Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies Two Ways

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Who doesn’t love peanut butter cookies during the holidays? I put a spin on this classic recipe using almond flour (gluten free) and giving my guests the option of choosing peanut butter and jelly, or peanut butter and chocolate.

I recommend using organic fruit preserves (without high fructose corn syrup) for the jelly option, and you can use Nutella or the Trader Joe’s Cocoa Almond Butter for the cocoa ones! You’ll also want to be sure to get the NATURAL peanut butter without hydrogenated oils, as these are trans fats which will build up plaque in the arteries. The World Health Organization is banning hydrogenated oils due to it’s tie in with heart disease in 2023, but until then just read the ingredients and be sure to avoid them to keep your heart healthy.

Check out my easy to make recipe below, with only 6 ingredients! Each cooke comes in between 90-100 calories (depending on filling), has less than 10 grams of carb, and over 3 grams of protein to keep you full!

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Gluten Free Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Serves: 24 Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter (no hydrogenated oils in the ingredients)
  • 1/2 Cup Almond Flour
  • 1/2 Cup granulated sugar, more for rolling
  • 1 Egg, beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
  • Organic Fruit Preserves and/or Cocoa Spread

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
  2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients (except filling) and mix with a wooden spoon or your hands
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  4. Shape dough into 24 small 1-inch balls
  5. Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat
  6. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet
  7. Lightly press the center of each dough ball with your thumb to create a well
  8. Add ¼ teaspoon of jam or cocoa spread in the center of each cookie
  9. Bake for 7 – 9 minutes, until set on the outside but still very soft – do not over bake!
  10. Slide the parchment papaer from the baking sheet onto the counter. Let cool for 5 minutes before enjoying!

 

The 2018 Healthy Holiday Gift Guide is Here!

Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2018

The holiday gift giving season is here 🎄

This year instead of buying your loved one another sweater or scarf, give the gift of health! Check out my Healthy Holiday Gift Guide with options for everyone on your list.

For your busy friend or family member

One week of Freshly meal delivery!  There a lot of meal delivery services to choose from, but for your ulta busy friend/family member there is nothing like healthy prepared meals delivered to your doorstep. Freshly offers healthy pre-made meals that you pop into the microwave for an easy lunch or dinner! Perfect for the busy parent, professional (CPAs love this during busy season!), or new college grad living on their own.

For the office

This holiday season don’t be the third person to send chocolates or popcorn to the office, check out these unique and healthy KIND Holiday Cubes! I have been a member of the KIND nutrition collective for a couple of years now, and I love their products. Not only are they a delicious snack, but they are also filled with healthy fats and protein to fight the afternoon slump.

For the pizza lover

Pizza doesn’t always have to be a treat meal, and these pre-made cauliflower pizza crusts by Cali’flour foods are gluten free and low carb! Top each pizza with your favorite cheese, veggies, and lean protein for an easy Friday night dinner.

For the cook

Some of my favorite healthy kitchen gadgets include: an air popper to make your own healthy snack at home, a sous vide for percise cooking, and of course an Instant Pot for quick cooking grains and one pot meals! Not sure if they have these already? Check out our Meal Planning Bundle featuring healthy recipes and a weekly meal planner.

For the one who is stressed out

Stress has been scientifically proven to promote disease and weight gain. Research has shown that meditation for even a couple minutes per day can decrease stress. The Calm App has been named Apple’s App of the Year and Editors’ Choice by Google Play. Get them a 1 year membership here, or turn it into a gift basket by adding on the Calm Sleep Mist , and Calm Work Book as well!

For the fitness lover

We all know how important stretching and foam rolling is, but few of us take the time to actually do it. Help your friend or family member feel better, prevent injury, and improve performance with this TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller! The design is modeled to feel just like a massage therapists hands, and comes with an online video library as well.

