Just J.Faye

Hiking & Other Adventures

Cherry Beet Smoothie

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I’m all about the smoothies right now. Also, I’m all about tart cherries, beets, and pretty red things. It is, after all, almost Valentine’s Day.

Let’s get festive with this cherry beet smoothie!

Cherry Beet Smoothie

Smoothies are one of my favorite weekday breakfast items. Not only are they delicious, but they are quick to make, super healthy, and keep me full through the morning. Plus, they never get boring, because you can easily swap the ingredients.

My morning smoothies always contain the following:

  • Nut milk – usually almond milk, but sometimes cashew milk
  • Seeds – chia seeds or flax seeds
  • Greens – usually kale
  • Protein – usually protein powder, but sometimes nuts or nut butter
  • A frozen banana – sometimes half of one, sometimes a whole one

Often times that is just what it is, but other times I like to switch it up and experiment with new flavors. Some days I’ll add carrots or spices or both. Some days I’ll sub half of the banana with other frozen fruit, like pineapple or mangos. Some days I will have this apple ginger cucumber green smoothie and some days I’ll have this pineapple ginger turmeric protein smoothie. There are just so many flavor combinations to try!

Cherry Beet Smoothie

This cherry beet smoothie was inspired by Valentine’s Day. It’s pretty and I love it. In it are all the things I already listed along with a few others: a beet, frozen tart cherries, and apple cider vinegar.

Beets are packed with nutrients like manganese, vitamin C, betaine, fiber, and potassium and have detoxification and anti-inflammatory benefits. Beets can also help prevent heart disease and boost energy. The only downside is that they are super colorful and can stain your hands red. It’s ok though, the beets are worth it.

Cherries boast many of the same health benefits, but they also help with post-exercise muscle soreness and sleep. I love having frozen cherries in my freezer with a couple of dark chocolate chips when I need to satisfy my after dinner I-need-something-sweet craving.

I also added in some apple cider vinegar (ACV). I love this stuff. It helps support a healthy immune system, promote digestion, and aids with weight loss. The acidity of the ACV pairs well with the earthiness of the beets.

With all that said this an extremely delicious and healthy concoction.

Cherry Beet Smoothie

I hope you try this cherry beet smoothie! It’ll make you feel healthy, beautiful, and loved from the inside out.

Cherry Beet Smoothie

Cherry Beet Smoothie
 
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A bright red, beautiful, delicious smoothie full of healthy things like beets, tart cherries, apple cider vinegar, chia seeds, and greens.
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 cup almond milk (or cow, soy, cashew, etc)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 medium beet, peeled and cut into large chunks
  • ½ cup frozen tart cherries
  • ½ frozen banana, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter*
  • 1 handful greens (spinach, kale, beet greens)
Instructions
  1. Add everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Top with extra cherries and chia seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
*The almond butter can be replaced with any nut butter, a ¼ cup of whole nuts, a scoop of protein powder, or ½ cup Greek yogurt.

Cherry Beet Smoothie

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almond tahini protein bites

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Welcome to 2016. We are all about the healthy food and working out now, right?

I figured.

So let’s hit the gym and have these almond tahini protein bites as a delicious pre- or post-workout snack.

almond tahini protein bites

These little balls are made up of almonds, protein powder, dates, and tahini. That’s it.

Let’s review the benefits of each ingredient real quick, because there are a lot of good things to be said.

  • Almonds. Not only are these nuts are full of vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, but they are also a great source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Oh, and they are delicious.
  • Protein Powder. This stuff is– you guessed it – a great source of protein. #surprise
  • Dates. These little things are rich in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants. They also serve as an awesome natural sweetener.
  • Tahini. This sesame butter is packed with fiber, protein, calcium, and B vitamins and adds such a unique flavor. This stuff isn’t just for hummus!

As you can see these almond tahini protein bites are full of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Plus they are super easy to make, delicious, vegan, gluten free, and paleo (depending on your protein powder and stance on tahini).

These protein bites are great as a running-between-errands-and/or-meetings type snack, but are absolutely perfect as a pre- or post-workout boost – before the workout to supply your body with the energy it needs to perform and after the workout to help repair the muscles you just wore out.

Sooo…uh… why wouldn’t you whip up a batch?

almond tahini protein bites

Before you go break out your food processor, I want to give a quick word on protein powders.

If you don’t have/use protein powder, you can totally leave it out of this recipe. However, if you work out and lift weights on a regular basis I would strongly recommend purchasing a one. General guidelines recommend only 10-35% of your daily calories to come from protein, but it is shocking to see how many people simply do not get enough. The amount you need varies person-to-person depending on your age, weight, sex, activity level, and goals, but having a protein powder to supplement your diet is a good idea.

