Oatmeal Banana Pancakes. Vegan. Gluten Free.

These were our President’s Day sleepover breakfast.  Pancakes are always requested and well-received by our guests.  It’s also my chance to sneak in some good, healthy ingredients to fuel my family.  This recipe makes a nice big batch so you will have extras to refrigerate for easy morning breakfasts on-the-go.  Love these for the weekend too or perfect if you’re hosting a brunch.

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas, peeled
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups of Bob’s RedMill 1 to 1 gluten free flour
1 cup of gluten free rolled oats – I used Bob’s Redmill
1/4 cup of ground flax meal
2 tablespoon of coconut palm sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3 cups of almond, soy or cashew milk (vanilla unsweetened)
Optional: 1/2 cup of mini vegan chocolate chips

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk your flour, oats, flax, sugar, powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In your stand mixer, paddle attached, blend extract and bananas until mashed and smooth. Then add the dry mixture to the stand mixture along with the milk and blend until incorporated. If using chips – add and mix by hand.

I want to mention that I’ve paired up with Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon to give away one bib for either the half or full marathon on April 26th. The giveaway is on February 21st. To enter, either leave a comment on this post or any post regarding this giveaway on my Instagram feed noting if you would want to do the half or full marathon. The giveaway is only for the bib ONLY and does not include transportation, accommodations or food etc.

This week is peak week of training and the cumulative fatigue is really setting in. Cumulative fatigue isn’t just a tired feeling it is exhaustion of muscles from continual training along with a fleeting mental desire to keep going.  Leg turnover is hard.  Holding your pace is difficult, even slowing down occurs.  I roll and stretch a lot.  I fuel enough.  I get enough sleep but it happens.  It trains the body to deal with great amounts of fatigue when racing.  Mentally, it’s just difficult.  I’m there.  I’m human.  In light of the running beat down, I reduced the other training that I do so that my body can focus recovery of my legs more than my other muscles I would work.  Add in the bitter cold and my drive to continue struggles – I’m just being honest.

Comparisons. I’ve been having many conversations with friends about comparisons lately.  Speed.  Pace.  Mileage.  Fitness.  Veganism.  Weight loss.  Life.  Kids.  If there is one thing I’ve learned over the past few years is that what my life looks like, what I do at the gym, what I eat, my kids, my runs or how I feel is exactly that – MINE.  I don’t compare because it just diminishes your efforts and happiness.  Everyone is at a different part of their journey and that needs to be kept in mind.  Someone will always be faster, thinner, stronger, happier etc.   Now, I’m not saying that I don’t get down on myself because of a hard run or my pace doesn’t look like it used to but I keep it in persecutive.  This is where I am right now in my journey.  Comparison is the thief of joy – and life is too short to be unhappy with your efforts or life.  Just wanted to think out loud (on my blog) about that and share.

Recap:
Sunday:  rest day
Monday: 5 treadmill miles
Tuesday: 12 treadmill miles
Wednesday: 5 treadmill miles with ab work

— Knead to Cook