Skinny Snacks // Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies

Confession... I. Love. Cookies! But obviously eating cookies all the time won't allow me to be in shape. Why can't we have the best of both worlds? A yummy, chocolatey snack after lunch to satisfy your sweet tooth without completely ruining your healthy eating habits. DONE!

Feel free to substitute your favorites in this recipe, just make sure your batter in no more than 1/8 protein powder or they will have a weird rubbery, bread-like texture.

Ingredients:

§  1 large egg

§  1/2 cup of chocolate protein powder

§  1/4 cup of oat flour (I make my oat flour at home by putting old-fashioned oats in the blender)

§  1/2 tsp of baking soda

§  1/4 cup of flaked coconut

§  1/4 cup of almond milk

§  10 ground almonds

§  1/8 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1.      Preheat oven to 340 F

2.      Mix together egg, protein powder, oat flour, baking soda, coconut,almond milk, and ground almonds.

3.      Once dough is formed, stir in chocolate chips.

4.      Using a spoon, divide mixture into 12 cookies and place on a sprayed cookie sheet.

5.      Put in oven for 15-20 minutes.

6.      Remove them from the oven as soon as they cook through. It's good if they're a bit soft in the center. Make sure you don't overcook them because they'll dry up and lose their charm if you do.

***To make lower-calorie and lower-fat cookies: use oats instead of flaked coconut and cocoa powder instead of chocolate chips.

Nutrition Facts - Per cookie

Calories 75.5

Total Fat 4.8g

Total Carbs 3.2g

Protein 3.8g

ENJOY!

Eat Clean // Meal Plan

The key to weight loss success is establishing a healthy lifestyle. I don't believe in fad diets - sure they work temporarily but diets aren't realistic, long term solutions. Your body has specific needs, especially when you're working out. 

Here's a good meal plan to get you started on a healthy path. Incorporate other healthy snacks and meals throughout the week and you won't just feel better, you'll look better too! 

For a more in depth breakdown of what proteins, carbs and fats to eat and when, check out my Clean Eating: Healthy Lifestyle Guide to Becoming Fit! 

Breakfast

1/2 cup of oatmeal with cinnamon 

4 egg whites

1 whole egg

3/4 cup of berries

Post Workout

1 Serving of Whey Isolate Protein 

5 oz. grilled chicken

4 oz. sweet potato

1 cup of vegetables 

Lunch

5 oz. grilled chicken

1 oz. almonds

1 cup of vegetables

Snack

1 cup of Fage 0% Greek Yogurt

3/4 cup of berries

Dinner

6 oz. grilled chicken 

2/3 cup of quinoa

1 cup of vegetables

Skinny Drinks // Hazelnut Macchiato

I'm cookoo for macchiato!! But a daily trip to Starbucks can get spendy. Make it at home for half the calories and a fraction of the cost. (Can you tell that I'm in sales?) =] 

Starbuck's drink contains espresso, freshly steamed milk with vanilla syrup and finished with hazelnut drizzle. This skinny version uses hazelnut coffee, sugar free vanilla syrup, fat-free steamed milk. I skipped the whip cream and chocolate syrup to spare some calories. Who wants to drink all their calories?! Each skinny drink has 55 calories and 1 gram of fat. Don't worry, you won't need any spiffy equipment to make this tasty drink.  All you need is a blender or a whisk.

Ingredients for Coffee:



1 cup (8 oz) hazelnut coffee or decaf, You can use a K-cup or brew your favorite hazelnut coffee

½ cup fat-free milk

1 tablespoon Torani Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup or Starbucks Sugar Free Syrup

Instructions

1. Brew coffee. 

2. In a saucepan, whisk together milk and vanilla syrup over medium heat, stirring until steaming. Remove from heat. Transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don’t have a blender just whisk the mixture continuously with a wire whisk until foamy.

3. Pour into a large mug. Add the hot coffee on top. 

4. Drink immediately. Enjoy!

It's delicious hot but if you're anything like me, you'll love it cold better! Throw (not literally =]) some ice cubes on top of your mixture and enjoy your cool refreshing beverage. =]

Have you tried Starbuck's Hazelnut Macchiato? 

Skinny Snacks // Apple Cinnamon Protein Bars

Ingredients

4 scoops vanilla whey protein powder

1/2 cup almond meal/flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

3 egg whites

1/4 cup Splenda or Stevia

1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 medium apple - grated (large holes)

Directions

Spray an 8-by-8 inch glass dish with non-stick spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine protein powder, almond meal, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Whisk together and set aside.

