Healthy and Energizing Popcorn!

Are you looking for a light snack that will both fill you up and boost your energy?  How about a long time favorite - popcorn! 

 

Popcorn is light and airy and full of whole grains, meaning it’s got fiber that will keep you full, your blood sugar levels regular, and your energy high!  It’s also full of B vitamins, which help convert food into energy you can use.  And with only about 31 calories per cup, it’s the perfect energizing snack! 

 

We love to make our own air popped popcorn so we can avoid unnecessary calories and chemicals and decide what flavoring we want.  When we’re in the mood for a savory snack, we’ll season it with an olive oil cooking spray and a dash of pepper. Sometimes we even add a pinch of chili powder.  If we’re in the mood for something sweet, we sprinkle it with a little bit of sugar and extra cinnamon.  If we’re unsure, we add a little olive oil spray, pepper, and a dash of sugar for our own spiced up version of kettle corn! 

 

And whether we’re in a sweet or savory mood, the crunch is always satisfying!

Guilt-Free Triple Chocolate Pie

Why not make a guilt-free dessert that won't weigh you down and make you feel sluggish--Triple Chocolate Pie! It's a lightened up version, so it will keep your energy level high all day long.

 

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Start to finish time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Makes: 10 servings

Ingredients:

1 package (1.4 oz) fat-free, sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix

1 3/4 cups fat-free milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 of a package (8 oz) fat-free cream cheese, softened

1/2 of a container (8 oz) frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed

1 (6 oz) chocolate-flavor crumb pie shell

1 cup fresh raspberries or Cascadian Farm® frozen raspberries, thawed

1 tablespoon grated semisweet chocolate

 How to prepare:

1. In a medium bowl, prepare pudding mix according to package directions using the 1 ¾ cups of milk. Stir in vanilla. Set aside.
2. Place cream cheese in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on 100% (high) for 15 seconds; stir. Microwave on 100% (high) for 15 seconds more. Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed for 15 seconds. Add half of the pudding mixture; beat until smooth. Add the rest of the pudding mixture; beat until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping. Spread mixture in pie shell. Chill 4 to 24 hours, or until set.
3. Top individual servings with the remaining whipped topping, raspberries, and grated chocolate.

 Nutritional Information: 1 slice: Calories 160 (Calories from Fat 50); Total Fat 6g (Saturated Fat 2 1/2g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Protein 5g % Daily Value; Vitamin A 2; Vitamin C 6; Calcium 10; Iron 4

Goodbye Weekend Blues

We’ve reached the end of another weekend! Did you go a little overboard and now have the Monday blues? It happens to the best of us. Whether you’re feeling the affects of too much alcohol or just need a little boost, here are some tips that will help you recover and be ready for your upcoming week.

First off, caffeine of any sort will NOT help you feel energized and headache-free. This is a common misconception, but actually caffeine can make matters worse since your hangover symptoms are primarily caused from dehydration. So resist the urge to reach for it for a cure.

So what’s the answer to a hangover? Drink as much water as you can! If you can drink water throughout the night then you can actually prevent a hangover! The best way to do this is alternating between drinks with water. If you have trouble drinking only water, coconut water also can work well for your headache and some people find it a refreshing alternative. Coconut water has electrolytes like sports drinks do but without the sugar! It will help you to rehydrate so that you feel more clear-headed and ENERGIZED.

In fact, you can use coconut water in a mixed drink instead of soda or a fruit juice, to make a delicious cocktail. In general, try to avoid these sugary additives to drinks, as they will be sure to crank up the caloric content of the drink as well as your hangover the next day.

Some mix drinks with club soda, but be warned the carbonated mixes make you intoxicated quicker because the carbonation expedites the pace that alcohol reaches your small intestine and absorbed into the blood stream! The type of alcohol you choose to consume will have an impact on the degree of your hangover as well. Try to always go for the less sugary sources. A lot of alcohol brands are now making a low sugar option.