Six Sometimes Healthy Snacks-on-the-Go

In the spirit of healthy starts on the glorious fall Monday, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite healthy snacks. Let’s kick off the week on the right foot!

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I’m a huge snacker. They sometimes replace my meals, so it’s important for me to get a lot of nutrition from my snacks. In general, most of my snacks will have 250 calories and contain at least one important dietary requirement, like protein or fiber. Another requirement is that they don’t involve a lot of preparation and are easy to bring with me everywhere (especially since I’m no longer sitting in an office these days).

1. SOMETIMES HEALTHY STAPLE: VEGGIES + DIP

Gotta get my veggies yo!

Gotta get my veggies yo!

Perfect For: Pretty much any occasion. I nibble on these babies whenever I want, with one important exception: before workouts. If I eat them before i workout, I feel them jumbling around the entire time. 

How to Make It: Every Sunday, I chop up a whole bunch of vegetables, which I then throw in a plastic bag and take with my everywhere, along with some dips in small Tupperware. Favorite veggies include tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, carrots, snap peas and green beans.

Combinations: I try to add more nutrition with the dips, and here are some of my favorites:

  • Greek Yogurt + Honey Mustard (protein bonus)
  • Greek Yogurt + Avocado (healthy fats, protein bonus)
  • Cottage Cheese (protein bonus)
  • Peanut Butter (vitamin, protein bonus)
  • Laughing Cow Cheese

 

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WIAW: Protein with a Touch of Honesty


Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the fall weather as much as me. 

You may notice a bit of a change to the design of my blog today. I was aiming for a clean look, with more white space and an emphasis on the pictures. Please let me know what you think – always looking for constructive criticism!

Anyway, it’s What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW) again, and today’s post features a reoccurrence of one very important part of my diet: protein. I’ve been slacking in the protein category these days, so I’ve been making a conscious effort to up the daily intake. I’m going to finish off this post of mouthwatering eats by sharing with you something that happened to me recently that has affected my life in a pretty major way. Protein with a touch of honesty ya’ll.


 

My day started a 4:15 AM, because my jet-setting BF needed a ride to the airport. He has been traveling a lot these days, but his schedule should calm down soon. I miss him…but I love having the chance to indulge in foods he hates, like spaghetti squash and tofu.

Getting up at such a crazy hour requires a large caffeine buzz. Enter Dunkin Donuts.

Oh, no you didn't Coffee-Mate!

Oh, no you didn’t Coffee-Mate!

Nope, your eyes are not deceiving you. That right there is Girl Scout Cookie Creamer from Nestle. I saw it in the store the other day and literally almost jumped for joy. And guess what? It’s also available in Thin Mint.

The flavor was on-point, evoking the nostalgic Samoa cookie (my favorite) with every sip.

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WIAW: When the Cat’s Away…

It’s that time of the week again! The time where I try (but usually fail) to make my meals look pretty and appetizing for WIAW.

The BF is away on business at the moment (but luckily I have lots of friends coming to keep me company in this big house!), so I decided that this week I would cook and bake all of the foods that the BF doesn’t eat. I also wanted to keep it pretty healthy after all of the fried food and candy we ate in Nashville.

Unfortunately, I’m a bit under the weather today, so this post may be uncharacteristically short (you’re welcome).

Let’s start with breakfast, where I brought back an old favorite…

Guess what these are??

Guess what these are??

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WIAW: The Return of the Egg Muffin

Back at Sometimes Healthy Living Blog (The First Edition), I wrote about egg muffins all the time. (Just for fun, let’s call this next chapter of blogging in the Hudson Valley “Second Edition.” Makes me feel special.)

Anyway, when I lived in NYC, there is nothing I loved more then throwing some eggs and toppings in a muffin pan, baking them for a few minutes and then marveling at my super-sophisticated breakfast. A studio kitchen could not hold me back!

Firecracker Egg Muffins: Beets, Blueberries, Cream Cheese and Raisins. A must-have for 4th of July.

Firecracker Egg Muffins: Beets, Blueberries, Cream Cheese and Raisins. A must-have for 4th of July.

