A milkshake for under 200 calories?

taste like a milkshake for under 200 calories.

*2 SCOOPS protein-

* 8 0z water

* Ice

* Cinnamon

* 1 tsp Cookie Butter… yummmm be careful with this one

And that’s it! Simple and so nutritious

Directions: IMPORTANT:

PUT IN WATER- FILL ICE TO WATER LINE. Must do this so the thickness of consistency is perfect. Throw in the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth!! I topped mine with a little fat free whipped cream! Holla! party in my mouth!

 

Questions on any of those ingredients e mail me: ablifestyle3@gmail.com

 

 

Make the BEST yoU!!!

Good day my peoples!

Today is an informative day. Why do we care so much about reading up on health articles, healthy recipes, tips, and the new workout trend? Well because today obesity and people gaining weight has become an EPIDEMIC!! Obesity has been on the rise since about 1980 and is now at epidemic proportions. How and why did obesity start; we didn’t suddenly become a country of overly hungry people eating everything in sight. You don’t have much time and you are hungry. So you go and get a fast food meal, day after day. Obesity can start just like that. The same for the pre-packaged processed foods. And those fats and calories add up quickly. This is people acting on hunger and busy lifestyles with the wrong foods.

With people’s hectic schedules it led to quick fixes-aka fast food- or easy grab to go food processed crap in the grocery stores.  People really don’t take time these days to sit down and enjoy what they are putting in their body. And if you think about it, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. Literally in every aspect. We don’t become healthy by becoming thin; you become thin by becoming healthy.  We have more glowing skin, silky hair, healthy organs, more energy, and feel more pure ALL FROM EATING GOOD AND CLEAN!  And not to mention, with being healthy you will naturally be thin and fit.

Now don’t get me wrong. I believe in indulgences and eating all the delicious stuff out there. But I’m only talking about doing this 10-15% of the time. The other 85-90%% should be eating clean to look LEAN! I didn’t always have this mindset. Growing up I ate anything in site when hungry. I have by no means ever been overweight ( prob because I have always played sports and been active) but I definitely was not as fit and energized as I am today.  For example I would go to dinner at Red Robin with friends after a soccer game and basically scarf down a basket of fries even before my meal was served. Then I would have my honey mustard grilled chicken burger with more fries to be exact! 

Woop there it is. Looks divine but honestly my lifestyle and eating habits have changed.. I GENUINELY enjoy healthy foods and healthy eating? Why? Because I like they way it makes me feel, I have more energy, and I genuinely like the way it TASTES!  Food is fuel for our bodies, and if we put unhealthy food into our system then we can expect to feel badly. Healthy eating makes you feel better. If you eat healthy food, then you will generally feel better throughout the day.

We Live this life ONCE- SO WHY NOT LIVE IT TO THE BEST! What you eat can also be a huge support as you go through different stages in your life. Your food choices can help reduce PMS, boost fertility, combat stress, make pregnancy easier, and ease the symptoms of menopause. Whatever your age, committing to a healthy diet will help you look and feel your best so that you stay on top of your commitments and enjoy life. So please stop and take time for yourself on what you are doing in your life to live it healthy and to the best. Yes that photo above looks good, but I def would choose a different item on the menu. Here are some photos of what makes me drool:

    See how colorful and delcious these looooook!!!!!!!! yuuuum

 

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PUT IN YOUR BODY TODAY TO MAKE THE BEST YOU?

 

check my recipe page for good nutritious and delicious fooooods

AMAZING BENEFITS of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!

Apple cider Vinegar

This stuff is soooo good for you! I want people to read about some of the benefits I researched for it. Over the centuries, vinegar has been used for countless purposes: making pickles, killing weeds, cleaning coffee makers, polishing armor, and dressing salads. It’s also an ancient folk remedy, touted to relieve just about any ailment you can think of.

