Tag: snack

Popcorn Indulgence, that’s good!

Post author By De
Post date October 17, 2016
4 Comments on Popcorn Indulgence, that’s good!

Meal Time Monday [Autosaved]

popcornindulgence

My Not-So Guilty Pleasure

If you were to ask me what my favorite food was, I would say without hesitation pizza and sushi. The third thing that I cannot resist is popcorn. It is the most satisfying tasty snack that you can chomp on for awhile and fill full, and craving quenched.

I love air popped popcorn, but it’s a hassle to take out the air popper and make popcorn. I also have a really old Air Popper from 1990s that I am almost positive was made with phthalate, BPA plastic and probably not safe to use any longer. A little trick I learned from my mom to get air popped popcorn without the hassle of an air popper. It is a much healthier option to microwave popcorn too. It is a two step process but if you like popcorn the fresh no preservative microwavable popcorn option can be a treat.I also like how you can make so many different topping ideas. The only problem with popcorn is that it can turn from a healthy beneficial snack to junk food right before your eyes.

Why is it the Healthy Snack?

According to the National Healthy and Nutrition Examination Survey results, “reported that popcorn eaters consumed an average of 250 percent more whole grains than non-popcorn eaters.”

Some other benefits of popcorn are:

Great source of fiber.
Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
reduce blood cholesterol
help regulate blood sugar,
B vitamins,
minerals,
protein
and antioxidants
hulled corn contains high concentration of polyphenols

popcorn

What is this polyphenol everyone is talking about?

The word itself sounds technical, inorganic and “chemically.” It is anything but and something that we should be adding more to our diet. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “Polyphenols are abundant micronutrients in our diet, and evidence for their role in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases is emerging.” Polyphenols have some great benefits for your health depending on the amount and classification that you eat.

Lowers your cholesterol
Lowers your blood pressure
Improves your artery (endothelial) function
Improves your arterial flexibility- which means, keep arteries flexible and elastic to help blood flow through freely
Reduces your inflammation
Improves your life span

How much polyphenols should intake daily?

According to the Journal of Nutrition, there was a study conducted that found people who consumed 650 mg per day experienced 30% lower mortality rate than those who took less than 500 mg per day. It’s not an exact prescription, but it gives you an idea of a good range.

Where can I get polyphenols in my diet?

You can easily get your polyphenols from Whole nutrient-dense food there are over 100 foods found in nature that contain polyphenols. Having a diet that consists of super foods helps too. Add I found an extensive list on the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition which includes the food, food groups, types of polyphenol and different amounts for each type. I picked the ones that I like to eat because it is good to know I’m doing something right.

Corn
Cocoa powder
Dark chocolate
Flaxseed meal
Sage, Rosemary, Spearmint, Thyme, Capers, Basil, Curry, Mexican oregano (Grouping them all in one)
strawberries
coffee
Pecan nut
Black grape
almonds
red onion
apple
spinach
Green tea
And over a 100 more

popcorntoppings

Air Popped Popcorn with No Popcorn Machine Needed

So, yay for popcorn!!! I eat it so much and I have a really cool and easy way to make yours!

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:39]

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Tags clarified butter, corn, ghee, healthy indulgence, healthy snack, mealtime monday's, nutrition, polyphenols, popcorn, snack

Breakfast Dessert Gluten Free Mealtime Monday Recipes

Lemon Coconut Protein Chia Pudding

Post author By De
Post date August 15, 2016
No Comments on Lemon Coconut Protein Chia Pudding

Meal Time Monday [Autosaved]

LemonCoconut.ChiaPudding

It sounds good, right? Well it is absolutely amazing! I have been dabbling in Chia Seed flavors lately. One because it is so good; second it is really easy and third it will kill a sugar craving and leave you full and satisfied. It’s the perfect snack, breakfast! I’ve made some questionable flavor combinations but this one by far is the yummiest! I had to share.

Chia Seed is also very beneficial it is rich in fiber, omega-3 fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Some benefits of Chia seeds are:

Great for your Skin and Aging- it contains antioxidants that help accelerate skin repair and also inhibit skin from future damage.
Great for digestion- Chia seed is very-high in fiber it is said to contain about 11 grams per ounce. Meaning one serving of Chia Seed can be your recommended fiber intake for the day! Fiber is critical for your body to help it balance your insulin levels and known as a blood sugar balancer.
Great for your Heart Health– Chia Seed has been know to:
– reverse inflammation,

– regulate cholesterol and lower blood pressure make it extremely beneficial to consume for heart health.

– reversing oxidative stress

*according to an article published in the journal Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials:
Great for treatment of Diabetes– A study done came to the conclusion that eating chia seeds entirely inhibited the start of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. There has been claims that it can halt or reverse diabetes. (I’m not making them but some researchers have been bold enough to come to that conclusion after laboratory testing.
Great for an extra Boost Your Energy & Metabolism- The addition of chia seeds will help boost your metabolism and burn belly fat. It reduces visceral adipose tissue also known as belly fat tissue which has an effect on your ability to burn calories.
Great for Stronger Bones- One ounce of Chia Seeds is 18% of the daily recommended calcium intake.
Great to help you Build Muscle & Lose Weight- Chia seed is an excellent plant based protein. It has been recommened for people wanting to burn fat, get lean muscle and balance blood sugar levels.

I lift really heavy and have a high protein allocation in my diet so I am always trying new protein based treats. I also love it for my daughter because it’s a wholesome meal in the morning and they can just grab their jar and go! I don’t let them take it to school because of the glass but they each have one and just unscrew the lid and eat. It’s nice for those busy school day mornings. I don’t know about you but I am prepping for Back To School so testing out new flavors to keep them interested has been fun! They can even make this on their own which my oldest one loves to do.

I have been going Lemon crazy lately. I am not sure if it’s because its summer time and its refreshing. Citrus is also great for helping absorb iron and it just makes everything taste yummy. From your bowl of fruit to your piece of chicken fresh squeezed lemon juice is always a great addition to a meal. It’s versatility also allows for a lot of different flavor combinations. The great thing about this pudding too is the Coconut is not overpowering. If you don’t like coconut omit it and you have a Lemon “Meringue”ish Chia Pudding.

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:33]

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Tags breakfast, chia pudding, dairy free, dessert, gluten free, healthy snack, lemon coconut, no sugar added, snack, treat

Recipes

Roasted ChickPeas

Super Easy, High in Protein snack! I have been looking for a high protein healthy snack and made these and they were a hit. May even replace my Air Pop Popcorn addiction.