Healthy Fast Food (what?!)

Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day. I love the carbs, the fruit, and everything that comes with it. Making a stop to Starbucks for breakfast on the weekends is definitely one of my favorite things to do, their Skinny Vanilla Lattes are seriously my weakness. However, most food on their menu is super calorie heavy (apple fritters have 420, and the Reduced-Fat Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake has 340!). We should be eating breakfast to kick-start our day and give up some energy, but these items actually slow us down! 

To combat this problem, I did some research on fast food breakfast that is actually healthy and will make you feel good in the morning. There are some options from my favorite places to stop, they are super tasty and healthy too!

Starbucks Oatmeal and Coffee - Starbucks's oatmeal is made from whole grain and is so tasty. I seriously love getting it in the winter because it's nice and warm and fills me up! It feels like a comfort food but only contains 140 calories. You also have the choice of adding nuts, dried fruit, or brown sugar for around 100 extra cals each. 

Dunkin Donuts coffee and Eggwhite, Turkey, Sausage Wrap - This sandwich contains a whole lot of protein (11 grams) and only 150 calories. This is good because it will keep you full much longer than a bagel or donut, and you don't get the mid-day sugar crash. 

Panera Power Breakfast Sandwich or Parfait - Panera is another favorite on Sunday mornings if I want to sit down, enjoy some delicious bread-y items, and sip my coffee in front of a fireplace. Their Power Breakfast Sandwich is made with whole grain bread (did I mention I LOVE their bread?), with egg, Vermont white cheddar, and smoked lean ham. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It has 330 calories, but will also keep you full and satisfied well into lunchtime. The Strawberry Granola parfait is also a good choice, made from low-fat, organic vanilla yogurt, maple butter pecan granola with whole grain oats & fresh strawberries, and containing 310 calories. 

What's your favorite place to grab breakfast? What do you like to get?

PS - Don't forget to enter my Summer Favorites Giveaway!

Summer Treat: Creamy At Home Iced Coffee

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In my last Friday Favs post, iced coffee was the very first thing on the list. And it's first for a reason. I LOVE iced coffee. It's so refreshing (not a way you'd normally describe coffee!) and still gives you that caffeine buzz. I normally go out to a coffee shop to get my fix, but it does get pricey and there isn't one conveniently located to where I've been working this summer. Sooo, I decided to try my own at home - and failed. I put ice into hot coffee with milk and sugar. Bad idea. The ice melted and made the coffee gross and watery, and it wasn't even that cold. To remedy this issue I hit the internet to find some actual legitimate iced coffee recipes.

There are many different techniques to making iced coffee, but I wanted one that was easy, simple, and fast but still delicious. I found two different recipes that I like, Simply Delicious and The Pioneer Woman.

Simply Delicious came up with a brilliant idea, make coffee ice cubes! All you have to do is brew a pot, pour it into an ice dish, and freeze. The next morning put the coffee cubes in your freshly brewed coffee and viola! Nice cold coffee without the wateryness. Or, you can brew a big pot and keep it in the fridge, then add the coffee cubes. Whichever you prefer. Add cream and sugar to your liking! Genius!

The technique that The Pioneer Woman uses is a little more complicated and takes a little more time, but produces a stronger, richer coffee than just brewing it and adding the cubes. Here are the steps:

1. Pour a pound of coffee into a container (large bowl, pitcher, Tupperware, etc.)

2. Pour in 8 quarts (2 gallons) of cold water

3. Stir to make sure all the grounds come into contact with water

4. Cover the container and let the coffee steep for at least 8 hours, longer will result in stronger coffee

5. After the time is up, place cheesecloth (or a coffee filter, or paper towels) inside a fine mesh strainer

6. Slowly pour the coffee concentrate through the filter and into a different container, discard grounds

7. Use a spoon to press the liquid through 

8. Refrigerate the liquid 

When you're reading to drink the yummy, strong coffee - 

1. Fill a glass with ice and pour in coffee about half way

2. Splash in your choice of creamer (skim, 2%, or whole milk, half and half, sweetened condensed milk... you get the point)

3. Add in sugar, syrup, etc!

There you have it, two different ways to make iced coffee. I think I will begin by trying Technique #2, stronger coffee is right up my alley. 

Hope this helps if you're looking to make some great at-home iced coffee!! Enjoy! 

Ps- Don't forget to enter my Summer Favorites giveaway!

Favorite Summer Drink - Piña Colada

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On hot summer days when I'm outside relaxing (or sweating to death in the name of getting a tan), there's nothing that I want more than a nice cold drink. What's my go-to? A piña colada. They're easy to make and literally taste like summer. Taking a sip is like instantly being teleported to a private island and having cabana boys fan you with giant leaves. I love them. But, with the creamy-alcoholy goodness comes TONS of calories. 

My piña colada and boyfriend's margarita from a Mexican restaurant last weekend! Creamy and SO delicious!

To combat this problem (because no one want to look bloated in a bikini), I have searched high and low for the perfect skinny piña colada recipe. I came across Love and Zest's recipe and it sounds delicious. Most skinny recipes that I found were boring, a little pineapple juice and a little rum. But this one has the creamyness, thanks to vanilla Greek yogurt and light coconut milk, with WAY less calories. It's a win-win! I've included the recipe below:

Skinny Pina Coladas
makes 2-3 servings

3 cups frozen cubed pineapple
1/2 cup light coconut milk
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (or low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut rum
1 cup ice, add as needed
2 tablespoons flaked coconut, for topping

Place ingredients into blender, and pulse until smooth. If needed, slowly add ice and process until smooth. Pour pina colada into chilled glasses and top with coconut flakes if desired.

Note: If going Virgin or making a breakfast smoothie, sub in coconut water for the rum.

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I would definitely garnish with the coconut flakes, but maybe add a chunk of pineapple or a maraschino cherry as well. I'm so excited to try this recipe and feel a little less guilty about indulging in my summer fav. 

What's your favorite summer drink?

Pinterest Recipes: Egg Stuffed Avocados

I pinned the recipe for a Bacon and Egg Stuffed Avocado a few months ago and have been anxious to try it! I loove avocado, and breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so this recipe was right up my alley. I followed Anna Nimmity's recipe and it came out tasting delicious! I've included her recipe at the bottom of this post.

I decided to leave out the bacon because I don't really like the taste, and it's fattening. But mine came out very tasty and creamy, the consistency was almost mashed potato-like! I topped the eggs off with a little garlic salt and pepper and it was all it needed.

They were very quick and easy to make, I'd definitely make these again.

Avocado Bacon and Eggs

1 Avocado
2 eggs
2 strips cooked bacon, crumbled

Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the avocado so the hole matches the size of your eggs. I didn’t do this the first time and the eggs were too big and oozed all over the pan.

Crack an egg into each half of the avocado, resting the edge of the avocado on the side of the cookie sheet. This helps keep it stable so the avocado doesn’t roll and spill the egg. Add the pieces of bacon to the top and place in the oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. You can adjust this based on how you like your eggs cooked. Then add salt and pepper to taste.

Thanks to recommendations from my smart readers, I have been using a muffin tin to stabilize these in the oven. It works like a charm, and even if you misjudge how much avocado to scoop out like I did last time and the egg spills over, the mess is contained in one tiny section. I even ate the spilled egg in this version. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

What do you think of egg stuffed avocados?