In a smaller bowl, combine egg whites, splenda, cottage cheese and vanilla. Whisk until well incorporated and then add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix again.

Fold in grated apple and mix until combined.

Pour batter into the prepared dish and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Makes 16 squares

Skinny Snacks // Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Protein Bake

Ingredients 

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats 2 cups

Vanilla Protein Powder 4 scoops

Ground Flaxseed (Optional) 2 tbsp

Baking Powder 1 tsp

Salt 1/4 tsp

Cinnamon 1 tbsp

Stevia in the Raw 1/2 cup

Egg Whites 4

Unsweetened Almond Milk 1 1/2 cups

Plain Greek Yogurt1/4 cup

Unsweetened Applesauce 4oz

Bananas 2

Strawberries 4 large

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium bowl mix together dry ingredients.

In another medium bowl mix together wet ingredients except fruit.

Spray an 8" or 8.5" round or square baking pan with non-stick spray.

Line the bottom of the round baking pan with one of the thinly-sliced bananas.

Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients - make sure it is distributed evenly.

Pour mixture on top the layer of sliced bananas.

Cover with remaining sliced banana and sliced strawberries.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until top is golden brown, or inserted knife comes out clean.

Skinny Snacks - Pumpkin Protein Bars

Pumpkin Protein Squares

Ingredients

½ C Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (Ideal)

1 - 4 oz. jar baby food applesauce

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 ½ tsp. ground ginger

½ tsp. ground clove

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 large egg whites

1 - 15 oz. can of raw pumpkin

2 C oat flour

2 scoops vanilla whey protein

½ cup almond milk

½ C chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350.

Spray a 9 X 13 glass baking dish with non-stick spray.

Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.

Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated. Spread batter into a glass baking dish and bake for 30 min.

Makes 24 squares

Skinny Snacks - Lemon Protein Bars

Protein bars make a great post workout snack but they get expensive and typically if they taste good they aren't that good for you. These lemon protein bars are an inexpensive, healthy alternative. 

Pick a day to prep your snacks and meals for the week. Sundays are always best for Troy and I to get our shopping and weekly meal prep out of the way. 

Ingredients

1 cup oat flour

2 scoops vanilla whey protein

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 qt mix Crystal Light

4 egg whites

1/2 cup Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal

8 oz baby food applesauce

4 oz water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix oat flour, vanilla whey protein, salt, baking soda and crystal light, in large bowl.

Mix egg whites, Splenda, applesauce and water in a bowl.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together.

Spray 8x8 glass dish with non-stick butter spray.

Pour ingredients into dish.

Bake 23 minutes.

Makes 16 squares.

Skinny Snacks - Chocolate Protein Bars

What’s better than a tasty snack that’s also healthy for you? These Chocolate Protein Bars are great post-workout snacks that are packed with healthy ingredients. Save money and make your own protein bars!

Ingredients

1 cup Oat Flour

4 Egg Whites

2 scoops Vanilla Whey Protein Powder

½ cup Splendaor Truvia

½ tsp Baking Soda

¼ tsp Salt

8oz Berry flavored Baby Food

3 tbsp Baking Cocoa

4oz Water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients (oat flower, vanilla whey protein, baking soda, salt, baking cocoa) together in a large bowl.

Mix wet ingredients (egg whites, Splenda,  Berry flavored Baby Food, Water) together in a medium sized bowl.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together.

Spray cooking dish with a non-stick butter spray and add batter to dish.

Bake 20-30 minutes in oven.

Makes 16 squares

Meal Plans

I’ve been getting a lot of emails from my readers lately asking about what type of foods they should be eating. It can be hard to determine what is just media hype and what is genuinely good for your health and fit physique. After weeks of talking about doing a meal planner, I have FINALLY compiled an awesome clean eating meal planner. This meal planner is a great way to begin your healthy eating lifestyle and get a good understanding of why you’re eating specifics things at specific times.

I’m so excited to share this with all of you and I hope you enjoy it!

E-Book: Clean Eating + Healthy Lifestyle Guide To Becoming Fit

https://payhip.com/b/IKLy

20% off coupon code: 41Q2XFKNHP

I Have Discovered the Fountain of Youth

Happy to Be Almost 50!!!!!!

