Banana Tahini Smoothie

I know what you are thinking.

Tahini?  In a smoothie?

Sounds weird.  I mean, when I think of tahini, I'm thinking hummus.  I'm thinking savory.

But not a smoothie.

However, I saw @thymeandtoast on Instagram putting tahini in smoothies and raving so I was like, ok, why not give it a shot?

So, on this snowy day (which equaled a snow day from work for me!), after my workout, I totally wanted a smoothie.  I had tahini so I figured, what better day to experiment?

The result was a super creamy smoothie that wasn't overly sweet and had hints of savory.  Suffice to say, I'm obsessed.

(Real talk - ignore the nails - they are recovering from weeks of gels.  Seriously, I need a manicure!)

I topped mine with a sprinkle of the Trader Joe's Super Seed Blend which I'm legit obsessed with.  Perfect topping for smoothies or a mix-in for yogurt!

Banana Tahini Smoothie
Serves 1

1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
1 frozen banana
1 tbsp. tahini
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 scoop Vital Proteins collagen peptides (optional)

Combine and blend!  Top with whatever you like!

Biscuit Pizzas

So.  Word of warning.  These become addictive.

Which is why I only made a single batch.  But for real, you can triple, quadruple, whatever this, and it's a perfect appetizer (football anyone?).

And it couldn't be easier!  Mix up the toppings with whatever you prefer (I've done mini Hawaiian biscuit pizzas which are amazing.

In an attempt to try and stop myself from running back and making three more, I served mine with zoodles and asparagus.  It was a really perfect dinner!

Biscuit Pizzas
3 refrigerated biscuit dough circles
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 cup part skim mozzarella cheese
5 pieces turkey pepperoni

Preheat oven to 400.  Flatten each biscuit into a thin disc.  Top with toppings!  Bake for 9 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.

What I Ate Wednesday

So, I'm kind of obsessed with reading these posts - so I figured I'd try my hand at one!

These are my eats from last Wednesday.

Started off my day with a big glass of water, all the coffee, and this Salted Caramel Banana Smoothie using Salted Caramel Quest Powder.  This is legit one of my favorite flavors!

Not pictured is the ginormous coffee I got on my way to work with 1 pump of pumpkin flavoring and almond milk.

Breakfast was around 6, and I wasn't really hungry til about 11:00.  I LOVE The Complete Cookie - but it's way too dangerous for me to have one that's really 2 servings.  I found a box of the single serve ones on Amazon in Snickerdoodle and am SO happy I did.  It's a great mid-morning or pre-workout snack and it's already portioned!

This was a day of running around (I work in 3 different schools on a given day!), so lunch was going to be later.  About 1:00, as I was running between buildings, I had a pumpkin bar from Trader Joe's - LOVE THESE!

Around 1:45 I finally got back to my desk and was able to eat some lunch, which was a slice of this spinach, bacon, and sundried tomato strata (recipe soon!) that I had made for brunch.  I topped it with some extra broccoli.

Around 3:30, I had a pre-workout snack of an apple and a pumpkin chocolate chip energy bite (check out Clean Food Crush for the recipe!)

For dinner, I had a chili roasted sweet potato and brussel sprout hash with a fried egg and a slice of Ezekiel flax bread with avocado.

And finally, because it's all about balance, I had some rice pudding (leftovers from Dad's recipe which is the bomb) to end the night!

What's on your menu?

Two Fabulous Snack Finds!

Let's start with this.  If you like Sweet Chili Doritos?  You will legit love these.  They are AMAZING!  Crunchy with both a sweetness and a kick!  I found them at Whole Foods but you can also order them online.  There are also other flavors, but these spoke to me.  They are 4 Smartpoints per serving.

Another Whole Foods find below!  These are seriously delish if you need a savory snack.   Cheesy and salty and spicy and crunchy.  Moreso, they are organic and have a great ingredient list!  Another 4 Smartpoints per serving snack!  You can also order them online.

These pair great with a piece of fruit or some veggies for a really filling and healthy snack!

Nut Free Trail Mix

So I really like the concept of trail mix - all that variety!  Packed with protein!  A great energy boost.

The thing is,  I don't like nuts.  Weirdly, I LOVE any kind of nut butter, I love the flavor of nuts, but I can't do the texture.

I know.  Strange.

Try finding a trail mix in the stores that has no nuts.  It's pretty impossible.

So I invented my own!

The recipe for this involves a lot of weighing so you definitely need a scale.  I found this to be a great snack (paired with some fresh fruit or vegetable) before a run or just in that mid afternoon lull.

