fage yogurt

my favorite protein snack ever!

January 14, 2009 Diet, fitness, Health, Healthy food concoctions, Other, The Love Your Life Program 1 Comment

proteinfage 

The Love Your Life Program emphasizes the importance of protein in your diet.

Protein is a major building block and will aid in your weight loss journey if you incorporate it in to your meals properly. The program also suggests 5-6 small meals through out the day to boost your metabolism and create a burning machine.

Quality proteins are very essential to my diet. You’ll always find the following complete proteins in my fridge: eggs, lean chicken and turkey, canned salmon, yogurt, cottage cheese and whey protein!

I recently read that mixing Greek yogurt and protein is the best dessert, so I put it to the test. I mixed 1 scoop of my favorite Vanilla Whey Protein into my favorite Greek Fage Yogurt and began the blend…

Oh my… It tasted like the creamiest vanilla pudding ever! The protein snack was so good that I felt guilty eating it…

So try it out!

Love,

Ghada

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pre-work out snack ideas to help maximize your efforts

November 8, 2008 Diet, fitness, Health, Other, The Love Your Life Program 2 Comments

 I used to avoid any snacks before my morning workouts in fear that I may gain weight from the excess calories.

 

As my workouts became more intense, I found it hard to keep the energy up but I still refused to fill up before heading to the gym until one day a trainer noticed.

 

He explained the importance of proper pre-workout nutrition and how the perfect snack could help boost my workouts. My snack should contain  complex carbs like fruits and whole grains.

 

Complex carbs are slowly digested and provide energy for a longer period of time comparing to just eating a sugary snack that could cause my blood sugar to elevate then crash. Mixing your complex carb with a little bit of fat and protein will also help slow down the digestion and give you more energy.

 

It all made sense to me, so I decided to give it a go and he was absolutely right. I felt more energized and was able to workout harder and longer than before.

Here are a few examples of energy boosting pre-workout snacks that can help maximize your program:

 

 

OATMEALOATMEAL. This low-glycemic snack will deliver energy consistently throughout your workout. Great for both cardio and lifting sessions. Sprinkle some flaxseed or almonds on top with some skim milk.

 

 

 

 

honey

HONEY! If you haven’t read my honey article then click here

This anti-oxidant, amino acid rich food is nature’s energy booster. In a study, it showed to compare to the leading carb gels. Drizzle it on to some cottage cheese and go bust a move.

 

 

 

 protein

PROTEIN SHAKE. This is an easy ready-to-go drink that contains protein, carbs and fat.

 

 

 

 

 greenapple

    FRUITS. Apples are great digestible carbs that can boost energy without elevating blood sugar. Dip your apple slices in a tablespoon of peanut butter to add more fat and protein.

 

fage

YOGURT. Filled with magnesium, calcium, protein and carbs, yogurt is excellent for any workout.

 

 

cliffbar

 

 

PROTEIN BARS. Cliff Builder’s bar were voted number 1 among other protein bars. Packed with 20 g of protein, this bar is excellent for a heavy lifting day.

 

 

There are so many other great pre-workout snacks, so listen to your body and figure out what works best for you and your workout.

 

me1What’s YOUR preferred pre-workout snack?

 

Love,

Ghada

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Delicious snack options that will satisfy any belly

October 4, 2008 Diet, Health, Other, The Love Your Life Program 4 Comments

People always ask me “aren’t you bored eating the same thing everyday?” My answer is no, because there are endless options of delicious foods and snacks to choose from.

Here are just a few of my favorite snacks! (Notice how my snacks are well balanced, filled with protein, carbs & fat).

1. FAGE Total 0% Greek Yogurt & frozen blue berries. This is my dessert! Zero fat and packed with protein, FAGE Yogurt is unbelievably thick and creamy. Mix it with a cup of frozen blue berries and never crave ice cream again.

bluediamond


2.  Blue Diamond 100 Calories per bag & an apple. Packed with fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, protein and other beneficial nutrients, almonds are always a great snack. These pre-packed 100 calorie bags are great for portion control. Almonds and other nuts are great, but moderation is key since they are high in fat. Compliment this pack with a red delicious.

3.  Hummus & Sweet pepper slices:sweetpepper hummus

Growing up in a Middle Eastern culture, hummus was a staple in my family’s diet. My mom would soak the chickpeas overnight, bring them to a boil and then toss in her special ingredients to create the creamiest hummus ever! Full of fiber packed chick peas, 2 tablespoons of hummus is a great low carb snack and a tasty dip with Vitamin A & C infused sweet peppers.

NCI5_POTATO peanut

4. Sweet potato & peanut butter. You may be thinking “Ewwww Ghada! Sweet potato & peanut butter?” Yes! Please try this combo and you’ll thank me later. Sweet potatoes are delicious complex carbs, rich in beta carotene, anti-oxidants, other vitamins and minerals. Top this with with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and watch it melt. Just pure yummy. Peanut butter is very satisfying because it contains fiber, protein and other micro-nutrients. You’ll be full until dinner time.

cottagecheesehoney

5. Breakstone 2 % cottage cheese & 1 tbsp honey. Breakstone cottage cheese has to be the best tasting out there. Try Friendship brand too. Cottage cheese is low in fat and carbs, yet high in protein. Grab a snack pack and get your calcium and Vitamin D in for the day. Drizzle some honey on top, and dream about heaven. Honey is nature’s natural energy booster. Try a tablespoon an hour before a workout for better boost and endurance.

6. Rice cake & Turkey slices. A whole grain rice cake is low in fat and is only 35 calories a piece, so why not go for two! Top your rice cakes with white turkey meat slices and give your body a shot of amino acids, protein, folic acid, vitamin B’s and more.

bananaprotein

7. Chocolate protein shake & a banana. I always carry ready-to-drink protein shakes or protein powder in my bag. Protein shakes are great satisfying drinks that can leave you full for hours. If you’re using them for a snack, go for a lower carb and moderate protein count. The combination of protein and carbs are very beneficial in aiding the repair of your tissues and building of your muscles. Have a potassium & fiber rich banana along with it. Banana’s natural sugars give you an energy boost too. Banana’s are the # 1 fruits among athletes.

stringcheesecucumber8. String cheese & cucumber slices. Who doesn’t like low fat string cheese? Here’s another calcium rich snack that is low in carbs and fat. Slice up some chilled cucumbers and enjoy. Cucumbers are high in water and fiber so they’ll surely fill you up.

toasthardboiled

9. Boiled egg & Whole grain bread. Do I need to say anymore about eggs? If you haven’t read my article on eggs, click here and read about how you can drop the weight by adding them to your daily menu. Enjoy a hard boiled egg with a slice of whole grain bread. Try Ezekiel sprouted bread full of flax seed, barley and other nutritious whole grains.

blackbeansbrown rice10. Brown rice & 1/2 cup of black beans. I found this rice at the grocery store about a month ago. I love brown rice, but I’m so impatient in preparing it. Not to mention, I always burn the bottom and spend days soaking the pan to get the rice off. Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice contains a little bit of safflower oil (healthy fat) and tastes amazing. I really have issues, because I think that I am truly addicted to it. I look forward to eating it everyday. With only 170 calories, this whole grain rice is a great snack or addition to my lunch. Add 1/2 a cup of black beans on top or mix it in.  Eat slow and savor the flavor.

What are some of your favorite snacks? If you do try some of mine, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Click here to read about the “Love Your Life Program” and learn more about healthy eating and living.

I love you Smallworld Beauties!

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