Category Archives: Snacks & Treats

February 9, 2013 · 9:52 AM

A Smooth-ie New {Guest Post}

This week I have a great guest post courtesy of Jac, from Nora & Jac! If you follow me on Twitter you may be familiar with her name from The Plank Challenge.

We have only met in person once (and it wasn’t under the best of circumstances) but I consider her a good friend and I’m glad that I met her on that crazy place called Twitter.

I enjoy that we motivate each other and that she is just as willing to try new healthy recipes as I am! Heck, as I type this I’m sipping on the Skinny Water recipe she blogged about the other day (It’s on her blog…check it out!) and making a list of ingredients I need to purchase to try the recipe below.

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I apologize for my Instagram photo. I forget to bust out the good camera first thing in the morning.

I apologize for my Instagram photo. I forget to bust out the good camera first thing in the morning.

Hey y’all, I’m Jac of Nora & Jac – Nikki and I met through a mutual friend of ours and have became great pals since! This girl motivates me like no one else to get healthy and get my bum to the gym. {which I have failed to do lately.} I love having someone who is states away but can still send me a tweet saying get off your ass and get moving and I kinda feel like I have to listen to her. So thanks for that, lady!

And while I’m getting back on the healthy track I’ve discovered my love for “Green Smoothies”. My first thought on them were that they would be gross, taste like grass, or be one of those things I just drank because it’s healthy. Spinach in a smoothie just seemed bizarre to me. But, eventually I thought I’d give it a try…. and boy was I wrong! DELICIOUS!

Before this discovery I tended to stray away from smoothies, not because I didn’t like them {I LOVE them} but because they always made me feel kinda icky and bloated afterwards. However, I was also buying those pre-made smoothie packs – that could have had something to do with it. But now, after using all fresh ingredients and a huge handful of spinach I feel good after drinking them and stay full until lunch.

Ingredients: 

{bare with me here – I don’t actually measure anything. Unless using my hands count? ;)}

A handful of spinach leaves
1 cup of greek yogurt {any flavor – I used Stawberry here}
6 large blackberries
1/2 c blueberries
1/2 banana
3 strawberries, sliced
1/4-1/2 c skim milk
a dash of cinnamon
I always freeze my banana the night before. This time I also froze my strawberries and the greek yogurt. I spooned the yogurt into an ice cube tray {about 6 ice cubes worth}.
Put the spinach in the blender first, then the yogurt, then just layer the fruits and pour the milk and cinnamon over it. You kinda have to eyeball the milk amount… I just add milk until it’s blending properly. I loved this berry/spinach smoothie.
There are so many variations you can do. This morning my smoothie was spinach, pineapple, peach, banana, greek yogurt, and I used coconut water as my liquid. Yum in my tum!
So… the lesson here being… if you were apprehensive about spinach smoothies… TRY THEM! You won’t regret it! And if you are an avid spinach smoothie drinker… what do you put in yours??? 

A Smooth-ie New {Guest Post}

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February 5, 2013 · 3:30 PM

Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!

Today is National Pancake Day!

Normally I would love to toss the kiddies into my truck and head over to iHop for some pancake delishiousness, but that’s just not happening. Instead, we have decided to make some for dinner tonight, right here in the comfort of our home.

The boy has requested traditional pancakes, the girl will most likely want chocolate chip and I’m going to have a banana protein version.

Of course I had to hop on Pinterest to see what they had for inspiration and as usual, they didn’t let me down. I found a paleo version of the pancakes while just browsing thru what the people I follow pinned. (Thanks Jackie!)

So here is the I found and what I’ll be using in the kitchen tonight:

choc chip pan

This stack of fluffy goodness is made from 4 simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand!
Photo and recipe from RecipeBoy.com – Click on the photo to view both!

I’ll be using this recipe to create all three variations I mentioned above (unless the picky boy sees me, then he’ll be having Bisquick pancakes….don’t judge!) I think I’ll add some cinnamon and a scoop of vanilla protein powder to my banana pancakes….think a healthy version of banana bread!

