Thursday, February 28, 2013

Healthy Student on a Budget: Matt's After Workout Smoothie

By: Matt Botelho

My tropical protein shake!!

Ingredients:

- 1 Banana

- 100ml Vanilla Greek Yogurt

- Frozen field berries ( strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blue berries)

- 2 Kiwis

- 4 Strawberries

- 1 cup of chocolate whey protein powder

- 350ml water, and 3 cubes of ice

This is my personal favorite smoothie, because it tastes great, good for you and great after a workout. Since we are on budget lets keep it simple.

Just add:

- 1 Banana, and 3 - 4 strawberries

- cheaper brand yogurt (doesn't have to be Greek yogurt)

- water, and milk.

Not everyone is going to buy protein powder since it is costly, the example below cost me $22.99CAD, and that is one of the cheaper brands out there.

If you're not a big fan of fruits and veggies. Making smoothies is a great way to get your intake in vitamins and minerals.

Some tips on making great tasting smoothies are:

1) Make sure you add ice or frozen fruit - without these two items your smoothie would taste weird because it isn't cold. Adding one of these two will help keep your smoothie cold and tasting great.

2) Adding yogurt - adding yogurt can help the taste in your smoothie. Using yogurt with zero percent fat would be make it healthier. Vanilla or strawberry flavors would be ideal. Reasons to go for Greek yogurt is the added protein in i. Personally I would go with the brand Liberte Greek Yogurt. They are probably one of the best tasting brands of yogurt I have come across.

3) Make sure to use water over milk - In the past I have made smoothies just using milk, and the smoothie was very thick. By using water it is easier to digest, you can also add water and milk depending on your liking.

4) Experimenting - adding different things to it can help your love for smoothies.

Please feel free to comment with your own recipes, and try this out!!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Saving Money in College

It is Wednesday already! I hope everyone is enjoying their reading week, and for those of you who had it last week hopefully you’re enjoying your school week/mid terms. Today, I am going to answer the question that just about every college student asks themselves “How do I save money?” Many of you probably think of it as a very complex answer with no simple solutions but, the truth is that there are a lot of small things you can do which will make a big difference.

Some areas that you can save money in are:

Manage the money that you do have
School books
Food
Set a budget
Living expenses
Shopping
Transportation
Communications
Necessities
Exercise

I will go over a few of these in more detail.

Manage the money that you do have: If you can manage the money you do have then it can go a long way towards saving your money.

Tip #1: Don’t carry too much money around with you when you go shopping or go out. The thinking behind this is that if you don’t have the cash with you then you won’t spend it.

Tip #2: Pay all of your bills a bit early to ensure they are paid on time. Late fees are always a killer because they don’t seem significant but they add up.

Tip #3: Make sure that the money that you put in the bank is in a student bank account otherwise you will get hit with a lot of excess charges for too many transactions and other hidden fees. If your bank doesn't currently offer student bank accounts then shop around for one that does. Most of the big name banks do have these offers.

School books: From personal experience I know that textbooks are very costly and they tend to have no use after the class is done. This is a major cost so I will put a few more tips under this section than the others.

Tip #1: Go to the first class and ensure that the textbook is actually required. If it isn’t a requirement then you don’t need to waste your money on it.

Tip #2: Split the costs of the textbook with a classmate. If you split the costs then you can both make a schedule to see who uses it on which dates.

Tip #3: Rent your textbooks from the bookstore. A new option being offered is to rent the textbook and it cuts costs. Like I mentioned above, you usually have no use for the book after the class is done so you just

return it and save money.

Tip #4: Purchase the book online from other students. Often times there are other students who have the book you need and they sell them online for cheaper than the bookstore.

Tip #5: Purchase used books instead of brand new. The savings can be significant when you purchase used books, plus many of the used books are in very good condition.

Tip #6: Sell your books at the end of the semester. If your book is being used by other classes, then you can sell it back to the bookstore or online to someone and get some of the money back.

Food: Whether you live on your own or with your parents you need to try to keep your food expenses as low as possible in order to save money.