In recent years, apple cider vinegar has been singled out as an especially helpful health tonic. So it’s now sold in both the condiment and the health supplement aisles of your grocery store. While many of the folk medicine uses of vinegar are unproven (or were disproved), a few do have a medical research backing them up. Some small studies have hinted that apple cider vinegar could help with several conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.

So does consuming apple cider vinegar make sense for your health? Or is vinegar best used for cleaning stains and dyeing Easter eggs? Here’s a rundown of the facts.

Apple cider Vinegar (ACV) is made from nutritious organically grown apples and retains many of the fruits’ beneficial components because raw apple cider vinegar is not pasteurized. And in its two fermentation processes, it produces enzymes and life giving nutrients that make apple cider vinegar the powerhouse it is. So what can it do for YOU AND ME?!! Beneficial ingredients in raw apple cider vinegar  give it its power to make us feel better, look better and feel energized. Just look at some of the beneficial ingredients in raw apple cider vinegar:

• Potassium – helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses.
• Pectin – helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
• Malic Acid – gives ACV the properties of being anti-viral, anti-bacterial & anti-fungal.
• Calcium – helps create strong bones and teeth.
• Ash – gives ACV its alkaline property which aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state.
• Acetic Acid – It appears that this acid slows the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.

A Few Benefits of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

• 1 tablespoon of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in 4 ounces of purified water after a meal has been used as a natural REMEDY FOR HEARTBURN and as a replacement for toxic heartburn medications.
• Raw Apple Cider Vinegar may help improve bowel irregularity, thereby removing toxins from the body at a faster rate.
• Helps clear up skin conditions and blemishes giving a smoother texture and complexion.
• Raw Apple Cider vinegar may also help with joint pain and stiffness.
• Apple Cider Vinegar helps to break down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them. For this reason, many diets include ACV in their regimen.

You need to make sure that you use only the natural, organic variety of apple cider vinegar; the sparkling clear variety will have practically no health benefits. Propagators of this wonder drug claim that the best way to have this vinegar is first thing in the morning. You can mix two tablespoons each of apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of water, and drink it. This solution may taste slightly acidic, and may not seem to be the best way to start your morning, but once you know of the immense benefits that follow, it will not feel all that bad.

Many find that following this routine first thing in the morning helps in eliminating constipation, which is one of the prime causes of many diseases. Constipation is also the cause of headaches – leading to a bad mood, deprived sleep, and a lethargic feeling the whole day, at times. Once this problem is solved, all the other symptoms vanish immediately, making you fresher and extremely active whole day long. Following this morning regime helps minor skin rashes vanish and the skin texture also improves, leaving you radiant and glowing naturally. Having that chilled glass of lemon juice can be substituted with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and water. Some prefer the taste as is. If the taste is too acidic for you, you can add honey to give it the sweet tinge. Adding honey will only improve the health benefits of the solution.

You can also enjoy the benefits of this wonder vinegar in several other ways. You can use apple cider vinegar while preparing salads by substituting the oil that is poured over a salad with it. Not only will the salad have a tangier taste, it will be much healthier as well. You can also use this vinegar to pickle an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Marinating beef, pork, lamb, fish and a variety of meats is almost a daily process for meat eaters. If you make apple cider vinegar the prime ingredient in the marinade with an assortment of herbs and spices, it will not only help in flavoring and tenderizing the meat, will also add a whole lot of nutrients to your diet.

While there are no serious side effects of apple cider vinegar, it being a vinegar can deteriorate your dental enamel and cause yellowing of teeth. Similarly, lack of information about its ill effects on the health of pregnant women and children only means it is better kept away from them. Though there have been cases wherein people have complained of upset stomach and nausea, such cases are very rare. All in all, apple cider vinegar is considered to be the safest of all vinegars available, and diluting it with water only makes it safer for your use.

I use this! Tastes great on salads!!!!!!!!!!

