Healthy Snacks.

What is your favorite healthy snack?

My favorite healthy snack is actually really simple and inexpensive. It doesn’t take much effort. It requires no real machinery or expert chef’s utensils. All you need is a toaster (or something that toasts) and a butter knife. My favorite healthy snack is wheat toast with peanut butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. It’s filling, quick and simple. I like snacks that have a good amount of fiber because it helps to keep me from feeling sluggish, and peanuts are a good source of fiber. In fact, nuts in general are. When I couple that snack with a really good cup of tea, I feel like I’m almost in heaven.

I need to keep a snack with me to keep my energy levels and blood sugar in control. I am a sweets lover so typically I like to grab greek yogurt, fruit, and honey. I like to boil fresh fruit and a little raw sugar or sugar substitute and throw it on top of my yogurt. I also enjoy fresh fruit and honey or just honey on top of my yogurt. It satisfies my sweet tooth with eating an overly sugary snack that will eventually cause me to crash. The trickiest part of this is finding the right brand for you. I went through some pretty bad ones before I settled on Fage. 

When I was 17 I went to Italy for the first time. My host mom was the most adorable woman ever, and she was constantly fixing me food. It was literally stuffed at all times, but the one thing she made for me that was genuinely my favorite was her fruit salad. This fruit salad is probably the simplest recipe, but it is so delicious and fresh at the same time. All you have to do is chop up  some strawberries and bananas into a bowl. Sprinkle with a little lemon juice and just a dash of  sugar and shake. Viola the simplest fruit salad, yet also the freshest. This simple recipe is great for lunch breaks or even a breakfast treat. It is very filling. Hope you enjoy!

I'm not really into elaborate snacks. I like to keep it simple so I can grab and go. Most of the time the purpose of my snack is so I am able to have the chewing sensation fulfilled so I usually just grab a hand full of almonds. If I have time or am actually hungry I like to slice up a banana and dip them into a tablespoon of peanut butter. If I want to add some crunch to that I will break up a graham cracker as well and dip that into the peanut better. Both snacks are easy enough that I wont look else where to satisfy my needs at that moment. 

There's nothing like a new toy!

No matter how old you get there is still that same excitement when you get something new. This week I got a Nutri-Bullet. I was so excited to try it out and now I have to admit that I can't stop using it. It's so simple and fast that I juice daily in order to try out new recipes. I go shopping specifically to buy new fruits and veggies to try. Green juices are currently my favorite. The one pictured below is spinach, romaine, 1 granny smith apple, 1 banana, and a few almonds. Yummy!

Rumor has it that green juice helps clear your skin (I will let you all know if I notice any benefits like that as I continue my daily green juice breakfast). I have noticed that it does provide a great morning pick me up. My energy in the morning is through the roof and I love it!

Cinnamon Spice Leads to Something Nice

As many of my friends know, I love to run. I don’t do it competitively or anything because I’m not that fast. But I love it. It’s exhilarating and provides me with a moment of clear thinking. It’s definitely the closest thing I can get towards existentialism. Aside from the semi-spiritualism that running brings me, it keeps me in pretty good shape because I am big hungry; I love food! But even the longest run cannot make up for my strong appetite. I need something extra to boost my metabolism. Enter my natural secret weapons: cinnamon, honey and good old hot water. For years, colds, diarrhea, constipation, and all other ailments were met with natural herbs. Of course, for serious problems, I was sent to the doctor’s office, but my mother, paternal grandmother, and great aunts worked hard to limit my consumption of prescription pills. That being said, cinnamon was used often. And as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to appreciate its well-documented benefits.

Every night, I have a cup of cinnamon tea and honey before I go to bed. I boil the water and mix it with a teaspoon of cinnamon. I let it steep for about 20-30 minutes and then I add a tablespoon of honey. I let it steep for that long because it helps to cool off the water. My grandmother always told us never to add honey to hot water because it does something to the enzymes so that the benefits of the honey basically become non-existent.

The benefits of this little tea have been great. First off, I never have morning breath. Like ever. Even if I forget to brush my teeth before bed. Secondly, whenever I pick back up the habit of drinking the tea, my immune system is amazing. I’m hardly ever sick. And if I am, it never lasts long. Thirdly, I have way more energy. Perhaps the most important benefit has to be the fact that my metabolism is pretty great. Even when I eat the heaviest of heavy meals, I don’t feel so heavy because the food gets broken down pretty easily. In other words, I don’t get the “Itis” that often.

