Food Fitness by Paige: March 2018

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Granola Easter Eggs

This might have been the most fun I have ever had playing in the kitchen. So simple, so cute, so delicious. I was consumed with Bunny fever, and you will be too before this project is over. First key is finding the large Bunny Easter Egg shapes, ...of course, any Easter Egg will do...the big Bunny Shapes just add to the celebration. Then wake up and crack your Egg in the morning for breakfast, ...snack or dessert! Each of these 5, 1/2 cup servings are only 203 calories, 22g net carbs, 10g protein and 7g fat. Be prepared for adorable overload!

Ingredients for 5 servings~
2 cups Oats
1/2 cup Lakanto Peanut Butter Powder~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount
1/2 cup 30 cal/cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup Lakanto Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout
1/4 cup Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla

Mix all ingredients in large mixing bowl til well combined, spray inside of Easter Eggs with cooking spray, wipe excess with paper towel. Divide mixture into 1/2 cup servings and press into large Egg shape halves and snap together. Store in fridge. Open in the morning for breakfast, or consume for a healthy snack or dessert. Enjoy :)

Peanut Butter Eggs

Is there anything that screams Easter more than a Chocolate covered anything...especially in Egg form. My Peanut Butter Eggs can't be beat, if you like the idea of melt in your mouth, this girl has you covered...and did I mention these are sugar free!? ...if not, I should have! Each of these 8 Eggs are only 120 calories, 4.5g net carbs, 10g protein and 7g fat. Make your celebration perfect this year, this one is not to be missed!

Ingredients for 8 Eggs~
1.5 cups Better Body Foods PB Fit (my FAVE PB Powder, plain or chocolate)
1/2 cup Water
6oz Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Premium Baking Bar (sub with Chips)
1.5 teaspoons Coconut Oil

Mix Peanut Butter Powder and Water til thoroughly combined, divide into 8 equal 1.1oz portions and form into Egg shape, store in fridge to chill. Meanwhile, add Chocolate and Oil in microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds and stir til completely melted, smooth and combined, repeat if necessary. Drop each chilled Egg in Chocolate and remove with fork to rest on wire rack, repeat with remaining Eggs. Scrape remaining Chocolate in baggie, snip corner and drizzle over Eggs. Chill in fridge til set, or rest on counter til dry. Enjoy :)

Bunny Paws

Want a fun little craft project for your kids...oh who am I kidding, for yourself! These Bunny Paw cookies are not only a joy to make, but proof the Easter Bunny has been to visit. Even better news, each of these feet are only 138 calories, 4g net carbs, 4g protein, and 11g fat. Hop yourself to the kitchen and get cookin'.

Ingredients for 10 Feet~
3/4 cup Oats
1/2 cup Almond Flour
1/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted
2 Extra Large Eggs
1/3 cup Lakanto Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
Dash Lite Salt
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2 teaspoons softened Butter
2 Tablespoons/1oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/3 cup Lakanto Confectioners Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount
1-2 teaspoons 30 cal/cup Almond Milk
Pink Food Coloring, to desired color

Add Oats to Magic Bullet or blender and grind to powder, add to mixing bowl along with remaining first set of ingredients, stir til thoroughly combined. Divide dough into 10 equal portions, you will need your food scale for this (weigh dough weight and divide by 10). Divide each of the 10 portions in half, make one large ball with half of dough and 3 small balls with other half of dough. Lay the larger ball on Silpat lined cookie sheet and press down slightly, rest the three smaller balls next to one another around edge of larger ball. Repeat process with remaining dough. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, remove from oven and use the back of 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon to press small well in each of the toes and use back of the teaspoon to press a small well in middle of paw. Meanwhile, mix second set of ingredients til smooth, add to baggie, snip corner and fill in well's on each of the toes and paws. Enjoy :)

Bunny Tails

Peter Cotton Tail is a very prepared bunny, he has a closet of back ups so he's well covered hopping down the Bunny Trail! As we know preparation is the key for success, we can learn a lot from Peter. Each of these 8 Bunny Tails are only 35 calories, .8g net carbs, 2.7g protein and 2g fat. These are so macro friendly, you can enjoy the entire thing for only 277 calories, 6.8g net carbs, 21g protein and 15g fat. Hippidy Hoppity Easter's on its way! :)

