WIAW #36 – Making Pie: Crust or No Crust?



Source and Recipe

Even as that “tubby” boy who thought not once about calorie content in food, I never really liked pie crust. So now that I’m ever so conscious of what I consume, I opt for no crust on the healthy pies I make.

I’m writing this prior to knowing what November’s WIAW theme is, so please forgive my non-themed post. Not like I was very good at following last month’s theme either….sorry again. And while I’m on the topic of “sorry”, I’m sorry for the lack of brand new pictures for my post. I’ve still been cooking, but the pictures (as unprofessional as they are) take up a lot of precious time. Time I want to be spending with my loving wife, Kelley.

So hopefully I won’t lose any of you during this time of infrequent posts and pictures; I promise to get back into the game sometime…..just don’t know when!

Being November with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’m sure there’s many a foodie with pie on the mind. I like pie, but only if made by me or I know the exact ingredients used and I like them. Since I don’t make pie often, this obviously means I don’t have a lot of the sweet, round, dessert. This season, I’d like to work on making my own healthy version that has no crust and that friends and family will enjoy.



I bet PB Crave Coco Bananas and pureed sweet potato would be an awesome pie!  Ughhnnnnnggggg!!! I think my stomach is saying something....

Sounds easy, but most of my “healthified” dessert attempts wind up being something only I enjoy. That’s okay to a degree, but I’d like to share. So, the first part to a healthier pie is taking out the crust component. This isn’t hard, just prepare the pie filling (the best part anyway) and if it’s one you cook, put in pie pan and bake as needed.

I think making overnight oats in a pie pan would also be an excellent no-cook and healthy version. Imagine, overnight peanut butter pumpkin oats mixed with milk of choice, protein powder, and pumpkin pie spice all mixed up and placed in a pan to set over night. You could wake up and have pie for breakfast; and it would actually be good for you!!

Right now I’m just “talking the talk”, but please stay tuned, I will post an overnight pie recipe to do the “walking” part soon.

As mentioned earlier, I am lacking in the picture department, so I’ll list out what I ate and then post a few pics and recipes for pies I found online. Thanks yet again to Jenn at Peas and Crayons, I love What I Ate Wednesday’s!!

I actually made this Clean Eating Pumpkin Cheescake posted on The Gracious Pantry and highly suggest you try too. Obviously, I chose to use no crust and this dessert is simply wonderful chilled and topped with Greek yogurt.

For those who find it hard to stick to just one slice (me), make mini pies so you can have the whole thing and not feel bad! Here’s the recipe good for 8 mini pies you can keep all to yourself or share with everyone! I’m pretty sure I’ll have a few of these in my fridge soon! If you don’t have custard cups, I’m sure a greased or paper lined muffin tin would work as well. Then you could even make them a little smaller and have 12 mini desserts!!

I found this recipe just through a Google search and like it as a way to start; plus it’s less than 500 calories for the whole thing. I would not use any artificial sweetener like Splenda and go for Stevia instead. Also, instead of milk, I will use unsweetened almond milk and protein powder in place of flour. That’s the beauty of recipes….you can suit to your own desire!!

 

 



Another Gracious Pantry recipe must try is this Clean Eating Sweet Potato Pie. Yum! There’s a crust recipe posted too, but again, I’d leave it out although it sounds simply delicious! A big thanks to Tiffany at The Gracious Pantry for allowing me to post these tasty pictures on my site.  If you haven't before, check out her blog and social media pages for clean and tasty recipes!

 

Web site: www.TheGraciousPantry.com
Facebook: www.FaceBook.com/GraciousPantry
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/GraciousPantry
Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/GraciousPantry

So, have you or will you be making pies this season? Ever try going crustless? Besides saving in the calorie bank, I think no crust helps you enjoy more of the flavor filling anyway.

Please share any recipes you have as I really want to test a few out. And most importantly…

Happy WIAW, have a wonderful rest of the week!!

 

One more thing....it looks like another 4 years of Obama.  Are you : ) or : (

 

As a typical Texan, I'm more : ( about this one, but I also know the world won't end as a result.  So... : )

Crazy, Stupid Diets and The One Thing That Makes Them Work

After reading about how a woman dined only on Starbucks fare and lost 80 pounds, I laughed, but it also makes me mad.  Why do I let these things get to me?  I know better, but some people seem so blind. Danni from Healthy Kitschy Kitchen agrees and she just posted a similar rant about this. In fact, we seem to share a lot of similar views. Check out her blog for some healthy tips, great rants, and delicious recipes.

