I would be surprised if someone told me they've never tried a Nutty Bar! That chocolately, peanut-buttery deliciousness was always a welcome surprise in my lunchbox!
Who says we can't enjoy Nutty Bars when we live a healthy lifestyle? Not me...I've found a way to recreate them and I even included some extra protein so they're especially guilt-free! Healthier Nutty Bars 6 thin rice cakes 1/3 cup natural peanut butter 1 scoop protein powder (I recommend the FASTer Way protein!) 1 cup sugar free chocolate chips (I recommend Lily's dark baking chips) 2 tsp coconut oil First, mix the peanut butter and protein powder in a small bowl. When combined, spread a layer on each rice cake. Stack the rice cake in 2 stacks of 3 and, with a serrated knife, cut in half to make 4 bars. Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave. and dip each bar until fully coated. Place on waxed or parchment paper and freeze for 10-15 minutes, until chocolate is set. ENJOY! XO Nutrition info per bar: 301 calories 29g carbs 22g fat 13g protein
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I am not a fan of mayo (or condiments in general....I know, most people think this is crazy, ha!!), so tuna salad can be a tough one for me. This recipe uses avocado, which brings the moisture that mayo lends to traditional tuna salad. It's a great low carb meal, with lots of protein to keep you feeling full and satisfied!
Tuna Salad (mayo free!) 1 can of tuna (in water) 1/2 avocado, chopped 1 hard boiled egg, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped Mix together and season with celery salt. Serve on top of a bed of lettuce, or with a fresh tomato. ENJOY! XO If you like a sweet treat on a low carb day, these buckeyes will definitely hit the spot! The FASTer Way protein is so versatile - it's super macro-friendly, low in carbs and high in protein! While I enjoy it in a protein shake or smoothie bowl, it's also fun to make delicious healthy treats with too!
Low Carb Protein Buckeye Balls 1/2 cup natural peanut butter 1/3 cup coconut flour 1 scoop vanilla FASTer Way Protein powder 1/4 cup sugar free chocolate chips 1 tsp. coconut oil Mix peanut butter, coconut flour and protein powder until well combined. Scoop into balls (this recipe makes 10) and freeze for 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave. Remove protein balls from the freezer and dip in the chocolate. Return the freezer for another 10-15 minutes, and ENJOY!! Store leftover balls in the freezer. Macros per protein ball: Calories: 122 Fat - 9g Carbs - 6g Fiber - 4g Protein - 6g Inspired by one of my favorite FASTer Way influencers, @seersuckerandsaddles - I caught a version of this in her stories one day, and WOWZA! It's a real low carb winner!
Buffalo Chicken Kale Salad You'll need some shredded kale. I bought a bag at Trader Joe's! For the chicken... Chicken breast tenders Buffalo sauce Panko bread crumbs Everything but the Bagel seasoning Mix 1/2 cup bread crumbs with a few shakes of EBTB seasoning. Dip chicken in buffalo sauce and then coat with bread crumb mixture. I air-fried for 15 minutes at 350, but you could cook on the skillet in a little avocado oil. For the dressing... Avocado oil Apple cider vinegar EBTB seasoning Mix whatever proportions of oil and vinegar you'd like - I did 2 Tbls of each, plus a few shakes of EBTB. Massage kale with dressing. Yes, massage. It's weird, but it makes the kale a little easier to eat! Top salad with chicken tenders. Optional - dress with some additional Primal Kitchen ranch! ENJOY! XO I swear these are better than the fish tacos we get at the beach club every summer! Air fry, bake or grill fish that has been seasoned with taco seasoning. I recommend either tilapia, cod or grouper, seasoned with Trader Joe's taco seasoning! There are no funky ingredients - just a perfect mix of spices. It does have quite the kick, so use sparingly! When fish is cooked, make tacos, using your favorite tortillas. Trader Joe’s corn tortillas are a fave of ours - only a few ingredients! I added some guacamole + shredded cabbage + pico de gallo and they were PERFECT! ENJOY! XO
Protein balls are such a great and healthy snack, and so versatile! I've been having a lot of fun coming up with different variations. Stay tuned for more!
I know some people don't love fruit in their desserts - i.e., raisins in their cookies, but trust me on this one. The very small amount of raisins in these protein balls adds just the right amount of sweetness to offset the salty peanut butter. So if you are one of those people (ahem - my husband!) I encourage you to be open to it! It just may change your life :) Here's how to make them! Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Protein Balls 1.5 cups gluten free rolled oats 1 cup natural peanut butter 1/4 cup honey 2 scoops vanilla protein powder (I used Orgain) 2 Tbls. raisins 1 tsp. cinnamon I blended my oats in the Ninja for a few pulses to make an oat-y/whole oats mix, but totally up to you! Then throw them into a mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Using a hand mixer, mix the ingredients until combined. Roll into balls. I used a cookie scoop that is about a tablespoon (#70). My recipe made 28! Store in a container or freezer bag in the fridge or freezer and pull one or two out when you're ready to eat. ENJOY! XO Per ball: 87 calories Protein 3.7g Carbs 7.9g Fiber 1.1g Fat 5g You don't have to be hosting a Mexican-themed fiesta this Christmas to serve and enjoy these festive cranberry margaritas!! It may look fancy, but it's just a regular old marg with a splash of cranberry juice. If you want a little extra "pop," top it with some club soda. Don't forget the garnish!