My <3 day consists of choc0 and Peanut Buttaaa!

yeSSSSSSSSSSS! It is Valentine’s day. What do you all think of this holiday. Well I know- it inspires me to make my 2 favorite things in the world. CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER. I def can’t go a day without eating the other. But remember- everything is in moderation and I make sure to fit it in daily calorie allotment. I mean if I had to go a day without the 2-I would not be a HAPPY person. I make a point to always have a nutritious breakfas lunch, and dinner, so I can indulge  little and make my healthy desserts. Well today for VALENTINES DAY

I made my favorite cake- but healthy!!! Try it and let me know what you think 😉

This healthy cake recipe is as rich as any other chocolate peanut butter cake recipe, but it has yogurt and ground flaxseed meal in place of some of the butter and less sugar than most chocolate peanut butter cake recipes. To make this low fat cake recipe even more healthy, use an omega-3 enriched peanut butter, such as Smart Balance. But my all fav is Trader Joe’s

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose  flour
• 3/4 cup  whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup sugar substitute (or less) or can substitute 1/4-1/2 honey
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
• 16 oz. plain yogurt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten- or egg whites= 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2/3 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
• 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.

1. In a medium bowl, mix flours, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter, flaxseed meal, yogurt, eggs and vanilla together with an electric mixer. On low speed, add dry ingredients, beating until incorporated. Pour into prepared pan.

1. Bake 40-45 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

1. Remove cake from oven and immediately spread peanut butter over top, allowing the heat of the cake to melt the peanut butter into a soft, spreadable frosting. Sprinkle chocolate chips over peanut butter. Using a knife, swirl chocolate chips and peanut butter together. Makes 18 servings of healthy chocolate peanut butter cake.

 

 

10 most nutritional FOODS!!!! **

***The ten most nutritious foods are nutrient dense, meaning they have more nutrients per calorie than other foods. Such foods are often rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help protect against illness and disease. They are also either low in fat or a source of healthy fats; high in protein, which aids in muscle growth and repair; and high in FIBER, which maintains normal digestive functions-all leading to keep a healthy body for a healthy lifestyle. Start incorporating these into your diets and see how you feel after eating them. Changes are in the drop of your hands. Remember…you use your hands to put what you eat in your mouth..

Salmon

Salmon is considered a super food because it is high in protein, a good source of iron, low in saturated fats and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for a healthy heart and cardiovascular functioning. The American Heart Association recommends consuming fatty fish such as salmon twice a week. A typical 3-oz. serving of Atlantic salmon has 175 calories, 10 g of fat, 0 sugars and 19 g of protein.

Eggs

Eggs are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including choline, which aids in brain development and memory. They are also high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and contain healthy fats. The yolk contains much of the fat and is also a source of iron. A typical egg has 75 calories, 6 g of protein, no carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. If you are monitoring your fat intake, try including more of the egg whites in your DIET versus the whole egg.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants, which play a role in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. It is also a source of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, potassium and vitamins C and E. A typical large sweet potato has 162 calories, no fat and 6 g of fiber.

Quinoa

Quinoa is a grain alternative to refined, processed breads such as white or wheat bread. It is gluten-free and thus appropriate for people with food allergies or intolerances. Quinoa has more protein than other grains, and is a source of iron, riboflavin and magnesium. Just 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa has 5 g of protein, 5 g of fat and 5 g of dietary fiber.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a rich source of calcium to help strengthen bones. It is also rich in active bacterial cultures that contribute to a healthy digestive system and may help prevent yeast infections. Avoid sugary yogurts with fruit on the bottom, opting for plain varieties instead. Add berries and natural honey to control the amount of added sugar. A typical 1-cup serving of plain, skim-milk yogurt has approximately 140 calories, no of fat, and 14 g of protein.

Beans

Beans are high in dietary fiber and protein, but low-in fat. The fiber in beans helps to keep blood sugar levels steady, keep cravings down and lower overall calorie consumption. Include a variety of dry beans or low-sodium canned varieties in your diet, including navy, black, red, pinto and kidney beans. A typical 1-cup serving of boiled black beans have only 1 g of fat, 15 g of fiber and 15 g of protein.

