Category: Recipe

TWO EASY WAYS TO ENJOY NAKED NUTRITION PROTEIN POWDERS

4/21/2022

DISCLOSURE: This blog post is sponsored by Naked Nutrition. Products featured in this post were provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Protein powder can be a great pantry-staple along with your canned goods, dried grains, and the like. Why are protein powders a good option to stock up on? For the same reason you make many other food choices in your life – convenience!

Now, selecting an ideal protein powder can cause your head to spin if you’re unsure of what to look out for, but Naked Nutrition products make it super easy. They’re products are made with minimal ingredients (most contain 3 ingredients or less!) so YOU are more in control of what you want when using a Naked Nutrition supplement. For example, their vegan Pea Protein Powder has just ONE ingredient – yellow pea protein. That’s it! No added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Just simple, straightforward ingredients that you can use to make a more well-balanced meal or snack. (Remember, protein is not only an essential nutrient, it’s also a nutrient that can help us feel full and satisfied throughout our day.)

Don’t know what to do with protein powder? The Naked Nutrition team provided me with these two tasty recipes (that include some of my very favorite flavors – matcha and coffee!) that I think you’ll love too…

Matcha Green Power Balls

Recipe by Ashley Sobel**

Servings: ~18 balls

Ingredients:

½ cup rolled oats
4 tbsp chia seeds
¼ cup Pea Protein Powder
2 tsp matcha powder
½ cup almond butter
2 Tbsp honey
Water, as needed

Directions:

Blend the oats, chia seeds, Pea Protein Powder, matcha powder, almond butter butter, and honey together until smooth. (If your “dough” isn’t forming, add a tablespoon of water at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.)
Roll ~1 tablespoon of the mixture into a small ball. (I used a tablespoon cookie scoop in this step!) Repeat.
Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!

These vegetarian Matcha Green Power Balls are easy enough to make ahead of time to have during your busy week as a pre-workout snack or for when you want something slightly sweet.

Vanilla Latte Smoothie

Recipe by Ashley Sobel**

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

1 cup of any non-dairy milk alternative
1 shot of espresso
1 frozen banana
¼ tsp cinnamon
2 scoops Vanilla Protein Shake

Directions:

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. Enjoy!

This vegan Vanilla Latte Smoothie comes together quick (especially if you already have all your ingredients measured out) and could even be enjoyed as an on-the-go breakfast!

I hope you give these recipes a taste test and be sure to head on over to Naked Nutrition to check out all their premium ingredient products!

xx

Lindsey

**About the Recipe Author: Ashley Sobel is a Registered Dietitian based in New York City who is passionate about nutrition, science, and the power of food. She helps her clients navigate the tricky world of nutrition to help them reach their goals. She specializes in eating disorders, disordered eating, and digestive health.

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3-CHEESE SPINACH & MUSHROOM FARRO

2/17/2020

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Hello friends!

This week I made a dish inspired by my recent travels. My husband and I spent our 5th anniversary in Asheville, North Carolina in November and we visited a local farm-to-table restaurant, Haywood Common. Their menu is "seasonal", which means it changes often. Whenever I visit a new restaurant I try to order something that is (1) a little familiar (i.e. something I know I like), but (2) also brand new to me. Enter: Salmon and Farro Salad. I know salmon, I love salmon, and I will always eat salmon, but farro - what does that taste like!? I knew what farro was, but I had never eaten it. I decided this was the meal for me and oh man I am so glad I ordered it! The salmon was brought to our table on a bed of farro and the farro was mixed with a delicious concoction of goat cheese, microgreens, mushrooms, curried peanuts, and pickled raisins. The entire plate was drizzled in a creamy, dream-worthy chipotle and red pepper harissa and avocado sauce. I basically wanted to bathe in this sauce, it was THAT good. Since devouring this meal from Haywood Common, I have been thinking about how to recreate this yummy drool worthy farro ever since! Keep reading for a super simple farro-filled recipe that will make you a farro fan for life.

What is farro?

Farro is an ancient whole-grain that dates back to ancient Rome. Farro is used often in many modern kitchens and is loved by many. On top of its delicious flavor and versatile character, this grain is packed with fiber and plant-based protein. It is very similar to barley, but has a nuttier, chewier texture when cooked. Farro is a great source of magnesium, iron and B vitamins. And is also a great heart-healthy choice as it is low in fat and cholesterol. Half a cup of farro provides about 7 grams of protein so it is a great choice for vegans and/or vegetarians!

Farro is great because it requires no prep work! All you have to do is rinse it and stick it in a pot of boiling liquid. That’s it! (You could do this blindfolded - although I don’t recommend blindfolding yourself near a pot of hot water :P)

Keep scrolling for my recipe inspired by my eats in Asheville!

