Save Calories and Money at the Movies!!!!!!

Movie Munching

Last Friday night a friend and I brought 7 children to see the movie Hotel Transylvania (AWESOME movie by the way!). Before leaving our house for the movie the kids and I packed our movie bags. Each child had a snack mix as well as his or her own water bottle to bring into the movie. Sorry movie theaters but America's wallets and waistlines cannot stand your over priced and unhealthy food choices! 

The snacks that I packed for my friend and myself were a baggy each of celery, freshly picked apples for a good crunch, dry roasted edamame for a salty protein snack and of course water and green tea to drink. I always pack my own snacks and bring them anywhere and everywhere I go. I think this all started because I have been "thrifty" my whole life. Also, I have always enjoyed making my own foods instead of relying on foods to purchase in public which may or may not be healthy and are most likely extremely over priced. I didn't think twice about my movie going snack bags until my girlfriend looked at me square in the eyes after leaving the movie and said, "Alaina, You just changed my whole movie going experience!". I asked her what she meant by such an exclamation and she explained that she ALWAYS orders a large popcorn for herself and finishes the entire tub by the end of the movie. She told me that she liked my snacks and felt cleaner after leaving the movie instead of mad at herself for devouring the tub of movie theater popcorn. I was thrilled to hear this of course! 

Another thing I would like to revisit about watching TV or a movie is fidgeting. I absolutely love watching my 5 year old at the movie theater. All 3 of my kids have a ton of energy and are natural movers but he always goes up and down in his seat when he is excited about the movie and moves pretty much any time he sits down (not in an annoying way...I assure you ;-). So while you watch a movie and enjoy your healthy snack do some inner thigh squeezes or some ab crunches while you sit. Wiggle in your seat, laugh, cry and enjoy your time but sit still?....nah, save that for when you sleep!

Check out that protein and fiber!!! They are yummy too!

Its a Miracle!

A Noodle Worth Talking About

I absolutely love Asian food! Yummy noodles smothered with spicy peanut sauce, covered in tons of chicken or tofu and mixed vegetables is definitely one of my favorite meals. But now I have finally found a noodle that I do not have to think twice about eating. The Miracle Noodle may very well be close to a miracle in my book! The directions on the package tell you exactly how to prepare them and it is easier than easy! Just open the package, rinse the noodles, par boil them for 1 minute, drain and dry on paper towels and prepare the way you would any other noodle. In my case I was in the mood for some Asian style so I added a tiny bit of a nice, spicy peanut sauce and stir fried tofu coated in nutritional yeast. It was very flavorful and fulfilled my noodle desire while providing me 0 calories. Yummy!  Click here to find out more about the Miracle Noodle. The funny thing is that the package says 2.5 servings per package but if it is 0 calories who really cares if you eat the whole bag?

Directions are easy! Drain and rinse, par boil for 1 minute, drain and dry.

They have very similar consistency to regular angel hair pasta.

This is the peanut sauce I used...Yummy and so versatile. 

Tofu over Miracle Noodles in the bowl on the left. The bowl on the right is tofu topped with nutritional yeast.

Get your salt fix...the kale way!

Kale Chips....mmm mmm!

Ahhh, its so very close to fall. The crisp mornings running out the door to catch the bus and the sunny afternoons running up the hill from the bus and into the kitchen door make it even more fun to make healthy favorites for my family. My now kindergartner and second grader always come home very thirsty and extremely hungry. Thankfully we have some down time when they get home to enjoy each other and have a big, hearty snack which typically turns into a very early dinner. Today we made kale chips...their way. The boys came home to a bowl of already made kale chips and a huge bunch of kale ready to be prepped by them to make into more chips. They love to eat and thankfully all 3 of my children love to cook. So as Will finished his homework Dean washed, trimmed, tore, salted and sprayed the kale. When it was done we all enjoyed a healthy, fun snack. We were having so much fun cooking that we kept going and prepared our dinner's main course of salmon cakes. I will post that protein, Omega 3 rich recipe later in the week. Just a little teaser....the kids LOVED the salmon cakes too! Score for Mom! High 5's for me!

For the recipe all you need is a bunch of kale that has been washed and dried very well, olive oil spray, salt and pepper!

Just tear the leaves off of the stem, spray the pan with olive oil, then lay the kale in a single layer. Spray a light coating of olive oil on top of the kale, sprinkle salt, pepper and any other seasonings you like (also good with Parmesan cheese!). 

Put in the oven at 350* for 10-15 minutes or until the edges curl and each leaf is very crisp....so crisp it almost melts in your mouth.

Then ENJOY! It is salty and crispy like popcorn but  with tons of vitamins!

Tasty Spicy Pumpkin Muffins❤❤

My very toughest critics just named these gluten free pumpkin spice muffins. My good friend's daughter cannot have anything with gluten so I just whipped these pumpkin spice muffins up for her. I also made them sugar free and only used 1/4 cup olive oil for the entire 24 big muffins. Here is the recipe. I had one (ok ok I had 2... I must tell the truth!) right out of the oven, I cut the muffins in half horizontally and smeared about 2 teaspoons natural peanut butter for my children. I had natural almond butter with my muffins. Yummy!

