Recipes for Labor Day Leftovers

As you may know, Labor Day was celebrated yesterday. For most of us this meant barbecuing, beaching, and all out relaxing. Of course, there is plenty of eating to go along! For all those out there who had massive parties or even just made some massive amounts of food, you could be looking at some serious leftovers. Of course, there is always the option to eat those leftovers just the way you made them, but, if you want to mix it up a bit, these recipes could help! 

Barbecue Chicken Salad

This recipe uses two things you may have leftover- barbecue chicken and corn on the cob. Whether you are making this as a quick lunch or light dinner, it will be fantastic! Keep it simple by using Worcestershire sauce like the recipe suggests, or really go out and use that delicious, delicious ranch dressing. Yum!

Crab Rolls

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Yesterday we had a low country broil for dinner, sans the potatoes. Yes, it was amazing and I almost wish I had not gorged myself so we could have any leftovers to make these with! Unfortunately, we ate way too much and have no leftovers left. It was totally worth it though ;) Low country broils may be my favorite meal ever to exist!

If you, however, do have crab leftover in your fridge, there is a pretty great chance you will want to use it fast and not in the same way you prepared it. Both of these recipes will be great for day-old crab, just be sure to use it quick! Of course, either one can also be supplemented with shrimp, lobster, or canned crab as well. The first recipe option above is a bit healthier. With only 238 calories and 5 grams fat, it is almost half of the Panera-recommended option. Of course, the slightly less healthy one also seems slightly easier to make.

Oh, and just because it came up with my "crab roll" search, here is a super yummy looking recipe for cinnamon roll protein pancakes. Yes, please!

Wine Granita

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This might just be the best use of stale wine or beer ever. And, if you had a Labor Day party, there is a chance you have a bit of both. Instead of sadly pouring it down the sink, simultaneously wasting your libations and giving your house that oh-so sought after fraternity house smell, use it for a dessert! These granitas will save all that unused wine and beer and the best part is you actually want it to be stale.

For those with some serious dessert leftovers, this list of ways to use cake could be super handy! This one is great for any of those pies and cobblers you still have hanging around.

Good Snacking

Sometimes I feel like food hoarder. There are those days when I absolutely forget to eat anything until 4 pm or so. Then, the to-go menu is my oyster and there is no amount of fries in the world, nay universe, to satiate my hunger. Those are bad days that are usually followed with the most bloated feeling ever. 

What I have noticed, along with most other dietitians out there, is that my body works waayy better when I eat plenty of small meals throughout the day instead of a couple of big ones. I stay fuller longer, have more energy, and restaurants do not confuse my order for one as an order for four. Really, I think all restaurants should make a rule to only give a max of two plastic forks or sets of chopsticks per order. There is no reason to feel judgment from your cutlery, restaurants. 

Thankfully, there are plenty of easy, healthy ways to snack that do not include food hoarding or way more chopsticks than I could ever use. One of my absolute favorite snack combos is nuts and dried fruit. Nothing is as filling for me and it combines that sweet and salty taste that I cannot get enough of. Having easy to eat, easy to get to snacks around is one of my secret weapons for staying on a healthy track, both physically and mentally. 

It is pretty obvious then, that I was psyched when Graze told me about their yummy, healthy subscription box that sends me snacks whenever I want them. Even better, all health and nutritional information is on the site and we get to choose what comes in the next order. Yea, its kind of the best thing ever. 

Snacks range in health benefits from being low carb to high protein. All snacks are easily categorized into types of food and health benefits so no matter what you want, you can find it and get it quick. And, if you get something that you love or hate, you can add a note to that item. Yep, Graze will learn your preferences and keep them in mind for choosing your future snacks. 

There are two types of boxes you can order from Graze, the nibble box and the calorie counter box. So far, I have tried the nibble boxes and love them. My favorite snacks have been the Banana's Foster and Apple Cosmo. So good! I am also dying to try the Cheese Board and Veggie Sushi Plate from the Savory Selections menu. 

Since Graze hooked me up big time, all links here will take you through my personal site. For every three friends I refer, Graze sends me one free box. The awesome news is that this perk is available for you as well when you start up your Graze account. Be sure to let your friends know and get those noms for free! 

Each box has four snack packs that are one serving each and cost a total of $6. Depending on where you live, you can get snack packs delivered once a week or twice a month. The boxes are quite small, so they will also fit into almost any regular mailbox. 

