Healthy Kettle Corn

There was a crazy lightning storm here last night, so I wanted to do something fun for the kids {and me!}.  I decided to dust off the 'ol air popper and try my hand at some guilt-free kettle corn.  I wasn't sure how it would go over with my guinea pigs kids, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I had to make three batches of this stuff!

Ingredients:

     1/2 cup popcorn kernels   

     cooking spray {I used canola}

     1 packet Truvia

     salt

Directions:

Pop popcorn with air popper.  Spray popcorn with cooking spray and sprinkle with Truvia and salt.  Mix.

Sucker For A Protein Shake

I feel like I've come a long way since the days months I spent "addicted" to Atkins shakes.  Whether I like it or not....I am still, however, a sucker for a good protein shake.  There's just something about the ease and convenience of a pre-made shake that really fits into my "grab-and-go" lifestyle.  I've been turning to these PURE PROTEIN ones lately for a quick snack or post-workout boost.  I really like that they're high in protein {23g} and low in net carbs {3g}, fat {1.5g} and calories {120}. The vanilla's tasty too!

Cookie Dough Dip {With Chickpeas!}

It sounds strange, I know....but just wait 'til you try it.  

Why is it that cookie dough is almost always better than the actual cookies? When I make cookies, I usually end up consuming about five cookies worth of dough before I even try one {or two, or three} hot from the oven.  I have a serious problem when it comes to cookies, so I try not to make them very often.

Recently, however, I've been running into recipes for chickpea cookie dough dip all over the internet.  I attempted one of these recipes about a month ago.  I made a few tweaks and changes to the recipe and it turned out less than mediocre.  I was having a major cookie dough craving tonight, though, so I decided to give it one more shot....this time I followed a recipe exactly and it turned out AMAZING!  Can chickpeas really taste like cookie dough???  The answer is YES!

I found the recipe here at Natural Noshing.  I don't have a food processor, so I just used my Magic Bullet and it worked good enough for me.

I was watching three of my friend's kids, so I thought I'd try it out on them and see what happened.

This is what happened....

They downed all the apples {with a little help from me, of course} and we had to open a bag of pretzels.  It passed the "picky eater" test and was approved by six kids ages 4-10!  Go ahead and try it....you might just LOVE it!  =)

Ingredients:

     1 1/2 cups chickpeas {1 can} rinsed, drained and patted dry with paper towels

     1/3 cup peanut butter or other nut butter

     2 tsp vanilla extract

     1/8 tsp salt {if using unsalted nut butter}

     2 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk

     3-4 Tbsp agave {or honey}

     2 Tbsp flaxseed meal

     1/3 cup chocolate chips

     *Optional - 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Directions:

In a food processor {or blender} add chickpeas and process until finely chopped.  Add peanut butter, vanilla, salt and almond milk.

Add agave, flax meal and protein powder.  Process until well blended.  You may need to add a little extra almond milk.

Stir in chocolate chips.  Serve immediately or refrigerate for a few hours.  

Sugar free jello is one of my go-to snacks when I'm craving something sweet and trying to avoid the giant bag of chocolate chips hiding in my pantry.  {Sometimes I'm successful...sometimes I'm not!}  I usually just buy the little "snack packs" and keep them in the fridge for sweet tooth emergencies.  Then I had an idea - what if I turned this nutrion-less snack into something a little healthier???  And thus was born....PROTEIN JELLO!

1. All you need is a small box of Jello and some vanilla protein powder.

2. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and mix in Jello until dissolved.

3. Add 1 cup cold water.  Pour into blender bottle {optional}.  Let cool a little and add 2 scoops vanilla protein powder.  Shake {or mix} until well blended.

4. Divide into four servings.  Cover and refrigerate a few hours or until firm.

And there you have an easy, LOW-CARB, LOW-CALORIE, HIGH-PROTEIN snack!

Per Serving:

{65 calories, 0g fat, 1g carbs, 0g fiber, 14g protein}

Low-Carb Snickerdoodle Protein Smoothie

Life has been crazy busy lately....trying to keep up with the kids and their schedules.  I haven't had much time to blog, and I hate that I'm making my first post in a while with such bad pictures.  We got a new {smaller} camera that I've been trying out and I don't think I have the hang of it yet {not that I'm a professional by any stretch of the imagination!}

I was in the mood for cookies the other day, so I thought I'd try and whip up a cookie-themed protein shake.  Here's what I came up with....