For the subscription  box addict

Subscription boxes are great, but you tend to end up with a lot of mini-samples – not with FabFitFun! They offer 8-10 FULL SIZE samples of high end products with each box valued over $200. BONUS they also get access to FABFITFUNTV with free workouts. Give a gift subscription here.

For the person who has everything

Sometimes gifts of experiences that we would never give to ourselves are the best gifts. I love the Spa Finder Gift Card  because it allows your friend or family member to find a spa near them and treat themselves to some self care, whether it is a massage, mani/pedi, or a facial.

For a healthy 2019

Gift the gift of health this holiday season with a Blush Nutrition Gift Card. Blush Nutrition gift cards are available for any amount and can be redeemed for a la carte appointments or any nutrition coaching and meal planning package.

Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday season!

 

Sage Brown Butter Cauliflower Gnocci with Mushrooms, Spinach, and Chicken Apple Sausage

Trader Joe’s new Cauliflower Gnocci is ALL the rage this year! So many of my clients have tried it and logged their meal in their Healthie food logs, that I just had to give it a try.

I love the flavors of fall, and also healthy one pot meals dish that takes less than 20 minutes to make. With only 6 ingredients, you can’t go wrong. Check out the full recipe below!

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Sage Brown Butter Cauliflower Gnocci with Mushrooms, Spinach and Chicken Sausage

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons organic unsalted butter
  • 10 Chopped sage leaves, washed and patted dry
  • 2 Packages Frozen Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocci
  • 8oz Sliced baby bella mushrooms
  • 4 Pre-cooked chicken apple sauasges, cut into half moons
  • 2 Cups Baby spinach (1/2 5oz bag)
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Garlic powder, to taste

Directions:

  1. Heat a large cast iron skillet to medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt, about 1 minute. Add the sage leaves and fry the sage in the butter for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Add the bags of the frozen caulfilower gnocci and the sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sage butter. Cover and cook 5-7 minutes.
  3. Add the spinach, chicken apple sausage, black pepper, and garlic. Cover and cook another 5 minutes until the spinach is wilted and the gnocci is fully cooked through.
  4. Place in 4 bowls and serve!

Nutrition Facts (1 serving): 392 Calories, 15g Total Fat, 5g Saturated Fat, 915mg Sodium, 38.2g Total Carb, 10g Fiber, 1g Sugar, 20.4g Protein

Have you tried the caulfilower gnocci yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comment below!

#PortionPlateSeries

Did you follow along on Instagram last week for the #PortionPlateSeries? I spent the week sharing how to use this awesome tool that allows you to ditch counting calories/macros/points forever!

Keep reading for a recap of each scenario!

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If you have been to any of my nutrition seminars or have read any of my blog posts, you know I am BIG on using the portion plate 🍽 I avoid having my clients count ANYTHING – not calories, macros, or points. We use this tool in everything we do together 👍
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The concept is to fill 50% of your plate with non-starchy vegetables, 25% with lean meats, and 25% with complex carbohydrates at each meal. It’s that simple!
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Keep reading for examples of HOW to use the portion plate in different .different scenarios 🍕 🍣 🍝🥗 🥪. While sometimes it might be easy to add a 3oz piece of grilled chicken, 1/2 cup of quinoa, and 2 cups of 🥦 to the plate like this photo shows – the reality is that our plates and recipes don’t always look this way.

