Toasted Coconut Kettle Corn

I am a huge snacker, some days I realize I haven't really eaten a meal I have just snacked all day! Eating like that can definitely get me in to trouble so I try to keep healthier snacks around for those days when I just want to snack! Popcorn is great and full of fiber, you just have to be careful of what you put on it. While my grandma is completely happy using her air popper to make a batch of popcorn and she will eat it plain, that just doesn't work for me. I have tried it and just can't do it! So luckily there are some healthier and delicious ways to top it. If you love coconut and almonds you will love this recipe! Perfect combination of salty and sweet, I think I will have to make another batch today!

Toasted Coconut Kettle Corn
 Yield: 8-10 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

¼ cup coconut oil
½ cup popcorn kernels
¼ cup granulated sugar
1/2-1 tsp coarse sea salt
1 ½ cups unsweetened toasted coconut chips
1 cup Blue Diamond Toasted Coconut Almonds

In a large pot with a lid, heat the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add in 2 or 3 popcorn kernels, when those pop you know the oil is hot enough. Add in the popcorn kernels and sprinkle the sugar over them.  Cover and stir or shake the pan until the popping slows down. The popcorn should be done popping in about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the kettle corn into a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and toss. You may want to start with a little less salt and then add more depending on how salty/sweet you like your popcorn. Add the toasted coconut chips and Toasted Coconut Almonds.

This recipe is still great even if you don't have or don't like coconut chips and the toasted coconut almonds. You can also sub regular plain almonds or roasted and salted almonds. If you don't want to spend the time toasting the coconut in a pan or in your oven just throw it on without toasting, it's still tasty. And if you want the popcorn a little sweeter use sweetened coconut. You have lots of options here!

Adapted from twopeasandtheirpod.com

Give Yourself An Afternoon Treat

This is great news! It is healthier to hit the vending machine than it is to go hungry. The typical long stretch between lunch and dinner is much too long for blood sugar levels to remain stable without a infusion. Nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D.., a fitness advisory board member. Your best bet: "If you tend to get famished at 3 p.m, don't fight it, plan for it," she says. Keep healthy snacks like apples, almonds, string cheese and pears at the office and you won't have to scramble for something to eat.

If you don't bring your own, no biggie, just choose wisely at the machine. "Sunflower seeds and peanuts are super healthy, a chocolate chip granola bar is a smarter chocolate fix than a candy bar, and baked chips or popcorn is better than regular chips for a salty crunch," Blatner says. Pass up fruit snacks in favor of the real things from the corner deli. Absolutely  gotta have chocolate candy? Opt for a plain Hershey's bar or peanut M&M's which are slightly lower in calories and saturated fat and sugar and have slightly more fiber and protein than other bars.

Foods To Help Control Your Appetite

When you are trying to lose weight it is a given that you need to cut back on the amount that you are eating. But if you are cutting back and hungry all of the time then you are more likely to grab foods that are not good for you!  The trick is to make sure that the food you are eating for meals and snacks is both healthy and filling.  Here are some foods to add to your diet that will keep you feeling full longer!

Apples: You should try eating an apple 30 minutes before a meal. The fiber and water in the apple will help to fill you up so you will eat less.

Avocado: Eating just a half of an avocado with your lunch may help you feel full for the rest of the afternoon, according to a study published in Nutrition Journal. Women who did that felt more satisfied and had a lower desire to snack three hours later than on days they ate a calorically equivalent lunch without the avocado.

Beans, Chickpeas & Lentils: These are protein rich super-foods that are full of antioxidants, fiber, B vitamins and iron. Eating more gives you all of those benefits but also helps control your appetite.

Soup: In a Penn State study, people who slurped a bowl of low-calorie, broth-based soup before their lunch entrées reduced their total calorie intake at the meal by 20%. "Soups can take the edge of your appetite since they take up a lot of volume in your stomach, but with very few calories," says Beth Saltz, RD, owner of nutritionskitchen.com.

Pickles: Pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, and other fermented foods have short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Recent research in the Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences found that they help strengthen the bond between the gut and the brain. SCFAs stimulate production of hormones that cross the blood-brain barrier and improve appetite signaling. Fermented foods also boast probiotics, the healthy bacteria that help digestion.