Tip #1: Try to make all of your meals on your own. If you go to fast food restaurants the costs add up and it will take away a lot of your extra money. If you want some ideas, look at some of our previous blog postings.

Tip #2: Instead of buying coffee/tea every morning make it yourself. Sure, you may think it is not related to food because it is beverages but every time you buy a coffee/tea then you have the urge to buy donuts or other snack from the coffee shop.

Tip #3: Collect coupons. You can collect coupons for fast food restaurants which can be your treat for the month/week. You can also collect coupons for the grocery store, which can save you big money.

Tip #4: It may sound cheap but if you’re going on a date, try preparing the meal yourself. It shows that you’re making the effort and care about the person. Plus, you save money because you don’t have to worry about a tip! Look at that, dating advice in a money saving blog post. Now back on topic!

Set a budget: Setting a budget is one of the most important things you can do because it will help you allot you’re money appropriately. Many people try to set a budget but get carried away and don't follow it. The key is to set it and follow it.

Tip #1: Budgets can be set on a weekly basis or on a monthly basis, it's completely up to you.

Tip #2: Be realistic! A lot of people overestimate how much money they have and how much they can spend. Also, some people underestimate how much money they will need for certain areas.

Tip #3: You can get some budgeting tips from Robyn's previous post Student Cooking on a Budget

Communications: If you're away from home or stay in contact with distant relatives or friends then phone bills could be the end of you.

Tip #1: Use Skype. It uses some of your Internet usage but in the long run it definitely beats long distance bills. Also, with Skype you can do video calls so you can see the person you're talking to which is a better experience than just talking on the phone.

Tip #2: Shop around for a phone plan that includes long distance calling for a good price. Make sure the plan includes everything that you need and if it doesn't then check around because many companies offer competitive student plans for good prices.

That covers a few of the most important areas where you can save money. If you have any questions or if you want more tips in a specific area just let us know in the comment section. Feel free to share some of your tips as well. Thanks for reading, and hopefully you enjoyed it! Don't study too hard!

- Kurtis

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Healthy Students on a Budget: Easy Squash Noodles to Replace Those Carb Filled Spaghetti Noodles

Spaghetti has to be one of the most comforting foods ever. It is my absolute favourite! Not to say that is a good thing but it is my go to. I've never been one to count calories or anything like that but a few weeks ago, my friends and I went to Boston Pizza and my friend wouldn't order pasta because he was cutting out carbs. This was an odd thing to me, because again it is probably the third love of my life...boyfriend and hockey being 1 and 2. Gee, this blog is turning into my life story instead of a recipe.

Anyways, as we were searching for topics for this blog I came across this recipe of squash noodles. That seemed so weird to me, but when you think about it they are the same texture and can soak up the sauce just as good. I have read that it is less filling so you will probably end up eating more, but I guess its better to eat more squash then pasta noodles, right?

The recipe I found tells you to use a julienne peeler. Okay, that is a really fancy item and you probably have it at home, but since the point of this blog is for "students", use a fork.

That is the peeler, see those teeth? That would be your fork. They might not look as pretty but they will taste just as yummy.

Here is the recipe. It calls for ghee, I've never heard of it so I'm assuming its not easily found, but it says you can use clarified butter as well.

Squash Noodles

Serves: 2

Ingredients

3 large summer squashes, yellow or green
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ghee or clarified butter
1 clove garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste (Tip: If you are trying to cut out the salt I would just use pepper since there is already salt in the recipe and I'm sure your sauce will have salt as well)

Instructions

Using a julienne peeler (fork for us students), peel the squashes, including the skins, all the way down to the seeds. Discard the core.

Place the strings of squash in a large bowl and toss with the tablespoon of salt; set aside for 30 minutes

Using a fine-mesh sieve, (again as a student, its probably at home in your moms drawer, so use just a strainer, or if you don't have one use paper towel and squeeze the heck out of it), drain the liquid from the squash and rinse to remove the salt. Turn the squash noodles onto paper towels and lightly squeeze dry. (Hey! If you use the paper towel you kill two birds with one stone!)

