DIY Popcorn Shakin’ Cups – Mess Free Mix-ins – Pop Secret Popcorn

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

The end of summer is especially bittersweet this year, not just because our leisure time is coming to an end (well, the kiddos’ respite anyway), but my oldest is heading off to college. Yup, that’s right – this mama bear is letting go of a cub and even with my stoic sensibilities, I’m getting a little choked up just typing out the words. With the Big Boy literally leaving the den in 10 days, our family movie nights seem even more special this summer.

Movie night is a great excuse to hang out together (an increasing rarity in the teenage years), have some laughs, engage in some invaluable pre and post movie discussions – and, naturally, share some yummy Pop Secret popcorn and sensible snacks together!

Now, over these last 18 years of watching movies with my kids, I’ve learned a several things. First, my lone female vote in a house with four male people means I don’t have a say in what we watch – we’ve made the natural boy progression from non-princess Disney productions to action and shoot-em-up flicks. Not a lot of romantic comedies and historical fiction in the DVR queue – of all the guy movies we watch, I like the superhero stuff best – that’s why I’m pretty pumped to have just watched the 2005 version of “Fantastic Four” in preparations for the reboot coming to theaters. By the way, if you Buy any 3 Pop-Secret items between 7/31 – 8/31 and get a Free ticket to the Fantastic Four movie (up to $5) while supplies last

The second important thing I’ve learned is that no matter the age, boys are just messy – and this includes my husband to a degree. Sharing one big bowl of popcorn means crushed kernels left all over the floor and greasy finger being wiped off on the couch. Hello, napkin? And, of course there will always be a bit of sibling squabbling over who gets to hold the bowl, who’s hogging all the food and exactly what toppings are put on the popcorn. To resolve these irritating movie-time issues, I came up with this a great popcorn-eating hack that will rock your socks off – Popcorn Shakin’ Cups!

These Popcorn Shakin’ Cups allow 1) everyone to have their own portion of popcorn, 2) customizable “mix ins” to be added and neatly shaken up to combine, and 3) the popcorn to be eaten straight from the lid opening to mouth (meaning no messy fingers)! Yes, I know – GENIUS!

It’s easy to put together your own Popcorn Shakin’ Cups -purchase tall, clear plastic cups (mine are 20-ounce but I’ve seen them larger) and domed lids (usually found at an industry or party warehouse or sweet talk your convenience store for some shake/slurpee lids). Next fill with popcorn and your favorite mix-ins – I did almonds and chocolate chips, but Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, or cinnamon sugar and pecans are other yummy popcorn ideas. Add a cute label if you like –and that’s it! Eat, enjoy and toss – no clean up! Great for a party!

I picked up my mom-of-teenage-boys-sized haul of Pop Secret at Walmart – I got the Sea Salt flavor for movie night plus an extra box of the Pop Secret 100 Calorie Pop 94% Fat Free Kettle Corn for me to keep on hand for sensible snacking in the afternoon. Also, note to self – perhaps I should buy Pop Secret popcorn flavors by the cart full because a variety of boxes would be great to slip into oldest son’s college care packages since he has a dorm microwave.

DIY mess-free Popcorn Shakin’ Cups for family movie night – genius! @popsecret #pmedia #pop4Fantastic4 #ad

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Have you seen any good movies this summer? What is your favorite popcorn flavor or mix-in?

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Pop Secret, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #pop4Fantastic4 http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Bird is the Word for Protein #SayYesToJerky

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

I chickened out! How did the word chicken become associated with retreat caused by fear or cowardice? I surfed around on the web and found a couple etymological explanations, with the most plausible being based on a ritual performed by army officers in ancient times. Apparently, before heading off into battle, military leaders would offer sacred chickens grain. If the chickens ate the grain, the battle would commence – but if they refused, it was a sign to withdraw from the fight (example, Battle of Drepana 249 BC).

Protein Infographic from WellWisdom.com

So, I imagine that over the last couple thousand years, other phrases like “Don’t be a chicken” and “He’s a chicken #@$!” evolved from this phrase, sort of giving chicken, in general, a bad rap. But, there is a ton of cool facts about chicken including the fact that mother hens show empathy for their chicks and that the birds also have complex communication systems with more than 30 different vocalizations.

