Banana Oatmeal Waffles - Vegan (But you'd never know it!)

Liv:  "Mom... can I have friends sleep over this weekend?"

Me:  "Sure.  Any special requests for breakfast?"

Liv:  "Ya.  They want the same waffles as last time, they loved them.  But they also said they're glad you don't make them eat vegan stuff.  Haha!  I didn't have the heart to tell them the waffles they want are the 'vegan stuff!'"

Many times vegan, or plant based, foods get a bad rap - sometimes deservedly so.  But I always chuckle a bit inside when I make that "weird vegan food" and people don't even know it's missing eggs and dairy.  I love having people gush over dishes and ask for recipes only to be surprised they are eating plant based and they love it.

And these waffles are no different.  Found on our breakfast table more often than not, these oatmeal beauties pair beautifully with a simple drizzle of maple syrup.  Want to dress them up a bit?  Sprinkle with raspberries and a dusting of powdered sugar like we did for the photos.  Or how about a lovely drizzle of Blueberry Maple Syrup?  That will surely do the trick.

This recipe makes 6-7 waffles in my waffle iron (yield may differ based on your waffle iron size, etc - we use a Cuisinart), which gives us breakfast and usually 1-2 left over.  For those we either freeze for super busy mornings, or, better yet turn them into one of my all time favorite things - Waffle PBJs!

~ Waffle PBJ:  Spread 1/2 of the waffle with peanut butter and jam (I like Blueberry Chia), fold in half and toss into a zippy sandwich bag for lunch that will make friends envious ~

But don't wait for weekend to make these beauties!  For busy school nights I set out the dry ingredients the night before, and in the morning mix together the almond milk, banana, and vanilla then add the dry, mix and we're cooking in no time.  Note - they may also be the perfect comfort dinner...

Enjoy the day my friends... balance and love always :)

Vitality Bowls Superfood Cafe, Carlsbad CA - New Restaurant Review

Acai, Pitaya... Bowls are all the rage right now with most cities offering numerous choices to fulfill your every desire.  But, the question remains - Are all bowls created equally?  When it comes down to ingredients, no.  They are not.

With brilliant blends and artistic toppings, many bowls appear healthy and appealing, but instead are filled with sorbets, syrups, and artificial sweeteners.  These "healthy" bowls can equate to a dessert in disguise.

Not so at the new Vitality Bowls Superfood Cafe located in the Plaza Paseo Real Center just off of El Camino in Carlsbad, CA (right next to Cineopolis - La Costa).  Owners Divya and Vikas Gupta bring pure, additive-free, superfood (organic when possible) to the table along with a balanced and nourishing vibe.

Quoted from the Carlsbad Patch - "All items on the menu are made to order for each customer and are prepared in a kitchen to avoid cross contamination so customers with food allergies can feel safe about eating at Vitality Bowls. No ingredient fillers such as ice, frozen yogurt, added sugar or artificial preservatives are used, giving the purest taste possible to each menu item."

Hence when Liv and her girlfriend offered to meet me at the new "superfood place" I hopped in the car and beat them to the menu. A chance conversation with Divya made me feel as though I had a new friend, one who is also passionate about not only nutrition, but tasty nutrition.

Take the Dragon Bowl for instance... Blended Pitaya, Mango Juice, Coconut Milk, Bananas, Pineapple, Raspberries and an Immunity Boost is topped with Strawberries, Kiwi, Almonds, Goji Berries, Bee Pollen and Honey.  What's not to love?  Liv's friend Hannah ordered this dish and all three of us gushed over the flavors with the girls proclaiming it one of the best Pitaya Bowls they'd ever had.

Liv chose the Tropical Bowl (topped with crunchy granola, bananas, strawberries, coconut shavings and honey) which drew equal proclamations of love, and I found myself craving my choice of the Rehydrator Juice for days following.

Filling out the menu the cafe also offers Panini (might I recommend the Veggie - Mozzarella, Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Dijon and Pesto?), Kombucha on tap, and creative Salads.

Located next to Carlsbad's Cineopolis Movie Theater (La Costa), I'm so happy to have a healthy, real food alternative to Pizza and Subs before we head in to see the latest flick.

Real food made by real people, Vitality Bowls has found a few new fans in us.  Thanks Divya for giving me a new happy place in Carlsbad!

Liv Life Note:  Vitality Bowls offered to sponsor us for lunch, however we enjoyed our visit so much we paid for our meal so this post could be unsponsored. Purely my own thoughts and opinions.  We've returned a number of times since our first visit and simply want to share our love!