Nut Free Trail Mix
Serves 4 - 4 Smartpoints per Serving

51 grams pumpkin seeds
40 grams dried mixed fruit, chopped
17 grams semisweet chocolate chips

Combine ingredients, then portion into small containers!  (Each portion weighed about 33 grams for me!)

Fabulous Find: Siggi's Yogurt

Yogurt is definitely one of my go-tos for a mid-morning boost.  And I tend to gravitate to Greek yogurt because I love the protein - really helps tide me over until lunch.

I was at Target last week and I saw this (and it had an offer on Cartwheel!).  A friend of mine had recommended it and so I decided to give it a whirl. 

WOW.  Really delicious.  Not unlike the texture of Greek yogurt honestly, though it does have less sugar (score!).

I've tried two flavors so far: pumpkin spice (of course) which was 2% fat and 4 Smartpoints, and the raspberry, which was 0% fat and 3 Smartpoints.  Both are really delicious!  And Siggi's seems to have a lot of really interesting flavors.

I've seen it in both Target and Stop and Shop, and there is more information at Siggi's Dairy!

Fabulous Find: Elli Quark

Yogurt, specifically Greek yogurt, is one of my favorite midmorning snacks. With fresh fruit and a touch of granola, it's the perfect thing to tide me over until lunch.

Over the last month or so, I started seeing all these posts about Quark on Instagram.  It was less Smartpoints than Greek yogurt, so color me intrigued.

When I first spotted it in Shoprite, the wording "spoonable cheese" almost steered me away, because I couldn't actually picture what that meant.  However, I figured the multitude of Instagram posts couldn't be wrong, so I took a chance.

SO GLAD I DID!

It is absolutely delicious! It's got the texture of Greek yogurt, but is less tangy.  And only 2 Smartpoints for the whole cup!

I've only been able to find a few of the flavors so far (it's not available in all stores).  I've tried Bananas Foster, Blueberry, Vanilla, Plain and Strawberry.  I also have a Pineapple to try tomorrow.   Everything I've tried has been really delicious, with a lot of flavor.  I'm dying to find the Sea Salt Caramel and the Red Velvet and the Mint Chocolate!

I know these are also available at Target, if there is one near you.

You can also order online!  Elli Quark

Definitely keep a look out.  Worth the extra looking!

Blog Bites: Skinnytaste Ham, Veggie, and Egg Bake

I am a super big fan of all things Skinnytaste.  Her recipes are delicious and healthy and also really easy!

I whipped up this Veggie, Ham, Egg and Cheese bake and found it to be a GREAT midmorning nosh.  It's basically customizable to whatever veggies you have on hand, and I actually subbed Canadian bacon for the ham steak.  Really delicious!

Skinnytaste Veggie, Ham, Egg, and Cheese Bake

Fabulous Finds: Chobani Simply 100 Crunch

I LOVE the Chobani Flips.  Particularly the Key Lime Crumble.

However - LOTS of sugar.  And to top it off, on the new Smartpoints plan, not terribly point friendly.

Then I stumbled upon these beauties in the store.

(Ignore the rest of the lunchbox, for the life of me I couldn't find the original picture!)

So these are basically 100 calorie pack "flips" from Chobani.  I found three flavors -  one was a chocolate and strawberry combo, one was blueberry cookie, and one was mango.  I'm not a huge mango fan (unless it's in a daquiri) so I tried the strawberry and blueberry ones.

The strawberry "Crunch" was strawberry Greek yogurt with chocolate pieces, chocolate cookie pieces, and dried strawberry.  The blueberry - my favorite - was a blueberry Greek yogurt with oatmeal cookie pieces and dried blueberries.

These were a perfect mid-morning snack paired with some fruit, but would also be a great sweet treat at the end of the day.

And the best - 3 Smartpoints per serving!

Hoping they expand this line!  Keep an eye out!

The Love List: Love with Food Box

I'm a big fan of the subscription box.  I've used Ipsy, BeautyBox, Birchbox, and Nature Box - all of which I have enjoyed.  But of course, financially, having all those boxes can get a bit expensive.

One I'm currently enjoying is Love with Food.  It sends boxes of healthy, non GMO snacks to your door once a month.  Now, I'm a snacker, and I usually try and keep it to fruits and veggies, but every once in a while, you have to change it up.

This was the one I got this month.  This particular one is the Tasting Box, and it's $7.99 a month.  In it, you get at least 8 snacks to try.

Now, a word of warning, if you have a nut allergy, you might not be interested, as you can't delineate that ahead of time.  I don't, though I don't particularly like nuts, so I just give those snacks away.

