My Pumpkin Cravings are out of control! This is an amazing option:)

Now that we are hitting Fall my body naturally craves Pumpkin. I dream of the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks and my Mamaw's homemade pumpkin pie. Although it is ok to indulge every now and then I wanted to find a healthy option to help me through my Pumpkin cravings. Try this great option to keep you on track this month. I think they are great. The recipe is from Jamie Eason who has a lot of amazing recipes:)

 

Pumpkin Protein Bars Recipe

Pumpkin Protein Bars

Nutrition Facts:

Nutrition (without walnuts): 1 square = 47 calories, .7 g fat, 8 g carbs, 3.7 g protein
Nutrition (with walnuts): 1 square = 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 4 g protein

Ingredients:

• ½ C Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (Ideal)
• 1 - 4 oz. jar baby food applesauce
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ tsp. ground ginger
• ½ tsp. ground clove
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 - 15 oz. can of raw pumpkin
• 2 C oat flour
• 2 scoops vanilla whey protein
• ½ cup almond milk
• ½ C chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Spray a 9 X 13 Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.
3. Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.
4. Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated. Spread batter into the Pyrex dish and bake for 30 min.
5. Makes 24 squares.

Have a Jump Start Meal before your Cyclelates workout

Have a 150-calories jump-start meal an hour or two before your workout.

Ever force yourself through a workout, even though you were starving, simply because you thought you would tap into those fat stores faster? Next time, eat up. The latest research in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that exercisers who ate breakfast before the treadmill had a significantly higher fat-burning rate for as long as 24 hours compared with those who ate post workout, even though both groups consumed the same number of calories during the day. Plus, a recent report in the Strength and Conditioning Journal concluded that when you start off with a grumbly tummy, there's no fat burn advantage: You won't be able to go as intensely or burn as many calories, and you'll also lose more muscle. Preworkout, nosh on these easy eats: a banana and a 1/2 cup of plain low-fat yogurt, or a whole-wheat English muffin with a half tablespoon of peanut or almond butter.



Shaffer, Alyssa. "The New Rules of Fitness." Fitness October 2012: 91.