Cottage Cheese for Lean Muscle & Tasty Topping Ideas

This post is sponsored by Hiland Dairy but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I take my snacking seriously . . . despite being a big goofball. All my crazy energy spent and the gym, running and just tackling life need replenishment in a quick but healthy way. Hiland Diary 5-oz cottage cheese cups - jennifer fisher - thefitork.com

I’ve long relied on dairy products to fuel me between meals and right now I’m loving the new single-serve cottage cheeses from Hiland Dairy. Hiland Dairy offers these cottage cheese in fruit flavors, savory flavors – and of course, plain and lower-fat curd varieties. Delicious eaten on-the-go and also a great foundation for yummy toppings. Learn more about cottage cheese as a muscle-building, healthy snack, find my creative topping ideas, and enter the Hiland Dairy Giveaway.  Continue reading

Keto Caramel Pudding with Toasted Coconut

This post is sponsored by Hiland Dairy but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Just because you’re on a low-carb diet, doesn’t mean you have to say “no” to dessert. My Keto Caramel Pudding with Toasted Coconut is rich, creamy and indulgent . . . but with none the sugar.Keto Caramel Pudding with Toasted Coconut

It’s a luxurious, low-carb treat and keto dessert you can gift to yourself (you deserve it) or prepare for company during this upcoming holiday season.  Continue reading

Plenty of Reasons to Eat Breakfast + #PlentiYogurt Coupon

I rarely, if ever, miss my morning meal. I just love food too much and usually wake up hungry, thinking about what I’m making or grabbing (like Plenti) long before my feet even hit the ground.

Jennifer Eating Plenti Greek Yogurt Meets Oatmeal

Back in the day, skipping breakfast was a way to “cut calories” in an effort to lose or maintain weight – and it still is with some friends today. This “intermittent fasting” idea seems to be trending again today, based on some diets and nutritional plans I have seen floating around. However, missing meals can have quite the opposite effect, eventually adding on pounds in places you don’t want. And, for runners and other athletes, bypassing breakfast can quickly bring quality training (and recovery) in its tracks.

5 reasons why skipping breakfast is bad

Lose Muscle – While skipping breakfast and other meals cuts calories and create weight loss, research shows that these dropped pounds come more from muscle tissue than fat stores.

Gain Belly Fat: Ohio State University scientists suggest skipping meals may invite any weight lost to come back eventually as dangerous belly fat.

Energy Drop:  Avoiding breakfast keeps the body from important nutrients like quality complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids needed for optimal functioning and general get-up-and-go.

Disease Risk: Harvard School of Public Health researchers report that women who regularly missed breakfast where 20% more likely to get type 2 diabetes and men were at increased risk of heart disease. Insulin resistance and blood pressure issues arise when the body’s blood lipids get out of whack – something that can be kept in check with a healthy, balanced breakfast.

Unhealthy Snacking: Saying “no” no to a sustaining breakfast very often translates into saying “yes” to unhealthy processed snack foods, fast food and other sugary and bad-fat foods. Blood sugar drops and the resulting “hangry” feeling causes people to make poor food choices.

Plenti Greek Yogurt Meets Oatmeal great way to fuel a runner's morning.

Whether you are an athlete or not, your body needs “gas in the tank” to get going in the morning —  Plenti Oatmeal Meets Greek Yogurt is a quick and convenient way to fill up! Plentí, a wholesome yogurt already packed with fruit, seeds and other yumminess, kicks up its morning game by adding oatmeal to the mix.

Found in the yogurt aisle, Plenti Oatmeal Meets Greek Yogurt, comes in six tasty flavors including Apple Cinnamon, Maple Brown Sugar, Peach, Blueberry, Strawberry, and Vanilla. I love the thick and creamy Greek yogurt goodness mixed with the texture and nutritional benefits of oatmeal. Unlike oatmeal, no messy cookin – just grab a spoon and enjoy cold.

