Peanut Butter and Chocolate Apple Bites

Swimsuit season is right around the corner people! I've definitely procrastinated so its time to hit the gym hard (like the PTFTriathalon) and eat extra healthy. But is it just me or does everything I look at turn into one giant chocolate fountain or candy bar? It's a problem I'm working on.  So to fix that I try to incorporate a little sweets into my diet even when I'm trying to eat healthy so that I don't binge eat later...learned that the hard way :)

In browsing for some sweet treats to make I came across these peanut butter chocolate apple bites. They had me at peanut, so I just had to make them. They are so delicious and hit the spot. Take my advice and make sure you have all these ingredients in your pantry at all times so you will always have a healthy alternative for your sugar cravings.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Apple Bites
makes 16 wedges 
PREP: 5 minutes           COOK: 30 seconds            READY IN: 6 minutes

SIMPLE	HEALTHY	YUM

INGREDIENTS

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• 2 apples, cored and cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup low fat peanut butter
• 1/8 cup rolled oats or granola of your choice
• 2 tablespoons semi sweet or dark chocolate, melted (optional)

DIRECTIONS

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1. Core and cut apples in to 8 wedges each. 
2. Cover each apple with a small amount of peanut butter.
3. Top with oats or granola then drizzle with small amount of chocolate. 

NUTRITION FACTS

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    1 wedge  43 calories  3g fat   5g carbs    1g protein    2g sugar   

Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from www.thecomfortofcooking.com

Pumpkin Spice Quinoa Granola

This fall, I've become obsessed with pumpkin spice. It might have started with a recent trip to Trader Joe's when I came across - and of course had to have - pumpkin spice granola. It was amazing, and may have been my pumpkin spice downfall this year which has been leading me to put pumpkin spice in just about everything I can think of. To curb the temptation to go back and buy a cart-load of the seasonal granola at Trader Joe's, I of course had to see if I could replicate the stuff myself (as well as make it healthier in the process). I discovered a great recipe, which I tweaked only slightly by including raisins as TJ's did, and using beautiful red quinoa (mostly for the color enhancement - it is such a gorgeous contrast to the oats and gives it such a nice fall look... sorry, sneak peek into my brain there!) The granola is fantastic, and is great for snacking, with milk, or as the perfect topping to other fall-flavored treats that I've been concocting. (I can't wait to share my super-healthy sweet potato pudding that I've been pairing it with lately!)

Pumpkin Spice Quinoa Granola 

 Makes 3 2/3 cups 
PREP: 10 minutes           COOK: 25-30 minutes        READY IN: 40 minutes

SIMPLE	HEALTHY	YUM

INGREDIENTS

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• 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa (I used red), rinsed and lightly dried over a paper towel
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup ground flaxmeal
• 1/4 cup pepitas (or other seed - I used half pepitas, half sunflower seeds)
• 1/4 cup pecan pieces
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS

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1. In a medium-large bowl combine the oats and rinsed quinoa in a bowl and mix. Spread them onto a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes in the oven at 325ºF.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine honey, pumpkin puree, oil, and spices.
3. Turn down the oven temperature to 300ºF, remove the oats and quinoa from the oven, and combine with the seeds, nuts, and raisins in the larger bowl. Pour the wet mixture over these and combine well. 
4. Spread everything onto the baking sheet again, and place in the oven for another 25-30 minutes. Halfway through, use a spatula to turn over the granola, allowing it to bake more consistently.
5. When the granola appears slightly golden, remove from the oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container for several days.

NUTRITION FACTS

    1/3 cup serving    151 calories   5.5 g fat   23.7 g carbs    3.8 g protein    10.6 g sugar   

Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Skinny Taste.
Linking up here.

Breakfast Banana Yogurt Split

Are you sick of the daily cereal and milk for breakfast, but you're not sure what else to make? This breakfast banana split is quick, easy, versatile, and yummy. Your kids will love these. My "kid," aka my husband, inhales it.

Banana Yogurt Split
1 SERVING

PREP: 5 minutes           COOK: 0 minutes            READY IN: 5 minutes

SIMPLE	HEALTHY	YUM

INGREDIENTS

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• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 cup fat free yogurt (flavor of your choice)
• 1 tablespoon granola
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter (optional, depending on yogurt flavor)

DIRECTIONS

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1. Slice banana in half, lengthwise. 
2. If using peanut butter spread it over banana halves.
3. Place yogurt on top of banana and sprinkle with granola.

NUTRITION FACTS

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without peanut butter

   1 serving   214 calories 3.7g fat  35.8g carbs   9.2g protein   22.5g sugar

with peanut butter

   1 serving   308 calories 11.7g fat  38.9g carbs   13.2g protein   24g sugar   

Enjoy!