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What’s In My Emergency Snack Kit?

If you’re anything like me, the hanger is REAL come 3 p.m. (or really any time it’s been 3+ hours since I last ate). My energy dips, I can’t think, I’m grumpy.. and with that, I’m likely to reach for anything in sight as my next snack. To stop this cycle from affecting everyone around me, I make an effort to keep snacks on hand at all times. The following convenient options are my go-to’s:

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  1. Protein bars. Seems like a no-brainer, but I eat them so often they have to make the list. I’ve previously mentioned my love affair with Quest bars, but I’ve also been keeping GoMacro bars on hand recently. They only use vegan ingredients that are found in nature, and their high protein flavors are so good! Anything with nut butter and I’m sold.
  2. Fruit with greek yogurt/nut butter. I like to pack this snack for work so that I can refrigerate it. Mixing plain greek yogurt with a little nut butter and topping it with fruit is fresh and filling! If you don’t have refrigerator access, a banana with an almond butter packet does the trick too.
  3. Homemade protein treats. If I have time to snack prep along with my Sunday meal prep, I like to make a healthy, homemade treat to stick in my bag for when hunger strikes. Some of my favorites are these muffins and these protein balls.

What’s in your emergency snack kit?

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Banana Nice Cream: Summer Recipe Roundup

Is there anything better than ice cream on a hot day? I could eat it for every meal, every day in the summertime, so I sought out healthy alternatives. These recipes are quick and made with whole, simple ingredients.

Banana Nice Cream

  1. Cookies and Cream – if you make one recipe from this list, it should be this one. It’ll change your life (read: you’ll become addicted very quickly).
  2. Blueberry Muffin – great post-workout breakfast – make it even more filling by adding more almond milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
  3. Cake Batter – admittedly, I haven’t tried this one yet, but I can’t get enough of Cold Stone’s Cake Batter ice cream and I have high hopes.
  4. Chocolate PB Cup – I love to add a sprinkle of cacao nibs and some melted pb drizzle.
  5. Rocky Road – again, haven’t tried this one, but it’s on my to-do list.

What flavors have you tried?

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A week of Summer Salads

When summer hits, the last place I want to be is inside working on a hot stove/oven. So for most of my summer dinners, I turn to salads.

Salads get a bad rap for being boring/girly/lame/you-name-it. But to me, they’re refreshing. Crunchy. Flavorful. Light. Easy. And they’re variable. The options are endless, people! So, salad-haters, take your disdain elsewhere. And if you’re a salad-lover like me, try some of these below (and leave your own favorites in the comments)!

A Week Of Summer Salads

Monday: Kale and Quinoa Salad

I went with a vegetarian option for #meatlessmonday:

  • Massaged kale – I use about 2 cups per person. Destem, drizzle with olive oil, and knead/massage it for about a minute. The leaves will become greener and softer (much better for a salad).
  • Roasted chickpeas – About 1/3 cup per person
  • Quinoa – About 1/2 cup per person. I prefer to use white quinoa because it’s fluffier than red.
  • Avocado – 1/4 per person
  • Drizzle olive oil and lemon for dressing

Tuesday: Mexican Chicken Salad

A good option for a lighter #TacoTuesday:

  • Romaine – 2 cups per person
  • Pan roasted corn – 1/2 cup per person
  • Grilled chicken (spiced with cumin, cayenne, and garlic) – 1/2 breast per person
  • Black beans – 1/2 cup per person
  • Avocado – 1/4 per person
  • Pico de gallo – 1/4 cup per person
  • Tortilla chips – a handful crumbled on top

Wednesday: Berry Chicken Salad

  • Baby spinach – 2 cups per person
  • Blueberries – 1/2 cup per person
  • Strawberries – 1/2 cup per person
  • Grilled chicken – 1/2 breast per person
  • Feta cheese – sprinkled on top
  • Pecans – sprinkled on top
  • Pomegranate-blueberry dressing – drizzled on top

Thursday: Shrimp Cobb(ish) Salad

  • Massaged kale – 2 cups per person
  • Hard-boiled eggs – 2 per person
  • Shrimp (pan-seared in cajun) – 5 per person
  • Cucumber slices – 1/2 cup per person
  • Pico de gallo – 1/4 cup per person
  • Greek yogurt ranch dressing – drizzled on top

Friday: Jalapeno-Cheddar Burger Salad

  • Romaine – 2 cups per person
  • Pico de gallo – 1/4 cup per person
  • Grass-fed ground beef – 1/4 lb per person
  • Baked sweet potato fries – 1/2 sweet potato per person
  • Cheddar cheese – 1/4 cup shredded per person
  • Jalapeno – as many slices as you can handle
  • Sriracha – drizzled on top

Saturday: Waldorf(ish) Salad

  • Baby spinach – 2 cups per person
  • Apple chunks – 1 apple per person
  • Grilled chicken – 1/2 breast per person
  • Feta cheese – sprinkled on top
  • Pecans – sprinkled on top
  • Pomegranate-blueberry dressing – drizzled on top

Sunday: Fattoush Salad with Chicken

So there you have it! And if you’re looking for a healthy week, salads are a great way to get back on track after a weekend of bingeing.

What salad recipes should I try next?