In case you were wondering, this is a sieve.

Melt the butter in a skillet or sauté pan large enough to hold the squash noodles over medium heat; lightly cook the garlic for about a minute. Add the noodles and sauté, tossing and turning constantly, until the squash is heated through, about 2 or 3 minutes. Season as needed with salt and pepper.

Divide between two plates and top with your favourite pasta sauce.

Nutrition (per serving): 88 calories, 4.4g total fat, 10.2mg cholesterol, 879.3mg sodium, 853.6mg potassium, 11.3g carbohydrates, 3.6g fibre, 7.1g sugar, 4g protein.

Regular Pasta Noodles: (per 1 cup) 221 calories, 1.3g fat, 43.2g carbohydrates, 8.1g protein, 2.5g fibre, 1mg sodium (this is just in the noodle, these haven't been cooked yet. After salting water and sauce there will be a whole lot more)

The main difference is the carbs, which is why people won't eat pasta to begin with. This makes this recipe healthier.

Easy Sauce Recipe

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 28-oz diced tomatoes (or 2 lbs fresh, diced + 1/4 cup water)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
1 1/2 tbsp sugar ( or 1 tbsp if using balsamic vinegar)
1 tsp dried oregano (or 2 tsp fresh, chopped)
2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed (or 1 1/2 tbsp fresh, finely chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook for about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook together for about 4 minutes or until onions are soft and translucent. Add oregano and rosemary to onion and garlic and cook for another minute or two.

2. To the vegetables, add tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, and sugar. Stir well, combining all flavours. Salt and pepper to taste. Bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes up to 1 hour, adding water, a tablespoon at a time, if necessary. (Only if you use fresh tomatoes)

3. Serve over your squash noodles.

This is easy to freeze and defrost for up to 3 months.

Nutrition:

52 calories, 1.8g fat, .75g fibre, .75g protein

Link to Noodles
Link to Sauce Recipe

Until next time!

--Robyn

Monday, February 25, 2013

Fudgy Cream Cheese Brownies

Happy Monday again to all, also happy reading week or midterm week to all students!

Today I thought I'd focus on another amazing dessert recipe that I stumbled upon on, on Health.com. I have made this brownie recipe once now, and I can't wait to make it again. It takes little preparation, and literally no time at all. I think I spent more time savouring the flavour, than actually making them.

So here we go.

Nutritional Information

Calories per serving:	127
Calories per serving:	0.0%
Fat per serving:	6.7g
Saturated fat per serving:	2.8g
Monounsaturated fat per serving:	0.0g
Polyunsaturated fat per serving:	0.0g
Protein per serving:	2.9g
Carbohydrates per serving:	14.1g
Fiber per serving:	0.1g
Cholesterol per serving:	25mg
Iron per serving:	0.0mg
Sodium per serving:	107mg
Calcium per serving:	0.0mg

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons reduced-calorie stick margarine, softened

• 1 large egg

• 1 large egg white

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

• Cooking spray

• 1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 cup "measures-like-sugar" calorie-free sweetener

• 3 tablespoons 1% low-fat milk

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 350°.

2. Beat sugar and margarine with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. (I just used a whisk, because I don't have an electric mixer right now.)

3. Add an egg, egg white, and vanilla; beat well (or whisk well).

4. Gradually add flour and the cocoa, beating well (whisking well).

5. Pour the mixture into an 8-inch square pan coated, that you have coated well with cooking spray (or another alternative would be vegetable oil).

6. Beat the cream cheese and sweetener with a mixer at high speed until smooth.(I didn't have sweetener, so I opted out just to use normal white sugar).

7. Add the milk; beat well.

8. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate mixture; swirl together using the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect. (Mine did not look like the picture, but tasted exactly like a brownie cheesecake).

9. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

Just saw this tip now, so that's why mine did not look like the picture.

***Tip: Don't use reduced-calorie or fat-free tub margarine in this recipe because those products contain water, which will make the brownies gummy.***

I hope you all enjoy this recipe as much as I do, and I hope that they turn out better than my first attempt.