Do you have a healthier version of pancakes that you love? Care to share your recipe? (wink wink)

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January 15, 2013 · 1:06 PM

What’s Your Super Bowl Game Plan?

game playIt’s quickly approaching! Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner and that means Super Bowl parties and snack food galore!

You know what I’m talking about…. Nachos, Wings, Dips, Pizza, Chili, Chips, Desserts….you name it! All lined up on a table, waiting for you to stuff your face with them while you scream, laugh, curse and catch up with family and friends.

If you are one of the many people who made getting in shape your New Years resolution, it means you’ve been putting in some serious gym time and watching what you eat. Why toss that all out of the window for one party? Granted, some of you are reading this and thinking, “I’m entitled to a cheat day!” or “One evening of eating these foods won’t kill me.” and you’re right…but why waste all of those calories or tempt yourself to travel back down the road of poor eating habits when you don’t have to?

What you need a is a healthy game plan!

Here are two links to some recipes that look great and will save you calories, while giving you the flavors and foods you associate with Super Bowl parties:

Better Homes and Garden: Healthy Game Day Snacks

Eating Well: Healthy Super Bowl Recipes and Menus

For the most part, it comes down to using lower fat/calorie dairy products or substituting some Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, baking instead of frying and using as many fresh ingredients as you can. You will always have more control over what you put into your body if you are the person preparing it because you are in charge of the ingredients. I know it’s easier to pick up the phone and order a few pizzas, but I highly recommend preparing some items from scratch, on your own. (If you do order, at least opt for a thin crust with veggies….please!)

If you are hosting the party, or just staying home to watch, you’ll have a little more say on what gets served for the game watching festivities. However, there is nothing wrong with bringing something to party if you are invited somewhere. Your host will appreciate it and you’ll know there is at least one healthier option for you.

Also, don’t forget that beer can eat up a lot of your calorie allotment for the day, plus it also contains a lot of sodium. If you choose to have a few beers during the game, opt for light varieties and don’t forget to drink water between drinks!

Another tip? Don’t skip your pre-game workout! Hit the gym or go for a run before you head out for the big game. Doing so will not only burn calories, but it’ll start your day off with a healthy mind set and you’ll be less temped to sabotage yourself once you arrive at the party!

If you try any of the recipes from the sites above, please let me know. Also, if you have lighter versions of football snack food favorites, please feel free to share a link to the recipe on your blog or post the recipe below!

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November 27, 2012 · 8:30 AM

Healthy Baking Substitutes

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and that means many of us will begin baking for family events, holiday dinners, office parties, cookie exchanges and quite honestly, just because it makes us feel festive.

That sweet tooth and favorite cookie recipe doesn’t have to be ignore this season. All you need to do is change your perspective on food and make a few improvements on those sugary, overly processed ingredients our recipes normally call for.

Here’s a handy list I found on Pinterest:

It’s amazing how much sugar and how many calories you can save with these simple substitutes. What’s even more amazing is that you can’t even tell you changed anything with most of them.

Do you have any healthy holiday baking tips?

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October 24, 2012 · 3:00 PM

Nothing Says Fall Like Apple Crisp

The title of this blog is very true to me. Some people embrace everything pumpkin when the fall rolls around, but for me, it’s apples. You can keep your pumpkin muffins, pumpkin lattes and pumpkin pie. Give me crisp, delicious apples! I love the variety of apples that you can find (not to mention the cheaper prices) in the grocery stores and come on, who doesn’t love apple cider or a fresh caramel apple?!

The one thing I am not a fan of is pie. I don’t know why, but I just don’t like them. It makes Thanksgiving dessert a little tricky since most people associate pie with the holiday (I wonder why that is exactly…hmmm.) Anyway, since I don’t like pie I end up making apple crisp in the fall and right now, my kitchen is full of autumn scents as the brown sugar, cinnamon, apple goodness bakes away in my oven!

Apple Crisp

Warm apple crisp served with slow churned, french vanilla ice-cream.

