Soup Archives

Triple Berry Protein Smoothie

March 5, 2023 by Lee Hersh Leave a Comment

Good morning to you! So I told you last week that I have some big news (in my world, at least). Well- I officially had my first prep class for my ACE Group Fitness Certification. I have been playing around with getting my Personal Training cert for about a year and I got to thinking about it…and it just makes sense for me to do Group Fit, rather than CPT…RIGHT NOW. (Shout out to my class at LTA, especially my instructor Jayme!)

Lifetime Fitness has something called Lifetime Academy, where they have curriculum that prepares you for your exam. It’s both online and hands-on, which is what I really need. The whole…here’s your book, read it, now take the exam, just doesn’t work for my learning style.

I was a little bit hesitant to take this class because, well, I work for Anytime Fitness Corporate. After thinking about it, I think it is quite alright. I actually really like Lifetime. The concept is very different than Anytime and there is no reason why I can’t take advantage of their awesome services.

The cost of this prep class was a little bit expensive (a little under a 1k). I look at it this way- I’d rather learn the proper way and actually know what I am doing. Plus, this way, I can get some hands-on experience, which will ultimately help me prepare for my CPT as well. On top of it, Lifetime uses their academy to recruit new instructors. Almost 75% of all LTA students get a job at Lifetime. The more experience for me the better! There is a Lifetime in St. Louis Park, which is where I would hopefully be able to teach on top of Anytime Fitness and Corepower.

Also, one of my (going-to-be best friends) Allie from Nutritional Epiphany is taking my same exact class! She went to the U of M and also went through the Tom Barnett Leadership Program (A leadership program I took my senior year). We are long lost twins that are reuniting in our dream land…fitness.

In celebration of my future Group X career…here is one of my favorite post workout smoothies! Triple Berry Protein Smoothie.

Like most of the smoothies I eat…It’s made with Designer Whey Protein Powder, Silk Alomond Milk, and Frozen Mixed Berries from Target.

Triple Berry Protein Smoothie

Author: Sandra
Total Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

Scale

1 cup mixed berries (I used blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries)
1 scoop Designer Whey Vanilla Protein Powder
1 Cut Silk Vanilla Almond Milk, unsweetened
1 Tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a blender (I use a magic bullet) and blend for about a minute.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: 320
Sugar: 27
Fat: 8
Fiber: 14
Protein: 23

The Best Green Smoothie Recipes

March 3, 2023 by Lee Hersh Leave a Comment

Looking for a green smoothie recipe? Use one of these easy recipes for a healthy, detoxifying drink that’s packed with vitamins and minerals!

Can you believe that I didn’t start drinking green smoothies until just last year!? It was something about the fact that drinking a green concoction scared me. Turns out- if you make em’ right, you can’t even taste the greens!

Typically when I make a green smoothie, I add in a handful or two of spinach or kale depending on what I have in the fridge. I love it because you get all of the benefits from leafy greens without the earthy taste. I’ve found that banana or mango is the best way to disguise the taste.

Side note:My friend Abbie makes green smoothies all the time for her kids (2 and 4) and they love em. PROOF that if kids will drink them, so should you! Enjoy!

Peanut Lover’s Green Smoothie from Fit Foodie Finds

Tropical Green Smoothie from Fit Foodie Finds

Creamy Green Smoothie from the cookierookie

Pineapple Mango Green Smoothies from Two Peas and Their Pod

Kick Booty Kale Smoothie from Well Plated

Almond Mocha Green Smoothie from Nosh and Nourish

Mint Chocolate Green Smoothie from Food Faith Fitness

Protein Green Smoothie from Oh Sweet Basil

Apple Ginger Green Smoothie from The Lemon Bowl

Drink Your Greens Smoothie from Gourmande in the Kitchen

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie from Cait’s Plate

Tropical Green Smoothie from A Foodcentric Life

Orange Matcha Smoothie from Tasty Yummies

Pear Avocado Ginger Kale Green Smoothie from The Roasted Root

Super Green Smoothie from Edible Perspective

Silk PureAlmond Inspired Recipe

February 26, 2023 by Lee Hersh Leave a Comment

This post is a sponsored campaign through FitFluential and Silk. All of my opinions are my own.

Happy First day of New Year New Rules! I’ve been holding on to these two recipes, trying to time them with NYNR because I know I’ll be using both of them quite frequently over the next 2 weeks.

These are two are are both single serve, my favorite! A delicious oatmeal bake and an after workout power smoothie, both jam packed with healthful goodness.

Today, I want to tell you a little bit about almond milk (which by the way is encouraged during NYNR). I use Silk PureAlmond Unsweetened, usually the vanilla kind. I bet you didn’t know that in the unsweetened version of Silk PureAlmond, there is only a mere 30 calories per cup, making it the lowest calorie almond milk available. Not to mention, it’s less than half the calories of skim milk, which typically has 80 calories / serving. For all you lactose intolerant foodies out there-it’s all good; all versions of Silk PureAlmond Milk are 100% lactose free, gluten free too for that matter!

