Avocado Chocolate Pudding

Sweet Tooth

I have a major sweet tooth! That is one thing I could never give up, is desserts and candies. 

I love finding ways to make eating desserts healthy, it's like a challenge. 

Chocolate is probably my most favorite, chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. It's the best! 

So when I found this recipe for Chocolate Avocado Pudding I had to give it a try, with only 5 ingredients it's simple to make. 

I was a little skeptical since it's all avocado, I thought it was going to taste funny. But how wrong I was! It taste just like chocolate pudding.

Work up the nerve and take a big spoonful because your taste buds are going to be shocked!

Ingredients

- 2 ripe avocados

- 1/3 Cup Cocoa powder (I use special dark)

- 1/2 Cup Milk ( I use Almond Milk)

-1/4 Cup Honey (or sweetener of choice could use Agave) 

-1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

Directions

- Peel and chop the avocado and put into a food processor, blender, or use a hand held mixer.

- Add all the other ingredients

-Blend till smooth

Eat immediately or chill first.

I like mine cold!

That's it, so delicious and you can stay on track.

I've already been thinking of ways to use it, like dipping graham crackers in it, mixing it in my oatmeal, dipping a banana in it, so many options. 

Try it, and tell me what you think.

Funfetti Oreo Birthday Cake

This cake is simply amazing! From the Birthday Cake Oreos to the Cheesecake Frosting and it takes no time to whip up. The hardest part is waiting for the cakes to cool before you frost them. A tip for cooling cakes after they come out of the oven leave them in the pans for 5 minutes then wrap two layers of plastic wrap around them and put in the fridge for an hour, then you're ready to frost.

Okay let's get baking!!

CAKE INGREDIENTS
- 1 Box Funfetti Cake Mix
- 1 Package Birthday Cake Oreos
-Butter
- Milk
- 2 Extra eggs then what the cake mix calls for.
-2 Cups Sprinkles

FROSTING INGREDIENTS
- 1 Tub Cheesecake Filling (by the cream cheese)
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla
- 7 Birthday Cake Oreos

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two cake pans either with baking spray or layer bottom with parchment paper and butter sides.
2. Prepare the cake mix, you can follow the box instructions or do it my way which makes a very moist cake. Instead of oil use butter, instead of water use milk and add 2 extra eggs to the mix. Leave batter in the bowl.
3. Crush 6 Oreos and fold into cake batter.
4. Divide batter between two cake pans.
5. Bake for 34-38 min. Until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. Let cool before frosting!!!

FROSTING DIRECTIONS
1. Put 1 Cup powdered sugar in bowl, put 1/2 the tub Cheesecake filling then put the other cup powdered sugar and then the rest of the cheesecake filling.
2. Add the vanilla.
3. Mix until smooth.
4. Put 1/3 of the batter in a separate bowl for the cake filling. Crush 7 Oreos and add to the 1/3 batter.
5. Spread the 1/3 batter over one cake and place the other cake on top.
6. Use remaining frosting to cover the cake. Decorate with sprinkles and remaining Oreos.

I was afraid this cake wouldn't be very good by my Co-workers ate it up. It smells amazing and it's so colorful and fun.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

     So many are still confused about HFCS and if it's good for you, or if it's bad for you.  

I've done my research and I hope I can help you decided if it's something you want to be eating.  

     High Fructose Corn Syrup comes from corn, as you could've guessed by the name. It is used in products because it's much cheaper than white sugar. This allows for the cost of those foods to stay cheap. What are the side effects of HFCS? Unfortunately it hasn't been around long enough for all the studies to be done, there are still many unknowns about HFCS. They do know that it's empty calories, it serves no purpose to the human body. When the body gets glucose (another common form of sugar) it goes to the liver and then the liver has several options it can either use the glucose as energy, turn it into triglycerides or store it as fat. 

     HFCCS is always stored as fat. Unlike glucose which is metabolized in a number of ways by the body, fructose only goes to the liver and then is stored as fat. Fructose also doesn't stimulate production of insulin, leptin, or ghrelin, all which play a part in telling the body how much it needs to eat. This will lead to over eating. 

     HFCS is nearly in everything including jelly, juice, sodas, whole-grain breads, cereals, ketchup, crackers, yogurt, sweet pickles, applesauce, salad dressing, ice cream, cough syrup, and loads more. Next time you're at the grocery store start reading food labels (even though you should be already) but you'll be amazed at the foods that have HFCS in them, it's not just sweet stuff. That PB&J sandwich, all three ingredients contain HFCS unless you're buying smart. 

