Healthy Snacks

I wanted to share a couple new recipes I've created lately.  The hardest times for us to eat as we should are breakfast (pre-coffee, do I need to say more??), post-work out (completely exhausted and now I need to make something??), and night time (my butt is not getting off the couch!)  These recipies are great to snack on.

Roasted Walnuts - You can also use pecans or almonds.

Preheat oven to 400F.
In a bowl combine:
2 cups nuts
3 Tbsp brown sugar splenda
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp white splenda
1/8 cup melted Olivina
Mix together ensuring the sugars get all melted and gooey, coating the nuts.
Spread mixture in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Bake for 7-10 min, or until you start to smell the nuts.  Do not over cook!
Immediately remove the nuts from the pan.  I put the pan in the freezer to quickly cook and stop the cooking.  Plus they are immediately ready to eat!  These are great in a spinach and strawberry salad.  Store in a sealed container, in the fridge if you don't devour immediately.

Protein Ice Cream - It doesn't have the creamy nature of ice-cream, but it definitely satisfies the cravings.
Peanut Butter Chocolate
In a good blender combine:
4 cups of ice
2 scoops chocolate protein
3 Tbsp peanut butter
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts - optional
1 cup milk - almond milk also works
1 Tbsp cocoa
3 Tbsp Splenda
Blend until well mixed.  You can stick in the freezer to re-freeze, but protein freezes quickly, so I wouldn't leave it in the freezer for more than 30 min.

Vanilla Blueberry
Blend together as above:
2 scoops Vanilla protein
4 cups frozen blueberries
1 cup almond milk
3 Tbsp Splenda

And finally, our new favorite breakfast treat.
Oatmeal Raisin Bars - Tastes like pumpkin spice bread.
Preheat oven to 350F

In a bowl combine:
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Cinnamon to taste
3Tbsp brown sugar splenda
1 scoop vanilla protein
1/3 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup raisins

In a separate bowl combine:
1 egg white
1 whole egg
1 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp EVOO
1/2 c apple sauce

Mix together the two mixtures and pour into a greased 9" pie pan.  Bake at 350F for 35-40 min.
Store in fridge.  Makes 8 bars.  Microwave 30 sec to reheat.
To change it up you can substitute the apple sauce for pumpkin or mashed ripe bananas.  Yum.  Great for breakfast on the go, or for a quick snack.  You can also add your favorite fruit - apples, cranberries, ect.