Health/Energy/Protein Bar Reviews

The past couple of months I have really become a fan of the the health/energy/protein bars. I use health, energy, and protein to describe them because some of my favorites fall into one, two, or all three categories.

These types of bars can be a great way to get in some extra protein, fuel up for a workout, or can occasionally be used as a quick meal replacement. I usually have them as a snack or will occasionally eat them as my breakfast. There are a lot of good ones, as far as taste and health wise, but there are also a lot of bars that claim to be "healthy" but are really no better for you than if you were eating a candy bar. When it comes to eating these kinds of bars, you really have to pay attention to the labels and ingredients! Now...on to some bars I've tried!

Clif Bars

These are some of my favorite bars! This is what the Clif Bar website says about their bars...

"It’s the first bar we made, and it’s still everything we’re about. Whole, organic ingredients. Performance nutrition. And great taste. Whether you’re on a 150-mile bike ride or exploring a new trail, this energy bar is built to sustain your adventure."

Depending on which flavor you buy, the nutritional info will vary slightly but the thing I really like about these bars, is that most of them have at least 9 grams of protein and a good amount of fiber. The one downside to these bars is that they tend to have quite a bit of sugar. For example, my personal favorite, White Chocolate Macademia, has at 21g of sugar. But considering that I LOVE this  flavor, it is okay to have as an occasional treat once in a while. Plus since it packs 9 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber, I don't feel QUITE as bad. :)

Other favorites: Chocolate Brownie and Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch

Pure Protein Bars

This is another favorite brand of bars and one that I currently can't get enough of! This is what you will find on Pure Protein's website.

Pure Protein^® is on a mission to create bars that not only provide quality protein - but that actually taste great.

The taste has been a big hit or big miss on the ones I've tried. The nutritionals for my favorite flavor, S'mores, aren't too bad either. They pack 30 grams of protein, 280 calories, and only 3 grams of sugar. The fiber content isn't as great as the Clif bars but considering this has 3x the amount of protein, I'll take it!

The one I found that I did not like at all was the Chocolate Deluxe. I know, with a name like that, it's hard to imagine it not being delicious! Unfortunately, this flavor had that chalky, powdery taste to it that it sometimes common in protein bars. 

Other favorite flavor: Chocolate Peanut Butter

Snickers Marathon Protein Bar

There is NO doubt about it...Snickers is my favorite chocolate candy bar of all time! So needless to say, I was thrilled to try out this protein bar! Unfortunately, this one was a major fail for me. It had that chalky taste that I was talking about and I could not even finish eating the bar it was so unpleasant. The nutritional info also has the good with the bad: 290 calories, 21 grams of protein, 22 grams of sugar, 10 grams of fat, and 10 grams of fiber. Even though some of that looks pretty good, the taste just did not do it for me. You might try it for yourself and see what you think but I think I'll stick to one of my other favorites!

LaraBars

I ended up trying these one time because I got them on sale at a really good price! The one flavor I tried, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, I absolutely loved! (By the way, it's no coincidence all the bars I try have chocolate in them. ;)) This bar doesn't have superior nutritional value compared to other bars, but the taste might definitely make up for it! 220 calories, 11 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.

I haven't tried any other flavors so I can't vouch for the other ones but I would definitely recommend the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip!

As far as I can remember, these are the only brands I've tried. Since experiencing those couple of bars with the chalky, protein powdery taste, I realize it's not easy to come by a great tasting bar. So once I find one that I like, I tend to stick with that one! Pick out one you think you might like and give it a try! Whether you need some energy, want to up your protein intake, or need a meal replacement, you are bound to find one to fit your needs and your taste buds! :)

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Roasted Corn on the Cob

I love corn on the cob! I'm not sure what it is...the sweetness, the crunch, the way it keeps you busy for 30 minutes after eating it by picking kernels out of your teeth..I really can't be sure what it is about it but it's bound to be one or all three of those!
One of my goals for June was to find new and flavorful ways to eat vegetables. While roasted corn is nothing new to me, I had to share it with you guys! It is ridiculously easy to do and comes out so flavorful! You won't even need butter, pepper, or even salt! The roasting adds it's own sweet, yummy flavor making it perfectly delicious to eat "naked!"

 Roasted corn will go with many different dishes! I've served it here with my Mini Baked Fajita Chimichangas!

