WIAW

Happy Wednesday!! It's officially halfway through the week and it's going to be a long weekend with the 4th of July holiday so I'm pretty pumped. I haven't done a 'What I Ate Wednesday' post in a long time so I thought heck why not? I love reading other bloggers WIAW posts because it gives me ideas for recipes and I'm just curious about that sort of thing, weird I know. 

Since I wake up ridiculously early and workout ridiculously early I don't eat breakfast beforehand. For some people that's a big no-no, but I cannot get a good workout in with food sloshing around in my stomach. I won't feel good and I certainly won't get a good workout. Instead of breakfast I have 1 scoop of Vega protein and greens protein powder and I mix it with water. I mix it up the night before and put in the fridge because in the morning it will be super thick like a smoothie- it's so good! You can get the protein on Amazon or I get mine at Costco and it's a little bit cheaper. Some mornings I will also grab an energy ball to go with the protein powder, lately I've been having the vanilla chia energy balls. You can get that recipe here (it's only 4 ingredients and it's ready in under 5 minutes!).

When I come back from the gym I am almost always starving. Lifting weights and cardio does that to a person. I have to take some medicine before breakfast that requires me to wait to eat so I shower and get ready and then make breakfast. This is one of my favorite breakfasts: 1/2 cup gluten free oatmeal (I use Quaker) mixed with 2 Tablespoons chocolate protein powder (for some extra protein to keep me full) topped with sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, 1 teaspoon Wild Friends cinnamon raisin peanut butter, gluten free chocolate hazelnut granola (found at Fresh Thyme market) and finished off with a drizzle of Walden Farms chocolate sauce. 

When I find something I like I tend to stick with it, especially since I've already fit it into my macros and know it works. This has been the case with this lunch. I've eaten the same lunch for the past week and a half and still am not sick of it. It's an O'Dough's gluten free bagel thin (I HIGHLY recommend it!) topped with smashed avocado, spinach, tomato, organic turkey breast and 1 Tablespoon peach mango salsa. I had a peach with it and yes that's one peach- it was giant!

I had dinner with my parents and ended up eating basic bro food. My mom was grilling chicken so I had that (I added some ketchup later) and I threw a sweet potato onto the grill (at the suggestion of one of my IG friends) and made some green beans. I must say grilled sweet potato is SO GOOD! I sprayed mine with coconut oil before grilling it so it wouldn't stick and I seasoned it, but I cannot wait to grill another sweet potato tonight! 

What's your favorite food to grill? Do you have a go to meal that you love? Comment below and share your WIAW links so I can take a peak! 

4th of July Roundup

It's hard to believe it's almost the 4th of July! Summer is flying by and it needs to slow down because I need to squeeze in every possible moment of sunshine and beach time because winter is way too long. 

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate because I'm incredibly thankful to live in a country where I have so many freedoms and I also love celebrating with my family. Almost every year we have a BBQ and invite some friends and family to come watch fireworks on the lake. It's nothing fancy, but it's always fun. In honor of the 4th I rounded up 30 recipes that are healthy, festive and perfect for a 4th of July BBQ!

Breakfast:

Strawberry Blueberry Overnight Oats via A Fit Philosophy

Red, White & Blueberry Crisp via Pumpkin & Peanut Butter

Main Dish:

Avocado Dijon Turkey Burgers via My Healthyish Life

Hawaiian Tuna Burgers via Healthy Helper

Brined Pork Chops with Grilled Peaches via Daily Ciabatta

Fit Chick Chicken Salad via Hello Spoonful

Grilled Mediterranean Zucchini Boats via Healthy Helper

Roasted Beet and Black Bean Sandwich via Danielle's Kitchen

Sides:

Modern Macaroni Salad via Strength and Sunshine

Smokey BBQ Beet Hummus via The Clean Eating Couple

Strawberry Salsa via Running in a Skirt

Creamy Pineapple Ginger Slaw via Eat The Gains

Mango Cucumber Salsa via Eat The Gains

Watermelon, Feta, and Mint Skewers via Nutritioulicious 

Healthy Greek Yogurt Mac & Cheese via Joy.Food.Sunshine

Lemon Tahini Lentil Dip via Bucket List Tummy

Salad:

Thai Kale Salad with Ginger-Lemongrass Vinaigrette via The Real Food Dietitians 

Berry Quinoa Salad via So Damn Good

Pineapple Three Bean Salad via Emilie Eats

Watermelon Feta Blueberry Salad via Running in a Skirt

Dessert:

Strawberry Rhubarb Cupcakes via RachLMansfield

Blueberry Jam Bars via Emily Ruth Weir

Golden Milk Popsicles via Food, Pleasure & Health

Vegan Smore's Cookie Bites via RachLMansfield

Banana Bread Fruit Pizza via Athletic Avocado

Strawberries and Stripes! Patriotic Strawberries via She Well 

Siggi's Yogurt & Berry Bark via Masala Girl Travels

Drinks:

Cucumber Mint Chia Fresca via Food, Pleasure & Health

Watermelon Blueberry Coconut Margarita via Fresh Fit N Healthy

2 Ingredient Coconut Watermelon Cocktail via Fresh Fit N Healthy

How do you celebrate the 4th of July?
What are some of your favorite food and drinks to have at a BBQ?

Vanilla Chia Energy Balls

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and got a chance to celebrate Father's Day with their Dad/Grandpa/father figure. We always keep celebrations low key, but it's always nice to spend some time with my dad, plus we couldn't have asked for a better weekend! The weather was absolutely perfect- upper 80's to low 90's (F), with a nice breeze, and lots of sunshine! 

I spent most of the weekend outside doing yard work and let me tell you it certainly works up an appetite! Normally I'm not very hungry when it's so hot outside, but after shoveling sand for hours I was sore and hungry (it was also arm day before then so that didn't help haha). Luckily, I had whipped up a new batch of energy balls on Friday and I was definitely happy to have them around! 

I used Bob's Red Mill new protein powder in the recipe and I must say I am LOVING the vanilla chia flavor. It's so versatile that I've been using it in everything from smoothie bowls to energy balls and it works every time! I've been buying Bob's Red Mill products for as long as I can remember because they're high quality and have so many allergy friendly products. If you've never tried Bob's Red Mill NOW is the time to try them, plus by clicking this link you can get $1.00 off coupon that's good on any Bob's product. Their website also has a store locater where you can select what product you're looking for and it will tell you what stores in your area carry it (so helpful). You're definitely going to want to find their new protein powder so you can make these energy balls! There are only 4 ingredients and are ready in under 5 minutes, so what are you waiting for?!

Vanilla Chia Energy Balls

• 6 dates (pitted)
• 2 Tablespoons Bob's Red Mill Vanilla Chia protein powder
• 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (I prefer Peanut Butter & Co crunch time)
• 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds

In a food processor place all ingredients in processor.

Process on low-medium until all ingredients are ground and combined. It should still be loose and crumbly.

Using your hands form balls by scooping 1/2-1 Tablespoon of dough and rolling. I was able to get about 10 energy balls. 

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.