Personal Health Intiative Training

Posts tagged ‘green vegetables’

2 Weeks of Pancakes and Green Beans!

I have never been so ravenous in my life! You would think that competition prep would get easier the closer you get to the show! WRONG! You’re more hungry than you have ever been. You’re worn down, irritable, and you eat weird food combinations like pancakes and green beans! LoL!  The Food Network is now my favorite channel and I have dreams about all the food I am going to eat after the show. What I do now is watch cooking shows and think about ways to make healthy figure competition friendly versions of these dishes. I have become very creative and will share my recipes with you! I just get so busy during the week, it’s hard to take time to sit down and write. After the show, I will have more time.

Okay, let me explain…the whole pancake thing. I’m not eating “regular” pancakes. Of course I am eating protein pancakes; however, I am off of starchy carbs for the next 14 days so I have to play little tricks with myself to stay sane.  I’m eating LOTS of green vegetables, berries, grapefruit, lean meats, and protein powder. The syrup you see in the picture is sugar-free, zero-calorie syrup but I am giving that up too for the last 2 weeks. Instead I will take some berries and heat them up, mix with water and that will be my syrup. Actually, eating fresh green beans with pancakes is not bad. I loved it! Check out the recipe here:

PANCAKES AND GREEN BEANS

(If you use this recipe, please give credit where credit is due! Thanks)

Pancakes

1 scoop of Dymatize Elite Chocolate Protein Powder (Whey Isolate which does not have lactose)

1 tablespoon of Ghiradelli Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder (may use 2 tbsps but that adds extra fat)

3-4 Medium/Large Egg Whites

2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened almond milk

1-2 tablespoons of milled flaxseed

water (add till you get the texture you want…for thick pancakes use less water)

Mix all of these ingredients together in a bowl until lumps disappear. Makes about 3 pancakes depending on desired size. You can also bake this mix in the oven and make an awesome brownie or put it in the microwave to make a quick brownie!!

Green Beans

Place fresh whole green beans in a deep pan.

Add 1/2 cup water and a little bit of low-sodium chicken stock or broth

Chop half of an onion and add in.

Slice a cup of strawberries and add in.

Boil the green beans until tender and season to taste.

(The onion, chicken stock, and strawberries give the green beans more flavor..totally optional).

Syrup

My recommendations for syrup are as follows:

Walden Farms Sugar-Free

Polaner Sugar-Free Preserves

Triple Berry Blend

90-100% Lindt Dark Chocolate Square melted 

The triple berry blend is available at Sam’s Club for around $8.00. You can get a very large bad and there is nothing added to it. Just plain, natural berries that are frozen. To make a syrup, take a little bit of the berries or preserves and place in a pan on the stove. Add in a little bit of water and heat until a syrup forms. You can add Splenda or Stevia to taste but I don’t think that is necessary.

Enjoy your pancakes and green beans! 🙂

Category:

Daily Rants

Tagged with:

A Creative Way to Get Your Greens!

Prepping for the competition has me eating a lot of green vegetables. Even if you’re not prepping for a show, eating at least 3 or 4 servings of green vegetables will keep you lean and regular, and you will also have more energy. Spinach is known as a super-food because of its many benefits.

I made a shake this afternoon because I wanted something quick but also something that included as many nutrients as possible. I am trying to eat greens with every single meal…even breakfast. Try making this Berry Spinach Shake. You won’t even taste the spinach and you can be satisfied knowing that you are getting a nutrient-rich meal. This shake is high in protein and low in starchy carbs. Great for those trying to lose fat. If you like, you can add peanut or almond butter. (1 tablespoon of natural salt-free peanut butter is my choice.)

1. Place two cups of baby spinach in your blender. (I use a Magic Bullet). You can purchase a blender at Wal-Mart or the dollar store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Add 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Blend the milk and spinach together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Add 1 cup of frozen berries. I used a triple berry blend that I purchased at Sam’s Club. You can buy a big bag there for $8.00. This will last you for 2 or 3 weeks depending on how often you use it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Blend the berries with the mix.

6. Finally, add in one scoop of whey protein powder and blend with the mix. The protein powder will ensure that you are getting enough protein with your meal. You can also use casein if you want a very thick shake…it will come out like a pudding. If you plan to use peanut butter, add that in last and blend one last time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This meal will leave you satisfied…it gives you a full feeling. Great to make in the morning and take to work for an afternoon snack or you can put it in popsicle holders and freeze for later.

Category:

Daily Rants

Tagged with:

Tag Cloud