Notice the word on the bottom. Do you want your day's worth of meals from this?

This will be short because time is limited, as I've said just about every time I've posted lately. Sorry for being a broken record, but I felt the need for this post.

There have been and still are so many meal-based fad diets like.....

The Subway Diet - We all know Jared and his giant pants he holds up.

Jared and his pants. (source)

A Very, Very, Stupid McDonald's Diet - Ever see Super Size Me? Nuff said. I can't stand to just pass by the place.

There are tons of crazy and stupid (hence this post's title) meal-based diets out there; here's a comprehensive list I found on Diets In Review if you care to see more of these aggravating diets.

I figure most of you reading are fellow foodie bloggers and can laugh at how absurd these things are, but sadly others actually get sucked into to the weight-loss claims and feel the need to try themselves. If you are one of the "others", let me save you some time and frustration....DON'T DO IT!

The basic reason a non-nutritive diet of nothing but McDonald's or Starbucks can let you lose wait is basic calorie math; if calories in < calories out = weight loss.  Here's a handy chart if it helps....

The Cause, Effect & Result of Your Daily Calorie Intake

The Cause	The Effect	The Result
Calories In Beats Calories Out	Caloric Surplus	Muscle gain, fat gain, or both.
Calories Out Beats Calories In	Caloric Deficit	Fat loss, muscle loss, or both.
Calories In = Calories Out	Maintenance	Everything remains the same.

source

Yes, it gets more complicated than this when you take into account the thermic effect of food, but that's another post for another day. For the most part, if you take in less calories than you use, you will lose weight.

If you really want that, just eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey (~1200 calories) spaced out in 3 or 4 sessions each day and you will lose weight.  I'm assuming most of us burn at least 1200 calories just living.

Here's your breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one!

But please...don't do that either! Instead, avoid what the media says and do actual research on food; it is your health after-all.  Or, choose real, whole food not found in packages and you'll be on your way to a healthy way to change your body.  As a big bonus, when you consume whole foods like fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein, and healthy fats, you rarely need to count calories.  These foods will naturally fill you up with their healthful fiber which helps keep you from overeating.

Now, some of us have other issues like intolerances and allergies (including me), and that part is just trail and error...and help from the doctor.  Either way, a whole food diet will always beat meal-based diets where certain food groups are cut out b/c they are "bad" or you are limited to one place for all of your meals.  In other words.... whole food diet > meal-based/fad diet.

Tell me, what are your thoughts on these crazy diets?  Are you one of the "crazies" who fall into the media trap and try for yourself?  I admit I'm guilty of this in the past.

On a separate topic, I just got this Soyajoy G3 soy/nut/seed milk maker and am really excited to share my new creations with you.  I just made quinoa milk for my first run and it's still cooling now, so I'll update you once I try it.

Also, only one day left to enter my Navitas Naturals Giveaway; don't miss out!

Have a wonderful day; it's almost the weekend!

Protein Powder Choices - Is It Worth It?

I was perusing Amazon for my next purchase of clean protein powder the other day and before I knew it, I had spent 2 hours searching! Upon this realization, I began to question how much I should really stress over the different types, flavors, functions, and brands.

It seems there are protein powders made out of things you'd never expect.  We all know the common whey protein, which is broken into concentrates, isolates, and even goat whey protein. Other popular varieties are soy, egg white, and casein. Some less common, but still good types are rice, hemp, and pea proteins, but did you ever see beef protein powder? Doesn't even sound good.

PASS!!!
Aside from the stomach churning thought of drinking a chocolate, cherry vanilla, or blue raspberry flavored beef shake (yes, those are real choices), even ridiculous brands promoted by stars like Mark Wahlberg makes me sick.  Seriously, Marked Nutrition; check it out, and then clear it from your memory like I'm trying to do.