Blueberries

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants which help to fight free radicals that contribute to illnesses such as cancer. Such antioxidants may also prevent cataracts, glaucoma, heart disease and ulcers. Blueberries are low in calories, have no fat and are low in sugar compared to other fruits such as melons. A 1-cup serving of blueberries has only 84 calories, no fat and 4 g of dietary fiber.

Walnuts

Walnuts are considered a super-food due to its many health benefits including protection against cancer and heart disease, maintaining cognitive function, and providing protection against inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. These nuts are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is considered a “good” fat. A 1/4-cup serving of walnuts alone provide 90 percent of the daily quota of omega-3s recommended.

Spinach

Spinach is a rich source of vitamin C, calcium and antioxidants that aid in the prevention of disease. It also contains carotenids, which may assist in preventing macular degeneration, poor eyesight that may lead to blindness. Spinach also contains nearly 200 percent of the daily value required of vitamin K, which helps in reducing bone loss.

Oats

Oats are low in fat, and high in dietary fiber which assists in healthy digestion and waste elimination. Heart-healthy oats help keep blood glucose levels even thanks to their low-sugar and high-fiber content. This makes them a healthy grain alternative for diabetics or people who are trying to lose weight. A 100 g serving of raw oats has only 1 g of saturated fat, 11 g of dietary fiber and 17 g of protein.

