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!

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

Carrot Orange Smoothie!

Remember those delish orange creamsicle pops? Well you're in for a treat if you like those, because this smoothie loaded with vitamin A and C!

Did you know that carrots are an excellent source of antioxidants, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotenes. Carrots antioxidants help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision. Pretty awesome huh?

This was super easy to make and turned out great! The kids sucked a glass right down as well, which is always a plus.

Ingredients

• 1 serving  vanilla whey protein
• 1 small orange
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 cups chopped carrots

Directions

1. Rip up 1/4 of your orange peel and add it into your blender or processor. Add in 2 cups of carrots, half the orange, one scoop of vanilla cream whey protein, 1 cup of orange juice and 1.5 cups of ice, blend together, add more juice if needed.
2. Drink fresh and enjoy!

This makes 4, 1 cup servings. Serving size below is per 1 cup.