Healthy Eating Made Easy

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Itz Linz

Healthy eating made easy… well, that sounds impossible in your busy life, right? Wrong! Batch cooking is one option, but sometimes even that seems difficult to fit in your daily routine. Another option, and one I’ve recently gotten to experience, is Diet-to-Go: a diet meal delivery system.

Diet-to-Go is the most inexpensive fresh diet delivery service on the market. There are three unique menus: low-fat, vegetarian, and low-carb, all which have twenty plans to choose from. Through FitFluential, I was able to have a taste of this diet meal delivery system. I chose the low-carb meals and was given three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. My favorite breakfast was the Spicy Ham and Egg Sofrito which packed 290 calories, 12 grams carbs, and 24 grams protein!

Diet-to-Go meals are shipped frozen and take 24 hours to thaw and just two or three minutes in the microwave. How much easier can you get? I even shared one or two with Jonny. He liked the Scrambled Eggs Benedict with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and Asparagus (200 calories, 13 grams carbs, and 23 grams protein).

Epicurious recently rated Diet-to-Go #1 for diet meal delivery company! Pretty sweet, eh? Itz real food for real people with such variety! They have been perfect for me to grab and take to school, like this Pascale’ Creole Shrimp Stew and string cheese:

There are no cancellation fees or gimmick pricing. There is no commitment or contract and there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee. What’s there to lose? NOTHING! These meals are absolutely perfect for learning portion control. America has grown accustom to super-size portions, processed foods, empty calories, and way too much sugar and salt (yuck!). Diet-to-Go offers a simple, scientifically proven approach to instilling healthy eating habits. Their approach does not chase the latest trends or top of the market practices; instead they focus on the common sense habits of a healthy diet and makes it affordable for the average person. Meal plans include portion control, balanced nutrition (protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and fiber), and real, whole foods.

Chimichura Salmon with Marinated Asparagus

I think these are great meals to store in your freezer for those days you just don’t feel like cooking, or when you need some variety with your meals. There is everything from eggs to ham to shrimp to sausage to chicken to salmon to catfish to beef short ribs and more! (And if you’re not a meat fan, no worries, there IS a vegetarian option!) I know I sure as heck couldn’t and wouldn’t cook a lot of what is served because they are complicated to make. While there is a tad more sodium in these meals than I typically prefer, they’re definitely a MUCH better option than fast food. The biggest perk I’ve found with Diet-to-Go is portion size. You can eat all that good tasting food… just in moderation!

Veal Sorrento with Ham, Seasoned Yellow Squash, & Broccoli

If you’d like to try Diet-to-Go, use coupon code “fitfluential” to receive 20% off!

How do you make healthy eating easy? Which Diet-to-Go menu would you choose: low-fat, vegetarian, or low-carb?

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign. All opinions are my own.

Sunflower Seed Vanilla Oatmeal

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Itz Linz

I like all nut and seed butters. I do. Sunflower seed butter is amazing. If you’ve never tasted it, you’ve got to change that now. And then go make this super filling and tasty Sunflower Seed Vanilla Oatmeal. Itz loaded with protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. What more can you ask for in a breakfast?

Sunflower Seed Vanilla Oatmeal

~makes 1 bowl

Ingredients:

1/3 cup oats
2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I used Silk)
2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds (more for garnish)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I used Designer Whey)
1 spoonful sunflower seed butter

Directions:

Cook oats with milk on the stove.
Stir in sunflower seeds and protein powder.
Top with more sunflower seeds and sunflower seed butter.

Of course, I also added my “weird” (in Jonny’s words) ingredients such as maca powder and ground flaxseed. The product? An awesome bowl of oatmeal!

February is Love Your Veggies Month over at Peas & Crayons for the WIAW party.

