Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls

In one of my recent posts, I mentioned a substitute I found for the popular Nutella spread. I used it one of my most recent posts Choco Peanut Butter & Fruit Bites.

I came across this heavenly spread by accident. It was on sale for $1.98 compared to $3.54 for Nutella, so I thought, what the heck, let's try it out. Not only that, but the Skippy Chocolate spread also contains 60% less sugar than Nutella. 

(Top: Nutella; Bottom: Skippy)

I began to compare the two and did some further research. 

Skippy contains:

- less saturated fat

- less carbs 

- more protein (the picture is cut off, but it has 6g vs Nutella's 2g). 

Skippy is made in the U.S., Nutella is made in Canada. AND look at Nutella's FIRST ingredient. SUGAR. Keep looking at the ingredient list. It also contains VANILLIN: AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.

I wasn't sure what that meant, so I looked it up. Needless to say, I will never eat Nutella again. 

"Now call me fussy, but I do not want to be eating something that is a product of petrochemicals. I put petrochemicals in my car, I use plastics made from petrochemicals, I wear materials made from petrochemicals, but I do NOT want to be eating the stuff." (Source)

This is where eating clean has its pros and cons because if there's an ingredient in a particular food that I can't pronounce or don't recognize, I look it up. In many cases, they're synthetic chemicals that are harmful to your body. I no longer consume those kinds of foods and instead, I look for healthier alternatives to eat instead. You have to be careful and aware of the ingredients that are listed on the every day foods you consume because they may actually contain hidden ingredients that are harmful to your health.

On a more positive note, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls are healthy and are also super tasty!

Here's what you'll need for this recipe:

1/2 cup of crispy rice cereal

1/2 cup of old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup of Skippy Natural Peanut Butter Spread with Dark Chocolate*
2-3 tablespoons Honey*
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 tablespoons Dried Cranberries or Chocolate Chips (optional)
2 tablespoons Chopped Nuts (optional)

*Note: You can use your favorite spread, but keep in mind you may have to reduce or increase the honey amount.

In a medium-sized bowl, add honey, spread, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix until all the ingredients become smooth. This is where I would taste your mixture and double-check to see if you need to add more honey, especially if you're using regular peanut butter or a spread that's not as sweet in flavor.

In a food processor, add your choice of nuts and chocolate chips. This part is optional. I used almonds and white chocolate chips. I pulsed the two ingredients until they were finely chopped.

Add the remaining ingredients into the bowl, including what's in the processor. Mix thoroughly until coated well.

Store in the fridge for 30 minutes. Then, roll mixture into 1-inch balls. 

My batch made 15. Feel free to double the batch! I ate them when I was craving something sweet or before a workout. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter & Fruit Bites

I slept 30 minutes past my alarm this morning. I didn't want to get out of bed! I wanted to cuddle back up to my husband and drift back to sleep, but we both had somewhere to be so we rolled out of bed and got ready for the day.

I was craving an omelette, but I was on crunch time so I looked for something I could whip up in 5 minutes or less. 

We had gone grocery shopping the day before and I had discovered Skippy Natural Peanut Butter Spread with Dark  Chocolate. 

Hy-Vee was running a special on Skippy Natural Peanut Butter for 1.98 so we stocked up on 3 different types. What can I say, we're PB fanatics! :D It was actually perfect timing because I was wanting to get something similar to Nutella, but I find it to be too sweet for me.

This is a perfect alternative if you're looking for a natural chocolate spread that contains less sugar. I think it tastes like a Reese's peanut butter cup. It's really good! I think it's my newfound addiction. 

Another discovery I recently made were multigrain waffles I found at Aldi's. $1.29 for a 10 pack and 140 calories, 3g of fat for 2 waffles. I was hesitant to try them at first but I love them! Nothing beats homemade waffles, but when I'm looking for something to eat on-the-go, these come pretty close. And I can never turn down healthier options. :)

For this quick & healthy recipe, you'll need:

- Waffle 

- I tbsp of Skippy Natural PB with Dark Chocolate (or your favorite chocolate spread)

- Banana slices

- Blueberries

Toast waffle until desired warmth and crispness is reached. Cut waffle into four pieces. Spread on chocolate spread, add  banana slices and top with blueberries. Drizzle with honey if desired and enjoy! 

{How to Get Back Into the Exercise Routine}

I wanted to write a post over this particular topic because it's something that I have struggled with in the past. 

