals together on the weekend. I love cooking a good wholesome meal now! Especially when we have family get-togethers, I want to put something together that’s natural and fresh, but that tastes good, too. Sure it’s easy to open up a bag of chips, put it in a bowl and serve it with boxed frozen hamburgers and store-bought potato salad. What I want to do is make a fresh-from-the-garden potato salad using wholesome ingredients (mayo –> bad), use a leaner meat like chicken or turkey for burgers (preferably grass fed), and make a nice fruit salad instead of potato chips. I love the feeling of people feeling full after a meal I make, but I’d rather them be full on good, natural food rather than feeling sluggish after eating something that I wouldn’t even eat.
Actually, once I made bison burgers and no one noticed the difference. My husband and I love bison, but my family has always been stuck on the “normal” meats – ground beef (NOT lean), pork, chicken, etc. I’ll have to make some black bean burgers sometime since my husband has grown to love them – and they’re healthy!
Anyway … now I’m just rambling! Food is definitely love and it’s such a social thing nowadays. I remember when I was studying music history that music was such a universal language, but I think that food is, too – we just have to be open to TRYING new foods as we are to listening to new music.
K
mmm, loving the canned pumpkin…I love any excuse to eat this delicious veggie!
I’ve never tried Nuttzo but it looks like almost everyone loves it, so it’s on my list!
I associate food with love for sure. Food is one of the most wonderful qualities of life. You can enjoy it in so many ways there are so many flavors and our bodies need food for nourishment and support.
Creating dishes together, cooking for people, and socializing around food all include feelings and I enjoy sharing my strong love for food with other people!
I definitely associate food with love! My boyfriend is a vegetarian and I’m an omnivore, but one of our favorite things to do together is cook. We also love to try new restaurants, and we have some of our favorites where we’re “regulars.” It’s great to share our love for food with one another, even if we don’t always eat the same things!
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