Flourless Protein Oat & Almond Brownies

We all know that I love my protein! In fact, my husband has asked me to up the anty on protein intake when cooking meals for him/us. So that's exactly what I did. My sweet tooth got in the way, though (as it always does...damn you, tooth).

So I've been trying to think of creative ways to incorporate whey protein isolate into my diet. Thank goodness for instagram, as there are more recipes/go-tos/photos of great whey recipes than I could even begin to dream of! I saw this recipe on instagram and tweaked it a bit. Their recipe called for applesauce (which has sugar) so I was trying to eliminate as much sugar as possible. I also used Splenda baking sugar instead of their Stevia (don't like the taste)...and it actually turned out great! I like my middles if the brownie a bit gooey, so i undercooked it about a minute or so =) Big glass of fat free milk next to it....ohhhhhhhhh yum!! Here's the recipe! You could really put juts about anything you want in it and it would still be great!

Ingredients:
~6 egg whites (i used all natural egg whites)

~1 c vanilla nonfat greek yogurt
~2 c rolled oats
~4 scoops chocolate whey proetin
~1 tsp vanilla
~1 tsp baking powder
~1/4 tsp salt
~1/2 c Splenda
~1/4 c Cocoa
~1/2 c water
~Sliced Almonds

 

Steps:
1. Mix all ingredients together (except almonds) and bake @ 350 for 15-20 minutes or until desired consistency. Top with sliced almonds before baking.

 

That's it! Easy peasy!

 

 

Approx Nutritional Value (for 1 of 10 servings):

186 Calories
2 g fat (awesome!)
17g protein

 

Low Calorie Cucumber Basil Margarita

Ohhh boy! Yes'sir this was just as delicious as it sounds! I love love love cucumbers!! 

We all know the 7 deadly sins that exist in margaritas- 1. Calories 2. Sugar 3. Lack of nutrients 4. Dehydrating 5. Sodium 6. The "I-need-another" syndrome and, worst of all 7. Hangover! Ha! So, this version, I think, still gives u great taste, low calories and is sugar free (besides the natural sugar in alcohol of course)! 

What you need:

~1/4 cucumber

~fresh basil

~skinny sugar free margarita mix 

~1800 silver tequila

~patron orange

Muddle (smash) thinly sliced cucumbers and basil. Add 1 1/2 - 2 shots tequila, 1 shot patron orange, 4 shots margarita mix, and 4 shots water. Mix all up in mixer, pour over ice and wholia!! Approx 109 calories per drink! (Makes 2 drinks)

I topped mine with a little extra cucumber love! <3 enjoy!

Make veggies your best friend!

It's true! You should have a love-love relationship with your vegetables!! The average person should consume 5-7 servings (4-5 cups) of veggies per day! AND POTATOES DO NOT COUNT! It's much easier to do than you think! The more variety you bring into your diet, the better! My choice of veggie varies by season- i love fresh, seasonal veggies. Mmmm nothing like fall squash, summer beans, or winter cabbage, leeks, & onions!

 

 

  

There are SO many ways to take in your daily allotment of veggies, but do you? Try Eat Seasonably for a guide to in season fruits & veggies! Do you look at a carrot and say "eh, later." Well don't! There are so many difference recipes and variations and juices, detoxes, smoothies that will all give you a huge chunk of your daily requirement!

Don't forget the essential nutritional value & benefits they play in your everday life. Veggies are All-Stars in my life! I try to consume as much as possible!!! I make soups, sautees, grill them, cook them, smash them, and drink them! Possibilities are endless! Check out one of my favorite veggie recipe go-to gals, Fully Raw Kristina ! I buy some of her half share fruit/veggie co-ops! She has great juicing recipes along with fruit/veggie recipes!

 

Fully Raw Kristina Inspiration!

 



                                          Some of her great juices!



AND, to top it off, if you still aren't convinced to chow down those colorful bad boys, here is a list of benefits eating them regularly with do for you:

**A colorful palate of veggies will lower blood pressure, which greatly reduces the chances of heart disease (my dad is a cardiologist!), stroke, and even some cancers

**Increased intake of Vitimin B6 --> what does this mean for you? B6 plays a key role in fighting illness!

**More folate consumption (asparagus, broccili, sprouts, cabbage) --> what does this mean for you? helps fetal development for those mamas out there and increases blood cell development

**More FIBER in your diet!! (a big one!)-->we all know this one! Helps with metabolism, lower cholesterol, and a well balanced digestive system!

If you need an extra hand increasing some veggies into your daily routine, check out my good ol go-to Detox company that delivers to your door! (locally) They have a wide assortment of detox juices to choose from. Squeezed Detox Juices

Make Veggies your Best Friend!

Crispy Eggplant Frites!

Don't do it! You know you saw eggplant and you thought, "no thanks." Well, if you are a fry aka "frite" lover like me, then you know you need substitutes! French fries are a big no no in any health-conscious routine... (notice i did not say DIET!) and I've made zucchini fries which were great, so I decided to give eggplant a go since it is about the same consistency! In fact, i think i liked these better- eggplant has just a touch of sweetness to them...very faint...but the foodie in me can tell the difference =) 

These were fairly easy to make, and i loved how crispy they turned out! Give them a go!

I paired mine with a big ol grilled chicken sandwich (bonus: *these buns only had 100 calories in them!)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

: 1 eggplant

: 1 container low sodium bread crumbs (panko would also work great)

: egg whites

: flour

: seasonings of your choice (i went with paprika, pepper, and red pepper flakes because i likey-de-spicy!)

1. Peel and cut your eggplant in half- you can cut into thirds if you want your frites shorter (note: make sure you use large enough dipping bowls so they complete fit straight)

2. In three separate bowls, pour some bread crumbs, flour, and egg whites. You will want enough egg whites to cover all your eggplant (i used 4 egg whites)

3. Slice your eggplant into "frite" size bites; lengthwise mine were about 2-3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide

4. Drench eggplant frites into eggwhites first, then flour, then eggwhites again, then breadcrumbs

5. Place on greased sheet pan

6. Continue until all eggplant is gone

7. Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until outside is brown & crispy to your desire!

Mmmmm they were so crispy and good! 

Approx 300 calories for about 8 frites!