*Carrot Cake Protein Shake*

I have been craving carrot cake lately so I thought why not make it into a healthy shake!!!

This was so good that I almost drank the entire thing before realizing I hadn't taken a picture yet!  So I poured what was left (about 1/3 of it) into a clear glass and here it is...

Carrot Cake Smoothie

1 C cooked carrots diced (I used canned carrots to save time)

1 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 C ice cubes

1/2 tsp cinnamon (add some nutmeg too if you like)

1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp Stevia or Truvia

1 T flax seed, wheat germ or chia seeds (this is optional)

Blend well and drink up! 

This was so good!  I even shared it with my 15 month old daughter, she couldn't get enought!  Want to add some fruit to it?  Try 1/2 a frozen banana! :)

*25 Minute Treadmill Workout*

I like to do this when I don't have alot of time.  Definitly gets you sweating, gets the heart rate up and works the booty!  My incline only goes to 10 on my treadmill, so if yours goes higher you can adjust the inlcine I have posted to make it harder.  I love switching my speed every minute, keeps me occupied and makes the time go super fast.  Treadmills bore the crap out of me!!  I would rather run OUTSIDE! :) 


Time          Speed          Incline
0-5              6.5              1
5-6              4                 2
6-7              6.5              2
7-8              3.5              3
8-9              6.3              3
9-10            3.5              4
10-11            6.1              4
11-12            3.5              5
12-13           5.9              5
13-14           3.5              6
14-15           5.7              6
15-16           3.0              7
16-17           5 .5              7
17-18           3.0              8
18-19           5.3              8
19-20          3.0              9
20-21           5.1              9
21-22           3.5             10
22-23           4.9             10
23-24           4                7
24-25           4                5

This is a modified version of a workout I saw on PBFingers Blog.

*It's Not Just Another Wrap!*

I threw this together for lunch and it turned out so good that I just had to share it!  I did not make it with any meat but feel free to add chicken, tofu or whatever you choose.  

I buy these wraps in the mexican food aisle at the grocery store.  They are so much better than other high fiber low calorie wraps I have tried.  These are a nice big size and are soft so they are easy to wrap up.  They are made with EVOO , baked with 5 whole grains, have 12 grams (48% daily intake) of fiber and are only 100 calories!!!

Here is my secret to a good wrap...I use this spreadable Laughing Cow cheese (only 35 calores and 2g fat).  When I use this I don't feel like I need to add any sauce because it it nice and creamy.  That means NO extra calories or fat from cheese slices or mayo!

Whole grain quinoa...this stuff is amazing!  I just recently tried quinoa for the first time and now I am obsessed.  I eat it for breakfast like an oatmeal or I use it to substitute rice.  If you haven't ever had it, "google" it!  It's so good for you! :)

INGREDIENTS FOR WRAP

1 Wrap

Kale - about a handful torn up

1/4 Red Onion sliced

1/4 Red Pepper sliced

1/2 Lemon

1/4 C Quinoa - cook as directed on package

1 wedge Laughing Cow cheese

(I used Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomatoe & Basil Flavored)

1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tsp Chia Seed (optional)

Place skillet over Medium heat and drizzle in 1 T EVOO.  Add in Kale, Onion & Red Pepper.  When onions becomed softened add in cooked quinoa and chia seeds.  Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into skillet.  Stir for for about a minute to get everything incorporated and enough time to heat up the quinoa.  Spread wedge of Laughing Cow cheese onto wrap and top with veggie/quinoa mixture.   

Wrap up and eat while hot. *YUMMY*  Bon appetit! :)

**Use whatever veggies you have on hand, this is an easy recipe to change up!

*Mocha Green Monster*

Here is my spin on the Mocha Green Monster smoothie - I found the original recipe from Peanut Butter Fingers Blog (see links below).  This is a great blog, please check it out!!!



My version:
1 Scoop Chocolate Protein (I use Muscle Milk Light)
1 Handful of Spinach
1 Frozen Banana
1/2 C Almond Milk (unsweetened vanilla)
1/2 C double strength coffee
1/2 T cocoa powder
1/2 - 1 C ice (depends how thick you want it)

Blend until smooth!  I love this, you can't even see the spinach after blending and you can't taste it either.  I enjoy this in the morning after a workout...I have it as my breakfast and my coffee fix all in one! :)

ENJOY! :)


Original Recipe from Peanut Butter Fingers:

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 handful spinach

1 frozen banana

1 c. milk

1/2 tbsp. cocoa powder

1/2 packet instant coffee

1 pinch xanthan gum (for thickening)

Check Julie out on Twitter, Peanut Butter Fingers Blog and Facebook!

*Go Bananas!*

I am a huge fan of bananas!  I mash them to put in pancakes, slice them up over my cereal, add them to smoothies and blended coffee drinks, slice them up on peanut butter toast...ETC! 

Today I found a steal at the grocery store.  They had big bags of bananas for under $2!  I always feel sad that people throw out food or think it's bad because of what the outside looks like.  These bananas weren't bright yellow anymore but they were barely brown so they were perfectly good still. 

I brought them home, peeled them and cut in half.  Then I placed them in zip-lock bags and tossed in the freezer.  The reason I cut them in half is because alot of my recipes only call for half a banana. 

Cut up and ready to freeze! :)

I do the same thing with other fruits that I might not be able to consume before they go bad such as strawberries, limes, lemons, blueberries etc...  Freeze them and use them to flavor water or throw in a smoothie.  Save the fruit! ;)



*Fabulous Pumpkin Protein Shake*

This is ONE of my favorite protein shakes!!  Great for an afternoon snack (especially after a workout)! I am a HUGE fan of ANTHING made with pumpkin. Give this a try:

1 scoop of vanilla protein (I use Muscle Milk Light)
1/2 C Pumpkin
8 oz Almond Milk - unsweetened vanilla
1 tsp Pumpkin Spice
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp Stevia
1 C ice
(I like to put a dash of cinnamon in there too!)
Throw it all in the blender and...BLEND baby BLEND!!! Enjoy! ;)