On Mondays, I try to come up with a plan for the rest of the week that will keep me from eating myself into a pregnancy k-hole, and just to feel good all week. My initial desire is to wake up, grab a cup of coffee and a double decker of cinnamon raisin streusel bread with butter and go to town. Then, I realize, that the boy will also need to be fed. I come to my senses gradually (after the aforementioned coffee.) So I pull my fat, pregnant behind into the kitchen and whip something up. This morning it was a swell oatmeal. Maple Banana Oatmeal.

Serves 2-3 about 300 cals a piece

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 TBSP earth balance

2 TBSP almond butter

1 large banana (chopped)

1 tsp vanilla

2 T (more or less to taste) Maple Syrup

1.5 cups of water (or combo water and milk or water and almond milk)

craisins (optional)

Melt the earth balance in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Toast oats in melted earth balance. (This gives the oats a nice, nutty flavor) Add the water and vanilla. After it starts to thicken add the remaining ingredients. Serve and top with craisins and more almond milk/syrup if you wish!

As it stands, it WILL thicken up even more. If someone needs it reheated, I suggest adding vanilla almond milk to it first!!!