Cinnamon Pears

THE BEST MIDNIGHT SNACK EVER!!!!

I'm a night eater, so I'm constantly looking for healthy delicious snacks to satisfy my nighttime munchies.  Here's my new favorite!

Cinnamon Pears

serves 1

1. Dice a pear (leave the skin on; more fiber!) and put it in a microwave-safe bowl.

2. Sprinkle on a bit of cinnamon and stevia; it will work better if you mix the two before putting them on the pear. 

3. Microwave on high for 1 minute 30 seconds. Pour off excess liquid.

And that's it! Almost too easy to be warrant a whole recipe post. You could also bake this (or toaster oven it) if you were so inclined. Top with a little fat free Cool Whip, or a scoop of Greek yogurt!

 You can sub honey, agave nectar or an artificial sweetener for the sugar, if you'd like. 

Easy, cozy on a cold night, and healthy, too.

Raw Vegetable Nori Wrap

Raw Vegetable Nori Wrap

This recipe is raw, veggie loaded, vegan, gluten free, easy, fast and satisfying.
 

Ingredients:

• Sheet of Raw Nori
• Romain Lettuce Leaves
• Shredded Carrots
• Shredded Cabbage
• Avocados (Thinly Sliced)
• Scallions (green onions)
• Cucumber (Thinly Sliced)
• Red Bell Pepper (Thinly Sliced)

Directions:

1. This recipe is just a throw-together recipe. Use the veggies I have listed or throw in your own.
2. Adding mango slices is a great way to add some sweetness to these wraps.
3. Serve with low sodium soy sauce for dipping. or just enjoy plain

zucchini tomato basil "bread sticks"

zucchini tomato basil "bread sticks"

I am totally obsessed with squash of every kind!!  I LOVE IT and could be perfectly content eating it every day!!!!  My family, on the other hand, doesn't share my squash obsession!!!  Because of that, I've gotten very very sneaky, "shhhh" about squeezing it into their diets without them even realizing! Here's one of our favorite, kid and husband, approved zucchini recipes! 

Just cut a zucchini in half lengthwise and trim a little off the bottom so it will sit still in a baking dish

Scoop out the center where the seeds are with a spoon

Brush the surface with a mixture of crushed garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper

Arrange halved grape tomatoes into the grooves and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes

Remove and drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan. You will love this as a side dish!

quinoa as oatmeal

Quinoa as oatmeal

I knew people ate quinoa for breakfast, similar to the way they ate oatmeal, but I'd never done it. Now that I've tried it, I'M HOOKED!

serves 1

What you'll need:

1/2 cup prepared quinoa

sprinkle of cinnamon

drizzle of honey, Agave, (or if you're really watching your calories, stevia)

cut up fruit of your choice

What you'll do:

1. Mix the quinoa, cinnamon and honey together in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.

2. Top with fruit. Bananas and mini-prunes are delicious, try raisins and apples, too. Or mango and shredded coconut, blueberries and strawberries, pear and walnut...the list goes on. 

(1/4 cup of dry Quinoa, which is 1/2 cup prepared, is 175 calories) 

AND has 6 GRAMS OF PROTEIN!!!! 

Simple Sweet N Salty popcorn

Believe it or not, popcorn can be a healthy snack; corn kernels are considered a whole grain, and its nutritional benefits are similar to a serving of brown rice or whole wheat. It's the additives like sugar, oil, butter, and salt that cause you trouble. Air popped popcorn has only 31 calories per one cup serving. Loaded with fiber, popcorn will aid digestion, make you feel fuller longer, and balance your blood sugar levels.

You probably don't want to make this a staple in your everyday diet, but where you're dying for a snack on movie night, THIS IS IT!


Simple Sweet N Salty popcorn!

