Quinoa Energy Balls (V)(GF)

Quinoa Energy Balls (V)(GF)

I have been seriously struggling with a sweet tooth lately and have had a craving I cannot seem to satisfy with dates and nut butters alone. So if I cannot eat a big piece of chocolate cake at 3:00 pm everyday, I think these little snack nuggets will suffice.

You can whip these together in 10 minutes and enjoy them when you need your daily pick me up. I added chocolate chips to my balls but you can definitely omit them if you wish. I used the mini chips by Enjoy Life.

To make these you will need…

¼ Cup Organic Peanut Butter (or other nut butter)

1 Cup of Cooked Quinoa

2 teaspoons of Honey (Agave or Maple Syrup will work)

1 teaspoon of Molasses

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon

Optional: ¼ Cup mini dairy free chocolate chips

Mix the above ingredients in a bowl until well combine. Be sure to let the quinoa cool before you add everything else. Roll tablespoon size lumps into pretty little balls. You can put these in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to make them set or you can just put them in the fridge and allow them to harden slowly. I gobbled up all the bits that didn’t make it into a neat ball and clean up was a breeze with just one pot to clean. Store them in the refrigerator.

My balls have about 2 grams of protein and 50 calories each, incase you are counting.

I am about to go have one now with a big chai :0)

Smoothie Bowls are the New Green Juice

Smoothie Bowls

So I am sure you have seen them trending, smoothie bowls are hugely popular right now. This chilly dish has been a staple treat in my diet since my first trip to Rincon, Puerto Rico a few years ago. Prior to this trip I was sloshing my overly thick green smoothies into a bowl after yoga and topping with chia and raisins. My icy greens were yummy but they lacked direction and presentation. I still remember my first “Acai Bowl” while visiting my friend in San Diego. It was a mixture of acai, banana, oats and honey. In Rincon I experienced more topping ideas and here I am today adding everything but the kitchen sink to my bowl.

I like Smoothie bowls because they are more satiating then drinking the same fruit medley, plus the ability to add toppings adds the crunch and extra flavor I need to call it a meal. You can eat these at any point in the day as a small meal or snack. They are great after a hot outdoor workout, as breakfast or even as a light dinner. I like to have a bowl before I go teach evening yoga because it will keep me full through the night without weighing me down.

I love to eat, and when a meal looks appealing and has presentation I tend to be more satisfied. I usually use berry medleys rather than acai. Acai is pretty expensive to eat frequently and while it is popular for its antioxidant content, blueberries are chock full of antioxidants. Plus with how busy and active I am, I need the extra vitamin C from strawberries. My immune system is fragile with my early mornings and the physical strain of being up and active all day.

While I change up the ingredients I use for each bowl the base is typically a frozen banana, berries and coconut milk. When I need extra greens I will add raw kale or spinach. After a hard workout I will add protein powder and I almost always add toppings. My favorite toppings are fresh or dried fruit, coconut flakes, chia seeds, hemp hearts, granola, walnuts, sliced almonds and nut butter.

I know everyone likes a direct recipe so below is my basic smoothie bowl:

In a blender add half a frozen banana and 1 cup of frozen mixed berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries) and half a cup coconut milk. You can use any kind of milk but I prefer coconut, almond or cashew. Pulse the three ingredients in blender or food processor and add additional liquid if necessary. Do not over blend. You want to have a thick consistency. Pour the mixture into a pretty bowl and top with chia, coconut flakes and fresh fruit.

Want extra protein? Add your favorite protein powder! Need extra greens? Add spinach or kale. Adjust the recipe to fit your dietary needs or tastebuds. When Im starving I slosh a big spoon of almond or cashew butter on top.  I usually keep the green bowls pretty simple since Kale and nut butter clash…

Share your favorites!

