Bringing the Diner to the House

Hey guys! Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there (especially my Dad)!

I have been suffering from the ultimate writer's block and it did not help that this week was completely chaotic! But, I'm back and have a great post for you today...so without further ado...

Today I am Bringing the Diner to the House with my newest brunch product. When the weekend rolls around the last thing you want to do is have your morning ritual bowl of oats/ cereal or quick breakfast bar, no, you actually have time for a nice well-balanced meal. Sometimes this extra time on the weekends ends up being a stretch on the belt buckle (literally) because we want to head out to the local breakfast joint or ihop diner. Well, to keep myself from those temptations and to keep my weight in check have incorporated "brunch inspired" meals on the weekends into my routine. Usually, saturday mornings I don't do anything special because I get up early and head to the gym but Sunday is the day I like to sleep in and make a good breakfast.

Scrambled eggs, toast and a breakfast meat is my go to for a satisfying "brunch inspired" meal. It's well-balanced and sure to please everyone! The only down side is the breakfast meat; often laden with fat, hidden saturated fats and sodium levels through the roof. Well...I found just the product for us...

Healthy Canadian Style Bacon by Celebrity Foods. I found it while scanning the aisles of Trader Joe's. It's a great alternative to your sausage, scrapple, pork and even turkey bacon. It's definitely a great treat to have every now and again.

The skinny: 3 slices; 60 calories, 1 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat (it's an animal source), 30 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium (50% less sodium than other leading brands), 1 g carbohydrate, 0 g sugar, 10 g protein, 4% iron

The meat was pretty flavorful. I cooked it in a stovetop pan; it's already ready to eat, you simply heat and serve! It's commpletely fool proof, I love it!! It's quick, satisfying, a good source of lean protein and it was not too salty like its breakfast meat counterparts.

What's your favorite brunch splurge? french toast, waffles, bacon?

A Change

Good afternoon all! It's Wednesday, which means we are that MUCH closer to the weekend :)

Check this out...if you haven't heard yet, let me be the one to inform you! The New USDA Nutrition Guidelines are in the making and have a different focus! Be sure to check out the newest recommendations.

A new way to hydrate

hydrate naturally...at least that's what the container says I'm doin'...and to be honest, I'm totally diggin' this stuff!

VitaCoCo's coconut water with acai & pomeganate. Sounds refreshing, right? So why not?

This delicious thirst quencher is all the rage. Boasting above the rest with it's claims of hydrating you with more electrolytes than leading sports drinks with 15 times the potassium, having more potassium than two bananas- keeping your body properly hydrated and preventing muscle cramping and of course, it's 100% natural!

I am definitely a fan of this drink. I drank it all day Saturday after a hard spin class in the morning and throughout the day. I felt energized and replenished. Something else that caught my eye was that it has no added sugars, it's all natural! Just like the carton says it's "like sticking a straw in a coconut!"

The skinny: 17 fl oz (whole container): 120 calories, 0 g fat, 60 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 30 g sugar, 2 g protein, holy Vitamin C (360%), 8% Vitamin E, 8% Calcium and Phosphorus then rounding it out with 16% Magnesium (hello energy)!

I have also tried the peach & mango flavor which is a little better than acai & pom! Try it out today and see for yourself....

I think I might actually buy in bulk tonight....yes, it's that good!

Healthy Brown Baggin' Ideas

Happy Friday to all! TGIF!

I had a recent request for lunch ideas. I know we can get bored with the same old Turkey or PB & J sandwiches...how about some variation!
First we want to make sure our lunches are well-rounded and satisfying; this will help us get through the 3 o'clock energy slump and keep us from jumping into a convenience shop for a chocolate bar! Not only is this going to trim your waist, it will also trim your budget! A well-rounded lunch will have a tid-bit from every macronutrient group- some healthy fats, lean protein and complex, whole grain carbohydrates! Check out some examples below...

Healthy Fats:
Olive oil, avocado, nuts (walnuts), seeds (flaxseed, sunflower seeds), nut butters
Lean Proteins:
Turkey, fish and seafood, tofu, sliced eggs, fat free or low fat cheese, skinless chicken, skim or low-fat milk, skim or low-fat yogurt, lean pork (tenderloin), beans

Complex, Whole Grain Carbohydrates:
Whole wheat and whole grain bread, pasta, rice, bagels, cereals, oatmeal

Sandwich lovers: to get out of a boredom rut use a variety of whole-grain breads, pitas, and wraps to spice up your meals. When filling your sandwiches choose lean fillings like sliced eggs, tuna fish, cheese or lean meats. Add some pizzazz with different veggies; cucumbers, sprouts, pesto spreads, hummus, sun-dried tomato, carrots, peppers, onions, tomatoes, fresh herbs. The options are endless...this is where you need to be creative!

Rabbits: love a salad filled to the brim of the bowl with veggies? Just because your on the go doesn't mean you can't nibble on one! Build it at home! Use dark leafy greens for the base (spinach, spring mix), top with avocado, seeds, any kind of bean you like, hummus, corn, cucumber, carrot...whatever you like. Make it a taco salad, mediterranean or fruit inspired (I'm thinking Panera)! Splash it with a Tbsp or 2 of your favorite flavored vinegar. My newest favorite is white balsamic vinegar! Lip smacking good!

Seriously, Quick: If your really pinched for time and cannot find a second to sit and eat a meal, pair whole pieces of fruit (apple, orange, banana, peach) with a bar (with less than 12 gm of sugar) and some veggie sticks (peppers, carrots, celery all travel well).
-A couple of crackers with a laughing cow cheese wedge and a piece of fruit
-Nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew) smeared on an apple or banana and a yogurt
-String cheese, greek yogurt, cottage cheese and dried cereal (low sugar) are all great go to items too.
*Again, make sure you pair a fat, carbohydrate and protein for ultimate satiety.

Leftovers: This is my favorite kind of lunch. It is great for variation and portion control! Anything you make at home can be transported to the office : )

Keep it safe! Can't throw your food in the fridge when you get to the office? Invest in a lunchbox, Thermos, reusable plastic containers, plastic baggies, and ice packs to keep your lunch at the proper temperature.

2 Months Later

Before...

After...

badddaaabing!! It's ready for picking!!