Snack Ideas!

If you are like me, you LOVE to snack!!  I eat every couple of hours and always feel the need to think of some new snack ideas so eating doesn't get boring.    

Here are some of my go-to snacks.  I like to stay in budget and buy what's on sale too so feel free to swap a fruit out if it's not on sale.  Berries are the way to go -- high fiber, low sugar.  Buy frozen too, if you need to save that way.  Just be sure there is no sugar added!  

Instead of making excuses, make a way for your results to happen.  You deserve to achieve them! 

My faves ... 

Almonds (12 whole) & blueberries: 1 blue and 1 purple

Greek yogurt & granola (low sugar!): 1 red and 1 yellow

Strawberries & cheese stick: 1 blue and 1 purple

Hummus & Carrots/peppers/cucumbers: 1 blue and 1 green

Greek yogurt, berries, almonds (chopped & raw), chocolate chips: 1 red, 1/2 purple, 1 orange, 1 tsp

Cottage cheese & berries: 1 red and 1 purple

Apple & almond butter: 1 purple and 2 tsp

Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies

Chocolate + quinoa might sound like a WEIRD combo...

But it's SO DELICIOUS when baked together with all kinds of other clean ingredients.  

Don't feel like you can't eat chocolate when you are on your health journey ... it's about everything in moderation and just making those healthy substitutions such as in the recipe swapping oil for very ripe bananas!!  

1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup uncooked quinoa flakes (or oatmeal flakes)
1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
2 tablespoons almond butter
4 large VERY RIPE bananas
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Pinch sea salt
Preparation
These cookies are SOOO GOOD! The are jam-packed with protein, fiber, stress-busting B-vitamins, energizing goodness and deliciousness! They're also gluten-free and will kick your cravings to the curb.

To prepare the cookies:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas in bowl with a fork and add vanilla, almond butter and coconut sugar. Add quinoa, oatmeal, coconut and pinch of salt. Mix until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and drop batter on to cooking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Serving Size
Makes about 25 cookies that look more like muffin-tops and are chewy.

Non-Pasta Salad

As the weather gets nice out, no one wants to turn on the stove to make pasta salad. Takes time to boil that water, it heats up the house, and oh let's talk about carbs!! Trying to slim down the belly so excess carbs are a no, no for me.

So, try this "non-pasta salad" as an alternative. Yummy yummy with the zucchini noodles instead of pasta!!

This is going to be my lunch for next week ... it's the end of school vacation so I'll be back at prepping all of meals on Sunday to stay on track with my goals. Be on the lookout for pictures tomorrow!

Servings: 4  Here's what you need: 3 organic zucchini 1/2 cup organic cherry tomatoes, quartered 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 clove garlic, crushed juice from 1/2 a lemon 1 teaspoon dried basil dash of salt and pepper Trim the zucchini ends. Peel down the length of each zucchini until you reach the seeded center, creating long, noodle strands. Place the noodles in a medium bowl, add the quartered cherry tomatoes. In a small bowl combine the oil, garlic, lemon juice, dried basil, salt and pepper. Pour over the noodles and mix to combine. Chill for at least 20 minutes in the fridge. *Optional, garnish with drops of balsamic vinegar glaze before serving. Nutritional Analysis: 92 calories, 7g fat, 68mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 2g protein

Breakfast Ideas

Did you know that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day?!  Yup, your mom and teachers were right!  Here's why...

Well, with that said, I wanted to upload some recipes that I have found on the internet.  Nope, I don't create these recipes myself (I wish I was that creative and had that much time though!)!  

They are quick, easy, and healthy recipes! What's better than that?  

Hope you enjoy them and please comment below with questions and love! 

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1. Measure bananas, strawberries, and mango in purple container (or 1 cup measuring cup) 

2. Measure cooked oats in yellow container (or 1/2 c measuring cup) 

3. Slice 6 almonds.

4. Layer as shown above.

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 Berry Oatmeal Bake 

Ingredients

• 1 cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 1 cup Steel Cut Oats
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup chopped nuts (any kind you want!)
• 2 cups unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 1 egg
• 1 banana, sliced
• ¾ cup natural maple syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a 9x13 pan with coconut oil spray.
3. Mix together the oats, syrup, baking powder, half of the nuts, cinnamon and ½ of the raspberries.
4. In another bowl mix the egg, vanilla and milk.
5. Spread the oatmeal mix into the pan, pressing into corners, making sure it's even.
6. Pour the milk mixture over the oat mix.
7. Top with remaining ½ raspberries & nuts and sliced bananas.
8. Bake for 35 minutes.

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1. Mix ingredients in blender.  

2. Portion out into 6 pancakes. 

3. Makes 3 servings. 

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1. 2 eggs

2. 1/2 c. sweet potatoes 

3. 2 turkey sausages

4. 1/2 c fruit such as kiwi 

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1 slice of gluten-free bread, lightly toasted

1/2 sliced banana

2 tsp peanut butter

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Easter: Make it Healthy for YOU and YOUR Guests!

If you are celebrating Easter, try to maintain fun & health in your dishes!! Here are some eye-catching, yummy foods you could make!