I’ve been making sure to include veggies in my lunches and dinners. I baked a huge batch of chicken breasts on Sunday, so chicken has been dominating my lunches and dinners. Since I like to mix it up, for lunch I’ve been eating chicken wrapped in these tortillas with fresh spinach, red peppers, and Trader Joe’s hot and sweet mustard. (x2)

That stuff is the best and it makes for a killer wrap. Dinner was more chicken with Brussel sprouts and sweet potato orzo that my in-laws brought back from one of their vacations. The orzo was definitely interesting and was not quite as flavorful as Jonny or I anticipated. Dinner was simple, but it worked.

Today we are having a staff soup and salad luncheon at school. I signed up to bring a dessert because I’ve been wanting to make this Greek Yogurt Cake Batter Dip and decided this was the perfect excuse! (I used a Golden Butter cake mix.) Holy cow, it was AMAZING!

I am serving it with animal crackers and graham crackers, but I had a couple spoonfuls just plain and itz awesome. You know my thoughts on cake batter. Enough said.

Are you a sunflower seed butter fan? How about cake batter?

Itz WIAW

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Itz Linz

Itz Wednesday which means itz a WIAW party over at Peas and Crayons! My eats yesterday were very random, mostly healthy, and totally delicious. I love food, so pretty much everything I eat is delicious. Breakfast is obviously first and that was my most put together meal of the day. I went with my Coconut Flour Pancake - itz always a good one! (I used two whole eggs instead of 1/4 cup egg whites.)

I topped it with coconut oil and fresh blueberries and strawberries. So good I didn’t even need syrup! I highly recommend spreading a thin layer of coconut oil on your pancakes; it makes the world of difference!

Lunch was… interesting. I grabbed a bunch of stuff from my fridge and decided I’d assemble it all at school. My intentions were to have a whole wheat tortilla filled with avocado, spinach, and raw peppers. However, when I cut into my avocado, I saw it was not good at all. #fail But then I noticed in the teacher’s lounge was a tray of taco dip that a co-worker made. I spread a couple scoops of that in my tortilla then added the spinach and pepper slices. It worked and was actually tasty!

I made and ate a second one after the first. The tortillas I use are La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious. They pack 7 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein! And they only have 50 calories on top of it all. Great stats for a tortilla.

Mediterranean Snacks sponsored my school’s Wellness Wednesday and provided us with Baked Lentil Chips & Baked Lentil Crackers. Lentils are among the world’s healthiest foods and are high in protein, iron, vitamin B1 and essential minerals for a healthy diet.

I had a bag of the Baked Lentil Chips for a snack. I think the Rosemary flavored chips have the most flavor. They all pack a great crunch though!

I had a meeting after school yesterday and was pretty hungry after school. I munched on a couple of things (like the Tropical Rice Pudding I have leftover in my fridge), made Jonny a peanut butter sandwich for his lunch tomorrow (and snuck a couple spoonfuls of pb), and then decided I should probably prepare food for dinner instead of munching my way through the kitchen. Our fridge is a bit bare, and I didn’t feel like waiting for any meat from our freezer to defrost.

I had a butternut squash in the pantry that needed to be used, so I roasted it on 400 for about 30 minutes and sprinkled cinnamon on top. Then I steamed some [frozen] broccoli and topped it with nooch sauce (nutritional yeast + Silk almond milk).

Since there wasn’t much protein in this, I knew I’d be hungry later. I had a bag of Bob’s Red Mill Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in my pantry and decided to last night was the night they would get made! I enjoyed a couple of cookies with milk for a bedtime snack.

The rest of the batch will be taken to school to share my with team. These cookies aren’t healthy, but itz all about moderation! I love my indulgences!

What’s the best thrown together meal you’ve made lately?

Let’s Call It “Juice”

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Itz Linz

On Sunday I was contacted by Steve, owner of Nadoz Cafe, to come in and try their new juice bar. I jumped at the opportunity because I did not even know a real juice bar existed in St. Louis. (Smoothies that have fruit and tons of added sugar don’t count!)

After learning about the Euro Bakery + Cafe, Steve offered me a juice. He asked what I would like, and all of their combinations sounded so good! Lately I’ve seen tons of juices with beets and ginger in them, so I was curious to try something along those lines. Steve suggested the Tropical Beet Juice with beets, apple, pineapple, and ginger.

