Fit Fun Tina

Baked Acorn Squash

Baked Acorn Squash. 21 Day Fix Approved. For more recipes, head to www.FitFunTina.com!

 

Baked Acorn Squash

Baked acorn squash is a great savory dish perfect for those who are not fans of vegetables! With only three ingredients, this dish is delicious, healthy, AND fits into the 21 Day Fix eating plan (yes! This counts as a green!).

Tina’s Pro-Tip

Winter squashes tend to be extremely firm and hard to cut open. By placing the acorn squash into the microwave for a couple of minutes, the squash will soften just enough so you can cut it open and bake.

21 Day Fix

If you’re on the 21 Day Fix, cut the squash into cubes after baking. Place the cubes inside a green container and count as 1 Green and 1 teaspoon. There is enough squash for approximately 2 servings (depending on the size of the squash.

Yields 2-3

Baked Acorn Squash

5 minPrep Time

45 minCook Time

50 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 Acorn Squash
  • 2 tsp Coconut Oil
  • Cinnamon (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place (whole) squash in microwave and cook for two minutes. This will make the squash easier to cut.
  3. Remove squash from microwave and cut in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and fibers.
  4. Place squash into a baking dish, with the skin facing the bottom of the dish. Brush coconut oil on the inside of the squash. Sprinkle cinnamon to taste.
  5. Place squash in oven and bake for 45 minutes.
  6. After removing from oven, score squash and scoop out cubes to serve.
  7. For 21 Day Fix, place cubes inside green container and count 1 green and 1 tsp.
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https://fitfuntina.com/baked-acorn-squash/

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Shakeology Comparison Series: #2 Skinny Gut

*Affiliate links used. Using these links are of no cost to you, but help to keep this website running. Thank you!*

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Something I constantly hear in regards to Shakeology is the cost factor! Believe me, as a former self-supported grad school student, I understand tight budgets.As a coach, my first mission is to make the world a healthier place. So if budget is truly a deciding factor, I’d rather you consume something healthier than ramen noodles (which I may or may not have lived two weeks of my life on back in the day!).

This is part two in a series of comparing Shakeology with meal replacement shake alternatives. While I firmly believe there is no equivalent for Shakeology, I’m going to give these shakes a try and let you know how my thoughts. Today, I’m going to talk about Renew Life Skinny Gut Ultimate Shake, Natural Chocolate.

Before I get into my reviews, here are my standards:

  1. No artificial sweeteners, including aspartame and sucralose. I’m not quite sure WHY some shakes still have these, but that’s another point for another day.
  2. No soy protein. Soy protein has been getting a lot of heat from the science world, so I’m just preferring to avoid it.
  3. Must be a meal replacement shake. The macros have to compare. Meal replacement shakes are different from protein powders. With a protein powder, you’re only fueling your body with protein. Protein shakes are great for lifters after a heavy workout, but they aren’t designed to provide much more nutrition than protein.

Preparation:

I usually get all wild and crazy for my shakes (I love to try new flavor combinations using extracts – see my recipe guide here). For the sake of this trial, I will buy chocolate flavored powders, and prepare them with unsweetened almond milk and 1/2 frozen banana.

Alternative #2: Skinny Gut (You can see my review for Vega One here)

 

Here is the nutrition label for Skinny Gut:

SUPP-Skinny-Gut-Ultimate-Shake-Chocolate_0415

My thoughts of Skinny Gut(compared to Shakeology):

  1. Taste – The texture was smoother than the Vega One, and comparable to Shakeology, but there were some taste differences:
    1. The chocolate flavor was not very strong.
    2. The shake had a bit more of a fruitier taste.
    3. Skinny Guy was not as sweet as Shakeology
  2. Cost:
    1. Skinny Gut can be found on Amazon.com for $24.51 for 10 servings. That breaks down to $2.45 per serving
    2. Shakeology (if you buy with the monthly discount) comes in a 30 serving bag. That breaks down to $3.88 per serving (if you’re active duty military, your cost drops to $3.33).
    3. Both of these include shipping (Skinny Gut is free with Amazon Prime).

Overall thoughts: Skinny Gut isn’t bad. Given that a bulk of the ingredients are common fruits and veggies, it seems to be a hybrid of a protein shake and a smoothie. Even skipping the taste factor, Shakeology has done more for me than give me a good, nutritious meal. It has helped to keep me full , curb my sweet cravings, improved my digestion, and given me energy. However, if cost is a true factor, then it may be worth trying out.

