Protein Bites Featuring Cocomels

I enjoy making changes to tried-and-true recipes to add some new life into them. Once I find a recipe I love, it becomes a blank canvas for me to try to create a new masterpiece.

Recently I made modifications to my PB Protein Bites Recipe to make it not only gluten free but also nut free, vegan, and include JJ's Sweets Coconut Sugar Cocomels (you can find them here).

My modified recipe pictured here includes:
1 cup gluten free oats (DRY)
1/2 cup SunButter
1/2 cup ground flax seed meal
1/3 cup Honey (or sugar)
1 tsp vanilla
6  Coconut Sugar Cocomels ... diced

Instructions:

• I doubled the batch and used a stand-up mixture to combine the ingredients. 
• Combine the ingredients and form the mixture into balls. I like to make bite-site sized or two-bite-sized balls.  
• Refrigerate in an air tight container to let the balls become firm ... about 30 minutes. 

A Breakfast Classic Reimagined

Oatmeal is a breakfast classic. Enjoy Life Foods has re-imagined the classic into a portable oval bar you can eat on the go!

Multiple Flavors

Oatmeal is known for being a blank slate that can take on the flavor of the toppings added. Enjoy Life has brought to the market several flavor combinations for our enjoyment:

• Maple Fig
• Apple Cinnamon
• Mixed Berry
• Chocolate Chip Banana

A Healthy Breakfast On-The-Go

Breakfast ovals TASTE GREAT and provide you with 20g of whole grains (12% of your daily fiber) and all natural fruit. These SOFT BAKED OVALS are free from:

• Gluten
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Soy
• Sulfites
• Lupin
• Fish
• Crustaceans
• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts
• Casein
• Egg
• Sesame
• Mustard
• Shellfish

Variety of Uses

I enjoy Breakfast Ovals on their own with some fruit and crumbled in my yogurt or chia pudding.

Sesame Milk Chia Pudding

Plant Based Milk Alternatives

I have been drinking almond milk for years and have been happy with the taste of the product. What concerns me about almond milk is that it takes ONE GALLON OF WATER to produce JUST ONE NUT. Living in California and experiencing droughts, water restrictions, and fires, I wish to find another plant based milk source that is more sustainable.

Hope & Sesame

A new product, Sesame Milk,  entered the marketplace last year and I just had an opportunity to try it. Hope & Sesame has brought to the marketplace delicious sesame milk in original, original unsweetend, vanilla, chocolate, and chocolate hazelnut flavors. The creamy milk is wonderful. Each flavor is great. I can find a way to use each one...I cannot decide which is my favorite!

Hope & Sesame sesamemilks contain Sesamein, their very own plant-based protein concentrate. An 8 ounce glass of sesame milk contains 8 grams of protein (as much as dairy milk) with less sugar, more Vitamin D, no dairy, and no lactose.

Sesame has many nutritional benefits:

• high in protein
• high in magnesium
• reduces blood pressure
• reduces cholesterol
• boosts heart health
• boosts respiratory health
• prevents cancer
• good for digestion
• good for healthy skin
• relieves arthritis
• protects the liver from alcohol
• prevents wrinkles
• encourages bone health

Sesame Milk provides nutrients including:

• Plant-protein
• Heart- healthy fatty acids
• Calcium
• Iron
• Phosphorus
• Selenium
• Manganese
• Magnesium
• Copper
• B-complex vitamins
• Zinc

Sesame Milk Uses

Drink sesamemilk on its own or use it in recipes. Today I used Chocolate Hazelnut Sesamemilk as my blank canvas and created Chocolate Hazelnut Chia Pudding. Today we ate this is a dessert.

Ingredients:
1 cup Chocolate Hazelnut Sesamemilk
1/8 cup chia seeds (organic if possible)
VARIATIONS: Fresh fruit, seeds, nuts, or granola as a topping (if desired)




Instructions

• Stir the chia seeds in the milk until fully covered with liquid
• Let set in the refrigerator for at least an hour
• Stir to desired consistency ... NOTE: I wanted my chia pudding a bit thicker so I added an additional 1 TBSP of chia seeds at this point, stirred, and let the pudding set for another 30 minutes
• Serve when set or wait a day
• I served both plain and with bananas and coconut ... top based on your flavor/texture preferences

NOTE: This can be served for breakfast or dessert based on presentation/toppings.

Smoothie Bowl Formula ... A Breakfast Staple

I love recipes that can be modified based on flavor preferences and dietary needs. A smoothie bowl is just that "dish". You can customize the basic formula to create the breakfast you want ... and modify the recipe for  each member of the household. A smoothie bowl takes less than 5 minutes to make and clean up. it is a great quick-fix breakfast to enjoy when the weather is warm.

Pictured: Blueberry Smoothie Bowl with a garnish of walnuts, pepitas, and blueberries.

Smoothie Bowl Formula:

2 frozen bananas

1 cup milk of choice ( I use almond milk)

2 pitted dates (I order mine from Futterman Farms in Indio, CA)

1 cup of fruit

Optional: Protein Powder 

Topping Options:

• Granola
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Coconut
• Chocolate chips
• Fruit (to match flavor of bowl)
• Dried Fruit 

Pictured here is a smoothie bowl with raspberries, homemade granola, help seeds (Interstate Bait), and walnuts. 

