Home Made Traditional Tamales

These might not qualify as your average "healthy" food, but my Brother and I decided on a whim to make these on New Years day and I HAD to add them to my blog.  More so because I'm about the most disorganized person I know and I need to have the recipe at my fingertips and it's easy to find here. 

So let me start off by saying,  #1 - I am NOT a professional photographer and most of my pictures of the  process kind of suck, (the above one being the best out of the bunch) but you will get the gist of it.  If not, then I'm sorry, nothing else I can do LOL  #2 -  I am pooped out!  Although the end result was fantastic, these do require a lot of time and work and I'm just plain tired now and ready for a nap, BUT, here I am sitting here at the computer making sure that you, the readers, are able to make these phenomenal tamales at your house.

Fat-Burning Chickpea muffins

Is stubborn belly fat one of your most bothersome body problems? I know it's mine!! Besides everywhere else - lol BUT.... there is hope for us fatty's yet! We can beat the bulge in just 7 days by adding one cup of beans to every meal! 

Beans, like chickpeas, contain soluble fiber, which works to lower the inflammation that causes belly fat. Start your day off right with this belly fat-blasting breakfast muffin. 

100 Healthy foods to put in your shopping cart

I am turning into a HUGE Dr. Oz fan and I absolutely LOVE this! 

Click HERE for a printable version of this list

Check out these other helpful links from Dr. Oz

• Five Foods That Should Never Be In Your Grocery Cart 
• Three Supplements Dr. Oz Would Never Take 
• Dr. Oz's 48-Hour Weekend Cleanse Shopping List 
• Get Rid of Belly Fat 
• 4 Ways to Flush Fat from Your Body
• The just 10 Challenge

Source: 

Skinny Slow Cooker Oats

Delicious and easy recipe for slow cooker oats that you can cook 

overnight using steel cut oats.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup steel cut oats 
• 4 cups water 
• 2 tsp cinnamon 
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• Splenda or Brown Sugar Splenda to taste 

Directions: Heavily coat slow cooker with cooking spray. Place oats in slow cooker and pour water over oats. Add in cinnamon and vanilla and stir to mix. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours overnight. Wake up and stir oats. Add Splenda and or Brown Sugar Splenda to taste. If the oats are too thick, simply add in skim milk or almond milk and stir to desired consistency.


Optional: Top with fresh blueberries, pecans, and milk. 

Nutrition Info Per Serving: (serves 4) Calories: 150, Fat: 2.5g, Carbohydrate: 27g, Fiber: 4g, Protein: 5g, Sugars: 1g

Source

Savory Mac & Cheese "Muffins" with Spinach

O............M..............G!!      LOOKEY WHAT I FOUND! 

Oh, how I love homemade macaroni & cheese! Unfortunately, I love it so much that I rarely make it for fear that I will lose all portion control abilities and end up eating far more than I planned. And then comes....The Mac & Cheese Muffin!! 

I'm so flippin excited right now - I can't pound my keyboard fast enough to get this out to you to share!!

These individual sized portions of creamy, cheesy pasta are the perfect solution to satiate your cravings without going overboard. Two of them for dinner with a side salad and you can be happily satisfied. 

I think one would also make a perfect side dish to chicken, beef or pork. There’s even spinach in these so you can feel good about getting in some veggies! Real, full fat cheese are used in these (at still only 4 WW Points+ per muffin that seemed worth it to me) but if you want to lighten them up further you could use reduced fat cheeses. These are made with sharp white cheddar and Gruyere but feel free to get creative and use any of your favorite cheeses instead! 

Super Easy Healthy Cranberry Raisin Cookies

A great way to conquer your sweet tooth is with these super yummy and super soft cookies! Although there is no sugar added, they taste as if there is! 

Ingredients:

• 3 mashed bananas (ripe)
• 1/3 cup unsweetend apple sauce 
• 1/4 cup almond milk (used unsweetened) 
• 2 cups oats 
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins or both!
• 1 tsp vanilla for taste 
• 1 tsp cinnamon

 Mix together and  drop on cookie sheet by the spoonful or make a double batch and put them in a cake pan for soft and chewy bars! 

Throw them in the oven at 325°F for 20 minutes

Re-Vamped Taco Salad (Healthy Style)

MMMMmmm Did someone say Tacos???????  I love, love, love tacos and it's been really hard for me to cut them out of my life. But NOT ANYMORE - Taco's here I come!! I found a great re-vamped taco recipe from a facebook page! Not just any old facebook page but a great one called Fit Life - Happy Wife (super cute name) Check it out if you get the chance, she has some great ideas! 

Anyhoo....Here is her recipe for Taco Salad (for one)