As I look behind my kid’s Double Stuff Oreos and my husband’s soft white bread for his PB&J sandwiches, I know I have some healthy staples in here somewhere. Let me move over the box of chocolate chip pop tarts and look behind the Dorito chips. Finally, way back in the back on the other side of the Ritz crackers I found them! Right there in the big jug from Sam’s Club is my Emerald Cocoa Roast Dark Chocolate Almonds. I knew I had some. I was craving that chocolaty crunch to go with my fresh crisp gala apple. Now don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not a candy chocolate coating but rather a lightly powdered cocoa dark chocolate taste with a great almond crunch. Yum! Have you ever tried them? If not, you should. They are the perfect healthy protein packed staple to pack in snack bags and stash in your purse, office drawer, car, or gym bag. Now don’t get carried away. They might be healthy, but they are also high in calories so a serving has to be small. But they are well worth it. I can’t believe you’ve never tried them. I wonder if I have other items in my kitchen that you haven’t tried…

Pantry

• Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins (only 100 calories)
• Bear Naked Fit Vanilla Almond Crunch Granola (only 4g sugar)
• Kashi Go Lean Crisp Toasted Berry Crumble Cereal (9g of protein, 18g whole grains)
• Kashi Island Vanilla Cereal (I eat it dry as a snack – 48 whole grains, 6g fiber)
• Quaker Old Fashion Oats (takes less than 15 minutes to make a batch for several days that can be reheated quickly – ditch the processed instant stuff and go for real satisfaction)
• Quaker Lightly Salted Rice Cakes (only 35 calories and taste great with a touch of peanut butter)
• Jiff Peanut Butter (yeah, I know, you expected organic, no fat, no sugar, nut butter — sorry to disappoint– I luv my Jiff! I just try to keep it to under one serving a day or less)
• Life Choice Protein Bar peanut butter extreme (Wal Mart breakfast aisle – 21g protein — I don’t like them as much as my home made bars but I don’t have any of them made right now and it is nice to be able to grab and go with these when needed) – Pure Protein is another brand that we like that I sometimes have in the cabinet (Sam’s Club)
• StarKist solid white albacore tuna in water (13g protein & only 70 calories !!! )
• Great Value popcorn kernels, Pam cooking spray and Mighty Pop popcorn salt (the Pam helps the salt to stick to the air popped corn – I buy the salt at Sam’s in the commercial size because I like the taste – it lasts for years – it is good to find someone to split it with)
• EAS Whey vanilla protein powder
• Olive oil
• brown rice
• dried fruit (cranberries, dates, apricots)
• natural whole almonds
• walnuts
• cashews

Fridge:

• Oikos Greek yogurt – Vanilla is in my fridge today but I also like plain if I add fruit or a little honey to sweeten
• 1% low fat cottage cheese (great source of protein and taste great with sliced fruit)
• Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (tasty as a veggie dip or great with toasted sandwich thins, even good on a wrap instead of mayo)
• baby spinach
• Ken’s Steak House Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette (goes great with ice burg, tomato and cucumber salad – strong taste so a little goes a long way)
• Golden Farm Raspberry Walnut salad dressing (goes great with spinach, strawberry and almond salad – strong taste so a little goes a long way)
• left over grilled chicken – ready to heat and serve for my lunch or a stand by meal if I cook something sinful for my family in which I do not wish to indulge (depends on what it is if I think it worth the calories)
• lean pork loin chops (for dinner tonight)
• La Tortilla Factory low carb whole wheat tortillas (the best whole wheat tortilla that I have found so far)
• and of course, I have various fresh fruits and veggies (apple, cuties, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, celery, carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, green peppers, onions, etc)

Freezer:

• Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame bread (frozen foods at Publics – just pop in toaster when needed)
• Triple Berry Blend frozen berries (Sam’s Club – makes a great frozen berry yogurt parfait – eat it cold like ice cream)
• frozen sliced strawberries for making protein shakes (1 cup skim milk, 1/2 berries, one half to one whole scoop vanilla whey protein powder blend in blender – yum!)
• snack bags of frozen grapes

Well that is literally an inventory of what is on hand right now at my house ready to eat or cook. As for the Oreos and other junk food in my pantry, you might be wondering how I abstain. It’s pretty simple and I’d be glad to tell you if you promise not to let out my little secret… are you ready?… are you sure you can keep a secret?… here it comes… wait for it… it is earth shattering… here it is… I don’t like Oreos or Doritos. That’s it. That’s how I handle it. Some strategy, huh? Seriously, don’t tell my family but I try to buy them treats that I don’t like. Now occasionally some unhealthy treat that I do like will find its way into my buggy and into my kitchen. When that happens I usually just have a little and move on. Remember, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial” 1 Cor 10:23. But since I’m the one actually pushing the buggy when those treats jump in and ultimately responsible for them showing up in my kitchen, I try to at least throw back the super size value packs and keep the smaller versions so it won’t stay around the house long enough to do any long term damage to my fit-lifestyle goals.

So there you have it in a nut shell – a cocoa dark chocolate almond nut shell that is. That’s what’s in my pantry. 🙂

Challenge Update

Another week down, only three more to go. As of Thursday, April 26th, we have knocked out 481.28 miles or classes out of the 1134.9 that we have pledged!!! Here are the individual reports… Be proud!

40canbefit – goal 13 classes – 7 complete – 6 to go
40canbefit – goal 40 miles – 20.6 complete – 19.4 to go
bnwhite – goal 13 classes – 3 complete – 10 to go
EllieElliptic – goal 75 miles elliltical – 18.5 complete – 56.5 to go
F3 – FabulouslyFitFifty – goal 80 miles – 40.5 complete – 39.5 to go
F3 – FabulouslyFitFifty – goal 100 miles bike – 24.4 complete – 75.6 to go
Fit@50 – goal 20 classes – 8 complete – 12 to go
Fit@50 – goal 26.2 miles – 6 complete 20.2 to go
FollowMeFit – goal 13 classes – 5 complete – 8 to go
FollowMefit – goal 60 miles – 36 complete – 24 to go
GetFitZumbaChick – goal 22.5 classes – 11 complete – 11.5 to go
GettinFit – goal 22.5 classes – 9 complete – 13.5 to go
GettinFit – goal 26.2 miles – 2 complete – 24.2 to go
GrannywithSole – goal 26.2 miles – 7.5 complete – 18.7 to go
HealthyMommy – goal 26.2 miles – 4.5 complete – 21.7 to go
IgotThis – goal 26.2 miles – 9 complete – 17.2 to go
JaneFunda – goal 40 miles – 10 complete – 30 to go
KellyKick’nBelly – goal 80 miles – 91.42 complete – 11.42 over goal! Congrats in being the first to meet (and exceed) your goal!
Kellykick’nBelly – goal 110 elliptical miles – 39 complete – 71 to go
Mcorcione – goal 50 elliptical miles – 1 complete – 49 to go
MilestoSmiles – goal 26.2 miles – 11 complete – 15.2 to go
MommyOnMission – goal 30 miles – 16 complete – 14 to go
OnMyWay – goal 26.2 miles – 9 complete – 17.2 to go
Rochedavis – goal 80 miles – 48.36 complete – 31.64 to go
RunStrong – goal 80 miles – 39.5 complete – 40.5 to go
ThatGirl – goal 22.5 classes – 10 complete – 12.5 to go

Be strong. Be fit. Fill your pantry and your life with good things.