I don’t usually endorse things that concern other people’s eating habits or bodies because I don’t like to make people feel like I’m preaching to them about their lifestyles. But this tea is so easy to make and the ingredients are so easily accessible that I felt like I had to share it (actually my mom suggested that I share it). If you want to speed up your metabolism, lose a few inches, improve your digestive tract, or pick up a little extra energy to add a pep to your step, give this tea a try. Even if you don’t want to drink it every day, having it a few times a week will definitely make a difference. 

Salmon and Broccoli

Broiled Honey-Mustard Salmon with Broccoli Parmesan is a very tasty but healthy meal I would recommend to anyone. Not only is this meal delicious it is extremely easy (although if you cant cook I would not advise you to remove the skin of the salmon by yourself unless you like visiting the emergency room) and fast.

I never knew how to flavor a piece of salmon well enough to always want to eat it until now. Not only is the salmon flavorful the broccoli does not fall short either. The lemon adds something to the broccoli that when paired with the Parmesan encourages your taste buds to do a couple of jigs. I actually make the broccoli for an afternoon snack sometimes because while being healthy it still tames my cheese cravings.

Broccoli Parmesan (116 calories 8g protein)

6 cups of fresh broccoli

1 tablespoon of olive oil

½ teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

8 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese

Juice of 1 lemon

Preheat 400°F

In a large bowl toss the broccoli with oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange broccoli in a single layer on nonstick cookie sheet. Cook for 10 minutes. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the top and back for an additional 10 minutes.

Broiled Honey-Mustard Salmon (281 calories 29g protein)

2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 4-ounce wild dalmon fillet, skin removed

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Juice of ½ lemon

Preheat Broiler

Combine mustard and honey in a bowl and set aside. Sprinkle both sides of the salmon with pepper and then lightly coat one side of the fillet with the honey mustard. Place the fillet honey side up oon a nonstick baking sheet and broil for 5 minutes on each side until salmon is light pink. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice.

Turkey Tomato Penne

Its dinner time once again! Today I tried Turkey Tomato Penne. It’s really easy and very tasty! Stop making excuses as to why you stopped through the drive thru of your favorite fast food joint because the longest part of this recipe is waiting for the penne to cook. It’s like spaghetti without the spaghetti LOL. I promise this will become a favorite for you to cook and if not, my bad. It’s officially a favorite of mine now. Enjoy!

362 calories 31g protein

12 ounces ground turkey
2 tsp chopped fresh basil (per serving)
2 tsp chopped fresh oregano
1 (16 ounce) can tomato pasta sauce
1 cup uncooked whole wheat penne pasta (per serving)

Cook turkey, basil, and oregano until cooked through. drain fat. Add tomato sauce and let simmer, covered, over low heat.
Cook pasta. Drain. Toss pasta and sauce together. Serve.

Chocolate Recipe (because chocolate makes everyone's heart smile)

Yes I said it! You don’t find many people who don’t like chocolate so here a great dessert that wont leave you feeling guilty and crying in the corner. Dark chocolate is actually good for you. I’m not saying go grab a bag of dark chocolate and see how much fits into your mouth at once but don’t shun it away either. Dark chocolate reduces the risk of blood clots and also slows the process of your arteries clogging. Raisins and nuts, particularly almonds or walnuts are a great source of fiber. Fiber not only keeps you regular, but it slows the absorption of sugar into your blood. The coconut adds a touch of sweetness. This recipe is open to alterations based on your allergies or preferences. Have fun with it and enjoy with some friends.

Dark chocolate chips

Chopped Walnut or Almond Pieces

Raisins

Raw Shredded Coconut

1-tablespoon canola oil

In a double boiler combine chocolate chips and oil. Stir until completely melted. Pour onto wax paper lined tin. Make sure the chocolate is evenly spread. Sprinkle nuts, raisins, and coconut onto the chocolate. Place in the refrigerator until firm. For faster result place in the freezers for 5 to 10 minute. Cut into pieces and enjoy.