Sweet Tooth? Post Work Out Protein? Mushies?

PMS is the killer of all diets and I am so glad that I only have healthy food in my house because I could plow through the aisles of a grocery store right now. Seriously. Danger.

The good news is that i've been losing 2 lbs a week consistently. I can see my body changing for the better. I feel good about having purpose behind my workouts as opposed to just going cardio crazy for as long as I can possibly stand it. I'm really sticking to the all around healthy eating regimen and don't feel deprived. Well... every once in a while I want to smash chocolate all over my face but who doesn't? 

I ran across this post on post workout snacks that caught my eye and I seriously have to share this with you, it's over the top! It's a perfect mix of complex carbs and protein with no added sugar. It's smooth like icing so its easy on the band and it's rich and chocolatey!! Holy yum. 

1 Japanese/asian sweet potato (reddish on the outside white on the inside ... Different sweet potatoes have different nutritional value so just take note if you have to substitute)

1 scoop of syntax nectar chocolate truffle 

Splash  of water

Microwave or bake the potato until cooked through, remove the skin and mash with protein powder and a tiny splash of water if needed. You can also just put it all in the blender or use a hand mixer to whip it up. 

Makes 2 servings - You can eat it hot or cold - 1 serving has about 12 carbs and 12 grams of protein and about 100 cals! 

 

My Super Secret Hummus Recipe

I was going to keep this recipe a secret because I've never done that before. But what fun is having a recipe that no one else gets to try. Last year I started making my own hummus and people always go crazy over it. A few weeks ago one of my co-workers said, "Oh your hummus is legendary." The funny thing was she had never even had it before!

I prefer it to the pre-made stuff because it actually goes bad. You can buy a package of hummus at any store and throw it in your fridge for months and it never gets moldy. After 2 to 3 days, my homemade hummus gets great big fluffy green mold all over it.

Don't get me wrong I'm not a mold enthusiast, I'm allergic to the stuff. But when I saw that I kept thinking what the hell are we eating? How in the heck does hummus that has been made, packaged, shipped around the country, stocked on shelves and then purchased days later not get moldy after a month in my fridge? If cancer is literally cells that are supposed to die off but don't ... then maybe the chemical preservatives in our food have something to do with that.

Anyways, I digress. Here's the recipe, I made it up on a whim and it is CRAZY good. It packs some heat, so if spicy food bothers you sit this one out.

1 can chick peas (reserve juice from can)
3 cloves garlic Juice from 1 lemon
2 heaping tablespoons Tahini
About 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Parsley -or any mix of green spices you have on hand
(Everything above this line is my base recipe you can stop here and skip to the directions if you'd like)
2 tablespoons of adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers
Cumin
Dried Cilantro
2 teaspoons of dark brown sugar

Start by spooning the chick peas and some liquid from the can into the food processor. You'll end up with a little less than 1/2 a can of juice left over. Set the can and remaining juice to the side, you'll need that for texture later. Pile the rest in the food processor. Throw the lid on and let it process for quite a while until it looks smooth. If the texture is too thick add more juice or olive oil until you get a nice smooth consistency. Taste it right away to see if there is anything missing and add spices as you see fit. You can eat it right away, but it's so much better if you cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Blueberry-Spinach Protein Shake

I have been dying to try a shake with some fresh spinach in it because quite frankly I haven't had very many greens lately. When you're eating such a small amount it's hard to fit it all in. And quite frankly, my intestines are screaming for a little extra fiber if you know what I mean. So,try this, it's delicious.
1 oz of baby spinach
1 oz of blueberries (I used fresh, but read my notes below, frozen may be better)
1 cup of your favorite % milk
2 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder
2 packets of splenda Blend until smooth.

I didn't have enough room in my little blender cup to put ice in this one, but I definitely wanted it colder. I put my fresh blueberries in the freezer to help with that and making milk ice cubes might even been another good option. Either way this was super delicious and had 45 grams of protein!

Nectar Chocolate Truffle Review

Two Words:

AHH MAZING

Single Servings

In the past I would actually scoff at the high price of these single serving foods. The price was entirely too high for 2  people who could easily eat 2 or 3 of these in one setting.

Well, not anymore. These little pre-portioned gems bring happiness to my new life.

We are at the point where we can try some crackers to see how they go down! Another perfect lunch.

This is perfect for 1 lunch - The whole package has 25 grams of protein!

I don't know how I feel about the premixed chicken salad, but I'll try it once.

30 Grams of Protein Per Can

Add a little protein powder - I get 6 servings out of this cup! Ridiculous.