Chili Powder: You may already know that capsaicin, the compound found in chilies that gives them their kick, fires up your metabolism. Recent research from Maastricht University in the Netherlands shows that adding heat to your meal may also control your appetite.

Dark Chocolate: Research suggests dark chocolate can help reduce blood pressure and protect the heart and brain. It's also more filling than milk chocolate and may help curb cravings for both sweet and salty foods, according to a study in the journal Nutrition & Diabetes. In fact, participants consumed 17% fewer calories at a meal following a dose of dark chocolate.

Eggs: Starting your day with eggs will leave you feeling satisfied until lunch. The power's in the protein: research from the University of Missouri at Columbia suggests that eating a 300-calorie breakfast made up of 30 to 39 grams of protein (think: eggs and sausage) reduces hunger pangs and increases fullness during the time between breakfast and lunch. What's more, the research revealed that high-protein breakfast eaters consume fewer calories throughout the day.

Nuts: In a British Journal of Nutrition study, obese women who paired either 1.5 ounces of peanuts or 3 tablespoons of peanut butter with Cream of Wheat cereal and orange juice felt fuller for up to 12 hours after finishing breakfast than those who didn't eat the peanut products. "Nuts are essentially designed by nature to control appetite because they're rich in healthy unsaturated fat, along with bonus protein and fiber," says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health contributing nutrition editor. Together, the three nutrients slow digestion and regulate blood sugar when combined with carbs like fruit, oatmeal, or brown rice.

Oatmeal: Oatmeal is higher in fiber and protein and also has higher amounts of beta-glucan–the sugars that give oatmeal its heart-healthy properties, hydration, and molecular weight compared to ready-to-eat cereals.

Water: Being low on water can trick your body into thinking it is hungry. The symptoms of being dehydrated are similar to those of being hungry. Next time you are wanting a snack, first drink a tall glass of water and then wait 10 minutes.  There is a good chance your hunger pangs will pass and you will save yourself a lot of calories.

Source: Health.com

My New Favorite Healthy Snack!

I have an obsession with apples right now.  I have always enjoyed a good apple but right now for some reason, I just can't seem to get enough of them!  The other day I was suddenly starving, and dinner wasn't for another couple of hours. I wanted an apple but knew that just an apple wasn't going to be enough for me that day, so I improvised and came up with a really tasty snack!  I cut my apple into round slices, topped each slice with a little bit of peanut butter and a couple of mini chocolate chips.  It was SO good!  It was a pretty healthy snack, had some protein to make it substantial and that little bit of chocolate curbed my sweet tooth.  So quick and so tasty, give them a try.

1 Apple (Pink Lady's are my fave right now!)
1 T peanut butter
1 T mini chocolate chips


Wash and core the apple and slice into round slices about 1/4" inch thick. If you don't have an apple corer you could also just cut your apple into 8 chunks, it will work just as well.  Spread a light layer of peanut butter on each slice and sprinkle with a couple of chocolate chips.  That's it!

You could also mix things up to whatever you are in the mood for or have in your pantry.  Instead of peanut butter, try almond butter or nutella.  For toppings you could use chopped almonds, pecans, peanuts or walnuts.  Sprinkle on some oats or coconut and maybe even some craisins or raisins.  The possibilities are endless.

Eat Grapes

I love this time of year because grapes are in season and I just can't get enough of them.  Some days I realize that grapes are pretty much the only thing I have eaten and while they are delicious I shouldn't be eating just grapes!  But if you are trying to improve your eating habits then you might want to think about stocking up on grapes.  People who eat grapes and grape products take in more nutrients and eat healthier diets overall than those who don't, according to an observational study published in the Journal of Food Science.

Researchers looked at the results of the National Health and Nutrition Survey, a biannual survey that collects data on the eating habits of people in the U.S. They found that between 2003 and 2008, people who had consumed grapes, raisins, or 100 percent grape juice withing the 24-hour span just before they took the survey also consumed more fruit, dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and potassium.  They also took in less solid fat, added sugars, and alcohol than those who hadn't eaten grape products. 

25 Healthy Snacks

When you need a snack don't reach for chips or candy bars, try out these snacks.  They taste delicious, are easy to have on hand in your pantry and fridge, and quick and easy!

