Tag Archives: FAST

Late Night Snacks

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As I write this post, it is 11:37 at night, and I have a giant smoothie in my hand.  An Immune Booster Smoothie to be exact.photo-32

I am definitely a late night snacker. I get home from work around 11:00, and can’t help but want something. I know that lots of people think it’s bad to eat late at night. I’m not saying it is always the best choice, but I don’t like going to bed HANGRY (hungry/angry… bad combo). When I’m hungry, I eat.

Sometimes I want something more substantial, and sometimes a smoothie or a piece of fruit will suffice. Regardless, I always look for something that will be healthy and easy for my body to absorb and process.

Here are some of my favorite late night snacks :)

   Roasted Butternut Squash and String Beans

  • Butternut Squash
  • String Beans
  • Garlic powder, salt, pepper

Slice butternut squash thin. Place string beans and squash on a baking sheet (spray with cooking spray). Spray the top of veggies with cooking spray and sprinkle with spices. Bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

I like to dip them in a little catsup.. they remind me of “fries”.

Kale Chips are always awesome! Low in calories and totally guilt free :)

Upside down Cereal

  • Fruit of choice (Strawberries, banana, black berries, raspberries etc) sliced
  • 1/4 cup cereal of choice (I use an organic quinoa blend)
  • 1 cup milk of choice (I like coconut milk!)
  • 1/2 tsp chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and ENJOY!

I love this because you don’t get a huge carb load from cereal (the amount in this is about 1/4 a serving). I love cereal…and again, this is guilt free :)

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Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

  • Brussels sprouts cut in half
  • 1 TBS parmesan cheese
  • garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. In a bowl, drizzle oil over sprouts. Use your hands to evenly distribute it! Add in cheese and garlic powder. Place on baking sheet and cook at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

These are awesome because they are high in fiber, low in fat, and have a nice cheesy flavor. Brussels sprouts are no longer the veggie your mom forced you to eat… these are delish!

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Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bowl

  • 1/2 cup 0%fat greek Yogurt (or one small container)
  • 1 TBS coco powder
  • 1 TBS rainbow sprinkles (common you know you love em’)
  • 1/2 Frozen Banana (or raw) sliced
  • frozen blueberries (or raw) sliced
  • 2 stevia packets

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and ENJOY!!!

I love this because it is fast to make. Literally it takes 5 minutes. Sometimes (always) I crave chocolate at night. This is a great guilt free (I love that term) way to enjoy a chocolaty desert! The protein in yogurt keeps you satisfied, and the frozen fruit adds a nice chill to the bowl (almost like ice cream).

What are your favorite late night snacks??

Big Fish Update: The show is going wonderfully!!!! It truly is a gorgeous piece of theatre…the audience seems to agree!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoSYN

More Kale Chips!

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So I have a pinterest board for Cookies to Kale. My most popular recipe is for my Kale Chips. I’m not surprised. Kale chips are one of my favorite healthy snacks. They are quick, easy, and you can make them in a variety of flavors. Another plus? KALE IS AWESOME.

This green leafy veggie has gained popularity in the more recent years. It used to be that you could only find it in health food stores. Now, kale is sold at just about every grocery store! This stuff is a miracle vegetable.

  • It is jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients
  • It has more vitamin C than an orange
  • it has more calcium than a glass of milk
  • it is high in iron
  • it is an anti-inflammatory
  • If i keep going this is going to be a LONG list…

again…KALE IS AWESOME

How to make it even more awesome? Make it into a Kale chip :)

Here is my most recent favorite Kale chip recipe…

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Spicy Garlic and Parmesan Kale Chips

  • One bunch of kale
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2-1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 TBS parmesan cheese

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees (depending on oven) First wash the kale. Next, DRY it COMPLETELY (I used a salad spinner). Tear chip sized pieces of kale off of the stalk. Place the pieces into a large bowl. Take one tsp of olive oil and massage it into kale (make sure that each piece has oil on it.)

Next add all of the spices (mix them through out with your hands!) Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread kale out evenly (they can overlap). Bake for 10-15 minutes. Take out, and move them around with a spatula. Continue baking for about 5-10 more minutes (keep an eye on them).

Let them cool for a few minutes and ENJOY! I like to dip them in a little catsup :)

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I love these because the cheesy garlic flavor really comes through, and you get a nice kick of spice as an after thought. They are incredibly fast to make and are a wonderfully crunchy and HEALTHY!!!!

On another note, tomorrow is our first performance of Big Fish!!!! It is such a special show, and I feel so honored to be a part of it. COME CHECK US OUT!!!

xoxoSYN

Experiments with oatmeal!