     I'm  not saying that regular sugar is GREAT for you but at least your body knows what to do with it. You should always limit your intake of sugars, unless from fruits. Espically if you're trying to lose weight. 

     Ready your labels and know your food.

The Grocery Store

We all have to go grocery shopping, it's part of life. It's a huge part of life for fitness and health. Remember that saying abs are made in the kitchen, fitness is 20% Exercise and 70% Diet. Well it's true, what we put in out bodies makes all the difference in how we feel and yes how we look. I know it can be hard, you get to the grocery store and you just wanna get out (or if you're like me I love the grocery store) but either way you need to take your time and think about what you're buying. This will not only help you stay on track but it will also help you save money.

This post is all about what to buy at the grocery store and how to save a little money doing it.

Rule #1 Always make a list and bring it with you, don't stray from the list! Plan your meals out ahead of time and have written down the ingredients your going to need to buy.

Rule #2 Use a calculator, this will help you stay within budget once you see that number go over budget think about something you could put back or something you can substitute. I always round up too when using a calculator that way there is no surprise at the register and I'm usually always under. 

Rule #3 Don't go hungry and go when it's slow. NEVER go grocery shopping when you're hungry, this will only end in you buying food you don't need. Also going when it's slow you can take your time and really read labels and look at what you're buying.  

Rule #4 This is probably the most important, you HAVE TO READ LABELS! Not just for the calories and the fat blah, blah, blah but read the ingredients. That's what I always read first, if I can say it and know where it comes from then I next read the calories, fat, protein, fiber, and sodium. Stay away from GMO products, any processed foods, and anything with chemicals in them. 

TIP: Try to do most of your grocery shopping on the outer walls of the store, all the produce and things kept fresh, this less likely to be GMO and over processed and filled with chemicals, do as little shopping in the actual aisle as you can. Dierbergs is usually where I go if I don't feel like making the drive the Trader Joe's or Whole Food's,  because it is close and they have and organic/all natural aisle so I do all my shopping on the outer walls then hit up that one aisle and I'm done.

TIP: Another HUGE tip try Aldi's, they now carry a wide variety of organic foods, from cereal, fruit preserves, pasta sauce, honey, granola bars, Greek yogurt, dinners, beef, and produce. You can score a lot of great deals here before you hit up the big chain grocery store.

WHEN TO BUY FOOD ITEMS

If you plan correctly you can save money by buying things in bulk. Or just by buying things you know you'll only use once a week so they will last longer. Here is a list of things you can buy monthly, every 2 weeks and weekly. 

MONTHLY

Frozen fruits & veggies

Fruit preserves

Flax & Chia seeds

Rice & Quinoa 

Peanut Butter 

Honey

Meat (buy more and freeze some)

Protein powder

EVERY 2 WEEKS

Dipping's for your fruits and veggies

Greek yogurt

Granola

Cereal

Eggs

Snack

Oatmeal

Almond milk

EVERY WEEK

Fruits

Veggies

Kale

Spinach

BUYING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

I'm sorry but this is an absoulte MUST for me, buying organic is the only way to go with fruits and vegetables. They're healthier for you and you get way more health benefits from them. You know how the skin on cucumbers taste really weird? That's the chemical that was sprayed on them. Guess what organic cucumbers don't taste like that, you can eat the skin! The skin is where all the nutrients are too. These chemicals haven't been around long enough for them to know the long term effects, I don't know about you but I'm not willing to risk my health.

BUT... I also understand it can be expensive, you know what else is expensive? Doctor and hospital bills from when you get sick.  

And still I get it we all can't buy everything organic, I mean I do buy some things that aren't organic, like my peanut butter, it's all natural but it's not organic. But I'm super picky about my peanut butter and JIF has my heart. 

So to help you out here is a list of fruits and veggies to buy organic and one's that if you must you can buy non-organic.

BUY ORGANIC

- Apples     - Celery     -Strawberries     -Peaches     -Grapes

-Spinach     -Kale     -Peppers     -Nectarines     -Cucumbers     -Tomatoes     -Snap peas

- Potatoes      -Blueberries      -Raspberries

NON-ORGANIC(if you must)

-Onions     -Avocado     -Sweet corn     -Pineapple     -Mango     -Asparagus

- Kiwi     -Cabbage     -Eggplant     -Papaya     -Watermelon     -Broccoli     -Bananas

-Oranges

TIP: If you have to eat the skin buy organic but if it is protected by the skin and you eat the inside it's a safe bet you can buy non-organic since you'll peel that off and throw it away. 

