Want Long Lasting Energy? Get Fat Fit Go!

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


My family loves being out and about, exploring the great outdoors. We aren't ready to wave goodbye to summer just yet, so as long as the weather is agreeable, we've been packing in as many outdoor activities as possible before the cooler temps kick in. It's not enough for us to just be outside, we have to be doing something active with our time. Whether its paddle boarding, kayaking, archery, or biking, as long as it keeps us moving, we're game. 

Because food is fuel for our bodies, it's important to fill up with nutrient dense and high quality fats to run efficiently. We all know that loading up on carb heavy foods will cause a crash and burn effect, so we try to reach for food that is going to help us truck along smoothly without any of the sluggish side effects you get from those starchy and carb laden foods. Lately, our newest obsession for fueling our bodies while out and about are these tasty little packets from Fat Fit Go. 

Fat Fit Go portable energy packets, made with real food, are perfect for anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle. Each packet offers long-lasting energy from high-quality blended fats, including MCT and other nutrient dense superfoods. 

Fat Fit Go contains no preservatives or undesirable ingredients. You get nothing but pure, clean goodness in each packet. It's peanut, sugar, dairy, soy, and grain free. With 24 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, and 1-2 carbs, Fat Fit Go is perfect for those who are following Paleo, Keto, or Vegan diets.

There are currently two flavors available: Tropical Margarita and Original Chocolate.While Jason prefers the chocolate, I am more of a fan of the tropical margarita flavor. But both are delicious in their own right.

Simply knead, squeeze, and eat. The packets are small and lightweight, so they can easily be tucked into a pocket or small bag for consuming while on-the-go. I tuck them into my gym back to refuel with on the days I do a double duty class, and Jason likes them for his evening biking sessions. I think they would also be great not only for overly active people, like my family, but for more leisurely activities like short hikes and camping.

Fat Fit Go is made for those who care about what food they put in their body. It's a crave-worthy snack worth checking out. If you'd like to learn more, be sure to check out the Fat Fit Go website. 

What healthy foods do you use to fuel your body while your on-the-go?

 

Post Workout Snack: Crispy Wasabi Chickpeas

This warm weather that crept up on us has made me realize I have not achieved my fitness goals yet for this year. I pulled out all of my summer clothing and found that my shorts are a little more snug than I would like. About a month ago, I upped my fitness game by adding in strength training to my weekly routine. Mind you, I can do cardio like nobody's business, so I thought strength training would be a piece of cake. Lemme tell you, I lasted a total of 18 minutes before thinking I was about to hurl my breakfast up all over the floor. The class is called S.W.A.T. and I couldn't tell you what that stands for, but my guess would be "stick with aerobics, tubby".

I'm not one to shy away from a challenge, so twice a week I drag my butt back to that class, yet, I can't tell if my coach is being a little condescending by enthusiastically clapping and shouting, "Yay! You made it the full 45 minutes this time!" every time I finish the workout. The class is hard, everything hurts for days afterwards, but I have faith the payoff is coming.

Since pushing myself so hard physically, I've been more aware of what I'm snacking on throughout the day. I can mindlessly munch on potato chips all day long, so I decided instead of keeping those unhealthy chips within reach, it would be much better to grab a handful of homemade crispy wasabi chickpeas.

Usually, it's the crunch I'm craving when I want a snack, so these crispy chickpeas are a fantastic substitute. After roasting, they have the crunchy texture I want and the wasabi powder gives them a nice kick of flavor. And, since they are a great source of protein, they are perfect for a post workout snack!

Author: Theresa M.print recipe

Crunchy Wasabi Chickpeas

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Cups Cooked Chickpeas
• 1/4 Cup Light Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Wasabi Powder

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cook chickpeas according to package directions. Drain, cool, pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss chickpeas with the olive oil until coated. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Spread chickpeas evenly over cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through cook time to ensure even cooking.
3. Remove chickpeas from oven. Sprinkle wasabi powder over chickpeas, tossing lightly to coat. Allow to cool at least 1 hour. The longer you let your chickpeas set, the crunchier they will get.
4. I store my chickpeas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

http://www.theresasmixednuts.com/2017/04/post-workout-snack-crispy-wasabi.html

Created using The Recipes Generator

What are some of your favorite post workout snacks?

Power Air Fryer XL™ Lets You Eat Without Guilt

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.

