A Glimpse of Glam: snacks

Summer Snacking: Your Guide to Popcorn and Drinks Combos ft. SkinnyPop

food

6:11 PM
14 Comments

Shaping Up for the Summer: Easy Healthy Food Hacks to Keep You Going

advice

11:19 PM
23 Comments

Superfoods: My Favorites for a Healthier Diet

food

Hey everyone!

How are you all doing? I hope September’s been good to you guys so far. I swear the day after Labor Day, the weather shifted right to autumn. It’s crazy. This morning when I walked outside, I could feel that fall chill in the air and smell the undeniably crisp autumn scent. I’m pretty happy bout this change in weather because I can’t wait to break out my boots, leather jackets, and scarves again. Though, I gotta admit I do wear boots when it’s warmer weather too. But, it’s obviously not the same. Are you guys excited for the impending fall?

The one thing I’m not entirely looking forward to this autumn is my soon-to-be stressful fall schedule at school. I’m sure those of you who are still in school have already started. UW is one of those schools that starts later, so I’ve still got a few weeks left. With school starting up and the relaxing summer coming to an end, we all gotta remember to still maintain a healthy diet to keep up with our busy lives. I already eat a healthy diet on a normal basis, but there are a few specific superfoods that I count on the most.

Chia Seeds

I’m sure you are all very familiar with these already. They’ve been all the rage in the past couple years. Chia seeds are packed full of health benefits. They can help keep you fuller for longer because they are a great source of fiber. A good balance of fiber, protein, and fat is what can help keep you sustained between meals and chia seeds are good for that. Because they swell up in liquid, they also provide some nice bulk to foods that can help keep you feeling full too.

Some people like to just sprinkle them on top of salads or other foods, BUT I highly recommend pre-soaking them in liquid before doing so. Just a mere 5 minutes makes a difference. If you just sprinkle them on, they don’t have the time to absorb liquid. Pre-soaking can also help you eat less calories because chia seeds can be caloric dense. By allowing them to swell in size, that one tablespoon of chia seeds can become three times that. Trust me, it works better that way.

Goji Berries

I can’t believe these are so popular these days. I’ve been eating these for YEARS now. My mom would make teas with these for my sister and I every once in awhile. Guess mother does know best. She was on top of this trend before it even was a thing. My mother has always told me that goji berries are really good for your eyes because they have a ton of vitamin A. Goji berries are full of antioxidants such as zinc and iron that can benefit your skin, eyes, and just overall health. I’ve also learned before that they can help balance hormones. However, don’t eat a bucketload of them every day. You can’t make up for anything by overdoing it on goji berries. They may be good for you, but so is sleeping and you can’t “pre” sleep a week in advance.

As they generally come dried, one great way to enjoy them is to soak them in hot water for 5-10 minutes before adding them to other foods. I usually soak them in hot water, stir in a spoonful of raw honey once the water has cooled slightly, and add a splash of lemon juice for a delicious drink. You can eat them dried, but I don’t really like the texture like that, they stick to teeth too much.

Apples

Apples are SO underrated!! People don’t usually see these as healthy foods because apples are so attainable. BUT, they are because they are full of healthy nutritional benefits. I have apples at least a couple times a week (or I try to) because they are so good for you. They have soluble and insoluble fibers, one helps clear out your system if you know what I mean and the other provides necessary bulk to help keep you fuller longer. Apples also have a ton of vitamins and minerals that would do your body some good too. I love slicing some apples to eat with greek yogurt, dipping them in like a “chips and dips” kind of ordeal. Apples taste pretty good with cottage cheese as well, if you remember from one of my food posts last year. You can eat apples in so many ways, and their versatility is what makes them even better.

Superfoods Tea - Andrea Tiffany A Glimpse of Glam

Tea

I drink tea literally every day. Sometimes even several times a day. I have a bunch of different types of teas in the pantry to the point where my mom complains that I shouldn’t buy more until I finish some first. I like having variety to choose from. We all know of green tea being good for you, what with the catechin and antioxidants and whatnot, especially in matcha green tea. But, I also love drinking roobis tea too. Roobis is a red tea that has no caffeine. It is from South Africa from a red bush or something like that. It doesn’t have as strong or bitter of a taste as green tea can have. Roobis has this nice warm richness to it that I really like. Roobis tea is so good for you, and can help clear your skin, prevent cancer and viruses, and is anti-inflammatory. Most teas are really good for you in general. (That is, teas that aren’t processed with sugar and preservatives and whatnot) Teas generally provide caffeine in a way that doesn’t harm your body, has antioxidants, can boost your immune system, and is a calorie-free way to drink something other than water. I like sipping on roobis, green tea, earl grey, or peppermint teas. I know that loose-leaf teas are better than the bagged kind, but teabags are definitely more convenient. I literally carry around teabags in my purse. You don't need to say it, I know I'm weird. Either way, just drink tea.