6 Flavors of Plenti Greek Yogurt Meets Oatmeal

Each cup has 16 grams of whole grain and 11 grams of protein – I aim to get 25 to 30 grams of protein four times a day, so I would make my morning meal by supplementing a cup of Plenti Oatmeal Meets Greek Yogurt with two scrambled (or hard-boiled eggs if in a hurry) and a piece of fruit.

Plenti Yogurt Oatmeal with full meal

Coupon for Plenti Greek Yogurt Meets OatmealTry Plenti Oatmeal Meets Greek Yogurt for yourself! Print a coupon good for $.35 off one cup.

Are you an oatmeal fan, a Greek yogurt fan or both? What is your favorite “quick grab” for breakfast? Please share in the comments below, – XOXO, Jennifer  

Healthy Protein Challenge Snack – Plenti Greek Yogurt

Plenti Greel Yogurt by Yoplait has 12 grams of protein and makes a satisfying, healthy snack.I know you are all are as busy as me  — sometimes I get so sidetracked with my workouts, kids and errands that I’ve forgotten to eat a meal or nourishing snack (my new favorite Plenti Greek Yogurt, more about that below)– that’s not a good thing and honestly, not even a good way to lose weight (if that is your goal). Whether you are trying to drop a few pounds, maintain weight, or fuel up with extra calories to support a training schedule full of strength-training, yoga, and endurance sports, it’ best eat three balanced meals a day and protein-rich snacks between, if needed.

Bridge Pose

Plenti Greek Yogurt helps fuel my busy, active life that includes yoga, running and CrossFit.

I am a huge Greek yogurt fan – I eat it daily for breakfast and a bedtime snack! Recently, I discovered a new variety called Plentí Yogurt made by Yoplait, a brand I’ve trusted and served to my family for years! What makes Plenti unique and alluringly convenient in my eyes is that it comes pre-packed with loads of the “good stuff” including strained Greek yogurt, fruit, whole grain oats, flax and seeds – all the stuff I love to stir into my plain Greek yogurt but am often too tired or too low on pantry and fridge food to do so!  It comes in eight yummy flavors; you’ll never get bored — Black Cherry, Blueberry, Coconut, Peach, Raspberry, Spiced Apple, Strawberry and Vanilla.

Plenti Greek Yogurt by Yoplait is packed with wholesome goodness and makes a satisfying breakfast, snack or healthy dessert.

Whew, what a relief to know that I can just grab one of the eight Plenti Greek yogurt healthy flavors “as-is” from the fridge for a quick breakfast, post-workout snack or healthy dessert. Because Plenti has 12 grams of protein per serving, it makes a tasty and satisfying snack that boosts my energy so that I can conquer even the most “plentiful” day. I’ve talked lots about the benefits of eating protein and the Protein Challenge on my blog and with television and radio media, and Plenti fits right in.

Protein-Packed Snacks

Add Greek Yogurt to this list! Serving of Plenti Yogurt has 12 grams protein.

I aim to make protein 30 percent of my daily calorie intake, taking in about 25 to 30 grams of protein at each of my three meals and supplementing with two healthy snacks with about 10 to 15 grams of protein each. A growing body of research is suggesting that spreading protein consumption throughout the day (starting with breakfast) can improve cardiovascular health, better address muscle maintenance and growth, and help maintain weight by keeping away those “hangries” that happen when your blood sugar drops and energy level tanks (from eating too many carb-heavy foods).

Plenti Greek YogurtI really encourage you to check out Plenti Greek Yogurt for yourself and also their new, fun Instagram site– this product features a 1:1 protein to sugar ratio (12 grams of each) – now just because I like a higher protein diet doesn’t mean I shun healthy carbs and a small amount of sugar – I need it to provide quick energy for my runs!  Look for Plenti in the dairy section of your market – you’ll smile putting it into your cart knowing that it’s made with lots of wholesome ingredient that will do your body good – it’s also a gluten-free food and also has no gelatin, if these are concerns for you.

What flavor sounds the most delicious to you – Black Cherry, Blueberry, Coconut, Peach, Raspberry, Spiced Apple, Strawberry or Vanilla? Please share in the comments below and also share the most “fun” fitness thing you’ve done this week! XOXO – Jennifer