For the past month, the Mahoney household has been on a mission to live a healthier life. Even though we've always taken steps to stay active and fit, we did gain a few pounds over the holidays that have got to go. Jason renewed his gym membership and has been making it a priority to workout every morning, and I've put my FitBit back on to encourage myself to try to hit my 10K daily step goal (If you want to be my friend, I'd be happy to add you! Just send me your email to connect). We all know that exercise is really only a small part of the weight loss battle. Slim tummies are made in the kitchen, more so than in the gym. You can exercise all day long, but if you aren't eating right, your body will react, but not in a good way!

Dinnertime has been a challenge for me because a lot of our old favorite recipes called for frying, and we all know fried foods are not good for the waist line. At all! Thankfully, my friends over at Tristar Products have created an amazing kitchen device that lets me indulge in my favorite fried foods without paying the price for it on the scale. The Power Air Fryer XL™ delivers a crispy, fried meal without the added fat or calories of pan frying in oil or lard. 

Instead of frying in oil, food is cooked in a whirlwind of super-heated air that reaches up to 400 degrees, giving your favorite foods a crispy fried finish. What really makes me love this unit is that you can use it with almost any of your favorite foods. Chicken, fries, mozzarella sticks, veggies, donuts, and even cake! The Power Air Fryer XL™ is extremely easy to use. Simply choose a recipe, load your ingredients, pick a setting, then eat. It has the ability to fry, roast, steam, and sauté, making recipe options almost endless.

Pull the Easy-Grip Handle to separate the the Easy-Load Non-Stick Basket from the unit. You'll load up your ingredients, then pop the basket back into place for cooking. What I like about the basket is you can use it for one set of ingredients, or you can use the removable insert to fry several different recipes at once while safely keeping ingredients from meshing with each other.

 

One great feature is the Sliding Button Guard, so you can't accidentally release the Outer Basket from the Fry Basket until you are ready. 

The digital one-touch panel comes with 7 preset programs that seem pretty self explanatory, it would be pretty hard to mess up a meal.

Once your meal is placed in the fry basket, slide the basket into the unit, choose from a preset or manually select a temperature and cook time. The unit will then begin the fry process. If at any time you wish to check on your food, simply pull on the handle to disconnect the basket from the unit and the fryer will automatically shut down. 

Included with the Power Air Fryer XL™ is a handy recipe book. Here you'll find recipes for some of the most popular fried foods like french fries, spring rolls, mozzarella sticks and donuts. 

I have never been fond of how stinky the house gets when frying foods on the stove. Even running the air vent on the stove does little to deflect the stink and sometimes smoke that comes with grease frying. And, don't get me started on cleaning up nasty grease splatter that takes forever to clean up! So, to me, one of my favorite features of the Power Air Fryer XL™ is there is no stink from the fried foods, no smoke, and no messy grease splatter. My other favorite feature is how many calories I save by using it. Check out this comparison chart below to see how the Power Air Fryer XL™ cuts down calories by up to 80%!

Since Super Bowl is coming up this weekend, I thought I'd try my hand at making one of our favorite game day eats: The Blooming Onion. Here's how it looked right after seasoning, then again right after it finished frying:

 

It came out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Simply delish! (Stop by tomorrow to grab this yummy Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce recipe that pairs perfectly with blooming onions.) 

The fry basket is dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. The Power Air Fryer XL™ comes in 2 sizes, 3.4 and 5.3 quarts, and is available in red or black. You can find it at your local retail stores like Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, and Target, or at www.powerairfryer.com. Ready to cut out the grease and start eating healthier? Then I highly recommend adding this to your kitchen today! 

What are some of your favorite fried foods? Do you like the idea of using an air fryer or would you stick with the traditional method of cooking in oil or lard?

Tailgating Done Right With Rubbermaid

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!? We definitely are! We live right around the corner from Notre Dame, so tailgating and hosting football parties is what we do best around here. Saturday was a home game, so excitement was really in the air in our area. It's always so fun to see everyone dressed up in team colors, good nature bantering with rivals, and let's not forget one of the most important parts of tailgating before the game: The Food! Whether we are hosting at home or hitting the road, we always make sure we have enough good eats on hand. One of the most important things about food is finding proper storage to keep it fresh and safe for transportation. That's why I have been a fan of the Rubbermaid brand for years. They have every product that I need to help keep my food the life of the party!