There are a bunch of different types out there – milk, whey, egg, casein, soy, rice, etc. Try out different options to find the one you like best. Lately I’ve been leaning towards the plant-based powders like Vega and Sunwarrior.

I’m not recommending that you down a protein shake morning, noon, and night, but rather to use one as a supplement if you don’t fulfill your protein needs through whole foods. I’m not a registered dietician. That’s just my opinion.

almond tahini protein bites

Was that a rant? Idk.

Anwaysssssssss these are good, make them!!

almond tahini protein bites
 
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These almond tahini protein bites full of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them perfect for a pre- or post-workout snack.
Serves: 8 bites
Ingredients
  • ⅔ cup almonds
  • ½ cup vanilla protein powder
  • 7 dates, soaked in water
  • ¼ cup tahini
Instructions
  1. Process almonds for 3-4 minutes until it looks like a coarse powder. Add in the protein powder and pulse for a few times. Put in a separate bowl.
  2. Add dates and 2 tablespoons water to the processor. Process for a minute, then add the tahini and process for 2 more minutes, stopping to scrap down as needed. It will form a thick paste.
  3. Add back in the almond and protein powder mix, process until well combined.
  4. Form into balls and store in an airtight container in the freezer.
Notes
If you don't use a protein powder you can omit it from the recipe; however, you may want to add honey, maple syrup, or vanilla extract to sweeten them up a bit.

almond tahini protein bites

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Beef Jerky & Cherry Trail Mix

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Yeah, you read the title right: beef jerky and cherry trail mix.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

The other day I was walking around the grocery store absent-mindedly wandering up and down the aisles looking at stuff. This happens when I don’t have a list and am not in a hurry. It’s actually quite enjoyable and I end up discovering brands and products I have never heard of.

So anywayssss I walking, stopping, staring, wandering, looking, touching, reading and then I spied this epic hunt and gather mix. And by epic, I mean EPIC. It’s beef jerky combined with trail mix. Brilliant. I was so intrigued that I wanted to try to mix up my own.

So I did. And I’m in love.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

Let me talk about why.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

NUMERO UNO: It is so easy to make.

Simply gather beef jerky, dried cherries, almonds, cashews, and pepitas, shake them up in a jar, and you are all set!

NUMMER ZWEI: It is a super healthy snack.

Each of these simple ingredients pack in a ton of health benefits to make this one powerhouse snack that will keep you energized throughout the day. It’s perfect for all you paleo eaters out there.

  • Almonds, cashews, and pepitas are high in healthy fats and minerals like magnesium, copper, zinc, and potassium.
  • Cherries are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Beef jerky is full of protein.

NUMÉRO TROIS: It is delicious.

The trail mix is both sweet and savory. The tart cherries perfectly compliment the mesquite flavor of the beef jerky. The nuts and seeds add crunch and texture. Basically, it’s a mouthful of amazing.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

This beef jerky and cherry trail mix is a snack trifecta: simple, healthy, and delicious.

OH, as an extra bonus, it is also super portable and is a great on-the-go snack. Bring some with to work for when those 2:30 hunger pangs hit. Put some in your gym bag for a high protein post-workout snack. Throw them in your purse for when you go on a brewery crawl and don’t want to eat a lot of bar food/food truck food.

Which is what I’m going to do later today… happy Saturday!

beef jerky cherry trail mix

Beef Jerky & Cherry Trail Mix
 
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This healthy snack is a combination of beef jerky, dried cherries, almonds, cashews, and pepitas. It's delicious and packed full of protein to keep you energized throughout the day.
Serves: 3⅓ cups
Ingredients
  • 3.5 ounces beef jerky
  • ¾ cup dried cherries
  • ¾ cup raw almonds
  • ¾ cup raw cashews
  • ⅓ cup pepitas
Instructions
  1. Mix all the ingredients together and store in an air-tight container.

Gimme.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

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Healthy Almond Banana Bread Bites (vegan, gluten-free, paleo)

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Sometimes it’s ok to eat ugly food, you know? Not every.single.thing you put in your mouth has to be pinterest-perfect gorgeous. These almond banana bread bites are perfect examples.

healthy almond banana bread bites So, no. These little guys aren’t the most attractive things I have ever made, but it’s ok and I will give you three reasons why it is ok:

  1. They are good for you. These are healthy, vegan, gluten-free, paleo “cookies” full of good for you ingredients.
  2. They are super simple. These bites can be made entirely in a food processor and only require 6 ingredients, one of which is water.
  3. They are, most importantly, delicious. They taste like little bites of banana bread (which leads them to be very appropriately named).

