“If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes…. Oh, what a snow that would be!!!
Standing outside with our mouths opened wide, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah…..”
Standing outside with our mouths opened wide, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah…..”
( this was stuck in my head after running in the snow yesterday morning....)
You know that just made you smile and reminisce about childhood memories of catching snowflakes on your tongue, building a snow ball then running inside to a cup of hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and cartoons. :-)
Snow days are the BEST! It is SO beautiful to see the ground covered in a beautiful blanket of white, cuddling on the couch and watching Christmas movies, OR getting around to painting those ugly cabinets of yours… ok, maybe that last one is just me...
This is also the time when we want that comfort food that has a tendency to add extra baggage on us until spring comes around, right?
Well guess what?? That does not always have to be the case if you have chosen to live a healthier lifestyle and WANT to change your habits!
Well guess what?? That does not always have to be the case if you have chosen to live a healthier lifestyle and WANT to change your habits!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE cooking healthy meals and snacks ESPECAILLY now that I have a little man (hehe, and a BIG man) to feed.
Nothing makes me happier than knowing that the people I care about most in my life are taking care of themselves inside and out by what they are putting in their bodies. That is one of MY personal motivations for learning how to eat and cook healthier all the time.
Nothing makes me happier than knowing that the people I care about most in my life are taking care of themselves inside and out by what they are putting in their bodies. That is one of MY personal motivations for learning how to eat and cook healthier all the time.
Here are some of my healthy, favorite, & FUN recipes for you to make when you are craving something not so healthy..... :-)
I was in the mood for chocolate chips cookies last night so what did I do? Make them!!
Here is the recipe I used instead of the one that comes on the back of the chocolate chip package:
Here is the recipe I used instead of the one that comes on the back of the chocolate chip package:
(http://www.thewannabechef.net/2011/05/04/almond-flour-chocolate-chip-cookies/) You can modify this in other ways as well with egg whites or a different sweetener if needed!
Ingredients (Makes about 12 cookies):
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) almond flour
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
• 1 egg (or 3-4 egg whites)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup DARK chocolate chips
Preheat oven 375
Cream the butter and sugar mixture together until smooth.
Mix in the egg or egg whites
Next, add the almond flour, vanilla, salt, and baking soda and mix until it is combined.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
I used a spoon and scooped small rounded dough onto baking paper (parchment).
Place in oven for 10-12 minutes.
Let them cool then tell me how delicious they are!! They are even better after a couple hours of cooling down!
This would be my little man chowing down on these delicious cookies! yes he is wearing my bike helmet....lol
Who doesn't like some fried chicken or chicken nuggets?I know my little Wyatt LOVES dipping his food so I found a way to make HEALTHY chicken nuggets!!! YAY!
• 1.5 cups of almond meal or almond flour (can also use quinoa flour, oat flour or 100% wheat if you must)
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a large storage bag, mix almond meal, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
3. Taking 5-6 pieces of chicken at a time, throw into bag and shake until chicken is full covered.
4. With a brush, cover baking sheet with olive oil.
Place chicken bites on sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Turn chicken over and bake for another 12 minutes.
An addition to the nuggets.....
For those if you who LOVE mashed potatoes but do not like the calorie count may I present to you…..
Mashed cauliflower…. Before you roll your eyes and laugh at me… TRY IT! Don’t knock it until you try it please! ;-)
· 3 large potatoes, scrubbed, cut into 1-inch chunks
(or less BUT add more cauliflower!)
· 1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets
·
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
· Vegetable broth as needed
·
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
1. Place the potato chunks in a saucepan filled with cold salted water and bring to a boil. When boiling, add cauliflower florets, return to a boil and cook, partially covered, for 20 minutes, until potatoes and cauliflower are very tender.
2. Drain potatoes and cauliflower, add olive oil, and gradually add vegetable broth to moisten, mashing with a potato masher or processing in a food processor until creamy and fluffy. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.
Serves 4-6.
What to take from reading this besides some fabulous recipe ideas....
Stop pretending it's hard to eat healthy... it's not. The Internet is a wonderful thing! If you have a comfort food you want... make it HEALTHY!!!
I am positive there is a recipe out there that will satisfy your craving without adding to your love handles.
ALWAYS be thinking about if what you're eating is going to make you feel strong and fit.... if not then what is the point? Who wants to feel gross and weak??
"If all the snow flakes we asparagus spears and broccoli slaw.... oh what a healthier world we would be..... "
