5 “Healthyish” Favorites!

I love food. I love great tasting food. I mean don’t we all? The tough part about food, is making sure that we are attempting to make a few better choices for our health. That doesn’t mean that we can’t eat an occasional treat, but it really has to be OCCASIONALLY. Christine and I have basically cut out bread all together and cut down on our dairy content as an overall step to a more healthy life. I’ve also enjoyed finding a few slight changes that are still delicious, but a little more healthy. Again, these are not the most healthy things ever. They are just a slight adjustment to the norm.

One Protein Bars- These bars have been the apple of my eye as I started getting back in batter shape in April. They are packed with 20g of protein while only having 1g of sugar. The best part is, they taste awesome! I like a number of their flavors, but my current favorite is the lemon cake. I am a sucker for any citrus treat/dessert and these protein bars do not disappoint. They are my typical breakfast after hitting the gym along with a coffee. If you are in the market for a new, better tasting protein bar, try One Bars!

Kodiak Pancake Mix– We love pancakes. I’m not sure I know anyone who doesn’t at least like them a little bit. The problem with pancakes, along with other tasty breakfast options are their nutritional value. Or lack-thereof. The thing with the Kodiak cakes is they have small differences to a typical Betty Crocker mix. The biggest difference is once again the protein. They also do not used bleached flour. We love making these pancakes at least once a week. They are definitely a treat, but once again they are filling us up more with the protein intake.

Avocado Corn Salad– Now this one is an absolute home run. I have always really enjoyed Chipotle. One of my favorite parts about eating at Chipotle is their amazing corn salsa. In my opinion, it really makes the burrito, or burrito bowl. We came across this recipe from following, just.ingredients on Instagram. She gives out a bunch of healthy option tips and occasionally shares recipes that she enjoys. This recipe is to die for. We have made it as a vegetarian dinner as well as adding some smoked chicken in with it. The combination of avocado and corn is amazing, with the crunch of the red onion. Throw in the olive oil/lime juice dressing and my mouth is watering. Check out this great option for a vegetarian dinner option that you won’t regret!

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🌴Summer Salads ☀️- Avocado Corn Salad . Food is so healing to the body. The food you eat is doing so many miraculous things within your body while you don't even know it! . WHY ITS NUTRITOUS: 🥑Avocados- 1️⃣Avocados are known for being full of heart healthy fats. The majority of the fat is from oleic acid which is a monounsaturated fatty acid. 2️⃣Even though bananas get the glory for their potassium, avocados actually contain more! Potassium is something most people don’t get enough of, and it is linked to reduced blood pressure.(1) . 🧅Red onion- 1️⃣Red onions are higher in anti-cancer chemicals than any other variety of onion, according to research done by Cornell University food scientists. 2️⃣They contain anthocyanin which are antioxidants that offer anti viral, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Onions also have antibacterial properties. It has shown that onions can potentially fight bacteria like E. Coli and certain staphs.(2) . 🌽Sweet corn- 1️⃣Sweet corn is a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin which are great for eye health. These are phytochemicals that promote good vision. 2️⃣Corn also has fiber, magnesium, folate and potassium!(3) . ONE BABY CHANGE TO MAKE: Swap your vegetable oil or even olive oil for extra virgin olive oil. (see slide) . I ❤️this salad, especially with the quinoa and black beans in it! . . . . . 1.https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fat/art-20045550 https://www.fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.621.7 https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1843/2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23558164/ 2. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2004/10/some-onions-have-excellent-anti-cancer-benefits https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/anthocyanins https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29567221/ . 3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571649/ https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2972/2

A post shared by Karalynne Call (@just.ingredients) on Jun 11, 2020 at 6:27pm PDT

Salad Kits- Salads can be amazing. Say it with me now. They really can. The problem with most of us, is that fact that creating a salad with depth takes too much time and too many ingredients. This is where salad kits come in to save us. We came to this realization a few years ago, but have made it more a priority in 2020. Some of our favorite options are the Buffalo Ranch kit from Trader Joes, and the Avocado Ranch from Sprouts. These kits do the heavy lifting so that you can just add a protein, if you’d like and enjoy. We like to make these kits with a number of proteins, but use the Sprouts chicken tenders most.

Waterloo Sparkling Water– I’ve ALWAYS loved soda. That first taste that takes your breath away. The bubbles that almost hurt when they hit your throat. That is what dreams are made of. The thing with soda, is that it is not good for us. One healthier option I’ve been drinking is, Waterloo Sparkling Water. There are many different versions of sparkling water, but I enjoy Waterloo the best. I specifically really love their lemon lime flavor. It actually reminds me a little bit of Skittles. This sparkling water still gives me the bubbles, without the other unhealthy additives that we find in soda.

What are your favorite “Healthyish” options? I’d love to try them!