Fall Snack

I often find myself needing a little bite of something to eat, but not wanting to take the time to make something. This pumpkin seed snack is the perfect combination of salty and sweet, healthy and satisfying. It is beyond easy to whip up. Store it in an air-tight container on your counter for easy access for a handful or two.

 

Pumpkin Seed Snack Mix

 

1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds, roasted

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 cup dried dates, chopped

1/2 cup unsalted almonds

1/2 cup chocolate morsels

 

 

This is how easy it is, folks. You take 1 1/2 cups of pumpkin seeds and 1/2 cup measurements of everything else.

 

 

And then mix them together.

 

 

Dirty dishes? Hardly. A good snack? Of course!

 

 

Healthy Snacks

Let's be honest, we all get hungry between meals. It does absolutely no good to sit and listen to your tummy growl just because you don't want to eat anything until your next planned meal. If you are trying to be healthy, there are tons of options of things you can eat without having to eat something with lots of salt, sugar or fat.

Get the smallest size of plastic baggies and split up fruit, veggies, nuts, raisins and other nutritious things you might like to enjoy for a snack. Take these with you to work, keep them in your purse or even your child's diaper bag. {Obviously I wouldn't leave fruit or veggies in a bag unless they are going to be eaten soon.}

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Steer clear of foods with lots of simple carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. Look for foods that contain complex carbohydrates like whole-grain breads and cereals and combine them with protein-rich snacks such as peanut butter or low-fat yogurt or cheese.

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Make your own healthy trail mix. This is easy to keep in a sealed container on your counter or in your pantry. Grab a handful and drink a glass of water. Just don't have too many handfuls.

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This cashew-strawberry crunch is a gourmet version of an adult peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

A perfect snack for summer is fruit dipped in Greek yogurt and then frozen. After it hardens, put them all together in a plastic bag so you can take them out a few at a time.

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Have you tried kale chips? Of course they aren't like normal chips, but they are very healthy and have a little crunch to them. Daph posted a recipe a few weeks ago, too.

Check out these other links for other ideas for healthy snacking.

30 Healthy Picks
Healthy Kid Snacks
Healthy Toddler Snacks
88 Snacks Under 100 Calories
77 Healthy Snacks

Wednesday Wellness + Smoothies

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! Sorry that I have been absent the past few days, sometimes life just needs all of my attention. Yesterday Bryan unexpectedly took the day off, so I was a very happy wifey. Hunting season Duck season is over, so at least some hunting things can be moved and tucked away. We did not get to ride the mountain bike trail over the weekend like I had mentioned, but we did get to ride it yesterday afternoon. The weather could not have been more perfect-I wore shorts!

My sister and I have both kicked it into high gear in our fitness routines. She has never been a runner, and for the first time is running! That makes me giddy, because I prefer running over any other source of exercise. We have both been cooking much healthier, too. It seems to me that if you take the time to exercise, why would you turn around and put junk back into your body? I do not keep a food journal, but I know that they help many people who are trying to lose weight. I do use a fitness app on my IPhone called RunKeeper that keeps up with all of my daily workouts. If nothing else, it is wonderful to have a friend who can hold you accountable and give encouragement.

For me, the two areas that need work on (minus the cardio) are my arms and abs. I ordered a new ab workout dvd that should be arriving any day.

With all of the wonderful resources that the Internet provides, there is no reason to make healthy food boring food. Gina's Skinny Recipes is one of my go-to places to look when I need a little creative help. I have yet to make anything that has not been liked.

This picture and its words have been my inspiration lately. I think I should print it and post it somewhere on a mirror.

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For me, smoothies are yummy after a hard workout. I eat breakfast around 6:30am, so if I go to the gym at 7:30, I am starving by the time I get home. Here are two of my newest favorites. I have actually used the peanut butter one for breakfast a few days. I have never used protein, but it would be great added to either of these to help sustain you until lunch.

Morning Smoothie

1 banana

4-5 strawberries

1/2 c. blueberries

1 peach, peeled

 1cup fresh spinach

splash soy milk

1 TBSP Greek yogurt

2 tsp honey

1/2 cup crushed ice

Blend everything together in a blender.

(The morning I took this picture I did not use a peach or strawberries. I also substitute agave nectar for honey.)

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

2 bananas sliced and frozen

1/4 cup oats

1/4 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup milk

Blend the oats in the blender first, until they reach a powder consistency. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until the bananas are smooth.

Do you have any smoothie recipes that are wonderful? I would love for you to share them. Please post them in a comment or leave a link the where the recipe can be found. Have a great day!

