Kid's kitchen: Frozen Blueberry Breakfast Bars

"It's too cold."

Of all the things I expected Miles to say about the Frozen Blueberry Breakfast Bars, it was not a complaint that they were too cold. I thought it would be more like, "Yummy!", or another enthusiastic expression as he was once again a part of kitchen preparations.

Yet, he was unimpressed by the frozen treat and insisted that I eat it. Not that I minded - I found the bars to be sweet and satisfying, an interesting balance to the fourth cup of coffee I had this morning.

 The recipe for the bars was sent to me by Yoplait Greek (as was the yogurt to make them ---> full disclosure) was quick, easy and very toddler friendly. Miles was able to help by stirring together the butter and granola, dumping the yogurt on top when it was cool and sprinkling on the garnish.

And since there were no chemical reactions (rising, leavening, etc.) or raw ingredients, I didn't have to worry about whether he added too much or too little of a particular ingredient, overstirred the base or licked the spoon.

The only worry, it seems, is being patient enough for them to thaw so we can eat them at a more palatable temperature.

Frozen Blueberry Breakfast Bars

2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.

Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.

Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer. Makes 10 servings. 

Nutrition: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 60); Total Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 100mg; Total Carbohydrate 24g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 6g); Protein 5g

Try any of the Yoplait® Greek yogurt flavors in this bar in place of the blueberry. These bars can be stored tightly wrapped in the freezer up to 2 weeks.

Big baking theory: Life with a toddler + recipe

My mothering skill have taken a hit lately.

Quite literally.

My cute and precocious toddler has gone from cute and precocious to temperamental and physical. Or, as Kim said this weekend, a boy of many opinions. He will tell you what he wants, what he doesn't want, what he likes and what he doesn't like. If you dare cross him, which I do often, his response is a bossy "I told you not to {insert action here}" - at best - or tears or ... a bop in the nose, kick in the shins, slap on the hand.

It's a bit disconcerting to say the least. Not only is it embarrassing to have your 2-year-old hit you in front of your friend or have your kid kick you in the grocery, I don't want to be that mom - the one who raises a bully.

I shared my frustrations with my grandma, whom I think was slightly amused by at all. She listened and then I listened, waiting for a grand piece of advice. I was sure after seven kids that she would have insight on how to curb hitting. And maybe she did but what she said surprised me.

Maybe Miles wasn't being a bully. Rather, it's possible he was trying to vie for my attention. It might help, she said, if I gave him a bit more focus.

I wanted to gaffe. I spend my mornings with him, I come home from work and spend time with him. We read at night and hang out on the weekend. The thing is, though, that much of my time is spent in a flurry - doing dishes, packing lunch, switching laundry, trying to get a quiet moment to myself in the bath. I might be with him but I'm not spending time with him.

So yesterday, I took my grandma on and came up with an activity that I was sure we'd both like and might bring us together.

Baking!

I thought it might be a nice treat to make some muffins for my mother-in-law, and Miles would be motivated knowing that we were doing it for Nana.

To make things easier - for Miles and my patience - I measured out all of the ingredients and prepped a few others before I brought him into the kitchen.

I got him set up on a chair and gave him directions on what to add and when but he really did a lot of the work. To be honest, I was surprised at how well he did. He didn't stir too vigorously, swishing flour everywhere, or completely miss the bowl when dumping in baking powder. Our only close call was when he wanted to dump the entire thing of salt in the bowl.

I gave him a mini muffin pan to scoop batter on his own while I tackled bigger pans for Nana and my freezer stash.

While the morning wasn't picture perfect, we did end up with some delicious muffins and a nice gift basket for Nana. Miles was more than proud to deliver it at dinner, and Nana loved having the gift. As for me, I felt better that I could say exactly what we did - together - that day.

Tangerine-Cranberry Yogurt Muffins

Makes 2 dozen

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups wheat flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 containers Yoplait Blended Greek Yogurt, Tangerine flavor

1/3 to 1/2 cup orange juice or unsweetened almond milk

1 cup reduced sugar dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place liners in muffin pan or prepare with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, salt, sugar and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine oil, applesauce, eggs, vanilla and yogurt. Add the wet ingredients to dry, stirring gently to combine. Add juice or milk to reach desired consistency. Fold in cranberries. 

Scoop batter into prepared pans. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes clean.

Disclosure: I was provided with yogurt from Yoplait Greek but all opinions and words are my own.