Bon Appetit!

--Kate

Friday, February 22, 2013

Stop Stressing 101

As I sit here patiently waiting for my vehicle to get an oil change, I was daydreaming of what the topic for today's blog would be. I was originally going to post another yummy recipe, but in everyone's best interest, I decided I would post about stress relievers, as it is midterm week or reading week for most students in Ontario. (If you don't have midterms or reading week this week, keep these tips and tricks in mind).

I tend to not be the stressing type. I know that if I study more than the usual "cram-the-night-before", I will usually be fine. Stressing makes the situation worse; as your main focus is usually on passing or failing.

I came across an article in Best Health Magazine, pertaining to stress relievers, so I thought I would share some of the ideas that were in that magazine, as well as some of my own personal tips.

1. By far my favourite thing when I stressed, is to listen to music. Whatever your preference, it will usually get you in the mood to sing, dance or just get your mind off of whatever you're stressing about. Even when I study, I put on Songza to my favourite Top 40 playlist, and keep it at a low level. I like a little background noise. (It's not for everyone though; it could be too distracting, so keep that in mind).

2. Control your breathing. Instead of having an anxiety attack where you have no breath, try some activities such as yoga, or meditation. I have tried the beginner yoga on Wii Fit, but have wanted to try it in an actual yoga setting. I know it's a great stress reliever, and working at the school gym, I can see all the women coming out more relaxed and focused.

3. Stop watching the clock. I am notorious for this, especially when I am studying. The more you look at the clock, the worse time will get, and you won't be focused anymore. The more you do not look at the clock, the more time (no pun intended) you will have to do other things. Worrying about how much time you've spent on something, defeats the purpose of what you're doing. (Time quote)

4. Tea is another one of my stress saviours. Loose leaf steeped tea is amazing for any situation. Try not adding any sugar or milk, the flavours from the loose leaves are natural, and are beneficially healthier for you rather than the additives.

5. Get organized. Meaning prioritize your time, and make a timeline of what needs to get done and when. I like to make a list of the most important things first, and go from there. If I make this list a head of time, I do not stress, and in the end I usually have enough extra time to do whatever I like.

6. Exercise. I find that if I am stressed or just being uptight, a good hard workout, or just long run on the treadmill gets me right back on track and focused. I tune myself out from the world with my iPod, and ignore everyone else. The gym is my time, and I am determined to feel better when I am done. Maybe not the next day though :)

7. Eat more snacks, and eat proper meals. When I stress, I tend to do the complete opposite. I don't feel, as hungry, and I definitely don't eat enough. It's not a healthy habit, but it's my way of coping with stress. If you eat more snacks in between your meals, it will maintain a steady metabolism, and you will not over eat at main meals times. DO NOT skip breakfast, as it is the most important meal of the day. If you do, your body will start to believe it will need to have more carbs and heavier foods later on in the day, causing you to eat more, and essentially gain more weight.

8. When in doubt, take a nap. When I am studying, or stressing, a nice 2-3 hour nap usually does the trick. Unless its at night, then I won't be able to sleep. If its around noon, take a couple hours to yourself. It you can't nap, read a book. Do something relaxing to take the stress off your back.

I hope all of these tips and tricks are useful for your everyday living. I know from personal experience, your stress levels will decrease tremendously if you try at least one of these.

Happy studying, happy reading week, and remember DO NOT STRESS, it's not healthy!

Until next time.

-- -Kate

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Healthy Sandwiches

Having a hard time deciding what kind of sandwiches to make, and one that tastes great and good for you. If you are then we have some great recipes for you that is healthy and yummy.

Sandwich 1:

Veggie and Cream Cheese Bagel Sandwich

· 1 whole-grain bagel

· 1 tbsp (15 mL) spreadable cream cheese with green onion or plain cream cheese that is lower in fat.

