What Robin Eats

"A Strong Body Equals a Healthy Mind."

Category Archives: Gluten Free


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How much do you spend grocery shopping?

Grocery shopping is a sport. The first challenge is parking your car and remembering to grab your reusable bags, the second challenge is navigating the store and trying to stick to your list, the third challenge is deciding which checkout line to go to, and the fourth is loading the groceries into your car and then putting them away once you get home. Whew, I’m exhausted just typing it!

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So how much does all of this work cost for a household? It’s different for everyone but after my poll last week it seems that the average household for two adults and one child is between $120-$160. I didn’t find out if they bought organic or not (a post coming on that later this month!) but this is the cost to feed most each week. For my family, we spend between $120-$140 a week. We eat all our meals at home unless it’s a special occasion or feel the need to get out. The cost in groceries has gone up since Poppy started eating more solids (I nurse her only twice a day) and I’ve been buying a few more things organic, before Poppy I never bought organic. No food goes to waste in our home (leftover queen!) so spending this much each week works for us and our budget. We never spend beyond our means and we could manage to spend less if we ever needed to save more. Quick note on saving: we both work really hard to be able to save money each month. I know this isn’t easy but it’s so helpful to get to a point where you can start saving money for the future. You never know what could come up! We were able to pay for our wedding and have a baby because of the way we save. Neither of us come from money so saving has changed our quality of life. I grew up on food stamps and that helped me learn the value of saving once I was out on my own at 18 years old.

There are ways to eat a well balanced diet with whatever budget you have. We’ve found that Trader Joe’s gives us the best bang for our buck. Yes, Famer’s Markets are amazing and who doesn’t love Erewhon?! But if this isn’t doable for your family that is perfectly ok! It’s not realistic in our home to shop all organic or go to Whole Foods for everything we need. Groceries are groceries and we all feed ourselves in a way that works best for our family.

Thoughts on grocery shopping? Where do you shop? I know my mother-in-law is the coupon queen.


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Peanut Crusted Vegan French Toast, in collaboration with Ripple.

There was a time in my life when I ate french toast for breakfast every morning. Yep, I said it. EVERY MORNING, for over a year and a half, actually. It was after a time in my life that I deprived myself from foods that I always wanted, like french toast, and I couldn’t stop once I allowed myself to eat said foods. Maybe I was afraid to break a new routine or maybe I was afraid that one day I wouldn’t allow myself to have it anymore? Whatever it was, I started @whatrobineats (over three years ago now) as a way to break my eating routine.  I was modeling at the time and had the pressure of staying exactly the same measurements year-round. I was eating food that I enjoyed but like, every day. Mentally that was NOT ok. I took the first seven days of #whatrobineats to eat something different for breakfast. Was I scared? Yes. Does that sound silly now? Double yes. But those emotions were real and Joel was along side me the entire way.  Now I make french toast whenever I want and feel good about the change in direction I made three and a half years ago.

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If you’re going through something, or have been through something similar to this. It’s ok!  There is no shame in where you’ve been and you should be proud of how far you’ve come. God is so good and has the BEST plans for your life.  Now onto some darn good vegan french toast made with my favorite Ripple unsweetened pea milk!

Peanut Crusted Vegan French Toast:

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 2 tbsp crushed peanut
  • 1/3 peach, slices
  • Handful of raspberries
  • Peanut butter syrup drizzle (1 tbsp peanut butter + 1/4 cup maple syrup)
  • Plant based yogurt

No-egg “egg wash”-

  • 1/2 small very ripe banana, mashed
  • 1/3 cup Ripple unsweetened original
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 + 1/2 tbsp GF flour
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
  • Pinch of nutmeg

 

Directions:

  • Blend “egg wash” together and transfer into a shallow bowl. Dip bread in wash, press one side into crushed peanuts, and cook on a flat skillet until desired doneness.
  • Cut in half, fill with goodies, and drizzle all that peanut butter syrup over the top! Pair with a peanut butter cold brew, obviously.