EAT EAT AWAY!!!!!!!!! and remember to always SMILE 

100 WAYS TO CUT 100 OR MORE CALORIES

1. Spread 1 tablespoon of all-fruit jam on your toast rather than 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter.
2. Replace 1 cup of whole milk with 1/2 cup of nonfat milk.
3. Eat 2 poached eggs instead of 2 fried eggs.
4. Replace 1/2 cup of granola with 2 cups of Cheerios.
5. Instead of using whole milk and eggs to prepare 2 slices of French toast, use nonfat milk and egg whites.
6. Snack on an orange and a banana instead of a Snickers candy bar.
7. Munch on 35 pretzel sticks instead of 1 ounce of dry-roasted peanuts.
8. Replace 1 cup of sweetened applesauce with 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce.
9. On your lamb-and-vegetable kabob, replace 2 of the 4 chunks of meat with fresh whole mushrooms.
10. Dip an artichoke in 1 tablespoon of low-fat mayonnaise instead of 1 1/2 tablespoons of regular mayonnaise.
11. Steam your asparagus rather than sauté it in 1 tablespoon of butter or oil.
12. Instead of a 5-ounce glass of wine, opt for cherry-flavored sparkling water.
13. For a chewy snack, have 1/2 cup of dried fruit rather than 9 caramels.
14. Replace 3 slices of bacon with 3 slices of Light & Lean Canadian bacon.
15. Eat a Lender’s egg bagel instead of a Sara Lee egg bagel.
16. Select 1 cup of home-style baked beans instead of an equal serving of baked beans with franks.
17. Replace 2 biscuits with 2 dinner rolls.
18. When making a sandwich, use 2 slices of Roman Light 7-grain bread instead of Pepperidge Farm wheat bread.
19. Eat 1/2 cup of steamed fresh broccoli instead of 1/2 cup of frozen broccoli in cheese sauce.
20. Make a burrito with 1/2 cup of fat-free refried beans and 1 ounce of nonfat cheese instead of the same amount of traditional refried beans and cheese.
21. Replace an apple muffin with a high-fiber English muffin.
22. Reduce a typical serving of chocolate cake (1/8 of a two-layer cake) by one-third.
23. Switch from 1 cup of whole-milk hot chocolate to 1 cup of steamed 1% milk flavored with a dash of almond extract.
24. Replace 1 cup of caramel-coated popcorn with 2 1/2 cups of air-popped popcorn.
25. Switch from 1/2 cup of yogurt-covered raisins to 1/2 cup of plain raisins.
26. Snack on 1 cup of nonfat plain yogurt instead of 1 cup of custard-style yogurt.
27. Top your celery sticks with 2 tablespoons of fat-free cream cheese instead of 3 tablespoons of regular cream cheese.
28. Replace 2 fried-chicken drumsticks with 2 roasted drumsticks and a cup of peas and carrots.
29. Instead of eating 5 chocolate-chip cookies, savor the taste of 2.
30. Lighten your 2 cups of coffee with 2 tablespoons of evaporated nonfat milk instead of 2 tablespoons of half-and-half.
31. Replace a 12-ounce can of cola with a 12-ounce can of diet cola.
32. Thicken your cream sauce with 1 percent milk and corn starch instead of a roux of butter and flour.
33. At the appetizer tray, choose 4 fresh raw mushrooms instead of 4 batter-fried mushrooms.
34. Use 2 tablespoons of fat-free sour cream instead of regular sour cream (on baked potatoes or in stroganoff). If done twice in the day, 100 calories will be cut.
35. Reduce the size of your steak from 4 1/2 ounces to 3 ounces.
36. Grill a cheese sandwich with nonstick cooking spray instead of margarine.
37. Replace 1 cup of chocolate ice cream with 2/3 cup of nonfat chocolate frozen yogurt.
38. Snack on 2 ounces of oven-baked potato chips instead of regular potato chips.
39. Instead of topping your salad with an ounce of croutons, get your crunch from 1/4 cup of chopped celery.
40. Instead of 1 cup of macaroni salad, eat 3 1/2 cups of spinach salad with 2 tablespoons of low-calorie dressing.
41. Cut the peanut butter on your sandwich from 2 tablespoons to 1 tablespoon.
42. Serve your turkey with 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce instead of 1/2 cup.
43. Order a sandwich on cracked wheat bread instead of a croissant.
44. Complement your hamburger with 1 1/4 ounces of oven-baked tortilla chips instead of a side of fries.
45. Split an apple Danish with a friend rather than eat the entire thing.
46. Order 2 slices of cheese pizza instead of 2 slices of pepperoni pizza.
47. Grab a Dole Fresh Lites Cherry frozen fruit bar instead of a Sunkist Coconut frozen fruit bar.
48. Snack on 1/2 cup of fruit cocktail canned in water instead of 1 cup of fruit cocktail canned in heavy syrup.
49. Switch from 1 cup of fruit punch to 1 cup of sparkling water flavored with 2 teaspoons of concentrated orange juice.
50. Instead of eating garlic bread made with butter, spread baked garlic cloves on French bread.