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Let’s talk SUSHI 🍣 is it a healthy option? The answer is YES! Keep reading as I’m breaking it down today for the #PortionPlateSeries
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Sushi is a great healthy option packed with omega 3s (healthy fats), veggies, sometimes more healthy fats 🥑, and carbohydrates 🍚. When it comes to balancing out your plate, a sushi roll counts on the protein/carb half of your plate. This leaves the other half for VEGGIES! I always recommend opting for a the salad or seaweed salad (pictured here at @murasakidowntown) on the side with your sushi roll.
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Healthy Sushi Ordering Tips:
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🐟 Go for the raw/steamed/grilled salmon or tuna roll for the most amount of healthy omega3 fats
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🍘Ask for brown rice for extra fiber and fullness. Each roll has about 1 Cup of rice, so be sure to count this in the carb portion of your plate
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🥟Watch out for tempura and deep fried rolls – this is just a fancy word for breaded in panko and deep fried! This option would be considered one of your fun foods for the week
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🌸Eat the ginger on your plate! It can help boost your immune system and also has anti-inflammatory properties
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🍜Opt for the reduced sodium soy sauce (or Tamari) to decrease bloat
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🥢Use chopsticks! Even if you’re not skilled in using them, they will help you slow your pace of eating – but also sushi with a fork just seems wrong 🤔anyone else agree? 🙋🏻‍♀️
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🍣 Still hungry after a roll and salad? Try sashimi to fill you up with more protein and good fat rather than another sushi roll with an additional cup of rice

salad

🚨 Attention: This is not a boring salad 🚨
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Salads have gotten reputation for being boring, tasteless, and unsatisfying – but I am here to bust up those myths for today’s #PortionPlateSeries post 🥗
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A meal salad is an easy way to make 50% of your plate veggies (the darker the greens the better – start with 2 Cups), but what about the other parts to your plate? 🍽 Here are some easy ways to add lean proteins, and healthy carbs to your salad. 📷 is of @traderjoes tabouli over hearty romaine, fat free feta, and grilled chicken – it’s one of my go-to lunches!
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Ways to add lean protein to your salad (3oz-6oz depending on the person):
🍗 Grilled Chicken
🐟 Roasted Salmon
Tofu
🥩 Grilled sirloin
Roasted turkey
🧀 Cheese
🌰Nuts/Seeds
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Ways to add complex carbohydrates to your salad (1/2 – 1 Cup total depending on the person):
Fruit 🍎🍉🍎🍐🍊🍓🍇🍑🍍
Dried fruit (unsweetened cranberries or raisins)
Whole grains like quinoa or wild rice🍚
Whole wheat pita chip crumbles
Organic low sodium canned beans (black, pinto, soy beans, chickpeas)
Starchy vegetables (roasted 🍠 🌽 or butternut squash)
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Of course healthy fats from 🥑 and oil based dressings are great additions as well!

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Is there a more satisfying lunch than a 🥪? There is something so comforting about the combination of bread/protein/veggies/condiments that I just love! So how does the sandwich fit on the portion plate? 🍽 For today’s #portionplateseries post we are breaking it down.
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First let’s start with the 🍞I always recommend a bread where the first ingredient says “WHOLE.” This means that it has the entire grain, and has all of the nutrients and antioxidants from the bran, germ, and endosperm – basically you’re getting more bang for your buck 👍 Examples include whole wheat bread, Ezekiel bread, sprouted wheat bread, and #glutenfree options. The bread counts as the 25% carb on your plate.
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Then we move onto the protein 🍗I recommend keeping lean deli meats (turkey, chicken, ham) to a couple of times per week mainly because they are processed and many contain nitrates. You could also opt for a grilled chicken breast as well (pictured here), or a #vegetarian protein source like cheese, hummus, or natural 🥜 butter. This counts as the 25% protein on your plate.
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Your 🥪 counts as your meat/protein, so what’s missing? 50% 🥒🥕🍅🌶 I always recommend serving raw or roasted non-starchy veggies, or a salad on the side with a sandwich. Many sub shops offer chips, an apple, or more bread with a sandwich – however this would create a possible carb overload with 75% of your plate now being carbs. I absolutely love raw red bell pepper strips, but some of my other favorites are baby carrots, celery, cucumbers, and snap peas.