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First, I want to start this post with a shout out to spin class.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am a workout nut. I love the feeling of getting a good sweat on, especially in the morning. Today, I took a kick ass Soul Cycle Class with the instructor Rique. If you live in the NY area and haven’t taken his class PLEASE DO. In my opinion, Soul Cycle is always an amazing experience, but this guy is life changing. It is nearly impossible to get into his class, but if you can, go for it. YOU WILL NOT BE disappointed!

Anyway, after I returned from my cycle sesh, I was starving. Oatmeal is always my go to breakfast. It is a fantastic source of slow release carbs. This means the glycemic load of oatmeal doesn’t force your blood sugar to SKY ROCKET like a white refined carb would. It keeps you full and satisfied for a long time. Also, it is a surprisingly good source of protein. With 6 grams in one cup of cooked oatmeal, you can’t go wrong. 6 grams may not sound like a lot, but it is definitely going to add to your protein count for the day.

My favorite oatmeal is Chocolate Oatmeal. I enjoy it nearly every morning. I mean common, who doesn’t love chocolate?! For some reason, I wanted something different. As I thought of about a creative oatmeal idea, I made some coffee. Yummm Coffee…

….Coffee Oatmeal?

yup

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Mocha Oatmeal

  • 1/2 cup dry rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup milk of choice
  • 1 TBS cocoa powder
  • 2 packets stevia
  • 1/2 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp instant coffee (I use trader Joes brand)**
  • fruit of choice (Berries are my fave)

Mix all ingredients **EXCEPT Coffee and cocoa powder** in a large bowl and microwave for a minute and a half. Stir and microwave for another minute. Keep a close eye on it.. make sure it doesn’t spill over while microwaving!!! Stir in cocoa and coffee, Top with berries and ENJOY!

**If you don’t have instant coffee, try omitting water and subbing 1/2 cup fresh brewed coffee and 1/2 cup milk of choice. I can’t vouch for the results, but it may work :)

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was! Just goes to show that experimenting in the kitchen can lead to new favorites!!!

xoxoSYN

Fast and Easy

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People say that they don’t cook because they don’t have time. It is much easier to pick up the phone and order, or to get in the car and drive through. Eating out doesn’t have to equate to unhealthy food. Sometimes, there are considerably healthy options when you are ordering from an establishment. In my opinion, it is absolutely alright to order out once in a while, but it is crucial that we cook our own food the majority of the time.

For one thing, eating out is EXPENSIVE. It is really east to spend $15.00 on a single meal. A home cooked meal will more than likely cost you half that amount.

When we cook our own food, we have complete control. We know exactly how much of each ingredient we are putting in. We can add extra greens, omit excess salt, and make sure that the dish has JUST enough spice :)

If time is of the essence, make sure you are prepared! Here are a few suggestions on how to make home cooking easy and fast :

  1. Frozen vegetables: Open the bag, spray a pan, cook…Voala! Veggies cooked in under 5 minutes
  2. Pre-cook grains: Whenever I cook quinoa or brown rice, I make enough to last me for the week. Put it in a Tupperware and store it in the fridge. It re-heats really quickly, and you don’t have to waste your time making and remaking the same thing.—-(Use About 3 cups of water to 1.5 cups of grain when cooking)
  3. Easy Proteins: When I’m in a rush, my go to proteins are: eggs, black beans, and frozen shrimp. Eggs can be cooked in a mug (spray with cooking spray, pour 1/2 cup egg whites and microwave for 1 and a half minutes). Beans can be thrown on anything, and frozen shrimp cook in about 5 minutes.

Here is my favorite quick meal. It is satisfying, fast, and extremely cost-effective :)

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Vegetable “fried” Quinoa

  • 1/2 cup liquid egg whites (or 3 whole egg whites)
  • 1/2 bag of frozen veggies (I used asian blend)
  • 1/4 cup quinoa
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1-2 cloves of chopped garlic
  • 2-3 tbs soy sauce
  • 3 tbs water
  • optional: fresh chopped ginger, sriracha sauce

Spray a pan with Non-stick spray. Cook veggies and garlic with 3 tbs of water (cover for about 3 minutes). While veggies are cooking, spray a coffee mug with non-stick spray, and microwave eggs for about 1 1/2 minutes.  Chop the egg whites into small pieces and add along with  soy sauce and quinoa to pan and stir. (Add optional sriracha).

Transfer to a bowl, stir in sesame oil, use chopsticks (because they are fun) and ENJOY!!!

Food cooked at home always tastes better :)

xoxoSYN