So, I decided the other day, that I would LOVE to have some granola to put into my Greek Yogurt and on top of my Frozen Yogurt...but of course I didn't have any.

So rather than running to the grocery store and buying their version of "Healthy" Granola (which is truly packed with un-needed sugars and preservatives), I decided to try and make my own.

I scoured the internet for versions of the stuff without a ton of added sugars and that would be super simple to make...I ended up finding some good looking recipes, but having limited ingredients I just decided to make up my own...and let me tell ya...it's so yummy!!

This would be a fantastic recipe to make with your kids as well, because not only is there not much to it, but it's also very healthy and tasty! They'll love to make it and then eat it up as a snack (or breakfast!)!

 

Here is my VERY minimal, SUPER simple recipe :)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Old Fashion Oats (not the quick cooking kind)
• 1/4 Cup 100% Pure Maple Syrup (not the kind with all the additives)
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 TBSP unpacked Brown Sugar (though I wish I had added 2)
• 1/4 Cup Wheat Germ (Optional)
• 1 oz Chopped Butter Toffee Almonds (Optional, but they add a great flavor and texture...these are Blue Diamond Brand)
• Ground Flax Seed (Optional, but it adds some great nutritional value to the granola)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325º. Put oats, wheat germ, flax, almonds, and cinnamon in bowl and mix around. Next add maple syrup and brown sugar and stir around until mixture is evenly coated.
2. Spray baking sheet with oil and spread mixture out on pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring it up after about 12 minutes.
3. Take out and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Serving: 1/2 cup - Makes about 6 servings.

I thought I'd love mine for my yogurt the best, but actually, my favorite way so far has been with milk (it tastes like delicious, healthy cereal!)...I also love to just grab a handful as a snack in between meals.

Hopefully, some more recipes for Granola will come soon!

Roasted Veggie Lasagna

I forgot to take the normal step by step pictures, but I wanted to post this one anyways because it came out totally tasty and very low calorie!  Double bonus :)

Veggie Lasagna 

 

 

Ingredients

• 3 servings whole wheat lasagna
• 1 jar of sauce
• 2 servings chick peas
• 1 1/2 cups ricotta
• 1 cup pieces or slices mushrooms
• 1 cup spinach
• 3 medium zucchini
• 2 large peppers
• 2 cups shredded mozz cheese

Directions

1. roast veggies ahead of time by layering them on a cookie sheet, lightly misting with olive oil and adding some garlic and pepper, cook noodles, layer everything together, bake at 350 for 1 hour covered.

Meat free Hummus Wrap

Okay so I made this one afternoon and fell totally in love. I've made it about 10 times since, adjusting things around, trying different stuff in them and no matter what, it's always good!

First of all, I found these awesome low calorie wraps. They are called "Flat Out" and they are 90 calories. I love that they are soft, but be warned, wet wraps like stuff loaded with salsa causes them to fall right apart. But for the hummus wrap, these are perfect.

So onto the super easy part...
Just spread some Hummus (I've used plain and roasted red pepper) onto the wrap. I use 2 tablespoons. Then I add one tablespoon of ranch. I just love ranch and can't seem to cut it out of my diet.

I slice the cucumbers into long slices and layer them onto of a bed of spinach. Then I added some sprouts and some egg whites on this one.  Sprinkle a little garlic salt and enjoy!!

Alternate foods I've used have been onions, peppers, sunflower seeds and fresh green beans, but the options are unlimited!

Frozen Banana and Peanut Butter bites

I'm a major snacker in the evening while I'm watching TV, so I HAD to come up with something healthy to get me by!

I came up with these!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium banana
• 2 tbsp. Chocolate PB2 (powdered peanut butter)

Note: If you can't find PB2 it's perfectly fine to use Natural Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, or Sun Butter (if you have a peanut allergy). I find PB2 in my supermarket's Organic Section. If your supermarket doesn't have an Organic section, look in the Peanut Butter aisle or Order Online!

Directions:

1. Cut banana in half length ways (like you would for a banana split) and smear the PB on to one side
2. Put  the banana back together and wrap in plastic wrap. Place banana in freezer.
3. When banana is completely frozen, take out and remove from plastic wrap. Cut into bite size slices (might be a little tough, so BE CAREFUL!) and enjoy! 

Note: If you don't plan on eating the entire banana right then, put the left over pieces in a freezer safe container or zip top bag so the pieces don't get mushy. ALSO, if you want an extra BANG! to the snack, dip in organic chocolate!

Remember your calories will change if you change the filling or dip into chocolate!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry "Green" Smoothie

So, I've been seeing the term "Green" smoothie a lot lately, but never really understood what it meant.

Since stepping into this lifestyle change, I've figured out what it means! It means blending green veggies (such as Spinach or Kale) with other vegetables and fruits...go ahead and read up on it more RIGHT HERE. Because I haven't even scratched the surface with that explanation haha.

Anyway, they are delicious!! I know what you're doing right now...you're turning your nose up, waving your arms back and forth and saying "No way, No how".

Well...

Get over it, chump.