The Rubbermaid Party Platter allows me to pack up finger foods and dips and safely transport them in a lightweight, yet durable container to our tailgate adventures. If features:

• A leak-proof, Twist & Seal lid that secures dips and prevents spills 
• An outer lid that snaps onto the platters base for a tight seal and secure transportation
• A removable dip container that stays chilled in a cooler or reheats in a microwave 
• A divided platter base that keeps food separated
• Is BPA free and dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe

 

My favorite feature has to be the twist and seal container that keeps my dips secure. We just made my favorite Queso Blanco Dip this weekend and paired it with crisp veggies. Is was so delish!

Queso Blanco Dip

Ingredients:

8 ounces White American Cheese, cut into small cubes
1/8 cup diced green chilies
1 chopped jalapeno pepper
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup cold water

Directions: Add all ingredients to a heavy bottom sauce pan. Heat on medium heat until cheese is melted and all ingredients are blended. Serve immediately with chips or veggies. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

*Reheat in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each until it reaches a creamy consistency.

We love to store our leftovers in Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids™ containers. The lids in this food storage system snap together and snap to the bottom of their matching container, ensuring the right lid is always at your fingertips! The containers all nestle together perfectly, so they don't ever take up a ton of room in my cupboards when not in use. I do like how they stack nicely, so I can always find what I am looking for quickly in my refrigerator.

• Lids snap together and to container bases so you can always find the right lid
• Graduated sized containers nest for compact storage
• One lid fits multiple bases
• Square shape for optimal space utilization
• Microwave / Freezer / Dishwasher Safe
• Thick, durable container walls for everyday use
• Bases and Lids are BPA FREE

Rubbermaid definitely has me covered for game day food storage and transportation! If you would like to learn more about these products, check out the Rubbermaid website. Additionally, stay up to day on new products and promotions by following along on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

What's your favorite game day snack?

Breyers Gelato Indulgences Are A Perfect Date Night Treat!

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.

 
Most parents know how hectic life can get sometimes. I am constantly running errands, playing chauffeur for my kids, and making sure the house runs as smoothly as possible. Jason works many hours, then amazes me by coming home and putting in more work around the house. It seems we are always on the go! Even though we both have very busy schedules, it's so important that we take a little time out of each day to spend with just each other to reconnect.

Neither of us are big on grand dates. No expensive dinner and movies here! Most nights after the girls go to bed, you'll find us curled up together on the love seat, catching up on Netflix. Sometimes, we'll light the fire pit and sit on the deck, enjoying the soothing summer evening sounds, or squeeze together in the hammock watching the clouds lazily pass by.

After 18 years together, I can say it really is the little things that keep a marriage going strong. Laughter, love, and a little bit of sweetness go a long way! Especially sweetness! Since we both have a major sweet tooth, snacking and spending time together naturally go hand in hand. So, when I first came across Breyers Gelato Indulgences, I knew it was going to be a keeper in our date night snacking!

Breyers Gelato Indulgences is the perfect treat for us to share during these warm summer nights. We both love the dense texture, and how rich in flavor it is. Also, since it is available in 8 different varieties, we can always find a carton to agree on. Of course, I usually make the final decision, and lately I've been alternating between Tiramisu and Triple Chocolate.

New This Year: Cappuccino – Features cappuccino gelato with a foamy cream swirl and gourmet chocolate chips

New This Year: Chocolate Caramel – Features chocolate gelato with luscious caramel sauce and gourmet chocolate curls

New This Year: Mint Chocolate – Features mint gelato with a rich fudge swirl and gourmet chocolate curls 

New This Year:  Strawberry Truffle – Features strawberry gelato with a rich fudge swirl and gourmet dark chocolatey truffles. 

Vanilla Caramel – Features creamy vanilla gelato with luscious caramel sauce and gourmet caramel curls

Raspberry Cheesecake – Features cheesecake gelato with luscious raspberry sauce and gourmet graham crumble

Tiramisu – Features mascarpone gelato with espresso sauce, ladyfinger cookie pieces & gourmet cocoa

      Triple Chocolate – Features milk and dark chocolate gelato with white chocolate sauce & chocolate curls

We will even pack some in an insulated cooler to enjoy as we watch the sun set on the beach. So romantic! 

Breyers Gelato Indulgences are currently available at most major supermarkets nationwide. If you would like to learn more about the Gelato Indulgences, or any of the other scrumptious Breyers products, be sure to check out their website. Stay up to date on new products and promotions by following along on Facebook and Twitter.

What is your favorite date night activity? What flavor of Breyers Gelato Indulgences do you think would be your favorite?

