Tasty treat recipes for the holidays that *gasp* are smart choices too!

Who says that desserts can’t offer good nutrition? The trick is to  make desserts that actually provide some nutritional benefit other than being low in calories, fat or sugar. Here are some sweet ideas that can be brought to any holiday gathering while also providing some performance-enhancing benefits!

*Disclaimer: While better optoins, these treats should still be consumed in moderation

Peanut Butter Mousse  

With the only ingredients being tofu, peanut butter, and confectioners sugar it doesn’t seem like there’s much too it. However, it provides 10g of protein from the tofu and peanut butter, only 17g of carbohydrate, and 13g of the healthy fat. *Don't be scared by the tofu - you won't even taste it!

5 Fueling TREATS for Athletes this Summer

One question I am often asked by athletes is where and how do treats fit into a fueling plan. It is perfectly okay to indulge in that creamy ice cream or decadent chocolate dessert 1-2 times per week as part of a well-done fueling plan. However, aim to work in one of these tasty treats as a more frequent choice to fill that sweet craving (can you say nighttime snack!?!). Here are 5 tasty recipes to check out this summer...and maybe carry into the fall, too.

Chocolate Peanut Butter "Ice Cream" - makes 2 servings

Ingredients

2 medium bananas, frozen

1.5 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1.5 Tbsp natural peanut butter

2 Tbsp milk (cow’s, soy or almond milk)

Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender. Eat immediately.

Optional: add 1 scoop of pure protein powder to increase the protein content.

4 Keys to Keeping Your Health and Performance on Track this Holiday Season

In my last post, I provided 4 fantastic tips to prepare yourself for the holiday season. If you missed it, check it out here. This time, lets talk about how to keep yourself going as the holiday season continues on. While preparing is very important, there are things you can be doing to keep yourself on track as the weeks continue on and temptations surround - treats that beckon or a cozy couch that suggests you not work out today. When you feel the pull of the holiday coming on strong, try these key tactics:

1. Conduct a "treat clean-up" every few days
I find that somehow more and more treats appear in my kitchen as the season continues. Whether it is leftovers from a family party, a well-meaning neighbor sharing joy through food or my own purchases/creations, it seems that I am surrounded by treats! To better control how much is at arm's reach, I do a treat assessment every few days or so. Look around your kitchen and in your fridge to check what is available to you/your family. If I think it's getting a little of hand, I'll do one of the following: throw the food out (very rare, actually), freeze what can be frozen (very common) or give to my husband to take to his coworkers (also pretty common). I like to put treats in our deep freeze in the basement, so it requires even more effort for me to get at it. This isn't done in an effort to restrict or take away all treats, (because I obviously know where they are) but simply to keep aware of how much is easily available. You simply want more healthy options than treats at easy reach in the kitchen when snack time rolls around (for you and your loved ones). So, just keep tabs on this, and I promise it will make choosing healthy so much easier.