Favorite Things Roundup: Food Edition
There's nothing quite like a roundup of products. We get asked very often what products we recommend and in order to satisfy all those answers, are going to start putting those items into posts. *Insert high-five*
Today's post is focused on foodie finds that we enjoy and highly recommend.
If you try any of these, be sure to shout us out on social media by either tagging us on Facebook or Instagram (@commencefitness).
First up is breakfast:
Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes
Would you believe us if we told you that these pancakes had over 20g of protein per serving? Well, they do! These are made with Kodiak Cakes protein pancake mix and they are absolutely delicious! This is the best protein pancake mix we've had that actually tastes like real pancakes.
This pancake mix can also be used to make waffles or little breakfast muffins. While it isn't super low carb or anything, it's nutrition is much better than regular pancake mix or homemade pancakes with flour.
Kodiak Cakes make a great option when you want breakfast for dinner or just something a little more fun for breakfast. If you have kids, they'll also be sure to love this mix.
Top with a drop of maple syrup, a bit of butter or even some drizzled peanut butter.
Where to Find:
We get our mix at either Target or Shoprite where they sell other pancake mixes.
YQ by Yoplait Yogurt
We discovered this yogurt at a nutrition expo in San Diego this summer and have been eating it ever since. This yogurt is not labeled as Greek yogurt, however, it has a texture similar to that of most Greek yogurts. This yogurt is also 99% lactose free.
YQ comes in several different flavors (including coconut, key lime and vanilla) that are all low in sugar and high in protein. An average flavored YQ has about 9g of carbohydrates. The plain however, has only 3 which is almost unheard of for yogurt.
The high protein content makes this a great option for breakfast or a snack. Top with some berries, a little bit of granola and (our favorite) some peanut butter for a full meal.
They also sell these yogurts in large tubs so you can have a little more than this size serving while eating a meal.
*Dogs love this yogurt too (the plain version that is!)
Where to Find:
This yogurt is rolling out into most grocery stores. We find ours at Shop Rite and Stop and Shop.
What's for Lunch?
Applegate Turkey Hotdogs
The focus in this picture is the hotdogs! These are Applegate Turkey Hotdogs and they are one of the easiest things you can have for lunch.
These hotdogs are not filled with all of the gross things that most traditional hotdogs have. They are literally turkey and spices. They're very low in fat and high in protein. These hotdogs are also uncured, gluten free, dairy free and free of everything else.
These hotdogs take approximately 5 minutes to cook in a pan, in the microwave or in boiling water. We freeze ours and take them out of the package as needed, then cook frozen.
Add some veggies (shown here, spinach and baby peppers stuffed with some cream cheese), chop them up and add them to something or eat them on their own.
Where to Find:
We buy ours at Shop Rite or Whole Foods--usually where the rest of the hotdogs are kept.
Starkist Tuna Creations
If you like tuna salad but are trying to limit your calories a bit by skipping the mayo, these little packets are a great way to get some flavor into the tuna without too much fat or unneeded extra calories.
They sell these individual packets of tuna fish in a variety of different flavors including this hot buffalo style (a favorite!), lemon pepper, jalapeno, sweet and spicy and a variety of others. These packets average between 70 and 90 calories and are generally just tuna and some spices.
These are convenient as they don't need refrigeration nor a can opener. You can keep them in a desk drawer or even in the car.
Add this tuna to a salad, eat on a rice cake or two, eat alongside some roasted or fresh chopped veggies: the possibilities are endless.
Where to Find:
Grocery Store, Target, Walmart, Dollar General in the tuna section.
Dinner Pieces:
Riced Cauliflower
As shown here, we sometimes use riced cauliflower to make cauliflower pizza which can be a great alternative to weekly pizza nights. In this recipe, you mix cauliflower with a bit of a base (we use coconut flour), egg, some mozzarella cheese and spices to create a crust and then add whatever toppings you desire.
In addition to pizza, you can also use cauliflower rice to make fried rice dishes (sauté veggies, then add cauliflower and add a drop of soy sauce to make it fried rice), you can simply top it with a bit of butter for a rice substitute, you can mash it into "potatoes" and do a host of other things that are simple and easy.
Where to Find It:
Frozen section of every grocery store. Trader Joes has the cheapest.
Spaghetti Squash
Not the most attractive picture but that doesn't mean that spaghetti squash doesn't taste great! Spaghetti squash is a very versatile squash that's low in calories and carbohydrates but also tastes great!
Spaghetti squash works as a pasta alternative in just about any dish. It requires some prep time as you have to roast the squash but once it's done, it's easy to use.
We roast the whole squash in a roasting pan filled with about an inch of water, then slice when it's cool and pull out the seeds. You can also cut it in half and roast it seed side down.
We use spaghetti squash with sauce, pesto, cheese, in baked dishes and plain as a side dish.
Where to Find:
Just about any grocery store-usually where the potatoes and onions are.
All the Snacks:
These are just a few of the protein bars that we enjoy. Protein bars are a great option for on the go. We always suggest and prefer the bars that are in the sports nutrition section as opposed to the ones that are in the cereal aisle (like Fiber one or Natures Valley).
With protein bars, aim for 20+ grams of protein, <25 grams of carbs and somewhere around 200 calories.
On the left, Quest bar (Double Chocolate Chunk), Optimum Nutrition Cake bites on the right. We also like OhYeah One Bars, Mini Fit Crunch bars
and a few others!
Where to Find:
Many grocery stores now carry Quest Bars and Oh Yeah One bars, Walmart/Target for Cake Bites and Fit Crunch. GNC or Vitamin Shoppe for all.
Here are some random snacks that taste good!
On the left, Trader Joes Beet Chips! Just roasted beets. Crunchy, low in calories and very tasty! Found at Trader Joes
In the middle, nut's n more peanut butter which is protein peanut butter! It comes in many flavors and is super tasty! Found online and at Vitamin Shoppe/GNC.
On the right, Halo Top ice cream for a sweet treat! Found in the freezer section of almost every grocery store now!
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