Salted Carmel Apple Protein Bites

These are a perfect treat for Halloween and Fall gatherings, super easy to make and packed with protein, healthy fat and fiber.

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup of caramel flavored protein powder (I used Vega Protein Made Simple)
¼ cup salted caramel or butterscotch chips (I used Trader Joes salted caramel)
¼ cup chopped dried apple
½ cup rolled oats

Directions:

In a medium sized bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey or maple syrup and vanilla and mix well. Stir in protein powder, chips, apples and oats and mix some more. Roll into 20 balls. Store in the fridge. They also freeze well!

Makes 20 bites

Serving size: 1 bite Calories 125 Protein 5 g Carb 11 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 7 g Fat 7 g Saturated fat 1.5 g Sodium 106 mg

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Very Berry Cheerio Treats

These treats are easy to make and have the perfect balance of sweetness and berry flavor. Great as snacks, breakfast or dessert!

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy or crunchy almond butter

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

¼ cup honey

3 cups berry burst cheerios

¼ cup dried cranberries

¼ cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

Add the almond butter, honey and salt to a microwave safe medium sized bowl and heat on high for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and mix well. Stir in the cheerios, white chocolate chips and cranberries until well incorporated. Press mixture into an 8 by 8 inch pan. (Lining the pan with a large rectangular piece of parchment paper, placing the mixture on one side and then folding the paper over to press down works nicely since the dough is so sticky.) Refrigerate for a few hours(or freeze for an hour) until very firm and then cut into 16 squares. Store in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container

Makes 16 squares, 16 servings

Serving size: 1 square Calories 155 Protein 5 g Carb 15 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 9 g Fat 10 g Saturated fat 1.5 g Sodium 159 mg

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Banana Nutella Swirl Cake

                             

This cake is so easy to make, has just the right amount of sweetness and is great as a snack, dessert or even breakfast! 

Ingredients: 

1.5 cup oat flour (use a gluten free brand if you are on a gluten-free diet) 

0.75 teaspoon baking soda 

0.25 teaspoon baking powder 

3 large sized over ripe bananas, mashed 

1 egg 

1/3 cup (packed) brown sugar 

1 tablespoons oil 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

6 teaspoons Nutella 

 cooking spray or parchment oaoer

 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the oat flour, baking soda and baking powder in a small bowl. In a large bowl, mix together the mashed banana, brown sugar, egg, brown sugar, oil and vanilla. Add the oats/flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix well. Spoon into 9 x 9 inch pan coated with cooking spray/or lined with parchment paper. Drop the teaspoons of Nutella in various places in the batter and use a knife to spread and swirl it around. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until top is firm, lightly browned and a toothpick comes out mostly clean when inserted into the center. Store in the refrigerator for best shelf life 

Makes 9 servings 

Serving size: 1/9th of recipe Calories 171 Protein 3.5 g Carb 29 g Fiber 3 g Sugars 13.5 g Fat 5 g saturated fat 2 g Sodium 11 mg

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Healthy Pineapple Whip

                                 

This recipe has just 3 simple ingredients, is super easy to prepare and makes a refreshing treat for dessert, snacks and even breakfast!

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen pineapple chunks

1 cup frozen banana chunks

1 cup non fat vanilla Greek yogurt

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend on high until a smooth mixture forms. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer.

Makes 2 cups, 4 servings

Serving size: 1/2 cup Calories 120 Protein 6 g Carb 26 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 18 g Fat 0 g Saturated fat 0 g Sodium 24 mg

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Chocolate Cheerio Crunch Bars

These chocolately bars are easy to make and are great for a snack, dessert or decadent breakfast!

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy or crunchy almond butter
1/4 cup honey
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups chocolate cheerios
½ cup chocolate chips
Parchment paper

Directions:

Add the almond butter, honey, cocoa and sea salt to a microwave safe medium sized bowl and heat on high for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and mix well. Stir in the cheerios and chips, until well incorporated. Press mixture into an 8 by 8 inch pan. (Lining the pan with a large rectangular piece of parchment paper, placing the mixture on one side and then folding the paper over to press down works nicely since the dough is so sticky.) Refrigerate or freeze for at least one hour until very firm and then cut into 16 squares. Store in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container

Makes 16 squares, 16 servings

Serving size: 1 square Calories 162 Protein 5 g Carb 18 g Fiber 3 g Sugars 10 g Fat 10 g Saturated fat 1.5 g Sodium 49 mg

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Banana Pancake Muffins

                               

If you are craving that delicious pancake flavor but don't have time to mix and flip, this is the recipe for you! A quick and easy recipe that incorporates packaged mix, banana and a few other simple ingredients, this recipe is sure to be a crowd favorite for a make ahead breakfast. I have tried both gluten free and regular pancake mix in this recipe and both worked wonderfully!

