I try hard not to spike my overly sensitive blood sugar, but sometimes a girl just has to have a pick-me-up treat in the middle of a hectic day! So, I altered a typical “No-Bake Cookie” recipe into a treat that won’t make me crash 30 minutes after eating it. Even though it is made of whole ingredients it is pretty rich, so I always have to wash it down with a glass of almond milk. Enjoy! Hearty No-Bake Cookie Protein Bites 1/3 Cup Cocoa1/4 Cup Butter1/2 Cup Milk or Almond Milk1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)1/3 Cup Honey1/2 teaspoon vanilla3/4 Cup

In Eating Healthy in College: Part 1, I discussed some techniques for eating healthy with limited time, space, and money. I showed you some ideas of foods to stock your pantry, fridge, and freezer with. Now, I will offer some meal ideas using the foods from that first post. Breakfast Ideas Quick and Easy Breakfast Sandwich Peanut butter toast with a “Hearty Berry Smoothie” Cinnamon oatmeal or hot rice cereal with fruit and nuts Pancakes with fruit and yogurt. Use the mix suggested in the previous post, or make my Whole Wheat Pancake recipe. Breakfast Burritos- Make the whole recipe

This panini is full of fresh flavors that speak to all your hungry senses. Use my Hearty Roasted Red Pepper Hummus instead of cheese and mayo to satisfy your craving for a dairy-free lunch. Enjoy! Avocado Panini with Red Pepper Hummus 2 Slices whole wheat bread1/2 Avocado (sliced)1/2 Vine-Ripe tomato (sliced)3 Tablespoons Red Pepper Hummus4 leaves spinach Spread hummus on both slices of bread. Layer one slice of bread with avocadoes, tomatoes, and spinach. Top with second slice of bread. Grill in panini press for 1-3 minutes. Main CourseMediterraneanhummus, panini, vegan If you are like me, you don’t own a

This tuna sandwich has a flavorful and nutritious twist that appeals to all ages. For my anti-sandwich eaters, I serve the mix as a dip with crackers, and they love to pack it in their lunchbox on school days. I like to eat it as a lettuce wrap with a big romaine or green lettuce leaf. Enjoy! Hearty Tuna Sandwich Mix A healthy mix of tuna and vegetables for sandwiches, wraps or dip. 2- 5 oz. Cans Tuna (in water)3/4 Cup Greek Yogurt1/4 Cup Real Mayonnaise2 Cups celery (chopped)1 Red Bell Pepper (chopped (1 1/2 Cups))2 Dill pickle spears (chopped

The selling point of this chicken is the balsamic sauce—it’s savory and sweet and delicious! You will love the way it flavors the chicken and veggies, but you will also love dipping some crusty bread in the drizzle left over on your plate. EASY Balsamic Chicken and Glazed Vegetables 2 Pounds chicken breasts tenders2 Tablespoons olive oilDressing:1/3 Cup Italian bottled dressing1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar2 Tablespoons honeyVeggies:4 medium Carrots (julienned)2 Cups Green Beans (Fresh or frozen)1 large red bell peppers (sliced) Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar with a lid. Shake until well mixed. Set aside.Heat olive oil in a

I made too much rice for last night’s dinner. But I had a plan for it, so I left the rice in the saucepan and put the whole thing in the fridge to chill. In the morning, back onto the stove the rice went and just minutes later, I had hot rice cereal. You will love the way this fills your kitchen with the aroma of cinnamon! Hot Cinnamon Rice Cereal 2 Cups cooked rice (my favorite is Brown Jasmine)1 1/2 Cups Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk1 teaspoon cinnamon2 teaspoons honeyToppings:1 Cup Fresh peaches (optional)1/2 Cup pecans (optional)3/4 Cup Raisins (optional)1

When it’s the end of a long, busy day, sometimes it is impossible to muster the energy to make an elaborate meal. The cure? Beans and rice. I promise this is not a punishment for my family, though. They LOVE beans and rice—especially when topped with guacamole or fresh mango salsa. By the time your rice is cooked, dinner is ready and on the table. Enjoy! Lazy Day Beans and Rice The healthiest of cheap meals in my repitoire! Beans2- 15 oz. Cans Pinto Beans (drained)8 oz. Tomato Sauce1 teaspoon Garlic salt1/4 teaspoon CuminRice1 Cup Brown Jasmine Rice2 cups waterGuacamole2

This smoothie is not only refreshing, but it is packed with protein. You see, I am hypoglycemic, and eating foods high in sugar make my blood glucose spike and then fall drastically. The flax seed in this smoothie adds enough protein and fat to help my body slowly metabolize the sugar. Enjoy!   Mango Banana Flax Smoothie 1 Cup Water 1 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk 1 Banana, peeled 1 Cup Frozen Mango Chunks 1 Tablespoon Ground Flax seed Add all ingredients to blender in the order shown. Blend until smooth and serve immediately. Serves 2.

Is anyone else drowning in cucumbers this summer? I planted about four too many plants this year, and we are having a hard time eating them all. It’s a good problem to have… This salad is helping us enjoy our cucumbers in a new way. It takes less than 10 minutes to make and needs no time to marinate. The best part is that the kids love it! My son said, “Hey! I actually like this salad. I ate all of it!” Need I say more? Cucumber Caprese Salad 5 Medium Cucumbers (cut in rounds)5 Medium Vine-ripe tomatoes (sliced in

This is a kid-friendly, time-saving, budget-loving meal! It just so happens to be pretty healthy too! Fire up the waffle maker and enjoy this fun twist to a typical taco. If you don't have a Jiffy mix on hand, use the batter from my Hearty Corn Bread recipe here. Chili Beans over Corn Waffles Corn Waffles1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix1 large egg2/3 cup milkChili Beans15 ounces Kidney Beans (canned)8 ounces tomato sauce (canned)1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon cuminToppings1/2 cup shredded cheddar1 large avocado (chopped)1 large tomato (chopped)1 cup lettuce (chopped)1/4 cup green onions (chopped fine) Prepare the Corn Muffin Mix.