Mark, I like you in some movies, but not in my smoothie

Anyway, my lengthy searches for another protein powder made me question what I'm really trying to achieve.  Do I really need protein in the form of powder instead of just eating some delicious fresh or canned tuna or salmon?  I'm pretty sure whole food sources of protein are obviously the better choice since powder (no matter how clean, organic, and super-duper ultra filtered it is), is still a processed food.

I think protein powder is wonderful, and I am by no means saying I'm quitting the stuff, but maybe not stressing over so many types.  I would really like those 2+ hours back.

There are many people who rave about certain whole food and plant based powders; I have tried and like them in smoothies and for their excellent nutrition profile.  We could all use added digestive enzymes and 500mg of spirulina, right?  I was about to purchase the Garden of Life Raw Protein, but then thought about how I like to cook a lot with my powders.  Wouldn't cooking pretty much make the whole "Raw" aspect obsolete?  I think so; then I just paid a premium for higher quality protein and destroyed the premium part. WTF....is there ever a middle-ground?

There is a middle-ground, it's called buying more than one type of protein.  But wait, then I'm spending hundreds of dollars every few weeks for bottled and flavored protein.  Hmmm, that can of no salt added tuna in water is only $1.39 at the store I go to; not looking too bad.

Nevertheless, I think I speak for most of us when I say it's just good and fun stuff to have.  I enjoy protein powder in smoothies (here's several of my past posts on Google Search) and using it in place of flour for baked goods.  Maybe I will break down and buy a raw powder just for mixing into drinks or no-bake recipes like these Peanut Butter Pumpkin Cookies and another kind for baking.

Setting several guidelines before you look to purchase protein can be helpful; here are things I look for in protein powder:

• No artificial sweeteners...EVER!
• Very little to no sugar (less than 3g per serving); prefer no sugar and only stevia
• No added soybean or other oil; don't know why that's in some of these
• No nonsense "super pump" marketing/gimmicky (spelling?) ingredients
• Short, simple list of ingredients; unless it is the raw green food kind

These guidelines can limit your options and usually result in higher prices, but I'm willing to pay more to put good stuff in my body. I have used a lot of whey proteins and really like About Time for it's simplicity and flavor choices, but am currently using MRM Vanilla Egg White Protein and really like it.

Check out Protein Pow for a plethora of protein packed recipes (both sweet and savory) and useful information on the types of protein and each one's unique use in the kitchen.

So, what type or types of protein powder do you use?  I have tried Spiru-tein powders and like them, but might try a different plant-based powder that's raw next...any suggestions?

Do you get caught up searching for the "right" protein powder or anything else?  Too much information makes too much confusion sometimes!

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

How to Never Worry About Calories Again!!

Basically, eat whole foods and don't eat packaged food. Cutting out packaged food and making your own snacks and meals from fresh, wholesome ingredients is the key to better health.

Convenient foods sealed in a nice little (or big) package in a perfectly shaped box present a problem for many people; they're convenient! What happens when you pour a bowl of cereal, finish the puffs/flakes/crisps and still have milk leftover? Instead of simply just drinking it or finding use for it in a recipe, many people will just pour more cereal in the bowl.

YES!!

I'm guilty of doing this in the past, and even now, but I don't buy boxed cereal for this reason. I make my own cereal with plain rolled oats and add various ingredients like pureed pumpkin, carrots, eggplant, yogurt, protein powder, peanut flour, chia seeds, mashed banana, nut butter, and more.

Using stevia as a sweetener allows me to cut empty calories from sugar and still have a little sweetness.  If using banana, you'll have the benefit of natural sweetness and comfort.

When you choose to eat whole food that comes straight from farm to table and not in a package, you will naturally feel full and know when to stop.  With plenty of fiber, water, and essential nutrients in whole veggies, you can eat plenty and still have a low calorie meal.

I want so bad to explain this to the uninformed, but so many think of this as "too hard" or "there's just no use." Nonsense! I say. If you say you really want to be healthier and change your lifestyle, then do something about it!

NO!!

Give it a chance; if you're buying something packaged, make it baby carrots or a veggie mix that's precut.  These are great for snacking alone or dipping in no or low calorie dips like mustard or plain non-fat yogurt.

If only I had thought to become a nutritionist or something health and food related, I could establish a practice and help more people.  Isn't it funny (really sad) how I could try and tell an unhealthy person a few simple ways to be healthier, but they will quickly ignore my suggestions and take advice from advertising on a box of "low calorie" chips.

