Skinny Ms: October 2018

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Are Detox Diets Healthy?

Detoxification diets are extremely popular these days. You’ll find everything from a single meal using detox-heavy ingredients to plans designed around using detox drinks to lose weight safely. There are even three day cleanses that allow you to eat real food the entire time! But, the big question on everyone’s mind: Are detox diets healthy? Just because everyone’s doing them and many people are reporting results (such as weight loss or improved energy) doesn’t mean that these types of diets are actually healthy for your body.

Here at SkinnyMs, we’re all about helping you create a healthy lifestyle. Whether you’re following a 30-day weight-loss plan or you’re just trying to get back into shape, we’re here to support you. The last thing we want anyone doing is starving themselves or putting their body in a dangerous position! That’s why we want to take a deep look at detoxing to help you determine if it’s right for you. So, are detox diets healthy? Let’s find out!

What is a Detox Diet?

You would think that this question would have a straightforward answer, but it’s actually a bit trickier than that. Some detox diets use periods of fasting followed by consumption of raw fruits and vegetables (usually, juiced). Other diets advocate the use of supplements to fully empty the intestines, including colon-cleansing enemas. So, it’s hard to define what every detox diet looks like.

What we can define, though, is detoxification. This is the process that your body naturally goes through to neutralize toxins and eliminate them from the body. These toxins can be anything that might harm your body: chemicals that come from the environment or our food, medications (legal or otherwise), or our body’s natural waste products, like carbon dioxide or lactic acid. Our organs and systems work together to turn those toxins into harmless compounds and eventually eliminate them from the body.

Problems occur when there is a buildup of toxins. If we ingest more toxins than our bodies can remove, our systems start to store these toxins in our fat tissues, bones, blood, and muscle tissue. Over time, this can lead to cysts, joint pain, and more serious diseases or organ dysfunction. The idea behind a detox diet is to clean your system from the inside-out, purging these excess toxins and returning your body to a state of normal toxin elimination.

Are Detox Diets Healthy?

As we’ve discovered, toxins definitely can hurt your body – especially if they’re allowed to pile up in excess. And, we’ve also learned that our body will naturally work to detoxify itself, it just might not be happening at a fast enough rate. So, if you want to accelerate the rate at which your body detoxes itself, you might turn to a detox diet. You just might be wondering are detox diets healthy before you get started.

While there are some healthy components to detox diets, there are also some unhealthy habits that many people follow. We’ll take a look at a few healthy ways to detox your body so you can decide if the detox program you’re looking into will be healthy for your body. You should always check with your doctor or nutritionist before starting a detox program, especially if you have an existing medical condition or you’ve had an eating disorder.

Eat Whole, Organic Foods

This is definitely a healthy way to detox your system! One of the major ways that we create toxins in our body is by ingesting chemicals. These might come from a pesticide spray on the outside of an apple, or they may come from those unpronounceable ingredients in the boxed food you find at the grocery store. If you remove processed foods from your diet and eat organic whenever possible, you can reduce the number of toxins you ingest.

Drink More Water

Almost every detox program instructs you to drink more water – at least eight, 8-ounce glasses a day. It’s well known that staying hydrated is generally good for your body, and drinking more water can even help you lose weight by helping you feel fuller. So, if your detox diet involves detox water recipes, feel free to drink away.

Adding Cleansing Foods, like Turmeric, Ginger, and Lemon

These naturally-occurring supplements certainly aren’t bad for you! Spices like ginger and turmeric, paired with vitamin-rich citrus, have been used as Ayurvedic medicinal supplements for centuries. They can help curb your appetite and boost your body’s natural detoxification levels. So eat up! If you’re worried about eating too much of any of these foods, find out how much turmeric is too much.

Fasting

Some detox diets have you following an intermittent fasting schedule. It’s really important that you don’t starve yourself, so any diet that has you fasting for more than 24-hours is probably not healthy for your body. On the other hand, there are studies that show that you can lose weight healthily using intermittent fasting, so it’s probably okay for the short-term. Just make sure you’re drinking plenty of water during the fasting phases!

