Healthy Snack of the Day: Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Hello! This recipe comes courtesy of A Full Measure of Happiness Blog. Peanut Butter Banana Muffins are good hit at the beginning of the day or for a mid-morning snack because of the good protein you will be consuming. Pretty easy to make, and most of the ingredients are standard pantry items, so you can make them on the cheap!

Photo from A Full Measure of Happiness Blog

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas (mashed)
1/3 cup honey (I used agave nectar)
1/3 cup peanut butter (go for natural)
2/3 cup fat free yogurt (I used Greek yogurt for the added health benefits, and cause I like the taste)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon (I add a little more, because I love cinnamon)
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
(I added 2 tsp of flaxseed for the additional fiber benefits and cut out the 1/4 tsp of salt)


1-Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line or use oil and flour on your muffin tins.
2- Mix the bananas, honey, peanut butter, yogurt and vanilla. Set aside.
3-Mix the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl.
4-In thirds, slowly mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined.
5-Spoon the mixture evenly throughout the 12 muffin cups.
6-Bake in the oven for 15 minutes on the center rack.

ENJOY!

Healthy Inspiration of the Day: 75 year old Bodybuilder

Need some inspiration to be healthy? Read this article on Ernestine Shepherd, the oldest female bodybuilder at the young age of 75! Truly inspirational!!


http://now.msn.com/now/0611-oldest-female%20bodybuilder



ENJOY!!!!

Exercise of the Day: Barbell Step Ups

Ask my clients this week and they will tell you all about how I made them do barbell step ups (and lots of them!) this week in their lower body workouts. Barbell Step-Ups are a great way to work your quadriceps, but also work your other leg muscles as well. Because you are using the step, the exercise also requires coordination, balance, and core engagement.

Depending on how whether you are doing a strength or endurance workout, you can also play around with how many plates are on the dumbbell. If you do not have access to a barbell, or it is difficult for you to balance the barbell on your shoulders, you can also do this exercise holding dumbbells in your hands.

1-Begin by standing, creating length throughout your spine and torso, with the barbell resting on your shoulders. The step or plyo box should be at least six inches in front of you. This is your starting position.

2-Take your right foot and place your ENTIRE foot onto the step and exhale and you push through your right heel, using this force to bring the rest of your body upwards and placing your left foot on the step as well..

3-Step your left foot back down to the ground, followed by your right foot, returning to your starting position. This is one repetition. 

Do a total of 15 repetitions stepping up with your right foot. Then, do 15 repetitions stepping up with your left foot. This is one set. Do a total of 3 sets.

ENJOY!