It should be a red flag when you see a product trying to pass itself off as being healthy by just saying it is low cal.  Then you read the ingredients and see 50+ items you can pronounce. Really? Is that healthy? NO!

So, sorry for all of the jumping around, my head spins when I get caught up thinking of the vast information out there and how people listen to the wrong things.  Usually it ties into what's easier.

The takeaway? Don't follow some diet, don't listen to or even purchase packaged food, do choose whole food like fresh produce, lean cuts of meat (if applicable), and plain legumes. Here are a few past posts for some great ideas to get started:

Healthy Food Swaps

15 Healthy Cooking and Eating Tips

Diet Fads and How to Avoid Them

Why Diets Don't Work

Simple and Healthy Snack Ideas

Hope these help! Are you stuck in a convenient food rut?  Were you in the past? If so, how have you prevailed to overcome the "easy route" and choose fresh food instead?

Do you agree with my assessment?  Whole foods = natural calorie regulation, no counting needed!  The stripped down boxed stuff will leave you constantly craving more and more and may not ever keep you satisfied.

Have a great weekend!

Does Buying a Chik-Fil-A Sandwich Really Support Free Speech?

Seriously! Have I gone insane and just don’t “get it”, or does anyone else think this is just dumb? Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, in support free speech by proclaiming August 1, 2012 as Chik-Fil-A Appreciation Day.

At what point is it not worth waiting over an hour for something served in a paper bag?

Right, because that’s what a nation with increasing obesity problems needs; just another excuse/reason to eat fast food. There are some pretty ridiculous days out there, but I can’t think of ones that are just randomly started on Facebook….and by former government officials….for a fast food restaurant! I don’t know how, but I feel Huckabee gained more than just respect from the business because “money talks!”


This started when Chik-Fil-A’s CEO, Dan Cathy, was being hounded for his stance and support of anti-gay groups. If you hold on to a certain set of beliefs, then by all means, keep holding! I am not gay (happily married to Kelley, a woman, thank you), but I am also not offended by people who are gay. I don’t live by the Bible either, and the CEO uses it in support of his anti-gay stance since the Bible says only a man and woman should be together.

Great, fine, perfect; I guess he must feel that people should be stoned to death instead of modern day capital punishment. Is serving fried chicken and fries to the mass population (most of whom have too much “mass”) written in the Bible? If he wants to go by The Book’s standards, maybe switch to serving fish (not fried), bread, wine, and manna.


When the blogger at Organic Ingredients Now contacted Chik-Fil-A about how they source their chicken, their response was not very helpful. Click here for the full response, but this part really stood out to me:


“At farm level, antibiotics are only administered to prevent and control disease. A “withdrawal” period is required from the time antibiotics are administered before the bird can be processed. This ensures that no residues are present in the bird’s system. All chickens produced for Chick-fil-A are processed under the continuous USDA inspection program. Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) randomly samples poultry at slaughter and tests for residues.”

This response wouldn’t instill confidence in me. Then again, I’m the “crazy” one who eats weird (aka natural, unprocessed, and whole) food. I apologize if I have offended anyone as that is never my intention. I’m just “supporting” my free speech; without having to go anywhere to buy something!




"Fried" Speech

 If Chik-Fil-A wants to support anti-gay groups, I agree they should be able to practice their beliefs. I don't dislike the chain for their views, I despise all fast food chains for having non-nutritional food at cheap prices. Speaking of, what's with McDonald's and the Olympics?  I know, MONEY, but the two just don't go together...ever.  Unless it's something dumb like a swimmer eating 3,330 calories worth of the stuff. Even then, I'd indulge in a giant container of Chobani with peanut butter and crunchy granola!

Imagine if the flocks of people so eager to eat low quality fried food (I know grilled chicken and salads are available, but lets be real here; most people aren’t ordering that at a chain) support free speech all went to local farmer’s markets and bought fresh meat and/or produce instead. While “poor” Dan Cathy and his chicken chain were hurt from bad press, I know most small farmers are always hurting and could always use our support. On top of that, we’d have a healthier population and economy! Just some food for thought; make of it what you will.