pizza

🍕+🥗=😋
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It’s the weekend and time for P-I-Z-Z-A in the #PortionPlateSeries. YES pizza can fit into a healthy diet 🎉 Here’s how:
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Pizza is made up of primarily protein (cheese/meat) and carbs (crust) so this would count on 50% of your plate. Making your own pizza is a really easy way to keep it healthy, and I love using @traderjoeswhole wheat crust to make my 🍕, along with part skim mozzarella cheese. Of course a cauliflower pizza crust is another option as well! If you’re dining out, restaurants like @brixxpizza has a whole wheat option and locally both @sidewallpizza and @swamprabbitcafe have #glutenfree crust options as well. Go for the 🥦🍅🥕🌶 toppings as much as possible!
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🥗 pairs perfectly with pizza, and many restaurants have salad options to have on the side. This also fills the remaining 50% of your plate with veggies! You can opt for traditional lettuce based salad, or I love adding a fun salad like @eatsmartveggies 7 #Superfood Salad on the side to my clients meal plan pizza meals (yes I put pizza on meal plans).

pasta

“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.” – Julia Child 🙌
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This is one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite people, and this concept is at the root of my business! My husband and I took a trip to 🇮🇹 this past spring where I really saw this come to life everywhere we went. There were of course some masterpieces, but one of our favorite dinners was at 6:30PM (a totally inappropriate dinner time in Italy) after hiking in #CinqueTerra and they were incredibly simple 🍝 dishes with lots of fresh local ingredients! For my last #PortionPlateSeries post I wanted to share how #pasta can fit into a healthy balanced diet 🍽
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To state the obvious, a pasta dish will count as your carb portion of your plate, but the keys are #1 portion size (keep it to 25%) #2adding lean protein #3 adding 🍅🥦. One really easy way to do that is by creating a pasta primavera dish filled with lots of different veggies! This dish is one from my custom #mealplan recipes that I give to my clients, and it’s a Roasted Vegetable Pasta Primavera with Spicy Chicken Sausage featuring @traderjoes brown rice #glutenfree penne pasta (or you can use whole wheat). This dish only has 4.5oz of raw pasta for four servings, but with all of these veggies and four chicken sausages it is incredibly filling! Check out my IG story to see how I made the pasta sauce as well.
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Well there you have it y’all: the #PortionPlateSeries is complete with ways to fit 🍣 🥗 🥪🍕 and🍝 into your healthy lifestyle. I hope you have found these to be helpful, and if there are any other cuisines/dishes that you have questions about be sure to leave them in the comments below.

Healthy Game Day Recipes

It’s that time of year again – tailgating season! I recently shared my tips with WSPA’s Carolina Morning with Sibila and Christy. Check it out!

https://youtu.be/TIBz2xhkOfI?si=XcKDzNuP-juLnAWd

A lot of my clients ask me how they can stay on track with their healthy habits while watching the big game. My biggest tip is to bring the vegetables! You know there will most definitely be carbs and proteins at the tailgate, so be sure to bring something that you can fill 50% of your plate with.

Here are two of my favorite game day recipes featuring veggies!

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Game Day Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

A healthy take on wings!

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

  • 1 head cauliflower; chopped into bite size piece
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2/3 Cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 Tablespoon organic unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ Cup Frank’s Red Hot sauce
  • ¾ Cup Yogurt Blue Cheese dressing, for serving
  • Parchment paper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 450F.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, water, black pepper and garlic powder.
  3. Place the breadcrumbs in another small bowl.
  4. Dip each cauliflower piece in the egg batter until coated evenly, then dip in the breadcrumbs, and place on a baking sheet pined with parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, combine the melted butter and hot sauce in a large bowl.
  6. Remove the cauliflower from the oven and gently toss with buffalo sauce.
  7. Place the cauliflower back on the parchment lined pan and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until cauliflower is tender and crisp.
  8. Remove from oven, and serve yogurt blue cheese dressing.

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Mediterranean Avocado Dip with Sweet Mini Bell Peppers

A fun veggie dip that is packed with protein and healthy fats.

