Eat Dessert First

Skinny Chocolate Muffins

Muffins are my all time favourite snack. They can be made in many different ways with an assortment of flavours. This week I decided to make these skinny treats – Chocolate Muffins. I found this recipe on a blog called Crazy for Crust that includes a variety of desserts and skinny options. What I find so interesting about this recipe is that these muffins are made from All Bran cereal.  

These skinny chocolate muffins are made without any oil or butter but instead non-fat plain Greek yogurt. I love recipes that include substituting fats for Greek yogurt. The subbing of yogurt also helps keep the muffins moist. They are only 102 calories and have 3.5 grams of protein in each. Since they are made from All Bran, these muffins also include 3.7 grams of fiber. Don't they sound pretty healthy?  

Prepped Chocolate Muffins

These muffins are perfect for breakfast due to their nutritional sources. Breakfast is very important (something you hear often) however, including protein in your morning will help you feel fuller all day. So start your day off with eating dessert first! Sweet cheat yourself to a healthy treat for your breakfast meal. These muffins can also be used for a post-workout snack because aren’t very sweet but the protein will help your body replenish.

For other ways to try and incorporate protein in your breakfast with something tasting   sweet, check out my friends blog Live a SMOOTH-ie Lifestyle.

I hope you enjoy these chocolate muffins and let me know you guys think about them!

Recipe  

A Spoonful of Sugar

After watching health fitness guru Brett Caps’ video, “How to handle your Cravings”, I was inspired to blog about the harmful effects of sugar. I will be the first to admit that I have a sugar addiction, but my question is how did this begin? I rarely had candy as a kid and never cared for chocolate… until recently. I realized once I started eating chocolate, I loved it and could probably eat it everyday. Here’s why the more you eat it the more you need it. You become addicted to the cycle of sugar.

Processed sugar has a number of harming effects.   

• Suppresses the immune system
• Contributes to weight gain and obesity
• Increases the risk of fatty liver disease
• Causes headaches, including migraines
• Causes tooth decay
• Raises harmful cholesterol
• Contributes to diabetes

According to Dr. Oz, cravings are driven by your mind and not necessarily by hunger. This means that you do not need to fulfill them. Conversely, if you distract yourself long enough, the cravings will pass. If your body is craving sugar, perhaps it may be a cue for the body needing energy. Fruit is a healthy alternative and leaves your body satisfied.

For some other suggestions, I recommend the previously mentioned Healthy CookieDough Bits, which are made without processed sugar. In addition, I would also suggest my friend’s new recipe for her Quinoa Granola Bars. Recently, I have been snacking on yogurt-covered strawberries that can be easily made with this 3-step recipe.