Clean Eating Hot Cocoa Recipe

***Disclosure-I received sample product to review.  Any opinions stated are my own.

Did you have a great Christmas?  Did you eat all that good food?  The holidays can be very bad for clean eaters.  Some of us do not have control.  When you see good food, where does all your hard work go?  The holidays are not over.  We still have New Year's to think about and Winter just got started.  Winter makes people want to be indoors all cozy and under the covers.  Here is a #cheatclean recipe for those cold days:

Peppermint Hot Cocoa with Vanilla Whipped Cream:

Yields: 2

Serving size: 1 cup with topping

Prep time: 10 min

Ingredients:

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

1 ¼ cups water

¾ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 scoop (~30g) Quest Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder

2 tablespoons zero-calorie sweetener

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

½ teaspoon peppermint extract

Whipped Cream

6-8 standard size ice cubes (about ¾ cup)

¼ cup water

1 tablespoon zero-calorie sweetener

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 scoop (~30g) Quest Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder

Method:

Cocoa

·         Pour the cocoa ingredients (water through extract) into a medium saucepan.

·         Whisk until well combined.

·         Heat saucepan from low to medium while whisking to desired temperature.

Whipped Cream

·         Place all whipped cream ingredients (ice through protein powder) into the small base of a Magic Bullet fit with the double blade.

·         Blend for 2-3 minutes or until mixture has become thick, fluffy and the consistency of whipped cream.

Assembly

·         Pour the cocoa into two large mugs. Spoon whipped cream over each mug.

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 125

Protein: 23

Fat: 1

Net Carbs: 2.6

Fiber: 1.2

Blue Diamond Almonds- Artisan Nut-Thins Review

***Disclosure-Sample product was received.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

When trying to eat good and healthy, they are certain things you have to give up.  But one thing I have learned is sometimes all I need is something to crunch on when I am craving.  I don't want to give in to the craving of chips but sometimes a little crunch is all you need.

Blue Diamonds Almonds - Artisan Nut-Thins
-Multi-Seeds
-Sesame Seeds
-Flax Seeds

Made from brown rice, almonds, and seeds.  Wheat and Gluten Free.  Only 130 calories for 13.

This is a healthy, good crunch!  I am allergic to yeast and so I cannot have bread.  I like that I can now eat this as a substitute and not feel guilty while I am still clean eating.  They are so flavorful too.  My husband even liked them, and he doesn't like the healthy stuff-men!  They are a perfect snack for me on the go or to have while at work.

Wheat is out - gluten-free is in!  For those wishing to serve healthier, gluten-free snacks, dips and other fare at their next gathering, Blue Diamond has recently debuted a delicious cracker alternative! With just the right amount of crunch, their new Artisan Nut-Thins® offer those avoiding gluten a protein-packed nutritious snack!

Avocado & Bean Dip

Ingredients

1 (14-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained, divided

1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained, divided

2 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

1/2 cup slivered almonds, roasted

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons soy-based “sour cream”

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Hot sauce to taste

Artisan Nut Thins, to serve

Directions

Combine about half of kidney beans and about half of chickpeas in a food processor or blender, and pulse until mashed but still chunky. Combine the rest of the ingredients with the bean mixture above until well mixed. Serve with Blue Diamond's new Artisan Nut Thins.

Recipe courtesy of the Almond Board of California.

http://www.bluediamond.com/applications/recipes/?theView=recipeDetail&recipeid=111

These delightful new crackers can be found at any Whole Foods or natural foods store in select locations nationwide. www.bluediamond.com

Follow Your Heart-Vegan Gourmet Shreds

***Disclosure-Sample product was received.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal opinion and experience.

Finding out you have food allergies can be a big bummer, especially if the food you are allergic to has been your favorite all these years.  You do not know any better and do not want to give it up.  I am allergic to dairy and have been refusing to give it up.  One of the items I cannot give up is cheese.  I have tried the fake stuff and it didn't even melt.  So I had already told myself I was going to just either give it up for good, or take the reaction on those days I really have to have it.  Not anymore.

Follow Your Heart-Vegan Gourmet Shreds
-Soy Free
-Gluten Free
-Dairy Free
-Lactose Free
-Vegan
-Non GMO

Here are a couple of dishes we made for this week's clean eating menu.  My sister in law and I have been working with clean ingredients when meal prepping for our family's breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.

Fiesta Blend Shreds-We made hamburger patties for our pitas. (cheddar and pepper jack)

Also used sprinkled on top of my lettuce chicken fajita tacos.

Mozzarella Shreds-We used these to make stuffed chicken.

Cheddar Shreds-We used to make breakfast omelettes.

I was really skeptical at first to try these shreds.  I have had imitation cheese before and it was gross.  I have been going without.  I never really was a cheese person but come on, you can't have a cheeseburger without cheese.  You can't have enchiladas or quesadillas, without cheese.  There are just some dishes, you cannot take without cheese and those are the dishes that I really did miss, until now.

Have a recipe? Enter their contest today. Entries need to be in by September 13. They have great prizes for the winners and why not, it could be you.  For more information, go to http://followyourheart.com/shredsrecipecontest/.

Fitness Friday-Clean Eating

***Disclosure-Sample product was received to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

I was at a plateau that I could not break, stuck on the scale no matter what I tried.  I know it is suppose to not matter but it mattered to me.  I wasn't really seeing any difference on my clothes or inches falling of either.  I guess that is what happens when you don't let your body rest.  Someone suggested I start clean eating or Paleo.  I am not good at cooking or recipes.  But I do like to learn and once I get it, it becomes my new dish.  My sister in law, Christy (My Timeless Blessings) has been clean eating and has dropped a significant amount of weight.  So I said why not give it a try?  We went shopping for groceries from the list she made.  You need to be prepared.  Clean eating requires clean products.  Once we were done, we got in the kitchen and started making some clean recipes.  One of the recipes we had for a breakfast dish is for waffles.

Clean waffle recipe-
1 cup of sprouted spelt flour, 1 cup of almond meal flour, 1/4 cup of flax seed, 1 tb baking powder, 1 tb agave nectar

 One Degree Organic Foods-Organic Spelt Flour

Make bread, cookies, and some new friends with pure flour made from this ancient, heart healthy grain. Our organic spelt is a great plant-based protein source, and is grown without any animal fertilizers.

We paired 2 pieces of waffle (half) with grilled chicken to make our Chicken and Waffle dish.  It was yummy!  Remember I am allergic to yeast so I am not able to indulge on many things because of this.  Yes, sometimes I still have a bite of something I am not suppose to but with this organic product now I can enjoy making recipes and not have a reaction.

I am starting to enjoy the clean eating thing.  This entire week I ate clean dishes and lost another 2 lbs!!!