Serves: 6

  • 1 avocado, pitted and removed from peel
  • 4 oz fat free feta cheese
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • ¼ small red onion
  • ¼ Cup parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 12oz sweet mini bell peppers

Directions:

  1. Add the pitted avocado, feta cheese, lemon juice, red onion, parsley and pepper to food processor.
  2. Pulse food processor until smooth.

Want to know more about finding a healthy balance? Set up  your FREE  15 minute call here!

Meet the Fall Blush Nutrition Intern: Taylor!

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This is my 7th year as a dietetic internship preceptor for Winthrop University, and I am SO excited for this year because it’s my first time taking interns in private practice! In the past I have taken interns while working in outpatient clinical and food service, but I am very excited to show my interns what being a dietetics intrepreneur looks like.

I’d like to introduce you to Taylor, who is interning with me this August/September. Keep reading to learn more about his background, interests, and being an #RD2Be. Be sure to tune in on Thursday September 6th for his Instagram story takeover!

Meet Taylor

Q: You are a dietetic intern at Winthrop University. Tell us a little bit about this internship and the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian.

 

A: Getting accepted into a dietetic internship is a required process that you have to go through in order to become a Registered Dietitian. You must first complete a bachelor’s degree and receive a verification statement from a school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. You then have to get accepted into a dietetic internship and complete a minimum of 1200 supervised hours through an accredited program. Once you complete your 1200 supervised hours, you are then eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration national exam to become a Registered Dietitian. Registered Dietitians must gain licensure in their state of practice, and commit to a minimum of 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years.

Q: Where did you complete your Undergraduate studies?

A: I received my Bachelors of Science and was a double major in nutrition science and dietetics at the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs!

 
Q: What is your dream job?

A: My dream job is to work as a sports dietitian for a major professional sports team.

 
Q: Why did you choose to go into the dietetics field?

A: As a former competitive high school wrestler, I was able to first-hand experience the alleviating properties of nutrition. From struggling with disordered eating, to simply athletic performance, changing my eating habits completely changed my life as an athlete and a person.

I chose dietetics because I want to help people understand that nutrition doesn’t have to be as complex as we might think. I want to help people implement basic lifestyle and nutrition practices that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives to sustain long term success.

 
Q: You live a healthy lifestyle everyday and also love fitness. Tell us about your experience being a group fitness trainer.

A: Being a group fitness trainer has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. I have had the opportunity to train a variety of people from ages 5-85. Through this, I have had the privilege to watch and assist people of all ages and fitness levels in overcoming boundaries and achieving goals that they never thought they could. From someone getting their first push up to someone squatting 400 lbs, I love watching people push their limits, motivate each other, and understand that physical activity is for everyone regardless of your size, shape, gender, or age.

 
Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: If I had to pick a favorite dish or food, I would say definitely sushi. If there’s a restaurant that serves sushi, I’ve probably been there.

 
Q: What are you must excited about working as the Blush Nutrition fall intern?

A: I am super pumped about getting to help people make small lifestyle changes that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Following Brittany’s expertise and methods, she sets up her clients for long-term success, and I am super excited to learn from her and her methods.

 

Welcome Taylor and thank you for all of your hard work this fall to continue to build the Blush Nutrition brand!

Want to know more about a Registered Dietitian vs. a Nutritionist? Read this.

Calling All Teachers!

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School is out and Blush Nutrition is offering a new package designed specifically for teachers looking to focus on their health and wellness during the summer months!

This package is perfect for developing healthy habits and continuing them throughout school year. The Healthy Lifestyle Package is a 3 month plan, which includes nutrition coaching and meal planning. I am currently offering 10% off for teachers (new clients only) until June 30th!

The Healthy Lifestyle Package is designed to take you from June through September to kickstart healthy habits now establish a plan for a healthy school year!

Blush Nutrition loves teachers, and we can’t wait to help you make this summer the best yet! Click here to set up your first 15 minute appointment for free.

Meet the Blush Nutrition Summer 2018 Intern!