The ingredients are simple.

Ingredients:

     1 cup unsweetened almond milk

     1 scoop vanilla protein powder

     1/2 tsp vanilla

     Heaping 1/2 tsp cinnamon

     Liquid stevia, to taste {or 1 packet Truvia}

     Ice

I'll be honest, it wasn't exactly like eating a delicious homemade cookie, but it did satisfy my craving and keep me from mixing up a batch of snickerdoodles just so I could eat the dough.  {Not that I would ever do something like that!}

{140 calories, 3g fat, 2g carbs, 1g fiber, 26g protein}

Zucchini Chips

Sometimes I'm just in the mood for chips.  My recent addiction....sweet potato chips.  I bought them as a "healthier option" to regular chips, but when I looked down and realized I'd eaten half the bag, I started to wonder if I was really making a better choice.  Man, those things are addictive!

So....now I am on a quest to find an even better {and less guilt-inducing} option. My first experiment was with zucchini.  I recently bought myself a new little kitchen gadget - a small mandoline.  So far I love it.  It makes slicing things so easy and fast!

I sliced up one zucchini and was surprised at how many "chips" I got out of it.  I sprayed them lightly with olive oil and lightly salted them as well.  Then, into the dehydrator they went....

I was not prepared for how much they'd shrink up....

They were seriously tiny!  I'm not sure about this one....it seemed like a lot of work for not much snack. This was the entire batch....

They tasted pretty good....kinda like roasted pumpkin seeds, but I think I downed them all in about three minutes.  

{See how tiny they are?!}

I dipped them in cottage cheese and called it my afternoon snack.  Maybe next time I'll bake them in the oven and mix up the seasonings a bit.  It appears as if my search for the perfect healthy chip has just begun.

Healthier Snacks For Kids

We've been members of Sam's Club for a long time, but more recently got a membership to Costco.  I love the healthier snacking options they have there.  

My kids LOVE to snack.  Sometimes I think I should put a lock on the pantry door. {Hey, that might be helpful for me too!}  Anyway, I bought all these snacks on my last trip to Costco in an attempt to beat the kids at their own game.  I love watching them grab a bag of dehydrated real fruit instead of fruit snacks, veggie chips instead of greasy chips & whole wheat fig bars instead of sugary granola bars. It's a win-win....they get to snack and I don't feel bad about it!

Homemade "Sun-Dried" Tomatoes

I'm not sure why I ever buy bulk tomatoes from Sam's....I'm the only one in my family who eats them and they always go bad before I can get through the whole batch.  {See how these are starting to turn?}  Not wanting to waste, I dusted off the 'ol dehydrator and decided to try something new....

I sliced the tomatoes in quarters and put them in the dehydrator on the highest setting {155 degrees}.  This is what they looked like about 10 hours later....

They're slightly crunchy, slightly chewy and a little tangy.  I've been meaning to put them on a salad, but I keep snacking on them like chips.   

At this rate, there won't be any left! 

Cherry Chobani

Another high-protein, low-calorie snack....

{110 calories, 0g fat, 12g carbs, 3g fiber, 18g protein}

Cottage Cheese Pistachio "Pudding"

A couple days ago, my husband brought home an enormous pistachio muffin from work....a gift from his boss all the way from The Outer Banks.  You know something's good when people carry it over state lines just to give you a taste.  I love stuff like that!  Scott once brought me a pint of ice cream all the way from Cincinnati when we were living in Utah.  He had the flight attendant store it with the ice.  How sweet is that?!  Of course, that was back when we were first married. I wonder if he'd do that now, 14 years later?  

But I digress.  Where were we?  Oh, yeah....GIANT PISTACHIO MUFFIN!  The hubs gave me a bite and it was every bit as moist and delicious as you can imagine. 

Here's a little something I whipped up to keep me from stealing that mouth-watering muffin, locking myself in my closet, eating the whole darn thing and not emerging until I'd sucked every last crumb from the wrapper.