It was totally awesome! The pineapple provided the perfect amount of sweetness and the hint of ginger was not overpowering at all. Definitely a fan. I can’t wait to go back for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; they even have a wine bar that’s open in the evening. Their menu is quite extensive and everything is made in-house. Their juices contain no added sugar or pre-made juices. They have a fancy juicer where they literally throw fresh fruit and vegetables in, and it turns it into smooth, nutrient-packed juice. If only I had one in my own kitchen!

I did try to make my own juice at home by merely throwing a bunch of fruits and vegetables into my blender. Here’s what my mix contained: ice, banana, carrots, celery, orange, flaxseed, spinach, kale, raw cacao powder, cinnamon, and water.

Let’s just call it “juice,” yeah? It really just turned into a smoothie, and I didn’t mind the taste, but it was certainly not as fine (nor as pretty!) as the juice from Nadoz. Good try, Linz. I did still get all the benefits of the vitamins and minerals from the fruits and veggies though. And if you’re wondering: there is not a strong vegetable taste at all. The banana and cinnamon really negate the strong “greens” taste.

Since this green juice didn’t provide any protein, I knew I needed to have something a bit more substantial to tide me over til lunch. Plus, I workout in the morning, so having protein is especially important to refuel and repair muscles. I made protein pudding.

In the puddin’: Sunwarrior vanilla protein powder, coconut flour, vanilla almond milk, cinnamon, and NuNaturals vanilla stevia. I slowly add the milk until the desired consistency is reached.

Thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayons for hosting today’s WIAW.

Lunch included baked chicken, steamed broccoli, and an apple.

Simple, but healthy and filling. For snack I had a Dale’s Raw Protein Bar in raspberry hazelnut that I received in my last Conscious Box. While the bar doesn’t look appealing, it actually tasted really good! Plus, it packed 22 grams of protein!

(No nasty comments of what the bar looks like, please.) Dinner was such a hodge podge. We had leftover chicken and I roasted a cauliflower and sprinkled paprika and red pepper on it. Then I found an eggplant in my fridge, so I roasted that, too. After seeing the two white vegetables, I decided I needed some greens. In the oven went rainbow chard sprayed with olive oil and nutritional yeast on top.

Very random, but it worked and was Jonny-approved, as well. The other day I picked up Organic Stone Ground Extra Dark Chocolate from Trader Joe’s. Itz a “traditional Mexican-style chocolate,” and ohmygoodness itz absolutely delicious!

Itz such a rich and satisfying treat. Mmm mmm mmm!

Do you make your own juice? What’s your favorite combination?

Amaranth – Protein Powerhouse

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Itz Linz

Have you ever heard of amaranth? I hadn’t until I began the New Year New Rules program. During the 15-day program, I knew I would want to branch out from my traditional oats or quinoa bowls, so I decided to give amaranth a try per Katie and Megan’s suggestion.

Why eat amaranth? Itz a protein powerhouse! Plus…

Contains more protein than any other gluten-free grain (28 grams / cup)
Naturally gluten-free
Excellent source of lysine – important amino acid
High in calcium content (298 milligrams / cup)
Loaded with magnesium and iron (519 milligrams of magnesium / cup – 15 milligrams of iron / cup)
Tons of fiber (18 grams / cup)
Slightly lower in carbs than other gluten-free grains
Contains Vitamin E (source)

To make amaranth, I used 1 cup of amaranth with 3 cups of water and brought it to a boil then covered the pot, and let it simmer for 25 minutes. It turned out very creamy; for fluffier amaranth, decrease the amount of water to 2.5 cups. When I first looked at my bowl of amaranth, it reminded me of chia seeds. The tiny grains seemed to come together in a gel-like manner, similar to what chia seeds do. However, the taste was pretty bland; I wasn’t sold yet.

I like sweeter bowls, so I created Strawberry Cacao Amaranth by adding NuNaturals, frozen strawberries, and raw cacao powder (loaded with antioxidants, iron, and magnesium). The result? An absolutely delicious bowl that was incredibly filling!

