Category: Health

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Morgan Reimler Golf Instruction

Five Delicious Low Calorie Starbucks Drinks

The past year while I was getting my MBA, I spent more time in coffee shops than I had combined in my entire life before then. I would go there to study, and then justify all my hard work by getting myself a drink. Chai tea lattes were my favorite drink (hot or cold, I don’t discriminate) until I realized that there are close to 80 grams of carbs in a venti iced chai.

It does not matter to me if the drink is liquid gold, I can’t deal with 80 g’s of carbs coming from a drink that will most likely be gone in a minute and twenty five seconds. Long story short, over the past year I have compiled some of my very favorite low carb drinks from Starbucks. I hope if you have found yourself reading this blog you’ll get a chance to try a new drink or maybe find a healthier substitution for one you already know you like.


There are always the obvious low carb options such as the coffees, espressos and teas. If you enjoy black coffee then you probably weren’t interested in this post to start with, but if you’re looking to shake things up or find a new go-to then keep reading! So here’s the line-up and in no particular order (nutrition information based on a grande serving size):

  • Coffee with two pumps of sugar free syrup (any flavor): 10 calories, 0 g carbs
  • Skinny soy vanilla latte: 170  calories, 22 g carbs
  • Skinny soy cinnamon dolce latte: 120 calories, 19 g carbs
  • Iced coffee with coconut milk & liquid stevia: 20 calories, 2 g carbs
  • Lightly sweetened iced chai with coconut milk: 150 calories, 28 g carbs

*Note: I order all of my drinks with soy milk instead of regular milk so feel free to substitute those out if milk doesn’t make you break out like it does for me. Lol. If soy isn’t your thing then go with the skim, 2%, etc.

I hope you all got some inspiration from this post, and hope that you find a new favorite!

Until next time, birdies!

 

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Morgan Reimler Golf Instruction

Keto Lemon Cheesecake

If you are a sucker for lemon like I am, this recipe is going to become a staple in your dessert rotation (do other people have dessert rotations? No? Okay.) The best part is, you don’t have to blow your diet or feel guilty to enjoy this sweet treat!

I found a recipe for lemon cheesecake that is low carb and keto friendly. If you’re wondering what keto is, this website explains it simply. The magic behind the keto diet is that your body re-programs your metabolism so that you can burn fat for fuel.

                            

I live a low carb life, and I love food. So I am always experimenting with different recipes to find healthier variations. This recipe hits all the right notes and doesn’t break the carb bank. So many desserts leave you feeling bloated and tired because they are packed with carbohydrates and sugar. This cheesecake is such a win, and you could serve it to people who aren’t low-carbing and I’m positive they would enjoy it as well.

Keto Lemon Cheesecake

Print recipe
Keto Lemon Cheesecake
Serves 8
Prep time 20 minutes
Cook time 8 minutes
Total time 28 minutes
Dietary Diabetic
Meal type Dessert
Occasion Casual Party
Website motherthyme.com
This delicious cheesecake is carb friendly and easy to make. Low calorie and low carb fits the keto diet perfectly.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon erythritol
  • 8oz softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • .3oz sugar free lemon jello
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions

CRUST
Step 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a spring form or baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
Step 2 Combine almond flour, butter, and erythritol until crumbly. Press into the springform pan and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Step 3 Let the crust cool completely to room temperature.
FILLING
Step 4 With the whisk attachment on the mixer, whip the cream cheese until it is smooth.
Step 5 Add in heavy cream and whisk on high until soft peaks form.
Step 6 Reduce mixing speed and add jello packet, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Step 7 Spread the filling over the cooled crust and chill in refrigerator for 2-3 hours. The longer it can chill, the more the flavors marry.

I used a Pinterest recipe from Mother Thyme as a starting point and made some minor tweaks to the original that I think really knocked this out of the park.

Don’t be afraid to add things, or make substitutions to your recipes. Be brave and bold, especially where flavor is concerned! Life is too short to eat mediocre lemon cheesecake. I hope you all enjoy this recipe and I can’t wait to share the next one with you!

Until next time, birdies!

Morgan Reimler Golf Instruction

Mama’s Protein Balls

You know when you find a winning recipe and you’re so excited you want to share it with the whole world? I am about to share with you all the yummiest recipe for protein balls. My grandma found a basic recipe watching a morning show, and my mom took the recipe and ran with it. There are tons of recipes for protein balls out there, but if you have the time and ingredients, I absolutely recommend these because they will change your life.

These protein balls are full of nutritious ingredients that keep you full and energized. My mom has been perfecting this recipe for years, and it is safe to say that these can be eaten at any time, and for any meal. My family has been enjoying these sweet little treats for a while now, and I cannot wait for you to try them!

The most important step in every recipe is getting everything prepped and ready. The french term mise en place translates into “everything in its place”. This means you have read through the recipe, gotten your equipment out, have all of your ingredients measured, chopped, etc. and that you are ready to start. It’s even more fun if all your ingredients are prepped into cute fiestaware bowls.

After everything is prepped, you read the recipe one more time for good measure! There is nothing more flustering than getting half way through a recipe and realizing that you missed a step. I thought this would be a good recipe to start with because you do not have to have any culinary expertise to make these!

Mama’s Protein Balls

Prep time: 15 minutes
Servings: 30 balls

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup finely ground flax seed
1/8 cup of chia seeds
1 Tbsp pepitas
1/2 cup unsweetened* coconut flakes
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup chocolate chips (60% cacao bittersweet chips are delish!)
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup of peanut butter

 

After you have all your ingredients measured and prepped, the beauty of this recipe is that you just throw it all in the mixer (with the paddle attachment) or just mix it by hand!

Or something more like this…

The ingredients in this recipe such as chia seeds and flax seeds have some stellar health benefits. Chia seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which are great for your heart! I read that “chia” means strength in Ancient Mayan, and that they used to eat handfuls of chia seeds before battle. That is also my pre-battle meal, small world. Chia seeds are also a good source of fiber, iron, and calcium! Flax seeds are also high in fiber and low in carbs, which can be helpful when you need a little mid day snack.

After you have mixed all the ingredients, I use a cookie dough scoop to make sure all the balls are consistent and round!

Try to get them in the fridge after they have all been scooped so they can harden in their form, otherwise they will get crumbly! Keep them refrigerated, or freeze them for later!

These protein balls are such a treat for breakfast, or a snack, or even for lunch. They are full of flavor and full of ingredients that are great for you. There are so many different ingredients you can add to this recipe (a pinch of salt is always a good idea), but it takes some trial and error to find the right consistency so that they stick together and don’t crumble. Feel free to take the recipe and run with it, just like my mama!

 

‘Til next time birdies!