RD FIT LIFE

All the rage- Halo Top!

There are times when I have eaten healthy consistently and the mood for a cheat strikes me.  If you are normally a healthy eater, a cheat can carry some guilt.  I know it does for me.  Recently, I have discovered an option that encourages a little less guilt, but doesn’t sacrifice any taste!  Sounds unreal, right?!

 

I kept hearing this name… Halo Top.  I would hear about it at the gym, see it on Instagram, but what is this Halo Top product?

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Halo Top is a light ice cream!  It allows a cheat to be much less of a blow to your healthy diet.  Let’s look into a comparison!

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It is quite amazing that it really doesn’t taste bad when you see the lack of sugar and fat.  So of course the wheels start spinning… How do I jazz this up and continue to keep the calories low?  Add PB2!

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PB2 is a great product that gives you a peanut butter taste, but is only 45 calories for 2 Tbsp VS. 210 calories for 2 Tbsp of real peanut butter.

Here is my recipe!

1/2 cup of Vanilla Bean Halo Top

1 Tbsp PB2

1 Tbsp chopped nuts

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And this is my finished product!

What is your nutrition make up here with this cheat?

Calories: ~127.5

Protein:  ~10 g

Fat: ~6.75 g (2.25 g sat.)

Carbs:  ~16 g (5 g sugar)

Not too bad when comparing to real ice cream!  And always looking for ways to boost that protein intake.  Even in my cheats!

I hope this helps you control your cheat day a little better by keeping calories lower and protein higher in your treat!

If you have any questions or comments, let me know!  Feel free to share this post by using the social media icons below!  Enjoy!

Guilt Free Snacks For a Crunch!

When people are dieting, one thing I always hear is how much they miss the crunch during meals or snacks.  Sometimes there are desires for a snack with a crunchy texture, but the only way people really fulfill that is through potato chips, rice cakes, and crackers…

Firstly, make sure you are going for that snack because you are truly and physically hungry.

Secondly, ask yourself, “Is this going to nourish my body?”

So here are some of my favorite snacks that I keep around for a crunchy texture when I just can’t make it to the next meal.

APPLE AND PEANUT BUTTER

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Now, I know what most of you are thinking… “Peanut butter is loaded in calories!!”

Yes.  It is considered high in fat and containing some protein.  Fat is not always a bad thing as you’ll read later on.  This is actually what is going to keep this apple digesting more slowly in your gastrointestinal tract which means you’ll feel satisfied until that next meal.

And of course you ALWAYS want to monitor your portions size of any food healthy or not.  Even peanut butter.  There are great individually packaged serving sized cups of peanut butter on the shelf ready to purchase.  If you feel you can’t control your portions directly from the jar, go for the cups.

SWEET PEPPERS AND HUMMUS

For some reason most people associate hummus with pita bread/chips.  Yes, this combination is common in the restaurant industry because carbs are cheap!  But at home, why not use the veggies?

The small sweet peppers are my favorite with hummus, but you can also use cucumbers, regular bell peppers, and carrot sticks!

ALMONDS AND WALNUTS

These nuts are the most beneficial nuts you could choose when aiming for the most heart healthy option.

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As you can see above, the main reasons nuts keep us satisfied is because of their fat content.  When eating something high in fat, you want to make sure that fat is going to benefit you (mono-, poly-) and not work against you (sat-).

Saturated Fat:

  • Increases your risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Increases your bad cholesterol (LDL) levels
  • Mostly come from animal sources (beef, dairy)

Monounsaturated Fat:

Polyunsaturated Fat:

One way I way I use almonds and walnuts in my regular snacks is by making a trail mix.

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Check out my TRAIL MIX RECIPE HERE to also learn more about the health benefits of nuts!

CELERY

Celery is an amazing food that is so low calorie.  A lot of people believe celery is an empty food without a lot of nutrition, but that is not entirely true!

Celery is only about 10 calories for 1 large stalk.  It provides roughage for your colon as well as Vitamin C, A, and Folate!

Paired with peanut butter, cheese, or hummus, celery can make a great snack to keep blood sugars stable as well as ward off hunger until meal time.

I hope this has helped you find a way to add crunch back to those snacks!  These are some of my favorites that I keep on hand and hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Please feel free to share by using the social media icons below!