Special Delivery

I'm so excited!!!! Remember how I was saying I was sick of chocolate protein powder? The other day at the store I saw 2 lb jars of  a brand of  protein powder called Nectar but it was close to $40! Now i don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for packaging. This is what the description says on the back of the jar:

"Gone are the days of low quality whey protein. Gone are the days of those blah-tasting protein drinks that promise much but deliver little. Nectar once-and-for-all breaks the mold by combining Promina, the highest quality whey protein isolate ever developed, with a flavoring system that is so fruitilicious that you will never drink another whey protein shake ever again. If you like the refreshing taste of fruit juice, you'll love Nectar! With its mouthwatering fruit juice flavors, Nectar is truly a protein drink you will look forward to drinking each and every day. Whether it be Chocolate Truffle, Roadside Lemonade, Caribbean Cooler, Strawberry Kiwi, Lemon Tea, Fuzzy Navel, Strawberry Mousse, Vanilla Bean Torte, Twisted Cherry, Apple Ecstasy, or Cappuccino Latte. Nectar will keep you coming back for more. What's more? Well, Syntrax did something totally amazing by engineering Nectar to be so delicious that you can eat it right out of the container. Imagine putting a protein powder in your mouth and it tasting like candy. Imagine this protein powder having zero carbs and zero fat."

Are you kidding me? Is that not the best sales pitch for protein powder you've ever heard in your life? I wanted to buy one so bad but my inner cheap skate kept telling me it was a rip off. So instead I bought something I didn't want for less. boo. (that's getting returned of course)

I've come to realize that you should price shop protein powder. Like I said in an earlier post, we paid $26 for the same 2lb container of body fortress powder at kroger that was $14.99 at wal mart.

When I got home I searched for Nectar online and not only found 2 lb jars for $26 but I found this fab little variety pack for $16!!!! Reviews on a few Bariatric websites were all excellent, so I ordered my variety pack.

The package arrived today and it was like christmas all over again. I can't wait to try them

Look at all these flavors!

Just as I was typing this, I searched for that packaging message, and found this sample pack for $3 less than what I paid. Go figure! Here's the cheaper link:

http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/SYNTRAX_NECTAR_PROTEIN_POWDER_SAMPLES_p/nectar-sample.htm

Mushies - Smooth Lasagna

I made this last night along with the mexican mush! I can't believe that 1 hamburger patty was enough ground beef for MS and I to have 2 meals plus left overs! My mom is Italian, so this is a feel good mushie meal for me.

This makes a little more than three servings.

2 oz of ground beef, turkey or chicken, browned and drained
1 clove Garlic grated
1/2 cup Wolfgang Puck Creamy Vodka Sauce (or your favorite)
1 tablespoon of cottage cheese (only if you have it, you can skip this if you don't have it)
Salt and Pepper
Italian Seasoning
Dash of Splenda
3 tablespoons Kraft Simply Ricotta Cheese

(I having a food scale to make this, but you can measure it out by the tablespoon if you need to)

In a small skillet brown the meat season with salt and pepper and drain. Do Not over cook. Wipe out excess grease from the pan

return the meat to the pan and grate garlic over the meat and season it with as a lot of italian seasoning

Stir in the sauce and 1 tablespoon of cottage cheese let simmer on low heat for a bit so the flavors can meld. Add two small dashes of splenda (not even half of 1 packet)

When sauce has simmered for a few minutes remove from heat and blend in food processer or blender until it as smooth as possible.

Add 1 tablespoon of Kraft Simply Ricotta cheese to a small bowl and cover with 1/3 of the sauce and enjoy.

I must say Kraft Simply Ricotta Cheese is the absolute best packaged Ricotta cheese I have ever tasted. It is incredibly close to a fresh made batch. I highly reccomend it.

Mushies - Mexican Mush

Alright, friends. This is a recipe that you absolutely cannot pass up during the mushie stage. I wish I would have taken pictures of this process. This recipe will make 2 servings that are about 2.5 oz each.

2 ounces of lean ground beef
1/4 cup of fat free re fried black beans
Taco seasoning
Salt and Pepper
Shredded Sharp Cheddar (just a tiny amount)
Sour cream  (also a tiny amount

-In a small non stick frying pan brown the hamburger. Season with a small amount of salt and pepper while browning. Don't overcook the hamburger

- Drain the ground beef and wipe out any extra grease from the pan. Return the drained beef to the pan and lower the heat to medium low.

- Season the beef with taco seasoning and add about an 1/8 of a cup of water to the pan and let it simmer and mix with taco seasoning.

- Add re fried beans to the pan and mix well with the beef as they heat up. Add more taco seasoning if you like.

- Once the beans and beef are mixed together nicely, put the mixture in a blender or food processor until as smooth as possible.