Roasted Corn

• Corn on the cob with the husk on (as many as you plan to eat)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the corn on the cob, with the husk still in place covering the corn, on a baking sheet.
3. Place it in the oven and leave it for about 30 minutes.
4. Remove from oven. Peel back the husk and the silk and ENJOY!

Now is that the shortest and easiest recipes you've ever seen or what?! So easy, so good!
Since we recently bought a new grill, we've also been cooking our corn on the cob on the grill. You basically prepare it the same way you did in the oven. Leave the husks on, place it on your grill over medium heat, and leave it for 25-30 minutes. You do need to be a little more cautious using the grill method as the husks can catch fire! But it still comes out equally delicious!

Now go throw some corn in the oven and get your toothpicks and floss ready! :)

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New Lunch Alert: Flat Out Wrap

As you all remember reading here and here, I've been trying to find some new lunch options. While at the grocery store the other day, near the deli section right next to the Joseph's pitas I used for my Skinny Pita Pizza and Skinny Pita Quesadilla, I found these wraps called Flat Out wraps. Similar to the Joseph's pitas, the healthy phrases caught my eye..."90 calories, high fiber, 100% whole wheat, Low fat, 0 sugar, Light." I also liked the fact that they had wraps with different "flavors" including Italian, Garden spinach, sundried tomato, and original. The Italian wraps sounded good to me so that's what I went for!

I started by spreading some spicy mustard on the wrap, laid on some lettuce, halved grape tomatoes, 1/4 of an avocado diced, a Morning Star Grillers Chick'n patty cut into strips, and some homemade green salsa. I also had a salad with spring mix lettuces, grape tomatoes, and 1/4 avocado diced with fat free Italian dressing and lemon-pepper seasoning.

It turned out pretty good! The wrap had a good,fresh flavor and I got plenty of veggies with what was on the wrap and in my salad.

In my lunch recap post I introduced you all to the Morning Star Chick'n Patties. These patties I used on my wrap were different. They are supposed to be like grilled chicken patties as the others were the breaded variety. I did not like the grilled one as well. They just didn't have much flavor and it really tasted like an imitation chicken patty as where the others tasted like the real thing! I will probably eat the other 3 that came in the package just because they weren't too terrible and I hate to waste food, but I probably will not purchase that variety again.

So overall, I say yes to the flat out wraps and a no go on the grilled chicken patties! Try them out for yourself and see what you like! :)

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Vacation Vitality!

When summer rolls around, we start going on family vacations, staying up late, waking up late, and partaking in many parties and cookouts that include not so healthy food options and lots of adult beverages. With this change in routine and desire to enjoy the summer just as much as the next person, it can be hard to stay on track with your normal fitness routine and proper nutrition.

Our trip to San Antonio to celebrate our anniversary definitely got me off track when it came to blogging but I didn't let it completely undo all the hard work and sweat I've put into getting myself to where I am now. I was determined to enjoy myself but keep everything in moderation and not get too far off from my regular routine.

So I've decided to share with you some tips to keep you focused while on vacation yet still enjoy your time away!

Pick a good hotel.
I don't mean good as in it has to be a 5-star hotel with penthouse options or anything like that. I mean pick a good hotel with amenities you will need to stay focused. For example, one thing on my checklist for our hotel was that it had to have a fitness center or small gym. I knew I wouldn't get up and go run outside in a strange place where I didn't know the streets or what the people would be like around that area, so a gym was a must. Our hotel, Embassy Suites, actually had a nice little setup with a few treadmills, a couple of stationary bikes, a couple of benches, medicine balls, stability balls, and mats. What more could you need? I didn't spend hours in the gym but I did try to get at least a quick 30 minutes workout every morning.
Another thing I looked for when searching for a hotel was a continental breakfast. Having stayed at Embassy Suites, I know they serve an excellent breakfast! They serve lots of healthier options like a variety of fruits, whole grain toast and bagels, oatmeal, yogurt, and you can even have an omelet made to order with your choice of vegetables! I was so excited to see fresh grapefruit out every morning to help keep me on track with my goal for this month to eat a grapefruit everyday and get my metabolism going each morning! They also have some not so healthy options that are very tempting like sausage, eggs, bacon, and pancakes...those MUST be eaten in moderation if you decide to go for them!

