Tag: gnc

Snack Attack!

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We are reaching the finish line, guys! It is almost 5pm. We are 1 hour and 12 minutes away from the weekend. We made it! Another week, another dollar! We all make such a good team.

Just a few moments ago I was craving a snack. I hate snacking. Snacking = empty calories. But I wanted something…. something sweet. My immediate thought was to have a Mission clean protein bar . I like these bars because they are high fiber, low carb, and 0g sugar alcohol. My favorite flavor is the chocolate brownie (190 cal and 20g protein). Grab one at your local GNC.

This got me thinking, we are always on the run, spend a lot of time commuting, and sitting at our desks… what do you keep in your desk, bag, or car?

Currently, I have a Mission bar and Emerald Nuts- 100 cal pack in my desk drawer. I usually keep a bag of jerky in my gym bag (quick protein post work out). I live about 1.5 hours away from my Parents so for those long car rides I’ll pack some fruit and nuts and cheese if we crave something to munch on.

Like I said, I am not a huge fan of snacking but I understand that with this “always on the go” routine we have, we need to have something to eat! If I am going to snack, it is going to be something healthy that will keep me full for a long time.

I used to be the kind of person who would get fast food during my car rides home. Something about eating fries in traffic used to be so comforting but it was taking a toll on my health and it was always sooooooooooooo embarrassing when someone was like “what did you eat?” “were you eating fast food?” or how about all the wrinkled oily bags in the back seat. OMG, so gross! We’ve replaced fast food bags with protein bar wrappers and empty water bottles… which reminds me, I need to clean the back of my car ASAP.

Snack food that you will most likely find in my work space:

  • Protein bars
  • Nuts
  • Jerky
  • Peanut butter or almond butter
  • Dried edamame
  • Hummus   (Click link for coupon)
  • Tuna snack pack
  • In the work fridge: oranges, apples, and cheese

What about you? What is your go-to snack food? What do you keep at your desk or on the run? If you have any more ideas, I’d love to hear them!

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

 

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Caribbean Jerk Shrimp and Sweet Potato Avocado Mash

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No offense to Paula Deen or my Russian ancestors, but we do not need to use butter in everything! “What do you mash with your potatoes to make them moist and flavorful?”
::insert heavy Russian accent::

 

Say hello to my little friend, Avocado.

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I promise I will get to the recipe in a second but first lets see the difference between avocado and buttah:
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Ingredients for one serving:

  • 1 sweet potato
  • 1/2 avocado
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cayenne pepper optional
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 1 tbs minced garlic
  • 1 tbs evoo or coconut oil
  • Walkerswood Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
  • Lemon juice for the avocado and shrimp
  • 3 oz shrimp (I used Target’s Market Pantry small shrimp): 60 cal/13g protein

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • Pierce holes around sweet potato and bake for 45-1 hour or until soft or microwave for approx 10 min turning sides once
  • Soak shrimp in cold water for about 15 min
  • Once shrimp have defrosted place in ziploc bag and mix with jerk seasoning. Cook on pan for about 3-5 minutes or until translucent
  • Chop onion and garlic, saute for approx 3 to 4 minutes until translucent
  • Drizzle half avocado with lemon juice, salt and pepper
  • Mash baked potato and avocado together and mix in onions and garlic
  • Serve with cooked shrimped and lemon wedge

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Sweet Tooth

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Loving sweets is such a terribly delicious addiction!

There are times when I am sitting at my desk and start salivating thinking  of caramel, sugar, chocolate, cookies, and cream, oh my! The list goes on and on. So what does one do when they are torn by their love of chocolate and all things sweet and wanting to be fit and fabulous ::sad face:: ?!

After researching healthy dessert recipes and substituting this and that and making myself crazy, I’ve discovered the wonderful world of protein bars! Quest, Power Bars, Mission, Crunch, OhYeah!, Combat… you get the idea.

Anyway, some protein bars are a major disappointment and others are pure bliss. Whoever came up with Combat chocolate chip cookie dough is my hero and if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU. WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE? MY SWOLEMATE?

I thought for a minute I was eating a twix bar or licking the cookie dough batter off the spoon… It’s an emotional roller coaster.

Peoples, the weekend is just around the corner and I hear there is gonna be a HUGE snow storm… go to your local GNC, pick up a box [or two] of some Combat bars and snuggle up by the fire enjoying the deliciousness. Your taste buds will thank you and you will continue winning the battle of the bulge. You-1 Scale-0

Final thought, courtesy of Charles M Shulz, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

….I’m sure he would say the same thing about these delicious chocolaty protein bars 😉

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