Stay tuned for my next installment!

 


Related Posts:

Shakeology Comparison Series: #1 Vega One

*Affiliate links used. Using these links are of no cost to you, but help to keep this website running. Thank you!*

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Something I constantly hear in regards to Shakeology is the cost factor! Believe me, as a former self-supported grad school student, I understand tight budgets. As a coach, my first mission is to make the world a healthier place. So if budget is truly a deciding factor, I’d rather you consume something healthier than ramen noodles (which I may or may not have lived two weeks of my life on back in the day!).

I’m going to be reviewing a few Shakeology alternatives over the next couple of days. While I firmly believe there is no equivalent for Shakeology, I’m going to give these shakes a try and let you know how my thoughts.

Before I get into my reviews, here are my standards:

  1. No artificial sweeteners, including aspartame and sucralose. I’m not quite sure WHY some shakes still have these, but that’s another point for another day.
  2. No soy protein. Soy protein has been getting a lot of heat from the science world, so I’m just preferring to avoid it.
  3. Must be a meal replacement shake. The macros have to compare. Meal replacement shakes are different from protein powders. With a protein powder, you’re only fueling your body with protein. Protein shakes are great for lifters after a heavy workout, but they aren’t designed to provide much more nutrition than protein.

Preparation:

I usually get all wild and crazy for my shakes (I love to try new flavor combinations using extracts – see my recipe guide here). For the sake of this trial, I will buy chocolate flavored powders, and prepare them with unsweetened almond milk and 1/2 frozen banana.

Alternative #1: Vega One

This one I was the most excited to try, as from what I found, the ingredients/macros/etc were the closest related to Shakeology.

 

Breaking it down, here is the nutrition label for Vega One:
LAB22520V4-QAREV2-M17_VO_LgTub_Chocolate_US-P LAB10520V4-QAREV2-M21_VO_LgTub_Chocolate_CDN-I

For comparison, here is the label for Vegan Chocolate Shakeology:

Chocolate-Vegan

My thoughts of the Vega One (compared to Shakeology):

  1. Taste – The taste was definitely grainier. Texture doesn’t typically bother me, but there were some taste differences:
    1. Vega One was not as sweet as Shakeology
    2. Vega One had a more vegetable taste than Shakeology
    3. The aftertaste with the Vega One lasted awhile!!!
  2. Cost – Surprisingly, there is not a huge difference in cost:
    1. Vega One is sold on Amazon.com for $54.99 for a 19 serving tub. That breaks down to $2.89 per serving
    2. Shakeology (if you buy with the monthly discount) comes in a 30 serving bag. That breaks down to $3.88 per serving (if you’re active duty military, your cost drops to $3.33).
    3. Both of these include shipping (Vega One is free with Amazon Prime).

Overall thoughts and update: I ended up purchasing a tub of the Vanilla Chai Vega One. I’m a HUGE fan of chai, and the flavor was good. However, it never had a smooth texture (it was always icy, despite using a banana and almond milk). In the end, I was never able to finish the tub.

Stay tuned for my next installment!


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Review: Bakto extracts

*Affiliate links used. Using these links are of no cost to you, but help to keep this website running. Thank you!*

Bakto natural extracts. Perfect for your shakes, coffee, baking, and more! Go to www.FitFunTina.com for my review.

My mama always told me that variety is the spice of life! Well, maybe it wasn’t my mama that said it, but it’s something I live by! I LOVE drinking my Shakeology every morning, but I also like to try new and different things!

Recently, I came across these flavorings from Bakto. I had already been using other various extracts to make new flavor combination, but when I saw the variety of flavors from Bakto, I decided to give them a try! So here is my review of the Batko extracts.

I decided to purchase the set Bakto Flavors Protein Shake Power Collection -Natural Flavors for a couple of reasons: 

  1. Amazon Prime with free 2 day shipping
  2. White cake batter, yellow cake batter, and butter pecan were at the top of my “must try” list.

The box came with six different flavors: banana, butter pecan, chocolate, raspberry, white cake batter, and yellow cake batter. They come in 1 oz bottles, which is the perfect size for the variety, and were packed very well in the box.