Q: What are your thoughts on the Chik-Fil-A events? Do you agree or disagree with my feelings?

I’d like to hear either side if you care to comment. Meanwhile, I’m starting to think other designated “special” days like National Watermelon Day (tomorrow!) and Bad Poetry Day don’t sound too bad.

Five Healthy Ways to Add Protein to Your Salad

Summer salads are all over the foodie blogs and are a perfect way to cool down when the heat is up!  The versatility of salads allow almost everyone to enjoy them in some for or another.

I have been having a salad with a lot of veggies, herbs, spices, and protein for dinner each night for months now.  They never get old since there's so many ways to make each one different.  Of course, Brussels sprouts and mushrooms are almost always on my salad, and then I'll add different things from there.

In the past, I've noticed the lack of a healthy protein source for my salads, and needed to fill the void. So I came up with five simple ways to add lean protein and flavor at the same time.  Try each one of these ideas for each day of the week and enjoy the healthy variety!

1. Grilled Chicken Breast (sliced, shredded, or diced) - Grill boneless-skinless chicken breasts seasoned as you like and cut up into cubes (or your preferred serving size) to use as a salad topper.  I will cook a few on the weekend, cut up, then store in an airtight container to add extra lean protein to complete my salad.

2. Nuts and Seeds - Buy them raw and dry roast yourself, or just eat them raw. If you like a little crunch, these will pack a delicious protein punch; with so many types of nuts and seeds available, you're sure to find a favorite. An added bonus is the healthy fats you'll get from these sources too! Dry roasts sunflower seeds are always welcome on my greens, but I also enjoy pistachios, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and walnuts.

They aren't on salad, but you get the point....use them on salad!

3. Homemade Slow-cooker Veggie Protein Dressing/Dip - My ultimate favorite way to add a melting pot of flavor, spice, and everything nice protein! It's so easy! Add a few bags of your favorite frozen veggies in a slow-cooker, toss in a cup of lentils or a couple cans of beans, season to taste, and let everything cook for several hours. Once cooked, just puree in a stand or immersion blender and store in fridge to use as a thick protein dressing on your salad.  This is functional flavor at its finest!

Homemade dressing that doubles as dip? #Win!!

4. Canned Tuna or Salmon - Look for the low or no salt added fish in water for the healthiest choice. Mix with dijon mustard, lemon juice, dill, and spices to add a protein zip to your bed of greens and veggies. This is wonderful mixed in or just placed on top, and oh so easy. When they're on sale, I'll use sardines by themselves for a healthy dose of omega-3's too.

Bonus points for having tuna stuffed in mushrooms on your salad!

5. Plain, Non-fat Greek Yogurt or Cottage Cheese - Add a cool and creamy tang to your salad with yogurt! Whether mixed with a little dijon, herbs, and spices, or straight from the container, yogurt is an often overlooked choice for salads.  My favorite yogurt mix is like a Tzatziki sauce without cucumbers; I add mustard, dill, garlic and onion powder, cayenne, and pepper to plain yogurt to create a quick and healthy salad sauce.

There are many more than 5 ways to up your protein on salads, but these are my tried and true options that are easy to prepare and healthy to eat.  If you've been having the same ol' salad every day/night, zest it up and try one or all of these next time.

Geez, it feels like it's been a long week! Anyone else feel this way?  Why can't it ever feel (or even better, actually be) like a long weekend? Such is life, I guess....bleh.

Q: Are you doing anything fun this weekend? For me, fun can just be keeping myself inside and just relaxing, but there is that new Batman movie....hmm. I will definitely cook some delicious food for lunch and snacking....any ideas on what it should be?

Have a great weekend!

Simple Joy of Healthy Cereal

Cereal, whether hot or cold, crunchy or soggy, healthy or sugary, is a comforting food anytime of day. I’m a proclaimed cereal lover and tend to err on the healthy side the majority of the time. Cereal is my go-to food for a snack/second meal at night, and has been for a couple years now. I will only eat a cereal with whole grain ingredients and nothing over 6 grams of sugar per serving. Stick to these guidelines alone, and you’ll have some tasty options that won’t hurt your health or wallet.