I've come up with every excuse in the book to avoid working out. I'll do it tomorrow. I'm too busy. I'm tired. I don't have any equipment at home. The gym is too far away. My eating habits would make working out pointless. As you can imagine, the list goes on and on. Looking back, I want to tell the old me, Get up! Stop making excuses. Just go workout. 

Instead of blaming the past, I focus on the changes I can make today that will impact my future. It's not always easy, but I know it'll definitely be worth it in the end. If you're wanting to get back into a workout routine, here are a few tips that helped me get back on track and continue to help me maintain a healthy workout routine every week. 

1. Revolve your schedule around exercise. I'm not saying to skip the important events that you've got planned out throughout the week, but if you know that you're going to be too exhausted to workout when you come home from school/work, try working out in the mornings. If you hate the thought of working out at the break of dawn, take a 15 minute power nap when you get home from a busy day and see how you feel then. It's amazing how much energy you'll gain back when you let your body rest for 15-20 minutes. You'll be going through your workout like a champ. ;)

{In my situation, I go to school everyday and especially since my graduation is only a few weeks away, things are getting hectic. I have papers and projects and all sorts of fun stuff due in a couple weeks; not only that, but the weather is getting warmer and everyone has something planned that they want to invite my husband and I to, so it's a really busy time for us. We like to workout together. I would definitely encourage you to find someone who is as motivated as you are about working out so you can constantly encourage each other. My husband and I tend to work out in the mornings - which is not my favorite - but with our crazy schedules, that's what works best for us.}

2. Do something you like while working out. If you love to read or have a favorite TV show that's either on Netflix or one you have recorded on your DVR, use that while working out! You'll be surprised at how fast your workout will fly by while you're keeping your mind preoccupied with something else. 

{The above picture is just one of many examples of workouts that you can do. Lately, I've been hitting the gym and using the elliptical machine. I need music while I workout. It pushes me to keep going, it motivates me, and there's no way I can workout without it. For you, that may not be the case and that's okay! Find out what works best for you and use it to your advantage.}

3. Change your attitude. When you start seeing exercise as a necessity that will benefit so many different areas of your life, you'll see it less as a chore and more as a habit, like taking a shower or brushing your teeth. You do those things for your hygiene, to prevent gum disease or cavities, to take care of your body so that it can be healthy but also to prevent complications later in life. Look within yourself and your life and come up with a few solid reasons why exercising should be part of your routine. Think of long-term ones, write them out and place them somewhere that you'll see everyday so you are constantly staying motivated.

{I used to exercise for the wrong reasons. I thought that if I had a desirable body, more people would like and talk to me. I always told myself, "Well, if I was skinny..." It was never healthy or fit. I would drive myself miserable because I told myself life would be better if I was thinner. It would constantly destroy my confidence and self-esteem. That was also back in middle school, high school and the beginning of college, and I feel like girls at those stages in life are constantly being pressured to be something they're not. Since then, I've learned that being healthy is what's most important to me. I don't think I'll ever have a 'skinny' body and that doesn't bother me anymore. I rather have all my insides, like my heart, lungs and other vital organs to be strong and healthy. I get more thrill out of the thought of being able to run a 5K marathon than I do fitting into a size 0. My body fat percentage is higher than the average person with the same height as me. I'm working towards bringing that down by exercising, eating healthy and incorporating weights to build muscle. My attitude has completely changed - and for the better.}

4. Don't let the number on the scale defy you. 

This picture pretty much says it all. Never feel like you didn't accomplish anything after working out. Every step counts. And don't obsess about that number on the scale! If you know that you're going to be tempted to weigh yourself every day, put it away! Have your friend/parent/significant other hide it from you. If having a scale motivates you, great! Use it as a tool for positive influence. But I know many people get strongly discouraged when the number on the scale doesn't line up with the progress they've done thus far. I know I'm guilty of this. In the past, I would get upset, then I would deprive myself of food because I felt that it was the reason behind why my weight was staying the same. It was wrong for more reasons than one. I wish someone would've told me: You're so much more than that number. Seriously. When you are constantly working out, you start to build muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat, so you might even gain weight but lose inches. If you want to keep tabs on your progress, limit weighing yourself to once a week or every two weeks. Use a measuring tape for accurate results. Take before and after pictures. If you feel like you're not seeing results, keep pushing! Don't get discouraged! Remember why you started - to achieve a healthier you! 