And, well, to put it bluntly, chickens are also a great food source for athletes – high in protein for muscle management, a source of tryptophan (like turkey) that can aid with restorative sleep, as well as numerous benefits from vitamins and minerals. Like other proteins, chicken curbs hunger and helps to control weight. Check out all these other benefits of protein (including chicken) from WellWisdom.com

Other perks of poultry? Chicken is inexpensive compared to many other protein sources and the sheer volume of delicious chicken recipes is enormous – I probably have enough chicken recipes pinned on Pinterest and torn from magazine pages to last a lifetime!

So, basically the bird is the word – I say, it’s GOOD to CHICKEN OUT every now and then!

I’ve been fueling my workouts with a brand new product from Jack Link’s Jerky – Chicken Jerky. It’s dang tasty, packed with 11 grams of protein per serving and conveniently packaged to toss in my gym bag for immediate post-exercise muscle recovery. I typically workout over the lunch hour, so often jerky and a banana are all I have to appease my ginormous appetite until I can sit down to a proper meal. So thank goodness for healthy, portable snacks!

You may already be familiar with Jack Link’s Jerky in turkey, pork or beef, but the chicken version is a recent addition to the line up. Jack Link’s Chicken Jerky is made from white-meat chicken seasoned and marinated with cracked black pepper and spices, is 98 percent fat-free and provides 11g protein for just 80 calories – that’s hard to beat! Now we can all enjoy the nutritious benefits chicken offers on the go without the mess, inconvenience and craziness of whipping out a rotisserie chicken. My Paleo diet friends, you need this — really we all do!

One of my readers will win a Jack’s Link Jerky “Gift Pack” (similar to photo) which includes Jack Link’s Chicken Jerky, Jack Link’s Turkey Jerky, Jack Link’s Sweet Teriyaki Turkey Jerky, branded glass water bottle (really nice), headband, “cool” sweat towel and EOS lip balm. Just enter through the Rafflecopter App below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Jack Link’s.

Southwestern Avocado Tuna Salad & Sandwich #TunaStrong

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

Here I am talking about protein again, but eating enough quality protein is serious business if you want to optimize your body for performance. As competitive runner, CrossFit enthusiast and yoga dabbler myself, I’m always looking for ways to make my motor run and recover more efficiently – and eating enough quality protein spread evenly throughout the day helps sustain my energy so that I can perform to meet (and sometimes exceed) my expectations. And, a protein-rich snack consumed within 30 minutes of an intense workout or run helps my muscles repair so that I’ll be raring to go for my next effort. Check out my recent post that talks about how much protein to eat and when.

Whoohoo — Avocado Tuna Sammies for lunch, and only 5 minutes to make!

Adding canned tuna to any meal is an easy (and inexpensive) way to get that necessary serving of protein along with other essential nutrients you need for optimal health and wellness. Bumble Bee® Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water contains 13 grams of protein and 0 grams of fat per serving, along with essential Omega-3 fatty acids. Bumble Bee® is a tried-and-true canned tuna product I also feed my always-hungry teenage boys, and I appreciate how the company is sharing the message that seafood, tuna and other fish are family-friendly ingredients in a well-rounded, wholesome diet – Tuna Mind…Tuna Body…, Tuna Soul…Tuna Strong™.

If you’re really on the go (just heading to the gym or office or road-tripping across the country on vacation), Bumble Bee® is perfect for travel. You can just pop open a can, pouch or snack pack, squeeze on some lemon and enjoy. Pair with some fruit that you’ve stashed in your briefcase, gym or carry-on bag and no longer will you worry about how to get a clean-eating meal from a vending machine, drive-thru or airport food court.

However, if you have just 5 minutes of prep time, you are going to go love my delicious recipe for Southwestern Avocado Tuna Salad. It features flaky while albacore mixed with mashed avocado, a healthier swap for mayonnaise – this keeps the recipe rich and creamy but with mostly heart-healthier, good-for-you unsaturated fats. I serve on paleo or low-carb bread, or the way my mom used to do tuna salads – in a scooped out tomato bowl. The Southwestern Avocado Tuna Salad is also a winner wrapped up in lettuces leaves, a whole grain tortilla-style wrap or even popped atop a pile of scrambled eggs.