1. Air Popped Popcorn
2. Nonfat Cottage Cheese
3. Hard Boiled Eggs
4. Hummus
5. Peanut Butter
6. Fruit Smoothies
7. Almonds
8. Sliced Apples
9. Frozen Grapes
10. Orange Slices
11. Broccoli Florets
12. Green Salad
13. Cherry Tomatoes
14. Frozen Mangos
15. Sunflower Seeds
16. Soy Chips
17. Bean Salad
18. Tuna
19. Sliced Chicken Breast
20. Pickles
21. Olives
22. Sugar Free Jello
23. Nonfat Yogurt
24. Frozen Yogurt
25. Protein Bars

Great Healthy Snacks

Each of these snacks is about 150 calories each and you should eat two a day.

• 2 dried figs and 1/2 ounce cheddar
• 2 Nature Valley Dark Chocolate Granola Thins
• 1 Yoplait Whips! yogurt, frozen
• 1 strawberry milkshake made with 8 ounces plain soy milk blended with 3 frozen strawberries
• 2 Wasa Crispbreads with 1 tablespoon goat cheese and a drizzle honey
• 15 pistachios and 1 skinny vanilla latte (no sugar)
• 1/2 whole wheat pita with 2 tablespoons roasted red pepper hummus
• 1/2 banana rolled in melted chocolate chips and finely chopped peanuts then frozen
• 1 Skinny Cow Chocolate Peanut Butter sandwich
• 10 baby carrots dipped in 2 tablespoons light ranch dressing
• 1 piece low-fat string cheese and 1 small pear
• 21 raw almonds
• 3 cups air-popped popcorn tossed with 2 tablespoons Parmesan
• 7 Hershey's Kisses Special Dark Chocolate candies

Smart Snacking

Prepare Healthy Snacks in Advance
Making your own granola or trail mix helps you control the ingredients and put in it what's good for you. You can also keep plenty of fresh fruit and cut veggie sticks in the fridge to grab in a hurry. The easier it is for us to grab a healthy snack; the better we seem to do at choosing them first. Cut up fruit and veggies and keep in individual bags in the fridge for on the go snacks.

Keep Healthy Snacks With You
Make it your habit to stash some fruit, whole grain crackers, or carrots in a workout bag, back pack or in your car so there is healthy food for a quick fix in a moment of hunger. You will choose better food if it is readily available and keep you from stopping at the drive-thru.

Make It Interesting
Healthy snacking doesn't have to be boring as long as you give yourself a variety of choices. Whole-wheat pretzels with spicy mustard, rice cakes with peanut butter and raisins, or low-fat yogurt are healthy and easy. They taste good too!

Satisy Cravings
Use healthier approaches. If you must have chocolate. Try hot chocolate to drink instead of a chocolate bar. An 8 ounce mug of hot cocoa has onlly 140 caloies and 3 grams of fat. A chocolate bar has 230 calories and 13 grams of fat. Substitute non-fat frozen yogurt for ice cream or have yummy fruit sorbet.
If you crave salty munchies. Try baked tortilla chips instead of regular corn chips. Eat salsa with them instead of sour cream.  Have pretzels for a salt craving instead of chips.

Read Serving Size Information
A "small" package of cookies may actually be 2 servings which means double or even triple the fat and calories and sugar on the label. Companies print a small werving amount on the label to keep the fat and calories seemingly low, so you FEEL that it is healthier. Careful look at the ounces, or number of chips, cookies etc., so you have a more accurate picture of what you are really taking in.

In summary...You don't have to go hungry! Small planned out snacks and meals throughout the day can satisfy your cravings, and keep you on track. You are less inclined to overeat at meals if you have had a healthy snack in between.

Don't slip up after dinner. Evenings can be a tempting time to cave in to sugary, fatty snacks. If you feel hungry don't ignore it. Instead, pick the right snacks to fill the hunger gapl. Whole-wheat fig bars, rice cakes, or air-popped popcorn can do the trick, as can fruit with cheese or yogurt. Don't over do with a large amount--stick with a small serving.

Don't overthink it or you won't do it. Just eat a little less, a little healthier, and use smaller serving sizes. You will be well on your way to your goal.

TG2000 ADVANCE does wonders for reducing cravings, giving you incredible energy, and helping you with your weight loss.

Click on the bottle on the left to learn more about this scientific breakthrough product that really does work.