Quest Bar - Review time!

So yes I have another product review for all you loyal readers out there!

Quest Bars! Heard of 'em? I hadn't until I was given the opportunity to review their stuff!

Quest bars are:

Nutrition Bars - carbs - gluten + protein + fiber - sugar (of any kind) - soy protein = YUM!

They call themselves the bar that is known for what it isn't. How cool and creative is that? I was soooo impressed that they tasted as good as they did without ANY sugar. That means no sugar, no sugar alcohols, no artificial sweetener. Nothing. 

They have sooo much fiber - like 17g a bar! And around 20ish grams of protein. That's pretty amazing if you ask little ole me!

Doesn't seem as if all my snacking revolves around studying chem? Probably stress induced snacking :S

Oh look! No chem book! :) The peanut butter supreme is probably my favorite. Or the PB&J. Hard call.

They are delicious. At first I was a little taken aback by the texture. Just not what I was expecting. They are definitely not a granola bar. They are very chewy and at first, a little gritty. But that was only with the first one - all the other types I've tried have added things in them (i.e. nuts) so the texture if fabulous. 

Overall - a super delicious bar with great nutritional value, especially if you are one of the many people in this world that are much stronger than I am and follow a low-carb diet. :/ Man-I get upset just thinking about a day without bread, granola, oatmeal!

Oh-I almost forgot! Quest also sells "Cravings"

They are real food that tastes like candy. Full of protein (20 grams) and only 4g of carbs.

What are they exactly? Peanut butter cups! Yes-that's right! :) 

Yum-de-dum-dum-dum!

In other news...

I had a take-out salad from Hy-vee the other day! How cool is that?! I didn't even know you could do that! Just fill up your take-out bowl with whatever-the-heck-you-want off the salad bar, weigh it, and away you go. Oh, I forgot pay. Before you go and after you weigh it :)

Also-

I tried hash browns on the waffle iron the other day (yes I stole it from Pinterest!)

Perfect!

Just make sure your waffle iron is UBBER hot, spray it with non-stick spray, through some thawed hash browns (if they were first frozen of course :P ) and shut the lid...

about 5 minutes later you have these little beauties!

And think-they were made in a jif, with little to no oil!

Thank you yet again Pinterest.

Happy Friday to all! 

Peace. Love. and Peanut Butter.

Broccoli Raisin Salad

As I was beginning to write this recipe post, I kind of felt bad... I don't really understand why this salad has always been called 'Broccoli Raisin Salad' ..what? Did the other ingredients get the short straws and not get the recipe named after them? (I am aware this is extremely neurotic-but still!) I mean, the cashews are probably my favorite part, and the cauliflower is awesome too! So I think they should get a part in the name, but alas...since most people know it by this name I will keep it!

Alright, on to the actual recipe-I am a HUUUUGE fan of this amazing salad... but I pulled up the first recipe I found when I googled 'Broccoli Raisin Salad' and the nutritional stats were jaw-dropping! 1 serving had 447 calories and 33 grams of fat!!! :O I couldn't believe it, I mean I know salads aren't always the figure friendly food some people assume them to be but really... calling something a salad and then having over 400 calories in it?! That should be a felony somewhere!

So I set off to create something a bit more "Blissful" on the nutritional front-and not to brag, but Boy Oh Boy did I succeed! This salad really does have it all: crunch, sweetness, creamy, and just a hint of salty flavor... and the best part- not even 100 calories per serving (and believe me, it's a BIG serving!)

If that wasn't enough to get you to make this, it also has over 130% of you recommended intake of vitamin C, some fiber and a healthy dose of protein!

What are you waiting for?! Go make this delicious side dish!

and there ya have it! Simple, delicious and healthy... what more could you ask for?

Ingredients:

Dressing:

-1/4 cup non-fat Greek yogurt

-1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

-1 TBSP. vinegar

-1 TBSP. Ranch dressing mix

Salad:

-6 cups broccoli/cauliflower (chopped)

-1/4 cup cashews

-1/4 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Mix dressing ingredients in a large bowl

2. Chop broccoli, cauliflower and cashews

3. Add chopped veggies, cashews and raisins to your bowl with dressing and stir to coat

4. Let refrigerate at least 2 hours for dressing's flavors to mature

~Makes 6 (GOOD sized) servings

Nutritional Info (about 1 cup)

Spicy Cabbage Salad

Did you just make my Runza's and now have an obnoxious abundance of cabbage that you don't know what to do with? No? Hmm-maybe that's just me...but it doesn't matter...you can still make this salad, even if you have to go out and buy cabbage.