Some uses:

1. Shakes

Bakto natural extracts. Perfect for your shakes, coffee, baking, and more! Go to www.FitFunTina.com for my review.

 

This is my favorite recipe of all. I used vegan chocolate Shakeology, 1 cup frozen cotton candy grapes, 8 oz unsweetened almond milk, and 1 teaspoon of yellow cake batter extract. It was super sweet and I thought I was drinking brownie batter with two exceptions: 1) It was a lot HEALTHIER than brownie batter and 2) I didn’t have to wait for the oven to preheat to enjoy it. (It’s the simple things in life).

The butter pecan was another delightful concoction. I used Shakeology, 8 oz unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 teaspoon butter pecan extract, and 1/8 cup unsweetened coconut flakes.

With the banana extract, I used chocolate Shakeology, 8 oz unsweetened almond milk, and 1 teaspoon of banana extract. The banana was just okay for me compared to the others, so in the future I may use it in a recipe for baking instead.

You can also see some of my other recipes here and here.

2. Coffee

For the chocolate extract, I haven’t used it in a shake yet (my shakes are already chocolate!), so instead I put it in my coffee with some unsweetened almond milk (instead of creamer) and a little stevia. It was super delicious, as was the raspberry extract. (Again, I used 1 teaspoon of extract).

My thoughts:

I love these extracts and will definitely be buying them again! I’m not as big of a fan of the banana and raspberry flavors, but the cake extracts were sooooo delicious. Also, I enjoyed chocolate in my coffee, and will soon try the chocolate extract in a different flavor of Shakeology. I love that the flavors are natural, although a few of their other flavors (such as caramel) do contain sugar (I guess to make caramel “natural” you have to use sugar to make it happen. However, the amount would be so trivial that I doubt it’d make a dent into your macros).

For more information on the product, click the box below and it will take you directly to the Amazon page (in another tab!)

Bakto natural extracts. Perfect for your shakes, coffee, baking, and more! Go to www.FitFunTina.com for my review.


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The easiest way to meal plan

Meal planning simplified! Go to www.FitFunTina.com to find the easiest tip to make your meal planning EASIER and SAVE MONEY!

 

Meal planning…it can be such an overwhelming task! With so many options, you just feel the need to try it all. But it takes so much time to pick, shop, and prepare! I’ve discovered the easiest way to meal plan that is going to save you TIME and MONEY, and keep you healthy in the process!

How it saves time:

  1. You’re picking fewer options, so it’s requiring less time to think through and finding new items to fill in gaps on your menu.
  2. There is less prep time, as you can make bigger batches to reheat and re-use throughout the week.

How it saves money:

  1. You are buying fewer ingredients!
  2. Since you are preparing for fewer options, you can limit yourself to what is on sale. (See this post on how to meal prep using sales flyers).
  3. You can buy in bulk, potentially saving even more money.

The method of madness:

It’s called “Pick two”. So for each meal or snack during the week, instead of seven different options, pick two instead.

Here are some examples:

Breakfast:

Pick two options: Mini veggie egg muffins and 21 Day Fix French Toast.

Plan out the egg muffins on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Then on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday have French Toast.

Snacks:

Pick two different fruits and two different veggies to snack on throughout the week and rotate them out.

Dinner:

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken and Crockpot Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef  and alternate days. OR instead of picking two dinners, pick four and make enough for leftovers for lunch the next day!

 

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Roasted Garlic Buffalo Chickpeas

Roasted Garlic Buffalo Chickpeas

 

Chickpeas – they’re not just for hummus any longer! If you’ve got a hankering for a savory snack, step away from the potato chips and try these instead! This morning I made an experiment and concocted these roasted garlic buffalo chickpeas. Warning: if you like buffalo flavors, you might find these addicting! The good news is you can enjoy the crunch and the pop of flavor without any guilt!

21 Day Fix

Why, yes! These are definitely 21 Day Fix approved! Fill a yellow container and enjoy this delightful snack.

