Tag Archives: protein

Sharing my Stay Lean Secrets + #BowflexBody Giveaway

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This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Bowflex Body.

BowFlex Body Fitness Shakes after a run with Jennifer of TheFitFork.comI am totally in love with Bowflex Body, a collection of premium nutrition products that features a French Vanilla Fitness Shake powder with packets of “mix-ins” including fat-burning rich chocolate, protein-boosting peanut butter or antioxidant-packed mixed berry. Bowflex Body is one of my secrets to staying lean. The other tactics I used to keep my body weight and fat ratios where I want them include with eating adequate protein spaced through the day, monitoring my carb intake (but keeping some for quick energy) and continuity and variety in exercise — I like to mix it up with running, obstacle training, CrossFit, yoga, paddle boarding to keep my body and mind prepared and motivated. Anyway, I’ve shared about this great product earlier in the summer along with a Bodyweight Leg Workout – if you missed it, check it out!  Also, read to the bottom of the post, because I’m hosting a giveaway.

I really love the idea of the mix-ins to the base protein shake. It kind of reminds me of asking for a “booster” at that not-to-be-named smoothie chain I pass on the way home from the gym — but with hardly any of the sugar that those types of “healthy” blended beverages hold in disguise.  The raspberry smoothie in a 16-ounce small size packs 290 calories, just 2 grams of protein – and 54 grams of sugar! Compare that to 125 calories, 15 grams of high quality protein and only 5 grams of sugar for the Bowflex Body French Vanilla Protein Shake —  I’m sticking with the latter to stay lean!Abs are 30% gym and 70% diet You  can workout all you want, but you won’t get to that point of good muscle definition if you’re not lean. Yes, I stay at a low body fat through exercise, but also by making sure I’ve been eating enough protein spaced through the day.

TheFitFork.com Yoga Dancer Pose

Staying lean this summer with Bowflex Fitness Shakes

So, instead a smoothie shop stop, I’ve been sticking my blender bottle pre-filled with a scoop of the French Vanilla Fitness Shake and a couple of the boosters in my gym bag to refuel with after a hard workout or intense run – or often just to see me through a session, since I’m usually breaking sweat over the lunch hour. All I have to do is add cold water and shake, shake, shake!

Bowflex Body Fitness Shakes Giveaway at TheFitFork.com

One thing I’ll say about Bowflex Body products, they really do taste great straight from the blender bottle mixed with plain water. Other protein powders I’ve used have often had a chalky, hard to swallow texture if they weren’t combined with some sort of milk (alike almond or coconut) – or pureed up into a smoothie with banana for creaminess. But, really and truly, the French Vanilla Fitness Shake stands on its own merits for deliciousness. Plus, the exclusive blend of premium ingredients combined with powerful antioxidants, essential nutrients and immune enhancing ingredients help burn fat, build lean muscle, and protect my body.

I’ve been drinking these shakes all summer, and they’ve helped to curb my cravings and made me feel full longer – it’s been a great addition to my protein challenge when it’s not convenient to whip a steak or rotisserie chicken out of my purse. With only 125 calories per serving and 15 grams of the highest quality proteins, a shake makes a great meal replacement once a day to drop a few pounds quickly and safely (check out the success stories here). I suggest adding the Peanut Butter Protein booster (+10g) for sustained energy.

I’m happy where my weight is, and honestly I could stand to gain a little muscle in some places (uhhh, my booty), so at dinner time, I use the Vanilla Fitness Shake as my beverage of choice along with the light salads and grilled dishes I typically eat.  For the ladies who “wine,” you’ll find yourself in such a leaner place if you swap out your nightly “sip” with a protein shake – 5 ounces of wine has 123 calories and has no protein while 1 scoop of the French Vanilla Fitness Shake mixed with water has 125  calories and 15 grams protein!

 

Bowflex Body Fitness Shake Protein Powder and BoostersPremium French Vanilla Fitness Shake: Start with this powdered mix as your base and blend into water or your milk of choice. The instructions say use 8 ounces of liquid but I’ve used more and it still tastes great. Not only does it taste super creamy and delicious, but for just 125 calories, you get 15g high quality protein, 5 g prebiotic fiber, only 5g sugar and 16 potent antioxidants including acai, goji, pomegranate, mangosteen, spinach, kale and more.  It is also lactose free, soy free, low sodium and low fat.