Tasty Spicy Pumpkin Muffins:
2 3/4 Cup quinoa flour
1/4 Cup coconut flour
1 t baking powder
2 t baking soda
2 T cinnamon
2 t nutmeg
1/2 t ginger
1 t salt
2 T pure cocoa
1/4 C olive oil
3 C pure pumpkin
2 t pure vanilla
4 eggs
2 droppers full pure stevia
1 C pure applesauce
Directions:
Over 350• Spray muffin tin with non stick spray and set aside. In medium sized bowl mIx first 9 ingredients. In separate large bowl mix last 6 ingredients until well mixed. Gently fold dry ingredients into the moist ingredients in larger bowl. Mix only until combined, it will be thick and lumpy. Full each muffin tin 2/3 full. Bake for 12-15 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake. Best right from the oven with peanut butter or almond butter. Enjoy!

Stay tuned.... It's fall and my German Apple Cake is super tasty too!

Time Is On Your Side

Give Me A Minute!

It costs nothing, it creates bonds, it changes everything...its Time. I heard so many things that made me want to create a new post today but it was 2 particular people who said 2 particular things to me that really made me run to the computer to jot down my thoughts. I'll start with a big one, "Eating well is really tough, isn't it, Alaina?". You know what, it may be a little more time consuming to make a salad then to open up a tin can or rip open a candy bar and toss it in your mouth but with some planning and thinking ahead eating healthfully can be just as fast. Planning is a healthy eater's best friend. Time is on your side if you think ahead. My Mama always said, "You make time for what you want...what is important to you" and she is right. I plan play times, reading times, home work time, exercise times and relaxing times with my children. I want to eat healthfully so I plan my family meals in advance. I also plan exercising into my day each and every day. At the moment I am not overly worried about my messy house so I have planned minimal time to give it the deep clean that it truly needs. When you think about your week, all the appointments, school work, work, and fun to be had also plan your meals. Make a list of must have on hand foods for your refrigerator and make sure to stock up before Monday morning comes. My top 5 must have foods are #1 Eggs, #2 Salad, #3 Salsa, #4 Fish and #5 Blueberries. These are the top 5 foods consumed in my home by my 3 kids and me. With a little preparation on Sunday night I save calories and add nutrients for those times when we are all starving and in need of some "fast food". In my case fast food for the kids tends to be carrots, broccoli and hummus and for me its celery and salsa. Make sure that you spend a little time on Sunday night preparing for your busy week ahead. It will save you time throughout the week and save your waistline at the same time. While you are at it schedule exercising into your daily calendar and stick to it. If you like lists then create one like I do each morning. My to do list is always on the back of already used paper and always starts like this:

1. Wake up

2. Brush Teeth

3. Work out

etc etc etc.........

I always write "wake up" first so that I can wake up and immediately check one thing off of my list. I am a goal oriented person, competitive in nature and I like to be able to immediately check something off my list and the first 2 are simple and fast!

Thank you for taking using one of your precious gifts to read what I have to say. Your time is so valuable and so is your health!

Cha Cha Cha chia seeds!

My new favorite addition to Greek yogurt, salads, tofu, chicken, tuna and salmon..... Chia seeds! Chia seeds are like little power punches to your body with 70 calories, 6 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein and almost 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. I absolutely love the little crunch and texture that they add to my favorite foods (similar texture to sesame seeds). So go buy some Chia seeds and add more nutrients to your favorite foods!

Frozen Goodness!!!!!!

A Sweet Protein Treat

I have had an amazing summer and it is not over yet! Kentucky and Cape Cod have been 2 of our destinations. I was even able to spend some time in Provincetown at the very tip of Cape Cod and home to my very favorite beach ever, Race Point Beach. The sand there is like none other. It is so thick and coarse and coated in some kind of oil. I never bring chairs or towels to that beach because I like to lay in the sand and have it fall right off of me when I stand up. I am convinced that some good doses of that sand can take years off my life (or anyone's life....but that is just my opinion because it feels so great!). Plus, every time I have been there I see either seals or whales or both! It is truly an amazing, magical place especially when shared with the ones you love! While in Provincetown last week we were treated to some amazing culinary delights. The Red Inn on the quiet West end of Commercial Street was one of our favorite destinations for delightful drinks, fabulous fish and superb service! Lorraine's Cafe served us wonderfully spicy salsa, fresh swordfish salads, fish tacos and a full bodied Pinot Noir whose name I cannot remember. And The Mews on the other end of Commercial Street was our last culinary treat. All of that amazing eating in Provincetown was a treat to my palate but watching everyone walk by with cold, creamy ice cream cones all day long had me excited to mix up some frozen protein treats for the family after our vacations ended. 

Race Point Beach!!!!!!!

As you know I love Greek yogurt and eat a serving (at least) every day! Today I whipped up a frozen treat that is packed with protein and flavor! I hope you like it. Here is the recipe:

Bikini Frozen Yogurt (makes 1 serving)

1/2 Cup plain Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon pure almond butter

1/4 Cup blueberries (I wash and dry my blueberries and put them directly in my freezer! Makes them better summertime treats!)

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (I use very potent Watkins brand, use more if your cinnamon is just ho hum)

1 teaspoon Chia Seeds (amazing source of protein, fiber and Omega 3!)

1 teaspoon ground flaxseeds

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a little bowl. (I use little containers with lids from my favorite cottage cheese (see picture) which helps me with serving size since I tend to go over board with my Greek yogurt treats). Put  lid on yogurt and put your serving of Bikini Frozen Yogurt into the freezer. Freeze for 30- 45 minutes or until desired frozen consistency. I sprinkle mine with 1 more sprinkle of cinnamon before I eat it. Yummy, fulfilling, creamy and full of protein! 

The finished Bikini Frozen Yogurt mixed and frozen in individual cup with lid.