It’s my new blogging project, “12 Days of Christmas Recipes”, healthy recipes of course! So I’ve seen this idea on other websites, blogs, etc. This is my version. Twelve recipes that are healthy and fun Holiday dishes and treats that you can enjoy at home or bring to Holiday parties. Fun, right?!
Did you know that studies show most people never lose the weight they gain during the Holidays? That’s pretty scary because even if you only gain one pound (the average American) by the time you’re in your 40’s or 50’s you’re battling an excess of at least 30 pounds. YIKES! (The New England Journal of Medicine).
While I am not a proponent of depriving yourself of your favorite foods on occasion, I do feel it’s very important to be careful with getting carried away with excess calories just because it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. I’ve certainly had days where I’ve indulged a little beyond what I wanted to just because I was at a Holiday party and I felt like I wanted a little bit of everything. 🙂
*Try and have a goal of eating a salad before your Holiday dinners and alternating one glass of water with each alcoholic beverage, we all know there’s tons of hidden calories in drinks! Also, try small bites of desserts, don’t take one serving of each dish! That should get you through the Holidays feeling FIT, festive and satisfied.
This is my first “12 Days of Christmas” recipe, high protein, Skinny Peppermint Brownie Bites!
Ingredients:
3 scoops (about 2/3 cup) Chocolate protein powder (can sub equal parts healthy baking powder as well)
2 Tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour OR oat flour
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup Stevia in the Raw
1/4 cup fat-free Greek yogurt
1/4 cup organic white chocolate chips
2 egg whites
2 Tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
Directions
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.) In a mixing bowl combine protein powder, whole wheat flour, stevia, cocoa powder and baking powder. Stir until blended.
3.) In the same bowl add the wet ingredients. Pumpkin puree, egg whites, Greek yogurt, melted coconut oil and peppermint extract. Stir until completely blended.
4.) Lightly spray 2 mini muffins tins, add the batter. Drop a few white chocolate chips into each brownie bite, I used about 4 in each. Use a fork to press the chips down into the batter so you get some in each bite.
5.) Cook for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
*Makes 24 brownie bites.
FemmeFIT Physique 