Lean Green Smoothie

I'm really on a smoothie kick lately. I don't know what it is. There is just something really kind of fun when it comes to something that may seem like it should be meant for just summer time and having it in the winter! Living on the edge lol Living in Boston you have to get creative to get through the long winters and I'm bound to do just that with my food this year!

Although the seasons tend to dictate our food choices...why not change that up a bit and have more of a "summer diet" in the winter? I'm all for savory dishes, but if you are looking to have more energy and have a leaned out look- having more plant based foods incorporated in your diet are definitely going to help you achieve that.

I notice such a shift in my energy and overall mood when I have something that is light and fresh and full of antioxidants and superfood goodness. Not to mention since incorporating more greens in my diet, I've noticed much less bloating, which I'm not going to complain about that one bit!

So I'm making smoothie bowls and smoothies for my snacks most days and it has been super fun! Plus I start of my day with a superfood meal replacement shake. I have a few go-to recipes for that, but every other day I bounce back between the same 3 recipes that I love. Variety is the spice of life!

I loved this green smoothie that I made yesterday- isn't it gorgeous!? I mean talk about instant mood booster! I added just a 1/2 cup of spinach. It's a great way to sneak in greens...and you can't even taste it them :)

So here is the recipe for you all to enjoy! Let me know how you like it!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup plain 0% Fage Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup pineapple- fresh or frozen (plus a few for garnish on top- optional)
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/2 cup ice
• 1 tsp unsweetened coconut flakes for garnish (optional)
• a few blueberries for garnish (optional)

Directions

Add ice first then all other ingredients in a blender and blend up. Serve up in a fun glass and colorful straw and enjoy!

Gluten Free Snickerdoodles

I searched everywhere for a healthy Snickerdoodle recipe and decided to come up with my own and the results were too good not to share! Admittedly my cookies came out super big and I made 8 haha, but really this recipe would yield 12 servings. These would be great for a breakfast cookie or as a snack and out of this world when paired with some unsweetened almond vanilla milk :)

Gluten Free Snickerdoodles

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups Almond flour
• 1 packet of Vanilla Protein powder (I used Shakeology)
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• a pinch of sea salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sweetner (I used a half and half blend of maple syrup & honey)
• 1 egg or 1/4 cup egg whites (I used egg whites)
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• 1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
• For topping- 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp coconut sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls and combine. Once all mixed together, spoon out 12 cookies on non-stick cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Take out of oven and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar topping.

Enjoy!

Cran-Apple Granola Bites

Are you a snack person? The type of person that could literally eat snacks for meals all day long and perfectly ok with it? Love little bites or appetizers? Meee too! We are going to get along together just fine :)

I'm always in search for those types of snacks that won't leave me hungry in 30 minutes wondering when the next meal is. I try to avoid a case of the #hangrys at all costs! I have to say this snack...really hits the spot! So I have to tell you, my fave juice when I was little was cran-apple juice. SUPER high in sugar though and not on the list of things I drink these days, BUT this little snack does the trick and brings me back down memory lane.

I aim to eat 5-6 times a day with 2-3 of those times being snacks. This snack is perfect for a post workout meal- it has a good amount of fiber to keep you satisfied until your next meal which is key! Plus these little apple bites just look so cute! Something about it when you make a meal and not only does it taste good but it also looks good too!

Cran-Apple Granola Bites



 

Ingredients

• 1/2 Medium Granny Smith Apple
• 2 tsp peanut or almond butter
• 2 tbsp. granola (I used Kind granola- Honey Oat & Coconut)
• 1 tsp craisins
• a pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

 

• Cut the apple into discs (should just be half the apple for 1 serving size (save the other half of the apple in a storage bag for later and put in fridge with a squeeze of lemon juice to keep fresh!)
• Measure out 2 tsp of nut butter and spread on the apple discs
• Sprinkle granola on top
• Garnish with a few craisins and enjoy!

Until next time friends Xo,

Katie