I like to eat good food, I also like to cook (most days).  With chasing two boys who both play soccer and our calendar filling up like crazy, I find that if I don’t think ahead and prep me and my family some good things to eat then we grab what is easy.  Easy may not be good for you.  Easy may be just getting some fast food or having a bowl a cereal when you get home from soccer practice.  Those things are fine when it’s only once in a while and not all the time.  I get inspiration for recipes, so I may follow it the first time but then start putting my own spin on it as I think of ways that I think make it better.  I will post links to the original recipe but also tell you what I did to them for an “Anna” improvement.

No Bake Energy Bites – originally found this on Facebook but it comes from thewhoot.com.au

1 cup (dry) oatmeal

2/3 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

1 Tbsp. chia seeds

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

Mix all together, scoop out and allowed to set in the fridge (or freezer) for about 30 mins.  I use a 1 or 1.5 ice cream scoop to make mine look pretty.  You can roll them in your hand also.

Store in an air tight container in the fridge.

Anna’s update – I really like the mini chocolate chips they seem to work better for me for these small snacks.  I will also increase the amount of vanilla extract to 1 Tbsp.  

Dark Chocolate and Oat Clusters – originally found on www.health.com

2 Tbls peanut butter

2 Tbls 1% low-fat milk

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

Heat peanut butter, milk, and chocolate chips in a saucepan over low heat 3 minutes or until chips melt.

Stir in oats. Remove from heat.

With a spoon, small ice cream scoop, or melon baller, drop 8 ball-shaped portions on a wax paper−lined baking sheet. Let set in fridge 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information

Calories per serving:	160
Fat per serving:	8g
Saturated fat per serving:	3g
Monounsaturated fat per serving:	3.5g
Polyunsaturated fat per serving:	1.5g
Protein per serving:	5g
Carbohydrate per serving:	19g
Fiber per serving:	3g
Cholesterol per serving:	0mg
Sodium per serving:	40mg
Rs per serving:	1.7g

Anna’s update – I used 65% Dark chocolate chunks, Flax seed (4 Tbls), Chia seeds (1/4 cup), coconut chips (1/2 cup) and unsweetened vanilla almond milk instead of regular milk.  I followed the directions as I have above, but when I mixed in the oats I added in the flaxseed, chia seeds and coconut chips.  

My updated nutritional information is for one ball:

Calories – 86

Fat (g) – 5.8

Sodium (mg) – 16.2

Carbs (g) – 7.4

Fiber (g) – 2

Sugars (g) – 2.7

Protein (g) – 2.5

I keep them in the fridge for an easy snack.

Snacks are super important, if I have healthy, filling and tasteful ones then I am satisfied.  So one last snack that I love is this!

I chop up 1 cup of fresh fruit, in the picture is fresh peaches and strawberries and add 1 tsp of stevia to sweeten a little.  I add 1/3 cup of my favorite granola (Kind Oats and Honey Granola) and then 1 container of greek yogurt (my current favorite is Oikos Triple Zero).

Mix it all up and enjoy! You get at least 1 serving of fruits, healthy grains, protein and for me, you can eat the entire thing and not feel guilty or deprived.

 

So make good food, keep the good stuff around so that when you are hungry you have it ready to go.  I also do not eat only 3 times a day.  I have snacks with me at all times and eat 5-6 times a day to keep my system happy.  I’m adding all of my recipes to the Nutrition and Recipe tab so you all can easily find stuff.  Happy Eating!!