Southwestern Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe

1 large ripe avocado
1 large lime, juiced
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup thawed “southwest blend” frozen corn
2 (2.5 ounce) pouches Bumble Bee Albacore Tuna

In medium bowl, mash together peeled, seeded avocado with lime juice and garlic salt. Stir in thawed southwestern-style corn and tuna (that has been flaked with fork) until combined. Serve over salad, in tomatoes or on bread. Serves 2 -3.

#TunaStrong Southwest Avocado Tuna Salad @bumblebeefoods #Fitfluential #Ad

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So, what are you waiting for, get Tuna Strong! Follow Bumble Bee® on Pinterest for a seemingly endless collection ways to use canned tuna in recipes and other helpful nutrition tips. Or, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

What is your go-to way to eat canned tuna?

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Bumble Bee.

Orange Miso Steak Lettuce Wraps + 6 More Protein Salads

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

I love LOVE salads, many of you know that – I post my salad photos ( #saladselfie #saladrevolution #saladintheATX) nearly every day on Instagram @thefitfork. Often the mounds of lettuce I get at casual restaurants or take-away are pretty skimpy on the protein – this makes me hungry within the hour, no matter how BIG the salad was – that’s one of the reasons I prefer making my salad at home. Protein is so important for people living a fit and active lifestyle – adequate quality protein promotes heart health, helps muscles recover and grow and gives a long-lasting feeling of fullness that prevents unhealthy snacking later in the day. I got a chance to talk about this and the 30 Day Protein Challenge on Good Day San Antonio on 4^th of July Morning!

Sharing ways to get more protein at breakfast, lunch and dinner on KENS5 Great Day San Antonio.

There are lots of ways to boost the protein in salads, everyone should be aiming to get 25 – 30 grams of protein per meal adding beans (edamame, garbanzo, and black beans are some of my favorites) and adding a modest amount of nuts with heart-healthy oils like (almonds, walnuts and pistachios are so good) are two ways to reach optimal protein intake – I also love these Snack Crisps from Eat Enlightened. They are baked crunchy from broad (fava) beans and come in a bunch of yummy flavors like Sriracha, Garlic and Barbeque! For only 100 calories, I get an extra 7 grams of protein and lots of satisfying crush – whoohoo, they work as paleo croutons!

Of course, the most direct way to pump up the protein in a salad is by adding lean red meat; chicken, turkey or other poultry; or fish, shrimp or type of seafood. Today, I’m sharing my recipe for Orange Miso Beef Lettuce Wraps along with a collection of other beef salad ideas I curated in a collection for Mode Stories.

Also, I wanted to share with you a yummy snack I’ve been enjoying lately – Eat Nākd from Natural Balance Foods . Eat Nākd bars are basically fruits and nuts “smooshed” together in a nutritious, healthy bar for convenience Eat Nākd Protein Crunch bars are just as delicious and are have a bit of plant-based protein added for sustained energy. Individually wrapped for convenience and available in a ton of tempting flavors (hello chocolate mint), these bars are the perfect way to get some quick energy before a workout or when you need a little pick-me-up to nosh on at the office. They are also vegetarian and Paleo diet friendly; gluten, wheat and dairy free; and have no added sugars or hidden extras. These bars are made in Britain and you can order online with quick delivery – this product totally worth checking out!

Click photo to sign up!

Join the 30 Day Protein Challenge — you’ll learn how to get enough protein in your diet. Or, you’ll discover why you should rearrange the protein you’re already eating — did you know most Americans eat 2/3s of their daily requirement at dinner? It needs to be evenly portioned out through the day! The #ProteinChallenge also gives you access to delicious recipes and support with nutrition tips and a hunger scale to help you optimize your health!

Beef Up Summer Salads #ProteinChallenge #ModeStories http://bit.ly/1ffj5dK

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What is your favorite or most unusual way to add protein to a salad? Please share in the comments below — XOXO, Jennifer

This post is sponsored in part my Mode Media.

Miso Orange Steak Lettuce Wraps

This healthy, Asian inspired salad can be grabbed and wrapped up to-go -- or eat like a traditional salad! Beef and edamame beans pump up the protein so you'll be satisfied through to the next meal!

Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

2 10 ounce beef Strip Steaks Boneless, cut 1 inch thick
16 leaves Boston or butter lettuce leaves (about 4 to 5-inch diameter)
2 cups ssorted rainbow slaw mix – chopped broccoli stalk, matchstick carrots, shredded cabbage
1/4 cup frozen shelled edamame beans, thawed
1/4 cup thinly sliced radish
1/4 cup slivered toasted almonds
4 ounces Mandarin orange segments
1/4 cup Green Garden Orange Miso Dressing (or Asian vinaigrette of choice)

For Wet Rub

2 tbsp Sriracha sauce
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teasponn ground black pepper

Instructions

Combine Rub ingredients; smear evenly onto beef steaks.
Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill 11 to 15 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.
Carve steaks into slices. Place lettuce leaves on serving platter. Evenly layer vegetables onto lettuce leaves. Top evenly with steak. Drizzle with vinaigrette; sprinkle with nuts.
Tip: To pan-broil steaks, preheat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place steaks in skillet; cook steaks 12 to 15 minutes for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.

4 Trail Energy Recipes with Protein Powder

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

This post is sponsored by NOW Foods via Mamavation.

I’m not going to hide the fact that I’m a meat-eater. I do all the proteins – beef, chicken, fish, and so on. But often, I’m in such a rush for breakfast in the mornings or after a workout, that I’m not able to cook up a big juicy steak. Nor do I always want to. Using protein powder is a go-to on these days when I have a light appetite, but realize my body needs adequate protein for muscle repair and maintenance. I ask my body to do a lot at my age and, in return, I try to feed it what it needs!

I’m sharing some of my favorite recipes using protein powder that are perfect for taking on a trail run or stowing away in your gym bag. I’m also reviewing two great options from NOW Sports that each work well in the recipes. I’ve tried dozens of different protein powders and these two rank pretty high in my book – they are affordable, made with quality ingredients and offer the right ratio of protein to carbs and fat that I prefer.

1) Pumpkin Protein Granola

2) Nut Butter Protein Nuggets with Cacao Nibs

3) Apricot Chocolate Almond Protein Bars

4) Chocolate Cherry Protein Trail Cups

Incorporating protein powder into your diet, it’s all about balance!

Plant Protein Complex (Creamy Vanilla) – Great for vegetarians and vegans (and even meat-eaters who want a change of pace), the NOW Sports Plant Protein Complex is a versatile choice made with a pea, brown rice, hemp and quinoa protein blend. Each scoop provides 22 grams of proteins and 3,900 mg of branched chain amino acids and 1,800 of L-Arginine. Less than 1 gram of sugar and sweeted with Xylitol and Stevia.

Sprouted Brown Rice Protein (Natural Vanilla) – Everyone needs protein to thrive and survive, however those with certain food allergies (such as whey, egg, soy, etc) are often left with few choices when it comes to protein powder. NOW® Sprouted Brown is a great solution and can be used with the confidence that only natural and pure ingredients are being used – no soy or dairy and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Additionally, I recently tried these two other NOW Foods products – thumbs up to both, especially for convenience. When doing healthy things is convenient, I’m more likely to participate!

Lemonade Slender Sticks – These single-serve drink mix packets are so convenient for summer travel or to stash in a gym bag. What I like about them, other than the sweet-tart taste, is peace of mind knowing I’m using a product with made natural sweeteners and non-GMO ingredients, no artificial flavors or preservatives, and contains 50% of nine daily vitamins. Oh, and only 15 calories per serving!

Probiotic-10 + Inulin: More single-serve packets, so you can get probiotics anytime, anywhere! This convenient supplement helps to maintain a healthy microbial balance in the gut – thanks to 10 probiotic strains and 10 billion organisms per little packet! Suitable for vegans, vegetarians and those on dairy-free and gluten-free diets, this easy-to-use powder simply mixes into water for drinking.

Trail Energy Recipes with Protein Powder @NowFoods #NOWwellness #Ad

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What is your favorite way to use protein powder? Have you ever used a Probiotic supplement? Please share in the comments below — XOXO, Jennifer

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The Fit Fork

Category Archives: Snack

DIY Popcorn Shakin’ Cups – Mess Free Mix-ins – Pop Secret Popcorn

Bird is the Word for Protein #SayYesToJerky

Southwestern Avocado Tuna Salad & Sandwich #TunaStrong

Orange Miso Steak Lettuce Wraps + 6 More Protein Salads

4 Trail Energy Recipes with Protein Powder