$5 Steal

My MIL bought me the biggest watermelon I've ever laid eyes on from a roadside stand on her way back from vacation in Emerald Isle. It was only $5!! I have seriously eaten my weight in watermelon... and it has been SO good. Please don't tell me how much sugar is in watermelon, I probably don't want to know!

Eating Healthier in a Busy World

One of the hardest parts of a healthy healthier lifestyle is time. Time to workout. Time for food prep. Time for rest. I know everyone is busy and summertime means it’s even busier! Here are some of my go to healthier foods in a hurry (in no particular order):

Edamame

1. Frozen Edamame
   Microwave for 3 minutes and ta-da, a healthy snack or lunch side! I buy mine from Costco.
   
2. Yogurt (Dannon Light & Fit Vanilla or Plain Greek Yogurt)
   The Dannon Light & Fit is my go-to in a hurry. Scoop it in a bowl and go! If I didn’t mix cinnamom & a pack of stevia in my greek yogurt, it’d be just as quick.
   
3. Cereal Snack Bags
   Yes, this requires a little bit of prep time, but it’s quick and you can make a bunch at once. Grab a healthy cereal (fiber one and cheerios are my favorites), a measuring cup and snack size zip loc baggies. Scoop a serving into each baggie and zip. I keep these in my drawer at work (along with number 4 & 5) – I haven’t hit the snack machine in the last year. 
   
4. Granola Bars (Fiber One, Archer Farms, Quaker Oats, Kellog)
   Usually 100 calorie, hungry curbing, bars of goodness. Lots of brands available, so find your favorite (always read nutritional information). Also great for the sweet tooth are the chocolate chip or peanut butter varieties, like a candy bar but healthier!
   
5. Oatmeal
   Forget breakfast? All you need is oatmeal, water and a bowl (I do not add the salt that the oatmeal container calls for). You can buy the plain packets or buy the large container and make a bunch of pre-portioned baggies ready when you need them (this is what I do).

Just a few ways to avoid grabbing a bag of chips or a candy bar when you’re in a hurry (#dietdownfalls for sure!).

I Gain 5lbs Just MAKING This...

I told you before I don't make a lot of the traditional dishes people love because I don't want mine to be compared to {insert name of mom, grandmother, aunt, etc.)'s version. But on Thanksgiving I decided to give a new Banana Pudding recipe a try... and I curse and praise that I did. This banana pudding rocks my world... my mouth loves it and my newly adapted healthy lifestyle hates it.

I will not make this dish unless I'm taking it to a party or having a group over... I force feed it to Andy if we have leftovers because I have NO willpower around this stuff. When I make it I lick the beaters, the bowl, the spoon, the counter... So there, I gave you fair warning before giving you this recipe that will give you love handles just looking at the dish.

AND I can't even take credit for the recipe. I'll just send you straight to the blog it came from.... but first let me give you my edits/tweaks/advice:

• I LOVE bananas, so I use 5-6 bananas. 
• USE a mixer when beating the cream cheese --- it doesn't show it or say it on the recipe, but do it. 
•  And go ahead, lick the bowl, you only live once.

Without further delay, here's the recipe: http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/2010/06/momma-didnt-make-it-like-this.html

I've been wanting to try it with sour cream instead of cream cheese, but I just always happen to have extra cream cheese on hand and not sour cream {most likely due to the fact that Andy loves sour cream on everything...}.