Ingredients:

1 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium bananas)
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup milk
1 egg or 1/4 cup liquid egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups packaged pancake mix (I have tried both Kodiak Cakes Gluten Free and Krusteaz Protein pancake mixes, which both worked well!)
¼ cup chocolate chips (optional)
muffin liners or cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the banana, brown sugar, milk, egg and vanilla (preferably using an electric mixer). Whisk in the pancake mix until well combined and stir in chocolate chips. Spoon the batter into a dozen standard size muffin tin coated with cooking spray or with muffin liners and bake for 12-14 minutes, until the tops are set. Store extras in airtight container in the fridge and pop in the microwave for 10 seconds to reheat.

Makes one dozen

Serving Size: one muffin Calories 119 Protein 4 g Carb 21 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 7 g Fat 3 g Saturated fat 1.5 g Sodium 113 mg

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Chunky Apple Cinnamon Stove Top Oats

Ingredients: 

1 ¼ cup rolled oats 

1.5 cups water 

2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or skim milk) 

2 cups chopped apples (peeled or unpeeled) 

2 packed tablespoons brown sugar 

2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine 

2 teaspoons of cinnamon a dash of salt 

Directions: 

Add all of the above ingredients to medium to large pot and bring to a gentile boil on high heat, then cover, reduce to low heat and simmer for about 30-35 min until apples are soft and mixture is cooked through. 

Makes 4.5 cups, 9 servings 

Serving size 1/2 cup Calories 118 Protein 3 g Carb 18 g Fiber 3 g Sugars 6 g Fat 4 g Saturated fat

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Sweet and Spicy Cucumber Salad

Just a few simple ingredients combine to create this delicious side salad that is low in fat and calories but big on flavor! 

Ingredients: 

2 cups sliced cucumbers

2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar 

1 tablespoon lemon juice 

1/2 teaspoon Tajin seasoning (a chili lime seasoning blend) 

Directions: 

Add the cucumbers to a small to medium sized bowl. Pour the rice vinegar and lemon juice over them and the sprinkle with the seasoning. Toss to coat and serve. Chill if not serving immediately. 

Makes 2 cups,  4 servings 

Serving size 1/2 cup Calories 21 Protein 5 g Carb 5 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 4 g Fat 0 g Saturated fat 0 g Sodium 314 mg

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Vegetarian Jambalaya

This vegetarian jambalaya is very easy to make and is so filling that you won't miss the meat!

Ingredients: 

3 cups chopped red bell pepper 

3 cups chopped celery 

1 cup chopped onion 

1 teaspoon olive oil 

2 15 oz cans kidney beans (rinsed well) 

2 15 oz cans black eyed peas (rinsed well) 

2 cups cooked cauliflower rice 

1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole seasoning  

Directions: 

Add 1 teaspoon olive oil to a large pan or pot and add the bell pepper, celery, onions, and sauté on medium heat until just before tender (about 10 minutes). Meanwhile cook the cauliflower rice according to package directions (I use Trader Joes Frozen which cooks for only 3-4 minutes in the microwave) and rinse the canned beans, Add the kidney beans, black eyed peas, cooked cauliflower rice and seasoning to the pan and cook on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes 12 cups, 6 servings 

Serving size: 2 cups Calories 226 Protein 13 g Carb 37 g Fiber 10 g Sugars 6 g Fat 2 g Saturated fat 1.5 g Sodium 940 mg

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The Ins and Outs of Healthy Take Out

Check out my new article for the Cecelia Health Blog on healthy take out! 

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Brunch Style Cauliflower Fried “Rice”

Ingredients:

1/2 package Trader Joe’s  Cauliflower Fried Rice (or other frozen cauliflowers rice blend)

1/4 cup liquid egg whites 

5 sliced cremini  mushrooms

1 tablespoon slivered almonds

1 teaspoon olive oil to coat the pan 

sprinkle with soy sauce and Tjoes mushroom unami seasoning

Directions:

Combine all in medium sized pan on medium-high heat and sautée for about 5 minutes until golden brown (I added the egg whites about 2 minutes into cooking)

Makes 1 serving

Serving size about 2 cups  Calories 230  Protein 12 g  Carb 18  g  Fiber 6 g Sugars 7 g Fat 14 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium  280  mg (not including soy sauce or seasoning)

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My Book is Released Today! Final Health Habit From The 7 Day Countdown!

My book is out today.  Click HERE to learn more about how to buy it!  Here is today's final habit from the 7 day countdown and keep an eye out for more habit and lifestyle posts coming out soon!