Ingredients for 8 Bunny Tails~
1 Tablespoons Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
1/4 teaspoon Coconut Oil
1 Quest Maple Waffle or Cinnamon Roll Protein Bar, divided into 8 equal parts (sub with any Quest Bar)
1.5 Tablespoons reduced fat Coconut Shreds

Add Chips and Coconut Oil to microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stir til smooth. Repeat if necessary. Divide Quest Bar into 8 equal parts, roll into balls and dip in melted Chocolate. Add Coconut to bowl and drop wet Chocolate covered balls in Coconut Shreds and roll around til covered, remove with fork and rest on wire rack til dry, or put in fridge to dry. Enjoy :)

Carrot Cake Cookies

They say if you want better eye sight eat more carrots...I say, they just taste good so give em to me! Then, turn them into Carrot Cake Cookies and you have a real winner on your hands. Each of these 24 beauties are only 74 calories, 3.6g net carbs, 5.5g protein, and 9.5g fat. You mother says you need to eat your vegetables, I say eat more cookies! :)

Ingredients for 24 Cookies~
1 cup/3oz grated Carrots
1/2 cup unsweetened Applesauce
1/2 cup reduced fat shredded Coconut
1/2 cup Lakanto Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount
1 cup Oats
2 Extra Large Eggs
6 scoops Vital Protein Collagen Peptides
2 Tablespoons Raisins
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Ginger
Dash Cloves
Dash Vanilla
Dash Lite Salt
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2 Tablespoons Butter, softened to room temperature
2oz/1/4 cup Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
4 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
1 cup Lakanto Confectioners Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount
2 Tablespoons 30 cal/cup Almond Milk
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24 Walnuts, crumbled (option to keep whole and add one nut to each cookie)

Mix first set of ingredients til well combined, scoop batter by level Tablespoons and lay on Silpat lined cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes. Meanwhile add second set of ingredients to mixing bowl and beat til fluffy, will produce 1.5 cups. Frost each cooled cookie with 1 Tablespoon frosting. Add one Walnut to each cookie, or crumble the Walnuts and sprinkle on top. Enjoy :)

Deviled Bunny Prints

What do you get when you cross a Chicken and the Easter Bunny...Deviled Bunny Prints of course, duh! These little treasures are so easy and so fun, and a great project to do with your kids. Serve these on Easter morning for breakfast or for a "eggsciting" appetizer before dinner. The glorious thing about these are, not only are they delicious, but contain no extra calories. I use the jumbo sized Egg, which is 90 calories, zero carbs, 8g protein and 6g fat. Elbows may not be allowed on the table, but Deviled Bunny Prints are highly encouraged! :) PS... check out my recipe for the perfect boiled Egg!

Ingredients~
Jumbo Eggs (as many as desired)
Waldens Farms Mayo~sub with preferred Mayo
Food Coloring, desired color

Add Egg to saucepan, cover with water, set on burner with high heat til boiling, add lid, turn off heat (do not remove pan from burner), set timer for 15 minutes, when time is up remove from burner, rinse with cold water, peel, cut in half lengthwise, remove yolk into bowl, add a small amount of Mayo to wet (make sure not to get to much or it will be runny, err on the drier side), add coloring and stir til thoroughly combined. Add mixture to baggie, snip corner and CAREFULLY pipe into well of Egg. Be cautious not to touch rim as die will seep into White of Egg. Afterward, pipe 3 Bunny toes. Repeat with remaining Eggs. Enjoy :)

Easter Chics

Where would all the brides, graduates, birthday parties and Holidays be today with out Pinterest!? Many years ago I was surfing around and came across these little Chickadee's, I changed a few things to make them healthier, without loosing any of the celebration! Feel free to decorate them anyway you please, I chose to use pecans for the feet, an almond for the beak, mini chips for the eyes and red string licorice for the top feathers ... then I ate all the left overs... :/ Have fun with it and let me know what creative ideas you come up with! Each of the 10 Chics are only 90 calories, 4.3g net carbs, 1.2g protein and 7.2g fat. Happy Easter ;)

Ingredients for 10 Chics~
1 cup shredded, reduced fat unsweetened coconut (I use Let's Do Organic)
1 Tablespoon Coconut Flour (can sub with regular Flour)
1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons lite canned coconut milk (sub with regular)
2 Tablespoons Agave or Pure Maple Syrup
1/4 cup Lakanto Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount
Dash vanilla
Scant dash of light salt
20 Pecans
10 Almonds
20 Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
Red String Licorice

