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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Chobani Greek Yogurt Turkey Wraps & Chocolate Pudding…

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Greek yogurt:

The product that you can find sandwiched between “regular” yogurt, , sour cream, and cottage cheese  that you can find stocked at your local grocery store.  Greek yogurt tends to be thicker and creamier (some companies have come out with the whipped and lighter versions of Greek yogurt).  There are 100’s of flavors and combinations of Greek yogurt for you to choose from.  Why is Greek yogurt becoming such a popular health food?

It can help with your digestive system:  Greek yogurt contains probiotics which is a healthy form of bacteria that can help to regulate your digestive tract. Consuming Greek yogurt gives your body an extra amount of good bacteria so that it can aid in food digestion and food waste regulation.

It contains nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and a good dose of protein! The additional protein helps to encourage cell growth, and assist with helping to build/repair the muscles and tissues that you may use and abuse when you workout.

It is a food that contains a small amount of lactose so it is a friendly food for those that may be lactose intolerant.

Greek yogurt is a food that would be a great addition to your diet.

Today I created two foods (that you can enjoy TOGETHER) that pack a lot of protein, that are very filling, and they are extremely delicious!

I also wanted to create something that can utilize food you may already have in your fridge.  As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching we all know that there is usually left over turkey and cranberry sauce.  I created this finger licking meal/appetizer option for you to enjoy:

Turkey Cranberry Wraps

Ingredients:

  • 1 large Tortilla (whole wheat is preferred but you can use other variations)
  • Lettuce (about a handful…enough to create a base layer on the tortilla)
  • 2-3 oz of Turkey (you can also use chicken or another lean meat)
  • 2 tbsp Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 cup Greek Yogurt (fat-free)
  • Optional: Nuts, cheese, sliced veggies, ect.

Directions:

  • Lay out tortilla on cutting board or plate
  • In a bowl mix together Greek yogurt, cranberry sauce (and any other optional things you would like to add such as chopped nuts, who dried cranberries, etc.)
  • On the tortilla make a small base layer of the Greek yogurt mixture (I made a layer that was about 3 inches in width and it extended the full length of the tortilla)
  • Once the Greek yogurt layer is added and smooth, place a layer of lettuce on top of the Greek yogurt.  You can also add sliced veggie or any other additional items you would like
  • Carefully fold the top and bottom OVER the food that you placed in the middle of the tortilla and roll it
  • You can serve it as one big wrap or cut it into smaller pieces.
  • Watch the following video to get some idea of what I did…

 

Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt (fat-free)
  • 1 tbsp. coco (I used dark chocolate coco but you can use another version)
  • 1-2 tbsp. Walden’s Farm Syrup (Add syrup to create the level of sweetness you would like! For this mixture I used 1 tbsp.  You can also use honey, regular syrup, stevia, or something else.  Add sparingly as you mix the ingredients together so you do not over sweeten the product)
  • 2 tbsp. chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate chocolate chips but you can use another version)
  • dash of vanilla extract
  • Optional: nuts, dried/fresh fruit

Directions

  • Combine all of the above ingredients into a bowl and mix
  • Add other garnishments BUT BE CAREFUL as to what you add! The more things you add you can quickly make this healthy dessert option not as healthy.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

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…Happy {Healthy} Halloween Treats!…

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Halloween is quickly approaching! And so is the rush to try to find treats to have at your Halloween gathering or to hand out to those little trick-or-treaters that know on your door.

I have made it know that for those that come to my door they will get a healthy snack option in their Halloween gift bag!

Here are a few great treats that you can try to create this Halloween!

The things I created:

  • Ghost Bananas
  • Little cuties pumpkins

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  • Fruit Salsa (with home made tortilla chips)
  • Witches fingers

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All of these options are non expensive, easy to make, and something that can be made with the help of the kids or anyone else! This could be a great activity for everyone to partake in before Halloween.

Please be sure to practice safe procedures this Halloween! Also, do not forget to keep the chocolate up and away from pets that may be allergic to it!

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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Pumpkin Protein Treats…

 

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Well… It is that time of year again.

That time of the year where stores and manufactures start to sell EVERYTHING made with pumpkin.  So to get in the mood of fall, I created this delicious (AND healthy) dessert alternative for those who are counting their macronutrients and trying to stay on track with eating healthy.

What you will need:

  • 1 scoop of Whey Protein ( I used 1st Phorm Vanilla Whey)
  • 1 cup of pumpkin puree
  • 1 tbsp vanialla extract
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tbsp honey (or dash of sugar substitute product)
  • dash of water
  • Whip topping
  • pie crust/shells to put your pumpkin mixture in (you do not have to use this! You can serve it in a bowl with whip topping!)