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup regular oats
  • 1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
  • 4  sliced peeled Rome/Granny Smith/Gala or Macintosh apples
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • a pinch of nutmeg

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. Spray 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray (I use one meant for baking with flour added)
  3. Combine flour, sugar, oats, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly.
  4. Arrange apples in the baking dish and sprinkle with crumb mixture. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Now I know this is a fitness blog and it’s about being healthier, but I like to treat myself every now and then, and when I have apple crisp, I serve it with ice-cream. There are a lot of good, slow churned ice-creams on the market today, as well as varieties made with almond or coconut milk. I also like the Haagen Das Five line which isn’t full of ingredients you can’t pronounce. To me, as long as you don’t indulge in stuff like this everyday, it’s okay to enjoy!

Remember, it’s all about portion control and moderation!

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September 10, 2012 · 9:19 AM

One Ingredient Banana Ice-cream

Yes, you read that right….only one ingredient! Who know the banana was capable of such a thing, right?

I saw a post about this on (yes, you guessed it) Pinterest, and I had to try it!

One Ingredient Banana Ice-cream! Looks just like the real deal!

Ingredients:3 Bananas, sliced into coins and frozen for at least 2 hours.

Directions:

Put frozen banana coins into a food processor or Vitamix, mix on low until it you have what looks like soft serve ice-cream.

Transfer into a container and put into the freezer until it hardens up to a consistency you like.

That’s it! That’s all there is to it!

Now, there are variations on this and I have tried two of them…

Nutella Banana Ice-cream:

Ingredients:

3 Bananas, cut into coins and frozen (as directed above)
6 Tbsps Nutella Hazelnut Spread, or other brand of your liking (I know there are healthier ones out there)

Directions:

Put frozen banana coins into a food processor or Vitamix, mix on low until it you have what looks like soft serve ice-cream. Add Nutella and mix a little longer. Transfer into a container and put into the freezer until it hardens up to a consistency you like.

The other variation is just banana, but my bananas were in the freezer for a few days, so they were really hard. I added some Almond Breeze Coconut/Almond milk to it so it could mix easier. Next time I make this version I plan on adding some vanilla whey protein powder to it as well. I really liked the hint of coconut with the banana!

You can top these variations with a little granola, fresh fruit or even a light sprinkle of mini dark chocolate chips to really feel like you’re splurging!

So there ya have it! A quick, easy and healthy way to treat yourself with some “ice-cream” AND sneak in another fruit serving!

Enjoy!

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September 6, 2012 · 2:00 PM

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

These are very similar to the oatmeal bars I posted on here in the past, but I like that these have a much faster cooking time. I also like that they look like cookies, so you can feel a little naughty while eating them, but they are only around 40 calories each, so you don’t have to feel guilty. Plus they have NO added sugar!

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

(Makes approx 20-24 cookies)

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies – No sugar, no flour, no egg! (Yes, those are chocolate chips. I had a chocolate craving when I made these. Each cookie came out to only 40 calories!)

Ingredients:

3 mashed bananas (ripe)
1/3 cup apple sauce
2 cups oats
1/4 cup almond milk
1/2 cup raisins (I use craisins)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon.Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all of the ingredients together with a fork. Drop onto a cookie sheet like you would chocolate chip cookies, but flatten the tops down since these won’t spread out while baking. Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Cool completely.

Enjoy!

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August 24, 2012 · 8:00 PM

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Since making efforts to eat cleaner, I’ve been trying to find some healthier alternatives to the sweets and treats I love and crave. Tonight, I tried this recipe and I’m very happy with the results. Even the kids liked them!

