Pumpkin Protein Balls

Quick and simple recipe! Great for a pre-workout snack. :-)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup pure pumpkin
1 scoop vanilla or cinnamon protein powder
2 tablespoons oat flour
1-2 tablespoons coconut flour
1 tablespoons flaxseed meal
1/2 tsp cinnamon, and extra cinnamon for coating
1/2 tsp truvia
1/4 cup crushed walnuts

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Add a 1-2 tablespoons water (SLOWLY!) until the mix becomes pasty enough to roll into ball. Roll mixture into balls (size is your choice). Then, roll the balls in the crushed walnuts AND/OR cinnamon!I put mine in the freezer for about 1-2 hours. You can also keep in the fridge overnight.


Nutrition Facts for the whole mixture:
approximately: 358 cals, 32g carbs, 14g fat, 33g protein



ENJOY!! :)

Spicy {Pepper Jack Cheese Stuffed} Chicken Muffins

Here is a new and healthy way to enjoy ground chicken! I served this with brown rice seasoned with garlic, cumin and mexican saffron. :-)

Ingredients:
1lb ground chicken breast
1/2 cup flaxseed meal
1/4 cup egg whites
1 8oz can of natural, no salt added tomato sauce
1 small can chopped green chilis
2 tsp Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy seasoning
3/4 small yellow onion - chopped
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/3 block (10oz block) of pepper jack cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Cut the cheese (ha ha) into 12 even blocks. Combine everything in a bowl except cheese. Fill each muffin cup halfway with chicken mixture. Add a block of cheese in each cup. Add rest of the mixture on top of each each muffin cup. Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Makes 12 servings.

Nutrition Facts:
1 muffin - 123 calories, 5g carbs, 7g fat, 11g protein

Banana Coconut Cream Oatmeal

I got this recipe from FitnessRX Magazine (one of my favorites!!). I only tweaked it slightly. :-)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup unsweetened vanilla or regular almond milk
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp stevia
1 small banana (puree half and cut the other half in slices)
2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut (separated)

Directions:
Bring 1 cup almond milk to a boil. Add oats and reduce heat. While oats are cooking, add cinnamon and truvia. Once the oats are cooked until creamy, add the protein powder, 1 T coconut and pureed banana. Pour into bowl and top with banana slices and the rest of the shredded coconut.

Makes 1 serving:

Nutrition Facts:
(approximate) 346 calories, 61g carbs, 9g fat, 20g protein

Savory Oatmeal & Egg Breakfast

This breakfast is delicious, satisfying and healthy! It has carbs, protein and healthy fat and is the perfect way to start your day! ;-)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup water
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp red pepper
1 chopped scallion (leave a tsp for garnish)
2-3 grape tomatoes (or 2 tablespoons chopped of any tomato)
1 oz reduced fat cheddar cheese
1/2 tablespoon flax seed meal
1 piece turkey bacon
1 large egg

Directions:
In a small pot, bring one cup of water to a boil. Add oats, salt, black pepper, red pepper, onion & tomatoes. Meanwhile, spray a frying pan with cooking spray and start cooking the egg and slice of turkey bacon. You can make a dippy egg or sunny side up egg for this recipe. Once oatmeal is done cooking, add the flax seed meal. Pour into bowl. Cut turkey bacon into pieces and add to oats. Add the egg on top and sprinkle on the cheddar cheese. Add rest of green onion for garnish.

Makes 1 serving.

Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 359 calories, 32g carbs, 18g fat, 22g protein

ENJOY! :-)

Turkey Pumpkin White Bean Chili

This is the most perfect fall dinner! The Pumpkin adds a slight nutty flavor while giving the chili an extra nutritional boost of vitamin A. :-)

What's even better? This is a super easy slow cooker recipe. This will cook all day long and be ready to eat by the time you get home from work. I would seriously love to thank who ever invented the crock pot.. It's a MUST-HAVE!! 

This recipe is adapted from the wonderful "Skinny Taste" website. She has even more amazing fall recipes! Check out her site - www.skinnytaste.com  :-)

Ingredients: 

• cooking spray 
• 2 lb 99% lean ground turkey
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp chili powder, to taste
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 (15 oz cans) of white northern or navy beans, rinsed and drained
• 15 oz can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 4.5 oz canned chopped green chile
• 2 cups organic, low sodium, fat free chicken broth
• Dallop of Greek Yogurt (for topping)
• shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese (for topping)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat a large heavy saute pan over high heat and lightly spray with oil. Add meat and cook, breaking it up until white, about 5 minutes.  Add to crock pot.

Add oil to the saute pan, then onions, garlic, sauté about 3 - 4 minutes; add cumin and sauté another minute. Add to crock pot.

Add beans, pumpkin puree, green chilis, broth, chili powder, oregano, and bay leaves. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning to taste before serving.

Makes 8-9 servings.

Nutritional Facts:'
(without the yogurt & cheese topping)
1 cup: 182.6 calories, 2.3g fat, 10.9g carbs, 23.3g protein


ENJOY! :-)

Oatmeal Raisin Protein Bread

Ingredients:
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1 cup of oat flour
1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 tablespoons stevia
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon non-fat, plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup egg whites
1 tablespoon pure honey or agave
1/4 cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together (except for 1/2 tablespoon rolled oats), then mix wet and combine. Pour batter into a bread loaf pan, sprinkle the 1/2 T rolled oats on top, and bake until golden brown and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. 35-50 minutes depending on your oven.

Wait for bread to cool before slicing.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 149 calories, 25g carbs, 1.75g fat, 11.25g protein

ENJOY! :-)

Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes

Another great Fall-inspired pancake recipe!! These are very simple, light, and delicious! Apples are a great source of fiber, so these will keep you full all morning long. :-)

Ingredients:
1/2 small apple (chopped)
1/4 cup oat flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp truvia
1/4 cup egg whites
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

Directions:
Mix all ingredients well. Grease a griddle or frying pan with non-stick cooking spray or coconut oil. Cook as you would a normal pancake. I topped mine with sugar-free maple syrup! :-)

Makes 1 serving.

Nutrition Facts:
317 calories, 39g carbs, 4g fat, 35g protein 

ENJOY! :-)