This box, for example, had some granola cookies, some bruschetta for dipping, some organic corn chips, a turkey stick, a bag of organic cherry hard candies, and a few little sweet treats - one was a square of chocolate with crushed corn flakes in it!

These snacks, if you like them, are then also available to buy in their store.

What I like is that you get a nice mix of salty and sweet, and it's brands that I won't necessarily find in the store but can easily find online if I like them.

And the best part is, for every box you buy, they donate a meal to a food bank in America.

Good snacks and good deeds?  Sold!

If you are interested in giving this a shot, this is a referral link (once you sign up, you can earn points by referring others!).

Love with Food

Fabulous Finds: Cosmos Creations

For the savory snack lover in all of us.

You guys.  These are SO GOOD.

If you like Pirate Booty, you will love these.

They come in a bunch of different flavors.  I LOVE the above one, and my other favorite is Spicy Siracha.  I've also had the butter and sea salt, which was also delish.   Oh!  And I can't forget the sea salt and vinegar!  Mmmmm.  There are also some sweet variations, but I have yet to try those.

I got a package of the single serve bags and it was a great midday pick me up.  They are gluten free and use non-GMO corn.  I ordered them online through Amazon but they also have a website!

Cosmos Creations

Spice Squares

So a few years ago, I remember that Weight Watchers trick of mixing a boxed cake mix with pumpkin being all the rage.  It cut the calories significantly.

And while I certainly did it (and ate it), I wasn't a fan of the texture.  Though I liked the idea of having the health benefits of pumpkin in the cake.

So what's a cook to do?  Improvise!

This only has a few added ingredients (and a few toppings), but the texture is so much better than just using the cake mix and the pumpkin.  I made this in my Pampered Chef brownie pan so they came out as individual squares, but I'm sure they'd work as either cupcakes or a whole 9x13 cake - just adjust the cooking time!

I served mine with some lite Cool Whip mixed with about a teaspoon of pure maple syrup and a drizzle of caramel.  Delicious!

And P.S. - these are only about 83 calories per square.  Score!

Spice Squares
(Makes about 18 squares)

1 box spice cake mix
1/2 cup liquid egg whites
1 cup water
1/2 cup pumpkin puree

Combine all ingredients and pour into sprayed baking pan.  Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes (depending on the size pan you use!)

Enjoy!

Fabulous Find: Pumpkin Seed Tortilla Chips

In case it isn't already obvious, I have a thing for pumpkin.

It is seasonal, however.  After Thanksgiving, gingerbread and egg nog take over!

I found these chips at Stop & Shop and was super intrigued.

Love the ingredients, love the stats.

Be aware, this isn't a super savory chip.  There's a hint of sweetness but it's not TOO sweet.  They don't taste really pumpkin-y, so if you aren't a huge pumpkin fan, I'd still give them a shot.

They were absolutely delicious paired with both black bean hummus and a medium heat salsa.

They are seasonal, so get them while they last!

Blog Bites: Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

I'm mildly obsessed with the Skinnytaste blog and cookbook.  Who isn't?

And it's football season.  So of course I had to peruse her snacks to see if I could find something fun and football-ish for Sunday Funday.

This spicy cauliflower bites are DELICIOUS.  I actually used a combo of broccoli and cauliflower.  The broccoli worked great because the florets really held the batter and sauce.

These are super easy and perfect for gameday!

Skinnytaste:  Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Fabulous Find: Jif Peanut Powder

True fact.  I love peanut butter (and yet I hate actual peanuts, go figure).

I will legit put peanut butter on or in anything I can. 

Unfortunately, while it does have it's protein benefits, it's also got a lot of fat. 

There have been several brands of peanut powders on the market, yet they all seem pretty pricey.  Not that I didn't buy them, I did.  But in the interest of saving money, this new one caught my eye.

So at first I was skeptical.  But the price was a good 3 dollars less than my favorite, PB2, so I figured, what did I have to lose?

And then I looked at the back.

The ONLY ingredient is roasted peanuts.  In three tablespoons, there are 8 grams of protein and only 2 grams of fat.

Consider me sold.

But....does it taste good?

So far I've added 2 tablespoons to a chocolate smoothie and 1 tablespoon to a half cup of Greek yogurt, and I have to say, I'm impressed.  The price is right, the ingredients are right, and the taste is right.

Keep an eye out!

Fabulous Find: Plenti Greek Yogurt

I am a huge Greek yogurt fan.  No lie.  But I like "stuff" in my yogurt.  Real fruit, seeds, granola, etc.  The yogurt on its own just isn't quite filling enough for me.

So I was intrigued when I saw this new find in the grocery store.

Greek yogurt?  Check.  Oats?  Check.  Flax?  Check. Pumpkin Seeds?  Yes please.

And bonus, no nuts!  I, for one am not a fan (love the flavor, cringe at the texture).

The label is pretty good too!

Now, I will warn you.  If you expect crunch, forget it.  The oats and seeds have been in the yogurt so it's not at all crunchy.  However, if you are looking for a filling snack with a chewy texture and full of goodness?  This is for you!

I have had the black cherry and blueberry flavors and both are wonderful!  I believe there is also vanilla and strawberry as well!

Definitely keep an eye out for it!

Fabulous Find: Quest Protein Bars

There are so many protein bars out there at this point.  It's really hard to choose!

Add in that I'm not a fan of nuts (I love peanut butter but not actual peanuts, go figure), and my options in protein bars are severely limited.

Plus, I don't love some of the ingredients I'm finding in these bars.

That changed when I stumbled upon Quest bars in, of all places, 7-11. 

What I love most about these bars is that they don't taste "protein-y".  They actually taste like a candy bar!  And the ingredient list is far better than most I've seen. 

I haven't tried all of them, because some do have nuts, but some favorites are mint chocolate chunk (pictured above), S'mores, and cookies and cream.

They run about 170 calories a bar and are super filling.  One of my pre-gym favorites!

I've seen them sparingly, in 7-11 and in King's, but they are also available online!

For more information:  Quest Nutrition

Fabulous Find: 7-11 Go Smart! Corn Tortilla Chips

Color me shocked that I found such a healthy snack find at a convenience store, branded by said convenience store!

My 7-11 had several different flavors.  I got the Sweet Chili and the Siracha flavors.  These are non-GMO as well as certified gluten free with a terrific ingredient list!   1 bag is 170 calories, and I loved them as a mid-morning snack boost!

I really enjoyed both the flavors I tried, with a slight edge to the Siracha, which were spicy without being overly hot.  The chips were crunchy and delicious and the portion was great!

Definitely check these out if you can find them!

Fabulous Find: Weight Watchers Frozen Smoothies

I'm always on the lookout for new snacks.

I spotted these in the frozen section of my store and was intrigued, but I bypassed them at first.  I'm not big on stocking up on frozen foods, I have a few on hand in case of a late night or needing a quick lunch, but I'm really trying to stay away from the more processed things.

So, it took me a few times to take a real look at these, but when I did, I was pleasantly surprised.

For a frozen, prepackaged item, that's a pretty good ingredient list!

But how would they taste?

I've tried two of the flavors - the tropical one, which is pineapple and mango, and the strawberry / banana one and I found both to be really quite good.  There are chunks of real fruit and they are a really good portion.  Perfect for a mid-morning snack!

I also love the ease of them.  I take it out in the morning before work and leave it in the fridge at school until snack time, and it's a really terrific consistency.

Definitely check these out!

Snack Attack

I am a snacker. I've always been a snacker.  Which sometimes can be an issue, but in the last few years I've really made the effort to make my snacks of the healthy variety.

I'm also an elementary school teacher, and snack time is still a time honored tradition there, thankfully.  I eat breakfast right when I get up at 5:45 and lunch is at 11:45.  That's a long stretch, and around 10, I find myself needing a bit of a pick me up.

So I thought I'd share a few of my go-tos, things that are easy to pack and bring along as well as being healthy!

1.  Hummus - I love this protein packed snack so much, and I really haven't found a flavor I don't like.  I recently tried this one and really like bit of a spicy kick.  I generally have it with vegetables, like cucumbers or carrots, but sometimes, especially if I am gearing up for a longer workout or run, I'll dip a few pretzels in it.

2. Popcorn - this particular brand is a recent fave, but really any kind of portion controlled bag (important!) works for me.  If I'm bringing it to school, I will pop it in the morning, so it won't be hot, but it's still crunchy and that works for me.

3.  Hardboiled Egg - I love whipping up a batch on the weekends and having them for snacks throughout the week.  I have been trying to get more protein into my diet as a whole, as well as my snacks, and this is a perfect fit!

4.  Fresh Fruit - I'm not too picky when it comes to fruit, I pretty much will go with what's on sale and create my own little cup of fresh fruit salad.  When I eat fruit, I do need to pair it with a protein, so I either pack one of those hardboiled eggs or....

5.  Cheese Sticks - I've never made a cheese I didn't like.  Thank goodness for portion controlled sticks.  Again, that bump of protein is a great addition to fruit or veggies!

6.  Skim Latte - A caffeine boost with some skim dairy in one.  Some days you just need it.


Have any favorite snacks?  Comment below!