Birthday Pancakes

Today is a very special day in the Tiny Tummy family... it's Mommy Tiny Tummy's birthday! She's turning 30! ... plus a few... Anyway, since we did the usual sushi for dinner, I couldn't let the day go by without making something for her, and since pancakes are her favorite, I decided to make her pancakes with a recipe I've been meaning to test out lately.

They say you can make pancakes with just bananas and eggs, but I was a little bit skeptical. I'm glad I decided to give it a try though because she LOVED them. And they couldn't have been easier to prepare. All you need is:

1 banana
2 eggs (or 1 whole egg + 1 egg white)
a dash of cinnamon
1/8 t vanilla extract

To prepare, simply mash the banana, beat the egg and egg white and combine the two along with the cinnamon and vanilla extract in a bowl. Then, spray a pan with coconut oil spray and cook on a medium heat until the pancakes are cooked through. They actually come out looking like real pancakes, as you can see above. Can't beat that!

Feelin' Frisky? Feel free to add chocolate chips, berries, extra banana slices, etc. -- I would have, but I wanted to make sure they were yummy first- and they were!!!

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Danielle Done Good

A few years ago, when I was following a low carb diet, I was constantly looking for chips to satisfy my crunchy craving, and I came across these. Since I'm a bit kookoo for for coconut, I had to try them, and let's just say both myself and Mommy Tiny Tummy were totally addicted. 

When I reintroduced whole grain carbs into my diet, I no longer relied on chips such as these to satisfy my crunchy craving, but they are still delicious nonetheless, so I figured I'd share them anyway. These chips also come in pumpkin, banana, and other fun, exotic flavors, though I've only tried the coconut ones. The nice thing is, they come in 2oz bags, so the portion control is basically built in for you. If you're a fan of coconut, I highly suggest these chips. Pin It

Serves you Right (Or Does It?)

There has been a lot of controversy recently (and not so recently) over ordering in restaurants. According to Willie Degel, the customer is king, so why is it so hard to get what you order? People constantly tell me stories about how they try to order something healthy- they specify no butter, no oil, etc. and their food comes slathered in some sort of fat. Unfortunately, there is no way to know what really goes on in the kitchen, so as a general rule of thumb, if you order something cooked, just assume it is coated in some sort of fat. The good news? The fight for restaurants requiring food labels persists and more and more chains are now required to post their nutritional information on their menus. Unfortunately, these are generally not the healthiest places you can choose to eat, but at least it's progress! Apparently, most restaurants are on board with providing nutrition information- it's actually the supermarkets who are protesting, as they don't want to be burdened with the extra work (especially since mislabeling is a federal crime!)

What do you think? Should restaurants be required to provide nutritional information for all of their dishes? Pin It

Choco PB2Good to be True

I know, I know, I say it all the time, but I LOVE peanut butter. I really could eat a whole jar in one sitting, which is why I love PB2, and since I'd never tried the chocolate peanut butter, I figured it was about time. One word: delicious.

While it's not quite as chocolatey as I imagined, the stats definitely make it worthwhile. I kind of with it was a little bit more like nutella, but I mean, we can all dream, right? For a chocolate and peanut butter craving, this definitely does the trick. Pin It

Taco Tuesday: Turkey Tacos

Taco night used to be synonymous with fried taco shells, taco seasoning packets, lots of ground beef and shredded cheese, some guac/salsa/sour cream, and maybe a few veggies thrown in there. So, when people think of taco night, they usually think of a calorie, fat, and sodium disaster. Fortunately, Tiny Tummy Taco night is no such thing. I use homemade taco seasoning, ground turkey, and LOTS of veggies (and optional: homemade low-carb, high fiber taco shells). 

To make Tiny Tummy's Taco's You will need:
3oz ground turkey (I use 99% fat free)
1/2 cup riced cauliflower
3 T corn
3 T Frank's Hot Sauce
Tiny Tummy's Taco Seasoning to taste (link is in the paragraph above)
water as needed
optional: large lettuce leaves or high fiber tortillas to eat with

toppings: lettuce, tomato, jalepenos, salsa, guacamole, cheese, etc. etc.

To prepare, simply combine the first five ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Then, add them to a pan on the stove top on a medium-high heat and continually stir until meat cooks through, adding water and additional spices as needed. I would say this should take about 10 minutes. Then, prepare your tacos as you normally would- adding all of the usual fix-ins and eat up!

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The Jerk of All Trades

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm a convert to the Jerky Clan. Originally, I thought jerky would taste like what I picture dog food to taste like but it was actually quite good (hey, maybe dog food is too, but Tiny Tummy has no intention of venturing down that path any time soon :P) Anyway, in my new hunt for jerky, I came across this one which actually has pretty reasonable stats and tasted great!

