Apple Cinnamon Almond Butter "Milkshake"

It's 9 pm at night... and the cravings are setting in. It's usually right around this time that I find myself having a desperate and unshakeable fixation on something sweet, creamy, and terrible for you. I'm talking about ice cream. Sometimes you just need ice cream. And that's really ok. So, with strong determination I set out to create a concoction (based on what was in my fridge) that could satisfy my needs without undoing my whole diet for the day. 

I was elated to discover that not only did I fill my ice cream void without cheating on my diet, but I also came up with something so tasty that I now have cravings for this sweet treat rather than ice cream.

Here are the ingredients for my "milkshake" with approximate measurements (play with ratio to find the right consistency for your taste):

~ 1 cup of Almond Milk (the unsweetened 35 calories per serving kind)
~ 1/2 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce
~ 1 1/2 tbsp of Unsweetened Almond Butter
~ Agave Nectar to taste preference (Can use sugar substitute for less calories but I prefer the natural non-cancer causing stuff.)
~ A couple tsp of cinnamon (base on preference... I say the more the merrier!)
~Ice (Use enough to thicken mixture to consistency of your choice)

Blend until smooth. I use a Magic Bullet and it works like a charm for a single serving size. Depending on the amount/type of sweetener you use this "milkshake" adds up to about 250 calories. But don't sweat it, the majority of those calories are coming from the almond butter, which is one type of good fats you can give your body. This snack is also delicious as a protein shake for breakfast!

Sweet 'n' Spicy Tuna Salad

With Spinach and Kale Salad marinated in Garlic, Lemon Juice, Red Chili Flakes, and Sea Salt

Let's start with the high dosage of antioxidant vitamins A,C, and K. Spinach and Kale is a great combo for both nutritional reasons  as well as being complimentary in texture and flavor. Squeeze a generous portion of lemon juice and garlic powder, then add a few pinches of red chili flakes and sea salt. Feel free to drizzle a little olive oil (I prefer without for a lighter version).

Tuna Salad: It's been done. I know. But it's a great source of lean protein for a satisfying lunch. I love experimenting with different ingredients to jazz up tuna salad. Today I tried a little sweet 'n' spicy combo using:
-A can of drained tuna (in water, not oil)
-About a 1/4 cup of chopped celery
-A few tbsp of dairy free, egg free garlic aioli
-A dash or two of low sodium soy
-Couple dashes of siracha... or whatever you can handle.
-A handful of raisins (about 1/4 cup)

-Black pepper to taste




 And for the final touch, I halved some sweet baby peppers. These sweet, crunchy little peppers were delicious stuffed with some of the tuna salad filling. Try it as a delicious, colorful and healthy appetizer or finger food for your next get together!


Enjoy!

Br"EGG"kfast of Champions

Scrambled Egg Whites, Sauteed Mushrooms and Spinach, Low-Carb Whole Wheat Tortilla, and Veggie Sausage Links

I LOVE breakfast burritos. I HATE how guilty I feel about eating the tortillas though (they are deceivingly high in calories and carbs) So, naturally, when I stumbled upon a fabulous whole wheat tortilla that is low carb friendly, high fiber AND only 80 calories per tortilla (compared to a typical flour tortilla having ~210 calories) I jumped at the opportunity to treat myself to a breakfast burrito! 

A little trick for the fluffiest creamiest scrambled eggs (my alternative to my mother's indulgent version): a splash of almond or soy milk, a dollop of light cream cheese or (my preference) 1/2 laughing cow whipped swiss cheese wedge (only 35 calories per full wedge)

The great thing about a breakfast burrito, is you can fill it with just about anything. Today I used sauteed mushrooms and spinach for a simple veggie-filled morning. Some other great combos you can try: Avocado, Sauteed Onions and Bell Peppers, Jalepeno, and Salsa. Or, Smoked Salmon, Light Cream Cheese, Capers, Red Onion, and drizzled with a little "Healthy Hollandaise" (see Cod and Steamed Artichoke post for recipe)

 Thanks to my wonderful roommate's panini press, this burrito got a lovely touch of toasty-ness on the outside. Plus, it holds all the flavorful goodness together on the inside!