- In small bowls measure out 2 oz of beef/bean mix. Top with small amount of cheese and heat in microwave for 30 seconds or less. Top with a small dollop of sour cream and enjoy.

When we eat softer foods, I am going to throw a tamed jalapeno slice on the top of this. To die for.

Since I don't have pics here's are some consellation product photos:

Protein Pudding - Cheesecake? Maybe.

I think I might like Fage Total 2% Plain Greek Yogurt the best so far. I'm still not crazy about just eating it plain. But I've been avoiding the containers that have a fruity addition on the side because of the amount of sugar and that I can't eat a whole container just yet. I love adding powders and mixing it with flavors and honestly it's excellent with just a packet of splenda.

When I add splenda it makes me feel like I'm having a little cheesecake. But who knows, it is possible that I'm delusional from the tiny amounts of food I have consumed this week :)

I'll just go ahead and make it a mission to taste test the brands and I'll report back on that when I can!
Meanwhile, if you go to the Fage website, it looks like they occasionally offer coupons.

Protein Pudding - Peanut Butter Pudding

1.5 oz of plain or vanilla Greek Yogurt
.5 oz of low sugar peanut butter
1 packet of splenda

Mix  until smooth. Heaven

*you can add a little protein powder to this if you need to

Italian Cottage Cheese

1/4 cup Cottage Cheese
Salt & Pepper
Grated Parm Cheese
Basil/Oregano (or Italian seasoning)

Season the Cottage Cheese and mix up. You can add unflavored protein powder to it if you need it!

Protein Pudding - Pumpkin Pudding

1.5 oz Vanilla Greek Yogurt
.5 oz Pumpkin
Teaspoon unflavored or vanilla protein powder
1 packet Splenda Essentials
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Season to your liking and mix until smooth.

High Protein Mushie Food - Buffalo Chicken Hummus

Yay for day 2 of mushies. We can incorporate some more good tastes in our day and feel a little more normal! MS and I love Buffalo wings so when I saw a recipe for Buffalo Chicken Hummus on Pinterest I knew I was going to make my own version of it this week.

Here is my recipe:

3-6 cloves of garlic depending on your taste
1 cup of canned chick peas with some of the juice from the can, reserve the rest of the juice
4 oz of cooked chopped chicken
1 tablespoon Tahini (sesame seed paste, found in the ethnic food aisle)
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
Olive Oil
Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
Parsley
Salt & Pepper
Buffalo Dry Rub Seasoning from Buffalo Wild Wings (2 T. of bottled wing sauce if you can't find this)
Small Pinch of splenda

Add Chicken, Garlic and a small amount of olive oil to a food processor and let it run for a while until everything is completely smooth. Scrape the sides of any remaining chunks

Add Chick peas with some juice from the can and reserve the rest of the can juice, you'll add more later to bring the hummus to the desired consistency, Turn the food processor back on and let it run until the chick peas are completely smooth.

While the processor is running you can add lemon juice, a little more olive oil, tahini. Let the processor keep running.

When it's finally looks nice and smooth you can take the top off and add the seasonings. You have to add these according to your own tastes. The Buffalo Wild Wings Rub is pretty spicy - so take your time with it. To give you an idea, I probably used about 1/2 teaspoon of buffalo seasoning, 1 tablespoon of Ranch Mix, 1 tablespoon of parsley, a couple of pinches of salt and pepper and a tiny sprinkle of splenda.

Turn the processor back on to incorporate the spices and then slowly add can juice or olive oil until the hummus is smooth and light consistency. If you accidentally add too much juice, just throw some more chick peas in.

It's good right away, but it's waaayy better if you cover and refrigerate for a few hours!

2 oz of this hummus has approximately 5 grams of protein per 1/4 cup.


A couple of other options -  I think this hummus would taste amazing if it were made with white beans. I haven't tried it that way yet though, I also think it would taste amazing with just a few crumbles of real bleu cheese thrown in the food processor. Try it out and let me know what you come up with!

Protein Pudding - Cookies & Cream

Merry Christmas to us! We were able to start our mushies phase today and let me tell you it was great.

I have always loved yogurt and sour cream is seriously my favorite condiment. But for some reason I'm having a hard time jumping on the Greek yogurt train. However, I plan on including it in my diet for the long haul because of how much protein it has. I made this little snack today and I think it was delicious! Try it and let me know what you think.

2 oz of Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 packet of Splenda Essentials
1 teaspoon of Cookies and Cream Protein powder

mix it with a spoon for a minute or two to smooth the protein powder into the yogurt and enjoy. I didn't figure out the exact protein count on this, but I promise you it has a lot more than a sugar free pudding cup!


P.S. I noticed that Kroger started selling their own brand of greek yogurt for 30 cents cheaper than the name brands. It's as good as any of the name brands!