Sweating Out the Toxins

One of the ways our bodies naturally eliminate toxins is through sweat. Our pores are hard-wired to get rid of all those nasty toxins (and smell a little bit in the process!). Any detox program that recommends exercise definitely has our seal of approval! Just make sure that you’re not overdoing it. If you’re reducing your caloric consumption or you’re going through a fasting phase, consider gentle workouts like yoga.

The Effectiveness of Detox Diets

Many people report weight loss after doing a detox diet, along with experiencing increased energy and improved sleep. Unfortunately, the jury is still out on these claims. There have been no clinical trials that support these results. There are also no studies that show the long-term effects of detox diets.

In the end, we don’t see any harm in doing detox diets – especially if you’re doing it healthily. So the next time you find yourself wondering, “Are detox diets healthy?” ask yourself if you’ll be drinking more water, exercising, consuming lots of vegetables, and reducing your consumption of processed and junk food. If the answer is yes, you’re probably well on your way to making some positive lifestyle changes!

Wondering how to get started making sustainable changes to your diet and exercise routine? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and get inspired!

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Fresh Tomato, Spinach, and Shrimp Linguine

Warm and heavy, drenched in rich sauce, pasta dishes can often feel like comfort food, perfect for winter nights and cool evenings. With the right mix of fresh ingredients, however, you can have the perfect compromise. This fresh tomato, spinach, and shrimp linguine is the ideal balance of light and delicious. Fresh ingredients cooked in a light sauce of vegetable broth and parmesan make this pasta dish feel fresh and summery, but as a quick and easy meal it is also great for busy nights year-round.

Fresh Ingredients

The fresh, summery ingredients are what really make this dish shine.

I’m a pretty avid proponent of including shrimp anywhere possible. It’s delicious and easy to make, and it happens to be one of the lowest calorie protein options out there. Baby shrimp is kind of the main event in this recipe, but as a side note, I recommend tossing it into more recipes wherever possible. Pastas, salads, avocado toast, whatever. Anytime you’re looking to add protein without breaking the caloric bank, shrimp is the way to go.

In this recipe, fresh baby shrimp adds fun, summery flavor and flair to this light and fit pasta dish. Meanwhile, halved grape tomatoes and baby spinach keep this dish fresh and veggie packed. Finally, this recipe wouldn’t be complete without plenty of fresh chopped basil. So rich and fragrant, basil really makes a recipe, and the smell and flavor of fresh basil in this dish will make it feel like summer, no matter what time of year you make it.

A Quick and Easy Go-To Dinner

Yeah yeah, fresh ingredients are great and all, but sometimes you’re really just looking to get dinner on the table with as little fuss as possible. Some nights, it may seem easier to reach for a frozen meal or a jar of spaghetti sauce. But the truth is, with the right recipe, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for ease.

This fresh tomato, spinach, and shrimp linguine is a super simple recipe that still uses top notch ingredients. And even with fresh ingredients, this delicious meal is still ready in just 30 minutes.

Like many pasta dishes, this one is quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. However, unlike your go-to spaghetti, this shrimp linguine is easy to throw together even without resorting to anything jarred or canned. Ready in 30 minutes, made with fresh ingredients, and under 350 calories per serving, this fresh tomato, spinach, and shrimp linguine has everything you want in a pasta dish.

Fresh Tomato, Spinach, and Shrimp Linguine

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Fresh Tomato, Spinach, and Shrimp Linguine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces baby shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces whole wheat linguine pasta, cooked
1/4 cup low sodium vegetable broth
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Once hot, add the shrimp, tomatoes and garlic, cook for about 5 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. Add the spinach and basil, season with salt and pepper. Cook until the spinach just begins to wilt and stir in the linguine and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan and serve.

https://skinnyms.com/fresh-tomato-spinach-and-shrimp-linguine/

You might also like our Zuccini Pasta with Shrimp and Tomatoes.

