3 Recipes to Sweeten Up the New Year (without all the Carbs and Sugar)
With 2023 well underway, we are all working hard on our New Year's resolutions. When it comes to eating healthier, people can often associate it with unhappiness and not-so-tasty foods where they eventually lose interest and ultimately their habit of healthy eating. I'm here to tell you that this is not the case and that there are plenty of tasty recipes that are also healthy.
If you’ve been following LEANSQUAD for a while then you know I am all about making the most of every single bite of our food! At the end of the day, I truly believe if we love the healthy foods we eat, then it is easy to stay healthy and lean, forever!
I will be providing you with 3 recipes that will quite literally sweeten up your new year, without all the carbs and sugar that you usually see within these foods. I use something called "Low Cal Food Swaps" to achieve this. These are recipes that use healthier alternative ingredients to provide you with more nutrient-dense foods while remaining low in calories.
Low Cal Garlic Cheesy Bread
This cheesy bread recipe is absolutely delicious! Using the cauliflower as the base of this recipe, makes it naturally gluten-free and one that is higher in protein and fibre than a standard bread base. It also has WAY less calories so you can actually eat more of it.
It is a fantastic option as a lean snack or appetizer for a larger meal. It tastes amazing and will make you feel LEANMAZING! Give it a go using the recipe below and let me know what you think.
Leangredients:
- 1 Pack of Cauliflower rice - uncooked or frozen (if uncooked try to strain any excess liquid, if frozen cook as per instructions then add to bowl)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup grated Mozzarella (part skim)
- 1/16 cup grated parmesan
- 2 garlic cloves
- Salt, pepper, and oregano to taste
- Parsley
Leanstructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 Degrees F
- Add cauliflower rice, 1/3 cup mozzarella, parmesan, egg, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano to a bowl.
- Mix well until all combined.
- Add to parchment and spread into as big of a rectangle as you can.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Add remaining mozzarella and sprinkle on parsley.
- Bake for another 3-5 minutes.
Sugar Free Twix Bars
These Sugar Free Twix Bars are healthy, sweet and so so tasty! I promise you this much, this recipe does NOT disappoint! From the layer of almond flour shortbread, to the peanut butter caramel middle and sugar free chocolate top, this Twix bar recipe takes the cake (well, actually it takes the chocolate bar I guess??)
Oh, and did I mention that these are also Keto friendly, and Gluten Free! Check out the recipe below, this is a Squadie favourite!
Leangredients:
- ¾ cup packed fine blanched almond flour
- 4 tbsp coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 3 tbsp Waldon’s sugar free maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 1/3 cup sugar free chocolate chips*
*Use dairy free dark chocolate for a dairy free option
Leanstructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 4x4 inch square pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl add the almond flour, 1 ½ coconut oil, 1 tbsp maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Mix together with a fork until it forms a nice thick crumb texture. Add to pan and use your fingers to evenly press down into the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow crust to cool for 10 minutes before adding caramel.
- Make the peanut butter caramel layer: Add the peanut butter, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp coconut oil, vanilla extract and sea salt to a medium pot and place over medium-low heat for approximately 2 minutes until caramel starts to slightly bubble, stirring frequently. Pour over slightly cooled crust.
- Place in fridge for at least 30 minutes-1 hour to completely harden the peanut butter, or in freezer for 15-20 minutes.
- Make the chocolate layer: Add chocolate chips and ½ tbsp coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between until chocolate is completely melted, or in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Pour over the caramel layer. Place in fridge for at least 20 minutes until chocolate is completely hardened.
- Remove bars from pan and cut into 10 bars (that resemble twix bars). Enjoy! Bars should be kept covered in the fridge until ready to serve.
Sugar Free Jell-O Whip *high in protein*
This Sugar Free Jell-O Whip recipe is the perfect snack for anyone looking to transform not just their body but most importantly their mental health, energy, confidence, and lives, and did I mention it has ONLY 35 cals with 6 grams of protein, making it the perfect snack to satisfy your sweet tooth!
It's light, packed with nutrients and will have your taste buds dancing! Check out the recipe below.
Leangredients:
- 1 box of sugar free Jell-O *pick your fav flavour. Mines strawberry*
- ¾ cup boiling water
- 1 cup ice water
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
Leanstructions:
- Add ¾ cup boiling water to a medium sized bowl. Pour in Jello powder and stir until fully dissolved.
- Make 1 cup ice water by measuring out 1 cup of ice and pouring water in until it fills the cup.
- Add ice water to the dissolved Jello and mix until ice melts and Jello thickens.
- Add Jello mixture and yogurt to a blender and blend on high for 30 seconds.
- Pour the Jello into serving glass or a medium sized bowl and chill for 2 hours.
Find The Perfect Lean Program for YOU!
I have over 6 full programs for you to choose from, where I workout with you in real time to guide, motivate and transform you, so that no matter your goals and fitness level, we will get results!Programs vary in length, workouts per week, difficulty, and what your goal is. Squadies have seen tremendous results from each of the programs seen below. Whether you're a beginner or workout pro, there is something for you!