Rich Chocolate Booster for Fat Burning: Toss in one of these 10-calorie packets to kick up your metabolism with Garcinia cambogia, green coffee bean, African mango and cocoa exacts.

 Peanut Butter Booster for Muscle Management: Add a packet of this booster to help grow, maintain and provide workout recovery benefits to your muscles. This advanced protein formula gives you an additional 10g on top of the 15g already in each serving of shake.

 Mixed Berry Booster for Extra Antioxidant Benefits: This refreshing mix-in gives the already vitamin and antioxidant-loaded vanilla shake an extra one-two punch of protection with blueberry, raspberry and strawberry extracts blended to help fight free radicals.

Use the discount code BOWFLEXSHAKE to get 20% off products along with free shipping and handling.  You can also enter the giveaway to win a Bowflex Body Sample Pack that includes the vanilla shake (3 packs) along one each of the boosters plus a pack of their Daily Energy and Pre-Workout Energy (Sample Pack is also available for sale at Bowflex with free shipping and handling). Enter for chance to win via the Rafflecopter app below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bird is the Word for Protein #SayYesToJerky

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Chicken Jerky makes a great snack to fuel your workouts or mid-day office munchies.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).

women more protein

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!

jack links chicken photo

 

 

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!

jack links giveaway

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.

More Fun Time! 15-Minute Chicken, Lentil & Veggie Green Wraps

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

Chicken Lentil and Veggie Green Wraps with Sriracha Ranch Dressing makes a quick and healthy summer lunch or dinner that uses the microwave!

Chicken Lentil and Veggie Green Wraps with Sriracha Ranch Dressing makes a quick and healthy summer lunch or dinner that uses the microwave!

Hey, it’s finally summertime. After months and months of frantic school year schedules, we busy parents need to cut ourselves some slack! While preparing a nutritious home-cooked meal is important for the well-being of any family, so is enjoying quality fun time together outside the kitchen. Personally, I have been spending an extra hour with the kids at the pool, gym or playing outdoor games without any worry of rushing back to get dinner going – and no, we are not ordering pizza or hitting the drive through on the way home!

Shopping for Birds Eye and Tyson at Walmart.

Shopping for Birds Eye and Tyson at Walmart.

Instead, I’m relying on the Birds Eye Steamfresh® Protein Blends and Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Chicken Breast Fillets I know are waiting in the freezer. Combined with a few other fresh ingredients in my produce bin, I have a super nutritious, protein-rich meal to serve my hungry boys in less than 15 minutes – and without turning on a hot oven or grill! My entire recipe for Chicken, Lentil & Veggie Green Wraps with Sriracha Ranch can be made entirely in the microwave. It’s so freakin’ awesome and easy that even my kids can make dinner and bring it out to me while I rest myself pool side on the chaise lounge.

I am so loving these Birds Eye Steamfresh® Protein Blends, there are four different blends that combine veggies with added protein from ingredients like lentils, beans, quinoa and such. The California blend used in my Chicken, Lentil & Veggie Green Wraps is loaded with lentils, broccoli and edamame – all which are surprisingly good sources on plant-based protein. In fact, these Birds Eye Steamfresh® Protein Blends are a great dinner solution for vegetarians.

collard wrap with product

However, my family is a bit more carnivorous – so, no surprise the fully-cooked Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Chicken Breast Fillets were a hit. These 100% all natural pieces of white meat chicken can be used creatively in countless recipes and boast appetizing, caramelized hatch marks that make each fillet look like it’s been pulled straight off the grill!

Wrapping up the chicken and lentil edamame mix in collard greens.

The recipe is so easy just add carrots to the protein blend and microwave — and reheat the chicken in the microwave too! Then pile it in fresh, raw collard greens, Swiss chard or kale and roll up!

Chicken Lentil and Veggie Collard Green Wraps with Sriracha Ranch

Eat your collard greens!

Eat your collard greens!

 

You can find both the  Birds Eye Steamfresh® Protein Blends and Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Chicken Breast Fillets products in the freezer section of Walmart. And don’t forget to get your collard greens!