5. Have a plan. Decide how/where  you're going to workout. Start with the resources you have at hand, like going for a walk through the neighborhood, using the internet to find free workout videos, or borrowing a workout from a friend or family member. Soak up some vitamin D during nice weather by going to a local trail or park in town. If a gym is more of your scene and you don't already have a membership, research the ones closest to you and call them for rates, specials and in some cases, you may receive a free pass for so many days that will allow you to experience what it would be like to be a member there. If you prefer to work at home, research workout plans that you like best and buy equipment to build an at-home gym. There's so many more options than the few I named. Don't feel limited! 

Obviously your diet plays a huge role into a healthy lifestyle, but that'll be a discussion all on its own. I plan on making a post over budgeting at the grocery store with healthy eating in mind, as well as some of the meals I eat on a day-to-day basis! 

Honey Banana Nut Oatmeal

Breakfast is crucial for my life. I don't think I've ever gone a day without eating breakfast, unless I've slept in past 11 or noon but that rarely happens to a married college student. 

I'm the type to roll out of bed and head to the kitchen first thing in the morning. I'll make coffee (just as crucial as breakfast), then try to decide what sounds good. I try to keep my options varied, but I can also eat the same meal for weeks, even months straight. 

I know not everyone is like this. My husband is unpredictable when it comes to breakfast. Some days he'll eat with me, other days he waits until it's almost time to leave for school and he'll grab something to-go like a fruit or granola bar. Other times he won't eat 'till lunch time and I find that crazy! If I had to wait that long, I'd probably die.

I've always been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I did some research on the web and here's a few things I found on why this is so:

- Keeps you in a good mood

- Helps regulate blood sugar levels 

- Keeps you from overeating at later meals

- Boosts your metabolism

- Improves memory 

- Weight control can be difficult to maintain if breakfast is skipped 

With that being said, I wanted to share with you all what I had for breakfast this morning. :) 

Honey Banana Nut Oatmeal

1/2 c. quick oats 

1/2 c. almond milk

1 tsp. honey 

2 tsp. walnuts

1 ripe banana

1. Pour oats and almond milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Follow the instructions on the quick oats container for microwave times. I usually heat mine for 1 min 45 sec.

2. Stir oatmeal after it's been heated to ensure that the cooked oats and milk have been mixed thoroughly. Add honey. Stir again. 

3. Add banana in slices and walnuts. Garnish with brown sugar if desired and enjoy! 

I'll be posting more breakfast options that are quick, healthy and tasty! :)

4 Ingredient Energy-Boost Smoothie

I love smoothies. They're my go-to food choice for a post-workout replenisher, a snack when I'm in a hurry or as part of a meal. I go to school every day and sometimes I'm there for up to 7 hours. I'm always on the lookout for quick and healthy meals to take with me, especially since it's so easy to steer in the direction of a fast-food place or vending machines. 

I made this earlier today. It was delicious! I tend to experiment a lot with the ingredients I put into a smoothie but this is probably one of my favorites. 

What you'll need: 

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (you can also use other variations of almond milk, skim milk, etc. Whatever you prefer!)

1 scoop of vanilla protein powder* 

*Note: I use the brand Naturade Total Soy. I buy it at Sam's Club. 

I use this brand because of the nutritional value as well as the taste. I can't complain about the price either. It's almost a 4lb bag for $20! I'm all about getting the best deal for my buck. :D

One of the wedding presents I received was a Ninja food processor and I love it! I've been using it obsessively since we got it last year. That's what I use to make all my smoothies. 

Directions: Add all the ingredients to your food processor or blender and blend until smooth. 

I like my smoothies to be cold and thick. If you don't like this type of consistency, use fruits that aren't frozen and add ice cubes instead.

Enjoy! :)

Eat Your Heart Out Pizza!

Pizza is one of my guilty pleasures. I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that it's hard to eat just one slice, at least it is for me. You can't go wrong with a crispy crust, cheesy goodness and warm assorted toppings. However, I was doing some research on the nutritional value of one slice of pizza from popular places like Domino's and Pizza Hut and I was in disbelief at the high number of calories, fat and carbs for just one slice of cheese pizza. Of course, these numbers change depending on the type of crust and cheese used, but still! A slice of cheese pizza can have 230-350 calories, 8-13 grams of fat, 26-37 grams of carbs. 