I got my first batch of amaranth from the bulk section of Whole Foods and will need to replenish my supply as I only bought one cup (a major perk of the bulk section: you can try as much or as little as you’d like before committing to a large amount!). I have a feeling amaranth will be making a regular appearance for my breakfasts as it really is a protein powerhouse and kept me full for so long! Win for amaranth!

To check out other new foods, recipe ideas, or meal suggestions, click over to the huge foodie party at Peas and Crayons. Have you entered the Oakley Sunglasses Giveaway yet?

Have you ever heard of or tried amaranth?

Almond Seed Cranberry Balls

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Itz Linz

Well hello and Happy Wednesday to you, friends! As you know, I’m participating in the New Year New Rules program which means my eats have been super clean (even more so than usual) as of late. Today I’ve got a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner to share, as well as a very tasty snack (no-bake & will give you energy)! All of this is courtesy of Jenn at Peas and Crayons where What I Ate Wednesday is officially hosted.

Breakfast: Despite the frigid temperatures here in St. Louis, I’ve been on a smoothie kick. Most recently: Coconut Peach Smoothie.

Mmm so good! Totally worth the after chill of it all. In the blender: ice, 1 cup frozen peaches, 1 banana, 1 cup coconut milk, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (optional), 2 tablespoons unsweetened, shredded coconut, a few drops of honey for added sweetness. The banana is a MUST, my friends. If you’re not a banana lover, no sweat; you can barely taste it, but the creaminess that the banana adds is awesome.

Lunch: Yesterday, my co-worker (friend) kindly and unnecessarily bought my lunch. We rarely order out, so when we do itz quite a treat! She chose Dave & Tony’s, one of my favorite spots to order from since you can create your own burger, sandwich, or salad. I ordered a salad with grilled chicken, black beans, roasted peppers, cucumbers, and banana peppers.

#PROOF that eating out can be healthy and taste good! Honestly, I didn’t even use dressing because the vegetables had so much flavor on their own.

Dinner: Leftovers from the weekend. I had a ton of the turkey, bean, veggie mix, so I used that and coupled it with kale that I roasted in the oven. I washed the kale, ripped it up, sprayed it with EVOO, and sprinkled nutritional yeast on top. Popped it in the oven at 425 for about 8 minutes (careful not to burn!), and wah-lah! Dinner is served.

We love leftovers over here as we’ve eaten a similar version of this for the past couple nights in addition to the original night I made it. Batch cooking at itz finest! I do have some soup in the crockpot today, so we’re changin’ it up tonight.

Now for the recipe you’ve all been waiting for…

Some background: since I am participating in NYNR many pre-made bars are off-limits as they are loaded with preservatives, artificial flavors, and added sugar. I’ve been snacking on apples, almonds, and raisins (per usual), but I wanted something a little more. So I dug through my pantry, threw a bunch of ingredients in the food processor, and out came these wonderful balls.

Almond Seed Cranberry Balls

~makes approximately 20 balls

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups almonds
1 1/2 cups oats (divided 1/2 cup and 1 cup)
1 cup unsweetened, vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
dash of cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons honey

Directions:

Combine almonds, milk, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, ground flaxseed, dash of cinnamon, and 1/2 cup oats in food processor. Grind until a creamy consistency is reached, scraping the sides as necessary.
Transfer mixture to bowl and add 1 cup oats, cranberries, and honey. Stir. (Mixture should be very thick and tough to stir.)
Form into balls. Place in freezer for two hours. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

These balls are great for on-the-go snacks! They contain protein, healthy fat, and complex carbs, so they’ll give you energy and keep you full. Win-win.

Best meal or snack you’ve eaten recently?

Flashdance, Football, & Bikram

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Itz Linz

My weekend was filled with Flashdance, football, and a Bikram yoga class. Well, actually I was avoiding watching football while Jonny stayed put in front of the tv for every.single.game. Not that I’m complaining or anything; we do our own thing, no big deal, and enjoy the time we do spend together. I blog. He watches football. It works out nicely.

