How to Lean-ify Easter
How to Lean-ify Easter!
No matter what holiday it is, LEANSQUAD has a way to keep it LEAN! Everyone has a different way of celebrating Easter, whether it’s an Easter morning brunch, or a big Easter dinner, no celebration is better than another, but you can always make a few choices to LEAN-IFY! For all the Squadies out there trying to keep it lean this Easter, check out these tips:
1. Lean-ifying Carb Dishes
As many of you know, heavy carbs such as potatoes, bread and rice can leave you feeling super full and bloated. The best way to avoid this is by replacing heavy or processed carbs with healthier options! For example if you are having an Easter brunch, instead of using a flour based recipe, use an oat and banana based recipe. If you are celebrating Easter dinner, you can replace your potato dishes with sweet potato dishes, or if you usually eat rice on Easter, replace it with cauliflower rice!
2. Drink TONS of Water!
During a holiday, it is super easy to overeat - especially if you are not drinking enough water! If our bodies are dehydrated, it actually contributes to the feeling of hunger when you actually just need some fluid! In order to avoid dehydration, make sure to drink at least a couple glasses of water before you eat, then another couple after.
3. Desserts?!
Desserts are one of those unavoidable things during holidays, especially on Easter with chocolate being at the centre! The problem with a lot of popular chocolate brands is that they are full of processed sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. Processed sugars can leave you feeling bloated, hungry and tired (after the sugar rush of course) and can have long term effects on your body such as increase in appetite, inflammation, weight gain or even diabetes (extreme). Although it is okay to enjoy some sugary treats here and there, a great way to combat these processed sugar is to MAKE YOUR OWN!! There are TONS of natural, no sugar added sweeteners that are easily accessible and easy to use while baking. For example, in my most recent sweet treat recipe, I used Walden’s Farms Maple Syrup, naturally sweetened maple syrup as one of my main sources of sweetener! I also used sugar free dark chocolate chips! Both these sweeteners are super delicious and will give you the sweetness you crave without all the processed sugar side effects!
OK, so now that you’ve got a few tips on how to keep it lean, here are some great lean-cipe ideas!
Recipe ideas
Here are a couple of my favourite healthy Easter recipes!
1. Pancakes for Easter Brunch
LEAN-GREDIENTS: 
-
4 bananas
-
½ cup of oats
-
4 eggs
-
4 scoops vanilla protein powder
-
¼ cup sugar free chocolate chips
-
1 tbsp cinnamon
-
4 tbsp of coconut oil
-
Greek yogurt (to serve)
-
Berries (to serve)
LEAN-STRUCTIONS:
-
Blend together bananas, oats, eggs, and cinnamon
-
After blended, mix in chocolate chips
-
Heat coconut oil in a pan, until melted
-
Pour batter to shape each pancake, cook for approximately 1 minute on each side
-
Repeat until batter is finished.
-
Serve with yogurt and berries!
2. Ham and Cheese egg cups
LEAN-GREDIENTS:
-
7 slices of ham
-
6 eggs
-
½ cup cheddar cheese
-
1 cup baby spinach
-
Salt to taste
-
Pepper to taste
LEAN-STRUCTIONS:
-
Preheat oven to 375℉
-
Line a muffin tray with one slice of ham per cup (should fit 6)
-
Slice up the remaining ham and in a large bowl, mix together ham, eggs, cheese, spinach salt and pepper until combined
-
Evenly pour mixture into muffin tray
-
Bake for 10 minutes
-
Serve!
3. No Bake Chocolatey Peanut Butter Bites!
LEAN-GREDIENTS: 
-
2 cups natural smooth peanut butter (no sugar or salt added)
-
¾ cups coconut flour
LEAN-STRUCTIONS:
For full instructions, follow along with me on my HOW TO COOKING VIDEO on my YOUTUBE CHANNEL