Three Protein-Rich Desserts That Are Big on Taste

3 Protein Rich Desserts That Are Big on Taste

When you’re committed to a nutritious diet and sticking to healthy portion sizes, protein is a must for all meals and snacks – including dessert! Luckily, protein-rich desserts aren’t as difficult to create as you might think. In fact, we have three mouth-watering protein-rich desserts your whole family will love!

Sources of Protein for Dessert

Healthy sources of protein that are easy to incorporate into your desserts include:

  • Nuts, including whole, ground, and butters
  • Lentils and beans
  • *PGX Satisfast Vegan Protein
  • Tofu
  • Protein powder, including whey, soy, pea, and brown rice
  • Quinoa
  • Egg whites

Protein makes food more satisfying, which makes it less tempting to overindulge. Keep your meals healthy and filling all the way through to dessert with the following three protein-filled recipes:

Chocolate Meringue Cookies1. Chocolate Meringue Cookies

Who doesn’t love a sweet, crisp meringue! Break the rules of traditional meringues by ditching the white sugar and keeping the protein. These meringues have a very subtle sweetness and are best prepared on days with low humidity to achieve a crisp texture.

Ingredients:

  • 2 egg whites (room temperature)
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tbsp pure maple syrup (double this for extra sweetness)
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 x squares dark chocolate (60% cocoa)

Instructions:

  1. Set oven to 250 °F.
  2. In a clean glass bowl, combine egg whites and cream of tartar.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat on high until stiff peaks form, then set aside.
  4. In a small pot, warm maple syrup, vanilla, and chocolate on low heat until melted. Stir to combine.
  5. Carefully fold chocolate into egg whites until well incorporated.
  6. Spoon or pipe small portions onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
  7. Bake on middle rack until meringues are dry and crisp (about 1 hour).
  8. Enjoy right away!

2. Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls

These protein balls are quick to prepare for a satisfying anytime treat. For an alternate flavour, use almond butter instead of peanut butter.

Ingredients

  • 8 large dates, pitted
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened soy milk
  • ½ cup natural peanut butter
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp chocolate protein powder of your choice
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder, dried coconut, or dark chocolate crumbs

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, process dates and soy milk into a grainy paste.
  2. Add peanut butter, vanilla, and protein powder, then process until well mixed.
  3. Using your hands, roll batter into one-inch balls.
  4. Roll balls in cocoa powder, dried coconut, or dark chocolate until evenly coated.
  5. Refrigerate for 20 minutes until firm, then enjoy!

3. Vanilla Soy Pudding

Silken tofu creates an appealing texture while contributing protein and soy isoflavones to your dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pack (about 12 oz) organic silken tofu, firm
  • 3 tbsp agave syrup or honey
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Drain tofu, pressing slightly to remove excess liquid.
  2. In a food processor, process tofu until smooth.
  3. In a small pot, warm agave and vanilla on low until runny.
  4. Add vanilla and honey to the tofu, then pulse until well combined.
  5. Transfer to serving dishes and chill until set (about one hour). Enjoy!

*Drink additional water (8 fl. oz) after ingesting PGX. If you are taking medications, take one hour prior to or two hours after taking PGX.

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3 Hot and Healthy Drinks to Sip and Savour

3 Hot and Healthy Drinks to Sip and Savour

The time for cold outdoor adventures and warming up by the fire with hot and healthy drinks in hand is here! Although comforting, the high-calorie content of many winter beverages can be challenging for those of us with healthy weight management goals.

Instead of succumbing to unhealthy traditions, give your hot winter beverages a makeover with these tips for keeping the fat and sugar content of your favourite hot beverages under control:

  • Use low-fat milk or unsweetened dairy alternatives instead of cream
  • Dilute ciders and mulled wines by adding hot water and an extra cinnamon stick
  • Top your mug with frothed soy milk instead of whipped cream
  • Flavour lattes and mochas with real spices or extracts instead of sugary syrups
  • Opt for a strongly brewed herbal tea with added ginger, cloves, nutmeg, peppermint leaves, or whole cranberries

We’ve given three traditional hot winter drinks a healthy makeover. So go ahead and sip on one of these tasty, hot beverages that’ll satisfy your cravings without breaking the calorie bank:

Pumpkin Spice Latte1. Pumpkin Spice Latte

A pumpkin spice latte from a café can pack as much as 50 g of sugar per 16 oz serving.

By making your own, you can customize the sweetness and sugar content to suit your healthy preferences while maintaining the taste you love.

This recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup unsweetened soymilk (divided in two)
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp powdered ginger
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • ¼ cup espresso

Instructions

  1. In a small pot, whisk together pumpkin, half the soymilk, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, maple syrup, and espresso until well combined
  2. Heat on medium-low until hot
  3. In a glass vessel, steam the remaining half of the soymilk until hot and frothy OR warm milk on the stove then froth using a hand-held frother
  4. Poor espresso mix into a large mug and top with frothed soymilk

Swedish Glogg2. Swedish Glogg

Glogg, or mulled wine, is a great way to conjure up winter cheer on a cold afternoon, especially if it’s stormy out! By cutting back the alcohol and sugar of traditional recipes, you can keep the calorie content reasonable and still wow your guests with this hot and healthy drink.