Looking for more easy, fresh dinners? Follow us on Pinterest and Instagram for dinner ideas and beyond.

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Slow Cooker Southern Fried Chicken for Two

I love the way that healthy eating makes my body feel, but I have to admit something: I miss comfort food. I’ve found a ton of skinny versions of my favorite comfort classics, but I thought it was impossible to make a healthy version of fried chicken. I had just about given up hope and resigned myself to have a cheat day when I discovered this Slow Cooker Southern Fried Chicken for Two.

Okay, you’re probably thinking it’s impossible to make healthy fried chicken, and even if you could it wouldn’t be possible to easily make it in the slow cooker. That’s totally what I thought, too! This recipe must be a miracle, then, because it accomplishes both of those things. We swap in chicken breasts for saturated-fat-laden dark meat and keep things light by using whole wheat Panko bread crumbs.

Why The Slow Cooker Works

You’ve heard about oven-fried chicken, right? Well, the slow cooker uses the same idea as the oven method, but it actually works a bit better. In the oven, you’re using convection heat to “fry” your chicken. That uses the air in the oven to crisp up the breadcrumbs. A slow cooker uses direct heat (more similar to a saute pan) to do the same thing more efficiently.

The slow cooker is designed to apply electric heat to your food without burning it. That’s why you can pop something in there, run a bunch of errands, and come back to perfectly cooked food. For this Slow Cooker Southern Fried Chicken for Two, we’re simply taking advantage of that fact. The breaded chicken gets cooked on the bottom as it cooks in the slow cooker, and you crisp up the top by removing the lid for the last 10 minutes.

It doesn’t get easier than that! If you’re looking for a great sauce to go along with your fried chicken, check out this incredible Asian Dipping Sauce recipe. You could also whip up a batch of our favorite barbecue sauce or serve this chicken with the store-bought sauce of your choosing. Just make sure you’re looking at those ingredient labels!

Slow Cooker Southern Fried Chicken for Two

Ingredients

1 boneless skinless chicken breast (6 to 8 ounce)
2 tablespoons low fat buttermilk
1/4 cup white whole wheat flour
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs

Instructions

Lightly spray a 2- or 3-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray.
Pour the buttermilk into a small mixing bowl. In another bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Add the panko bread crumbs to a shallow dish.
Dip the chicken breast into the buttermilk and allow the excess to drip off. Dredge the filet into flour mixture before dipping it again into the buttermilk.
Press the chicken breast into the panko, pressing it gently into the breadcrumbs on each side to make sure they adhere.
Mist the chicken on both sides with nonstick cooking spray and place it in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high 2-1/2 hours or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Remove the lid and allow to continue cooking for 10 minutes. Removing the lid helps the chicken get crunchier.

https://skinnyms.com/slow-cooker-southern-fried-chicken-for-two/

Don’t let cravings lead you to a cheat day! Pick up some great skinny recipes from our Facebook or Pinterest pages, instead.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Stuffed Philly Chicken Peppers Recipe

Why is it that the most flavorful, comforting dishes also happen to be the worst for you? When I started my weight-loss journey, I thought I had to say goodbye to pizza, sandwiches, and pasta dishes forever. I imagined a life full of sad chicken breasts plopped on top of a bed of vegetables. Then, I discovered that you can make a healthier version of all your favorite dishes by making a few creative ingredient swaps. This low-carb Stuffed Philly Chicken Peppers Recipe is the perfect example!

It’s a guilt-free, healthy alternative to a Philly cheesesteak. Instead of using fatty beef, we use lean chicken breasts instead. Cooked up with onions and the perfect blend of seasonings, you definitely own’t miss the beef! Then, we tossed out the bread and opted for bell pepper halves, which add the perfect amount of flavor and crunch to this low-carb treat. It’s a filling and delicious way to keep you on track with your diet or weight loss plan without any of the guilt!