51. Rather than snack on 1 cup of grapefruit canned in syrup, peel and section 1 small grapefruit.
52. Dip your chips in 1/2 cup of salsa instead of 1/2 cup of guacamole.
53. Switch from 1/2 cup of Frusen Gladje butter pecan ice cream to Breyers butter pecan ice cream.
54. Use 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise in your tuna salad instead of 2 tablespoons.
55. Hold the tartar sauce on your fish sandwich, and squeeze lemon on it instead.
56. Replace 3 fish sticks with 3 ounces of grilled halibut.
57. In sandwich spreads or salads, use 3 teaspoons of dijonnaise instead of 4 teaspoons of mayonnaise.
58. Use 2 tablespoons of light pancake syrup instead of 2 tablespoons of regular syrup.
59. Top your pasta with 1 cup of marinara sauce instead of 1/2 cup of alfredo sauce.
60. For each serving of pasta salad you make, reduce the oil or mayonnaise by 1 tablespoon.
61. Replace 1/2 cup of peaches canned in extra-heavy syrup with 1/2 cup of peaches canned in water.
62. Prepare 1/2 cup of steamed peas and cauliflower instead of frozen peas and cauliflower in cream sauce.
63. Cut back on sampling during cooking. The following tastes have 100 calories: 4 tablespoons of beef stroganoff, 3 tablespoons of homemade chocolate pudding, 2 tablespoons of chocolate-chip cookie dough.
64. At an Italian restaurant, snack on a large breadstick instead of a slice of garlic bread.
65. Eat a 3/4-cup serving of pudding made with skim milk rather than a 1-cup serving of pudding made with whole milk.
66. Choose 1/2 cup of brown rice instead of 1 serving of frozen rice pilaf with green beans or 1 serving of frozen Oriental rice and vegetables.
67. Compliment your sandwich with 3/4 cup of split-pea soup instead of 1 cup of chunky bean and ham soup.
68. Replace 3 tablespoons of strawberry topping on your ice cream with 3/4 pint of fresh strawberries.
69. Pass on the second helping of mashed potatoes.
70. Eat 3 grilled prawns with cocktail sauce instead of 3 breaded and fried prawns.
71. Make a pie crust with 1 cup of Grape-Nuts cereal, 1/4 cup of concentrated apple juice and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, instead of using a traditional graham-cracker crust. You’ll save 100 calories per slice.
72. Replace 8 sticks of regular chewing gum with sugar-free chewing gum.
73. Snack on a papaya instead of a bag of M&Ms.
74. Substitute 3 ounces of scallops for 3 ounce of lean beef in your stir-fry.
75. Rather than spread 4 tablespoons of cream cheese on two slices of raisin bread, dip the bread in 1/2 cup nonfat apple-cinnamon yogurt.
76. Munch on 1 cup of frozen grapes instead of an ice cream sandwich.
77. Rather than drink a strawberry milkshake, make a smoothie of 2/3 cup of low-fat milk, 1/2 cup of strawberries and 1/2 a banana.
78. Replace 2 brownies with 2 fig bars.
79. Eat 2 meatballs instead of 4 with your spaghetti.
80. On a hot day, quench your thirst with a glass of ice water with lemon or mint instead of a can of light beer.
81. Eat 1/2 cup of black beans instead of 3 ounces of roast beef.
82. Replace 1 1/2 tablespoons of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spread with 1 1/2 tablespoons of Nucoa Smart Beat margarine.
83. Choose 1 serving of vegetarian lasagna instead of lasagna with meat.
84. Eat 2 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain bars instead of 2 Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts.
85. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of low-calorie French dressing on your salad instead of 2 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing.
86. Replace 1 large flour tortilla with 1 six-inch corn tortilla.
87. Eat a turkey sandwich instead of a chicken salad sandwich.
88. Choose 4 1/2 ounces of tuna packed in water instead of 4 1/2 ounces of tuna packed in oil.
89. At Burger King, have a Whopper Jr. Sandwich with regular fries instead of a Whopper With Cheese Sandwich.
90. Order your Quarter Pounder without cheese.
91. At Jack in the Box, eat a regular taco instead of a super taco.
92. Fix 1 cup of turkey chili with beans rather than regular chili with no beans.
93. Use 1 cup of fat-free cottage cheese instead of regular cottage cheese.
94. Order a sandwich with barbecued chicken instead of barbecued pork.
95. Replace 1 cup of corn with 1 cup of carrots.
96. Reduce your helping of turkey stuffing from 1 cup to 2/3 cup.
97. Have a single scoop of ice cream instead of a double scoop.
98. Replace 2 ounces of corn chips with 2 ounces of SnackWell’s wheat crackers.
99. Eat 1 hot dog at the baseball game instead of 2.
100. Shred 2 ounces of fat-free cheddar cheese on nachos instead of regular cheddar.