What I really like about this product is its smooth taste and nutty flavor. I also like that you can pretty much find Silk PureAlmond anywhere and everywhere these days. No need to go to Whole Foods or a co-op, just pop over to your local grocery and you are sure to find it! Just in case- here is the Silk Milk Product Locator.

My first recipe, just hits the spot when it comes to nutritional value, satiation, and taste! Want to know a secret of mine? Sometimes I make oatmeal bake, but I let it sit in the refrigerator for an hour or so and eat it cold, sometimes for dessert. Then I put a splash of ice cold almond milk on top. Try it sometime!

Single-Serve Blueberry Oatmeal Bake

A delicious, single-serve breakfast that’s gluten free, dairy-free, and soy free, made with healthy whole grains and all natural sugars.

Ingredients

1/2 medium banana, mashed
1/2C rolled oats
1C Silk PureAlmond Unsweetened
1 egg white
1/2t baking powder
1/3C fresh blueberries
1T chopped walnuts, optional

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350F and spray a small ramekin or oven-safe glass bowl with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a medium size bowl, mash ½ of a medium size banana with a fork. Then add 1 cup of Silk PureAlmond Unsweetened and 1 egg white and mix.

3. Next, add the rest of the ingredients and mix again.

4. Transfer mixture into ramekin and bake at 350F for about 30 minutes or until the middle becomes firm and does not jiggle when you shake it back and forth.

*Nutritional Information (no walnuts): 283 Calories | 6g Fat | 10g Protein | 8g Fiber

Like I said before, the second recipe is a power smoothie! The cool (and healthy) thing about this recipe is that you save almost 90 calories by swapping out 100% fruit juice for Silk PureAlmond Unsweetened! Yes please. This one is power packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein. I do this by using whole fruits and vegetables, nut butters, and almond milk, to get a smooth delicious flavor that’s packed with the goods!

Power Pumpkin-Berry Smoothie

A delicious breakfast smoothie, perfect for on-the-go. It is loaded with antioxidants (berries), beta carotene (pumpkin), and healthy fats (nut-butter), plus it has a great flavor!

Ingredients

1 cup of Silk PureAlmond Unsweetened
1 cup frozen berries (mixed)
1/2 cup of pumpkin puree
1T almond butter
2T rolled oatmeal
1tsp cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla

Method

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high for 30 seconds. Then pulse for 20 more seconds to make sure there are no large chunks of fruit. You may need to use a spoon to scrape edges.

* Nutritional information: 290 Calories | 39g Carbs | 14g Fat | 8g Protein

Yay for easy, healthy recipes!

Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup {vegan}

February 26, 2023 by Lee Hersh Leave a Comment

I’ve decided that some of my best recipes are inspired by meals that I have when I’m out to eat. Okay, let’s be real, that’s pretty much all of my recipes.

I would love to have more time to brainstorm new dishes to make for the blog but my mind is constantly clouded by so many other things {cough, work, cough} that I need a little help here and there. There’s no shame in that, right?

Well, at least there isn’t any shame with this recipe because it turned out to be unbelievably good.

As we sat down to eat this soup paired with a nice big salad and a recorded episode of Saturday Night Live {because we’re too old to stay up and watch it when it airs live}, Brandon must have proclaimed about five times how delicious he thought it was.

I tend to be overcritical with most things {it’s kind of a problem} but I had to agree with him on this one. It was perfect. The comforting flavors of butternut squash and sweet potato come together with just enough coconut milk to give it a rich and creamy texture.

I am kicking myself for not thinking of coconut milk when I made the roasted butternut squash and apple soup. Yeah, Ima have to change that.

All of those flavors might sound a little sweet for soup but the coconut milk is actually very subtle and the vegetable broth and onion balance it all out. Trust me, it’s just the right amount of sweet and savory.

The texture is also incredible, thanks to my new immersion blender. I finally used a gift card I had lying around to buy one and wow, what a difference. I’m sure if you have a Vitamix, it can achieve that same smooth texture but I’m impressed with the ease and affordability (less than $40) of the immersion blender. I love that thing! As if I don’t have enough reasons to make more soup…

If for some reason you are planning on making soup for Thanksgiving, you should definitely give this one a try. It’s perfect for the occasion. But it’s also perfect to eat at home in your fluffy slippers in flannel pajamas by the fire.

Do you ever have soup at Thanksgiving? My family doesn’t but Brandon’s usually has turkey water soup which I had never even heard of before I met him. Have you ever heard of turkey water soup?