 

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Thank you to the students who applied for the Blush Nutrition summer internship. I was fortunate enough to interview several students, and after careful consideration, I am very excited to introduce you the Blush Nutrition Summer Intern, Abigail!

Abigail’s studies in both nutrition and phsychology, combined with her experience in fitness and overall wellness made her a perfect fit for this position. She is energetic, eager to learn, and super social media savvy. Read more about her below!

Where are you enrolled in college and what are you studying?

Abigail: I attend Clemson University where I’m currently majoring in Food Science Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics, and a minor in Psychology. I’m very involved in my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, the Nutrition Club, and I’m currently working with the Clemson Football Performance Nutrition Team. I’m also a group exercise instructor at GHS YMCA!

What is your dream job?

Abigail: My dream job would have to be eventually opening up my own wellness center where I work as a dietitian, teaching people how to live a healthy lifestyle. I would also love to offer various types fitness classes, since exercise is such a big part of my life as well!

Why did you choose the dietetics field?

Abigail: I chose the dietetics field because I’m super passionate about the effects of eating whole, healthy foods on our body.

I also love working with people, and I wanted to combine these two passions into a career of helping others eat right in order to be the best version of themselves as possible.

You live a healthy lifestyle everyday and also love fitness. Tell us about becoming an ACE certified fitness instructor.

Abigail: I became ACE certified last June and have been teaching group exercise classes since then! Becoming ACE certified has been one of the best decisions I’ve made yet, because now I’ve found another outlet to help people grow, but now it’s through exercise and fitness! I teach all different types of classes, such as barre-style, TRX, spin, and HIIT to name a few.

What is your favorite dish/recipe?

Abigail: I’ve actually been a pescatarian for almost two years now, so I’ve loved experimenting with different types of fish and vegetables in order to make sure I’m getting a balanced amount of nutrients. My favorite dish would have to a one pan meal where I bake salmon, sweet potatoes, and asparagus, and drizzle the whole meal in a honey-coconut amino glaze! It’s super quick, healthy, and so easy I make it in my college dorm.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

Abigail: I’m SO excited and thankful for the opportunity to intern with Blush Nutrition this summer! I want to learn more about goes into being a Registered Dietitian, and running a dietetic business, as this is the career path I want to take post-graduation!

Please join me in sending a warm welcome to Abigail!

The Best Diets of 2018

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The results are in! The 2018 rankings of the best diets from U.S. News and World Reports are in and guess what?

The top picks all feature the same 4 things: fruits and vegetables, lean protein, heart healthy fats and whole grains.

Yup that’s right! The healthy eating tips you have heard time and time again are proven to work. No gimmicks, no expensive meals to buy – just basic nutrition education like you learn with a Registered Dietitian goes a LONG way.

The D.A.S.H. Diet has been ranked the #1 best overall diet for the 8th year in a row. This might be because D.A.S.H. is not a fad diet, it is a healthy lifestyle change.

D.A.S.H. stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and is research based. However, numerous studies have found that following the diet can not only help you reduce your blood pressure, but it can also help you lose weight, decrease your cholesterol, reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and lose weight.

D.A.S.H. Diet basics include:

  1.  Avoid added salt. Too much salt can increase your blood pressure. Aim for about 1500mg of sodium per day, this means avoiding adding salt to foods as you will most likely get all of this sodium in processed and prepared foods already in your diet.
  2. Increase your vegetable intake! Be sure half of your plate is non-starchy vegetables at each meal. This will help control your weight, blood sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol.
  3. Lean Meats. Decrease your red meat intake (especially processed like hamburgers and sausage) and focus on lean meats, poultry (no skin) and fish at least 2x per week.
  4. Avoid trans fats. Be sure to read the product ingredients and avoid any products containing hydrogenated oils as these can be very harmful to your heart’s health

Are you interested in following a diet that promotes a healthy lifestyle with results that last a lifetime? Contact me today!