Ingredients

• 1/4 C popcorn kernels
• 1 TBSP Pure Maple Syrup (or Agave) or if you're really watching your calories use stevia
• Cinnamon
• Tiny bit of salt (optional)

Instructions

pop it, mix it, sprinkle it, eat it


D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S
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Tips & Bonus Information

1 Cup plain airpopped popcorn: 31 cals 1 TBSP 100% pure maple syrup: 50 cals OR 1TBSP Agave: 60 cals 

*Next time I am going to try diluting my maple syrup / agave with a little bit of water to stretch it further and cut down on stickiness on my fingers 

*Keep in mind you're not eating this whole bowl (hopefully).. so don't let the calories deter you :)

YIELD: This makes a little over 2 Cups. I try to limit myself to having just 1 C (of popped popcorn)

Sweet & Savory Fritters!

Many of you have been asking about healthy food that's easy to pack and eat on the go, With school starting and work always crazy, one of the GREAT EXCITEMENTS in my life, (sad, I know)  Is finding a delicious, filling, healthy recipe that I can pack, take with me, and eat anywhere. Oh ya, and it's nice to have one that doesn't smell like egg when you open up the Ziploc baggie, (I already eat every 2 hours, I don't need more weird stares because I just made the room smell like meat!) 

Well... currently I am OBSESSED with different types of fritters, (or pancakes if you're not quite as fancy)   Here are 2 of my favorite ones!  there delicious right off the grill, or cold out of a Ziploc bag in class! :)

Sweet banana Cinnamon fritter 

(smells amazing!)

Ingredients

1 very ripe banana, (I freeze mine and then pop them in the microwave for 30 sec. peel, mash, and I'm ready to go)

4 egg whites

2 TBSP ground flax seed

1 TBSP STEVIA

1TBSP VANILLA

1tsp Cinnamon

Directions

Place everything in a bowl and mix and mash tell batter consistency

Place on heated skillet greased with PAM and cook like pancakes

Should make aprox  4 fritters

NUTRITION INFO: under 250 cals with 14g of protein for the entire recipie so eat it all!

Savory Zucchini Fritter

Ingredients: 

4 egg whites, 

zucchini, (1 small one) about 1 cup grated

2 TBS Ground Flax seed

green (or any other kind) onions, (amount to taste)

spices. (I love garlic so I use that a lot)

Directions

Mix everything together

Make sure the amount of onions & zucchini you have are enough to fill the egg whites so the mixture isn’t runny!

I use a hot plate/hot skillet ALREADY HEATED because the texture turns out better, but however you normally do pancakes or eggs, griddle, etc, will work.

Pour and spread out somewhat thin and even:

I let it cook for a good bit on each side so they brown, flip, and out come your finished product! It’ll yield about 3-4 large or 6-8 small hot cakes 

Top with fat free sour cream if ya like

Nutrition info:   100 cals with 14g protein for the entire recipe

DRINKS DRINKS DRINKS!

Woot Woot! It’s still SUMMER!!!!  That fact alone is enough to make my day! Being a warm weather girl myself, I cling to every last second of pool worthy weather, summertime parties, bbqs, weddings and everything sunny and outdoors. But, with that, you’re most likely enjoying a few more laughs…oh yea, and more cocktails, beers, or glasses of wine as well (is anyone opting for more water?!). 

Even though you may not understand how alcohol affects your overall health, here are a few facts, BUT NEVER FEAR, (I'm also a realist) I'm gonna give you some healthy and healthy.. um.."er" options!

Did you know that your body processes alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbs? Therefore, drinking slows down the burning of fat. 

Sugar, also known as an empty calorie, has 4 calories per gram, providing no nutrition. Alcohol, also another empty calorie, is almost double the calories per gram (7 calories)…yes, double. So if you’re drinking a rum and Coke, you’re drinking all the sugar, all the empty calories, and no nutrition. No nutrition? Yes, that is correct because alcohol lacks proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals needed to maintain healthy body functions.