What Kind Of Chicken Should You Use?

To make this Stuffed Philly Chicken Peppers Recipe, we used two 4-ounce chicken breast tenderloins to create the filling. You could certainly use whole chicken breasts if that’s what you have on-hand, but the tenderloins turn out perfectly juicy and tender. We slice them horizontally – the same way you would slice a steak – so they mimic the size and texture of authentic Philly cheesesteak beef.

If you have leftover chicken from a previous meal, you could certainly use that instead of cooking the chicken from-scratch. We’d recommend avoiding strongly-seasoned chicken, since we’re adding a ton of seasonings to this dish to make it taste authentic. But, leftovers from something like this One-Pan Honey Roasted Chicken or an Instant Pot Chicken Pot Roast would be just fine.

If you need this dish to be quicker and easier, you could pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Just be aware that they usually add extra ingredients before cooking up the chickens, so make sure to check the ingredient label. It’s always best to buy an organic, sustainably raised chicken. And, avoid anything that has sodium phosphate, dextrose, or carrageenan on the label.

Make It Your Own

Feel free to make a few simple ingredient swaps to make this recipe your own! Try substituting turkey for the chicken, or opt to use sweeter red or yellow bell peppers in lieu of green peppers. Play around with the cheesy topping, swapping in Pepperjack to add some spice, cheddar for extra-savory peppers, or stick with the classic provolone for the most tried-and-true Philly cheesesteak flavor.

If calories aren’t a concern and you want to make these peppers more filling, you can also serve them with a side of brown rice or quinoa. Those mushroom-packed Philly cheesesteak lovers can also add some sautéed mushrooms to the filling. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, these Stuffed Philly Chicken Peppers Recipe will be a hit with the whole family!

Stuffed Philly Chicken Peppers Recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 chicken breast fillets, sliced across horizontally
1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar (gluten-free recommended)
2 bell peppers, cut in half with seeds removed
2 slices provolone cheese, reduced fat

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and the chicken and cook unit browned. Stir in the salt, cayenne, and Balsamic. Continue cooking until chicken is cooked through.
Cut the bell peppers in half and remove the core and seeds. Fill the peppers with the chicken mixture and lay in a baking dish. Add a few tablespoons water to the bottom of the dish and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 35 minutes.
Remove the cover and top each bell pepper half with a half slice of provolone. Put back in the oven uncovered, and bake until cheese is browned and bubbly, 5-10 more minutes.

https://skinnyms.com/stuffed-philly-chicken-peppers-recipe/

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Super Easy 3-Ingredient Chicken for Two

Get ready for one of the easiest meals of your life! After all, how could it get any easier than combining a chicken breast, your favorite salsa, and some balsamic vinegar? This Super Easy 3-Ingredient Chicken for Two creates the perfect amount of savory, shredded chicken for any low-calorie chicken lunch or dinner. Once you’ve made it, you can use this chicken for almost anything. Serve it on whole-wheat buns to make chicken sandwiches, or wrap it up in a tortilla for tacos. Or, skip the bread altogether and eat it over quinoa, brown rice, or a bed of lettuce. The possibilities are endless!

We love that this Super Easy 3-Ingredient Chicken for Two only requires three ingredients, but that’s not the only reason to fall in love with this simple recipe. The easy slow-cooking method is just as impressive as the low ingredient count! You can add the ingredients to your 2- or 3-quart slow cooker in the morning and come home to a fragrant-smelling home. You’ll have a delicious, fuss-free dinner ready and waiting for you!

The Power of Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is one of our favorite flavoring ingredients. It’s sweet, tangy, and full of deep, rich flavor. Most people think of salad dressing when they think of balsamic, but adding a spoonful of this vinegar to your favorite soups and stews is a sure-fire way to add depth. Or, you can add it to dressings or sauces to add a touch of sweetness. When its combined with your favorite chunky salsa (like in this recipe), you’ll be completely amazed.