Find active things to do.
We literally barely sat down the whole time we were there! The first day we went to the Market Square in downtown and walked around for hours. That night we went to the Riverwalk and walked more. The next day we went to Sea World and walked what seemed like 50 miles just going from show to show and checking out all the park has to offer. Our last full day there we went back to Sea World to try out the new waterpark. Of course that was lots more walking, climbing stairs to get to the top of all the rides, and lots of swimming! On our way home we stopped at an outlet center and did even MORE walking! I really wish I would've had a pedometer on me all weekend...there's no telling how many miles we walked all weekend!

Balance out your meals/Eat lighter meals during the day.
For example, we would eat breakfast in the morning and then maybe just have a couple of snacks throughout the day then have dinner around 7 or 8. I let myself enjoy dinner and didn't make myself feel too guilty if I indulged a little too much. That was the point of me eating smaller meals earlier in the day. Also, our first day there we had a filling breakfast around 10 and ended up eating lunch/dinner around 4 or 5. This way we weren't starving yet still didn't have to go to bed on a full tummy.

Take it easy on the alcohol.
Our hotel proposed us with a little challenge for this tip...they had FREE drinks from 5:30-7:30 everyday (another great thing about Embassy Suites:) ). I did enjoy a few free beverages but before I did so, I made sure I had drank 3 full 32 ounce bottles of water and drank some water with each beverage as well. That way I could be sure I stayed hydrated yet still enjoy the free cocktails! I also stayed away from the alcohol while we were out and about during the day. Besides being over priced, I felt it was important to drink plenty of water since it was so hot outside and we were sweating so much!

Have fun and don't stress about it if you get off track!
Vacations and parties are meant for you to enjoy yourself and have a good time! Not be stuck in the hotel room figuring up your calorie intake, spending hours in the hotel gym, or beating yourself up after you over indulge a bit. If you get off track, shake it off and get back ON track! No big deal! You're not going to gain back five pounds from slipping up on one meal or having a cocktail...I promise :)

We didn't take many pictures but here are a few from our trip! :)

At El Mercado-Market Square

Waiting for the Azul show to start at Sea World!

Feeding the dolphins!

Shamu just chillin!

The inside of our hotel from the elevator!

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Skinny Pita Quesadilla

And we meet again...me and my beloved Mexican food, that is. I just can't get enough of it! And luckily with recipes like this, I can eat it a lot more often and not feel a bit guilty!

So in my attempt at creating more interesting lunches, I created this yummy, light version of a cheesy quesadilla! You might remember in my Lunch Recap post that I found these Morning Star chicken patties and really liked them! I had been contemplating the idea of using the Joseph's pitas I used in my Skinny Pita Pizza recipe for a quesadilla and figured these chicken patties would be the perfect protein to put in it! This turned out so wonderfully, deliciously cheesy! And super filling!

Skinny Pita Quesadilla

• 1 Pita (I used Joseph's brand)
• 1/4-1/2 cup fat-free shredded cheese
• 1 Morning Star "Chik Patties Original"

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Start by microwaving the patty on a microwave safe plate following the directions on the package.
3. Next sprinkle half of the cheese on one half of the pita.
4. Cut the patty in half and place it on top of the cheese.
5. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the patty.
6. Fold over the pita and place on a baking sheet.
7. Place in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until it is brown and crispy.
8. Halfway through the cooking time flip the pita over to make sure it stays folded up and both sides get brown and crispy.
I served my pita with homemade salsa and a few slices of avocado! Yummmmy!
The skinny: The whole quesadilla has approximately 255 calories and 7 grams of fat! (depending on how much cheese you use and what other things you add to the quesadilla)

Using the pita instead of a tortilla makes this a lot more hearty and if you've read all the wonderful things about the Joseph's pitas, it is a much healthier option! The fat-free cheese cuts out tons of fat and calories that I promise you won't miss!
If you are a Mexican food lover like me, or even if you aren't, you have GOT to give this recipe a try! :)


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Mini Baked Fajita Chimichangas

If you know me or if you've been reading my blog, you know I LOVE Mexican food and all spicy food! I could seriously eat Mexican or Tex-Mex every day for every meal and never get tired of it! Unfortunately, Mexican food isn't the most figure friendly food out there. But by making a few changes, you can fix some great, lighter Tex-Mex food right at home!