Our weekend did start out quite lovely on Friday night. Jonny’s parents had gotten us second-row seats to see Flashdance at Peabody Opera House in St. Louis (thank you!). Peabody was recently remodeled; I’d never been before as this was my first time, but Jonny and I both noticed how beautiful it was.

As for the musical itself? AMAZING!!! I had never even seen the movie Flashdance, so I really had no expectations for the musical. It absolutely blew my mind. I adore watching singing and dancing (probably because I can’t do either – at all), and I was in heaven throughout the show. Plus, all the dancers had incredible bodies. Their muscles were popping, and each dancer was more ripped than the next.

The singing, dancing, and storyline were all phenomenal. Jonny and I thoroughly enjoyed the show and our time together. And I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that it made me want to go home and dance or go to the gym and lift weights. Fit bodies are hot bodies.

Quite the marvelous evening with lots more marvelous after.

#MIMM with Healthy Diva Eats

Saturday is when the football began. Itz not that I mind football (Go Rams! Ha!), but I just don’t care to watch it. That’s all. So on Saturday while Jonny was watching football, I prepared dinner in my pajamas and I couldn’t have been happier!

You know how much I LOVE pajamas, right? I mean, hello, I got five new pairs for Chanukah! I live in them. The pink and orange pj’s are from my sister. I cooked a spaghetti squash, then made a ground turkey, black bean, onion, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and spices mix to put on top. All served over a bed of baby kale (to which Jonny informed me that I gave him “too much foliage.”) It turned out mighty fine, if I do say so myself.

Healthy dinners don’t have to be hard, people. I literally cooked it all together and called it a day. The beans and extra veggies really beefed up the turkey meat, so it made a huge portion. I used it the next morning in an egg scramble, and will also use it for my lunches this week. Jonny ate his with a dollop of plain Chobani greek yogurt on top (instead of sour cream, much healthier!)

After dinner Jonny went back to watching football while I did some laundry (four loads to be exact!), and finished cleaning up the kitchen. In between drives or during commercial breaks, I was able to weasel Jonny into taking pictures of me doing these very important tasks. He was like, “I’m taking pictures of you with the laundry? Doing dishes?” Yes, dear.

Influenster sent me three bottles of Palmolive® Fresh Infusions dish soap to try out, so it made doing the dishes slightly more fun since the soaps really do smell good and I’m a nerd like that.

Other random occurrences that happened throughout the weekend while Jonny was watching football included:

1) Going to a cooking class with my friend, Angel. The class itself was not totally stellar since we already knew how to cut and roast veggies. However, they gave us an apple and a spaghetti squash (which I used for dinner), so it made it a little better.
2) I cut and cleaned my very first pomegranate. It was messy, and next time I will try the cold water in a bowl trick. I love pomegranate seeds. Tastes like candy!
3) Conscious Box sent me their all-new vegan box! Can’t wait to try my goodies. I’ll share the good stuff with you, and maybe, just maybe, host another giveaway.
4) Sunday morning Bikram class was followed with downing a bottle of ZICO coconut water. Coconut water always makes me feel awesome, especially so after super sweaty Bikram classes.

This was the first Bikram class I had been to in quite some time. Itz such a huge time commitment that I have trouble doing it on a regular basis. The class is ninety minutes, but you have to get there ten minutes in advance. Plus, drive time to and from, that’s around two hours! The benefits are immeasurable and I absolutely love how it makes me feel afterwards. I bought a Groupon for ten classes, so I’m hoping to make Bikram on a regular basis for the next couple of months.

Yesterday’s class was especially challenging since I had not been, but I made it through. That’s one of the reasons I love Bikram. Anyone can do it no matter your level of expertise with yoga. I’m certainly no yogi pro, but because I try the poses, listen to the instructor, try to hold the poses some more, and absorb the energy around me, I am able to succeed during the 90-minutes of 26 poses in a 105 degree room. I’ll be back next week, Bikram.

Tell me something about Flashdance, football, or Bikram. Ready? Go!

Healthy Bananas Foster

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Itz Linz

Heeeey there, folks! Let’s talk healthy foods today. Itz only appropriate as it is What I Ate Wednesday. This week my eats have been super clean as Monday marked the first day of the New Year New Rules program that I’m following.

Breakfast: Pancake fail. Again! Seriously, I don’t know what’s up with my pancakes lately. Well, I do. I try to make up new recipes and they don’t always work out the way I envision them. Yesterday’s fail involved a banana, eggs, and coconut flour. That coconut flour is so tricky, I tell ya! Still tasted good though.

On Sunday I made a HUGE batch of black beans and a HUGE batch of quinoa. I knew I’d be using them as a base for my lunches and dinners this week.

Lunch: black beans, quinoa, broccoli slaw, green peppers, orange peppers, red onion, carrots, celery, and sunflower seeds. I made my own salad dressing by squeezing the juice of half a lemon, half a lime, and some apple cider vinegar.

Colorful foods pack the most nutrition!

Snack: I had a meeting after school, and I know that I’m usually famished around the four o’clock hour. In the morning I made oats and stirred in unsweetened, shredded coconut, blueberries, and pecans. No shame in taking a jar full of oats to a meeting!

In order to make healthy choices, you need to plan ahead. Bottom line. Other snacks throughout the day involved an apple, almonds, and raisins.

Dinner: Similar to lunch with a base of black beans and quinoa. Added tomato, broccoli, avocado, sesame seeds, and cayenne pepper; served on top of a bed of fresh spinach.

Again, the more colors, the better!

One of the foods from my childhood that hold a special place in my heart is bananas foster. It was such a good surprise whenever my dad made it, and my brothers and sister probably agree that itz always a delicious treat! However, with the New Year New Rules program brown sugar and butter don’t really fit the picture. So I made the old recipe waaaay healthier (and even easier!).

Dessert: Healthy Bananas Foster

Literally, two ingredients. Bananas and coconut oil. Heat up a tablespoon over medium heat and throw in the banana slices. Let brown. Enjoy. It seriously tastes like bananas foster even though NO sugar or butter were added. Amazing.

That does it for today’s edition of WIAW. Check out other great recipes and meal plans over at Peas and Crayons. There are literally hundreds of other bloggers who link up!

One last thing for today. You know how much I love mud runs, right? I’ve done the Warrior Dash (four times), and the Ruckus Run. Well, the Pretty Muddy is along the same lines, but itz just for women! I haven’t participated in a Pretty Muddy (yet), but hopefully will soon. Getting a group of girls to do this race together would be so much fun.

I’ve got a discount code just for YOU if you’d like to give it a shot. Use the code GIRLTIME to receive $20 off your registration fee. This is amazing because Pretty Muddy will not be doing any daily deals (Groupon, Living Social, etc.), so now is your chance to save some dough. But sign up now because the code is good only through the end of January.

What do your eats look like today? Bananas foster fan?

Green Coconut Banana Smoothie

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Itz Linz

How’s your 2013 going so far? Great? Love to hear it! Ours is, too!

Today I’ve got a new delicious smoothie recipe to share with you, along with my New Year’s Eve dinner and New Year’s day breakfast and lunch. And itz all in celebration of the very first What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW) Party of 2013 thanks to Peas & Crayons!

On New Year’s day I woke up hungry and in the mood for blueberry pancakes. However, if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter then you know my pancakes don’t always quite turn out the way I intend. But have no fear – I still ate the mess that it became! For some reason my pancake didn’t hold together, so I scraped it into a bowl and topped it with syrup and Wild Blueberry Flax Granola from my NatureBox. (Speaking of, have you entered that giveaway yet?!)

