snacking — Blog — Fit Foodie Le

Avocado Crema Dip

the stuff: (source)

3 ripe avocados

1 - 6 oz container 0% greek yogurt

1/2 jalapeno pepper

juice of 1 lemon or lime

1/4 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

cracked black pepper & sea salt to taste

do this:

add all ingredients to your blender or food processor

blend until super-duper creamy (keep scraping down the sides if using a blender)

get scoop happy! you can dip anything you want, but i chose plantain chips and the bell peppers.

switching to the 8oz baby bottles for parties / get-togethers was a great move. one of my pet peeves is walking around picking up half-finished water bottles at the end of a party!!!! never again. that dip in the center of the veggie plate is just Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix + 0% greek yogurt. my mom gave me that idea but used to use sour cream. so yummy!!! it really brings veggies to life.

love this stuff!! my Sprouts Farmers Market usually has a great variety of flavors too; there are so many to choose from. we recently tried the Cheddar Caramel Mix and gave it two thumbs way up. if you're gonna sneak snacks into the movie theater, bring this stuff!

FITzee Foods isn't just a product; it's a complete lifestyle.

5 cents of each purchased FITzee Foods meal goes to their Healthy Child Movement. this program helps to ensure that Monarch (a public K-12 school dedicated to helping San Diego's homeless and at-risk children break the cycle of poverty through education) kids receive the nutritious and well-balanced meals that will help them succeed academically. i think that is pretty darn amazing and admirable, and something i would love to do with Fit Foodie Le,LLC in the near future. i'm a firm believer in starting healthy habits early and leading by example at home.

I was invited by my sorority sister, Santrice (l), to speak to the parents of the students attending Fonwood Early Childhood Center this morning on nutrition!

such a gratifying feeling. once it was over of course. LOL. public speaking is just like exercise...the more you do it the better and stronger you get. it was a fun experience and i got to share it with another Soror of mine, Crystal Hadnott (r), a certified nutritionist, personal trainer, pilates reformer Instructor, spin instructor, and piloxing instructor. yeah she does it ALL!

we even had a translator which was a first for me. Crystal spoke about eating healthy on a budget, and my task was to elaborate on healthy snack ideas the parents could make for their kiddos.

this was near and dear to my heart since i battle feeding my picky little one every single day! i discussed two options that have worked for me:

1st, homemade, healthy, oven baked, whole wheat pita pizza. i've learned that less is more with kids. too much going on (toppings) and they are less likely to eat whatever it is their staring or picking at. i went with the two standard ingredients: all natural pizza sauce and cheese.

pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
cut the pita in half and place them inside-up on a large baking pan
sprinkle on any herbs or seasonings onto the top of the pita (basil, oregano, italian seasoning)
place into oven for 4-5 minutes until slightly crisp
remove from oven and spread pizza sauce all around crust evenly
sprinkle with grated or chopped cheese of your choice
if you'd like to add any other ingredients you know your little one will eat (chicken, turkey, beef, etc) do so now!
put back into oven and let bake just until the cheese starts to brown and melt.
cut, let cool slightly, eat up.

2nd, homemade trail mix. you can do both of these together and make it a family thing. involve your kiddos. they don't always have to watch you do something for them! let them be apart of the process, and they are more likely to eat what the produce. i hit up the bulk aisle of one of my favorite stores and got scoop happy. this is a practical and cost-effective snack, and the great thing is that you can mix and match anything YOU guys want.

i got a few scoops of the following: dried mango, dried blueberries, stuffed peanut butter pretzels, unsalted roasted pistachios, almonds, and cashews, dark chocolate covered raisins, yogurt pretzels, sour and regular sugar-free gummy bears, cheddar popcorn, dried apricot, roasted edamame, dried pineapple, sesame sticks, and added a few of every pile to an individual sandwich baggy. they were passed out to the parents during my presentation! if you're speaking about food, you've GOT to have samples ;)

a copy of Fit Foodie Lean was raffled off to one lucky parent, and i was so grateful to be able to share my passion for healthy cooking and eating with them. giving back to the community is a social responsibility we should partake in as often as possible. thank you for continuing to lead by such an outstanding example, FITzee Foods!

it's my Friday to teach at the gym tomorrow so i am hitting the sack! nite