Mini Baked Fajita Chimichangas

•  2 cups shredded chicken
• 12 egg rolls wrappers (I used Nasoya All Natural egg roll wraps...found in the refrigerated section next to the packaged lettuce)
• 1/2 onion, cut into strips
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In small saute pan, add the olive oil and onions.
3. Saute the onions until translucent.
4. While the onions are cooking, put the chicken in a bowl. Add all spices to the chicken and mix well. (Measurements of spices are estimates...I usually just eye ball everything when I add in spices)
5. Take an egg roll wrap and lay it on a flat surface. Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of chicken onto the center of the wrap. Add a few strips of onion on top.
6. Then dip your finger in the water and outline the edges of the wrap with your wet finger. This will make the edges "sticky" so the wrap will hold together.

This is how you roll the wrap:

(source)

7. Place the egg rolls on a baking sheet and place them in the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are lightly browned and crispy.

The skinny: Three mini chimichangas have approximately 230 calories and 3 grams of fat! Sooo much better for you than the fried version! :)

You can, of course, add more inside your rolls. This was all I had on hand so that's what I did! Bell peppers or low fat cheese would be a great addition!

Also, spraying the rolls with a little spritz of cooking spray or brushing them with an egg wash will give the rolls a golden brown appearance. (I forgot this step :)

As you can see, I served my chimichangas with roasted corn and homemade salsa for dipping. In the grocery store, next to the egg roll wrappers, I found another great item! These little 100 calorie packs of spicy guacamole! Yum!! Even though the avocado in guacamole has lots of good fat, we all know it's very easy to overdo it! So these 100 calorie packs are a great way to keep your portion control in check and so much easier than fixing up a big bowl of guacamole and having the left overs go brown on you! And it's DELICIOUS! :)

Provecho!! :)

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June: A Month of New Beginnings

It's June already...June! Can you believe it?! Oh, how time flies!

Well, with a new month comes a new start. And it just so happens, this month I am starting something very new that is a huge step towards my dream in becoming a personal trainer!

Drum roll please...

 I was recently hired at the Anytime Fitness gym in Forney! I am so excited to start this new journey training people, bettering myself, and pursuing something I love! I'll be working part-time and will be starting sometime next week. So if you're in the area and want to become a member of a great gym or need some personal training, come see me! :)

With the coming of a new month, I've also decided to partake in something else. I recently saw on another blog where they did this thing called "Say it, Do it" at the beginning of every month. It's simple...you say what you're going to do and you do it! Sounds easy enough, right? But you don't just DO anything...you set goals for yourself and you do your best to achieve them.

So I want to share with you the goals I have for the month of June.

• PUSH MYSELF!
• As you may remember reading in my 18 Minute HIIT workout post, I realized I have not been pushing myself hard enough when it comes to my work outs. To see changes, you have to challenge yourself. Hence the inspiration for this post! I'm not usually ones to set goals or make out a plan but it's always easier to gauge yourself when you set goals. So in everything I do, I want to push HARD!
• Work out 6 times a week.
• I usually average 4 or 5 days a week but here lately, it's been hard for me to get in 6 days of working out per week. Since I will have alot more time now that school is out, I want to get into a groove and really make this happen.
• At least 3 or 4 of those days, I want to do a workout in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• I am bound and determined to get in the best shape possible this summer. Not just for summer but for life. I want to look and feel the best I've ever felt. One of the tips I got from my cousin and mentor, Stewart, was that the way you look is is one of the bigges selling points when it comes to being a personal trainer. I rememer a Zumba teacher having a conversation with one of my friends and she asked how much weight she has lost...the teacher replied, "that's it? If you've been doing it that long you should have lost a lot more!" Meanwhile, the Zumba teacher, who had been doing it much longer than my friend, was A LOT bigger than my friend. I've always said myself, "you can never trust a chunky trainer." 
• I'm also a big believer in "practice what you preach." Therefore, I want to be able to do anything and everything I might ask my clients to do, and at a superior level. Working out two times a day 4 days a week might seem like a lot but I'm going for it! After all, I will have 24 hour access to an excellent gym...no excuse not to take advantage of it.
• Go hard on the weights!
• I do lots of body weight exercises but to get to where I want to be, I know I need to really get on the weights. And ladies, don't waste your time on the light weights and lots of reps. So many women think they will bulk up if they lift heavy weights(or take large amounts of protein)...NOT TRUE! Lighter weights and more reps only help with building endurance while heavier weights and fewer reps help build muscle, burn fat, and help to get a more defined look.
• Eat more vegetables.
• Since realizing I had fallen into the diet food trap, I've really upped my intake of vegetables and whole foods. But I still want more! I have no problem eating lots of fruits but vegetables aren't as easy. So I'm going to make it my mission this month to find new ways to eat vegetables and stuff myself with them.
• Run a total of 80 miles for the month of June.
• This is ambitious. Very ambitious. But I figured with working out two days a week for the majority of the week, this can be done.
• Eat a grapefruit every day.
• Grapefruit has so many health benefits, some of which you can read about here. Plus, I really like them but for some reason don't eat them as much as I do other fruits.
• Take a multi-vitamin every day.
• I've fallen by the way side on this one. I need to get back to taking a multi-vitamin every day. Our body needs vitamins and nutrients to perform correctly, why deprive your body of something it needs to function properly?
• Study as much as possibe.
• I hate studying and I'm no good at it. But I've got to start studying for the CPT exam...my job depends on it!