· 6 thin slices cucumber

· 2 thin red pepper rings

· 1/4 cup (65 mL) shredded, peeled carrots

PER SERVING
About 340 calories
18 g protein
9.5 g total fat
3.8 g saturated fat
7 g carbohydrates
7 g fibre
15 mg cholesterol
550 mg sodium

For those who cannot eat meat (you're crazy not to), this is a great sandwich recipe, because it is tasty due to the cream cheese. Without it would taste pretty plain, otherwise good for the vegetarian in you.

Sandwich 2:
Peanut butter and jam on whole wheat toast bread

· Two pieces of whole wheat of toast ( Dempsters or Wonder Bread would be ideal)

· 15ml of peanut butter. try almond butter if you have the extra funds, it is usually $1.00 more than regular peanut butter.

· 15ml of strawberry jam, experiment with other flavors if you're not a fan of strawberry.

One Sandwich will be around 300 calories depending on how much you love peanut butter.

Enjoy!

Sandwich 3:

Prosciutto, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwiches

· 8 (1-ounce) slices 100% whole-grain bread

· 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise

· 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

· 1 cup baby romaine lettuce leaves

· 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato

· 3 ounces very thin slices prosciutto, if you don't like prosciutto replace with roast beef or turkey.

Seems like the recipe for excellence. Even better when toasted!

- Matt

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Making Healthy Snacks for Class

Good afternoon!

Have you ever been in that situation where you get hungry in the middle of class? I know I have, and usually I am not prepared which results in spending money at the school cafe. I am hoping to give you some ideas that will keep you prepared so you can save that extra dollar and eat healthy at the same time.

To begin with, here are some major benefits of preparing your own healthy snacks:

Save money: Every student wants to save money, because living expenses are always increasing. If you prepare your own snacks then you get more for your dollar.
Nothing tastes better than your own prepared food: If you go to a fast food restaurant or have your food prepared by someone else, then they don't put as much effort or care into it. When you make your own snack, you get to enjoy it and it gives you that sense of accomplishment because you know it was made with care.
It's healthier: With a homemade snack you can use whichever ingredients that you want, and use much healthier alternatives.
You can share: With your own homemade snacks you can make more quantity for cheaper and share with your friends. I know from experience that the person with food in the class is everyone's hero!

Many of you are going to think that it requires more effort and time which means waking up early. It doesn't sound too appealing. But here's the great thing about preparing your own healthy snacks, you can make them when you have time! This means you can make them the night before or even set aside a few hours on the weekend and prepare them for the whole week depending on the snacks expiry.

Here are a few quick and healthy ideas:

Carrot sticks: I know it sounds very "elementary" but it takes a few minutes to prepare and it's very healthy. According to Calorie King 10 carrot sticks cut at 3 inches long is equivalent to approximately 29 calories. Plus, you can vary your serving sizes based on your hunger for the day. Carrots can be purchased in bags of 6+ for just over one dollar (Canadian). They contain dietary fibers as well as protein and calcium.

Healthy pizza bagels: They taste really good, and there is very little preparation time. Another benefit is that it can be made with ingredients that you have sitting around your house. The wonderful thing about pizza bagels is that they can be customized, which means you can make them as healthy as you choose. Once you prepare it, you can put it in the microwave for a minute or until the cheese melts. They can be eaten while listening to your professor lecture. The required ingredients are: Whole wheat bagels, nonfat mozzarella cheese, and pizza sauce. The rest is up to you! Also, as a side note for those of you that are lactose intolerant, you can substitute the mozzarella cheese for Lisanatti mozzarella style chunks original almond cheese.

Yogurt with nuts: I stumbled upon this idea on 10 Super Snacks you can make in under 5 minutes All you need is some yogurt, preferably non-fat and some of your favorite walnuts, and almonds. If you want to get even more in depth then you can add some of your favorite berries. This can be prepared in minutes and tastes excellent. It is also portable if you have a mini jar to keep it in. The overall costs are very cheap as you can buy yogurt in bulk and the nuts can be used in portions.

Your favorite fruit or vegetable cut up: A healthy snack choice can be as easy as taking your favorite fruit or vegetable and chopping it up. You can also mix and match different fruits and vegetables to make your snack even more healthy. They can be shared with friends as well. Some examples are: apples, bananas, green peppers, tomatoes, and many more.