1 yellow container = 1 yellow and 1 teaspoon

 

Roasted Garlic Buffalo Chickpeas

21 Day Fix: 1 Yellow container = 1 yellow container and 1 teaspoon

5 minPrep Time

50 minCook Time

55 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Frank's Red Hot sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400.
  2. Drain and rinse chickpeas, and lay on paper towels to dry. (Hint, the more you dry, the crispier the chickpeas will be.
  3. In a bowl, mix chickpeas with olive oil and cover chickpeas well.
  4. Put chickpeas in oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring once or twice.
  5. Pull chickpeas out of oven, and in a bowl mix chickpeas, garlic, and one Tablespoon Frank's sauce. Put back in oven for 4 minutes.
  6. Pull chickpeas out and add 1 more Tablespoon Frank's sauce and put back in oven for 4 more minutes.
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https://fitfuntina.com/roasted-garlic-buffalo-chickpeas/

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Coconut Lime Green Tea

coconutlimegreentea

“You put the lime in the coconut…” Coconut lime green tea, I love you! Here’s an iced tea with all the benefits of green tea and the flavor of the tropics, without the guilt! I could drink this all day long!

 

Yields 1

Coconut Lime Green Tea

Coconut Lime Green Tea

5 minPrep Time

5 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 green tea bag
  • 3/4 tsp lime juice
  • 1/2 tsp coconut extract (pure coconut extract is best)
  • 1 packet stevia

Instructions

  1. Brew tea bag in 12 ounces of water. Put tea in fridge to cool down.
  2. Add lime juice, coconut extract, and stevia. Stir.
  3. Add ice and enjoy!
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https://fitfuntina.com/coconut-lime-green-tea/

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The search for an epic blender on a budget

The search for an epic blender on a budget...and why I love my Ninja!

I love my Ninja. In the past four years I’ve been through 3 of them. (Each of them had to be retired due to my neglect – sometimes when you do things such as leave the motor on top of a toaster oven you end up with a product that needs to be replaced). After this past weekend, I had a similar incident, and decided it was time to replace it. I needed to get a budget friendly blender that was going to get the job done. While I have loved my Ninja, this time I was ready for more options. I was recommended the Blendtec, which had amazing reviews all across the board, but was sadly out of my budget at this moment. Then there was the Nutribullet, which also had great reviews, but I wanted a bigger container for blending to keep my options open.

However, my impatience to continue looking (and lack of a blender for my shakes) let me to go with my first love, the Ninja Master Prep.

Here’s what I love about the Ninja Master Prep:

1. The blades are SHARP. I use my Ninja every day to make my Shakeology, and even after a couple of years of use, the blades are still sharp enough to chop ice for my shakes.

2. Easy to clean. The blades can easily detach from the jar, so it is easy to rinse them out and keep clean. My only complaint is part of the lid is sometimes harder to clean, so having one of those little brushes would be handy to keep those spots clean.

3. Smaller food processor jar. The Ninja comes with a smaller jar to use for food processing. This has made is super easy to chop onions/vegetables within seconds. It has also opened up options for making my own foods such as salsas and peanut butter.

4. It works quickly. My morning shakes only take about 30 seconds to mix, and I have a perfect consistency every time.

5. Detachable motor/safety features. The motor for the Ninja rests on top of the jars, and it is a one-button operation. The motor will also not operate unless the pieces are put together as instructed. It gives me a piece of mind to know that I’m not going to have food spraying all over the kitchen because I didn’t assemble the jar/lid correctly.

There are two different basic models for the Ninja Master Prep, and I have used both of these throughout the past few years.

Ninja Master Prep QB1000. My favorite choice for a blender!

Ninja Master Prep (QB1000)

Current Amazon price: $44.99 with free Prime shipping (as of 7/21/2015)

Comes with 450 HP motor (stronger than the QB900B). This is the one that I picked. Not only is the motor stronger, but it has an extra set of blades in the bigger container.

Ninja Master Prep

Put the power in the palm of your hand with the versatile Ninja Master Prep that crushes ice into snow in seconds, blends frozen fruits into creamy smoothies, and chops fresh ingredients evenly! Mince, dice, chop, blend, and puree for consistent results in the 16 oz (2 cup) chopper bowl and achieve perfect frozen blending in the 48 oz (6 cup) pitcher.

Pulse Technology

The interchangeable and ergonomic 450-watt power pod quickly switches between the 16-oz chopper bowl or 48-ounce pitcher for added versatility in the kitchen. The pod features a large chrome pulsing button for ultimate control and consistent results.

Patented Ninja Blade Technology

Handle any job from mincing onions to crushing ice, and wide, no-slip bases and splashguards keep everything steady and clean. For added convenience, storage lids are included to keep your food fresh and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

Ninja Master Prep (QB900B). A great powerful blender and food processor for those on a budget.

