Dark Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes - Only 95 calories!

You heard me! I was in a baking mood tonight, so I whip up a few healthy cupcakes. They do taste super yummy despite the healthiness, however; they do appear to be super moist when you bite into them. I am trying to determine what causes that. 

Nutritional information is from the Calorie Count website...I love that site!!! 

Also, check out my fan page Health - The Ultimate DIY to be inspired about a healthier lifestyle!

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup dark chocolate

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup stevia

1/2 cup & 1 tbsp egg whites

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

18 tsp dark chocolate chips (1 tsp/cupcake)

Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients together (except the 18 tsp of chocolate chips & save some of the coconut flakes to top the cupcakes with) Once you fill the cupcake pan, top each cupcake with 1 tsp of chocolate chips & some flakes. Bake for 19 minutes.

Nutritional information

Calories 95
Total fat 3.1g
Sat fat 1.8g
Cholesterol 1mg
Sodium 55mg
Carbs 14.5g
Dietary Fiber .6g
Sugars 4.0g
Protein 2.8g

Good points

Very low in cholesterol

Bad points

High in sugar

Grade: B

Enjoy & bon appetite!

xo,
Nancy

Be inspired!

For those of you who do not know, I have been on a weight loss journey for almost a year now (and so far have lost a total of 85 lbs) Well, being full of confidence & self esteem, I decided to go back into the work force. I started out as a temp & at one of the companies I was at, was offered a full time position. Well, that was short lived as my department got shifted around a month after I was permanent & I was let go. 

Regardless of feeling "dumped" I still went to my Bikram yoga class & I still worked out. I still sent out resumes. Yes, I did it with tears in my eyes, however I DID it! I never stopped. I have a wall filled with inspirational quotes that have carried me through this year (and through the last couple of days) and I just wanted to share them with you. This shocking change as lead me to think about my life & where I want it to go. I want to be inspiring. The thought of weight loss & healthy living have excited me in a way that I never thought possible. Enjoy!

And if you are making a lifestyle change to a healthier life, please fan me on facebook at: Health - The Ultimate DIY!!!

First attempt in replicating Whole Foods' Blueberry Cornbread

You read right! I LOVE their cornbread; it's so moist & yummy. I have a corn bread recipe that I have been using since I was little, however it is more a dry cornbread. 

I bought WF's cornbread yesterday & went over the ingredients that was listed & compared it to the ingredients I currently use. The recipe below is what I came up with. It isn't the same WF's recipe, however it is still yummy!

And yes, I have tried googling the recipe & there are just sooo many variations that I have decided to try my own.

Ingredients


1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup egg whites
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup blueberries
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup apple juice

Mix all the ingredients & bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

Nutritional information for 1 muffin

Calories 95
Total fat .5g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 123mg
Total carbs 20.4g
Dietary fiber 1.4g
Sugars 3.8g
Protein 2.7g

Good points

Very low in saturated fat
No cholesterol
High in selenium
High in vitamin C

NO BAD POINTS!

Enjoy & bon appetite!

xo,
Nancy

Chick Pea/Garbanzo Bean Burgers

You heard me! You can easily make this out of a can of garbanzo beans, however I took a few extra steps & used dried garbanzo beans & soaked them in water overnight. Just continue reading for the recipe!!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup of dried garbanzo beans (soak in water the day before doing this recipe)
1/4 cup onion
1/4 cup green pepper
1/2 cup kale
1/2 cup ketchup 
1 egg
seasoning (I used my rosemary, garlic & thyme seasoning)

Boil the soaked garbanzo beans (no need to do this if using canned) for approx 10 minutes (or until tender). Once this step is done, mash them with a fork (or a mortar & pestle)

Chop up the onion, green pepper & kale; add anything that's remaining into the bowl. Mix.

Form into patties (I did 8 small ones) & bake at 350 for 20 minutes (10 mins on each side)

Nutritional information

Calories 118
Total fat 2.1 g
Cholesterol 20mg
Sodium 183mg
Total carbs 19.9g
Dietary Fiber 4.6g
Sugars 6.4g
Protein 6g

The following is based off of a 2000 calorie diet:

Vitamin A 17%
Vitamin C 18%
Calcium 4%
Iron 10%

Good Points

Low in saturated fat
High in manganese
High in dietary fiber
High in Vitamin A
High in Vitamin C

Bad Points

High in sugar

Enjoy & bon apetite!

xo,
Nancy

DIY - Mini Greenhouses WITH eggplants!!!

So, July 22nd I put together my own DIY mini greenhouse out of plastic bottles & egg cartons. Once they were made, I planted heirloom white eggplants. Here is the progress so far!

Obviously not the entire crop will grow, but I do have 1 "planter" with 2 plants growing...which is AWESOME!

If my calculations are correct, I will have eggplants by October. My plan was to plant 2 plants/month, going off a chart that will let me know when I should plant X veggie/fruit while living in North Florida.

Although I read the chart wrong (I thought both eggplant & tomato were for August) turns out I was looking at the wrong column at the time. 

I did plant my heirloom purple tomatoes this past Sunday & they are already germinating!

I LOVE living my life the DIY way...Nothing could make me happier then knowing what I am doing is good for me!

xo,

Nancy