I love chocolate! I am a firm believer in the power of chocolate to make any day better. Some nights I just *need* to make chocolate chip muffins. But with that said, I don't need a dozen and I don't need the pure butter and sugar muffin recipe. The way I see it... if I make healthier (yet still moist and tasty) muffins, then I can have two since they're better for me. Like how I just rationalized doubling my chocolate muffin intake?  :-)  Also, for those who make a whole batch of something and then end up eating them all at once, this recipe only makes four muffins so feel free to eat them all!

As soon as the really warm weather hits I feel the need for a cold pasta. This cold chickpea, sun-dried tomato, and feta pasta is a twist on using traditional noodles, although I've made it with penne pasta recently and that was also good.

This pasta uses barley and chickpeas instead of noodles. It also has sun-dried tomatoes, feta, spinach, pesto, and chicken for flavoring. Plus the spinach and sun-dried tomatoes make for a colorful dish.

This broccoli idea is from a friend, who also got the idea from a friend, and .... isn't that how all great ideas get passed along? Anyways, it's the easiest way to make broccoli and the touch of lemon at the end gives it a nice crisp citrus flavor. Broccoli is a great side dish because it's incredible for you. Luckily it's in season right now so it's fresh and cheap! Check out nutrition info here.

This peanut butter spread packs a powerful protein punch! (Are you cringing from the corny alliteration?) The creamy spread is a lighter version of a peanut butter dip that goes great with veggies. The added yogurt also calms down the fat content of peanut butter. A healthy yet very filling snack.

I can demolish a bag of frozen fruit. It's a great snack and satisfies my sweet tooth without leaving me with a stomach ache. My favorite snack is frozen blueberries, mangos, or peaches. I've only found two downsides: 1) I have to huddle beneath a blanket when I eat these in the winter, and 2) The frozen blueberries turn my teeth and lips blue.

Just make sure you get the no-sugar-added frozen or fresh fruit and then freeze. Happy snacking!

I love to start my day with a fruit smoothie. 1) It tastes good, 2) It gets me the fruit I need for the day, which can be hard to do in the winter, and 3) It gives my internal parts the fiber and nutrients needed to help me feel "on" and energetic for the day. The beauty of the smoothie recipe is that it is very forgiving. You can add most anything you want and it will still be good. I personally love frozen blueberries, strawberries, and mangos, but they're all good. I like to keep things exciting by trying new fruit when I see it. (Yes, I find that exciting.) Last thing: buy your fruit on sale and freeze it, or buy it in bulk at Target or some sort of Costsco/BJ's. 

Enjoy - and make sure you're getting some fruit each day!

This is my fiance's go-to dish and it's always a hit. So simple, and so good for you. Now... I hear people saying they don't eat avocados because they're high in fat. True, but it's GOOD fat - the kind that helps lower cholesterol. Check out the many other benefits of this amazing fruit.

All you need is 5 ingredients and 10 minutes. Check out the recipe now!