Alcohol itself can lead to weight gain from the calories it provides, but it also causes many people to eat more calories after drinking (late night munchies anyone?) – a double whammy weight gain effect! It is even possible to drink as many calories as you eat!  Alcohol will significantly interfere with your weight loss goal. 

alcohol inhibits the absorption of several nutrients: vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and folic acid. As the liver decreases its supply of these nutrients, the blood stream is called upon to replenish the supply. As a result, body cells are deprived of critical nutrients and normal body functions suffer. (Meaning, you can't work-out as hard)

And then BLAH BLAH BLAH.... More stuff, But now down to what you really want to know!   What to drink when everyone else is drinking a cocktail? (or if ya just want a really yummy drink)  Well, I'VE GOT YOUR BACK.  Below are 2 great nonalcoholic options, and 2 alcoholic options (if you must!)

Nonalcoholic

Chia Fizz Drink

I started with some fresh mint and lime that I got from the Farmer's Market this past weekend

I muddled the lime and mint using the back of a spoon, since I didn't have a muddler

Some Blue Agave Sweetener sweetened my drink, but you can use stevia as well.

Then, there were the chia seeds, of course! (get them at costco or the healthfood store)

Add some Pellegrino or any type of mineral water or carbonated water

Let drink chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes.

Add ice cubes and enjoy! Dee-licious and so refreshing! I love the way those little chia seeds soak whatever liquids you introduce them to and get all gelatinous! They remind me ever-so-slightly of the bubbles in bubble tea (a fave drink of mine).

watermelon FIZZ

 It includes 6 cups of watermelon, 

1 ½ cups of cold seltzer water 

1 cup of chopped fresh mint OR CILANTRO. 

Muddle watermelon with cilantro leaves. Add ice, and seltzer water. Shake vigorously and pour all contents into a rocks glass. Garnish with a piece of watermelon in a bamboo spike

OH-SO REFRESHING!

Alcoholic

Volito

85 Calories

1.5 oz Voli Lyte
1/2 of a Fresh Lime
8 Mint Leaves
1 Packet Sweetener
Club Soda
Glass: Highball
Garnish: Mint Sprig

Muddle Lime, Mint and Sweetener. Add Voli, shake lightly and pour all ingredients in a glass. Top with club soda.

Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo

100 Calories

Bethenny Frankel started the trend with her signature Skinnygirl marg and has since expanded the line to include several other flavors, the newest being the White Cranberry Cosmo—which she describes as “a sassy take on a classic [drink], 

And because it’s pre-mixed with actual white cranberries and premium vodka, you can enjoy a cosmo with less calories! 

Super Protein Jell-o Shots

Super Protein Jell-o Shots

*Sometimes I have a hard time eating all the protein I need throughout the day, especially in the summer when it's hot!  There's something "NOT-SO-REFRESHING" about sitting by the pool gnawing on a chicken breast, or peeling a hard boiled egg!   This is my new favorite summer time protein solution!

INGREDIENTS: 

1 scoop flavored protein powder of your choice, 

1 package sugar free Jell-O (any flavor). 

DIRECTIONS: 

Make Jell-o, following the directions on the box. 

Just before you’ve finished, add the protein powder to the mixture. 

Pour the mixture into 4 small plastic cups, place in the fridge and Let stand, then enjoy.

The regular size Jell-O packages make 4 servings.  The larger ones make 8

Note, You can find fruit flavored protein powders on the market if ya like, or find a non-flavored one.  I had vanilla protein powder at home, threw that in, and it tasted great!

To keep things interesting, try one of my favorite "takes" on this simple recipe!

Peach Yogurt Jell-o Shot

Directions:

Dissolve Sugar free Jell-o in boiling water. Add Fat free peach yogurt, or fat 

free peach greek yogurt to it. Pour into tall glasses & chill until set,

Serve with peach slices.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. Sugar Free peach Jell-o
1 c. boiling water
1 c. Fat free peach yogurt