Jerky is tricky because the stats range SO much. It's hard to find one that has few calories/mg of sodium but still has a decent amount of protein. Surprisingly, I've found that beef jerky tends to have better stats than turkey jerky. Weird, right? Anyway, this one was only 60 calories per ounce, where some can be upwards of 100 to 150! And like I said, it had nice flavor, so for an on-the-go punch of protein that requires 0 refrigeration, you can't go wrong with a good ole bag of jerky. Pin It

Skip to my Croix

Seltzer is pretty much Tiny Tummy's thing at this point. Honestly, I really do love water, but sometimes I crave soda, and seltzer kicks that craving for me. I recently heard about La Croix seltzer and all of the fun, exotic flavors, but as it turns out, they don't sell it conventional grocery stores around me-- only in Target. Fortunately, Mommy Tiny Tummy was making a Target run and offered to pick me up a pack, so I decided to try peach-pear.

In all honesty, the flavor is mild, but it's a little more umph than plain ole seltzer. I love peach and I love pear, so I expected to love this seltzer, when it was more of a like than love. I wouldn't go crazy out of my way to buy it again, but it certainly wasn't bad, and definitely reasonably priced. If you're a seltzer junkie like me, definitely give it a try, but don't kill yourself to get it. Pin It

Inside The Box: Fiber Gourmet Crackers

It's no secret that most boxed crackers are empty carbs and empty calories, but when it comes to a crunch to accompany a spread, sometimes, crudite doesn't do it. I get that. And, it's not always practical to say you can whip up a batch of your own. Fortunately, guilt-free crackers DO exist, and these Fiber Gourmet crackers are a perfect example. I love the cinnamon ones, and since the box is a little cartoon-y, I thought this was a perfect candidate for Inside the Box.

As you can see, the cartoon image on the box actually represents the real look of the cracker fairly well. And I will vouch for the fact that the portion-controlled 70 calorie pouches are the perfect size. I'm actually a huge fan of all of the fiber gourmet products. I love their crackers, pasta, and stay tuned for a future post revealing a new Flab Free Food Find from them!

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Not so Sweet Tea

I apologize to all of you non-tea lovers because I blog about tea frequently, but I am quite the tea obsessor, so sorry! However, this post differs from most because I usually talk about how in love I am with my new tea find, but I was far from in love with the following tea.

Tulsi teas boast more health benefits and antioxidants than green tea, but the problem is with the taste. I honestly don't know how to describe the taste other than weird. They don't really taste like the flavors that they are labeled as, but they do have a distinct taste- which I didn't particularly care for. Of the two, the red chai masala was more palatable, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend either one.

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Whippin' Up Some Hip Dip

A few weeks ago, Mommy Tiny Tummy came home with a delicious (but not so healthy) dip from Trader Joe's. She saw "yogurt," "kale" and "low fat," and automatically thought it was healthy, and while the ingredients weren't all that bad, I still knew I could make my own version healthier and with fewer ingredients (and less sodium!), so I set out to do so. The dip from Trader Joe's is their Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip (which is slightly deceiving because it is also made with some mayo!)

To make my lightened up, mayo-free Spinach and Kale Yogurt Dip, you will need:

1 container Greek Yogurt (I used Oikos 0%)
1 LARGE handful of spinach
1 handful of kale
1 t chopped chives
1 t dill
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
2 t dehydrated onion flakes (actually my favorite part!)
1.5 t stevia
1 t lemon juice
(optional: a pinch of salt)

1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped (I used an orange one)
1/2 a can of water chestnuts, chopped
1 small carrot, chopped
optional: some more chopped kale and spinach to add post-blending

To prepare, add the first 10 ingredients (and optional salt) into a Vitamix or food processor and process until smooth. Then, add the rest of the chopped veggies and mix, mix, mix. It's best if you let it sit for a few hours so all of the flavors mesh together, but it's delicious nonetheless!

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The God of All Quests

Holy god of all things delicious, do I have a Flab-Free Food Find for you. Today, I received a box from my new favorite people: The Quest Team. I mean, I've always loved Quest Bars, so nothing new there, but their newest addition to their line of unbelievably delicious bars takes things to a whole new level. 

This one needs a drumroll please: Quest's new CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH bar tastes as good as it sounds. With real chocolate chips in it, it tastes JUST like cookie dough, and the best part? It's HEALTHY cookie dough! Each bar has a whopping 21 grams of protein and only 190 calories- not to mention all that fiber to keep you satisfied, and only 1g of sugar. The bars are soft, chocolatey, and delicious... and don't even get me started on what happens if you microwave them (sheer genius). I really can't find any flaw with these bars, and this company's customer service has to be some of the best I've ever dealt with. I submitted a question regarding when these bars would hit stores, and within a few hours, I had an email response and voicemail on my phone specifically outlining when these gems would hit the GNC near you! If there's one Flab Free Food Find that I HIGHLY recommend, it would have to be Quest Bars. If you haven't already, go buy one. Or six. Do it. I promise you won't regret it! Pin It