Directions:

  1. combine ALL dry ingredients into a bowl
  2. mix in the pumpkin puree and honey
  3. combine dash of water (approximately 1-2 tablespoons) while mixing
  4. once mixture is smooth and well mixed add the pumpkin mixture to your pie crust OR serve in a bowl.
  5. Feel free to garnish this with whip cream, nuts, etc.
  6. BE CAREFUL not too add too much to this dish! The above ingredient list has created a dish that is high in protein and lower in carbs.  Adding things to this dish can make it not as healthy.

Feel free to watch the following video to show you how to make your pumpkin protein dish!

Tis the season to indulge in some fall treats and with this recipe you can do so without feeling guilty! Pumpkins are a great food source to add to your diet! They are packed with fiber which is a good thing! Eating foods high in fiber can help to make you feel full longer and help you regulate your digestive tract. Pumpkins are also low in calories AND carbs!

Pumpkins are packed with vitamin A which in return helps with your eye sight. They are also high in potassium and vitamin C which can help boost your immune system. Pumpkins also have nutrients in them that have been proven to help lover your LDL cholesterol levels.

Try to re-create this protein packed treat and test it with your friends and family and see if they can taste the difference (compared to the traditional protein custard treats).

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…infinite life fitness recipe: sweet potato chocolate fudge cake…

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Chocolate Cake… two words that will make most people’s ears perk up and their mouths will  start watering.

Getting healthy and fit does not mean that you have to completely abandon the things that taste the best to you.  As with anything, you can still enjoy your favorite things but, MODERATION is key.  If you have a sweet tooth enjoy a nice small slice of chocolate.  If you want a brownie or some ice cream stick to the actual serving size that is recommended on the size of the box (yes that means measuring out or weighing out the correct portions) instead of just guessing at the amount that you think is “a small portion of food”.

Another trick that I have learned is to find other recipes that provide the same great taste of regular treats but carry more nutritional macronutrients.  There are a lot of recipes out there…so try out a few to see what you will like the best! And never be afraid to change recipes around s that they contain things that YOU like. It may take several attempts to get the recipe down the way you like but that is the fun part…trying to figure out what will turn out delicious (and nutritious!)

Today I am sharing the recipe of an outstanding treat.  Sweet potato chocolate cake.  It is very flavorful moist, and honestly taste the exact same as other chocolate treats that you can get at the store.

What you will need:

(Put all of these ingredients into a food processor)

  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 cup cooked sweet potato
  • 40-50 stevia drops (Or other sources of sweetener.  You can also use sugar or honey)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 2 scoops protein powder (I used 1st Phorm Whey Protein)
  • 4 oz unsweetened apple sauce
  • 8 tablespoons cocoa powder (or dark chocolate cocoa powder)
  • 4 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

What you will do:

  • Heat your oven to 350 degrees
  • Blend all of the above ingredients together VERY WELL!
  • Place combined ingredients into a muffin pan (or you can make a pan of brownies and later cut them into desirable slices).
  • Cook these for 20 – 25 minutes checking them periodically
  • IMPORTANT: *make sure you use either silicone bake ware or line your bake ware with parchment paper.  It makes the cake cook evenly and helps to limit the outside cooking faster than the inside (making it easier to separate after it has cooled).

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I typically will make a few dozen of these and keep them in the freezer.  This allows them to last a lot longer.  When you would like to enjoy one just pop it in the microwave and top with a dollop of peanut butter, whip cream, Greek yogurt, or even low calorie ice cream (like Arctic Zone).  The great thing about this recipe is that you can get very creative! You an add nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, or anything else you would like. BUT BE CAREFUL with the amount of things that you add.  The more you add the more you compromise the good nutritional value of this healthy treat.

Try this out on your own and dress it up however you like.  If you decide to try it post it on instagram and tag the picture with #infinitelifefitness so that I can see it! 🙂

Hope that you are able to enjoy them as much as I do!.

 

 

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…infinite life fitness recipe: Protein Fudge…

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Working towards your health and fitness goals do not require you to completely sacrifice sweet treats.  Lets be honest…who doesn’t get a sweet tooth every now and then? And yes it can be hard to ignore those sweet cravings! So what do you do?

Instead of driving yourself crazy and trying to ignore the sweet cravings you should come up with healthy AND tasty alternatives for you have when you are needing something a little sweet.  Here is a treat that I personally love to make and usually keep in my freezer just in case I need to grab something sweet.

