Chocolate Steel Cut Oat Protein Cookies (Low Carb, GF)

Sweeeeet, it’s National Oatmeal Cookie Day! I’m giving this old-school cookie jar hero with a brand-new, super-foodie spin – (low carb) Chocolate Steel Cut Oat Protein Cookies! Chocolate Steel Cut Oat Protein Cookies - a low carb, sugarless treat.

This small-batch recipe (makes 4 big cookies) whips up quick and, in no time you, can be comforting those cookie AND chocolate cravings in a healthy, sustaining, muscle-making way. Read on to get all the details: Continue reading

Garlicky Cauliflower Zoats (Zucchini Oats)

Zucchini oatmeal, also called “zoats,” is a thing . . . have you ever tried a bowl? It’s surprisingly delicious and easy to make, plus a great way to sneak more veggies into your day. My recipe for Garlicky Cauliflower Zoats with Pine Nuts sneaks in even MORE veggie goodness to this unique way to eat whole grains. Garlicky Zucchini Oats (Zoats)

Read on to get all the delicious details. Continue reading

Apple Cider Super Quinoa Oats with Cranberries

I like a hot breakfast before the crack of dawn, but am usually not in any mental condition to do scratch cooking until a couple hours (of coffee) later. But, I know my body NEEDS nourishing food, so I do a little meal prep work the night before so that I can have my “super” quinoa oats ready ASAP in the AM. Apple Cider Super Oats with Cranberry Sauce is one of my favorite flavor combos this time of year. Apple Cider Super Oats with Cranberries makes a hearty, healthy busy holiday season breakfast.

Read on to get the make-ahead recipe and find out how this combo of oats, quinoa and protein powder fills me up for a run, workout and ridiculously long list of holiday errands all before lunch. Continue reading

Chocolate Peanut Butter Power Oats with Life Time Protein

Keeping my nutrition in check with my busy family, work and training schedule can sometimes seem like one of the hardest tasks at hand. If I don’t put a priority on properly fueling first thing in the morning before my workouts, and then afterward, I definitely notice an increase in my recovery time, dip in my overall energy and concentration levels, and a reduction in performance the next day. Day after day, this can become a downward spiral. For example, if the stress starts getting to me, I’m prone to lose weight and stop sleeping and that’s no good for an athlete trying to maintain and/or grow muscle mass.Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Power Oats

Thankfully, I plan ahead more these days with simple solutions for success, like putting up portions of leftover steak in the freezer for future salads, meal prepping a week’s worth of whole grains like quinoa or oatmeal, and placing my scoops of protein powders and recovery drinks into single-serve baggies for a grab-and-go before the gym. Read on to get the recipes for my easy make-ahead Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Power Oats and learn about some of the sports nutrition products I rely on from Life Time Fitness. Continue reading

Chocolate Cashew Baked Oatmeal Cups

When kids are young, you can have almost total control over their existence, including what they eat. In fact, it’s good parenting to offer a wide variety of wholesome foods, starting early on to get a clean-eating lifestyle established. But, as they grow up and fly the coop, decisions big and small, and not just about food, become entirely up the them.    Care Box with Silk Milk and Chocolate Cashew Baked Oat Cups

This month my oldest is leaving two years of dorm life to live in an apartment for the first time. There will be plenty of decisions to make – gas for the car vs. video games, making it to class on time vs. sleeping in, eating ramin noodle cups and vending machine donuts vs. preparing healthy meals at home. All these years I’ve been teaching him how to make good choices, and more recently, how to cook. For my own peace of mind, I’m sending off a care package this week packed with a Chocolate Cashew Baked Oat Cups made with a favorite pantry staple, Silk® Unsweetened Vanilla Almondmilk Bottles.

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