what's in my pantry?

It's been a while it seems since I have written a food-related post. Life has gotten in the way, which isn't a bad thing, and so my kitchen adventures have been not quite blog-worthy. However, in an effort to overhaul the hubs and my eating habits in favor of healthier selections, I've found some yummy snacks and food items that are healthier choices but still very satisfying! Take a peek into my pantry to see my must-haves this month. I'm not sure how often these will change but I'll be sure to share when they do! Also, please feel free to share some of your favorite healthy snacks/meals in a comment below.  xo.

1. earnest eats superfood trail mix granola bars are one of my new favorite grab-and-go snacks! With wholesome ingredients with none of that artificial stuff, I feel satisfied when an afternoon craving hits.

2. Almond Nut Thins are an obsession. Not only are they gluten free, but they are light and crispy and perfect dippers for hummus! They come in several flavors but I prefer the original.

3. This white balsamic & honey salad dressing is fabulous! I am not normally a salad person and am especially picky when it comes to dressings, but I think this is the only one I'll ever need. Flavorful and light, you don't need much to give a boring salad a good kick!

4. Lately, I've vowed to reduce dairy intake after reading/hearing from multiple sources that it is not necessary to a healthy diet. After having a delicious coffee and coconut milk drink at the new coffee shop down the street, Brewed, I decided to purchase this delightful drink for myself to mix with the occasional morning coffee. So. Good!

5. When a food craving hits right before mealtime, I pop a piece of gum to tide me over until it's actually time to eat. It really helps to keep me from too much snacking.

6. Bananas aren't really "new" for me, but I did go a few weeks without buying them so I added them back to the grocery list as a quick and healthy addition to breakfast or lunch.

7. My hubs and I decided to give the "gluten free" thing a try after he was experiencing a sensitive stomach. Though neither of us are diagnosed with Celiac disease, it has helped us discover new foods we wouldn't have normally tried, such as this gluten-free quinoa spaghetti! It tastes the exact same as normal spaghetti so we've made it a permanent staple.

8. I like to keep trail mix on hand when I need a little sweet and salty fix. This cranberry mix from Target is my favorite! Plus, I think it is one of the only ones that does not have ingredients that contain gluten.

9. Pears are a new fruit addition to the grocery list and have slowly replaced apples. Don't get me wrong--apples are wonderful but after many months of the same thing, it's nice to shake things up a bit! Plus they have tons of healthy fiber.

10. These cranberry bars have to be my number one favorite snack these days! My mom introduced them to me recently and I can't get enough! They are a delicious and filling breakfast packed with protein. What I especially love is that they contain a mere 7 ingredients. Wholesome and tasty!

no-bake [healthy] pb bites

I always find the best recipes when I get really desperate. The other day I was really craving something sweet. I remembered pinning this recipe for No Bake Energy Bites from Gimme Some Oven and happened to have all the ingredients on hand except the coconut flakes. Luckily the recipe suggests adding in extra of another ingredient to replace the coconut. Perfect.

This recipe makes 20-25 bites, but since I didn't want that temptation sitting around in my kitchen, I divided the recipe so it would yield 5-6.

The best part about these is that the ingredients are for the most part pretty healthy! It's also easy to make substitutions if you don't have these specific ingredients.

No Bake PB Bites
[adapted from Gimme Some Oven]

*Slightly less than 1/4 cup dry oatmeal [Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats]
*1/8 cup coconut flakes [I replaced with extra oats]
*1 heaping tbsp. peanut butter [crunch or smooth. can use any type of nut butter]
*Slightly less than 1/8 cup ground flax seed or wheat germ
*1-2 tbsp chocolate chips
*1 tbsp honey
*dash of vanilla

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until evenly combined. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Form mixture into 5-6 round balls. Enjoy! Store in an airtight container.

Have you tried this recipe or one similar to it? What are your favorite add-ins? xo.

my healthy habits

Being healthy doesn't have to be difficult. Establishing some easy habits such as the following 10 I have suggested will make a big difference in your overall health and quality of life. xo.

1. Green tea. According to Harvard Women's Health Watch, green tea has enormous antioxidant properties that studies show help reduce the risk of certain cancers and other diseases. A few cups a day are all you need to reap these benefits. Tazo Zen Green Tea is my favorite.

2. Ingredient substitutions. Many delicious foods from cream-based pasta sauces to cakes contain an unhealthy amount of fat. Eliminate calories and fat content with simple ingredient subsitutions that have minimal effect on flavor but a positive effect on the waistline. Read my healthy ingredient substitutions post here.

3. Water. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water each day. [i.e. a 130 lb person should drink 65 ounces of water a day.] H20 is important for a healthy immune system as well as cleansing toxins from your body. I love those big double walled 20oz. tumblers that can be found virtually everywhere these days--3 of these babies a day keeps me hydrated and healthy.

4. Eat in more, dine out less. By cooking at home, you will not only save money but also get to eat fresh foods and know exactly what ingredients are going into your food. I love Skinny Taste for delicious, lightened up recipes.

