(No Bake) Peach Chia Almond Protein Cheesecake

Eating cheesecake for breakfast is just fine by me, especially if it’s my no-bake Peach Chia Almond Protein Cheesecake. Also, just fine by me – personal-sized, portion-controlled, no-bake cheesecakes, like this these! Peach Chia Almond Protein Cheesecakes are a lower-carb, protein-packed option for a quick breakfast or healthier dessert!

It doesn’t take long to make a batch of this lower-carb breakfast recipe the night before, for grab-and-go morning meals. Or, eat for dessert as a healthier cheesecake option packed, with no added sugars other than from the fruit and packed with protein thanks to cottage cheese and protein powder. Read on to get the friendly for meal prep breakfast recipe: Continue reading

Margarita Protein Mug Cake and My Visit to Optimum Nutrition HQ

This post is #sponsored by Optimum Nutrition however all opinions, comments and enthusiasm remain my own.

So, a few weeks ago, I was invited to head out to Chicago to visit the Optimum Nutrition headquarters. I was pretty excited about this because 1) I’m a fan of their products for all phases of my workout and running nutrition (including my own recipe creation) and 2) my inner food nerd can’t resist an invitation to get a behind the scenes look at how the research, development, manufacturing and marketing stages are executed for various brands.Jennifer thefitfork.com Optimum Nutrition HQ

Read on to see what I thought about the whole trip, learn about some of their new products, and also get an easy-peasy Margarita Protein Mug Cake recipe that I created in honor of the trip (and the following Mexico trip I barely got home in time to make!): Continue reading

Bacon & Egg Breakfast Salad with Maple Apple Cider Vinaigrette

It may seem strange to wake up to a green salad and glass of water when we live in a coffee and donut world. But, trust me, starting your morning with large, fully-loaded salad for breakfast is a great way to get a jump start on your daily nutritional goals and fuel up for an active day. It’s probably been around 10 hours or more since you last ate and, if you’re anything like me, your body is starving for a hearty, healthy, balanced meal. 

A breakfast salad like my Bacon & Egg Breakfast Salad with Maple Apple Cider Vinaigrette will power up your morning with good taste, good protein and 3+ servings of fruits/vegetables. Read on the get all the details and recipe. Continue reading

Steak & Waffles with Mango Mint Sauce

Waffles are the way to herald in a really epic weekend. Let’s just say that the details of dozens upon dozens of memory-making weekends are seared into my brain – the ones that started with waffles always ended up beyond wonderful. Steak and Waffles with Mango Mint Syrup

Now my recipe for Steak & Waffles with Mango Mint Sauce sounds incredibly crazy, but it’s amazingly delicious – trust me! Just imagine fluffy-slash-crunchy waffles topped with an unexpectedly exotic sweet-and-savory spin. Read on to get this creative waffle recipe that’s perfect for Mother’s Day brunch.    Continue reading

Giant Sweet-Tart Cherry Collagen Protein Breakfast Cookie | Toaster Oven & Air Fryer

I was awake in bed the other night plotting, as I usually do, about what to eat in the morning. I needed a fast breakfast to fuel me up for early carpooling and errands and then a trip to the gym and I was in a “sweet” crunchy mood.  Plus, I only needed enough breakfast for me, my family has mismatched schedules and all do their own thing for morning meals. Giant Sweet Tart Cherry Protein Cookie

I remembered the can of my favorite workout drink (Collagen Endurance Plus from Great Lakes Wellness) on the kitchen counter. Viola, the concept for my Giant Sweet-Tart Cherry Protein Breakfast Cookie was born. I jumped up and prepped a dough ball for the next morning using almond flour, coconut flour and Collagen Endurance Plus. When I work up, just flattened that dough for the collagen cookie into a circle and popped into my toaster oven for 10 minutes! While it was baking, I whipped up an easy sweet-tart cherry glaze using the CEP and a bit of MCT oil . . . and a chia, flax and hemp seed blend (Organic Triple Omega Seed Blend) sprinkled on top for extra goodness. Read on to find out more details and get the recipe! Continue reading