There are so many potential ideas that the list could be endless. I will leave you with the above ideas but remember anything can be a snack so be creative! Take your favorite healthy foods and mix them with others, you won't believe how good of ideas you will come up with. If you have any ideas that you like please feel free to share them in the comments section, we would all like to hear about them. Also, you can email us at healthystudentonabudget@gmail.com , we will do our best to respond in a timely manner! Thank you for your time and hope you enjoyed today's posting. Stay tuned for a new posting from Matt tomorrow!

Enjoy the rest of your day, and try some of the above ideas out!

-Kurtis

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Healthy Students on a Budget: Student Cooking on a Budget

So you're looking to cook most of your meals, right? But you can't seem to figure out how you are going to make it work? I have some ideas for you.

First would be set up an Excel Spreadsheet with all of your expenses for the year. This is an example of mine. I did it recently so I didn't put in January or February but I would recommend that. I laid out my living expenses, this could include rent, phone bills, what you spend on eating out each month and anything else you think could fit into there. I then added Christmas, birthdays, Mother's Day and Father's Day to see what I can allocate for that. Of course there is Christmas in there as well. That made me go negative but I think that is a norm for most people around that time. I then put in vacations that my family is planning to go on and clothes, because I buy a lot...I'm a girl, what do you expect? I put money into two savings accounts so I have that and whatever is leftover goes into my chequing. Then I have a spot for university costs. You can make many different changes to this, it is just a start. If you want this Excel file, leave your e-mail in a comment, or e-mail healthystudentonabudget@gmail.com and I will send it back to you.

So, now you have how much you can spend and will have after, you have to decide what you want to spend on groceries each time you go. At this point it would be a good idea to decide if you want to go once a week, bi-weekly or even less. This will depend on how much you eat, if you have a freezer and if you're up for leftovers. Which as a student is a brilliant idea. If you're like me and you won't touch leftovers with a 10 foot pole I suggest a lot of frozen if its possible.

Okay, you have how much and when, now it is about what. You want to make a list when you go shopping, otherwise you venture off to other aisles and pick up stuff you don't need or want. Avoid the candy aisle and areas like that. If you know your regular grocery store, plan your list out like the store is organized. Usually you start with produce and end with dairy.

Remember: with your list make sure you buy all the ingredients you will need for the week.

Recipe for The Day

Beef & Bean Chile Verde from Eating Well

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large red bell pepper, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, chopped (you can find this done in a jar and just measure it out)

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

1 16-ounce jar green salsa, green enchilada sauce or taco sauce

1/4 cup water

1 15-ounce can pinto or kidney beans, rinsed

Preparation:

Cook beef, bell pepper and onion in a large saucepan over medium heat, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is browned, 8-10 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin and cayenne; cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Stir in salsa (or sauce) and water; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in beans and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.

Tips:

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat just before serving.

Freeze Portions: After you eat it, freeze whatever is left for later.

Make it Vegetarian: Leave out the meat and add some more veggies and you have a vegetarian chili. You can use tomatoes to replace the meat for the same consistency.

Nutrition:

Per serving: 307 calories; 8 g fat (3 g saturated, 3 g mono); 64 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 27 g protein; 6 g fiber; 516 mg sodium; 641 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (100% daily value), Vitamin A & Zinc (40% daily value); Folate (20% daily value), Potassium (18% daily value).

Enjoy and happy Tuesday!

-Robyn

Monday, February 18, 2013

How to Make Easy 137 Calorie Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Family Day Everyone!

I thought we would start off our blogs with a family friendly recipe to get everyone involved, that is fun and easy to make, as well as extremely tasty.

I came across this recipe when I was in search of "healthier" dessert recipes on a health website, and immediately fell in love with it. I did modify it myself when I didn't have all the ingredients, but either way you make it, modifications are definitely fine.

I particularly like making these cookies, because it takes no time at all, and there is limited clean up at the end.