5. Exercise. Cardio and strength training 3-5 times per week are essential to a healthy toned body. You don't need to be a marathon runner; a 30 minute brisk uphill walk or jog will get that heart rate up. Simple yoga or pilates routines are great for building muscle strength and maintaining good posture! Don't forget to switch up your routine every few weeks to keep from getting bored or plateauing. Here are some of my favorite YouTube fitness gurus with free workout vids:

fitfabcities.com

blogilates.com

toneitup.com

6. Fiber. Not only does fiber take longer to digest, which increases the feeling of fullness and thus curbs appetite, but it is also can absorb extra calories during digestion. I like to add fiber powder to my morning smoothies. Berries, dark leafy greens [i.e. kale], and whole grains are a few excellent sources of fiber.

7. Skip the artificial sweeteners. It's better to use natural sweeteners than the chemical-ridden stuff, plain and simple. Skip the Splenda and Sweet n Low and replace it with natural honey, maple syrup, stevia, Sugar in the Raw, or agave. Check the ingredient labels and make sure there aren't any extra hidden chemicals. Look at Trader Joe's, Central Market, Whole Foods, Sprouts, etc. for natural and organic sweeteners.

8. Farmers Market. Buy local, buy organic. Foods at farmers markets tend to be free of chemicals and pesticides, which is the best for your body!

9. Eat more veggies, period. Broccoli, green beans, peas, asparagus, and edamame are my faves. As someone who used to despise veggies [I was a picky eater growing up], if I can do it you can, too! Start by incorporting veggies in your pasta. You can hardly taste broccoli and peas when they are mixed in with your spaghetti.

10. Taking the stairs is another easy thing to incorporate if you live or work in a building with multiple floors. I'm not saying you need to climb 80 flights if you work in a high-rise, but a few floors will get your heart rate up which burns a few extra cals. Every little bit helps!

What are your favorite healthy habits?

healthy baking tip

Okay people... I just made some cookies for the Thanksgiving luncheon at work tomorrow, so I'm declaring the holidays are officially upon us and it's time to talk about baking. (They are half peanut butter, half double chocolate chunk if you were wondering.)

You can't taste the difference::

If it isn't apparent already, it should be noted that a.) I LOVE sweets, namely the carb-y kind and b.) I try very hard to make healthy eating choices. I'll admit sweets are my weakness and my downfall--I can't ever give them up! So what do I do? I make ingredient substitutions.

An excellent way to cut some calories and unnecessary fat from your baked goods is to substitute half of the called-for oil with unsweetened applesauce. Hallelujah! It's pretty much a given that most baking recipes will call for vegetable oil, and that stuff has a ton of calories.

 Non-fat yogurt is also a great option to substitute for butter or oil. One more healthy substitute is avocado. Yep! Check it out. I promise that you will not be able to taste a difference in your baking but you will feel great knowing you cut out a bunch of calories! *Make sure you check out the links to learn what the ratios of the substitutes should be. Normally, you only substitute a portion of the called-for ingredient rather than all of it.

Let me know if you try this out and how it worked out for you! xo.

healthy breakfast smoothie

My husband and I have been really into breakfast smoothies for the past few months. They are simultaneously refreshing, cleansing, and satisfying, not to mention jam-packed with essential vitamins and nutrients that will curb your appetite until lunchtime.

After reading several health food blogs, I've picked up knowledge about various superfoods and what to combine to create a delicious smoothie. With this knowledge I have created an awesome smoothie recipe that is just as yummy as Jamba Juice without the added sugar! Score.

Ingredients

Serves 1-2

1-2 cups frozen berries (I use a mix of blueberries, blackberries, & raspberries)

2 heaping spoonfuls of plain nonfat greek yogurt* (I use Fage)

1 1/2 -2 chopped bananas

1 stalk of kale, cut or pull off the leafy part to use and throw stem away

1 cup orange juice (use light or reduced sugar if you can find it)

4-5 ice cubes

2-3 spoonfuls of orange flavored fiber powder

1/4 cup water

*Can replace yogurt with a scoop of strawberry protein powder

Directions

1. Toss all of the ingredients in a blender and use the "ice" setting for a few seconds to break up the frozen berries and ice cubes. If the blender seems to be stuck, your mixture may be too thick--add water or orange juice to help it mix better.

2. Once the slightly irritating grating noise of breaking ice has quieted down, switch to the "puree" setting and continue blending for about 30 seconds to make sure the kale gets very finely chopped. We want to minimize the chances of getting green things in our teeth (though it still happens occasionally. Just brush really well after.)

3. Divide the smoothie into two cups if you are sharing. If you aren't sharing, this makes one BIG awesome smoothie.

If you want a little something extra with your smoothie, do what I do and eat a half of a grapefruit! I split one with my hubs every morning, and it is delicious. Visit the ladies at the Tone It Up! Blog to read about the amazing health benefits and qualities about grapefruits. xo.