Chocolate Avocado Banana Pudding

I admit, I was skeptical about avocados in pudding, but you gotta try this. Best of all, there is no sugar! Add the protein powder and you've got the perfect healthy chocolate dessert. Who knew?

Ingredients:
2 avocados, ripe
2 medium bananas, ripe
6-8T unsweetened cocoa powder
1t vanilla extract
1t cinnamon
1.5 scoops Raw protein powder [opt]

Directions:
In a food processor, combine the avocado and banana and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of bowl as necessary. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and protein powder [if using]. Process again until smooth.

Refrigerate until ready to serve and add any topping you like. Store in a sealed container and eat within 2-3 days.

Tips:  If you want a thinner consistency, add your favorite milk, starting with 1T at a time. Do not use frozen bananas. The riper the banana, the sweeter and stronger the flavor will be. If you don’t like banana, feel free to sub in a squash puree [drained of excess liquid]. Add honey or maple syrup if desired. An immersion blender should also work for this.

[serves 2-4]
Source: edibleperspective.com

Tropical Fruit Dip

A great tropical fruit dip loaded with protein from the cottage cheese and yogurt. A great combination you'll love for your family or for a party.

Ingredients: 
2 cups (16 ounces) 4% cottage cheese
1/4 cup lemon yogurt or flavor of your choice
3 to 4 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons flaked coconut, toasted
Assorted fresh fruit

Directions:
Place the cottage cheese and yogurt in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Stir in honey and orange peel. Pour into a serving dish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with coconut. Serve with fruit. Yield: about 1-1/2 cups.

Source: Taste of Home June/July 1998

Skinny Monkey Chocolate Cookies

This skinny version of the “chunky monkey” cookie is both healthy and tasty! There's no sugar, (the bananas sweeten them up) and at just 47 calories per cookie, you really can’t go wrong!

Ingredients: 
3 bananas
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla extract
     Optional:  Shredded Coconut

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mash bananas in a large bowl, then stir in remaining ingredients. Let batter stand for approximately 20 minutes, then drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Freezing Directions: Cool completely, then place cookies in a freezer bag. Seal, label, and freeze.
Nutritional Information: 47 calories; 7.5 g carbs; 1.6 g fat; 1.5 g protein; 1.3 g fiber; 1 WW PointsPlus

Source: Jimmie @ Onceamonthmom.com

Try Frozen Peas and Corn for a Healthy Diet Snack

Healthy snacks can include more than celery sticks. Frozen vegetables often taste better because they're not turning into starch, like their produce-aisle counterparts. Freezing vegetables seals in their naturally sweet flavor.

Half of a cup of peas has 55 calories and 3 g of fiber; the same amount of corn contains 72 calories with 2 g of fiber. The high-fiber and low-calorie-density combination means they're filling and satisfying, and the frozen part makes them interesting. They're firm, but not rock hard, and they melt in your mouth.

"You can use the same trick with fruit," Gidus says. "Freeze grapes or cherries, and it's a whole different experience."

From Tamar Haspel, Women's Health Magazine

Kashi Chewy Granola Bars are a Good Snack for Dieters

Weight loss snacks don't have to taste bad.

Kashi's Chewy Granola Bars (make sure they say "Chewy") have whole grains, real nuts and only 140 calories, 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.

Sweet, chewy and great taste!