A Smoothie Bowl is Quick to Prepare

I keep frozen bananas (ones that have started to get brown freckles) on hand at all times. To prepare a nutritious breakfast all you have to do is put the ingredients in your Vitamix (or blender of choice) and blend. After about a minute the bananas are chopped and integrated into the other non-frozen ingredients. You DO NOT want to OVER MIX, that would create a smoothie you DRINK not EAT with a SPOON. The clean up is simple. All you have to do is wash out the blender and put the bowl in the dishwasher.

Pictured here is a smoothie bowl with peaches, unsweetened coconut, pepitas, and walnuts.

Cashews for Breakfast ... Enjoy Cashewgurt as a Yogurt Alternative

I was told about the Forager Project by a family member and was excited to try Cashewgurt as a yogurt alternative. I am always looking for healthy, gluten free foods to try. I shy away from high fat dairy as I am somewhat lactose intolerant so I figured this dairy free yogurt alternative would be a great product to try!

The Cashewgurt is thin like traditional yogurt and the unsweetend plain is a bit tart like traditional yogurt. I purchase unsweetend plain yogurt to control sugar as I usually add fruit and other mix-ins into the yogurt to add flavor.


If you are a Greek Yogurt fan, the texture will seem runny. To get used to it, prepare a bowl of 1/2 Greek Yogurt and 1/2 Cashewgurt to get used to the texture.




Yogurt is often my morning blank canvas. To the yogurt I add 1 cup of fruit and:

• 1 TBSP cinnamon or beet root powder or maca powder
• 1/4 cup nuts and/or seeds

Today I added peach and pepitas to 1.5 cups of Chasewgurt

Sunflower Date Tastes Great

Zego Bars are a snack for everyone

Adults and kids will love the taste of Zego Bars. They are filled with NATURAL ingredients and are:

• Organic
• Kosher
• Paleo Friendly
• Allergy Friendly
• Vegan 
• NON-GMO
• Low-Glycemic
• Diebetic Freindly

They do NOT include:

• Gluten
• Soy
• Peanuts
• Dairy
• Soy
• Sesame 
• Grain

Zego Bars are for everyone. Zego Bars were developed to focus on what one CAN eat, not on the restrictions based on allergies or medical needs. Zego Bars taste great and are nutritious.

I enjoy taking Zego Bars in my pocket or bag when I am on an outdoor adventure. I lead an active lifestyle and enjoy being on-the-go. I always keep a Zego Bar in my Car and one in my gym/yoga bag so that I have it, in case I need it!

My husband and I took delicious SUNFLOWER DATE bars with us on our near-sunset hike. The bars masterfully combine two flavors we love and were a great snack to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner for us so that we could add in our late in the day hiking date. We took Zego Sunflower Date Bars on our Date! The scenery was beautiful and the Zego snacks excellent.

Take Zego to School

Zego Snacks are perfect for a school lunch, class party, team celebration, or other gathering! Teachers even would love a Zego bar as a "Thank You" or a Back-to-School treat. Sending you child to school with a Zego means that your child is getting a healthy snack and there is no concern that a classmate who has allergies to the common allergens will be impacted negatively. 

 

 

 

Pack a Zego Wherever You Go 

Sunflower Date Tastes Great

AmaZING Nature Hike

My active lifestyle includes teaching fitness classes INDOORS. When I have an opportunity, I like to be active OUTDOORS to explore nature and the beautiful sights and sounds that it offers. My outdoor adventure took me to Daley Ranch and Dixon Lake in Escondido, California. The weather has been unusually hot and humid in San Diego therefore we take the time to exercise outdoors early and late in the day. The views were amazing, and Zing was the perfect fuel for the late day adventure!

Daley Ranch is a great place to hike. Their website provides a map and details about hiking, biking, and horseback riding at Daley Ranch. If you are an animal enthusiast, the website gives you details about the animals and plans that are native to the area so you know what you might encounter. 

Zing Bars are perfect to pack for an outdoor adventure. 

Zing Bars are Practical

They fit in your pocket and do not melt in the heat.
They hold their shape through your movements.

Zing Bars Taste Good and are Healthy

Zing bars come in a variety of flavors. You are bound to find one or more that you enjoy!
The bars are designed by registered dietitians and combine high protein with good fats and good carbs.

Zing bars celebrate what is in them ... as well as what is not. 

They are made with NON-GMO, natural ingredients.
They do not contain: gluten, soy, sugar alcohols, artificial colors, or artificial flavors.

Where can you find Zing?

Look on their website to see where they are sold near you!

Sunflower Butter Cookies

It's Back-To-School time! 

This means setting alarms, packing lunches, and homework. 

Food Allergies and School Lunches/Parties

Parents with food allergies are familiar with what they can provide for their children. SunButter is a GREAT product for school lunches, school parties, sports team celebrations, and after school snacks. SunButter is FREE FROM the Top 8 Allergens so EVERYONE can enjoy!


