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Home ยป Falling back in love with running plus #TrainingBites

Falling back in love with running plus #TrainingBites

By Kristina LaRue, RDN 12 Comments

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I started running in college and fell in love, which lead me to the triathlon team. Running was a place of stillness and escape for me. Being so rigid with tennis in high school, I wanted freedom. And running gave that to me.

When Eric and I met, he really didn’t like to run. We started running together even though he complained a bunch in the beginning.

He’s totally into running now, and I’ve found myself to be the one complaining about running.Eric’s style of running is Sunday afternoon at 12 PM, 95 degrees and humid, and because we run together, I’ve endured the sweat sesh, because as he says “it’s making me stronger”. Okay, that is not my type of running. It kinda puts me in a cranky mood.

Gluten Free-Coconut-Quinoa-Granola

This weekend we ran the Miracle Miles 15K (9.3 miles), it was overcast, raining, and a little breezy (kinda like the old Auburn days when I found running). The race was in downtown Orlando and by the time we parked our car, we had 10 minutes to get to the start line and we were about a mile away! So we sprinted to the race start and made it just before the gun fired.

Awesome. There was a big crowed of people, and it felt good, and then at about mile 2 we hit a long highway and I wasn’t feeling it. I seriously contemplated dropping out, and stopping at the Starbucks because who needs to run 9 miles? Coffee is better. But I kept running.

Healthy Granola Recipe

Stoping in this race wasn’t convenient because it was a big 9 mile loop so I would have to turn around and I wasn’t doing that. At a mile 6 I started thinking and becoming hopeful. Only 3 miles to go but also invigorated because I wasn’t thinking about the pain or the miles as much. I don’t know how I lost myself in running but it happened. I was able to finally quiet my mind and find stillness, enjoy the sun on my face, and the amazing fall breeze!

I crossed the finish line inspired and happy, I didn’t even remember to look at my finish time that’s how much I was enjoying it! No watch either. I ran like my body wanted me too and really felt pain free the whole run.

For this week’s #TrainingBites, grab a bowl of this Coconut Quinoa Granola… it’s and oldie but a goodie and one of our favorites. It has an AMAZING coconut flavor, and makes the house smell amazing! I’ve made many variations of this recipe like this Crunchy Quinoa Granola and embarrassing video and find that cooking quinoa gives a nice tenderness and texture to granola. I love eating it with Greek yogurt or unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

Print

Coconut Quinoa Granola


★★★★★

4.7 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Kristina LaRue
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
Print Recipe
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Description

Grab a bowl of this Coconut Quinoa Granola… it’s one of our favorites. It has an AMAZING coconut flavor, and makes the house smell amazing! I’ve made many variations of this recipe and find that cooking quinoa gives a nice tenderness and texture to granola. Eat it with Greek yogurt or unsweetened vanilla almond milk.


Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup raw walnut halves, chopped
  • 1/2 cup raw sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup whole golden flaxseeds
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup dried tart cherries
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  2. In large bowl combine quinoa, nuts, seeds, oats, dried fruit, coconut and spices together and mix until incorporated.
  3. In small bowl stir together coconut oil, vanilla, and agave nectar.
  4. Place coconut oil mixture in microwave for 10 seconds until melted; then pour over nut and oats and mix until fully coated.
  5. Pour granola on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes until granola is golden.
  6. Allow to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/16 of recipe
  • Calories: 249
  • Sugar: 11g
  • Sodium: 16mg
  • Fat: 15g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Carbohydrates: 23g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Did you make this recipe?

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Kristina LaRue, RDN

Hi Iโ€™m Kristina LaRue, RD (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. On Love & Zest, you’ll find healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I’m all about veggie-filled breakfast, meal prep recipes, healthier sweets, and easy weeknight dinners made in the Instant Pot or sheet pan.

Did you make one of my recipes?? Leave a review in the comments and tag @loveandzest #loveandzest on Instagram!

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Comments

  1. Mary Sanders says

    January 22, 2019 at 10:03 am

    Great article! I find running the best activity while my spare time. It helps to keep my body in tonus.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Dan says

    June 10, 2016 at 5:47 am

    Great post! Running is one of the best sport in the world. (For me). I get to see a lot of new places, met new people and became my friends, and more. I once ended my running adventures because of work, but I realized that I can balance both my work and running. So, I hope new runners will understand what they’re into.

    Reply
  3. Sarah says

    October 28, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    That was an inspiring story! Thanks for sharing. I run for fun, too, but not as far as you. I’ll also try your coconut quinoa granola in my meal plan. It looks so tasty and healthy.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Kristina LaRue says

      October 29, 2014 at 11:25 am

      Thank you Sarah! I’m so glad you stopped by. Glad you enjoy running– I’m not running very long these days but just getting out there makes me happy.

      Reply
  4. Tina@GottaRunNow says

    September 30, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    Congrats on finishing the race without stopping for coffee along the way! I haven’t tried quinoa in granola before, but your granola recipe sounds great – so many healthy ingredients!

    Reply
    • Kristina LaRue says

      October 2, 2014 at 7:13 am

      Thanks Tina!! Coffee is so tempting while running ๐Ÿ™‚ I totally wanted to bail.

      Reply
  5. Meme @ Living Well Kitchen says

    September 25, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    I love this! And I love going back and watching the old video. It is so adorable – you’re adorable ๐Ÿ™‚
    And I am so happy for you that you found your running mojo again; it’s such a good feeling when you can fall back in love with it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Kristina LaRue says

      September 26, 2014 at 8:06 am

      OMG Meme! You were not suppose to actually watch it… lol so embarrassing.

      Reply
  6. cathy says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    What about the calories?

    Reply
    • Kristina LaRue says

      September 24, 2014 at 12:22 pm

      Hi Cathy, sorry for the delay! The recipe is updated now with the nutrition ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Pumpkin Quinoa Protein Bites | love & zest says:
    October 9, 2014 at 6:41 am

    […] with an ankle tendonitis issue, I never know what type of run Iโ€™m going to have. In the Miracle Miles 15K, I hardly felt it.. but this weekend the ankle started hurting on mile 3. […]

    Reply
  2. Egg & Potato Hash | love & zest says:
    September 25, 2014 at 8:29 am

    […] week has flown by, I cannot believe it’s Thursday already! Last Saturday after Miracle Miles, Eric and I raced to our hometown to attend a baby shower for one of our sweet friends, and […]

    Reply

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Thanks for stopping by Love & Zest. Iโ€™m Kristina LaRue, RDN (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. Here on L&Z, I share healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I'm a fan of adding veggies to everything and recipes that make mom life easier.
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