Category: Cait’s Cafe

This easy recipe is for all the people trying to stay on track with their health goals.  And if you are like me, maybe you are trying on wedding dresses this weekend and need to stay focused but also need yummy protein treats!  This recipe is made with natural ingredients that are sure to satisfy you.  But be warned, they taste like cookie dough bites and can be addicting… 1, 2 tops, are all you need to satisfy your protein craving / sweet tooth.

Let’s Prep

• In a large mixing bowl, mix the below ingredients together
  • 1 Cup Oats
  • 1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter (I use crunchy b/c I love crunchy PB)
  • 1/3 Cup Honey
  • 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips
  • 1 Tsp. Vanilla
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper

Let’s Bake (I mean, refrigerate)

• Wet hands with cold water (this is so the ingredients don’t stick to your hands)
• Roll into 1 – 2 inch balls
• Place balls onto parchment paper
• Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour
• Enjoy!

Oh pizza!  It’s my weakness.  When I started my weight-loss journey a few years back I realized I’d have to cut out pizza.  I cried myself to sleep that night.  After about a month of depriving myself of delicious pizza, I caved.  I decided to make a pizza myself, with fresh ingredients.  The result, AH-MAZING!  It’s quick, easy, and tasty.

Pictured below are a Chicken, Alfredo, Spinach Pizza and the other an Italian Meat Pizza.  Try it on the grill – makes for a great tasting pizza!

Grocery List: Price Varies

• Pillsbury Thin Crust or Whole Wheat Crust (Yes, I cheat and don’t make my dough from scratch)
• Sauce: Alfredo, Olive Oil, Marinara, etc.
• Toppings: Chicken, Bacon, Veggies, Pepperoni, etc.
• Cheeses (I use a blend of whatever I have on hand)

Let’s Cook!

• Follow directions on Pillsbury Crust container
• Add light sauce
• Add toppings
• Add Cheese
• Bake

I love shrimp!  Add in some veggies, pasta and Alfredo sauce and you’ve got a pretty amazing dinner.  This meal has little prep needed and cooks fairly quickly.

 

 

Grocery List: Prices Vary

• 24oz Package of Frozen Shrimp (Cooked, Peeled, Deveined)
• Half Bag of Frozen Broccoli
• 1-2 Cups Fresh Mushrooms (I slice them pretty thin)
• 1 Jar Alfredo Sauce
• 1/2 Package of Bow Tie Pasta (I use half to keep down my carb intake)
• Spices: Pepper, Salt, Italian Spice Mix, Garlic Salt
• 1-2 Tblsp. Butter

 

 

 

Let’s Cook!

• Over medium heat, in a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter and shrimp and broccoli
  • TIP: Because both shrimp and broccoli are frozen, you’ll want to start cooking them first.
• In a large pot, boil water for pasta. Cook pasta al dente, strain and put to the side.
  • TIP: Add some EVOO to the water so that the pasta doesn’t stick

• Once shrimp and broccoli are tender, add seasonings and mushrooms.  Place a lid on the skillet to steam all of the yumminess together. About 10 minutes
• Turn heat to low and add Alfredo sauce & strained bowtie pasta
  • TIP: If the skillet is too hot, the sauce will splatter… be warned
• Keep on low for a few minutes to let all ingredients heat up and mix together
• Add a little more of each seasoning to get a full flavored meal

Literally, the easiest treat I’ve ever made: Peppermint Bark

Grocery List $5-$10
Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
White Chocolate Baking Chips
Candy Canes or Peppermints (I used candy canes as I didn’t want to unwrap a bunch of peppermints)

Let’s Prep
1. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper
2. Unwrap candy canes (or peppermints) and place in a durable zip lock bag – smash with a rolling pin, hammer, or meat tenderizer. I left a few chunks big but mostly you want the candy canes fully smashed. **If you are having a bad day, this project might help you feel better. 😉

Let’s Bake
1. Heat up Dark Chocolate Baking Chips in a microwaveable bowl. **Microwave until you can stir at a smooth consistency
2. Pour & Smooth dark chocolate into the baking dish – make sure to spread until smooth
3. Heat up White Chocolate Baking Chips in a microwaveable bowl. **Microwave until you can stir at a smooth consistency
4. Pour & smooth white chocolate on top of dark chocolate – make sure to spread until smooth
TIP: Try to make both dark chocolate & white chocolate the same width
5. Sprinkle smashed up peppermints all over the top of the white chocolate
6. Refrigerate for 1.5-2 hours.
7. Once completely hardened you can slice up or break into pieces and serve.
8. ENJOY!

 

Ladies & gents, I’ve struggled with my weight since right after High School and living on my own. I no longer had my mom supervising my fast food intake or ensuring I ate 3 square meals a day. I went a little bonkers and decided I could live off of McDonald’s. It was a sad, sad day for my waist line (and my health).

Well, that was a long time ago and although I’ve cut out the McDonald’s (and fast food in general), I still struggle to keep off the weight. But over the years I’ve learned that dieting just doesn’t work for me, a lifestyle change does. You’ll notice I always put “diet” in quotation marks because I don’t want you to “diet”, I want you to lifestyle change. So in my blog “diet” = lifestyle change. 🙂

These are a few tips of mine to encourage you to KEEP GOING!

#1: Being consistent is where it’s at. If you decide to “diet” for 1-2 weeks but don’t see the results you want, give up, throw in the towel, and begin eating unhealthy foods AND stop exercising, guess freakin’ what…. you aren’t going to make any progress. Even on days/weeks where you only lose .5 pounds, you’ve got to keep going. Especially if you are a woman, we HOLD onto weight like no other and it takes time, dedication, and consistency. Don’t give up on yourself, you are worth it!

#2: Stay positive. This coincides with tip #1. If you are constantly down on yourself and stressing yourself out about your weight, you aren’t going to get very far. Be proud & happy with yourself for every inch or pound lost. Remember, your body is under construction… it will take time.

#3: Set goals. Now, if you are like me and have a goal of losing 50 pounds, don’t make that your starting goal! Setting such a high goal at one time can be majorly overwhelming. Set a goal for your first 2-3 months of your “diet”. It can be a small goal or large goal but remember to make them. And that leads me to tip #4.

#4: Reward yourself! If you hit your first 2-3 month goal reward yourself!!! I don’t encourage rewarding yourself with bad food as this can sometimes result in backpedaling and spin you out of control. But instead I encourage you to get your nails done, buy a new article of clothing, get your hair done. Do something that will make you feel really good.

#5: Remember how beautiful you are inside and out. No matter your size, shape, color, WE are all BEAUTIFUL! Always remember that and stay true to yourself. Don’t “diet” for a man, work, etc. “Diet” for yourself b/c your health is worth it. <3 xoxo