January Favorites

So it's officially February.  And I'd like to point out that the only snowstorm we have had was on a weekend.  Which, teachers, you all know what I'm talking about. 

I've tried a few new things this month that I am LOVING, so I wanted to share!

So true story, I don't like nuts.  I'm not allergic but I don't like the texture - I can handle it if they are super ground up, but that's about it.  And it's very difficult to find protein bars that don't have big chunks of nuts. 

Enter these Square Bars.  Wow!  SO good, and super filling.  I have had the Chocolate Cherry, the Chocolate Mint, and the Chocolate Coconut and all are yum, though the Chocolate Coconut may be my favorite because it straight up tastes like a Mounds candy bar.  These have been a terrific pre-workout / late afternoon snack!

I'm not dairy free as a rule, but I am trying to lessen the amount of dairy I eat (let's be real, I'm not giving up cheese).  Basically, if it's a substitute I don't mind, then I will go with it.  Not only don't I mind this, but it has quickly become one of my two favorites (next one coming up later).  This Kite Hill yogurt is super creamy and has a very different texture than Greek yogurt, but it is also really refreshing and light.  Topped with some granola, it's a great snack.  I've had the blueberry and the vanilla, both of which I love, and was psyched to find some new flavors, including pineapple and key lime, at my Whole Foods!

And my other favorite is this So Delicious coconut milk yogurt.  Again, very different texture than Greek yogurt but really light and flavorful.  The chocolate flavor is AMAZING!  It's legit dessert.

I am a popcorn junkie to the extreme.  The boxes of microwave popcorn I would go through - not okay.  But, in trying to institute some healthier habits, I came across the idea of popping popcorn in coconut oil and was hooked.  Then, on Instagram, I noticed this Nutiva buttery coconut oil and I knew I HAD to try it.  I pop the popcorn in about a teaspoon of this oil, and then melt another teaspoon to put on top and it tastes SO buttery.  Definitely calls back to that buttery, delicious movie popcorn.  I've also used this to fry up hash browns and eggs and it's amazing!

So, all food faves this month as I've been trying to make some healthier choices and found some things I was super excited about.  

What are some of your favorites this month?

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?

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!

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!

Fabulous Find: Skinnygirl Lime and Sea Salt Popcorn

I'm definitely a snacker. I like crunchy snacks, sweet snacks, savory snacks.  You name it.

I also really love popcorn.

I'm familiar with the Skinnygirl brand, but have not tried too many of the items available.  But this caught my eye in the store and I was intrigued.  She has partnered with Orville Redenbacher so you know the popcorn will be good. 

See, one of my favorite snacks is the Hint of Lime Tostitos.  And I thought this might be a good, lower calorie dupe for that.

I was pleased to find that that's the case!  And what's more, you certainly get a larger serving size!

Each bag is larger than a 100 calorie bag, so you get a bit more, weighing in at 150 calories a bag, which is a good snack size.  When you first take out the bag you definitely smell the lime, but after it pops, it's much more subtle.  You can definitely taste it, and it does remind me of the Tostitos.  The lime mixed with the sea salt is a new twist on popcorn and I'm definitely a fan! 

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

You may or may not be sensing a theme here.

I love chocolate and peanut butter.

Alas, stuffing my face with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is not an option when trying to live a bit healthier.

But these?  These are not a bad option.

I had wanted to try my hand at making some of my own protein bars for a couple of reasons.  One, you can control what goes into them, and two, they are not cheap in the store. 

My afternoons are long, with tutoring and working out after school, so it's my go to mid afternoon snack of choice to give me a bit of a boost and get me through a run or a 21 Day Fix workout.

I found this recipe on Oh She Glows and decided to adapt it a bit to fit my needs.

The recipe made 12 protein bars, and, using MyFitnessPal recipe calculator, they came out to be about 180 calories per bar, which is on par with what a store bought protein bar would be.

I keep them in the refrigerator and a week later, they are still delicious!

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Adapted from Oh She Glows
(Makes 12)

1 1/2 cups of oats, blended into a flour
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder (I used my Vegan Chocolate Shakeology)
1/2 cup organic chocolate crisp rice cereal
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. mini dark chocolate chips
1/2 tbsp. coconut oil

Blend oats into a flour.  Combine with the protein powder, salt, and cereal into a large bowl.  Add in peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.  The dough will be stiff and a bit sticky!

In an 8x8 pan lined with wax paper, press the dough even into the pan, using a pastry roller to even it out.  Freeze for about 15 minutes.

Melt coconut oil and chocolate chips in a small saucepan, stir until smooth.

Take the bars out of the freezer, and even spread chocolate over the top.  Pop back into the freezer for another 15 minutes.

Take out and slice into 12 portions.  Keep either in the freezer or an airtight container in the fridge!

Fabulous Finds: Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame 100 Calorie Packs

I'm a sucker for a good snack.

I'm also a teacher who needs the mid-morning pick me up as much as the kids do.  And, being a teacher, I can't leave my room to get said pick me up.

So, I'm always interested when I see snacks that don't need to be refrigerated, are healthy, and more importantly for me, portion controlled.

I spotted these in the organic section of Stop and Shop and knew I had to give them a try.

Especially after I checked out the label!

Low in sugar, high in protein, and 100 calories?

My next fear was that it would be an impossibly small portion.  However, there was a lot of edamame packed into that little bag!

The edamame itself had a nice salty crunch, a perfect substitute for chips or even, for someone like who doesn't like them, any kind of nut.

I've been having these everyday this week as my mid-morning snack and they definitely helped tide me over until lunch.

Keep and eye out for them!

Snack: Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip

I don't know if it's just me, but I could eat peanut butter straight out of the jar.

Unfortunately, you shouldn't.  Because while peanut butter has its benefits, there is a lot of fat in it.

Alas.

I was home one day with some extra Greek yogurt and whipped this up.  I mean, I love apples and peanut butter, but the tablespoon of peanut butter always runs out before I finish the apples!

This dip remedies that.  And at 132 calories per serving (not including the apple), it's creamy and delicious and packed with protein (not to mention quick and easy)!  This particular recipe is a single serve but could certainly be doubled or tripled!

Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip (Serves 1)

1/4 cup of 2% plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp. natural peanut butter

Combine and stir well.  Then enjoy!

Fabulous Finds: Mrs. Thinsters' Cookie Thins

Let's face it.  I have a sweet tooth.  And while I would love to be one of those people who can happily always calm that sweet tooth with fruit, I can't.

I love fruit.  I snack on it a couple of times a day.

But sometimes you just need a cookie.

I stumbled upon Mrs. Thinsters' Cookie Thins in my local Stop and Shop, and was intrigued.  They come in a couple of different flavors - chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, and cake batter.  It was a tough decision but I went with the chocolate chip.

I also loved the label.  They are non-GMO, no corn syrup, and no artificial flavors, colors or perservatives.  I could read and pronounce the entire ingredient list, which is a plus in my book!

But how do they taste?

Really delicious!  They are crunchy, and then you get bites of creamy chocolate.

And the best part?  You get 5 cookie thins for 130 calories! (at least the chocolate chip, I think the double chocolate chip may have been 140.)

These with a cup of tea really hit the spot on a cold winter night when some comforting sweets were needed!