Coconut Almond Banana Oat Muffins

Coconut Almond Banana Oat Muffins / Makes 24
What you’ll need:
2 very overripe bananas
½ cup coconut oil
1 cup sugar
½ tsp almond extract
1 ½ cup rolled oats
¾ cup unbleached flour (up to ½ cup of which can be whole wheat flour)
¾ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
¾ cup toasted sliced almonds
¾ cup shredded coconut
2 Tbsp flax seed meal
How to make it:
1.    Preheat oven to 350, line 24 muffin cups
2.    Spread the almonds on an ungreased baking sheet and toast in oven for 5 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, mash the bananas in a medium mixing bowl. Mix with sugar, oil, flax seed meal and almond extract until smooth.
3.    In a separate mixing bowl, combine baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour and oats.
4.    Add banana mixture to oat mixture, mix until just combined.
5.    Fold in almonds and coconut, careful not to overmix.
6.    Divide mixture into muffin cups. Bake for 17-19 minutes or until the top is browned and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
**modified version of Runner's World Cookbook Banana Oat Energy Bars**

Turkey Vegetable Soup

4 cups chicken broth

2 diced russet potatoes

3 diced bell peppers

2 cups diced cooked turkey breast

1 can corn

1 can fire-roasted diced garlic tomatoes

1 can carrots

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp garlic sea salt

Cook in crockpot on low 6-8 hours or until potatoes are tender.

Game On Nachos

2 bell peppers cut up into 1-2" squares
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat mexican cheese
1/4 cup hummus with kalamata olives (I used Trader Joe's brand)
3/4 cup salsa

Spread bell peppers slices onto plate and sprinkle cheese over top.  Melt in microwave (about 1.5 minutes). Allow to cool slightly and then dip in hummus and salsa.

Game On Diet plan
Fist sized portion of fruit or carbohydrate = hummus and salsa
Palm sized portion of protein = cheese
Thumb sized healthy fat = olives in hummus
Fist sized portions of vegetables = bell peppers

Iced Coffee and Greek Yogurt

1 6oz fruit flavored greek yogurt
1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
8 oz of Iced Coffee
1 teaspoon sweetener (agave nectar, maple syrup, etc.)
1/2 cup milk

Mix sweetener and milk into iced coffee.  Mix nuts into greek yogurt.  Stir and enjoy.


Game On Diet plan
Fist sized portion of fruit or carbohydrate = fruit in yogurt, milk
Palm sized portion of protein = greek yogurt
Thumb sized healthy fat = chopped nuts

Game On Five-ingredient Cookies

Original "two-ingredient cookie" recipe can be found online at : http://www.theburlapbag.com/2012/07/2-ingredient-cookies-plus-the-mix-ins-of-your-choice/

Ingredients:
2 large old bananas
1 cup of  oats (quick or regular! if you use regular, we’d suggest chopping them a little so everything holds together better)
sprinkle of cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
2 scoops protein powder

Mix the banana and oats together, then stir in cinnamon, nuts, and protein powder.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes on a GREASED cookie sheet. You could also use parchment paper for easy clean-up.

Depending on size these should make 12 cookies for a total of 3 servings.

Game On Diet plan
Fist sized portion of fruit or carbohydrate = banana and oats
Palm sized portion of protein = protein powder
Thumb sized healthy fat = nuts

Veggie Quesadilla and Kale Chips

This recipe makes two servings, so it's great for a date night, or can be broken up into two different meals for one healthy person on the go.
Kale chips recipe I used was found here: http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/2012/08/kale-chips.html  I've used other recipes and found that my chips burned, so I like that this one required a lower cooking temperature for a longer time.

2 whole wheat tortillas
2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheese
2 cups vegetables (sliced mushrooms, diced zucchini, diced bell peppers, etc.)
1 bunch kale (cut into 2-inch pieces)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Seasoned salt

for kale chips:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Throw kale pieces in a bowl and toss with 1 Tablespoon olive oil.  Lay out on a baking sheet and sprinkle with seasoned salt.  Bake kale for about 20 minutes, or until crisp.
for quesadilla:
Heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil in saute pan, add vegetables and cook until soft. I used a quesadilla maker, but you could also cook your quesadilla using a frying pan or george forman grill. Place cooked vegetables and cheese in between tortillas and heat until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and enjoy.


Game On Diet plan
Fist sized portion of fruit or carbohydrate = whole wheat tortilla
Palm sized portion of protein = cheese
Thumb sized healthy fat = olive oil
 Fist sized portions of vegetables = mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, kale

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wrap

I'm getting ready to finally start another round of Game On and have been brainstorming for new ways to follow the diet.  I've been really enjoying buffalo ranch chicken wraps lately, but I would hate to waste my 100 calories just on the sauce (I've been mixing Hidden Valley Ranch with Sweet Baby Ray's Buffalo Wing Sauce).  I decided to do a quick google search to see if anyone has used greek yogurt to make a buffalo ranch sauch and this is what I found:

Buffalo Ranch Dipping Sauce
2 cups plain greek yogurt
1 packet ranch seasoning
3/4 cup hot sauce (I used Frank’s Red Hot Wings sauce)
In a small mixing bowl, whisk ranch seasoning into greek yogurt. When mixture is smooth, fold in hot sauce. Transfer to a small serving bowl. Refrigerate leftovers.

http://www.bakingserendipity.com/2012/08/20/buffalo-ranch-dipping-sauce/

This way the greek yogurt can count as part of my protein and the amount of ranch seasoning and hot sauce involved will only use up a few of my calories, not all of them.


1 whole wheat wrap or tortilla
1 fully cooked chicken breast, diced



1/4 cup reduced-fat shredded cheese
1 Tablespoon Buffalo Ranch dipping sauce made with greek yogurt
5 green olives
Optional: add sliced or diced bell peppers



Spread sauce on whole wheat wrap, add chicken, olives, cheese and (optional peppers).  Fold wrap in half and microwave until cheese is melted.

Game On Diet plan
Fist sized portion of fruit or carbohydrate = whole wheat wrap
Palm sized portion of protein = chicken, cheese, greek yogurt
Thumb sized healthy fat = olives
Fist sized portions of vegetables = peppers