Tara Collingwood | The Diet Diva

Oatmeal Raisin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

30.04.2015

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Because it’s oatmeal cookie and raisin day, I thought I would share with you my Oatmeal Raisin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies! A perfectly sweet treat with a salty contrast!

Oatmeal Raisin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients

3/4 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup flour
1 1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

Line a cookie sheet with […]

Big Sur Marathon Race Report

28.04.2015

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Fitness

Last summer I made the decision to sign up for the Big Sur Full Marathon. I had always had it on my bucket list of marathons, and figured there was no better time than the present to make it a reality.

I went to the Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur area back in the early 90’s when I was a teenager on a Girl Scout Wider Opportunity trip to learn about photography and John Steinbeck. I immediately fell in love way back then with the gorgeous California coast about an hour and a half south of San Francisco. For me […]

Earth Day Through the Eyes of a Vegan

22.04.2015

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Food

Happy Earth Day people! How cool is it that there is a day dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging how incredible the earth is? Without it, we, and many other beautiful creations, would not be.

One of the main reasons I went vegan was for the earth and the environment. I had no idea how much raising livestock damages the earth. Making the choice to live a vegan lifestyle, I feel like I automatically became a spokesperson to where part of my “job” is to raise awareness and educate. So in honor of this Earth day, I would like to present […]

Keeping Sane During Injury

21.04.2015

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Fitness

Instead of getting depressed and angry about my lack of movement, I tried to look on the positive side.

About a year and a half ago I fracture my pelvis. The doctor didn’t even need to order an MRI to see that big crack on the Xray. It didn’t happen with a fall–it just happened. Looking back on it, I was running too much, putting too many miles on my body without proper recovery, and I was too thin. I was less than a year out from losing my late husband to cancer, and I was […]

Foods That Fight Stress

20.04.2015

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Motivational Monday

Just like there are foods that make you feel bad, what if I told you there are also foods that make you feel good…and may even relieve stress?

Whenever you’re having a really bad, stressful day do you every just want to go home and stuff your face with some junk? Do you ever succumb to that desire and end up feeling worse after? Well, there’s a reason for that!

The reason we seek out foods we consider to be ‘junk’ when we’re stressed is because they are high in fat, sugars, and […]

Mushroom Burger

17.04.2015

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Food

This Mushroom Burger is juicy and packed with lean protein. The mushrooms take this burger up a notch making it more juicy and a unique flavor profile. Top with sautéed mushrooms for extra mushroom goodness.

Mushroom Burger
Ingredients
-1lb ground sirloin beef
-1/2 cup minced mushrooms
-1 tsp. garlic
-1/4 cup minced red onion
-1 tsp. worcestershire sauce

Directions
1. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl.
2. Form into 4 patties and grill to desired doneness […]

Mushroom Marvel

16.04.2015

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Nutrition

As obsessed as I am with the texture and taste, there is one thing that trumps them both, my absolute favorite thing about mushrooms: they are the only vegan, plant-based, unfortified source of vitamin D!
There seems to be a national day for just about every food out there, and today happens to be National Mushroom Day! I am personally very excited because mushrooms are one of my favorite plants to eat. I used to hate them…like, absolutely hate them but now I loveee them. I’ve read (and experienced) that transitioning to a clean, plant-based diet […]

I’m Not Good at Fasting

13.04.2015

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Motivational Monday

Instead of obsessing, I wanted to give something up that would be a reminder of Christ’s love instead of what seemed like total punishment and depression.
Now that the Lenten season has come and gone and we’ve already celebrated Easter, I can tell you a little bit about my experience this year with fasting.

I am completely addicted to chocolate. Not a day goes by without some form of it entering my body at some point. Since lent is a time for giving up something that is close to you, I thought I would give up chocolate for […]

Florida Tomato Month

9.04.2015

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Nutrition

Tomatoes are full of immune boosting vitamin C and A, folic acid, biotin, and fiber to name a few.
Happy Florida Tomato Month! I don’t know about you, but I am definitely celebrating! Tomatoes typically grow all year round here, but during the colder months (trust me, sometimes it drops to the 30’s at night!) tomatoes aren’t as plentiful and the prices skyrocket. For somebody who uses and eats tomatoes on a daily basis, it is quite a buzz kill.

But, the weather has returned to its hot, humid self and tomato prices are back down where […]

My Gorgeous Hikes in Arizona

7.04.2015

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Fitness

The aspect of the hiking I loved most was the exhilarating feeling of doing something out of my normal fitness routine with a reward so sweet when you get to the top.

I had the opportunity recently to travel to Phoenix for a long weekend with my fiancée. I had no idea how gorgeous the area is and how amazing the hikes are! I met up with my friends Kris and Mindy on Sunday morning and they took me out to the Superstition Mountains to Lost Dutchman State Park and hiked up and even beyond a point called Flat […]