Eat it dry, with milk, almond milk, or yogurt. Mix in fresh or frozen fruit with a few slivered almonds, toasted walnuts, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, or whatever nut/seed you prefer. With these things added to a whole grain cereal, it makes for a quick and healthy meal the whole family can enjoy. Make it a fun weekend event with several cereals to choose from along with an assortment of fruits and nuts for each friend or family member create their own mix. This is a great way to get kids to eat healthy without realizing; just make sure you control the cereals offered.

Here’s a look at a few of my favorite cereals. These are the ones I stick to most often, and will select by what’s on sale at the time.

Nature’s Path Heritage Bites

We are subscribed to have a case shipped to us from Amazon and go through them very fast! So good as a snack and in cold milk with berries or banana.

Website -http://www.naturespath.com/

      Arrowhead Mills Puffed Cereals 

My favorite is the Kamut as it is great to mix with the Kashi GoLean or eat alone. No added sugar and whole grain is a big plus. The wheat is my least favorite as it had an off taste to it. All other varieties make for a great treat alone or mixed with a lightly sweetened and crunchy cereal. Website -http://www.arrowheadmills.com/

Kashi GoLean

Not the best finger snack food as the pieces are small, but this cereal has high protein and fiber and will stay crunchy for a long time. Beware, the GoLean Crunch variety is tasty, but has a good amount of added sugar. If you must have the “Crunch,” try mixing with another low sugar cereal like the Arrowhead Mills Puffed varieties to reduce the sugar content. Website - http://www.kashi.com/

Even better with fresh blueberries!

Barbara’s Shredded Spoonfuls
I’d say this is currently my top favorite cereal. Barbara’s is a great company that supports great causes. Each part of your purchase will go to one of their supported charities. The spoonfuls offer just the right amount of sweetness (from molasses) and crunch that’s good eaten with a spoon in milk or right out of the box. Website - http://www.barbarasbakery.com/

Plain Rolled Oats

Rolled Oats are basically a blank slate to prepare however you want. Cook in your favorite type of milk or just water, sweeten to your liking, add nuts, peanut butter, squash puree, yogurt, fruit, etc and enjoy. Hot oatmeal on a cold day is always comforting and nutritious, but you can let oats soak in milk or water overnight and enjoy right from the fridge the next day.

Remember; always check ingredients for “whole grain” listed as the first thing and hopefully not sugar. Make sure the serving size (normally 3/4 or 1 Cup) has no more than 6 grams of sugar, preferably just 5. This can be used for more than just cereal too, companies can be tricky with their advertising, be cautious of what you feed your body!

Each of the companies I referenced offer an abundant amount of other healthy and not-so-healthy cereals that we can all enjoy. I choose these cereals for their wholesome ingredients and because the companies support the Earth by donating and recycling.

Don’t feel like cooking? Grab a box of wholesome cereal and take it easy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

For this one…Just “Don’t” Add Cayenne…….that would taste bad in cereal.



Easy Food Swaps for a Healthy Easter

Happy Easter!  I don't expect many people will be reading blogs today, there's too many hyper kids and deviled eggs to tend to today.

Instead of a going on about the lack of Easter specific food I made (really just a salad to bring to a family gathering) I will post healthy ingredient swaps I wrote about before.

Using healthy ingredients in place of their heavier counterparts will add up over time for a difference you can see and feel.  Sure, egg yolks contain a lot of vital nutrients our bodies crave, but the fatty mayo in deviled eggs doesn't provide much. Skip the mayo and use Greek yogurt (I prefer Chobani) instead, or throw out some yolks to use more Greek yogurt and add mustard to keep it yellow.

People won't even know there's less yolk, and as long as it's seasoned correctly, maybe they'll like it more!

Click here to read my healthy food tips and substitutions for ways to have a healthy Easter with your friends and family.  Don't stop on just one day, use these tips for everyday cooking and see how much better you look and feel.

I used rely on fast food chains and packaged foods for bulk of my meals, but after I made the right changes, my energy for and recovery from running improved ten fold.  Now that I focus on a lot of strength training, creating my own meals allows for my body to get healthy, whole foods to use to repair and replenish as needed.

Baking something? Replace most or all of the oil and sweeteners called for in a recipe with the healthier substitutes listed here.