Baked Cheddar Sweet Potato Fritters

February 23, 2023 by Lee Hersh Leave a Comment

I can’t wait for you to make your holiday guests these Baked Cheddar Sweet Potato Fritters made with a base of grated sweet potato and sharp cheddar cheese.

Happy Monday my friends! It was another beautiful weekend here in Minnesota. This warm weather is sticking around and I’m not mad about it one bit.

I am very excited to announce a new Fit Foodie Finds brand partnership with the NC Sweet Potato Commission. As you know, my childhood nickname from my dad was Spud. I was known to order a baked potato, hash browns, and sweet potato fries all in one sitting #sorrynotsorry Really though, I love potatoes cooked all ways. More recently as I’ve aged into my mid to late twenties, I’ve been all about SWEET POTATOES. I’m sure you can see by FFF’s recipe collection that Team Fit Foodie is just a wee bit obsessed. We’re talking….

I love sweet potatoes for so many reasons beyond just flavor (cuz that rocks, too!). They’re versatile, good for you, and most importantly– available year round. Did I mention that they are reasonably priced, too? They’re a healthy (complex) carb packed with vitamins A, C, and manganese and I almost always include them in my weekly meal plan! North Carolina is the #1 sweet potato producing state (tempted to move there) and this is where the majority of the US’s sweet potato supply comes from. WOAH. Never been to North Carolina, but now it’s one of my favorite states.

You only need a few ingredients to make these cute little baked sweet potato fritters that are packed with delicious cheddar cheese, chives, and onion!

One important small kitchen gadget you will need to use for this recipe is a CHEESE GRATER. No, not to grate the cheese, but to grate the sweet potato itself! It’s really simple to do (see the video above) and this method is going to change your life. Just think of all the amazing sweet potato hashes you’re going to make at home now that you know how to grate sweet potato!

You know your sweet potato fritters are done when they begin to brown on the sides and top. Don’t forget to dress them up with some Greek yogurt and more chives. SO GOOD..

PS: we first came up with this recipe about 4 weeks ago and Lin and I have both made these twice ourselves because they are THAT GOOD.

The post is sponsored by the NC Sweet Potato Commission. I was compensated and all opinions are my own. Thank you for making this blog possible and supporting my love for sweet potatoes.

Crock-Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup with Kale

February 23, 2023 by Lee Hersh Leave a Comment

Chicken Tortilla Soup has never easier OR HEALTHIER! Throw everything in your crock-pot and you’ve got dinner ready before you know it!

I LOVE SOUP AND SOUP LOVES ME. I actually didn’t realize this until last year. I was never much of a soup girl growing up. It wasn’t until I started hangin’ out with The Healthy Maven (who really need to change her blog name to The Soupy Maven) that I realized how much I loved soup. I think I had a few bad experiences way back when making soup where I didn’t use enough spices so it was really bland. No one likes a bland soup. This recipe is far from that!

This Chicken Tortilla Soup is made in the crock-pot and has a tomato base. Crushed tomatoes are essential ingredient #1 for delicious chicken tortilla soup. Essential ingredient #2 is chicken broth! Gotta thin that shiz out a bit. #3 is the chicken itself…because it wouldn’t be chicken tortilla soup without the chicken. Essential ingredient(s) #4 is…SPICES.

I’m telling you, spices really are the key to any soup. What’s in this one?

garlic
chili powder
ground cumin
smoked paprika
salt and pepper

I guarantee you have all of those staples in your pantry. And if you don’t- I suggest you pick those up ASAP!

I’d say the main reason why I love this soup recipe is because you throw everything UNCOOKED in the crock-pot and let it work its magic. Set it and forget it, AMIRITE?

Now let’s take a look at everyone else’s healthy crock-pot recipes! I love partnering with my blogging friends on posts like this because the are oh-so talented and their recipes ROCK. I can’t wait to try every single one of these!

Slow Cooker Sausage Kale Soup from Eating Bird Food

Come home to a warm and comforting meal with this slow cooker sausage kale soup! It’s packed with flavor and a breeze to whip up.

Thai Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup from no spoon necessary

This crock pot chicken noodle soup has a Thai spin! It uses butternut squash noodles to keep it gluten free, paleo friendly and under 300 calories and 3 SmartPoints! A low-carb option is included!

Paleo Creamy Broccoli Soup from Running to the Kitchen

This easy creamy broccoli soup is rich, comforting and topped with crispy shallots. It’s also paleo, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan!

Green Chile Vegetable Soup from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

This Green Chile Vegetable Soup is light, flavorful, and packed with hearty veggies! It’s the perfect meatless soup to keep you warm all season long! Customize this soup with your favorite veggies, beans, and/or gluten-free pasta, too!

Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup from Cotter Crunch

This Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup is one flavorful and healthy soup to keep you warm this season. An easy soup recipe for a nutritious meal-in-a-bowl. Paleo, vegan, and Whole30 friendly!