This inspired me to seek a healthier version of one of my favorite foods. I was at my parents' place when they introduced me to a multi-grain, low-fat pre-made crust that they found at Wal-Mart. I've been dying to make a crust from scratch, when I find one I like I'll be sure to blog about it! 

You begin by pre-heating the oven per the instructions on the package. Then brush olive oil - or whatever oil you prefer - on the crust. Then, the fun begins. You can choose whatever toppings you want! I was limited to the choices my parents had: for the "sauce," I used low-fat refried beans, about half a can, and spread it all over the crust. I shredded up cooked chicken, fresh spinach and diced tomatoes for toppings. I sprinkled cheese for my parents but omitted it from my slices. I placed it the oven...

Viola! I wish you guys could be here to smell this pizza! It was heavenly. 

I can't have pizza without red crushed pepper flakes. It was super tasty! I ate two slices and was stuffed! Satisfying and filling! This is definitely a healthier alternative to deep dish pizza! Also, the package came with two pre-made crusts for $2.24, which saves you money as well. ;) Next time I want to try an all veggie-style pizza with mushrooms, bell peppers and olives with a homemade pizza sauce! 

Eating Healthy Around Others

When we're not consumed up to our necks with schoolwork, my hubby and I will use a majority of our weekend time to hang with our friends and family. We love to be sociable and take a break from reality to be around the people we love, especially after a long work week. 

And as much as I hate to admit this, being around other people's food habits has always been my biggest weakness and usually somehow, someway ends up sabatoging my healthy progress thus far. It's usually on a pizza night - it's impossible to not eat more than one slice -  and then after that I feel guilty and think that there's no point in continuing my diet. So, it's back to bad habits with very few healthy choices.

Well, guess what, folks? Not this time. I overcame (most) of the temptation and I feel pretty dang proud of myself.

Here's how I did it. *Note that these are all gathered from my own personal experiences.

Don't call it a diet. What I've learned through my past experiences is that diets always become temporary for me. They never last. Mostly because I would do it for the wrong reasons, like trying to shed pounds quickly and when I didn't see results right away, I would get discouraged. My goal isn't to lose weight anymore, it's to become healthy and fit, to feed my body the right nutrients and be able to overcome physical obstacles that can only be acheived by pushing myself. To me, a healthy lifestyle is a long-term change that will take a lot of work and sacrifice but will be worth every moment. 

Just get it out there. Tell your family/friends that you've decided to change your eating habits and you're watching what you eat by avoiding certain foods. If they ask you more about it, be open and share your experiences. If not, don't preach nutrition or criticize someone else's eating habits. You know how much it sucks when you get made fun of or teased for getting salad dressing on the side or passing up on dessert, so don't do it to someone else. Unless you want to be a buzzkill. 

Be polite. If, for your own personal reasons, you've decided not to tell anyone that you're on a healthy lifestyle change, be sure to practice your manners when you're being offered food choices that you know you're not going to eat. And don't make it a scene when you choose something else instead. At my grandparents' place on Satuday, my grandpa told me in 5 different ways that they had soda to drink. My line to everything is, "Oh, okay sounds good. Thank you!" I knew he was just trying to be hospitable, so I asked what others wanted to drink and while no one was paying attention, got a glass of water to sip on. No one called me out for it.

Eat in moderation. You've probably heard this before. Honestly, this is a concept I'm still struggling with. Especially with certain foods, moderation doesn't exist for me... like when it comes White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies. Oh. My. I could eat a whole plate! The best way to tackle your weakness is to not be around it. I avoid the cookie section at the grocery store because I know if I linger too close, I may get sucked in to buy a package or two. This is kind of what I did at my grandparents house on Saturday. I strayed away from the sweets and re-directed myself to fruits. I filled myself up with the healthy snacks available, then ate whatever wasn't healthy in smaller portions. I made myself aware of the nutritional information that was associated with each food and went from there. The most important thing to remember is that it's okay to eat unhealthy foods. It's not going to make or break who you are and why should you deprive yourself of something you love? Just don't feel guilty for eating it because your brain can be good at playing mind tricks and if you blame your mistakes back to the times you decided to indulge in moderation, you'll accomplish nothing other than hurting your self-esteem. Trust me, I've done this to myself in the past.