This recipe makes 34 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 500 mL water
  • 1 navel orange, peeled and juiced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 cardamom pods, slightly squished
  • 1 slice fresh ginger
  • ¼ cup whole cranberries
  • 2 drops liquid stevia 500 mL fruity red wine

Instructions:

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine water, orange peel and juice, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, cranberries, and stevia
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat for about 10 minutes
  3. Reduce heat to low, then add in the wine
  4. Heat for about one minute before serving

Hot Cocoa3. Hot Cocoa

Is there a more classic hot winter beverage than hot cocoa?

Here’s a little trick that is guaranteed to elevate your hot cocoa; chocolate protein powder! This simple addition makes your standard hot cocoa a simple, delicious, extra silky treat that is also calorie-wise! Your hot cocoa just got some serious game.

This recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Using a small saucepan, heat almond milk on medium until hot
  2. Remove from heat and stir in whey protein drink mix and vanilla until well combined
  3. Pour into a mug and drop in the chocolate
  4. Stir with a spoon and serve

*Drink additional water (8 fl. oz.) after ingesting PGX. If you are taking medications, take one hour prior to or two hours after taking PGX.

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How to Work Exercise into Your Vacation

How to Work Exercise into Your Vacation

You may find it hard to fit in exercise on your vacation between all the adventuring, exploring, and relaxing you’re doing. But logic dictates that a little maintenance when you’re away will help you stay on track with your long-term health and fitness goals. Luckily, we have a few simple ways to work exercise into your vacation, while still leaving plenty of room for fun and adventure.

Tracking Your StepsTrack Your Steps

While playing tourist you will likely be doing a lot of walking, so keeping track of your steps is an excellent way of gauging how much exercise you’re getting. As a basic fitness guideline, aim for a daily minimum of 10,000 steps.

Resistance BandsResistance Bands

Resistance bands are light, easy to travel with and have the ability to give you an awesome full body workout, all within the comfort of your hotel room!

Partner ExercisePartner Exercises

The benefits of working out with a partner are pretty great. It’s a fun way to spend time together, you can execute many different types of exercises you aren’t able to do solo, and you can provide each other with motivation when needed.  If you’re vacationing with someone, partnering up to get your workouts done can be a refreshing change of pace from your every day routine.

 

Here are two partner exercises to try:

1. The Abdominal Workout

  • Lie on the ground and hold your partner’s ankles
  • Bring your legs straight up while your partner throws your legs down
  • Try to slow your legs down as quickly as possible without letting them touch the ground

2. Partner Pushups

  • Face your partner and as he/she goes down into a pushup, follow
  • When you both push up, reach across and high five each other with your right hand
  • Repeat the movement, the high five each other with your left hand

Mindful Food ChoicesMindful Food Choices

Exercise is key of course, but nutrition is just as important to your long-term health and fitness goals. Try to eat as many whole foods as possible, keep up the fruit and veggie intake, and hydrate often!

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A Healthy Vacation: Tips for Staying on Track

PGX-blog-A-Healthy-VacationTips-for-Staying-on-Track-20150727

A Healthy Vacation: Tips for Staying on Track

It’s tempting to just disappear while you’re on vacation, and leave your healthy lifestyle back at home with your worries. The great thing is, it’s possible – and relatively easy! – to have an amazing vacation while keeping your overall health on track. Here’s how:

Plan an Active Vacation

Walk, run, or cycle around your destination! You’ll burn calories, be more likely to meet people, and get up close and personal with local sights, smells, and sounds.

If you’re going to be spending time at the beach, schedule activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing to keep your fitness in check while having oodles of fun.

Eat Consciously

Eating out and trying local cuisine is all part of being on vacation. Here are some tips to keep your diet on track while enjoying your meals:

  • Snack on fresh fruits and vegetables from local markets
  • Order salads and other menu items with dressing and sauce on the side
  • Stop eating when you’re full – no matter how large the serving is
  • Share desserts and other high calorie items
  • Add PGX®* Daily Singles to your meals to reduce cravings and maintain  healthy blood sugar levels already within the normal range.

Drink Carefully

Go ahead and celebrate your vacation with a cocktail or juice.  The key is to not get carried away. Drinking too much alcohol or sugary beverages can sneak unwanted calories into your diet. Instead, keep yourself hydrated with good-for-you liquids such as lemon water, unsweetened tea, sparkling mineral water, and low-fat milk.

Treat Yourself

The whole point of vacation is to have an enjoyable experience, and part of that is not feeling like you’re missing out. So go ahead  – treat yourself! –  just remember that moderation is key to not over-indulging.

How do you stay on track while on vacation? Let us know in the comments section below.

*Drink additional water (8 fl. oz.) after ingesting PGX®. If you are taking medications, take one hour prior to or two hours after taking PGX®.

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