Cottage cheese pistachio pudding....

{105 calories, 3g fat, 14g carbs, 3g fiber, 10g protein}

Ingredients:

     1 serving lowfat cottage cheese

     1 tbsp sugar free, fat free pistachio pudding mix

I'll be honest, it's not quite as good as the road-trip muffin {and some might consider the texture a little "pasty"....I happen to like things with weird textures.} but it did satisfy my need for something sweet and pistachio-y without all the fat, sugar and carbs.  Just think of all the different flavor possibilities! 

Broiled Tomatoes With Feta and Cracked Pepper

Remember when they used to serve meals on airplanes?  Not just a cold sandwich you have to pay extra for, but a full-on warm meal on a tray???  I never liked airplane food that much {but now appreciate the fact that they gave it to you at no extra cost} and could never stand the smell.  There was however, one thing I always looked forward to....broiled tomatoes.  It doesn't sound like something a kid would like, but then again, I've always been a little strange.  

Today I recreated a childhood memory, but I used roma tomatoes and feta cheese.  

Ingredients:

2 roma tomatoes

1/4 cup reduced fat feta

fresh cracked pepper

Start by cutting the tomatoes in half, lengthwise.  {Cut a small slice off the back sides just so they'll lay flat.}  Sprinkle the feta on top and place under the broiler until cheese starts to brown.

Add fresh cracked pepper to taste and enjoy!

{124 calories, 4g fat, 15g carbs, 4g fiber, 13g protein}

I broiled mine in the toaster oven....no sense in heating the whole oven for two tomatoes if I don't have to. This makes a great snack or a fun side dish for dinner.  I can picture it now with salmon and grilled asparagus.  Yum!

PB & J Greek Yogurt

Ever get a craving for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?  I do!  What is it about peanut butter and jelly that's just so darn good?!  Ever feel guilty after "accidentally" eating half your kid's sandwich?  I do that too.

PB&J is a classic flavor combination that never gets old. With that in mind, I set out to try a different {more figure friendly} version.

{157 calories, 3g fat, 19g carbs, 5.5g fiber, 20g protein}

Ingredients:

1 serving fat free plain Greek yogurt {I used Dannon Oikos}

2 tbsp PB2

1 packet Truvia

1 tbsp sugar free jelly {I used Smucker's raspberry}

1 tbsp granola {I used Nature's Path Pumpkin Flax}

Mix the PB2 and Truvia with yogurt.  Top with jelly and granola.

This might just be my new favorite creation.  I had it for breakfast today and have been craving it ever since!  Goodbye PB & J sandwiches....hello PB & J yogurt!!!

Chocolate PB2 Smoothie

After almost a week of sleeping in, not exercising and eating things like ice cream, cookies and caramel corn {gotta love spring break!} I decided I needed to buckle down and start the week off right.  When I feel like I've over indulged, I've found the easiest way for me to get back on track is to watch my carbs. Here's a little concoction I came up with for breakfast this morning....

{185 calories, 4g fat, 7g carbs, 3g fiber, 31g protein}

Ingredients:

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

2 Tbsp. PB2

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

dash cinnamon

ice

Blend it all up and enjoy!  

Hey, just because I'm watching my carbs doesn't mean I have to deprive myself of one of my favorite flavor combinations!

On a side note - apparently, my 7-year-old son isn't watching his carbs.  This is what his plate looked like at CiCi's today....

Nothing like mac & cheese pizza with a side of alfredo noodles, a breadstick and a garlic roll!  Wouldn't it be nice to be 7 again?!

Hummus Deviled Eggs

Posts have been few and far between lately....sorry! I've been enjoying spring break at my family's ranch. It's been so nice to get away from all the craziness and just enjoy being with the fam.

One of the many perks of staying at the ranch is being able to "eat off the land." Chickens have been a relatively new addition and it's so fun having farm fresh eggs every time we're out here. I boiled up a bunch last night and was excited to try something new for my morning snack today.

Why is eating brown eggs so much more exciting than eating plain old white eggs? They're exactly the same on the inside, but I somehow feel more sophisticated and health-conscious when I eat them.  :)

This recipe is simple....1 hard boiled egg and 1 Tbsp of hummus.