You might think it's crazy (I did), but tofu has a lot to offer to make a simple pudding or mousse that's healthy enough to be guilt-free; it would even be great for breakfast.  Mmmm, chocolate pudding for breakfast, anyone?

Here's an extremely useful chart provided by Chobani on how to substitute yogurt for a multitude of fats like cream and oil.  I like to keep this in the kitchen for a quick reference, you never know when you'll need a quick substitute!

Source: chobani.com via RC on Pinterest

Kelley and I are going to her parents for a family gathering.  Kids will hunt eggs filled with processed chocolate candy, but they'll most likely burn it off....or so we all say, and we'll all converse while sharing an Easter lunch.  I tend to not eat that much since it's not food I cooked, but we're brining salad that I know I'll eat!

Are you making anything (more than a weak salad like me) for a get together?  Anything special this Easter, or just the standard thing like every year?

Have a great Easter and hope you can use these substitutes to your benefit!

Five Easy Ways to Have a Healthy and Happy Easter

Can you believe it’s already time for Easter? I feel like people are still making resolutions for the New Year! Speaking of, if you need a change, don’t wait for a new year to roll around; set your changes for tomorrow or next week. There’s no set rule on when you can choose to make a big change for the better in your life.

Photo taken from Chocolate-Covered Katie

Even Easter can be a great time to resolve things in your life. We all focus on living a healthier life, but so many holidays revolve around chocolate and other sugary sweets. I say we can have tasty treats that are actually good for us everyday; it just takes a little thinking. Hey, the brain needs exercise too!


As a kid, I remember consuming tons of candy and what was called chocolate, but nothing like the real stuff. Now that I’m more aware of the food I eat, candy is not a part of my diet (ever) and I’ll only have a little pure bittersweet chocolate in moderation. Of course I do like to treat myself to Annie’s Homegrown Chocolate Bunny Grahams………yes, I indulge too.

For those with children or a child who looks up to you, they’ll pay attention to what you have for special occasions. Help shape their way of thinking about these occasions by focusing mostly on healthier foods with a small amount of “treats” for pleasure.


Even without kids, a healthier lifestyle is something we can all benefit from and enable us to enjoy life better. Where’s the fun in getting outdoors or moving at all if you’re too out of shape?


As humans we aren’t meant to sit inside all day, we should be moving, doing things, enjoying company of others, etc……..just no sitting around and eating crap.


Now that I’m done (for now) with my tiny tangent; here are some ideas on how to incorporate healthier practices this Easter and beyond:


1. Focus on wholesome food that’s till tasty. If you’re having meat, choose lean cuts like rounds and loins; pick boneless, skinless for game and poultry options.

Seasoned right, lean meat is healthy and delicious!

2. Limit the candy to only what is used in Easter eggs for the egg hunt. If you don’t hunt eggs, just limit candy and avoid anything with hydrogenated oils at all costs!! Even better, make your own healthy treats for kids and yourself using recipes like these Chocolate Bunnies on Chocolate-Covered Katie’s Blog.

Another photo by Chocolate-Covered Katie (she takes great pics!)

3. Make your own baked goods! Store-bought breads and pastries are loaded with fats, sugars, and other stuff you wouldn’t find or use in your kitchen. Make something easy like 5-Minute Carrot Cake in the microwave or a cake sweetened with a stevia-sweetened beverage like Zevia (here’s a recipe I posted).

Zevia baked goods in the fore and backgrounds.

4. Keep healthy foods out for the grazers lurking before and after your big meal. Here are 7 healthy “snack” food ideas.

Cayenne Dill Dip served with crudites would be perfect!

5. Roasted veggies are a must! Serve a side of these Honey-Glazed Carrots or cut a medley of vegetables into equal sized cubes or sticks and roast in the oven to bring out their natural sweetness. Here’s a great post to give you some roasted veggie ideas and a recipe.

The pan's not big enough to fit all of my favorites!

It might seem like a lot to handle, but if you take an hour to plan it out, you’ll see how easy it really is. Plus, you’ll feel better and maybe have energy to go on your own Easter egg hunt…..kids can’t have all the fun!



Do you have any healthy tips for Easter or other holidays? What do you think about setting resolutions anytime of the year?



If you celebrate it, I hope you have a Happy and Healthy Easter with friends and family!!