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and microwave for 3 minutes or until firm enough to scoop out in ball shapes. Lay out 20 Pecans for feet on Silpat lined cookie sheet, then scoop 10 equal balls, rest each ball on top of 2 Pecan feet, stick a Almond in middle of face for beak, add 2 Chips for eyes and bake at 360 degrees for 14-16 minutes. Remove and add pieces of Licorice for feathers. Enjoy ;)

Birthday Apples

So I have been doing five 300 calorie meals a day, with an extra 100 calories of carbs (Apple, Banana, Sweet Potato, Joseph's Bread) post lifting. In the quest for perfect macros and a delightful palate experience, I have come up with some pretty good ideas. My Birthday Apples hit the jackpot at 299 calories, 23g net carbs, 28g protein and 6.5g fat. Who said healthy eating is hard, boring or not fun!? ...not me

Ingredients for one serving~
1/4 cup low fat Cottage Cheese (use 1/2 cup if you are looking for 400 cal/meal)
Small (5oz) Fuji Apple, diced
1 Quest Birthday Cake Protein Bar, diced (sub with other flavor with similar macros)

Add Cottage Cheese to bowl, top with Apple pieces and diced Protein Bar. Enjoy :) PS ...this is fabulous!

Nicoise Salad

When you invite your bestie for lunch but haven't been to the store, you get creative with whats in the fridge. Time to try my hand at an impromptu Nicoise Salad! Since I had never done this before, I had to add my own twist to the standard fare, but it turned out great. I hope you will give this one a try and feel free to create your own touch and make it your individualized signature dish! Plus, I'm going to share how to make my fail proof perfect boiled Egg. This recipe makes 2, so start thinking of who you want to break bread with next!

Ingredients for two Salads~
1 diced Potato
Olive Oil Cooking Spray, sub with Olive Oil
Romain Lettuce, torn to bite size pieces
1/2 bag Cole Slaw, if desired (I had it so I used it and it was great!)
Baby Carrots, diced
1 jumbo Egg
5oz can of water packed Tuna, drained
1 Tablespoon Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Dressing, more if desired as Dressing
1 small ripe Avocado
Parmesan, grate desired amount or use pre-grated
Salt and Pepper as desired

Dice Potato, spray with Olive Oil cooking spray, bake on foil lined cookie sheet at 450 for 45 minutes, stir half way thru. Meanwhile, shred Romain to bite size pieces and mix with Cole Slaw, divide among two plates. Top with sliced Baby Carrots. Add Egg to saucepan, cover with water, set on burner with high heat til boiling, add lid, turn off heat (do not remove pan from burner), set time for 15 minutes, when time is up remove from burner, rinse with cold water, peel, cut in half lengthwise, slice and place on Greens. Drain can of Tuna, mix with one Tablespoon Honey Mustard, divide between plates and add to Greens. Dice Avocado and divide between plates. Add warm roasted Potato's to plates. Top with freshly grated Parmesan (or pre-grated Parmesan). Season as desired, and add more Dressing if preferred. Enjoy! (...typing this recipe has made me crave another one...heading to the kitchen now!)

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Happy Easter

Time to get your Bunny on! Even tho the Easter Bunny only eats carrots, we don't have to necessarily be vegan to be healthy. I've got some great suggestions from breakfast to dinner to dessert, with activity in between, and my Healthy tips list is not to be missed. These recipes will fill your heart with joy as you hunt for your favorite one. This is one occasion where it's okay to put all your eggs in one basket. Happy Easter! :)

Healthy tips~
Hide money in your Eggs vs Candy
Hide extra Eggs to make your kids move more
Focus more on hoping vs nibbling
Do a Breakfast Hunt with my Granola Easter Eggs
Take a family mile walk after dinner as a warm up to the "Hunt"
Involve kids in making the recipes, they will be more likely to be open to healthy ideas if they are a part of the process
Dye your Easter Eggs, then make my Easter Chicks with them
Pretend you are a bunny and try to eat what the Easter Bunny would
Send leftovers home with others or put them in the freezer
Make a family challenge to make Easter about relationships not candy/sugar/food, focus on the reason behind the Holiday
Make your own Easter Baskets and fill them will non-food items:
Sidewalk Chalk
Bubbles
Jump Rope
Gift Cards
Fun Chapstick or Lip Gloss
Fruit
Movie Tickets
Cards
Bowling Tickets
Ingredients to make Slime
Legos
Water Guns
Kites
Quik Trip Gift Certificates

Breakfast to Dinner to Dessert~