BUT STILL ALWAYS WASH YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EVEN IF YOU THROW THE SKIN AWAY

STICKERS

Lastly I want talk about the stickers you see on the fruits and vegetables. If those numbers confuse you, I'm going to help you out. 

* If the sticker has 4 numbers the produce was grown conventionally or "traditionally" with pesticides. The number is just labeling the food it is, like bananas are all 4011.

*If there are 5 numbers and it starts with a "8" it's a GMO, DON"T BUY IT!

* If there are 5 numbers and it starts with a "9" it's organic! 

So 9 good 8 bad.

Don't get overwhelmed and take your time. Buying the right food makes all the difference.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

It just wouldn't be a perfect Fall morning without some pumpkin oatmeal. As we all know I'm not a big pumpking person, so for me to actually really like this oatmeal says a lot! It's SUPER good, but I'm not gonna lie the peanut butter in it makes all the difference. 

Now if you're a big pumpkin lover, you can opt to leave the peanut butter out. Try it without first you can always put the peanut butter in if you change your mind. 

Let's get eating!

Ingredients

- 1/3 Cup Quick Cooking Rolled Oats

- 2/3 Cup Water

- 1/4 Cup Pumpkin Pure (I use Libby's)

- 1/4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

- 1 Tbsp Peanut Butter

-1 Tsp Honey

- 1 Tbsp Flax seed

Directions

- In microwave safe bowl, stir the oats and water together.

- Microwave for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes.

- Stir in the pumpkin and cinnamon.

- Top with the honey, peanut butter, and flax seeds.

Now your read to eat!

Super simple and super delicious, and full of fiber! 

100 Calorie Blast. No Equipment Needed.

     Here is a quick 100 calorie blast, for those time you just don't know what to do or need something quick. A short workout is better than no workout. You can do this workout anywhere anytime, because you don't need any equipment. Just you and your own body weight making yourself sweat.

     First I'll list the workout and following I'll show pictures and also a list of modifications.

     

      -THE WORKOUT-

   * 60 Mountain Climbers  

   * 40 Back Jacks

   * 10 Push Ups

   * 20 Jump Squats

   * 10 Burpees

   * 1 Min Plank

        REPEAT

REPEAT 4 TIMES FOR A FULL BODY WORKOUT

   - THE MOVES-

MOUTAIN CLIMBERS

- Start in plank position hand right under the shoulders, feet hip width apart. Bring one knee in and then switch and bring the next. Go as fast as you can, don't dip your back and keep your butt tucked. When you bring your knee in don't let it touch the ground.

- Modification, don't go so fast and when you bring your knee in let your foot tap the ground.

   -BACK JACKS-

- Just like a jumping jack, but instead of arms starting at your sides and then going up above your head. Arms start straight out in front of you and then you pull them backwards. Go as fast as you can and keep your back tight and pull your shoulders back.

- Modification, just do regular jumping jacks.

-PUSH UPS-

- Start out in plank, move hands just a little bit outside shoulder width, keep abs tight and back straight. Don't dip the back or raise the butt up. Go down until your arms break a 90 degree angle then back up. To make it harder bring hands in a little and keep elbows close to the body.

- Modification, go down on your knees. But don't do the push up on your knees that's bad for them, do them more on your thighs. Lay down, bend your legs up (but don't cross your feet thats bad for the hips) and start your push ups.

- JUMP SQUATS-

- One of my personal favorites! Start with feet hip width apart, squat down keeping your butt back, don't let your knees go over your big toes. Put all the pressure in your heels. Try to go as low as you can without breaking form and then jump up and when you come down don't slam your joints land with bent kneeds right back into squat form.

- Modification, take out the jump. You can squat then stand up squat then stand up. Or just hold a squat for 1 min.

- BURPEES-

- Another one of my personal favorites, start in standing position hands up, tuck down and touch the ground, jump back into a plank (it's important to keep your abs tight and not to let your back drop down) then jump back into a little ball and jump up and immediately fall back down into your ball and jump back into plank. Don't jump land stop then go back down. 

- Modification, take the jump out just stand at the top. Also you can step back into plank instead of jumping back. 

-PLANK-

- Plank the last move, keep arms right under your shoulders, legs straight, no back dipping and keep your abs tight. Lean a little forward to get into position so your right over your shoulders. 

- Modification, go down onto your knees. You can alternate between being on your knees and being in plank till you can hold a full plank for 1 min. 

You have now got in a great little workout or a great full body workout and your ready to take on your day. You can feel great knowing you did a little something today for you.