It's extremely simple and the results are a creative and new flavorful way to enjoy cabbage. It's a nice remix on the traditional taco salad or cabbage slaw.

Did you know that cabbage contains fiber and helps lower cholesterol? Also-it is full of sinigrin (a cancer fighting chemical! ...who doesn't want more of those?! ) Salsa can help speed your metabolism and both tomatoes and peppers are chalk full of antioxidants!

Ingredients:
-1 head of cabbage
-1 jar salsa
-2 tomatoes
-1 onion
-2 peppers (if you use two different colors it makes it all the more fun!)
-any additional 'taco' like toppings; i.e. beans,

Warning! This salad makes a LARGE amount-like enough to feed a hungry group of BBQ go-ers in the middle of June after a long day in the fields! So...if you are enjoying alone feel free to size it down :)

Directions:
1. Chop all ingredients (except salsa because, well...it doesn't need chopped!)
2. Mix with salsa and let sit 2 hours at least! ...this helps bring out all the flavors

Nutritional Info:


...alright so I don't exactly have the nutritional stats-but don't get upset! I have a very good reason! It will all depend on how big your head of cabbage is, what your salsa is made out of and how much you eat! Please forgive me :)

Chicken Salad

What has an average of 45 grams of fat, 75 mg of cholesterol and 600 calories per serving? If you guessed chicken salad you are correct! This is another prime example of when 'salad' doesn't exactly mean healthy. So once again, I've decided to figure out some way I can transform the once completely unhealthy chicken salad into a well rounded meal...that won't make you well rounded!

I've finally perfected this recipe... I started by swapping the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt, regular sour cream for fat free, and added grapes and apples for bulk, vitamins and fiber.. and viola! Chicken Salad for the health conscious!

Ingredients (Makes 4 servings) :
-3/4 cup Greek low-fat yogurt
-1/4 cup fat free sour cream
-1 small apple
-1/2 cup grapes
-8 ounces chicken breast (cooked and shredded)
-Celery seed (or finely diced celery)

Directions:
1. Chop apple and grapes into small pieces
2. Shred chicken breast
3. Mix yogurt and sour cream well
4. Fold in apple, grapes, chicken and celery seed
5. Enjoy in pita pockets, atop a bed of greens, in a whole wheat wrap, with crackers... the possibilities are endless!

In the bowl...

                       Amazing with spinach in a pita pocket!

Nutritional Information: (1/4 of this recipe, about 1/2 cup)
Do not adjust your computer screens! This analysis is correct! I really did manage to slim it down to about 100 calories, less than 2 grams of fat and over 13 grams of protein for a serving! (applause)

Taco Salad

Time for a recipe makeover! Taco salads have far too long been touted as a health food but mysteriously hiding grams and grams of fat, carbohydrates, sodium and nothing in the categories of vitamins or minerals! I can hear you now... "But it's a salad!" I know...I know... but 'salad' doesn't always = healthy :(

Stop crying! I'm here to help! I've got a taco salad recipe that will knock your socks off! You won't miss any of the fat, carbs, or sodium your previous healthy salads were filled with. And, since you are such wonderful blog followers, I'll even make the salad full of vitamins, minerals AND fiber! I'm sure you're thinking something this good can't possibly be true, or at least tasty, but I promise you it is!

Still don't believe me? Alright skeptics, just try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Makes 1 Salad:
Ingredients:
-1 cups spinach
-1/4 cup beans of choice (here I used Pinto, but black are just as tasty!)
-2 ounces ground beef (best if browned with taco seasoning)
-2 TBSP Low fat Shredded Cheese
-1/4 cup corn
-Chopped tomato, onions, peppers
-Salsa

Directions:
1. Warm beef, corn and beans
2. Top spinach with beef, corn and beans
3. Top with cheese
4. Add tomato, onions, and/or peppers
5. Top with salsa

Additional Ideas:
-Eat with  my Homemade Pita Chips
-Top with low-fat sour cream
-Make a 'Ranchero' sauce for your salad (2 parts salsa, one part low-fat Ranch dressing)
-Add various vegetables: different beans, chopped carrots, different peppers, jicama, etc.

Nutritional Info: