Nut Free Fat Balls

Snacks

Lately I’ve been a huge fan of FAT. I know, sounds strange but it’s legit. Healthy fats are an essential part of a balanced diet, because they aid in satiety unlike carbohydrates or sugars. This is because fats take longer to digest, therefore they provide sustained energy (not that awful sugar high/crash cycle), which makes them perfect fuel for a workout, or a snack between meals!

As much as I love incorporating healthy fats in my meals, I don’t go crazy with them. I like to keep my diet as balanced as possible, so these balls aren’t totally loaded with oils (unlike some that have 1/2 cup of straight coconut oil!). These guys have the perfect amount of seeds and supplementing oil to give them a good consistency and taste, while still allowing them to hold up their notable reputation for providing some solid energy!

They’re portable, pop-able, and an absolute go-to snack for me. They’re completely vegan, high in proteins and healthy fats, and taste JUST LIKE creampuffs (I swear the resemblance is uncanny)! I love to eat a few for breakfast, snack on them between meals, or have a few for dessert.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup watermelon seeds

1 tbsp ground flax seeds

1 scoop vanilla protein

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp coconut oil + coconut butter

1/4 cup plant based milk

5-6 pitted dates (or to taste)

Directions

  1. In a food processor pulse together all seeds, vanilla protein, and cinnamon until the seeds are roughly ground (remember they’re going to be processed more, so don’t ground them to a flour consistency!)
  2. Add in coconut oil and coconut butter and plant milk, then process until evenly combined.
  3. Pulse in the dates in divided amounts, scraping down the edges if needed. If your mixture is still crumbly, add more dates to create a more sticky batter.
  4. Use a tablespoon measure to create 18 balls, then line them up on parchment paper and store them in the freezer.
  5. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container (I use a Stasher Bag), and keep them in the freezer for a quick and easy snack!
  6. Enjoy!

Notes:

    Store them in the freezer for a firm consistency, or the fridge if you prefer them to be softer.
    Swap in any seeds in this recipe, just make sure it’s the same quantity.
    Use desired amount of dates based off the level of sweetness you prefer.
    Any flavor of protein powder can be used to customize this recipe, or you can swap in collagen peptides for a hair, skin, and nails supplement.
    Feel free to add matcha, turmeric, cacao powder, or any other flavors to customize your balls!

Matcha Overnight Oats

Breakfast

I’m an overnight oats addict. I said it, but for good reason! Overnight oats are a quick and easy way to get in all the components necessary for a good breakfast. You can pretty much spice them up with whatever you desire, add protein, nut butter, and *BAM!* you’ve got a balanced meal.

When prepping a breakfast, it’s essential to hit all if the macros for proper fuel. That’s why I supplement the carbs from oatmeal with protein power and nut butter for healthy fat. I’ve found that three of these combined is the ONLY thing that keeps me full for hours at a time. Nothing too crazy or expensive, but it’s a miracle food if ya ask me.

Ingredients

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 tbsp protein powder

1 tbsp nut butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp matcha

stevia

Directions

In a sealable jar, combine all ingredients.

Store in the fridge overnight, and in the morning, add desired toppings (I did my grain-free granola, coconut, and almond butter)!

Take it to go, OR enjoy it in the comfort of your home. Your choice 😉

Enjoy!

Soft Baked Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Snacks

Somehow I don’t have a cookie recipe yet?!! I don’t know how either… I love a good cookie, but it’s hard to find healthy options on the market without loads of processed sugar and dairy.

But don’t worry, because I got you! These cookies are paleo, grain-free, keto (if you use sugar free maple syrup), and INSANELY TASTY!!! You don’t have to compromise one bit for those cookies you desire. Indulge, indulge, indulge!

Ingredients

Wet:

1/2 cup almond butter + 1/4 cup maple syrup

1 egg (vegan: sub flax egg)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Dry:

1/4 cup almond flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

Toppings/Add-ins:

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions

In two bowls, combine wet and dry ingredients, then pour one into the other and combine.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and use two spoons to distribute the batter into 12 dollops.

Use your spoon to swirl them into circles, leaving plenty of room between each cookie (they expand).

Bake at 350F for ~ 12 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to dry.

Enjoy!

My Meal Prep Experience With Catered Fit

Lifestyle

I’m a busy gal. I’m not going to lie, most days I STRUGGLE with balancing everything on my plate. I’d do anything to lift off the weight and relieve some of the stress I experience on a daily basis.

My schedule looks a lot like this:

  • 6:30 am wakeup
  • 7:00 am – 2:30 pm school
  • 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm field hockey
  • 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm homework
  • 11:00 pm bedtime

As you know, I love to cook (definitely an understatement!) but when I get home from a full day of events *exhausted*, the last thing I want to do is make a full meal. I prefer to spend the few hours I have to spare on myself! I love to do a little flow through in the morning, before school, and in the afternoons, I allot some time to relax, because you’re body needs its rest!

With such limited flexibility in my schedule, it’s tough to cook myself meals as meal times come around. Lunch and dinner are usually a scramble, because it’s tough to whip up foods that are nourishing and fast while I’m hangry! That’s why I tried out Catered Fit, a meal prep company that delivers meals right to your door!

Why Catered Fit?

Of all the meal prep companies out there, Catered Fit is particularly alluring because it allows YOU to be in control of your meals! They provide a wide range of nutritious options and meal sizes, so you won’t be starving yourself or doing any major restriction. This meal prep is sustainable, it’s not meant to be a diet, but rather a supplement that takes a little weight off your schedule.

How Does It Work?

I tried the 5-day meal plan. I went on their website and chose a meal plan that suited my diet (I switched between meatless/paleo), then specified my allergies/intolerances (I did dairy/gluten free). They created a custom menu for me that fit my needs, and gave me the option of different portion sizes to choose from to properly fuel my activities (I did the athlete portion)! Everyday at around 4:00pm, a delivery man came to my door and left my meals in a reusable bag with ice packs, so it wouldn’t spoil if I wasn’t home. Each of the meals were labeled with all of their macros, nutrition information, and ingredients, so I could see exactly what I was putting in my body, and make sure I was eating a good balance of food groups.

What Impact Did It Have On My Day?

Catered Fit was AMAZING! It was so convenient, and it sped up my day significantly. To be perfectly honest, food is always on my mind. I’m always trying to analyze how I feel and determine what I want for my next meal, and THEN I have to cook it, so yeah it’s safe to say a few hours are dedicated to food alone. With Catered Fit, I made all those decisions ahead of time, and all I had to do was eat it when I became hungry! My day transformed completely, because when I got home, I was able to eat immediately and get a major kickstart on my homework, which saved crazy amounts of time…and ultimately allowed me to get more sleep (and who doesn’t want that??).

Catered Fit is more than just a meal prep company, it’s a lifestyle fix. It helped ease my day and allowed me to spend more time being productive, rather than dilly-dallying on meal prospects! It’s definitely worth the extra $$ to have meals prepared and delivered to your door. At the end of my plan, I felt better rested, less stressed, and healthier. It was a treat for myself, and maybe it doesn’t have to be every week, but it feels good to have a break every once in a while.

  • You can navigate to their website to order your meals here.
  • Use my code “TASTEBYHAY” to save $20 on your order!

Vanilla Almond Grain Free Granola

Breakfast, Snacks

Ingredients

2 cups nuts/seeds of choice (use a mix if possible!)

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup vanilla protein

1/4 cup nut milk or water

1 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

1 tsp cinnamon + vanilla extract

Toppings/Add-ins:

1/3 cup chocolate chips

2 tbsp cacao nibs

Directions

Chop the nuts on a cutting board using a large knife.

Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and combine all ingredients *except for the chocolate chips*.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly distribute the batter into a thin layer.

Bake at 300F for 25 minutes, mixing around twice to make sure it cooks evenly.

Allow to cool completely, then add in the chocolate chips. Sprinkle cinnamon and coconut sugar to add more flavor if needed!

Enjoy!

Vegan Double Chocolate Almond Perfect Bars

Snacks

Ingredients

Dry:

1 cup oat flour

1/4 cup almond flour

1/4 cup vanilla protein powder (use chocolate if you have it!)

1/4 cup cacao powder

Wet:

1/2 cup crunchy almond butter

1/4 cup maple syrup

Toppings/Add-ins:

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

In two separate bowls, combine wet and dry ingredients, then pour one into the other and fold.

Fold in the chocolate chips (it’s normal for the batter to be tough and stuck together, this is part of what helps it keep its shape in the final product!)

Line a baking dish with parchment paper, then transfer batter to baking dish and distribute evenly.

Place in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight, then remove, and slice into desired number of bars (i did 8).

Store them in the fridge in an airtight container and you’ll have quick & easy snacks for the week!

Enjoy!

Paleo Gingerbread Donuts

Snacks

Still craving sweets from the holiday season? I gotcha covered! This recipe is totally healthy–it’s grain-free, dairy free, keto, can be made vegan, and has no added sugar.They’re completely guilt-free, so there’s NO excuse for you not to try them!

Ingredients

Wet:

3 bananas

2 eggs

1/4 cup molasses

1 tbsp maple syrup (optional, still sweet without it!)

Dry:

1 1/2 cups almond flour

1/2 tbsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking powder + baking soda

Toppings/Add-ins:

cinnamon & coconut sugar

Directions:

In two separate bowls, combine wet and dry ingredients, then pour one into the other and fold.

Spray non-stick spray onto a donut pan and distribute the batter into each of the 12 donut molds (i did ~1/3 cup).

Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.

Allow to cool completely before removing them from the molds, and sprinkle cinnamon and coconut sugar for toppings.

Store them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Enjoy!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Perfect Bars

Snacks

If you’re a busy gal like me, you’ll LOVE this recipe. Having quick snacks handy is a must, because I’m always on the move. Thankful for these chocolate chip perfect bars that are not only easy to snack on, but also easy to make! This is a no-bake, one-bowl recipe, so you’ve got no excuse to not try it out!

These bars are completely vegan! Unlike the commercial brand, they’re made with a perfect balance of protein (protein powder), fats (almond butter), and carbs (oat flour). I’m alllll about balance, and these bars are where it’s at!

Ingredients

Dry:

1 cup oat flour

1/2 cup almond flour

1/4 cup vanilla protein

Wet:

1/2 cup almond butter

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

Toppings/Add-ins:

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, combine wet and dry ingredients, then fold in chocolate chips.

Transfer to a rectangular baking dish lined with parchment paper.

Place in fridge for at least an hour, then remove, and slice into bars (i did 8).

Store in the fridge for a quick snack!

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Breakfast

Lately, chia pudding has become an absolute staple in my diet! Chia seeds provide a multitude of benefits due to their low carbohydrate content, high protein & fat, and loads of fiber. It’s safe to say this guy is a superfood!

Fiber: Chia seeds contain 11g of fiber per serving (11 out of the 12g of carbohydrates, which makes it a low carb item). It’s linked with greater satiation, digestion, and regularity. Aka, a recipe for NO BLOAT!

Protein: They’re loaded with protein which naturally helps suppress appetite, and increase satisfaction at meal time.

Fat: There are 9g of healthy fats per serving, most of which are omega-3s that promote heart health and stabilize blood pressure.

So…yeah, don’t know how I’ve gone so long without this! Chia seeds can be thrown on smoothie bowls, infused in water, OR used to make chocolate chia pudding–a superfood dessert!

Ingredients

3 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp cacao powder

1 tbsp maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)

3/4 cup almond milk

Directions

In a small jar, combine almond milk, maple syrup, and cacao powder.

Then slowly whisk in the chia seeds thoroughly to prevent clumping.

Place the jar in the fridge overnight (or if you’re in a rush, just wait 30 minutes!)

Add any desired toppings. I did coconut yogurt, grain-free granola, cacao nibs, coconut, and bee pollen!

Enjoy!

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P.S. If you try it, don’t forget to snap a pic and use the hashtag #tastebyhay so I can see your creations!

Grain-Free Egg Nog Pancakes

Breakfast

Ingredients:

1 banana

1 egg

1 tbsp flax meal

1 tbsp egg nog

a sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

Mash the banana and whisk in the egg.

Then, stir in flax meal, cinnamon, and baking powder until just combined.

In a nonstick skillet, on medium heat, form 10 round pancakes using a healing 1/8 cup measure.

Cook for around 1-2 minutes on each side, flipping when bubbles start to form.

For toppings, I did more egg nog yogurt, almond butter, banana slices, chia seeds, and bee pollen.

Enjoy!