 

 

 

More summer fun time thanks to 15 min Chicken Lentil Veggie “Green” Wraps @birdseye @tysonfoods #FastFreshFilling #Pmedia #ad

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What would you do with an extra hour of free time this summer? Do you have a go-to 15 minute meal? Please share in the comments below! XOXO Jennifer 

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Chicken, Lentil & Veggie Green Wraps with Sriracha Ranch
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Microwave a healthy quick meal in under 15 minutes and enjoy more summer fun! This paleo green wrap uses kale, chard or collard leaves, chicken and veggies!
Course: Main Dish, Salad, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
  • 1 10.8 oz bag Birds Eye Steamfresh® Protein Blends – California Style
  • 1/2 cup matchstick cut carrots
  • 2 fillets Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Chicken Breast Fillets
  • 4 large leaves collard greens, Swiss Chard or kale
  • 1/2 cup prepared ranch dressing of choice
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha Hot Pepper Sauce more or less to taste
Instructions
  1. In microwave safe bowl with lid, add protein blend veggie with carrots; toss together. Microwave for approximately 4 – 5 minutes on high, stirring halfway through.
  2. Set fillets on microwave-safe plate and microwave on “reheat” for 2 – 3 minutes or until warmed through but not scorching hot.
  3. Wash and dry four big leaves of collard greens and remove stems from below the intersection with each leaf. Also carefully cut and remove about 1” of stem up into each leaf with a paring knife – this will make “rolling” the wrap later easier.
  4. Spoon ¼ of the cooked vegetable mixture into center of each leaf, spreading out a bit while leaving plenty of room on the sides.
  5. Cut the fillets in half lengthwise to create two longer pieces of chicken. Place one piece of chicken on top of the vegetable mixture.
  6. To form wrap, fold tops and bottoms toward each other and keep secure with hands. Next, take one of the longer sides, fold over top of chicken and begin rolling into other side of leaf – secure with a toothpick. Repeat for remaining bundles.
  7. In small bowl, mix together ranch dressing and Sriracha sauce until well blended. Serve with wraps.

Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting

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Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting are a great choice for breakfast, post-workout or a bedtime snack!I’m a big fan of protein, if you haven’t noticed.  Eating enough protein is how I stay lean and support my active lifestyle. But, it doesn’t do your body any good to skimp on protein in the morning and through lunch and the afternoon. It’s so important to eat protein for breakfast, from the time you go to bed through morning is the longest time your body goes without fuel – you need to but quality gas back in the tank so you don’t crash and burn. But, most Americans consume 2/3s of their daily protein at dinner – that’s whacked out!

About Time Chocolate Chip Protein Pancake Mix - make donuts with it

Last year I discovered About Time Protein Pancake Mix – it’s a hearty, healthy breakfast solution that offers 21 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber for about 290 calories. And, it still has that sweet, indulgent taste that so many of us crave! For me, this pancake mix offers an optimal serving size of protein – I strive to consume 20 – 30 grams during each meal (and snacks). Actually, I learned firsthand from nutrition researcher, Dr. Heather Leidy, that eating adequate protein in the morning can help curb unhealthy snacking later, even much later, in the day.

Banana Chocolate Protein Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting

Thinking outside the box, I decided to use my Chocolate Chip Protein Pancake Mix (Cinnamon Spice also available) to make delicious baked donuts – Banana Chocolate Protein Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting, to be exact!  Super simple to make, the easy recipe is basically just mix, an egg, a mashed banana and splash of milk. I’ve also done a healthy peanut butter frosting that is optional. Make a batch of these donuts ahead of time and ration out through the week – I think they are also the perfect choice for a post-workout or bedtime snack.

Tart Cherry & Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes - TheFitFork.comAlso, don’t miss the recipe for Tart Cherry & Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes I’ve featured in a past post.

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Fisher xgames handstand

Keeping fueled up with About Time at the X Games 2015.

About Time Whey Protein Single ServeAbout Time also offers a wide range of additional products to support optimal nutrition. I enjoy their protein powders and always keep a stash of About Time Whey Protein single serves  in my gym bag and/or purse (along with a shaker) so that I can whip up something nourishing on the spot.

 

About Time at the X GamesRecently, at the XGames in Austin, I was so happy to have a packet of Birthday Cake flavor secretly hidden in my backpack so that I could avoid the not-so-healthy look food truck food fare that was being offered. Things to know about this protein powder à  For 100 calories you get 25 grams of cold-processed, micro-filtered 100% whey protein isolate available in seven flavors. Also, there are no artificial sweeteners, no growth hormones and the protein powder is lactose and gluten free and non-GMO.

Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Donuts + my XGames Meal @_tryabouttime #tryabouttime #ad

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TWITTER PARTY: #TryAboutTime Twitter Party on Tuesday, June: 16 at 9pm EST! Hope to chat with you there!

What is your go-to protein food for breakfast? Please share in the comments below! XOXO — Jennifer

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of About Time.

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Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting are a great choice for breakfast, post-workout or a bedtime snack!
Print
Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 
Start your morning or finish your workout with Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting -- an easy breakfast recipe to make muscles!
Course: Breakfast, Snack, Worout
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 mini donuts
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups About Time Protein Pancake Mix Chocolate Chip Flavor
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 medium ripe banana mashed
  • 1/4 cup milk of choice or water
  • 1/4 cup natural peanut butter may substitute another nut butter
  • 2 tablespoons milk of choice more if needed to achieve desired consitstency
  • 1/4 teaspoon powdered stevia more or less to taste
  • 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. In large bowl, mix together pancake mix, egg, mashed banana and 1/4 cup milk. Spoon into mini donut baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray or oiled. Bake for 8 minutes or until set and turning lightly golden brown. Remove donuts from pan and let cool on wire rack.
  2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together peanut butter, milk and stevia until a frosting consistency has been achieved. Frost tops of donuts with mixture and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

Running Day and Hatch Green Chile Trout

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Okay, there’s not real good way to marry up running day and trout in a blog post — unless I say that runners and athletes of all disciplines should be eating fish for it’s abundance of protein, heart-healthy fats and other vital nutrients. Yeah, there ya go, that’s the segue . . . Jennifer Fisher National Running Day 2015 - TheFitFork.com

First off, happy National Running Day! I’ve been running for 25 years and it has been a real blessing in my life. Even though I was the bookworm, shy, non-sporty girl who always won the 600 yard dash in elementary PE, I didn’t start running on a regular basis a year or two out of college. This sorority girl didn’t like to sweat in the 1980s. When I first started running, the sport empowered me, gave me confidence and matured my focus from striving to be the pretty girl to actually being the fierce girl. During early parenthood years, running gave me time alone to collect my thoughts and keep my sanity; running gave me a lift on those days when I was feeling down. As the kids started to get older, I realized that they were watching me run and that I was being a role model they needed.  Running has brought me so many adventures, too many to share, and made my life quite interesting now that I reflect on it. Today, running keeps me focused on a goal (if I feel like it), connects me with my friends and husband and just generally makes me happy – I can’t imagine a day when I wouldn’t and couldn’t be running.

Enjoy some heart-healthy fish and the flavors of the southwest with this easy-to-make, one-dish dinner.

So, here’s the delicious Southwestern Blackened Trout with Hatch Green Chile Medley fish recipe I made for dinner last night, I am a huge fan of Hatch green chile and southwestern spices and this was definitely a winner. The recipe as written is Paleo freindly (if you don’t do corn, swap out for yellow summer squash) — but if you need a little extra sumptin’-sumptin’ to get your motor running, serve the fish and veggies over brown rice. Thank you SizzleFish.com for the awesome fish.

How did you celebrate National Running Day?

Have you ever filleted a fish? 

Enjoy some heart-healthy fish and the flavors of the southwest with this easy-to-make, one-dish dinner.
Print
Southwestern Blackened Trout with Hatch Green Chile Medley
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
22 mins
 
Enjoy some heart-healthy fish and the flavors of the southwest with this easy-to-make, one-dish dinner. Paleo-friendly, swap out form with yellow summer squash.
Course: Main Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: Southwestern
Servings: 2 people
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 3 tablespoons Adams Jalacorno seasoning divided
  • 1 medium medium sweet onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup peeled and seeded fire-roasted Hatch green chiles, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh corn kernels
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 4 to 5 ounce rainbow trout filets boned, leave skin on one side
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled questo fresco
Instructions
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon seasoning in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and sauté for approximately 2 minutes or until softening. Add corn, green chiles and garlic and sauté, stirring frequently, for another 4 to 5 minutes.
  2. Remove veggie mixture from skillet to bowl. Add remaining olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Dry tops of trout dry (skin left on bottom)and rub each thoroughly with about one tablespoon of seasoning. Place in skillet seasoned side down and sear for approximately 3 minutes. Use spatula to flip over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add veggies back into pan, stir around in remaining skillet bits and serve with chopped cilantro and queso fresco crumbled on top.