Tag Archives: granola

Make This Strawberry Banana Crunch Smoothie Bowl for a Delicious Post-Workout Recovery

One of the most common questions that I get asked as a personal trainer is what to eat pre- and post-workout. Fueling your workouts properly and eating a nutritious post-workout meal is just as important as exercising itself (especially if you want to reap the full benefits of your sweat session). Let me share with you what works best for me.

I keep my pre-workout fueling simple. Why? I’m usually not hungry when I wake up, and I tend to cramp up if I eat a big meal before I exercise. My go-to choices are a banana, half a bagel with peanut butter, or part of a granola bar.

Post-workout is when I can get creative! After I’ve finished a long run or bike ride, I love nothing more than to kick back and enjoy a delicious and refreshing smoothie bowl. I created this recipe in order to help my body recover after a hard workout. I like to call it the Strawberry Banana Crunch Smoothie Bowl, and I think you’re going to love it, too! (more…)

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Dempsey Marks

Test Your Cereal Smarts to Buy a Better Breakfast

By Janis Jibrin, M.S., R.D., Best Life lead nutritionist

I’ll admit it—I’ve given unsolicited advice to total strangers in the cereal aisle, but only when they look truly bewildered. It’s my nutritionist’s instinct, what can I say? Believe it or not, choosing a healthy cereal is not as complicated as you might think, especially when you follow a few simple steps.

Start with the ingredient list. Check to make sure all grains are whole. Examples of whole grains: barley, brown rice, oats, quinoa, triticale, whole rye, whole wheat, and anything else with “whole” in front of it. For more on what is and isn’t a whole grain, click here. I’d avoid sucralose (Splenda), acesulfame K, aspartame (Nutrasweet), and any other artificial sweetener—you don’t need these in a cereal. (more…)

Posted on January 30, 2024 by BestLifeDiet

Order Your Healthy Snacks Online

You can buy just about anything online these days – even your favorite snacks, granola and cereals. With the click click click of a mouse, I’ve recently come across a few websites that allow you to customize your own snacks, granola and breakfast cereal.

When you customize your snacks online, you’re getting exactly when you want, made fresh to order when you want it, and most offer up nutrition information so you know exactly what you’re eating before you even order.

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Posted on December 14, 2023 by Maris

Vanilla Yogurt Parfait with Blueberries and Strawberries

Even in the winter, when you wake up craving a warm meal, a yogurt parfait can be a surprisingly satisfying choice. Yogurt is full of calcium and protein and when you need a quick breakfast before work or school, it’s easy to make a parfait that tastes gourmet with whole grains and fresh fruit.

If you like to get your kids involved in the kitchen, you can make a fun event out of prepping your parfaits – set out bowls of granola, fresh and dried fruit and other favorite toppings and let them compile their own tasty morning treats.

My favorite combination is vanilla yogurt, fresh blueberries and strawberries but off-season, frozen fruits will work in a pinch.

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Posted on December 6, 2023 by Maris

Learn to Bake Healthy Granola from Scratch

Granola is a popular breakfast option that we’ve all seen on grocery store shelves. Even though it can be less time-consuming to snag one from the market, baking a batch of granola at home is far more rewarding. With a homemade version, you can create your favorite combination of fruit, nuts, grains and seeds.

When making granola, some people prefer to use a recipe, where others take a more rustic approach. If you’re planning to wing it, choose your ingredients for a fresh, healthy flavor that will make you want to wake up in the morning. (more…)

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Maris