Raw & Gluten Free “Donut Holes”

Well it snowed for about 12 hours today. I was able to make it to one client but even that was pushing it. So I had a bunch of downtime today, which was nice. I got to have a long workout, take a shower long enough to shave my legs, shoveled out our walk way and my car and I caught up on all workout and nutrition plans for clients. I have probably had 10 cups of loose leaf tea as well. Now that I think of it, I accomplished quite a bit. I share all this because I like to bore you, so lets talk “Donut Holes” (heavy on the nuts, sans dough).

I recently inherited my mom’s super retro food processor. While my boyfriend says is sounds like a lawnmower, I love it. It works well and it has a little sentimental value. Apparently my mom made all my baby food in this bad boy Oyster.

These little protein bites are slightly sweet and packed with protein and fiber. I wouldn’t put them in the dessert category because they lack the decadence I demand in a dessert. I would call them the perfect pre workout snack or addition to breakfast.

Here is what you will need:
• ¾ cup of almonds
• 12 pitted dates
• 2 tbsp of peanut butter
• 1 tbsp chocolate protein powder
• 2 tbsp of chocolate tahini

My favorite chocolate tahini. Just 2g of sugar!

First place almonds in a food processor or vita-mix. Process until you have an almond meal consistency. Move your meal to a mixing bowl. Process your dates for about 30 seconds or until you have a sticky paste. Add the rest of the ingredients including the almond meal to your date paste. Pulse continuously as needed until you everything is combined. Move your “dough” back to the mixing bowl to roll into tablespoon sized balls. I keep my donut holes in the refrigerator but they are perfectly fine covered at room temperature.

Almonds post processing

If you want to make these a little more dessert like you can add some mini chocolate chips. You may find you need a little honey to help the chips stick.

Enjoy!

The Scoop on Healthy Skoop Powders

Product Review: Healthy Skoop Powders

I feel like the hunt for the perfect protein powder is ongoing.  I certainly have my go to whey and plant based powders, but I love to experiment with new brands.  If you follow my posts you probably have seen my favorite whey powder, Warrior Whey by Defense Nutrition.  When it comes to plant based protein powder my current favorite is Phood by Plant Fusion.

That being said, I have never tried a greens mix, which is something that Skoop offers.  Skoop sells powders for different nutrition goals, but advertises the product lines as an all encompassing package. While for the most part I consume plenty of greens and antioxidants, there are days where many of my meals are on the go.  I was grateful when Skoop offered to send me a generous sample package.  I hope you enjoy my review!

Skoop a variety of powders: A GAME, B STRONG & B LOVELY.  All three powders are gluten-free and GMO-free.

Skoop A Game Is a powder you can wake up with. Phytonutrients, micronutrients, and adaptogens are said to help increase your energy level.  Since I don’t drink coffee I saw this as a great early  morning option.  The contents of A Game allow you to start your day with fiber and probiotics.  In my mind A Game stands up against my usual powders with its ORAC equivalent of 10 servings of fruits and veggies. Some days I am on the go all day. The ability to get my greens and antioxidants with just a shaker and some cold water is a huge plus. There are two A Game flavors, Chocofresh and Supergreens.  I have been shaking both with just cold water, but also adding them to my smoothies. I add Chocofresh to my chocolate protein powder along with a frozen banana, almond milk and chia seeds.  I add the Supergreens powder to my green smoothie.

Overall, I liked having A game as part of my regimen.  I did feel a bit more energized when I included the powder in my first meal of the day.  The flavor took a little getting used to, its a bit bold.  I was adjusted to the taste by day five.  A Game is 50 calories per scoop and only 2 grams of sugar.

B Strong is the Protein powder.  It is plant based, soy-free and dairy-free as well as gluten-free and GMO-free.  The great thing about B Strong is it’s prebiotic fibers that assist your gut in breaking down and absorbing the protein.  This will allow you to use the 16 grams of protein and additional fatty acids to build muscle and recover quickly.