They are SO good for you, and they aren't necessarily "Green" in color either, if that's your main issue. Depending on what you mix with them, they could be pink, red, blue, purple, brown...it goes on and on! And if your issue is the leafy greens...you can't even taste them. Ok...well you can taste Kale a little I think, but you can't taste the spinach AT ALL.

So here's the recipe for my first concoction, but don't worry...there will be many more down the road...I can assure you of that ;)

Ingredients:

• 2 good hand fulls of baby spinach
• 1 cup Unsweetened Chocolate Almond Milk
• 1 container of Strawberry Greek Yogurt
• Sweetener to taste (such as Agave Nectar or Stevia)
• 1 1/2 cups of ice

Note: I would also recommend a bit of unsweetened cocoa powder and some frozen strawberries. I was out of both (well I had 2 frozen berries left...wth? LoL), but it would have been tastier with those things I think :)


Directions:
Throw spinach and milk in first and pulse a few times (just to get the spinach chopped up a little), then throw in your other ingredients and blend until it's to your desired consistency!

I garnished with  a frozen berry and a frozen banana treat

 

There are so many ways to make these smoothies your own! If you change up the recipe, We'd love to hear your suggestions or additions in the comments section!

Italian Zucchini Sticks

Ok so I only made enough of these for one serving, so excuse the measurements (or lack thereof haha) I just sort of "winged" it ;)

These were VERY delicious though! Can't wait to have them again (probably this week) :)

And I used Italian Bread Crumbs, but I would have preferred Whole Wheat bread crumbs that I had seasoned myself...I just couldn't find them at the store...guess I'll have to make my own when I have some wheat bread that needs used up!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 of a Medium/Large Zucchini (or 1 small)
• 1/3 cup of Italian Bread Crumbs
• 2 TBSP Parmesan Cheese
• 1 large egg white
• Extra Seasoning to Taste (I used Onion Powder and Garlic Salt and fresh Ground Pepper)
• Spray Olive Oil
• Marinara for dipping

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425º. Spray a baking sheet with Olive Oil. 
2. Cut your zucchini into sticks (like a French Fry). Put your bread crumbs/parm/spices into one bowl and your egg white in another bowl.
3. Cover your zucchini sticks in egg white and then in the bread crumb mixture and place on the baking  sheet. When you've covered all of the sticks spray the sticks with Olive Oil and place into the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown (I did turn mine once during baking).
4. Serve while hot with marinara sauce!

Servings: 1

Original Recipe can be found HERE.

Chicken Salad with Greek Yogurt

One of my favorite meals in the summer is without a doubt, Chicken Salad.

It's so light and fresh that it just makes me go "Ahhh".  And with 10" of snow on the ground, the farthest thing I'm feeling right now is "Ahhh" LoL. So I'm thinking to myself...I'd really love some Chicken Salad right now, to make me remember that lovely summer feeling it gives me.

But how one earth can one eat Chicken Salad when she's going through a Lifestyle change and calorie counting? I mean, it has TONS of mayo in it!!

I HAD to figure out a way to make it, and make it healthy, so I Googled my little heart out and talked to some girls I'm in a group with...the main consensus was...Greek Yogurt.

Ok...sure...sounds great! I've never had it and it's so good for you, of course it was the logical explanation. So I trek into the kitchen, chop my fruit, veg, and chicken and pull out the Plain Greek Yogurt. I open it, stir it, smell it (I always smell stuff), and think to myself "Just try it. You like regular yogurt, how can this be so different". I dip the spoon in and have a little taste.

OH YUCK!!! This stuff is terrible!

But I'm NOT going to give up. I refuse. There must be some way to use this stuff and not have to hold my nose while gagging it down...I open the refrigerator and search the shelves. Soy Sauce...ok...this could work! I love Soy Sauce! I mix it in really well and have a taste...eh...it's DEFINITELY better, but still needs something...a bit of sweet I think. I grab the honey bear. Yep. That's what it needed. I mix it into my chopped veg, fruit, and chicken and take a taste...IT'S GOOD!

Thank Goodness. I was really going to miss my Chicken Salad if this didn't work...

So here goes....my Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad...oh and if anyone can come up with a clever name, I'd love to hear it! I'm not good at coming up with that kind of stuff.

Chicken Salad with Greek Yogurt

Ingredients

• 2 small chicken breasts (or 1 large)...it came to about a cup diced.
• 1 celery stalk, chopped to your preferred size (I cut in half long ways and then diced)
• 1/2 cup of small grapes, halved
• 1/2 apple (your favorite type...I used Golden) diced

Dressing

• 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1 TBSP Soy Sauce
• 1 TSP Honey (or use Honey Flavored Greek Yogurt)

Directions

1. Chop or Shred Chicken, add into a bowl with the chopped fruits and celery.
2. In a separate bowl mix up your dressing.
3. Dump it over the top of your chicken and fruits and mix so that your dressing is covering the rest of your ingredients.
4. Now eat it up! I ate mine on Wheat Thins Flat Bread Crackers and it was delicious :)

Mine made approx. 2 cups, but you could easily double the recipe. You could also add other fruits/veggies to your liking, even some nuts would be good (just remember to adjust the Nutrition Information for whatever you add!)

Serving size is per 2/3 cup