This recipe really is proof that you don’t have to work hard to create flavorful, healthy food. The balsamic vinegar not only tenderizes the chicken breasts, but it also balances out the acidity in the salsa. And, if you choose a spicy salsa, the vinegar’s sweetness will help to mellow out the harsh spices. In short, it creates an incredible sauce that’s craveably good.

So there you have it: simple, easy, and delicious. Each serving is also packed full of protein in a low-calorie package, making this shredded chicken recipe perfect for just about anyone. We can’t wait for you to try it!

Super Easy 3-Ingredient Chicken for Two

Ingredients

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 6 ounces)
1 cup sugar-free chunky salsa
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Instructions

Add the chicken breasts to a 2- or 3-quart slow cooker and pour the salsa and balsamic vinegar on top.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Shred the cooked chicken with a fork and mix it into the salsa mixture.
TIP: This recipe makes delicious tacos or burritos. If desired, add additional garnishes, like lettuce or cheese. It also makes great sandwiches when served on buns.

https://skinnyms.com/super-easy-3-ingredient-chicken-for-two/

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25 Thanksgiving Dishes You Can Make in a Crock Pot

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course–food. So many people join together with their loved ones to reflect on their abundance and focus on what really matters the most. However, there’s another side to Thanksgiving that includes stressing about what to cook, when to cook it, and how to perfectly time everything so it’s all served up fresh and warm. To say that Thanksgiving dinner can be a little overwhelming is probably a huge understatement! If you want to make this year’s dinner a breeze, check out these Thanksgiving dishes you can make in a Crock Pot.

Why use a slow cooker instead of the oven? It’s fast, simple, and it’s sure to create delicious results. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a total newbie, a Crock Pot will take out the guesswork out of cooking so you can get back to enjoying the time you have with your loved ones. Don’t fret this year: Instead, try one of these incredible Thanksgiving dishes!

1. Slow-Cooker 5-Ingredient Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash is always a terrific side at Thanksgiving. Give your family and friends a different take on this traditional Thanksgiving veggie by serving it up in warm, creamy soup. It has all the flavors of Fall that everybody loves, and it’s always nice to switch things up a bit.

2. Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce

Want to bring something other than a pie for dessert? Check out this amazing Cinnamon Applesauce recipe! It pairs nicely with traditional thanksgiving foods and the kids at the table will definitely give you the thumbs up. It’s a simple little side dish that nobody will be able to pass up. Try it–you’ll see!

3. Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Cooking for a smaller crowd? Try this turkey breast recipe. It’s one of the best Thanksgiving dishes you can make in a Crock Pot! The result is a tender, scrumptious turkey without too many leftovers to worry about. Not to mention it’s melt-in-your-mouth good!

4. Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

What kind of Thanksgiving table would it be without a heaping bowl of Mac and Cheese? This delectable dish is everything you could possibly want out of a comfort food. The best part? It requires virtually no time in the kitchen! Just combine all the ingredients in the Crock Pot and you are good to go.

5. Pumpkin Oatmeal Crock Pot Recipe

Personally, I believe that Thanksgiving starts at breakfast. If you want to kick things off the right way, check out one of the most incredible Thanksgiving dishes you can make in a Crock Pot. This Pumpkin Oatmeal has all the flavors you love packed into each and every spoonful of this delicious breakfast food.

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Monday, October 29, 2018

Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup for Two

Every once and a while, I’ll stumble upon a soup recipe that’s so good I make it once a week. I’m the type of eater that gets bored with repetitive meals, so I usually keep a lot of variety in my diet. If I’m that enthralled with a recipe, you know it has to be delicious! This year, I found this Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup for Two, and I can’t stop eating it. It completely blows me away with its simple combination of Southwestern ingredients. They work together to create such complex flavors!

It’s not just about the fire-roasted tomatoes (although, those are good, especially when you make them yourself). The Anaheim or Poblano chilies by themselves are just okay, nothing to write home about. And black beans are just black beans, right? Wrong! Once you simmer those things together with smoky cumin and coriander and top it off with fresh cilantro, you’ll come to realize that this soup is more than just the sum of its parts.