I used spicy three pepper, but you can use whatever you like best.

Just mix the yoke and hummus and fill the egg whites....

Super easy.  Super good!  They would have looked better if I was more patient and blended the filling more.  Oh, well.

{100 calories, 6g fat, 4g carbs, 1g fiber, 7g protein}

Give it a try....I promise you'll like it!

What Can PB2 Do For You?

I absolutely LOVE peanut butter.  It is definitely one of my weaknesses...I could eat it straight out of the jar {which I sometimes do} or on just about anything {pretzels, chocolate, apples, bananas, celery, carrots, graham crackers, saltines, ice cream, etc.}  Lucky for me, I found a great-tasting, healthier substitute....

It's an all-natural, powdered peanut butter that you reconstitute with water.  Check out the difference in the nutrition info....

That's almost too good to be true!!!

I eat PB2 almost every day and enjoy every guilt-free bite!  I first learned about PB2 online and ordered it off of Amazon, but have since found it at Kroger.  It's now a staple on my shopping list.  :) 

Corn Salsa {Like Chipotle's}

I needed to bring chips and some kind of "dip" to a large family function the other day.  I wanted to bring something different than the usual chips & salsa or mexican dip, so I decided on corn salsa.  I found this recipe about a year ago and have yet to meet someone who doesn't love it.

Ingredients:

1 12 oz. bag frozen corn, thawed

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

2 jalapenos, finely chopped 

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

2 limes, juiced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

**I remove the ribs and seeds from the jalapenos, so it's not too hot.  Careful not to touch your eyes!**

Mix all ingredients together and serve with chips.  {I doubled the recipe.}

It really does taste like Chipotle's.  I love how fresh and vibrant the flavors are.  It would be a great side dish for just about anything you can put on the grill....makes me so anxious for summer!

Afternoon Snack

Nonfat plain Greek yogurt

Berry flavored Fruit Stix {sweetened w/ Truvia, not artificial sweeteners!}

1/4 cup blackberries

{106 calories, 0g fat, 16g carbs, 2g fiber, 15g protein}

A much better choice than the Reece's Pieces calling screaming my name from the freezer.  I don't always make the right choice when faced with chocolatey food temptations....but I did this time.  That makes me happy!

Light Lunch

Lunch is probably my LEAST favorite meal of the day.  I'm not a big fan of leftovers or sandwiches, but I don't want a hassle either.  I just want something quick and easy.  I know it's bad, but I usually don't even sit down for lunch {or breakfast for that matter}.  As a mom of young kids, there's always something to do or someone to help....sitting is overrated anyway, right?  This is what I had for lunch today {two of them}....

Ingredients:

Lettuce leaf 

3 slices oven-roasted chicken lunch meat

3 slices cucumber {halved}

1 cherry tomato {quartered}

1 tsp. dijon mustard

Fresh ground pepper 

{2 wraps: 80 calories, 1g fat, 6g carbs, 1g fiber, 10g protein}

There you have it....fast, easy, healthy AND can be eaten standing up.  Perfect!

*Note: For a more substantial meal, add a slice of cheese and a piece of fruit.

Low Calorie Snacking

Yesterday, as I was searching for some new 100 calorie snacking options, I found this....

88 Snacks Under 100 Calories

It has lots of great ideas....and a bunch I hadn't thought of before.  I hope you find it as helpful as I did.  It never hurts to mix things up a bit!

Easy Baking

Do you ever feel like baking, but don't feel like dealing with the mess and all the ingredients?  I do!  {Especially since I have a hard time not digging into any type of homemade batter/dough.}  I wanted to make a little treat for the kids the other day, so I turned to one of my old staples.  It's so easy and only has three ingredients....

1. Cake mix {any flavor....I usually use carrot or chocolate, but this was all I had}
2. 15oz. can pumpkin {NOT pie filling}
3. Chocolate chips {about a cup....I like the mini ones}

Mix it all together....

Spoon into mini muffin tins {or onto a cookie sheet if you prefer cookies} and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes....

Let cool {or not!} and enjoy.  Not one of my healthiest recipes, but definitely better for you than regular cake.  

The kids loved these with the yellow cake mix!  It was the perfect treat after playing in the snow.