Walnuts

They aren’t the most aesthetically appealing, but they taste pretty good. I once learned that walnuts are good for you brain, which you can remember by their shape. They sort of resemble a brain. Weird, huh? Walnuts taste good sprinkled on oatmeal, salads, yogurt, in trail mix, or just on its own. BUT don’t eat too much at once because walnuts are very calorie dense. I usually like to take a couple and crush them into tiny bits to sprinkle on my oatmeal. That way, I feel like I have more because I have some in every bite, but I’m not actually eating too much. Walnuts have healthy omega-3 fatty acids that are good for you skin, brain, and overall body. The healthy fats help keep you full because they balance the protein and carbs in a meal. Walnuts don’t have a super strong taste, so they complement things pretty nicely.

Superfoods Health Benefits Nuts.com - Andrea Tiffany A Glimpse of Glam

A handy little chart from Nuts.com about common superfoods

There are other superfoods I really love eating too like blueberries or almonds, but these are the ones I’ve been into more lately. I eat frozen blueberries quite often too (I learned before that there are these antioxidants in blueberries’ skin that is better released when frozen, plus it’s easier to guarantee sweetness when you buy frozen because of issues with berries not always being in season). Almonds are a definite go-to for me when it comes to snacking on the go. But, recently these are the ones I’ve been eating more.

They say “You are what you eat”, and that’s pretty true. How you eat can really be reflected by your skin, mood, energy levels, etc. Yeah it’s convenient to blitz things up in a blender to make a nutrient packed smoothie, but I find that eating healthy foods in different ways that brings out their unique flavors helps me develop a liking for the foods themselves. In smoothies, foods with a more overwhelming flavor tend to drown out all other ones and you don’t actually taste each unique food. Plus, I just generally like eating foods rather than drinking my calories anyways.

I definitely recommend reading up on common super foods like goji berries, cacao nibs, matcha green tea, or chia seeds to find out what health benefits they provide. It's always easier to motivate yourself to integrate superfoods into your diet if you know how they actually effect your body. Plus, it helps you find ways to eat them to maximize health benefits. Like adding lemon juice to teas to maximize the antioxidants they provide. Or not using super boiling hot water on raw honey or else it kills the good stuff.

How do you eat these superfoods? Which superfoods do you like to eat? Lemme know in the comments below some ways you prepare superfoods!

As always, thank you all for stopping by! I wish you all a wonderful weekend!!

Til next time,

9:06 PM
60 Comments

Four Ingredient Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

baking

9:40 PM
60 Comments

Black Bean Brownies: A Guilt Free Gluten-Free Vegan Sweet Treat

baking

Gluten Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies - A Glimpse of Glam

Hey everyone!

Bask in the glory of the beautiful mouthwatering photos of these delectable brownies. These are a really tasty sweet treat that happen to also be gluten free and vegan. Must I say any more?

Black Bean Brownies - A Glimpse of Glam Andrea Tiffany

First things first...

I apologize for being away for several weeks yet again! It has been too long! I was pretty busy finishing up stuff as classes ended for the quarter. Then, after finals, I was away visiting family for a week in Canada. I had very limited internet access because my grandmother doesn't have WiFi. Not because she doesn't know how to use it (though I actually have no idea if she does or not). To feed our internet addiction, we basically mooched off of the WiFi from our aunt and uncle's house that was one house down. It was super weak and barely reached, and only connected from certain parts of the house. We were better off going down the street to a nearby Tim Horton's instead. For the most part, it was nice to disconnect for awhile, but I did find myself occasionally wanting to go online to visit blogs and do my usual Instagram scroll.

A couple months ago, I shared with all of you a healthy salad and dressing recipe I created for the culinary sciences nutrition class I'm taking. This salad is a great dish to try out when you want something light yet filling, full of fiber, and packed with tons of nutrients. I'm glad to hear that you guys liked the recipe, and I wanted to share another one I've got!

I like to make sure the recipes I post are tried-and-true, and not an accidental one time only success. Otherwise, what's the point in posting a recipe if it doesn't work? I mean, sure the whole bragging part is pretty fun, you know, making everyone jealous of the delicious food. Sometimes, I pull up enticing photos of the food I make and show them to my friends, resulting in glaring, pleading looks from them as they wish I was giving them the food to try rather than just to look at. Look but don't touch; that's only fun for the person provoking the reaction, meaning me. But, I'm feeling generous, so I figured why not share the recipe!