Is that enough to convince you to dust off your food processor and find a ripe banana?

Good gracious, I hope so.

healthy almond banana bread bites These healthy almond banana bread bites are perfect for so many occasions: breakfast, morning snack, lunch dessert, afternoon snack, afternoon snack dessert, pre-workout snack, post-workout snack, dinner dessert, mid-night snack. Basically, they are perfect for any time of day.

Now that I am a few weeks into marathon training, I am hungry all of the time. It’s key to have something that I can grab for a quick tie-me-over-until-my-next-meal snack and I already overdose on raw fruits and veggies as it is. Or I’ll just round out my handful of carrots with one of these guys.

These bites seem like sinful cookies, but they are not. They seem like a guilty treat, but they are not. They seem ugly, but they… are.

Looks are not everything, people! It’s what is inside that counts. Inside these we have almond butter, almond meal, banana, flax, and a little bit of maple syrup to sweeten things up – all simple, delicious, good for you, happy ingredients!

After plopping 6 plops onto a baking pan I decided to add chocolate chips to the remaining batter. These are for the days when I’m all like, “I don’t care if chocolate chips aren’t vegan, gluten-free, or paleo. I am none of those things either and today I will eat chocolate. Plus, antioxidants.” Add them. Don’t add them. Find vegan, gluten-free, paleo chocolate chips. Whatever choice you decide to make is the right one.

healthy almond banana bread bites Now let’s talk about how these are made. I essentially made my own almond butter by toasting almonds in the oven and processing them in a food processor. Then I added the remaining ingredients and processed until everything was combined. Ta da! The batter is done.

If you already have almond butter (peanut butter would also work) on hand you are more than welcome to use that. Just know that oftentimes store-bought brands come with extra oils and sugars. If you have never made your own almond butter before I encourage you to try it out!

I am still pretty new to using almond meal in recipes, but I like it. I found mine at Trader Joe’s, but I am sure they sell it elsewhere. If you aren’t able to find some, throw an extra cup of almonds in the food processor and process them until they become very, very small almond crumbs. Then take out a cup and let the remainder become butter.

Once you’re set, plop rounded tablespoons of the batter on a lined cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. I kept mine closer to the under-baked side of the spectrum so they are nice and chewy.

I like to keep these almond banana bread bites in the freezer, because I like eating cold things. Plus, they will last longer that way; however, if you make these and eat the whole batch (a delightful baker’s dozen) within four days I wouldn’t feel guilty about it.

healthy almond banana bread bites Oh, and you know what!? These would be perfect little snacks to keep in your purse/pocket/backpack for when you need some healthy sustenance in between green beers, assuming that you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day today. I am celebrating it in Chicago and shortly after I press the “submit” button to this post I will be out the door to go awe at the green-dyed river and partake in some festivities!

If you aren’t celebrating St. Patrick’s Day today, you can still make them and keep them in your purse/pocket/backpack for when you need some healthy sustenance.

Healthy Almond Banana Bread Bites (vegan, gluten-free, paleo)
 
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These almond banana bites are super healthy and easy to make! They only require 6 good for you ingredients and can be made completely in a food processor. These bites are delicious, healthy snacks that will keep you happy and satisfied. Add some dark chocolate chips for an extra treat.
Author:
Serves: 13
Ingredients
  • ½ cup raw almonds (or roasted almonds, almond butter, or peanut butter)
  • 1 tablespoon flax meal
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 cup almond meal
  • ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat map.
  2. Make the flax egg by combining the flax meal and water in a small cup.
  3. Spread the almonds on a bake sheet and pop them in the oven. The oven doesn’t have to be fully preheated to 350 at this time. Toast them until fragrant, but be careful not to burn them, usually 5-10 minutes. (If you have roasted almonds you can skip this step)
  4. Place toasted almonds in the bowl of a food processor and process until it reaches the consistency of almond butter. This can take anywhere 5-10 minutes depending on the power of your food processor. (If you are using store bought almond or peanut butter you can skip this step too).
  5. Add the remaining ingredients (including the flax egg) to the bowl of the food processor and process until everything is combined.
  6. Drop “batter” by the rounded tablespoon onto the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let them sit on the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  8. Keep almond banana bread bites in an airtight container for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
Notes
You can replace the raw almonds and use store bought almond or peanut butter instead. Just skip the 2nd and 3rd steps.

You can make your own almond meal by processing almonds in a food processor until it reaches a fine crumb.

If you don't have a food processor a high-powered blender should work just fine. If you don't have either of those use store bought almond butter and mix everything together with an electric mixer.

healthy almond banana bread bites

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