Ninja Master Prep (QB900B)

Current Amazon price: $31.99 with free Prime shipping (as of 7/21/2015)

My thoughts: I used this blender for a couple of years. It has great functionality as the one listed above. It’s still a good choice above standard kitchen blenders, but I prefer the Ninja above because it has the more powerful motor and extra blades.
Ninja Master Prep with Patented Blade Technology

Put the power in the palm of your hand with the multi-talented Ninja Master Prep that crushes ice into snow in seconds, blends frozen fruits into creamy smoothies, and chops fresh ingredients evenly! Mince, dice, chop, blend, and puree for consistent results in the 16 oz (2 cup) chopper bowl and achieve perfect frozen blending in the 48 oz (6 cup) pitcher.

Pulse Technology

The interchangeable and ergonomic 400-watt power pod quickly switches between the 16-oz chopper bowl or 48-ounce pitcher for added versatility in the kitchen. The pod features a large one-touch pulsing button for ultimate control and consistent results.

Additional Features

Wide, no-slip bases and splashguards on the pitcher and chopper keep everything steady and clean. For added convenience, storage lids are included to keep your food fresh and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

*Disclaimer: Tina Bartholomew is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com. Although I earn advertising fees, views expressed are completely my own. 

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Couscous Salad – The Perfect Summer Side Dish!

Clean couscous salad. A delicious and nutritious side!

Couscous Salad is the PERFECT summer side dish! It’s flavor is light with a beautiful combination of citrusy and nutty flavors. In fact, this is my go-to dish for any summer potluck! It stands apart from the traditional “salads” of potatoes and pasta that are filled with unhealthy ingredients.

21 Day Fix

If you’re on 21 Day Fix nutrition, fill one yellow container and count as 1 yellow + 1 teaspoon

Couscous Salad
Couscous Salad

10 minPrep Time

15 minCook Time

25 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 cup dry, whole wheat couscous
  • 1 Tablespoon orange juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon mint extract
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped golden raisins (you can use other dried fruit, but make sure there is no added sugar!)
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped sunflower seed kernels
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In one quart saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and cook for about three minutes, until it has softened and started to caramelize (turn brown). Add broth and bring to a boil. Add the couscous, stir, and remove from heat. Let the couscous stand (covered) for five minutes. Transfer to a mixing bowl.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk the orange juice, lemon juice, dijon mustard, mint extract, and olive oil together.
  3. In mixing bowl, add the dressing, raisins, sunflower seeds, basil, and pepper to taste. Mix well.

Notes

21 Day Fix Count: Mixed container, so I would measure 1 yellow and count it as 1 yellow, 1/2 orange and 1 tsp.

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https://fitfuntina.com/couscous-salad/

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Two Ingredient Dole Whip (Pineapple Soft Serve)

Two ingredient dole whip. Dairy free, clean, and 21 Day Fix Friendly!

If you’ve ever been to Disney, I get it. The infamous Dole Whip is the most sought after snack on property! This was true for me as well, and I actually worked in Adventureland! Do you know the torture of watching people walk in front of you with that delicious pineapple goodness, while you smiled and wondered how many hours until your shift ended until you could get one yourself?188995_502595365699_1403_n

Me in 2008, sharing a Dole Whip float with a friend. 🙂

Now that I am no longer working for Mickey Mouse (but believe me, I’d love to again!), this remains one of my favorite treat. Here’s a version that I whipped up that has two ingredients (with my handy dandy super awesome Ninja!!) AND can fit into my new healthy lifestyle.

Oh, and if you want to throw a little cheating into it, you can add pineapple juice to make it a float! (If you’re doing 21 Day Fix, count it as a yellow swap. It’s worth it!)

Yields 1

Two Ingredient Dole Whip (Pineapple Soft Serve)

5 minPrep Time

5 minCook Time

10 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen pineapple
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk (you could also use almond milk)

Instructions

  1. Place in food processor. Blend until pineapple is smooth. You may need to add a touch of coconut milk for consistency.
  2. Devour immediately. Or place in freezer until you are ready to do so.

Notes

21 Day Fix Count: 1 Purple

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https://fitfuntina.com/two-ingredient-dole-whip-pineapple-soft-serve/

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