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Prep time: 10 Minutes – Cook time: Approx 30 Minutes – Total time: Approx 40 Minutes
Yield: Makes 12 – 16 Brownies

Gluten-Free Brownie Ingredients:

  • 1 can black beans (15oz – rinsed and drained)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup egg whites (or 3 eggs  total)
  • 1/3 cup  unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1/2 cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup  agave, honey or maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 tsp instant coffee
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (more if you wish)

Peanut Butter Swirl Ingredients:

  • 1/3 Cup Peanut Butter
  • 1 Tbsp agave, maple syrup or honey
  • Pinch of salt
  • Dash of vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 F.
  2. Place all of the gluten-free brownie ingredients into your food processor and blend until smooth.
  3. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Evenly spread batter into baking dish.
  5. On your stovetop melt peanut butter swirl ingredients together and mix.
  6. Dollop peanut butter swirl mixture with a spoon about an inch from each other on the brownie batter.
  7. Use a knife to create swirls in the batter.
  8. Place in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes.
  9. *Ovens vary so your discretion is needed. You will know your brownies are baked when the top becomes firm and the brownies pull away from the sides of the dish.
  10. Sticking a tooth pick in the middle and pulling it out clean will ensure your brownies are baked fully.
  11. Remove from oven when baked and let set in the baking dish for about 10 minutes.
  12. Carefully cut the brownies, serve and enjoy!
  13. To store brownies, let them cool completely and then store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

I’ve seen many different recipes for black bean/gluten-free brownies but the coffee and addition of the peanut butter swirl is what caught my eye and made me try these.

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February 2, 2011 · 4:30 PM

Gluten-Free Banana Bread

Today I noticed I had a bunch of bananas that were getting way to ripe for my liking. Usually one or two of those end up lingering around and they get tossed into a protein shake and all is well. However this time I had about 6 of them so I needed to come up with a better solution.

I ended up doing a web search for gluten-free banana recipes (as many of you may recall, I am doing the cleanse from Tony Horton’s book Bring It!, in which gluten is one of the things you wean yourself off of during the 3o day period) and I was happy to come across this recipe on a website called “Book of Yum“.

As usual, I tweaked the recipe just a little bit by using apple sauce instead of oil. I also didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to make this, so I used 3/4 cups of sugar, 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 1 tbsp of vanilla extract instead.

The bread was very simple to make, made the whole house smell wonderful during the cooking process and was wonderfully moist and flavorful.

As a matter of fact, my kids even liked this bread! That is a huge thumbs up as they can both be quite picky!

Gluten-Free Banana Bread
(recipe courtesy of Book of Yum – this is also a dairy-free recipe)

Ingredients:

2 cups white rice flour or your favorite simple gluten-free flour blend
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mashed, ripe bananas (about 5)
1 cup vanilla infused sugar (leave vanilla bean in sugar overnight and then remove bean)
1/2 cup canola oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray medium bread pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and then make a well in the center. Add eggs, banana, sugar, and oil to the center and combine them before folding into the rest of the dry ingredients. Pour or spoon batter into your bread pan. Bake for an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes before removing from pan, and then cool on a wire rack until you can’t stand it any longer (Ideally until bread is entirely cool, but hey, you’re only human.) Slice and enjoy!

I honestly couldn’t tell a difference in taste between regular all-purpose flour I have used in the past, and the gluten-free flour I used to make this. I’m happy with the way this turned out and will definitely be making it again in the future.

If you try this or have any other variations, please feel free to share in the comments section below.

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January 31, 2011 · 6:49 PM

Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

If your kids are anything like mine, they love cookies! Heck, who am I kidding…I LOVE cookies, however my waistline doesn’t share this love with me.

The other day I tried my hand at this recipe and must have messed up somewhere, so I decided to give it another go tonight.

I am so happy I did, cause these turned out really good. (My prior batch tasted good too, they were just a little dry.)

I don’t remember where I found this recipe, but I did tweak it just a little to add some moisture to the dough by adding some applesauce.

You can also substitute applesauce for the oil if you want to make them even healthier and more waist-line friendly.

Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

*If your dough seems a little dry, add 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce before adding the chips like I mentioned I did above.

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
  2. Grind oats in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla; beat until smooth and creamy. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients, beating on low-speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
  3. Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls, at least 1 inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies until firm around the edges and golden on top, about 15 minutes. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies ( I used a small ice cream scoop to keep them consistant in size.)

I hope you enjoy these as much as my family did. My kids LOVE cookies and it’s nice to know I have a whole-grain, lower sugar recipe that I can now bake for them, in place of the store-bought ones.


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