Bring Your Own Snacks. This is especially important if you've been working out more than two times a week because your body will be hungry from the extra calories you've been burning off. Hunger can be a dangerous thing. My husband sometimes calls me "The Hulk" because everything and everyone irritates me until I've had something to fill my belly. It messes with my logical decision-making and thinking. It's not a fun time. I'll pack snacks in my backpack and/or purse to avoid these situations. Snacks help me from overeating and keeping me full for longer, which prevent the consumption of empty calories just to satisfy "The Hulk" in me. ;) 

Plan Ahead. If you know in advance that your friends are going to grab a pizza, that your co-worker's party will have booze and finger foods or there's going to be cake for your sister's birthday, enjoy it! Use these special occasions as your cheat meal and make sure that you're making healthy choices in the days leading up to it and afterwards so that you're not feeling deprived or guilty and your body can recover from that celebration. Like I mentioned earlier, one unhealthy meal isn't going to make you or break. It's not going to make you lose complete progress of what you've accomplished so far. As you continue your healthy journey for a longer duration, you'll start to see what foods your body will accept and reject and that will also help you make choices in the future. 

I hope these tips help you out the next time you're around others and you're wanting to stay strong with your healthy habits! :)

Clean Eating - Tips & Snacks

When I first heard the term 'clean eating,' I thought it only meant to clean up your diet by watching what you eat and avoiding fast food places. Now I know that's only part of it. 

Clean eating refers to eating foods that are in its most natural state, or close to that as possible. It's being aware of the ingredients listed for each of the foods you eat and avoiding the ones that have a long list of ingredients of stuff you don't know/can't pronounce. If I'm not absolutely sure what the ingredient is, I look it up on the web and determine whether I need to cut it out or if it's okay to keep in my diet. 

This is definitely a learn-as-you-go process. I'm not an expert. I know I'm going to make mistakes as I tackle this approach and adapt it to my lifestyle. I know I'll have to do a lot of research, but I'm okay with that. 

Here are a few of my favorite clean eating snacks: 

1. Apple Slices

2. Oven-Baked Diced Apples & Pears (With Cinnamon & Drizzled Honey).

3. Grapes (Try them frozen. So good!)

4. Raw Almonds

5. Air Popped Popcorn 

6. Oven-Baked Zucchini Chips

7. Hard-Boiled Eggs 

8. Carrots 

9. Edamame 

10. Banana & Peanut Butter Bites

11. Orange 

12. Pineapple Chunks (Try it grilled!)

13. Plain Greek Yogurt (I tend to add pure vanilla extract, cinnamon, honey and sliced almonds to give it a sweet flavor).

14. Watermelon (the BEST summer snack).

15. Cantaloupe 

16. Raw Broccoli 

17. Cucumber Slices (With lemon & pepper). 

18. Low-Fat Cottage Cheese 

19. Rice Cakes

20. Whole Grain Toast (no crust) with Organic Jelly Spread.

What are some of your favorite clean-eating snacks? Let me know in the comments to below! :)

The Beginning

I've had a little voice inside of my head that's been nagging at me to start a blog to help me keep track of all things fitness. Since February of this year, I've lost 10 pounds! :) To be honest, the last time I was losing weight successfully was back in 2010, when I was fresh out of high school and kept myself busy with running and other various physical activities. I've never stopped caring about my appearance, but in the last four years, I've become sluggish and lazy. I've stopped caring about keeping my body and habits healthy. Instead, I've made up 'excuses' to avoid exercising completely and choosing the fast and unhealthy meals rather than nutritional ones. But what is that really accomplishing for myself?

I awoke one morning and had a realization, an epiphany if you will, that I'm not going to be young forever. Time does not wait for anyone and one day, I'll be older. I'll potentially have children of my own or even grandchildren. I want to be healthy. I want to live to be over 100. I don't think anyone would be more upset than myself if I died over something preventable. Not only that, but I want to actually feel comfortable in my own skin. I've never felt sexy in a bikini. I don't wear tight shirts in public because I hate the way the fabric clings to my stomach, like it's exposing every fat roll I have. I'm sick of it and I'm putting my foot down. 

Enough is enough. 

My goal is to be healthy and fit. I don't want the number on the scale to define me. I don't want to keep making excuses. I want to do this for me, for my health, for my future so that I can be proud of who I am and be around the people I love for as long as possible. That's my motivation to keep moving forward and not give up.

What's yours??