Get a Full Serving of Vegetables

In addition to all the protein and fiber you’ll get from the black beans, you’ll definitely get a full serving of vegetables with this Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup for Two. It has a little bit of everything: pungent garlic and onions, soft carrots, spicy peppers, iron-rich spinach, and superfood sweet potatoes. Not to mention all the antioxidants from the herbaceous cilantro!

Even if you’re a red-blooded meat eater (like me), you’ll love this vegetarian soup. If you skip the optional Greek yogurt and cheese topping, this soup contains only plant-based ingredients. That makes it qualify for vegan diets, as well as dairy-free and gluten-free diets.

The other benefit of eating a vegetable-rich soup like this? It’s relatively inexpensive! The meat is usually the most expensive part of the meal, and since this is a vegetarian soup, it should only cost about $7 to make. Since you get two portions out of it, that means each meal is less than $3.50! You can barely get a fast-food meal for that price, and at significantly less nutrition, too.

Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup for Two

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5-ounce) can fire roasted, diced tomatoes
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 cup diced sweet onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 carrot, diced
1 mild green chili (such as Anaheim or Poblano), seeded and diced
1/2 cup 1/2-inch diced sweet potato
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for a spicy soup)
1 cup baby spinach
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cheddar cheese, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a 2- or 3-quart slow cooker, stir. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours, or until the carrots are tender.
Stir in the spinach and fresh cilantro and allow it to wilt before serving. If desired, top with a dollop of Greek yogurt or reduced-fat cheddar cheese.

https://skinnyms.com/quick-and-easy-slow-cooker-black-bean-soup-for-two/

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7 Breakfast Recipes Under 300 Calories

Who doesn’t love a good breakfast? I know I do! Some of the best foods ever created are breakfast foods. The only problem is that traditional breakfast favorites like French toast, pancakes, bacon, and sausage can really pack in the calories. If you’re following a restricted-calorie diet, you certainly don’t want to blow a huge chunk of your allotted calories on the first meal of the day. That might leave you thinking that you have to eat a sad grapefruit or a lonely bowl of yogurt instead of a full-flavored, tasty breakfast.

Before you find yourself skipping the most important meal of the day to save the calories, read on because we have some great news: You can have your pancakes and eat them, too! To help you create delicious breakfast foods that also happen to be healthy, we created this list of 7 breakfast recipes under 300 calories. At 300 calories per recipe, each breakfast clocks in at only a fourth (or, less) of your calorie allowance for the day. How great is that!

1. 4-Ingredient Protein Pancakes

As promised, you can have pancakes for breakfast! These easy, high-protein pancakes come in at just 59 calories per serving. That leaves plenty of room to add berries or sugar-free syrup to your pancakes. You could even add a side of turkey bacon and still stay under 300 calories! You could also try our Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes variation to switch things up from time-to-time.

2. Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Even French toast isn’t off-limits on a restricted-calorie diet! Each half-cup serving of this Blueberry French Toast Casserole has a measly 123 calories. That makes it one of our favorite breakfast recipes under 300 calories!

3. Mediterranean Egg White Frittata

Frittatas are an excellent choice for your daily breakfast, or you can serve them for weekend brunch. They’re high in protein and the flavor possibilities are endless! This skinny frittata features veggies, oregano, and feta cheese to add a pop of Mediterranean flavor. The 161 calories per serving is also nowhere near our 300 calorie goal!

4. Strawberry Waffles

Yes, even waffles have a place on the breakfast plate if you’re counting calories! These gluten-free waffles are naturally sweetened with fruit and they come in at just over 200 calories per serving. That leaves plenty of wiggle room to add some protein powder or an egg to up the protein content. And don’t forget the light syrup!

5. Banana Walnut Overnight Oatmeal

Oatmeal is another breakfast staple that can be heavy on the calories if you aren’t careful! Our Banana Walnut Overnight Oatmeal is made with hearty oats, bananas, and walnuts. It will keep your morning on track with only 213 calories per serving!

