We are in the middle of a sugar elimination challenge in the FASTer Way VIP group, and surprisingly, it hasn't been as difficult as I thought it might be! I think the hardest/most disappointing part is realizing how many of my regular foods contain sugar. Bacon has sugar?? So do many of our favorite spice mixes!
We are not about deprivation on the FASTer Way program. In fact, we celebrate our leg day workouts with donuts!! So this elimination is not about completely removing sugar for the rest of our lives, but rather to bring awareness to the foods that we regularly consume that contain sugar. My beloved granola contains coconut sugar, so that means I have to find a new go-to lunch, for at least the next few weeks. I love to have a smoothie or smoothie bowl for lunch because I think they're delicious and refreshing and full of so many nutrients! I whipped this one up today and it was so good I had to share! PB Banana Date Smoothie 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 banana (frozen is ideal!) 2 Tbls natural peanut butter 1-2 Medjool dates 1-2 servings of collagen (or your favorite protein powder) cinnamon, to taste Add ingredients to blender and mix well. It takes a little longer to get the date chopped small enough to fit through your straw! If your banana is not frozen, add some ice to thicken it up. ENJOY! XO
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Protein balls are a delicious and healthy snack! I love to whip up a batch and keep them in the freezer so I can grab one or two here and there throughout the day. This recipe is based on our favorite homemade Perfect Bar recipe, but I cut back on the oats, added chia seeds and rolled into balls! Chia seeds are loaded with fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. They're very nutritious without adding a ton of extra calories, so I like to add them to anything I can! You can get creative with these - add coconut, chocolate chips, mini m&ms, raisins, etc. Make it fun so your entire family can enjoy them! We have a peanut allergy in our house, and the other two don't care for peanut butter, so I get to make them the way I like :) Here's what you need: 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 cup natural peanut butter (I like crunchy!) 3/4 cup honey Grind the oats and chia seeds in the blender. I like to leave a tiny bit of whole oats, but up to you as to how long you blend. Pour into mixing bowl, add protein powder and stir until combined. Add honey and peanut butter. Stir until well combined. Give it a taste....SO GOOD! I have a #70 cookie scoop, which is just shy of a tablespoon, and that gives me 44 protein balls. Use whatever scoop or spoon you have! Roll them out and put them on a piece of waxed paper. Transfer to a zipper freezer bag and store in the freezer. They won't last that long, but I imagine they'll be okay in there for a week or two. ENJOY! XO
Have a sweet tooth? So do I!! These peanut butter dates hit the sweet spot for me, and I know they will for you as well. I made them on vacation and, you guys, I seriously passed up ice cream for dates!
Dates are pretty healthy too, so you can feel good about eating them. They are a great source of carbs, high in fiber and contain disease-fighting antioxidants. I bought these dates at Trader Joe's but you can get them at any grocery store. Be sure your peanut butter is natural so you don't add any unnecessary sugar to these already sweet treats. I topped with some dark chocolate chips for extra pizazz, but that's totally optional. To make them, slice open each date and remove the pit. Stuff with peanut butter (creamy or crunchy, up to you). Add chocolate chips if desired. Pop in the fridge for a bit. When ready to eat, sprinkle with a little bit of pink Himalayan salt. ENJOY! XO |
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
February 2023
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