Healthier Sweet Tooth Recipes for Cravings

We all get them, this past week I would of done almost anything for a cookie. I still have not eaten said cookie but have, through trying to avoid it, eaten far worse things. Sometimes, cravings just happen and ignoring them can just make it worse. These recipes are for those times when we just want a freakin' brownie but know it will set us off our health and fitness track. These guys can be eaten without the added carbs, fats, and most importantly, guilt added on. 

I would also oh-so highly recommend checking out Chocolate-Covered Katie for all your sweet tooth recipe modifying needs. This entire post could have been about her recipes, but it is not. For realzies though, any sweet tooth recipe rendition you want can be found there :)

Snickerdoodle Blondies from Damy Health

Low-Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies from Skinny Taste

Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies from Chocolate-Covered Katie

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies from Sally's Baking Addiction

Creamless Chocolate Ice Cream from Eating Well

No Bake Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies from Chocolate-Covered Katie

Chickpea Chocolate Chip "Cookie Dough" Bites from Pumps and Iron

Healthy St. Patrick's Day Recipes

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and I cannot wait. The hubs and I will be celebrating this Irish holiday for the first time ever, which is a bit ridiculous considering he is part Irish. Even though we will not be home, I do plan on making some fun foods and [at least] looking at some yummy drinks.

Thank goodness there are so many healthy green foods that taste delicious; it makes this St. Patrick's Day food planning so much easier! Of course, we could make guacamole, it's green, right? But let's take these recipes a bit beyond the normal and do some super yummy, somewhat easy, and very Irish for this holiday celebrating one of Ireland's most well known patron saints.

Also, have you decided what green thing you are wearing yet? The hubs said that mint green was out of the question for a real Irish place, so I am now at a loss. Are forest green pants "green" enough? Hopefully.

Matcha Green Tea Pancakes

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Let's starts St. Patrick's Day off right with some super yummy, pretty healthy, and nothing to do with Ireland Matcha Green Tea Pancakes. No, these pancakes are not from a recipe out or Ireland itself and a I kind of doubt that many Irish people will be eating them on the 17th. But, they are green pancakes that I do not have to feel guilty for eating and that is good enough for me!

Kale and Leek Colcannon

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Colcannon is a traditional Irish food that uses potatoes, kale, cabbage, or leeks. At Halloween it is an Irish tradition to make colcannon and hide coins in it for others to find while eating. Although this colcannon does not come with money, it does come with some seriously good superfoods that taste like good ol' comfort food.

Potato-Cabbage Soup

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Yes, another green dish. What can I say, I love the cheeball in this holiday. This potato and cabbage soup is another Irish dish that is surprisingly healthy, green, and yummy. This recipe is also quite simple and quick o make, as far as soups go.

Spicy Tahini Baked Kale Chips

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This recipe is great at any time of the year and I will alsways find an excuse to make it. Kale chips are amazing. They are yummy, healthy, and take care of that pesky potato chip craving that I get like ALL THE TIME. Yes, I am a recovery potato chip addict. Phew, feels good to get that off my chest.

Roasted Lemon Cabbage

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If you are planning on having corned beef and cabbage on St/ Patty's Day, Kalyn recommends this roasted cabbage recipe and I quite agree with her. If I liked cabbage, I would be making this yummy looking dish right now instead of writing about it to you. Thankfully for all cabbage lovers out there, I am not the greatest fan of this super healthy superfood. Grow-up, taste buds so that I can enjoy this fantastic looking dish.

Lucky Leprechaun Dip

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You had me at tahini. Yes, this dip has white beans, tahini, cashews, kale, and parsley. So far, it sounds like the best green dip to ever be created in the history of man. It is also pre-named for St. Patrick's Day so even the cute name creation has been done for us.

Green Mac n' Cheese

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Homemade mac n' cheese just might be my kryptonite. I cannot say no. This mac n' cheese comes in the green variety and is much healthier than our usual carb and fat filled option. The green in this is from fresh spinach that has been pureed.

Guiness Float

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You read that correct. This is a dessert and an Irish drink all in one. It is also the first (and only) thing on our St. Patrick's Day list that is not green. But, it is Guiness and ice cream, so I think I can survive it's lack of proper pigmentation.

Side note: The Guiness float is not exactly what I would call healthy.