6. Skinny Breakfast Sausage and Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

Being able to eat sausage and a biscuit under 300 calories is sweet news to this Southern soul! The Skinny Breakfast Sausage clocks in at 85 calories per patty while the Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits are 183 calories each. That’s only 268 calories total for a homemade, Southern-style comfort breakfast!

7. Cinnamon Rolls

That’s right, you read that correctly! Cinnamon rolls made our list of breakfast recipes under 300 calories! This is truly a triumph of human ingenuity (okay, and all of our recipe creators at Skinny Ms). Each of these sweet (but healthy) beauties is 266 calories, which leaves you just enough calories left to scramble up a couple of egg whites to add extra protein. You’re welcome!

This is such a short list, but we have so many breakfast recipes under 300 calories that we made room for a few honorable mentions:

Want more? Okay, you got it!

Still hungry for more? Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for skinny recipes, tips, meal plans, and more to help keep you on track for your healthy lifestyle!

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One Pot Zucchini and Mushroom Spaghetti

I’ve been cooking a lot of one-pot dinners recently, and honestly, I can’t get enough of ’em. I just love how easy they are to make–most of my favorite skinny one-pot recipes are ready in less than 30 minutes! This One Pot Zucchini and Mushroom Spaghetti recipe is no different. You basically throw everything into your favorite skillet (uncooked pasta and all) and let it simmer up for 10 short minutes. The pasta absorbs all the water while releasing its starches, creating a super creamy, flavorful sauce.

But, we all know that’s not why I love this recipe so much. Yes, it’s filled with nutritious ingredients that taste great, and yes, it’s so easy to make that it definitely qualifies as a weeknight dinner. But, those aren’t the reasons, either. It’s all about the cleanup! After making this dish, my kitchen isn’t filled with a half-dozen prep bowls, and I don’t have multiple pots and pans to clean, either. Usually, my rule is “I cook, you clean,” but I don’t even need to enforce that with this One Pot Zucchini and Mushroom Spaghetti dish!

You Won’t Miss the Meat

Okay, I’m sure we’ve all had enough of my love-fest with the one-pot meal. Let’s take a second to celebrate the meatless ingredients in this vegetarian pasta recipe. The mushrooms give the dish a meaty texture while the watery zucchini cooks down to creamy perfection. Then there’s the whole wheat pasta, which has the perfect amount of chew. Finish it off with melty Parmesan cheese and fresh, herbaceous parsley and you’ll find that this dish has so much flavor and texture that you really don’t miss the meat!

If you are a red-blooded meat eater and you can’t imagine a meal without it, you could add some chicken meatballs or turkey bacon if you want. But, I’d challenge you to try it as-is and let us know if you found it fully satisfying. It certainly has enough protein to fill you up and keep you feeling full for hours afterward.

Let’s Chat Pasta

Sometimes, it feels like pasta is under attack. You can’t eat it on the many low-carb diets like Keto, and restricted ingredients diets like Paleo definitely have pasta listed as an off-limits food. If you’re on any one of those meal plans, or you’re following a gluten-free diet, never fear: this dish would taste just as good if you swapped in zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. But, for those of you who can eat grains, I’d urge you to give the whole-wheat pasta a chance.

You see, whole-wheat pasta is actually pretty good for you! It’s full of heart-healthy grains and unlike simple sugars, these carbohydrates are slowly digested by the body. That’s because they’re complex carbohydrates, long chains of sugars that take a while for your body to break down. You’ll not only get long-lasting energy from these types of carbs, but they’ll also work hard to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Sounds about perfect to me! A low-calorie meal that’s full of protein-packed ingredients, balanced nutrition, and healthy carbohydrates. It’s a great way to celebrate Meatless Monday, or whip up this recipe if you’re just craving more vegetables in your diet. And, it doesn’t hurt that it’s easy enough to make (and clean up) after a super busy weekday.