  I will be 48 this month and I will let you know that I have indeed discovered the Fountain of Youth…YEP!!!  For some time now, I have been enjoying the benefits of this mighty fountain and I must say that it has helped maintain my now 48 year young self.  Am I sitting around drinking secret shakes, popping youth pills, or strapping some contraption that shakes the literal crap out of me to keep me young…OH hell to the big NO WAY…I mean are you kidding me?  In fact, I cringe every time I see ads that promise this type of thing…and the gimmicks that are   invented…OH MY! 

I am also NOT going to be one of those people who hide my age because of hearing this…”OH…you look so good…FOR YOUR AGE”…I just smile as I sometimes whip out my ID when I purchase a bottle of red wine for a special occasion.  I look at life this way…it is an absolute honor to live each day, to celebrate every moment…and I have earned every smile line that adorns this face…so I will proudly announce that I am almost 50!!!!!!  Whoo hoo…YEP…there, I said it.  Now, getting back to my fountain of youth…I would have to say that it starts with my attitude about life.  I am indeed a kid at heart, do not sweat the small stuff, Give my worries to God, and laugh as much as I can…my hubby makes sure of that…he is quite the jokester.

My Fun Healthy Self

Ready for the next ingredients to my Fountain of Youth…a LIFESTYLE of health that consists of regular exercise, eating healthy foods, lots of water, rest and fun.  YES…it is that simple.  The fact is that the Fountain of Youth does not exist, but taking care of ME through a healthy lifestyle is definitely a close second, and I am good with that. There is nothing in a bottle or on a surgery table that will provide the youthfulness that living healthy does. Each day we get older…that is a fact and there is no alternative…in spite of all the gimmicks and surgeries…right?  What I choose to do is live each day taking the BEST care of me physically, emotionally and spiritually…and that is what keeps me young.  I will probably be dancing my literal pants off when I am 80 and still jumping in a few water puddles…lol.  You see, It is all in how I think about life, and just because I am almost 50 does not mean I am going to put my backside on the couch, dress in frumpy clothes, and think life is half over….NO WAY!  Each day, life is just beginning in my book, with all kinds of possibilities and undiscovered adventures.  I want this body to be in the best shape for whatever adventure comes my way and that will take dipping into my Fountain of Youth every day.

FREEway to My Fountain of Youth

Were you expecting something else from me?  An ooh-la–la magic Darla potion that I will start marketing and available on shelves tomorrow…well, maybe in a way…because my magic is no secret and the best part…FREE.  YES…my Fountain of Youth comes in the form of moving my body…FREE, sleeping…FREE, and of course, I buy my food so that is some cost to the fountain…but remember  I look for the deals…so I will say DISCOUNTED.  Now that I think further about it, I will share that the Fountain of Youth does come at the cost of my SWEAT…but that is still FREE…meaning my sweat.  I should also say that it comes at the cost of physical work, the cost of commitment, the cost of dedication, the cost of planning, and the cost of cooking…but the cost is still FREE…do you get what I am trying to say.  Taking care of ME and gifting myself this Fountain of Youth is a choice I make freely and happily…because I am almost 50 feeling 20 something on most days….and that my friends is PRICELESS!  

Proud of YOU Eli

I dedicate this blog to my fabulous son Eli as he graduates this month with his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in community mental health, Minor in Bible and Theology, and Addiction studies certification. This Mom is very proud!!!  I Love You Son

Happy Mother's Day Mama!!!

Happy Mother’s Day to My Mom…thanks for blessing me with your example of the importance of cooking/baking and gifting me with the passion that I now have to create the recipes that I so enjoy to share with family, friends, and online. 

I Love you Mom…My Friend

Motivation of the Day:  The Fountain of Youth Exists Freely Within Each of Us

Just Added to the In My Kitchen Stay Healthy Recipes: Stay Healthy Carrot Cake

Stay Healthy Carrot Cake

My Workout of the Day:

ARC Trainer: Strength level 6 for 20 minutes (Interval)

30 minutes HIIT Training

My Nutrition of the Day:

Coffee (2 cups…oops)

1.      Stay Healthy Date Oatmeal Cookies (2)

2.      Post Workout Shake (The Works)

3.      Corn tortilla filled with no salt black beans, shredded cabbage, and N/F Greek Yogurt

4.      Grilled Salmon & Peppers

5.      Stay Healthy Sweet Potato Brownie

IF YOU ENJOYED MY BLOG, LIKE IT, LEAVE A COMMENT, AND IF INSPIRED TO SUPPORT STAY HEALTHY FITNESS WITH A SHAKE DONATION…I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

STAY HEALTHY!