Wednesday Wellness + Semi-Wordless

One of my favorite things to do on Wednesdays is link up with Daph over at Flip Flops and Pearls. I have not done it lately, but I actually thought in advance this week and planned it so that I could link up with her today. Be sure to go over and tell her hello!

I wanted to do a post on wellness today, so I combined the wordless and wellness part. Let's get down and dirty, how is your New Year's fitness goal going? Come on, I know a lot of you made them. I did not exercise last week, but this week I am back on board and feeling better than ever. If you miss a week do not feel like you are a failure, pick back up and get on with it. Only you can make a difference! I only allow myself to by healthy foods at the store. You do not see me putting chips or cookies into my buggy. Except for that late-night run to the store with Dr. Ash on Sunday. If I have them, I will eat them, so therefore I just don't do it. If you eliminate the bad snacks, you force yourself to eat the good snacks that you have purchased. That in itself is a huge help!

This has been posted before, but I want to share it again with you today. When my mind draws a blank, I find myself going back to this to look for a new option.



I have found lots of motivational pictures, but when I stumbled across this work-out plan, I knew that it needed to be shared.

Get that body ready for bikini season...you've got plenty of time...it's only January, ladies!

One of the most important things to remember is to drink water. Drink water. Drink Water.

Have a great and healthy day!

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Monday Menus

Having the closest grocery store over 20 miles away has really taught me to plan better in the kitchen. I understand that people's lifestyles are different, some have children, some eat out a lot, etc. This is just what I have learned works for Bryan and me. I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner most days. We really do not have any restaurants close, so I cook, cook, cook. Here are few tips that I have learned.

1. Make a list. Stick to it and do NOT stray.

2. Make a weekly menu. If you know you are going to eat out 3 nights, just leave them blank. Or you can opt to fill them in and have the meals carry over to the next week.

3. Try to find meals that have certain ingredients in common. Example: I do not normally buy green onions, but this week I have two recipes that call for them.

4. Buy simple things that can be eaten in multiple ways. Example: I could eat a banana with oatmeal for breakfast, with peanut butter for a snack or after a run. I could eat hummus with any number of veggies that I could also steam or put into salad. I need 1/2 cup of veggie broth for a recipe, but I could use it to make soup the next day or even freeze it for later use.

5. If you are trying to eat healthy check labels. On my last trip to the store I randomly checked a generic brand canned item vs. the name brand canned item and was surprised to see that it had less sodium and reigned healthier in all ingredients.

6. Try to incorporate things that you already have in your fridge or pantry. This will eliminate extra costs and will force you to use products before their expiration date.

7. If you buy junk food, you will eat junk food. Just don't buy it.

8. If you have leftovers think of a different way to eat it for lunch the next day. Example: I will be fixing grilled salmon one night. I could make salmon croquettes or a salmon sandwich/wrap with leftovers.

9. I promise that by making a menu, sticking to a grocery list and purchasing things that can be used multiple ways your grocery costs will go down. I spent $110 on groceries and look at what all I purchased.

Of course, staples will have to be gotten along the way, organic products are more expensive and other variants cause the price you pay to either increase or decrease. I honestly try to keep my grocery purchases under $100 per week, usually more like $80. With the $110 spent I purchased everything I need to make the following recipes, plus more. (If you want to see a list of the groceries I purchased, just let me know.)

Breakfast:

oatmeal + banana

uncooked Oats + Greek yogurt + fruit

Egg + 1/2 bagel (cheese is optional)

bagel + almond butter or peanut butter

egg + fruit

yogurt fruit smoothie

breakfast pizza on tortilla

Lunch:

leftovers from night before

Skinny Tuna Melt

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

grilled chicken salad

grilled chicken wrap

Dinner:

Cheesy Zucchini Enchiladas

Grilled Chicken Bruschetta (I'm using turkey.

Barbacoa Beef + Cilantro Lime Rice + Corn Salsa (We're having company.)

Salmon + brown rice + grilled Asparagus

Stir Fry Spicy Chicken

Snacks:

apple + almond butter

celery + peanut butter

Greek yogurt + fruit

string cheese

veggies + ranch/hummus

We are having 20 lbs. of fresh shrimp brought from the Gulf, so knowing this allows me to figure out lots of ways to cook it. I found this Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad, this Shrimp Cobb Salad and this Garlic Shrimp; and I already know that I have the ingredients to make all of the above. It's good to have options. I could always make shrimp tacos or tostadas, too.

I have a couple of other things I think I will post about for Monday Menus the next couple of weeks. If you would like me to do a post on something specific, just ask! I hope some of these tips help!