Dining At Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Earlier this week, I shared with you the fun activities to engage in at Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. Today, I want to discuss the food options. The first trip we made, 2 years ago, we dined for lunch at The Three Broomsticks.

Here you will find a nice mixture of dinner options that appeal to both British and American tastes. Shepherd's Pie, Fish and Chips, Ribs, Turkey Legs and Rotisserie Chicken are all on the menu. The prices seemed reasonable, and the portion sizes were fair. The bill for the 4 of us came to $70 for lunch with 4 Butterbeers.

This trip we had lunch at The Leaky Cauldron. 

The Leaky Cauldron is really geared towards the British palette. Bangers and Mash, Fish & Chips, Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew, Cottage Pie and Toad in the Hole were some of the options. If you have picky eaters, I would not suggest taking them to The Leaky Cauldron. Allison was not pleased with the food options, and ended up settling for mac and cheese off the kid menu. In all honestly, Mariah didn't care for her beef stew, as it had way too many herbs mixed in, so I traded her my burger.

You won't find any muggle type beverages on the menu either. If you are looking for a Coke, you'll be out of luck. The beverage options are Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Lemon Squash, Fizzing Orange Juice and a selection of beers for the 21+ crowd. Again, the total was right around $70 for the 4 of us.

There are carts around the park that sell cold Pumpkin Juice. We weren't sure what to expect, but had to try some. Mariah and I loved it, but Jason and Allison thought it was terrible. It almost takes like liquid pumpkin pie, and it is very sweet!

We couldn't leave without a visit to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. They have a wide assortment of ice cream flavors, and we were quite intrigued by some of the options. Chocolate Chili and Earl Grey & Lavender grabbed our attention, but we played it safe and stuck with the more traditional flavors. The Salted Caramel Blondie was delicious, but I'd say Mariah got the winning flavor when she went with the Butterbeer ice cream. It really was scrumptious! You can also pick up other Harry Potter Treats here, like Treacle Fudge! Yum!

For any Harry Potter fan, I'd definitely recommend budgeting some vacation money to sample the food. The experience alone is worth it, I think!

Would you be adventurous and try the Chocolate Chili or Earl Grey & Lavender Ice Cream?

How To Host A Fabulous Disney Side @Home Celebration #DisneySide

*Disclosure: I received free products in order to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Policy tab for more information.


It's no secret that my family loves all things Disney, so when we were chosen to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration again this year, we were thrilled! I immediately started making a list of what we could do to make it one of the most fun Disney parties we have ever had.

We did receive a box of goodies to help us get going. Our theme was supposed to be villains, but we also stuck with the classic Mickey Mouse theme for some of our younger guests to enjoy. We decided not to go overboard on the eats, sticking with simple finger foods that would be easy to grab while playing games. We used a little Mickey Mouse Cookie Cutter to create some fun Mickey cheese shapes for mini ham and cheese sandwiches. We also served up some "Hot Diggity Dogs".

We used the villain place cards we were provided for inspiration too. Using some green sherbert and Sprite, the kids loved sipping on Ursula's Human Potion. It didn't cost them their voice, either!

Kids love snacks, and again, we wanted to keep it simple and as mess free as possible. We used the same Mickey cookie cutters to make some fun Rice Krispies Treats. We were provided a box of Duff Goldman, Tie-Dye, Premium Cake Mix. Sticking with the villains theme, we only used the green and purple dyes to make Ursula's Sea Snack cupcakes. We created Maleficent's staff with chocolate dipped pretzels topped with non perils.

 

What's a party without fun activities and games? The kids had a blast playing Pin the Smile on Mickey.

They raced to see who could complete the Disney Villain's Puzzle the fastest.

The girls did a little villain inspired nail art.

Games like Disney Bingo, Word Search and Match-Up were a hit among all ages.

Feel free to save a copy of these games for your own Disney Side @Home Celebration!

The winners were provided small door prizes. Pencils and these fun Cinderella buttons were well received.

You don't need to invest a lot of time or money into planning a Disney Side @Home Celebration. Keeping it simple and providing fun Disney themed food and games will have every guest entertained for hours!

For more inspiration on hosting a fabulous DisneySide @Home Celebration, be sure to check out www.disneysidecelebrations.com

Are you a Disney fan? What kind of treats and games would you have at your Disney Side @Home Celebration?

Special thanks to Disney Parks and Mom Select for helping us host a fabulous Disney Side Home Celebration.