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Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Pancake Casserole, in collaboration with Driscoll’s.

No, these are not low FODMAP but I have a lot of things that need to be eaten before I can go that route.

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If you follow my stories (if you don’t there’s a lotta Poppy on there) then you saw that yesterday I went to the doctor to finally ask questions that I’ve been needing to ask for six years. Six years ago I started experiencing painful stomach bloat after most meals, stopped having my period, and a list of other things. I’ve put this appointment off for so long because before being pregnant I didn’t have health insurance that would cover any possible blood work or even a visit. Yesterday was successful in scheduling blood work to check for IBS, PCOS, and a few other things like my liver. I don’t have answers yet but I’m a step closer and that’s really important! A low FODMAP diet trial is to be started right after I finish this lemon ricotta blueberry pancake casserole made with @driscollsberry organic blueberries. Fun fact: blueberries are Driscoll’s berry of the month and good thing because Poppy is obsessed!

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes:

  • 1 cup almond ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup nut milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 + 1/2 cu GF flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Custard:

  • 1 cup plant based vanilla kefir
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar

Toppings:

  • 1/2 cup Driscoll’s organic blueberries
  • Grain free granola
  • Maple syrup

Instructions:

  • Make pancakes by whipping together wet ingredients then mixing in dry. Make the pancakes a flat skillet then cut pancakes in half.
  • Spray an 8 x 8 square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and line pancakes up in two rows, flat side down.
  • Blend custard ingredients together then pour over lined pancakes. Add organic blueberries on top then bakes at 350F for 45 minutes.
  • Once done baking, top with granola and serve with maple syrup.

Tag someone who should make this lemon ricotta blueberry pancake casserole for you this weekend. Cheers!


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Chocolate Chaga Covered Stuffed Dates, in collaboration with Four Sigmatic.

“Literally the best dessert I’ve had, EVER.” 👏🏼 Frozen chocolate covered stuffed dates aren’t new to the gram but they are new to the Plotnik home. Those were Joel’s exact words after first bite and he’s not wrong. These frozen chocolate CHAGA covered stuffed dates (with crunchy coconut cashew almond butter) and topped with flakey himalayan salt are the best desserts ever. Don’t save them for just dessert though, eat them anytime of day or night.

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Ingredients:

Instructions:

  • Pit your dates and split them in half. Scoop in as much of the nut butter as you can and close the dates back up.
  • Melt your dark chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat (or in a microwave safe dish in 30 second increments). Once melted, stir in Four Sigmatic chaga elixir. Pour chocolate chaga mixture into a small ramekin.
  • Roll, or dip, the dates in the melted chocolate chaga mixture, sprinkle flakey pink salt on top, place the date on a plate covered with parchment paper, and place in the freezer to harden. Let harden for 30-60 minutes and enjoy!

Click here for my Four Sigmatic GIVEAWAY!

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Vanilla Grain Free Cake, in collaboration with Driscoll’s.

I’m so torn. 😫🍓 I thought my cashew butter cacao mug cake was the best thing I’ve ever made… but then I made this vanilla grain free cake. It’s moist (not mad about this word) and topped with a peanut butter chai frosting, my strawberry chia seed jam, and Driscoll’s strawberries. Don’t knock the combo until you try it.

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Vanilla Grain Free Cake:
* 2 + 1/2 cups almond flour
* 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
* 1/2 cup maple syrup
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 1/2 tsp baking soda
* 1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt
* 2 eggs
Frosting:
* 1 + 1/4 cup powder peanut butter
* 2 scoops vanilla chai lactation booster (may omit and add 2 more tbsps powder peanut butter)
* 2 tbsp manuka honey
* 1/2 cup nut milk (may need more depending on desired consistency)
Toppings:
* Strawberry chia seed jam (made with fresh Driscoll’s strawberries, recipe below)
* Chopped Driscoll’s strawberries (would taste great with blackberries too, Driscoll’s berry of the month)