3-Cheese Spinach + Mushroom Farro Recipe

SERVINGS: 4-5 (this recipes makes ~4 cups)

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup dry farro
3 cups water (or low-sodium chicken broth)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp grated garlic
8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1 bag (8 oz) fresh spinach
½ cup shredded three-cheese blend (such as Parmesan, asiago and romano)
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

In a pot, cook the farro in water (or chicken broth) according to package instructions.
As the farro is cooking, in a separate skillet, saute the garlic and mushrooms in olive oil until the garlic is fragrant.
Add all the spinach to the mushrooms and let the spinach wilt. Once the spinach is wilted, set the skillet aside.
The farro is done when there is little to no water left in the pot and it is a bit chewy. Drain the farro if there is excess water and add the farro to the skillet with the spinach and mushroom mixture.
Add ½ cup of cheese to the skillet, stir, and enjoy!

**NOTE: There is no such thing as too much cheese so... top with a little bit of extra cheese if you’re feeling adventurous!

Sarah Hines, MS

Sarah Hines is an avid foodie and feels most comfortable in the kitchen! She is a dietetic intern with a Masters degree in human nutrition from Texas State University. She has a passion for educating individuals about food and nutrition and in her spare time works as an adjunct instructor at a local college teaching nutrition related. Sarah loves cooking, baking, developing recipes and of course eating! When she is not in the kitchen you can typically find her outside, walking her two dogs or relaxing on the couch watching crime documentaries!

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SIMPLE SWEET POTATO SKINS

1/26/2020

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Hi friends!

Super Bowl Sunday is soon upon us. And I can honestly tell you, the only thing I'm rooting for is THE FOOD! (That's right I said it, and I'm sticking to it.) So in honor of the second biggest food consumption day (after Thanksgiving, of course) here's a super SIMPLE SWEET POTATO SKIN recipe that will for sure be a win on game day. I mean is there anything better than cheesy potatoes topped with bacon, sour cream, and green onions!?

So, traditional sweet potato skins are not complicated, but it's a process -- baking the potatoes, scooping out the insides... this all can take a significant amount of time and well, ain't nobody got time for that. What's my secret to cutting down on the effort and time needed for this delicious appetizer? The answer is Sweet PotaTOASTS.

What are Sweet PotaTOASTS?

Sweet PotaTOASTS are simply sliced sweet potatoes, that's it! They became popular as a bread substitute (likely for those who eat gluten-free) and topped just like toast, with PB or avocado, for example.

The best thing about these Sweet PotaTOASTS is that all the "work [is done] for you... which means all you have to do is pop it in the oven for a few minutes, top it, and enjoy." YESSS! And I don't hate that by subbing in these sweet potatoes, you're getting an excellent source of Vitamin A & C, as well as a good source of fiber and Vitamin B6. Grab our SIMPLE SWEET POTATO SKINS recipe below.

SIMPLE SWEET POTATO SKINS RECIPE

SERVINGS: enough for 2

INGREDIENTS:

1 package Original Sweet PotaTOASTS
~1.5 cups shredded cheese (Colby Jack, Cheddar Jack, or Mexican Blend)
~1/2 cup bacon, cooked & crumbled
~1/4 cup green onions, chopped
~2 Tbsp reduced-fat sour cream, thinned with water*

*To thin the sour cream so it's more "spreadable", simply thin with 1 Tbsp water. Add more water until desired consistency is reached.

DIRECTIONS:

Cook the Sweet PotaTOASTS fully as instructed on the packaging.
Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and change the oven setting to broil on high.
Layer the cheese and bacon evenly on the sweet potato slices and return to the oven. Broil until cheese is melted and starting to brown. (Watch the sweet potatoes carefully! Browned cheese to burnt takes very little time.)
Once the sweet potatoes are removed from the oven, let the sweet potatoes sit out and and cool for ~1-2 minutes before drizzling the sour cream and sprinkling with green onions.
Enjoy!

Would love to know if you make this simple Super Bowl recipe. Tell us in the comments below or tag us at @themealplanningmethod.

xx

lindsey

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TWO EASY WAYS TO ENJOY NAKED NUTRITION PROTEIN POWDERS

Matcha Green Power Balls

Vanilla Latte Smoothie

3-CHEESE SPINACH & MUSHROOM FARRO

What is farro?

3-Cheese Spinach + Mushroom Farro Recipe

Sarah Hines, MS

SIMPLE SWEET POTATO SKINS

What are Sweet PotaTOASTS?

SIMPLE SWEET POTATO SKINS RECIPE

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