Power Pancakes

This is an oldie but goodie recipe and now is the perfect time of year for pancakes!  These pancakes taste great and are quite easy to prepare.

  I usually eat eggs or a protein shake for breakfast depending on my work schedule.  Sometimes it's nice to switch it up on the weekends when I'm not pressed for time in the morning.  You can make these in advance and refrigerate or freeze for future use.  Here is the recipe.

The Ingredient List:

6 Egg Whites

1 Cup Quaker Old Fashioned Oatmeal

1 Cup of Cottage Cheese

2/3 Teaspoon of Stevia or 2 Teaspoons of Sugar

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Butter Flavored Pam or Coconut Oil to coat your griddle

*You can add anything you like to the basic recipe.  Blueberries are great!

In a blender blend all ingredients until smooth.  Heat griddle or non-stick pan over medium-high heat, coat pan with Pam or Coconut Oil.  Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto griddle, flip when they start to bubble, cook until golden brown, repeat spraying griddle as needed.  You can top with fresh fruit or natural maple syrup if you like. They are amazing and all natural without processed flour or artificial sweetners, check them out!

Power Trail Mix

Power Trail Mix

 If you're looking for a high energy snack loaded with protein and tastes great you will love my Power Trail Mix. This is a great homemade snack to enjoy for the upcoming spring and summer months. You can add what ever ingredients you like.  I added lots of mixed nuts, seeds and dried fruit, but you can tailor it to your own preference.

This is a perfect snack to keep in your backpack for a day hike or bike ride now that the nice weather is here.  It's healthy and will keep your energy level high.  I add different types of nuts and dried fruit.  You can be creative and add whatever you like, kids love it too.  I store it in glass jars on my counter but you can also refrigerate for freshness.  Here are some the ingredients I use:

Nuts

Sunflower Seeds

Cashews

Pumpkin Seeds

Walnuts

Brazil Nuts

Peanuts

Pistachios

Dried Fruit

Tart Cherries

Raisins

Cranberries

Banana Chips

Papaya

Pineapple

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Makeover

This is a recipe that I pulled out from one of my fitness magazines this month.  I usually set my recipes aside for the weekend when I have time to try them out.  This weekend was my daughter Brittany's birthday so it was a perfect time for a special homemade treat.  

Traditional Chocolate Chips (2) are 237 calories and 12 grams of fat.  They revamped it to (2) cookies 108 calories and 5 grams of fat.  That seemed good, so I decided to try them out for myself.  I read the ingredient list and thought to myself it looked pretty good but of course I would change a few things, and I did.  They turned out awesome, I am definitely making them again! 

Chocolate Chip Cookies ReVamped

Makes 60 Cookies

3/4 cup rolled Oats

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup extra-light olive oil (I used Coconut Oil)

3 tablespoons Butter

1/2 cup sugar (I didn't add white sugar)

1/2 cup dark brown sugar (you can use stevia, I didn't)

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

(I added 1/4 cup ground Flax Seeds)

next time I'm adding protein powder too =)

Preheat oven to 350.  Spread oats on a baking sheet; toast for 10 minutes.  Remove and turn off oven.  Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.  In a large bowl, beat together oil and butter, and sugars with an electric mixer.  Add egg, egg white and vanilla, beating until well combined.  Fold in oats, flour mixture and chocolate chips.  Cover and refrigerate dough for 1hour.

Preheat oven to 350.  Place rounded teaspoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto two parchment-lined baking sheets.  Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are set and golden brown.  Cool five minutes on sheets; transfer to wire rack and cool completely.  Check this recipe out you will love it!  

Kids Love Colorful Fruits & Vegetables

Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Kiwis, Red Raspberries, Tangerines

The month of May's Focus is Children's Health at Foodbuzz.  Creating a spectrum of Fruits & Vegetables on your plate.

It can be a challenging getting your kids to eat fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.  Think variety, think color, a rainbow on your plate.

I have always found that food shopping and cooking with your children is the answer.  

Including your kids with your meal preparation is essential.  Children are more apt to eat food they shopped for or helped prepare.

You can start by having your children help wash and prep fruits and vegetables together with you.  

Consider visiting a farmer's market that's always fun for the whole family.  I have always included my kids in our family meal preparation.  Enjoying family dinners together is also really important.

 Healthy,  fresh locally grown foods really do taste better. 

Some of my meal ideas from the weekend are posted below.

Red, Orange & Yellow Peppers, Broccoli, Green & Yellow Zucchini, Carrots, Red Onion

White Bean Soup, Chopped Tomato, Celery, Carrots, Onion & Pasta

I actually prepared this for a client yesterday, she was missing some of the ingredients, but it turned out great!  

We also prepared stuffed peppers!

Plain Garden Salad with chopped Tomato.   (yesterday's lunch)