Volume Eating

Do you remember that commercial where a couple finally get into this ritzy gourmet restaurant, only to be served miniscule portions of rich, decadent dishes? They end up running out and crashing a convenience store to wipe them clean of gas station style snacks? It’s a good thing I don’t have a gourmet restaurant kind of budget, because I don’t think I have a gourmet-style appetite. I am all about volume eating.

The number one way to get more volume out of your eats is vegetables. Take my breakfast this morning for example – what could have been a small 1/3 cup portion of oats was amplified into an almost 2 cup serving for a mere 50 calories more.

• 1/3 cup dry oats
• 1/3 cup plain rice milk (or any other milk/ milk alternative)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 large carrot, finely grated
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 Tablespoon raw almond butter
• 1 Tablespoon ground golden flax
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• lots of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice
• raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas) for garnish

As far as my cooking “technique” I just cook the oats in the rice milk and water until they’re almost done, and then I stir in all the add ins at the very end. I just let cook for about a minute more, then pour into a bowl and top with more cinnamon, pumpkin spice and the pepitas.

This is incredibly filling! And what I love most about it is just how much is packed into this breakfast – two vegetables, whole grains, protein, healthy fat and spice.  The spice is definitely the key to being able to add minimal sweetener.

So how about you? What are you favorite volumized meals? Shoot me some ideas, especially for dinner – I’m about to plan next week’s meals and suggestions are welcome.