Darla;) 

Setbacks SUCK

IF YOU LIKE MY BLOG…DONATE A PROTEIN SHAKE;)

Setbacks Suck...but Hey...I make the BEST of IT

Well, I have to say that I do not like setbacks…and in fact they do SUCK.  Going through the pain of a setback from my injury is the hardest part…but also having to cut way down to doing nothing with my fitness program…big YUCK.  I am such an active person and giving in to what my body is telling me is definitely a mind vs. body fight, and I have to say that I do practice what I preach…and listen.  I would not push my clients through a setback in ways that would further aggravate an injury and I need to apply that to myself…is it hard…YES.  Always honest here…I am one of those can’t hold her down personality types usually, but the wiser Darla says…hold yourself down GIRL!!!  I have been through so much and I can tell you…IT IS NOT WORTH IT…meaning pushing myself through pain only to land flat on my ass for days…hell to the BIG NO THANKS. I also have a supportive hubby who keeps me accountable to that.  In fact, he makes me promise that I will not workout for however long it takes to get back on track and feeling close to 100%...MAN THAT IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME…I have to admit, I hesitate to answer…lol…but you know what, I have gone most of my life without an accountability coach…so although hard…I appreciate it.  The athlete in me truly wants to do at least something…cardio at the minimum…but if I feel discomfort even in that movement…well…I need to STOP doing that.  I confess that it is so hard to shut this part of me down…meaning the athlete, but what I do enjoy during my recovery time is working with my clients and being a part of their efforts as I push them through their fitness programs.   In a way, this satisfies my urge to workout because I am still in the environment, actively involved by pushing them, and celebrating the accomplishment of the finish.   

Getting back to my inner turmoil when it comes to setbacks…I am a person just like you…and I do feel frustration, blah, yuck, maybe even a bit of anger about it…I say to myself…really Darla…still feeling like this today…ugh…another day of ice packs, TENS unit, ice packs, ice packs, ice packs…well you get the picture.  Not a fun time and in fact it gets in the way of my quality life functions…spending time with friends, family, hubby, etc…It is really a hard thing to enjoy something when my pain level is saying a BIG HELLO all the time.  These are times I have to take a deep breath and accept that it is what it is for the moment and still the BEST me in the circumstance.  What the heck Darla…really…how can you be the BEST you when you feel like shit (can I say that??) Oh well…I did…that is me.  The fact is…I CAN and I DO…is it anyone’s fault that I am having a flare up…NO…well, maybe mine if I tried a new exercise that caused the problem…so…the motto that I hold true to…Life is 10% What Happens to You and 90% How You Respond to It…is always whispering in my ear.   

LOVE THIS

My response is…I do not like this, but I am not going to be a crabby “B” to hubby, friends or family…I mean really…what would that do for me or anyone else.  I take this moment to reflect on things like…not repeating the movement that may have caused the flare up or how I can modify the move even more to protect myself…it seems like I will always be a test as I go Gal…meaning it works for the New Modified Me or it Doesn’t…and then stick to the routines that DO work.  Setbacks do suck, but they also teach me what my body can or can’t do, and although I sometimes feel sad about the things I can’t do and think to myself…really…this is going to kick my ass like that, I appreciate even more those things I can do that don’t set me back at all…and that my friends…is FABULOUS!!! Stay Healthy!

MOTIVATION FOR THE DAY:  Always Strive to Be the BEST Version of YOU

Workout of the Day:

ARC Trainer cardio segment 45 minutes (I have been on this routine for 2 days now)

Nutrition of the Day:

Crock Pot Chicken Ready for Meal 5

Coffee, one cup…fabulous

1-Pre-workout shake

2-Post-workout shake, ¼ cup pumpkin seeds

3-Peppered turkey breast with Avocado on a Thin Bun, Grapes

4-High Fiber Wrap with Almond Butter and Dried Cranberries

5-Crock Pot Chicken and Baked Butternut Squash

6-Two Protein Balls

IF YOU ENJOYED MY BLOG, LIKE IT, LEAVE A COMMENT, AND IF INSPIRED…DONATE A PROTEIN SHAKE!

Stay Healthy!