SunButter can be substituted in any recipe that calls for NUT BUTTERS. I love the taste of SunButter and use it in recipes all the time. My favorite SunButter products are the single serving packs for a grab-and-go snack or for travel, as well as the Organic Jar, and No Sugar Added Jar.

Cookies 

I modified a tried-and-true 6 Ingredient NUT Butter Cookie Recipe using SunButter Organic Sunflower Butter.

Base Ingredients:
1 cup SunButter
1/2 cup SUGAR (increase flax seed or protein powder and cut down/omit if you wish)
1 FLAX EGG (you can use a traditional egg if you wish)
1/2 cup FLAX SEED
1 TBSP VANILLA (optional)
1 cup sunflower seeds (I diced 1/2 of them)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine ingredients in a stand up mixer
3. Use your hand to roll cookies into balls of approximately equal size
4. Place balls on un-greased (or parchment lined) cookie sheet about 2 fingers distance apart. NOTE: Smaller/flatter cookies will turn out crispy.
5. Take a fork and lightly press it into top of ball both horizontally and vertically
6. Cook 10-15 minutes depending on size of cookies
7. When done, let cool for a few minutes so they hold their shape!

Sunflower Butter adds a RAY of SUNSHINE to each and every day!

I had an amaZING day? Did you too?

I had an amaZING day! 

Did you? 

I taught three classes back-to-back-to-back early in the day and had enough time to complete projects around the house 🏠 and get in a great workout too! 

Thanks Zing Bars for fueling me through my three classes on a 90 degree day! Your bars not only TASTE GREAT but are also:

• Gluten Free
• Low Glycemic 
• NON-GMO Projet 
• Vegan
• Soy Free
• Artificial Free
• High in Protein
• Contain Good Carbs
• Contain Good Fats

I look for bars that fit that taste great and are good for me! Zing Bars satisfy me every time!

Everyone WANTS Be Better Protein Squares, Don't They?

Everyone WANTS Be Better Protein Squares, Don't They?

I am always seeking knowledge and resources so that I can be a better person and BE BETTER  at making healthy nutrition choices and fitness decisions.

BE BETTER Protein Squares provides you with  a gluten free, soy free, dairy free, and Non-GMO way for you to snack better and refuel better after a workout! Do you have a weak spot for chocolate? Be Better will satisfy your craving! Their Be Better Protein Squares come in a variety of flavors in a dark chocolate base.

Each flavor is wonderful and has texture that adds a nice crunch to each bite. CAUTION ... in the extreme heat of the summer, these squares may melt in your hot car or in your pocket. Keep them in a cool place so you can enjoy WITHOUT the mess!

I added the Almonds & Hemp Seeds to Chia Pudding (made with light coconut milk). My Chia Pudding was a modification of my Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe. I used 1 can of LITE Coconut  Milk and added 3/4 a cup of organic chia seeds. I stirred in the seeds to coat them with the liquid and refrigerated the mixture for about 30 minutes until the "pudding" texture formed.

Pictured is ONE cup of Coconut Chia Pudding with a Almond & Hemp Seed Be Better Protein Square diced into it. This was a great post workout and teaching 4 classes snack. I was able to refuel on a day when temperatures neared 100 with this cool, refreshing, and nutritious meal.

Be the best YOU that YOU can Be! Make healthy choices when it comes to food, fitness, and friends! 

Want to feel like a kid again?

Want to feel like a KID again? 

Pack a ZEGO Just Fruit Bar in your pocket, purse, gym bag, or lunch and have a trip down memory lane as the taste will remind you of a fruit roll-up ... done right! I love the Just Fruit Bars as they provide natural sugars to help fuel my body during a hike, on a flight, or between sweaty workouts/classes I am teaching. I love the plant based bars as they are:

• allergy friendly
• gluten free
• paleo
• non-GMO
• organic
• soy free
• dairy free
• artificial free 
  

Need another reason beyond taste, texture, health, and nutrition to buy Zego Bars? This small business is also a Certified B Corp and dedicate a percentage of their income to giving back. Support a small business that gives back! Make a positive difference for your health and the community!

Waffles and Superfoods ... A Gluten Free Breakfast

I love taking time to enjoy breakfast on a weekend morning. Slowing down to enjoy a meal and the people with whom you are eating the meal is not something we get to do often during the hectic week.

My blank canvas today was Enjoy Life Pancake and Waffle Mix. I doubled the recipe so I have more batter for another meal during the week. I ADDED to the mix 4 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 tsp maple flavoring, and 1/4 cup ground flax seed meal. I created MAPLE CINNAMON WAFFLES as my base.

HINT: Preheat the waffle iron while I was making the batter. 

After the waffle is done, add 1/4 pouch of Big Slice Kettle Cooked Apples with Blueberries and Pomegranates

THEN ... add other toppings of your choice ... or nothing else. The fruit is flavorful and naturally sweet you may not want anything else. You MAY wish to add any of the following for additional flavor and texture:

• assorted seeds
• assorted nuts
• dried fruits
• drizzle of honey
• drizzle of maple syrup
• drizzle of nut/seed butter

Customize the blank canvas to make the breakfast you are looking for today!