Buttery Perfection

I recently received a question about what my take on avocados is. Yes, they are full of fat and super caloric, but the key here is that it's HEALTHY fat. Unlike the fat in cake, cookies, etc., this fat is monounsaturated fat (translation GOOD FOR YOU fat). I know the thought of eating fat when you're trying to lose fat may seem counterintuitive, but the truth is, your body needs fat to function. Without it, you'll have a very sad body. No, I'm not suggesting you load up on three avocados in one sitting, but a healthy portion (maybe 1/4 of an avocado) won't hurt your body- it will actually help it! It takes the body longer to break down fat than it does carbs and proteins, so it actually keeps you fuller longer. And, we all know about the "fullness factor" of fiber, which avocado also has a healthy dose of. Case and point, Tiny Tummy is pro-avocado (I prefer mine guac style with some lime juice and diced tomatoes), so gauac and roll and avocado away!

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O-So-Trim

Ever since I first jumped on the jerky bandwagon, I have constantly been flipping labels on every pack to try to find the best stats out there, and let me be the first to say, jerky can be a jerk. The calorie, sugar, protein, etc vary greatly from jerky to jerky. Some have 0g of sugar while I've seen some with 9g. YIKES! Anyway, I came across this jerky, or "jerkee" which actually has pretty good stats.

Ostrim Jerkee, made from beef and ostrich, has 60 calories per package (which comes with two long strips), 1g of sugar and 10g of protein- not half bad! While, yes, there are other jerky's with more protein, they usually have more sugar and more calories, so it's all about finding balance, which I'd say these guys definitely have. Not to mention, the pre-portioned packages make them a great on-the-go snack that you can keep in your car or in your desk for emergencies. A clear winner in my book.

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Skinny Mini Chocolate Love

Since Valentine's Day just passed, there is clearly an abundance of chocolate lying around. For the holiday (which is BIG in my family), I decided to get a little adventurous and buy new chocolates for everyone I was gifting. Mommy Tiny Tummy got the following bar, and was gracious enough to let me try a bite.

The Skinny Bar is a blend of 66% cacao dark chocolate and hibiscus, though it comes in other varieties as well. I chose the hibiscus flavor because we are both lovers of hibiscus tea, so I figured hibiscus in chocolate must be delicious too. The dark chocolate is delicious and creamy and actually tastes like a richer dark chocolate than the cacao content would suggest; however, I didn't really get the hibiscus flavor. Regardless, the whole bar clocks in under 200 calories, so if you're the type that can eat a whole chocolate bar in one sitting (like myself), then this built-in portion control is perfect. No matter how you slice it (or bite it, let it melt in your mouth, etc.), this chocolate bar is definitely a winner, and I plan to try other flavors from this company! Pin It

A Black Thai Affair

The other night, I had plans to meet my cousin for Thai food that fell through, but I have to admit, I was really looking forward to that steamed shrimp, veggies and brown rice. I know it sounds bland, but  Thai sauces have so much flavor that the steamed dish takes on a whole new depth with just the slightest touch of sauce. So, instead of considering it a lost battle, I went to Trader Joe's (okay, confession: I was already going there anyway), and raided the vegetable section, came home, and got to work, and made a rather delicious, really healthy (under 200 calories!) dish that I thoroughly enjoyed. And, it was BEYOND simple. Here's a picture and what you'll need to replicate it.

To make this steamed shrimp, veggie and brown rice dish you will need:

1/4 cup of minute brown rice (or brown rice of your choosing)

3oz shrimp, cooked (I used the frozen guys from Trader Joe's)

A variety of veggies (I used cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, sugar snap peas, and mushrooms)

optional: a lime wedge for garnish

To prepare, simply thaw your shrimp, cut your veggies and steam them with said shrimp. While that magic happens, prepare your brown rice according to package instructions, and in the blink of an eye, you've got a fresh, healthy dish... but it may be a little bland without sauce, so I guess it's only fitting I tell you what I did! ;)

My two favorite Thai sauces are massaman curry and the peanut sauce. The above picture features the massaman curry sauce, but I'll share the recipe for both!

First, the Massaman Curry Sauce is as simple as reconstituting a massaman curry paste with either water or coconut/flax/almond milk, and adding a little lime juice and optional Sriracha. Basically, it's a taste test depending upon how strong you want your flavor. The more water you add, the less pungent the flavor is, and since it's a paste, it packs a serious punch of flavor.

If you prefer the peanut sauce, you will need two parts PB2 powdered peanut butter to one part low sodium soy sauce. (For example, 2T PB2+ 1T soy sauce). Mix the two together (add enough water to the PB2 to get the desired thickness you prefer your sauce. And definitely reconstitute the peanut butter before you add the soy sauce), and there you have it! If you're feelin' frisky, you can even make a massaman curry peanut sauce by combining the two, though I can't vouch for how that would taste :P

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