I tried the vanilla powder, which makes it harder for me to compare because I usually go with chocolate protein powder.  I do feel that my Warrior Whey is a bit smoother, but it is also whey protein.  There could be a compromise due to the extra prebiotics and antioxidants in Skoop.   If you are looking for a clean plant based protein powder I would certainly recommend Skoop.

Last, we have B Lovely.  This is actually a skincare product you consume.   B Lovely contains natural herbs, antioxidants and fiber.  You can help combat oxidative stress, repair damaged collagen and promote circulation with just 20 calories of this powder.  I cannot tell you if it works, I only tried the powder twice, but I can tell you how it tastes.  I was not a fan.  I am a tea drinker, so when I added the powder to my warm water I was expecting it to taste like a floral tea, I am sure it I could hide the taste in a smoothie or protein shake, but I only need one shake a day.

Overall, I found Skoop powders to be clean and easy to digest.  I suffer from a lot of stomach and GI issues, and I am easily irritated by many powders.  I had absolutely no issues with Skoop.

 

Super-Gut-Food Almond Butter

I have been dealing with Leaky Gut Syndrome for a while now, but my flare ups have become irregular and almost obsolete.  In fact, my gut has been fairly healthy in the past year and a half.  However, this past Monday I was completely blind sided by the side effects of this crap syndrome.  So for a few days I was consuming mostly liquids (coconut milk, kombucha, hot tea, and lots of water).  I eased my way to coconut milk yogurt, sauerkraut and mashed up bananas.  My stomach was inflamed and my energy level was insanely low due to a calorie deficit.

So now I am on a mission to repair my intestinal lining and get back to a healthy gut.  My diet for the next 2-4 weeks is going be restrictive, more or less Paleo with some extra rules.  I cannot eat soy, sugar, legumes, dairy, night shade vegetables, grains or anything processed by any means. Last night I had a dream I was eating Chinese food. I don’t even like Chinese food.  I have been Gluten Free for almost seven years and I remember in the first year I would have dreams I was eating sandwiches all the time.

It is not complete torment, I still get to eat most of the things I love.  I will be consuming lots of coconut products like coconut milk, coconut milk yogurt, coconut oil and coconut butter.  Fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi are great for gut health and I do love an excuse to splurge on kombucha.  I will be attempting my first bone broth this weekend which is supposedly deeeelish, I just hope I can find some chicken feet.  Another great food group for gut health is sprouted seeds (like flax seed, chia seed and hemp seeds).  Which brings me to my creation this morning.

Super Gut healthy Almond Butter

• 2 tablespoons of Almond Butter ( I use Trader Joe’s Unsalted Crunchy)
• 1 teaspoon of Chia Seeds
• 1 teaspoon of Ground Flax Seed
• 1 teaspoon of Coconut Oil

Mix them all together and enjoy! I spread mine on apple slices for a mid morning snack.  This is a very filling spread so you might not need to eat the whole two tablespoons in one sitting, but it’s so good I cannot help but lick the bowl clean.

Sleeping Late & Dessert for Breakfast

Monday sucks.  It’s painful for almost everyone.  Today I attempted to keep my bad mood under control by making two decisions last night. 

1. I turned my 5:30 alarm off and I slept until 7:30
2. I prepped a magically decadent breakfast

I typically wake up around 5:30-6:00 on Monday mornings to workout, but as I climbed into bed last night I realized how sore I felt from that morning’s weight lifting session.  It has been a crazy couple weeks with new clients and a new workout regimen so I am stepping out of my routine for some rest.  Wow, 9 hours of sleep has me feeling like a new woman.  Sleep is the new cardio. 

When I went to prep my breakfast last night I realized there was only about half a serving of yogurt left, so I improvised and made the most decadent breakfast of my life.  It was like eating peanut butter pie for breakfast, but better, because it was filling fuel not empty calories. 

I zoomed to the office this morning so excited to dig into my breakfast jar.  Catching up on emails is so much more fun when you are shoveling delicious food down your throat. 

Here is what went into my morning jar: 

• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 2 Tbsp powdered peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp raisins
• 1.5 Tbsp KIND Maple Quinoa Clusters with Chia

I mix all the ingredients together and let the jar sit in the refrigerator over night.  This allows the flavors to really soak into the yogurt.  The chia seeds expand into gelatinous fibrous omega-3 fatty acid sprinkles. 

This recipe is full of healthy fats and 19 grams of protein to keep you full and satisfied until lunch! There is no added sugar (or artificial sugar), so you wont crash like you will with a bowl of cereal.  I even counted calories for all you number crunchers and with my portions it was 380 calories.  That is one gram of protein for every 20 calories.  Vegetarians rejoice!

Give it a whirl or make your own version, it will make your regimented morning a tad more exciting.  Report back!

Be Prepared Not Hungry

I love the ease of meal prepping.  It keeps me (and my clients) from eating out during the busy work week and and controls our portion sizes.

1/2 Banana, 1/4 cup blueberries, about 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 Tbsp raisins, 2 Tbsp KIND quinoa granola

I don’t love eating the exact same breakfast, lunch and dinner for 5 days straight.  I also don’t like when food tastes/looks like leftovers.  Many meal preps are done on Sunday for the whole week, which I do on my super busy weeks. I prefer to break up my personal prepping, this keeps ingredients fresh and exciting. 

For example, I will prep my breakfast for Monday and Tuesday on Sunday night and repeat with slightly different ingredients on Wednesday night for Thursday and Friday.  On Wednesday I have enough time in the morning to make my breakfast at home, so I will cook up an egg scramble or something more labor intensive.  Eating healthy  and clean is satisfying when you are using fresh, flavorful and interesting ingredients. 

When it comes to my yogurt jars I have a couple staple ingredients: plain Greek yogurt (I like FAGE) & half a banana.  I rotate the other add ins to avoid meal boredom.  I will usually pick two from the following list to spice up my breakfast jar: 

• Chia seeds
• KIND’s quinoa granola
• Gluten free rolled oats
• Berries
• Raisins
• Apple slices
• Coconut flakes
• Cinnamon
• Raw unsalted almonds
• Raw unsalted walnuts
• Almond Butter (Raw Unsalted Chunky)
• Peanut Butter Powder
• Whatever fun fruit I receive in my farm basket 🙂

This week my farm basket included blueberries, so into the jar they go! The photo above is from my Wednesday night meal prep.  The size of my breakfast jars vary slightly to accommodate my appetite.  If I know I have a later lunch or I am particularly starving, I will grab a larger portion. 

I like to fill my morning with healthy fats and protein like yogurt, nuts, chia and quinoa granola.  The fruit adds antioxidants, fiber and flavor. On Wednesdays and weekends I do eggs with lots of greens because I have the time.  Breakfast sets the tempo for your day, so start your day with something clean and satisfying.

I share this with you all because I am very passionate about making healthy food appealing to my clients.  I love taking over kitchens to prove how easy healthy eating can be.  Losing weight is not just about what you eat, but when you eat! Going hungry is no way to treat your metabolism.  If you are interested in a meal prep lesson feel free to contact me directly or through the Storm Fitness website.  Just mention Broke Girl Fitness or me (Gen) in your online contact. 