#PROOF all my creations don’t turn out perfectly. It still tasted mighty good though! I knew I wanted to squeeze in lots of veggies for lunch, so I made turkey roll-ups for both Jonny and me. I used mini tortillas that are high-fiber and high-protein and smeared stoneground mustard in them. Then I stuffed them with green pepper slices, spinach, and turkey. More green pepper slices on the side with stoneground mustard for dipping!

Dinner comes next even though technically this dinner was from New Year’s Eve – the day before the previous two meals. My brother, sister, and our significant others went out to a hibachi-style dinner and we had so much fun! It was my brother-in-law’s first time at a hibachi restaurant (uhh what?!), and he was super impressed. I mean who doesn’t love the infamous volcano?

Since my whole family is very health-conscious, we requested that our chef use minimal oil. Luckily we took up most of the table, so he was able to abide by our request and served us first before squirting more oil for our tablemates. It never hurts to ask, and those tiny actions lead up to big results! #JustSayin’

I ordered chicken and scallops, but with hibachi you get so much more! Miso soup, salad (LOVE the ginger dressing!), vegetables, shrimp, scallops, and chicken. The scallops were definitely my favorite, but the whole meal was so good!

And incredibly filling. There were also noodles and steamed rice that went unpictured. No one left hungry, I assure you. Plus, I had some warm sake which some people find utterly disgusting, but once in awhile I like it. Are you a sake fan?

Now for the recipe. Itz a good one, guys, and just in time for the New Year. This smoothie isn’t packed with protein, but you could always add a scoop of vanilla protein powder if you’d like to bulk it up a bit. However, it does taste insanely good and is ridiculously easy to make (aren’t all smoothies??).

Green Coconut Banana Smoothie

The Ingredients:

few ice cubes
1 frozen banana, sliced
1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
few drops NuNaturals vanilla
several handfuls fresh spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 cup water

The Directions: Add all ingredients to the blender in the order they are listed. Blend until desired consistency is reached. (Makes two large glasses.) Enjoy!

I seriously loved this smoothie. There was the perfect amount of sweetness, and just a hint of banana and coconut. Don’t be fooled by the crazy green color – you absolutely 100% can NOT taste the spinach, but you get ALL the many nutrients and benefits it provides.

Are you a green smoothie fan? What’s your favorite? Link up below! Any good New Year’s Eve dinners?

Friday Facts

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Itz Linz

Wait, itz Friday?! The end of my one full week off? Where did the time go? Well, I have been thoroughly enjoying my break, and still have Monday and Tuesday off of next week. Here are some Friday facts from this past week.

FACT: I love working out.

Shocker, right? What’s different about this week is that I don’t have to set my alarm to workout, and I can take as long as I want at the gym. Usually I’m still up by 6, but just the fact that I’m not pressed for time and don’t have to wake up at 5:15 is a bonus. Plus, I have more time to create my own workouts and try them out. Like this one.

FACT: Numerous cups of coffee have been consumed this past week.

I’m not an everyday coffee drinker, but when I have extra time I do like to leisurely have a cup. Most mornings itz been happening while I’m at my computer reading blogs as I’m in no rush to get dressed or be anywhere.

FACT: The majority of my time off has been spent in my pajamas.

And I’m totally ok with it. In fact, I got FIVE new pairs of pajamas for Chanukah. Totally serious. Jonny, my parents, my in-laws, my sister, and my brother all got me a new pair. Think I’m obsessed? Or set for life?

FACT: I’ve put together some glorious meals.

Since we had tons of leftovers from the Mexican Omelette, I put it to good use for our dinner. One of my Chanukah presents from Jonny were these dish things that you can put a tortilla in and bake them to become taco shells. Well, I found the most perfect tortillas with 50 calories, 7 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein. We used them as our taco shells and added fresh spinach, the Mexican mixture, and topped it with avocado, plain Chobani greek yogurt, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.

FACT: The winner of my New Year New Rules giveaway is #16 Elle. Congratulations! Please e-mail me at itzlinz@gmail.com. Thank you to all who entered; you may still register for NYNR here and use discount code nynr20 to receive 20% off.

Tell me a FACT for today.

Itz Linz

itz the life of linz

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