One Pot Zucchini and Mushroom Spaghetti

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

One Pot Zucchini and Mushroom Spaghetti

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
2 zucchini, sliced into 1/4 inch half moons
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound uncooked whole wheat spaghetti
4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

In a large skillet on medium heat add the olive oil. Once hot, add the mushrooms, zucchini, garlic, and thyme. Cook, stirring often for about 5 minutes. Add the spaghetti and water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes or until water is absorbed and pasta is tender. Stir in the parmesan and sprinkle with parsley. Serve.

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Sunday, October 28, 2018

Blueberry Oat Pancakes

When I think of pancakes, it always brings me back to my childhood. Any time we were celebrating a special occasion, we’d come downstairs to find a tall, fluffy stack of pancakes on the table. It was never a surprise because we could smell the sweet maple syrup all the way from our bedrooms! While pancakes were considered an ultra-special treat, I wouldn’t exactly say my Dad’s pancakes were healthy. We only bought fake, sugary syrup back in those days. Not to mention that the pancakes themselves were loaded up with butter and unhealthy fats. That’s why I love these Blueberry Oat Pancakes. They taste like a treat, but they’re the perfect way to start your morning off on a healthy note!

We made a few ingredient substitutions to create a high-fiber pancake filled with healthy fats. It’s a low calorie breakfast that loaded with flavor. And, it’s sure to keep you full all morning long! And the best part is how we sweeten these pancakes. Our Blueberry Oat Pancakes don’t contain any refined sugar: just a little honey.

How To Make a Better Pancake

Once we started playing around with the ingredients, we realized that it was easier than we thought to make a better pancake. Traditional pancakes are made with all-purpose flour, eggs, melted butter, milk, and sugar. Then, they’re topped with syrup. We’re completely fine if you want to add maple syrup to this recipe, but we do have an alternative that we’ll tell you about in just a moment. If you are going to use maple syrup, make sure you buy 100 percent pure maple syrup – not the fake stuff my Dad used to buy!

Instead of using white, refined flour, we swapped in rolled oats, coconut flour, and whole-wheat flour. This creates the perfect combination of binding power while creating a high-fiber pancake. Next up, we wanted to amp up the protein content of the pancakes and swap-in healthy fats. So, we chose nutrient-dense sources by adding Greek yogurt and coconut oil. The result is so delicious, you’d never know that these Blueberry Oat Pancakes are super healthy!

Finally, we sweetened things up by adding a touch of honey instead of refined sugar and we top the pancakes with fresh blueberries to add additional sweet flavor. These hearty pancakes are great by themselves or topped with more fresh fruit. If you like, you can drizzle them with maple syrup, but be aware that that will add an extra 50 calories per tablespoon.

Go ahead and make these Blueberry Oat Pancakes for a special occasion brunch, or make a large batch of them on the weekend to feed yourself all week long. You can quickly reheat them for busy mornings and they make a great grab-and-go breakfast!

Watch this video to see how to make Blueberry Oat Pancakes.

Blueberry Oat Pancakes

Ingredients

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (non-fat)
1/2 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed and patted dry

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients except blueberries and mix. Batter can still be a little lumpy. Gently fold in blueberries until combined.
Lightly spray skillet with nonstick spray and heat on medium high. Once pan is hot, pour approximately 1/4 cup batter onto skillet forming a pancake. When the edges of the pancake begin to look dry and bubbles in the center begin to pop, quickly but gently flip the pancake. Cook until the second side is golden brown. Repeat with remaining batter.
Serve with you favorite toppings, such as fresh fruit, maple syrup, or honey.

https://skinnyms.com/blueberry-oat-pancakes/

You may also enjoy Greek Yogurt Pancakes with Blueberries & Honey or Almond Blueberry Pancakes with Chocolate Ganache!

Check out our Pinterest and Facebook for more clean eating advice, healthy recipes, and weight loss tips.

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