Although I have heard that egg muffins are SO 2012, I just couldn’t resist whipping some up yesterday for old time’s sake. Perhaps it’s because I’m inching closer to my 30th birthday (more on that later) and feeling nostalgic for my “younger days.” I can’t think of a better way to kick off this week’s WIAW than with the classic, yet always reliable egg muffin. If you’ve never heard of egg muffins (still boggles my mind that some of you haven’t!), prepare to be amazed…

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Things I Forgot on the Island of Manhattan

It’s fair to say NYC is worlds away from NE – not just in distance, but in the lifestyle. For example, when my best friend, Becca, was lamenting to me about having to get gas before work on a Monday, I equated it to having to wait in line to fill up my Metrocard pass on a Monday morning before getting on the subway (The line’s always extra long on Monday because everyone seems to have missed the boat on getting their s*** together to fill the pass over the weekend when the crowd is much lighter).

I forgot all about "the good life"

Anyway, I usually try to get back to The Big O at least every 6 months, but this time around, it’s been almost 8. Thus, I am out-of-practice with living the Nebraska life aka “the good life.”

Here’s a couple of things I completely forgot about: Continue Reading →

Sometimes Healthy Wacky Food Combos – The Patriotic Edition

Happy Long Holiday Weekend!

You didn’t think I’d let July 4th pass without some kind of wacky recipes to celebrate this day in style. Please don’t expect them to be normal in honor of the holiday. That would be way too out of character for this Sometimes Healthy Girl. These recipes are an adaptation of some of my original Wacky Food Combos, particularly the Pie Filling Edition. Please keep an open mind ;-)! Continue Reading →

Mini Me Invades My Kitchen

Mini Me, You Complete Me

It’s a rainy Sunday here in NYC, and I’m not complaining. Sometimes I love rainy days because I feel less guilty for succumbing to the Couch Monster and watching reality tv and Food Network, while catching up on blogs. Plus I had some leftovers to chow down on from yesterday’s “mini me” kitchen invasion….

Fun with Muffin Pans!

Ever since I saw Holly’s post about Mini Pancake Muffins, I just couldn’t get them off my mind. Considering how much I love egg muffins, I just knew these adorable little things were right up my alley. So I figured, I might as well just make them both: a little Mini Me Extravaganza in the Sometimes Healthy Kitchen. (Some magazines call Egg Muffins “mini omelets,” so that’s why I figured Mini Me was appropriate for this post. Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to headline a post with Mini Me.)

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Lunch Envy and the Trainer Tune Up

Lunch Envy [luhnch] [en-vee]

noun

A feeling of covetousness, longing and admiration with regards to your co-worker’s mid-day meal

“Lunch envy” was rampant here in the office today. Word got out about my Around the World Egg Muffins and no fuss sweet potato hash browns and everyone wanted a taste. Apparently 17 muffins wasn’t enough 😉 

Delicious leftovers served on a beautiful paper plate

While they tasted delish all warm and steamy last night, I must say I prefer them cold. The flavors really set in overnight, especially with the Mexicali. Yummy! The Denver Muffin even tasted better today. I nibbled on the sweet potato hash browns all morning but still left a few for lunch. Again, these were even better today, because I could really taste that cinnamon and sugar. I really think that Egg Muffins may surpass pizza as best-tasting cold leftovers 😉

The Morning Tune-Up

This morning I switched it up a bit and met with a trainer at my gym for a little “tune-up.” Obviously, as a New Yorker who works in PR, I cannot afford to go to a trainer very often. Continue Reading →

Around the World in 20 Eggs! Breakfast for Dinna

Do you ever read something in a magazine while you’re working out, remind yourself to remember it and completely forget it the minute you walk out of the gym? When I saw these beauties in this month’s SELF mag, I just HAD to make them….

Straight from the magazine pages. The printed word lives on! 🙂

Then I forgot….

Then these oh so trendy Egg Muffins popped up again on Lisa and Jamie‘s blog…and I knew it was meant to be. So I went out and bought a random mix of ingredients to make my egg sensations…because I have no idea how to focus on a list in grocery stores…

How could anyone possibly make all of these ingredients work together?

Then I had a busy Sunday which left me with no time to devote to cooking, cleaning or even writing (almost). I intended to make the Egg Muffins on Monday but alas, I was too tired, and as you know, resorted back to the Kitchen Sink Salad.

FINALLY, today, inspiration came to me around 5:30 right before I left work. Not only would I make my Egg Muffins, but I’d make a variety of them, each dedicated to different countries! Continue Reading →