Snack Sensibly

Snacks are a great way to keep you energized and to prevent excess hunger as well as overeating at meal times, but don’t get sabotaged by a snack attack gone haywire. Too much snacking can defeat the purpose of staying healthy.  Choosing the right snacks to have between meals can make all the difference in helping you along with your meal plan.Plan ahead to keep healthy snacks readily available in your cupboard or on the go.  That way you won’t just grab or buy whatever is in sight when hunger hits. It can be helpful to consume snacks that are high in fiber, as well as mini combos of protein and fat to help satisfy you and keep your blood sugar more stable until the next mealtime.  Good high fiber choices include a piece of whole fruit, ¾ cup berries, ¼ shelled edemame (soybeans), 3 cups air popped popcorn or raw veggies with low fat ranch dressing. If you are looking for a more hearty snack with carb plus protein, try ½ apple spread with 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 6 ounces of Greek yogurt with ¼ cup fresh fruit, 5 whole grain crackers with an ounce or cheese or a rice cake spread with 2 tablespoons hummus. Wanting a low carb alternative?.. A stick of low fat string cheese, a handful of nuts or celery sticks with peanut butter will definitely do!

And, check out some great snack recipes from my blog HERE!!

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Healthy Habits For The Weekend!

Just a few more days until my book comes out. Here are some healthy habits for the weekend as the countdown continues.

Habit One: Use Your Recipe Resources 

Stumped when trying to think of more ideas to add variety and flavor to your meal plan? Get new healthy recipes to add to your meal plan by using your resources. You would be surprised at how many healthy recipes are out there - if you name it you will find it in terms of locating a healthy version of your favorite food. Take advantage of all the recipe information that is out there on the Internet and at your local library. Make it a goal to try a new recipe every week to mix things up and keep up your meal plan exciting. Swap healthy recipes with family and friends that are in your support network as well. Take a healthy cooking class or subscribe to a magazine that features healthy recipes to motivate you to try new ideas. And a great start is THIS BLOG for plenty of easy and healthy recipes!  

Habit Two: Challenge Yourself By Setting Personal Exercise Goals 

Set small, realistic and positive goals  to keep active and step up your activity levels incrementally. Setting daily, weekly and monthly goals can help you stay on track. Break your goals into small steps to climb the fitness ladder to success. For those of you who have never exercised before and have been given the go ahead by your doctor, a small goal to start with 5-10 minutes/day would be an example of a great start. If you are already in the habit of exercising, try out a goal of adding an additional 5 minutes to your session or adding an extra session into your week. To increase variety, make it a goal to try one new activity per month to enhance your fitness routine

Habit Three:

Try To Stick To A Regular Sleep Schedule

By keeping a habitual bedtime and wake time you can help set your body’s internal clock, referred to as a circadian rhythm, in your favor to so you can get adapted to a good sleep routine. Also, by keeping to a regular bedtime it can help ensure you will get to bed in time to get enough hours of sleep overnight. Make every attempt to go bed around the same time every night, even on the weekends if possible. And try not to sleep in more than 1-2 hours maximum on the weekends or days off. Large shifts in you bedtime or waking hours can disrupt your circadian rhythm and cause problems with sleep as well as your alertness and energy levels during the day. If you are trying to get to an early bedtime, do it gradually by shifting in 15 minute intervals earlier each night until you are adjusted. Have trouble waking up in the morning? Let some morning sunlight in to help your internal body clock work with you to greet the day.

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Bonus Healthy Habit Post!

Why stop now? Here's another healthy habit I wanted to share with you!

Shop Smart!

Being prepared makes a big difference when you are shopping for food. Never go to grocery store hungry because this can set you up to give in to the temptation to buy less healthy food and take the time to plan ahead before you grocery shop to stay on track. Go shopping after a meal, or have a small wholesome snack like a piece of fruit, string cheese, handful of nuts before you head out.Make a list of foods that fit your meal plan so you can arrive prepared and maximize your time while in the store. Create a basic list on the computer to print, or have one ready on your smart phone that you can keep and add to throughout the year so you do not have to “recreate the wheel” each time you hit the store aisles. 

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Healthy Habit Series Starts NOW!

Let’s get things started! I am counting down the next 6 days until my book release with one healthy habit suggestion per day and kicking off a new segment on my blog dedicated to discussing healthy habits in future posts. 


Today’s habit: drink more water!! 

Hydrate for energy, great skin, to prevent overeating, aid digestion and then some...Drink a glass upon waking (hot water w/lemon is awesome in the AM ),consume a glass before each meal to prevent overeating, keep a large environmentally-friendly reusable water bottle with you at your desk and on the go, even set reminders on your phone to drink if you have to! Unless you have a medical condition that requires restricting fluids, plenty of water is almost always a key component to good health. Check out my new healthy lifestyle account for more upcoming tips and tricks on Instagram at:  @habits4wholehealth 

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