And that concludes the list of my major goals for June! I'm excited for everything this month will bring...not to mention, my one year anniversary with my wonderful husband, Omar! :)

Enjoy your summer and make this June the best ever!! :)


Question: What are YOUR goals for June???


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Pee or Get Off the Pot!

Sorry for the slightly crude title...

Being from the south, there is never a shortage of odd, funny, but usually very appropriate sayings! This one is usually a lot more vulgar but we won't go there! :)

So "pee or get off the pot..." what does that mean? Well it could mean..

• say something or don't talk about it anymore
• do something or shut up about it

But this is what Wikipedia says...(beware! if you click the link you will get the REAL saying ;P )
"a common English language colloquial expression, used to imply a person should follow up their stated intentions, with action. It is also used to urge someone to complete a task with a greater degree of efficiency or timeliness than is observed at the time the expression is used. Implicit in the expression is that the person, by failing to act, is preventing others from acting."

(I'm pretty sure I'll be fired soon for googling that at work...oops! :P )

As you can see, this can be used in a variety of context, but seeing how this is a health, fitness, and nutrition blog, I am going to use in the context of, you guessed it, HEALTH, FITNESS, and NUTRITION!

I can't tell you how discouraging it is to hear so many people make so many excuses for not working out, not eating healthy, and in the grand scheme of things, just not taking care of themselves. I TOTALLY understand that when you first get started, it can seem a little overwhelming. Plus, if you try to make too many changes at once, you are basically setting yourself up for failure. But making an excuse DAILY for EVERYTHING is just totally unacceptable.

I've compiled a list of some of the most common excuses I hear when it comes to putting off/not doing exercising and healthy eating.

• I hate exercising.
• Exercising can, at first, seem like something that you may never enjoy. But the truth is, there are SO many ways to make it fun! Some different things I've personally tried are Zumba classes, playing sports, playing video games (Wii, Xbox, etc), and running races. As some of you may know or may have read in the about me section, I used to HATE running when I was younger. But now, I absolutely LOVE it and can't imagine not doing it! Trying out different things and seeing what works for you, your personality, and lifestyle gives you a better chance at suceeding with your workout attempts.

• I can't afford a gym membership.
• I'll let you guys in on a little secret...I've only been to my gym maybe 2 times in the past two months! Yep, 2 times. But you know what? I still get in a workout 4-6 times a week! And you don't need a Bowflex machine or a treadmill to get in a workout at home! I have DVD's I do at home (like Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred), I run outside, I do online workouts (my favorites come from Melissa Bender's blog), and the majority of the time I make up my own workouts.

• I'm not seeing results.
• STICK WITH IT! If you are actually making changes to your eating and exercising, you WILL see a change. It may not be as soon as you would like for it be but it WILL happen. As they say, "It took more than a day to put on the weight. It will take more than a day to take it off."

• I'm afraid I won't like that food. (healthy food)
• First of all, how will you know if you never try it? Is losing weight and being healthy not worth just TRYING something? If you hate it, don't eat it! There are million other things to try, you are bound to find something! The point is...if you don't TRY it, how will you ever know?

• I have kids and a household to run...I don't have time for exercise.
• I understand. Even though I don't have kids, I really do understand! I'm always telling my sister I don't know how in the heck she finds time to exercise with my niece keeping her so busy and everything else she's got going on...I don't have kids and it seems like I'm always on the run! But there are ways to make it happen! Try these: do a workout at home while the kids are napping, wake up before they do and get in a quick workout, try finding a gym with a daycare center, if your kids are old enough, get them involved in the workout with you, do exercises when commercials come on while you're watching TV, or try switching off watching the kids with your spouse.

