Healthy Cookie Dough

I took another stab at this healthy version of my favorite sweet treat! I love cookie dough, and can't seem to keep my fingers out of the batter while mixing, so it's such a treat to be able to devour this GUILT FREE! 

This recipe can easily be adjusted with ingredients you currently have at home. 

Ingredients:

🍚1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

🍨1 scoop vanilla protein powder

🍯8 tbsp nut butter of your choice (I used Maranatha Maple Almond Butter)

🍁1/4 cup Walden Farms Pancake Syrup

(Can use honey, agave, or even maple extract)

🍞1/4 tsp butter extract (optional)

🍫14g Dark Chocolate Chips (I used Lily's sweetened with stevia)

Mix all ingredients (sans chips) together and add water if you desire a runnier texture. Fold in chocolate chips and enjoy. 

Xo Shan

Sweet Eggs first thing in the morning

I have the worst habits around the holidays. It all starts with Halloween and the buckets of candy my children bring home. I try to remove as much as possible, but there is still too much and I can't pretend like it doesn't exist. I sneak one or two pieces from time to time. The sugar just sends me in to a tailspin causing cravings and withdrawals, making me want more and MORE! Last night was no exception as I made my nightly cup of tea. I just love a piece of chocolate with hot tea! Since I fell asleep shortly after having my little treat, I woke with raging cravings for sugar! I immediately wanted to walk to the cabinet where the Halloween cabinet is hidden, but I had to stop the madness. It was one of those mornings when you tell yourself it's "You vs. You" and that is what I did. While the kids were asking for their over easy eggs, I decided the best thing to do was make some delicious sweet eggs and today's creation was awesome! 

Here is the recipe;

1c egg whites (I was hungry!)

1/4tsp butter extract

1/2tsp vanilla extract

1/2tsp cinnamon

2-4 packets stevia

1/4c fat free ricotta cheese

1/4c oat bran

I scrambled all the ingredients together until well cooked and drizzled Walden Farms Pancake Syrup on the top. My kids said it smelled like french toast and loved it too! 

Blueberry Protein Cakes

This combination has been my go to as a cold snack, but I decided to add some egg whites and make them in to "pancakes." The crispness was just the right touch! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 

Measurements are approximate cause I'm just reckless like that! 

🍚1/2c cottage cheese (low sodium)

🌰1/4c oat bran

🍳1/4c egg whites

🍇1/3c blueberries 

🍯1/4tsp butter extract

🍦smidgen of stevia to sweeten😉 Enjoy! 

I just cooked them in a pan like pancakes and vóila! 

Xo Shan 

Coconut Protein Pancakes

I am still perfect lung many of my recipes, but these have been the most moist pancakes thus far. Excited to share the recipe! 

2tbsp Vanilla protein powder (approx 1/3 scoop)

2tbsp coconut flour

1/3tbsp Coconut Manna (creamy coconut butter)

1tbsp shredded reduced fat coconut

2tbsp coconut milk

1/4tsp baking powder

2tbsp WildFriends Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter

1/8c liquid egg whites

Mixed all the ingredients together (minus a sprinkle of coconut for the top) and cooked.  

Made 4 small pancakes. 

Cauliflower Muffins

Oh, my poor abondoned blog. What ever shall I do with you? You have been left in the shadows of Instagram. I will try my best to make it up to you! I have recently posted my cauliflower muffins, and was going to give the recipe here, but @meganonajourney squeezed it out of me before I could dust you off! For those that do still follow, here it is!

Cook cauliflower in microwave for approx 10 minutes and let cool. (You can also steam if you choose not to use a microwave)

Grate cauliflower in large bowl. 

In small bowl add 4tbsp Greek yogurt, 1/2c egg whites, italian seasoning or Mrs Dash garlic herb, and 1/8tsp saffron. Mix well and add to grated cauliflower. 

In greased cupcake pan, fill each about 1/2-3/4 full. Should make 12 "muffins."

Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. 

Grate 28g (or 1" cube) of Skinny Brit cheddar cheese (or another low fat cheese) and spread evenly over all 12 "muffins." Bake and additional 2-5 minutes on broil.  Cool completely before removing. Vóila! 

Transformation Tuesday

As I make small steps in my fitness journey and overall health, it helps to take pictures along the way to reflect on all the changes I have made and appreciate the process, no matter how slow. Sharing said pictures is a different story, and although I'm sure there is someone who could relate to my story and needs some motivation to take small steps themselves, I just never imagined sharing personal pictures of my weight and ever changing body. ...until now. 

My fitness journey is like so many others I have read about. A constant battle of yo-yo dieting, lowering calories to lose weight, not understanding the damage on my metabolism and overall health. Two pregnancies, an eating disorder and a mountain of insecurities, I can safely say I have come a long way, and my journey has only just begun. 

I don't really know how many people will read this, or if someone can even relate remotely to my story, but it has been such a great outlet to be able to write about my accomplishments, and I'm hoping by posting some pictures, it will remind me just how far I've CW and to never give up!

I could not find a good picture of me from 2004, but I hit an altimeter low weight of around 130lbs. I am 5'10", and was anorexic and frail. My hair was falling out and my teeth were deteriorating quickly. In the picture to the left, November 2008, I was around 170lbs. My son was 18 months and I just kept excepting my body as a "mother's body."  None of the weight came off before getting pregnant with my daughter (center picture October  2009), when I tipped the scale at 180lbs. 

Today I am a healthy 150(ish)lbs. It took several months to adjust my mind from craving the scale to show me 140lbs. I had to retrain my brain to understand that the weight I have gained is from loss of fat and gain of muscle. I try not to weigh myself, and remember that today I am happier than when I was cutting calories. Today I am fit, not skinny.