BUILD A HEALTHY MEAL TO BUILD A HEALTHY BODY

TIP AND ANOTHER DELICIOUS RECIPE!

Tip of the day:  focus on one thing that you know

trips you up. And make it a goal to work on that one thing for the next 7 days.

This tip works really well because it gets you in the habit of small wins. I don’t care

who you are or what stage you are at in your life right now. There is nobody who

can’t use a small win to rebuild motivation and momentum 😉

Recipe of the day: Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken & Vegetables– yum yum!!!

6 servings, 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter (Trader Joe’s my fav)!
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chile-garlic sauce, or to taste (see Ingredient note)
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1 12-ounce bag fresh vegetable medley, such as carrots, broccoli, snow peas

PREPARATION

1. Put a large pot of water on to boil for cooking pasta.
2. Meanwhile, place chicken in a skillet or saucepan and add enough water to cover; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, shred into bite-size strips.
3. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, chile-garlic sauce and ginger in a large bowl.
4. Cook pasta in the boiling water until not quite tender, about 1 minute less than specified in the package directions. Add vegetables and cook until the pasta and vegetables are just tender, 1 minute more. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Rinse the pasta and vegetables with cool water to refresh. Stir the reserved cooking liquid into the peanut sauce; add the pasta, vegetables and chicken; toss well to coat. Serve warm or chilled.

TIPS & NOTES

• Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To serve, stir in 2 tablespoons warm water per portion; serve cold or reheat in microwave.

• Ingredient Note: Chile-garlic sauce (or chili-garlic sauce, or paste) is a blend of ground chiles, garlic and vinegar and is commonly used to add heat and flavor to Asian soups, sauces and stir-fries. It can be found in the Asian section of large supermarkets and keeps up to 1 year in the refrigerator.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 363 calories; 12 g fat (2 g sat, 0 g mono); 44 mg cholesterol; 36 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 29 g protein; 7 g fiber; 348 mg sodium; 287 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (58% daily value), Fiber (27% dv), Vitamin C (25% dv), Magnesium (19% dv).

PROTEIN CHOCOLATE CHIP BITES!

These are my chocolate chip high PROTEIN cookie dough bites: 
1/2 Cup Almond Butter (I used crunchy AB because it’s what was open but you can use  Sunflower Seed Butter, Cashew Butter, or another nut butter of your choice)  TRADER JOES IS MY FAVORITE KIND!! ALL NATURAL

3-4 Tbsp Coconut Flour (or another flour if you don’t have coconut such as almond flour, cashew flour, oat flour, etc)

Or, for the Extra Protein Option, use 3 Tbsp of your Favorite Vanilla or Chocolate-Flavored Protein Powder

3-4 Tbsp Maple Syrup/Agave (or honey, or yacon syrup)

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1/3 to 1/2 Cups Chocolate Chips (or carob, or cocoa nibs)

Yields 10 to 20 balls depending on preferred size

WHo said you couldn’t eat dessert?

Big Fudgy HIGH PROTEIN Bittersweet Brownies (My favorite!!!)

1 large egg

1 egg white

3 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups stevia-sugar substitute

1/3 cup PUMPKIN PUREE

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 ounces high-quality unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped

1 SCOOP HERBALIFE FORMULA 1 CHOCOLATE PROTEIN MIX

1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1/3 cup buckwheat or presifted whole wheat flour

Make it: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8-inch-square nonstick baking pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, egg white, yogurt, and vanilla extract; set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, PUMPKIN, salt, and 3 tablespoons water, stirring constantly for 3 minutes on medium-high heat. Remove from heat; stir in cocoa, HERBLIFE PROTEIN POWDER and chocolate until chocolate melts, then add egg mixture. Add all flour, stirring until batter is smooth.

Pour batter into baking pan. Bake 25 minutes, or until top is firm. Cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into squares.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups applesauce

3/4 cup splenda brown sugar

1/4 cup stevia

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs, beaten- or 4 egg whites

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

Make it: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, beat together applesauce, sugars, and vanilla until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Roll into small balls; flatten slightly onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Freeze the extras.