• Healthy foods don't taste good.
• Whoa, whoa, whoa...you obviously haven't tried out any of my recipes! Trust me, eating is something I LOVE to do...I'm not going to eat something that doesn't taste good, yet I still eat healthy the majority of the time! There are ways to make healthy foods have great flavor. For example, use spices and seasonings. Or try to cut out fat and calories by finding low fat or light options of your normal foods. Look for alternatives. Instead of satisfying your sweet tooth with ice cream, grab some sweet, fresh cut pineapple or an orange. Healthy food CAN taste good...once again, you just have to give it a chance!

• I can't afford healthy food.
• Healthy food generally cost about the same as those processed, pre-packaged things we buy, if not even cheaper. For example, buying fresh fruit and vegetables is always cheaper than the canned stuff and you get more for your money. You don't have to buy the fancy schmancy, pricey stuff the famous people buy. I'm definitely not famous or a billionaire and I make it happen. :)

• I always end up quitting.
• Start out by setting small, attainable goals. That way when you will get more and more motivated with each small success. As I said before, going at it too hard and too fast when you first start can lead to getting burned out quickly. Changing up your workout routine can help keep boredom at bay that may otherwise cause you to give up on your same old workout. Also, having an exercise buddy or someone you check in to about your workouts could keep you accountable. We don't ever want to let anybody down so you will be more likely to stick with it if you have someone doing it with you or someone who is counting on you to help them keep going.

• I don't know how to exercise.
• If you've ever walked around the mall, then you've exercised, therefore, you know how! Exercise comes in many different shapes and forms. If you want something more intense but you're not sure what to do or how to do it, research exercises (hello, Google), buy a fitness maganize, buy a workout DVD, or a hire a personal trainer. There is SOME sort of exercise for everyone and anyone. Again, try playing sports, take a kick boxing class, attend a Zumba class, walk around the neighborhood...just get MOVING!

So basically, you see none of these excuses are valid for not being able to exercise or eat healthy. There are a hundred more excuses to go along with these but I'm pretty sure I can think of something to counteract those, as well. If you don't believe me, leave them in the comments section! :P

But when it comes to exercise and eating healthy, don't wait, don't contemplate it, don't try to think of an excuse, just TRY! Give a little effort each day and soon you will be moving mountains!

So I think Nike said it best...JUST DO IT! Or for my fellow southerners, when it comes to peeing or getting off the pot, just pee! :)

What is the most common exercise and healthy eating excuse you hear?

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Skinny Cheesecake Singles

Oh Em Gee....Do I have a treat for you guys! These mini cheesecakes, what I call Skinny Cheesecake Singles, are sooo delicious and decadent no one will EVER guess they are greatly reduced in fat and calories!

This recipe comes from one of my favorite "skinny" websites, Skinny Taste. This site has TONS of great recipes! I would definitely recommend this site to anyone in need of more healthy meal ideas.

Ok...I can't wait any longer...let's get to the recipe!

Skinny Cheesecake Singles (original recipe here..her pictures are better too ;P)

• 12 reduced fat vanilla wafers
• 8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 6 oz fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt (I didn't have the vanilla flavored Greek yogurt so I just used my plain Chobani yogurt and added a little extra vanilla extract)
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tbsp all purpose flour

1. Preheat your oven to 350.
2. Line your muffin tin with liners and place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each liner.
3. Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla using an electric mixer until smooth.
4. Gradually beat in the Greek yogurt, 2 egg whites, and flour.
5. Spoon the mixture into the liners filling them halfway.
6. Place them in the oven to bake for about 20 minutes until the center is almost set.
7. Let the cheesecakes cool down and then place them in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.

In Gina's recipe, she topped them with fresh strawberries and blueberries. I did not have either of those on hand so I just ate these babies just as I have them pictured here! You could definitely top these with any combination of fresh fruit, almonds, whipped cream, mini chocolate chips...anything really!

The skinny: Each single cheesecake has 98 calories, 4.3 grams of fat, and 3.6 grams of protein.

The only complaint I have about these is that the vanilla wafer tends to get a little soggy. Next time isntead of the vanilla wafers, I might try buying a premade reduced-fat graham cracker crust, breaking it up, and pressing it into the bottom of each liner. But really this is a minor thing! The actual cheesecake itself is so great, you probably won't even notice the wafer! :) Pin It Now!