Festive Cranberry Margarita 2oz fresh lime juice 1oz triple sec 2oz tequila Splash of cranberry juice (100% juice preferred!) Splash of lime club soda, optional Shake above ingredients with ice and pour into a glass with ice that has been rimmed with salt or sugar. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a lime wedge. Enjoy! XO My beautiful grandma made this cranberry relish every Thanksgiving and Christmas, and after she passed away in 2009, I have taken over making it for our holiday celebrations. I love making it, and when I do, I think about her, and how she would have done things, from picking up the ingredients at the store, to being very orderly about how everything had to be put together, to putting the finishing touch on top with orange slices and her favorite maraschino cherries. I know she would be so happy that her tradition continues. She would also love knowing that every holiday season, I get multiple requests for her recipe! Gigi’s Cranberry Relish
1 large package Jell-O (cherry or strawberry) 1 c. water 1 package fresh cranberries 1 orange (peeled) 2 c. sugar 1-2 apples (seeded, with peel) 1 c. nuts 1 can crushed pineapple (drained really well!!) Add Jell-O to one cup of boiling water and set aside. In a blender or food processor, grind the cranberries with the orange. Put in a bowl, mix with sugar and set aside. Grind apples and set aside. Chop nuts and set aside. Let all ingredients sit for two hours. Mix together with crushed pineapple and refrigerate until set. I’m not sure why you have to keep everything separate, or why it has to sit for two hours before you mix it, but I don’t recommend straying from her exact recipe. It turns out great every time, and I think it tastes even better over the next couple of days. I usually double the recipe because everyone wants to take some home for leftovers! ENJOY! XO Okay, y'all. If you have not tried coconut manna yet, you need to get on that train asap! I only learned of this delicious treat during our recent FASTer Way to Fat Loss sugar elimination challenge. Boy do I wish I had heard of it sooner - I could have used this in my life for the past few years! Coconut manna is the same as coconut butter. Basically, it's ground whole coconut and the water has been removed. You can eat it like any other nut butter, but I have found a delicious way to incorporate this treat into my low carb days. Introducing.....COCONUT MANNA CHIA BARK! This tastes like a candy bar, my friends. But it's a healthy one! One that will add healthy fat to your diet, boost your immunity (it contains lauric acid, which wards off bacteria and viruses!), aid in weight loss and supply essential amino acids, calcium and magnesium. Here's how I make it. In a small dish or ramekin, mix together:
3 Tbls. coconut manna 2 Tbls. chia seeds a few drops of liquid stevia Add additional toppings if you'd like, such as coconut flakes, toasted macadamia nuts, dried fruit, etc. Put in the freezer for a few hours, until frozen solid. When it is frozen, take it out of the freezer, pop it out of the dish, break it into pieces and ENJOY!! 420 calories 7g protein 3g net carbs 35g fat I know people start rolling out the pumpkin flavored things in September (myself included!), but it really doesn't feel official for me until October. So here we are!! Happy October and happy pumpkin-spiced everything season! This is a variation of my PB Chia Protein Balls, chock full of healthy whole food ingredients, like natural nut butter, oats and chia seeds. I swapped almond butter for PB, although you can certainly stick with peanut butter, or even use sunbutter if you are looking to keep them nut free. The addition of pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and the pumpkin seed garnish puts on a fall-y finishing touch! Pumpkin seeds are super healthy, by the way. Eating pumpkin seeds is linked to better heart health, lowered blood sugar and a reduced risk of certain cancers, including stomach, breast, lung, prostate and colon cancer. Pumpkin Protein Squares
1 cup gluten free rolled oats 1/4 cup chia seeds 1 cup vanilla protein powder (we prefer vegan to keep these dairy free) 1 Tbls. pumpkin pie spice 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup natural almond butter 1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup canned pumpkin Pumpkin seeds for garnish Grind the oats and chia seeds in a blender. Leave a tiny bit of whole oats for texture! Pour into a mixing bowl, add protein powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Give it a quick stir. Add almond butter, honey and pumpkin. Stir until well combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of a parchment-lined 8x8 baking pan. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top and press gently so they stick. Refrigerate for a bit until firm. When ready, remove from the pan and cut into one-inch squares. I like to keep these in the freezer, but the fridge will do just fine too. If you stick to the one-inch size, this recipe makes 64 squares. Enjoy! XO Per square: 48 calories Protein 3g Carbs 5g Fat 3g |
Food is fuel.I love to cook and bake recipes that incorporate healthy whole foods and those nutritious macro and micronutrients into our daily diets. I also like to make treats though, because let's face it, everyone loves a good sweet now and then! My favorite part about cooking, though, is sharing my latest recipes with others. ENJOY! XO Archives
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