These brownies are incredibly rich and fudgy, and full of that delicious chocolate flavor that leaves your mouth salivating for more. But, they have no butter. They may be dense little chocolate bombs, but they don't actually have the calories and fat they seem to have just from a taste. I gave some to my dad to try out, and he told me he loved it but didn't want to know how much butter was in it because of how fudgy and chocolatey it was. Seriously, his reaction when I told him this was actually a healthier version of brownies was priceless.

My father and sister do not like when foods are "healthier" versions of an original. I agree to some extent. Why bother creating a healthy version that isn't as satisfying as the actual thing? There's no point in eating something that is "healthy", if you are still left craving for the full-fat, full-sugar version. That's a ridiculous waste of calories and appetite. HOWEVER, on some occasions, a healthier version is good. Ones that fully satiate your desire for the food. They may not be EXACTLY copy-and-paste versions of the original, but they are damn good regardless. Actually, don't even think of them as a replacement or alternative; in fact, view them as an original themselves. They are their own thing. Try thinking that way and I guarantee you won’t be squinting at it through a lens of bias with negative, judgmental criticism parading through your brain.

That’s honestly how I go about a lot of new dishes I try out. If they happen to claim that they are “just like the original, only better for you”, I ignore all of that bullshit. I try not to let it all influence my judgment. So I am speaking the truth when I tell you all that these black bean brownies are truly remarkable.

I hope I’ve sold you all. If not, well, I can continue on ranting if you’d like? I could probably make a great salesman. But, then again, who knows? I’m talking to you guys virtually over the internet and I have no idea how well I’m doing. I’m only hoping that you guys are excited for this recipe.

Gluten Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies - A Glimpse of Glam Andrea Tiffany

So I’m just gonna assume it’s a yes…

I created two versions, one with flax eggs (made of ground flaxseeds and water), as well as one with chia eggs (made with ground chia seeds and water). I personally prefer the latter, but you can decide which you prefer.

~~~

15 oz can of black beans, rinsed thoroughly and drained OR 1 3/4 cups of cooked black beans, drained

2 flax eggs (2 heaping tbs ground flaxseeds mixed with 5 tbs water)

2 chia seed eggs (2 heaping tbs ground chia seeds mixed with 5 tbs water)

3 tbs coconut oil, melted

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for the chia version I used unsweetened dark cocoa powder but either works)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

2/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)

**You will need a food processor**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

To make a flax egg or chia seed egg, grind up the seed in a food processor. Combine the ground seeds with water and set aside to thicken.

Add the black beans into the food processor and puree them until smooth.

Add in all the rest of the ingredients except for pecans and chocolate chips. Puree until smooth in consistency. You may need to pause and scrape off the sides occasionally. The resulting consistency should be thick not liquidy or runny.

Stir in the chopped pecans and chocolate chips, saving some aside to decorate.

Scoop the batter into a lightly greased muffin tin or square 9 inches by 9 inches baking pan. Sprinkle on the remaining pecans and chocolate chips.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and the tops look dry. The top will NOT develop the shiny crust typical of brownies, but will look matte.

Makes 12 servings

**I experimented with adding 2 oz of melted semisweet baking chocolate into the mixture to give it an extra chocolatey flavor, but that is optional as well. It creates a subtle but chocolatier, and richer flavor.

~~~

Please do give this recipe a try! They really do satisfy that chocolate craving or sweet tooth. I personally prefer the chia seed one better, mostly because flaxseeds generally provide a nuttier flavor. Otherwise, both are really delicious and addicting. The added benefit of using this recipe is that the beans and flax/chia seeds add a TON of extra satiating fiber that helps keep you full. Trust me. This is coming from someone who gets hungry easily. I couldn't help myself one morning and broke a piece to eat with my morning oatmeal, and I actually wasn't hungry for 5 hours when normally I would be starving after 3 1/2 hours.

How often do you guys get hungry? Sometimes I wonder if I am normal, so I'm pretty curious to hear what you have to say.

Terribly sorry for having been away for so long! Final projects took up quite some time. I want to provide you all with good quality posts, rather than short random fillers that aren't as genuine. I have some more recipes to share with you all soon! Like I said before, I like to test them out to really make sure they are great before sharing. Cuz I've got a name to maintain and I can't be sharing terrible recipes.

Black Bean Brownies Recipe Gluten Free and Vegan - A Glimpse of Glam

Black Bean Brownies Gluten Free and Vegan - A Glimpse of Glam

Black Bean Brownies Recipe Gluten Free and Vegan - A Glimpse of Glam Andrea Tiffany

How do you guys create healthy versions of classic sweets without compromising texture or flavor? Comment down below!! I would love to learn new techniques to try out myself!

I really hope you enjoyed reading, and that you are having a wonderful week!

Til next time,