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Prepare your 8-inch pan by cutting a circular round of parchment paper to fit the base of your pan. Spray the pan with nonstick spray and place circular parchment round inside the cake pan.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla until well incorporated. Add almond flour, himalayan pink salt, and baking soda. Mix until batter is formed, then pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake about 25-30 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool, completely before frosting.
  • Prepare the frosting while the cake is baking. Combine all frosting ingredients in a medium size bowl (you may need to add more nut milk depending on your desired consistency). Frost cooled cake, top with chia seed jam, and fresh strawberries. Enjoy!

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Peanut butter, chai, and strawberries: thoughts?

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Perfect Bar PB&J cup, in collaboration with Perfect Snacks.

Ain’t nothin more dreamy than this Perfect Snacks coconut peanut butter bar and strawberry chia seed jam combo. Been loving this combo so much that I had to cover it in dark chocolate to make the best PB&J cup you’ve ever had.  I highly recommend prepping these bad boys as a grab-n-go treat for the week. Don’t have time to make these? That’s ok, grab a Perfect Snacks Perfect Bar (any flavor will do. They’re all deliciously made with freshly-ground peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter, organic honey and tasty whole-food ingredients), throw some homemade strawberry chia seed jam on top, and a couple chocolate chips. You really have no excuse here. 😉

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Perfect Snacks PB&J cup:

  • 1 coconut peanut butter Perfect Snacks Perfect Bar (chopped into 6 pieces)
  • 1/4 cup homemade strawberry chia seed jam (recipe below!)
  • 2 dark chocolate bars
  • 2 tsp coconut oil

Directions:

  • Melt chocolate in a microwave safe dish then mix in coconut oil.
  • Pour 1 + 1/2 tbsps into six cupcake molds (I used silicon molds) and place in freezer for 15 minutes.
  • While the bottom chocolate is hardening, divide Perfect Bar into six pieces.
  • Remove chocolate from freezer, place a Perfect Bar piece on top, cover with 2 tsp jam, and then 1-2 tbsp of melted chocolate on top. Repeat until the ingredients are gone. Freeze for one hour before enjoying!

Comment below your favorite Perfect Snacks Perfect Bar flavor!

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Grain Free Cashew Butter Cacao Mug Cake, in collaboration with Yumbutter.

Tooting my own horn here because this, THIS, is the best thing I’ve made to date: cashew butter cacao mug cakes. They’re grain free, super moist (why do people not like that word?), and perfect for anytime of day. I just ate this second one after spin this morning. Dollop on extra Yumbutter superfood cashew butter, vanilla dairy free gelato (or homemade cocoyo), and sprinkles of cacao nibs. Or you can simply add some vanilla ghee on top to give this more of a brownie feel.

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Cashew Butter Cacao Mug Cake (makes two cakes):

  • 2 tbsp coconut flour
  • 2 tbsp cacao powder
  • 2 tbsp Yumbutter superfood cashew butter (plus extra for topping)
  • Dash of sea salt
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 whole egg 
  • 1 tbsp melted coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp nut milk
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp cacao nibs (plus extra fo topping)
  • Dash of nutmeg (can omit, I just love nutmeg with cacao powder!)

Instructions:

1. Whisk together coconut flour, cacao powder, dash of salt, and baking powder in a small bowl.
2. Add egg, Yumbutter superfood cashew butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, nut milk, cacao nibs, and vanilla. Mix until combine.
3. Divide evenly into 2 small mugs (or ramekins) sprayed with nonstick spray and microwave on high for 60 seconds, or until cake is puffed up.
4. Add an additional scoop of Yumbutter superfood cashew butter, vanilla gelato, cacao nibs, and enjoy!

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What would you add on top of this mug cake? I added a dairy free key-lime ice cream on mine this morning. Is there anything that wouldn’t taste good on these?! The answer is no.