What you will need:

  • ¾ cup peanut butter (I use Skippy natural chocolate peanut butter)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil
  • 3 scoops vanilla protein powder ( I chose to use 1st Phorm Vanilla Whey. Depending on the brand of protein you may need to use less or more! You will have to adjust your recipe)

What you will do:

  • heat up coconut oil and measure out 1/4 cup
  • Place all of the above ingredients into a mixing bowl
  • mix ingredients until batter is thick and sticky (I added small amounts of almond milk to get the mixture to mix and blend. I literally just added a few tablespoons)
  • Once the batter is mixed place in a freezer safe container
  • spread batter evenly into container
  • place container in freezer and allow to freeze
  • once the batter is frozen cut into even squares and enjoy!

NOTE: I stored my protein fudge in the freezer.  If thawed out it will just become runny and not thick.  Keeping it in the freezer allows it to stay in the fudge chunks.  Even though it is frozen, the fudge is very easy to bite into and chew.  It is slightly chewy and VERY yummy!

You can get creative and toss in nuts, chocolate chips, or anything else that you would like.  But remember, adding those things increase the calorie, carbs, and fat macro nutrient content in this treat.  So you want to try to limit what you add to make sure to keep it as healthy as possible.

Like I stated before, this is a great treat to keep around the house to help subdue those sweet cravings you may get. This snack is packed with an amazing taste and is high in protein.

Mix. Freeze. and Enjoy! Let me know how YOUR version of this recipe turns out!

 

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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Peanut Butter Protein Fudge…

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Just because you want to eat healthy and lose weight does not mean that you have to cut out ALL things that are yummy! Reaching your goals is all about a balance.  You have to figure out when the proper time is to have the items that you crave and love.  And the other battle is figuring out foods you can add to your diet to help take the place of unhealthy treats that you would usually have.  And in all honesty, some of these healthy recipes taste just as good (or BETTER) than the unhealthy version!

Today I would like to share with you a recipe that was made by my close  friend Melissa. When I tasted these they were MOUTH WATERING! So it was an easy choice for me to try to make them and have them stored in my freezer as a quick and healthy sweet treat.

What you will need:

  • ¾ cup peanut butter (preferably all natural peanut butter) 
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil
  • 3 scoops vanilla protein powder (you can even possibly use peanut butter protein powder or possibly chocolate!)

What you will do:

  • get a small Tupperware container (or a glass or regular baking pan.  Use something that you can easily mix all of the items together and also place it in the freezer)
  • Mix all of the above ingredients into the same container
  • After mixing them together very well make sure to spread it out evenly throughout the container.
  • Place container in the freezer and allow it to get HARD (the time will this will vary!! The best way to monitor this is by sticking a tooth pick in the corner or middle.  If the tooth pick easily slides in, the fudge is not ready.  But if the tooth pick does not go in easily your fudge is done!)
  • After it is frozen, cut the fudge into desirable pieces.
  • It is advised to keep them stored in the fridge or freezer! If not they will become room temperature and somewhat melt.  Keeping them in the fridge or freezer also extends it shelf life and allows you to keep the fudge for a longer period of time.

*** You can also add other things to this fudge if you like.  This can include things like nuts, chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, or any other types of goodies.  BUT remember to not add too much because the more you add, the more you risk making this healthy alternative into an unhealthy sweet treat. But it is fun to get creative and just have fun when making this recipe.

This is a perfect treat to grab when you have a sweet tooth and want to grab something small.  This treat will guarantee to satisfy! You can even get your family member to enjoy it (and they will not even know that it is healthy! 😉  )

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……INFINITE LIFE FITNESS RECIPE:Protein Cookies…

Being someone who has to watch what they eat can be difficult when you are tempted with delicious sugary treats every day.

There are so many HEALTHY alternatives out there  but the hardest part is finding them!

Well…i was lucky enough to stumble upon a great healthy treat that can be a healthy treat.

Introducing Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie’s

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Here is what you will need:

Here is how you make it:

  • Turn your oven onto 250 degrees

  • Open your quest protein bar and cut it into however many pieces you would like (i cut mine into 8 small pieces).

  • Place a piece of foil on the cookie sheet (this step is optional)

  • Place the cut pieces of protein bar on the cookie sheet

  • Place cookie sheet WITH protein bar in the oven

  • MAKE SURE TO WATCH THE protein pieces because they will cook very fast.

  • Allow them to cook in the over for 10-20 minutes (depending on how long it takes them to rise and cook)

  • Once they are brown take them out of the oven

  • Allow them to sit for about 10 minutes to cool off

  • Last step….ENJOY! 🙂

 

These protein bars taste JUST LIKE warm chocolate chip cookies once they are fresh out of the over.  Don’t get me wrong…these protein bars taste just as good without baking them BUT they are even better once you toast them.

These are for sure of my healthy guilty pleasures.  When something taste this good it is so hard to believe that it is actually healthy for you.  You can also do this with other Quest bars (such as the chocolate brownie and peanut butter supreme bars).  Try this out with any other their bars and find which one is your favorite!

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