If you are wondering about my lunch and dinner meal preps, stay tuned for a post in the future 🙂

Choco Whey: The World’s Premium Whey Chocolate

 

A candy bar that delivers 9-11 grams of whey protein with no added sugar, it sounded too good to be true.  So of course, I had to try it. Luckily Defense Nutrition was able to facilitate my taste test by sending a sample.  I should have specified my chocolate preference.  I am a dark chocoholic.  Not to worry, there are several different variations of Choco Whey.    I tried the Cacao Nib Milk Chocolate and Whey bar. See the nutrition facts below:

Before we even talk about the nutrition facts, lets take a look at the ingredients.  NO SUGAR ADDED, NO SUGAR ALCOHOL, NO FRUCTOSE, NOTHING ARTIFICIAL . Did I mention it is GMO FREE? You cannot really beat that in a candy bar.  I also think calling this bar candy is a stretch.  It is nutritious and a great serving of Whey protein (9 g per bar), but if you are looking for the taste and melt in your mouth texture of a Hershey’s bar you will not get it with Choco Whey.  It tastes, well, healthy.  I think this particular bar tastes just like their Chocolate Whey Protein Shake in solid form. It was pretty good with a smear of almond butter and a medjool date on top.  According to Defense Nutrition, it outperforms your everyday protein bar and is made without syrups (sugar, fructose, sugar alcohol, agave, rice, malt, etc.), which is always a plus!

If you have read my blog before, you know I do not look at calories or fat when assessing a natural product’s nutritional label.  I go straight to the sugar, fiber and protein.  This product passes in all three categories! For a chocolate bar, this bar is super low in the sugar department.  Compared to a Nut Delight Kind Bar, this particular flavor packs three more grams of protein and and three more grams of fiber all while containing three grams less sugar.

The bar is full of antioxidants , great for muscle recovery and I am honestly dying to try some of the other flavors! When you purchase Choco Whey you can choose from Milk or Dark chocolate.  They also have a ChocoVegan bar. Milk and dark chocolate have the following varieties:

• Plain
• Cacao Nibs
• Almond
• Coffee
• Macadamia
• Super Crunch
• The vegan chocolate is not available in Macadamia or Super Crunch

The nutrition facts change slightly for each variety of milk and dark chocolate bars.  Overall, the dark chocolate has less sugar and a little more fiber.  It looks like the Super Crunch variety packs the most protein coming in at 11 grams per bar.  The ChocoVegan bars have less than half the protein overall, ranging from 3-4 grams per bar.  I would recommend sticking to the ChocoWhey bars unless you are a vegan.  Go here to compare nutrition facts across flavor variates.

I would recommenced this product to active chocoholics looking for a way to get their fix and up their protein.  I love that all the artificial sweeteners and mystery syrups are left out and only quality products are put in.  The taste is much more natural and not super sweet like traditional candy bars. The Milk Chocolate Cacao Nibs bar had a bit of a nutty flavor. It was not sinfully delicious, but it tasted like all natural milk chocolate.  The cost definitely reflects the quality. A box of 12 chocolate bars costs you $47.90 with shipping included for those in the U.S ($3.99 per bar).  If you decide to purchase the bar individually, it is going to cost you $4.95 per bar.  Protein bars are typically $1-3.  I usually get kind Bars 4/$5 or Lara Bars 3/$5.  Perhaps with a little popularity and increased demand, the price will go down.  I DO want to try the dark chocolate.  If you have tasted it before let me know your thoughts!

Click here to purchase this product!

 

Whey Protien Frappe

Today I woke up feeling run down…and ten minutes after my alarm clock, so I opted for this protein frappe.  It is less than 200 calories with 12 grams of protein.  All it takes is five minutes.  The trick to making this quickly is having cooled coffee on hand in your refrigerator and frozen bananas in your freezer.  I use Defense Nutrition’s Warrior Whey protein.  It is all natural, gluten free, low glycemic, and best of all has no added sugar!  I purchase it off Amazon for about $25 per jar, click here if you are interested in the product!

For the almond milk, I use Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla.  Any “milk” would work.  Coconut milk is delicious in this frappe as well.  But I try and use almond milk for the calcium since I do not drink dairy milk.

If you are making this post workout, feel free to add an extra scoop of protein powder, just be mindful that you will be adding 75 calories.

I drank this shake at 7:45 this morning and I felt full and satisfied until lunch time (which was about 12:15 today).