Award winning night {Yoplait Greek}

We runners know how to party.

And party hard.

After a tough nearly 17-mile run and couple hours on my feet doing an unofficial Nuun tasting at Fleet Feet Sports Fort Wayne, the idea of heading to my friend's Emmy party seemed ... well ... you know. So rather than load up the goodies and drive a half-hour, I curled up on the couch to watch the Emmy's at home.

I saw Kevin Spacey deliver the best of the intro/opening scene.

I saw Jim Parson's win best actor in a comedy series for "Big Bang Theory."

And then I fell asleep. On the couch. In my compression socks. See? I told you that I knew how to party.

But where I fall flat in the social department, I make up for in the yogurt parfait-making department - Yoplait Greek, fresh raspberries, bananas and toasted pecans.

The new Yoplait Greek yogurt is blended cup of strained Greek yogurt, featuring a thick and creamy texture, high protein and real pieces. The best part? Yoplait developed this yogurt as a result of learning that many consumers were not fully satisfied with fruit on the bottom and aftertaste of their previous Greek offering. It comes in six flavors – Blueberry, Coconut, Pineapple, Strawberry Raspberry, Tangerine and Vanilla – all containing 150 calories or less per serving and 100 percent more protein than regular yogurt.

Thanks to Yoplait, I've tried two flavors - Pineapple and Strawberry Raspberry. I much appreciated the blended style (especially when sharing with Miles) and found it to be thicker than the Yoplait Greek 100, which I've tried in the past. The flavor was good, and there were bits of fruit in it. I preferred the Strawberry Raspberry to the Pineapple. That said, I froze the Pineapple and now use the frozen yogurt in smoothies - how's that for putting one of my old Weight Watchers tips in action.

The Yoplait Greek is also good as a garnish for a diet gin and tonic, in Chocolate Cherry Mini Lava Cakes and Yogurt-Filled Strawberries, which celebs munched on over the weekend. Stars at the event to support Yoplait Greek yogurt’s breast cancer initiative included Laura Prepon, Vanessa Lachey and Elizabeth Moss.

I'm guessing they know how to party a bit better than I do.

I'll be sharing the recipe for the yogurt-filled strawberries on my Facebook page, as well as offering one reader five coupons good for one cup of Yoplait Greek so be on the lookout for that.

Yoplait is sure you'll like its new Greek yogurt so much that its offering a “Love it or its Free” with mail-in rebate. Restrictions apply. Find information at www.Yoplait.com/rebate.

Disclosure: I was provided with an Emmy party package that included free yogurt but no other compensation for this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I choose to review products based on items I buy regularly or would otherwise buy. 

Feeling blue: A refreshing recipe

Blueberries. You could say I've been a bit obsessed lately.

By the handful, in oatmeal, over angel food cake, on wheat waffles, by the handful, over yogurt - I have found any way possible to incorporate the berries into my diet. It doesn't hurt that they've been $1.49 a pint at Aldi of late.

And that's not such a bad thing. According to WebMD, blueberries rank the highest of any fruit for antioxidants (those free-radical-fighting powerhouses), and one cup delivers 14 percent of the recommended daily dose of fiber and nearly a quarter of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Blueberries are also low in calories -- fewer than 100 for a full cup. They owe their distinct hue to their high anthocyanin content, which gives certain fruits and veggies their deep blues and reds.

So it was a no-brainer to include the vibrant fruit in a recipe when I was challenged by Yoplait to make a refreshing summer snack using Yoplait Greek 100. I didn't want to just make something refreshing, though. I wanted to take one of my favorite treats - and I do mean TREAT - and make it more mindful.

My first summer out of college, I lived in the "resort" town of Sandusky, Ohio - otherwise known as that city where Cedar Point is. I rented a small house a couple blocks from the bay and lived a quiet, lonely existence.  I didn't have friends in the area, and I struggled in a job I didn't like and felt unfulfilled in my long distance relationship. I spent my evenings off chatting with my mom as I went for walks ... to the seasonal ice cream shop about a half-mile away. Some days, I might enjoy a cone and others a sundae but my favorite was the Cobb's Cooler. It was slush mix, sliced bananas and strawberry topping with a swirl of ice cream. It was insanely delicious and completely negated the 100 calories I might have burned walking to the shop.

The more mindful version of the cooler, which is just as refreshing - if not more - features fresh fruit, a no-sugar base and fat-free lemon yogurt to brighten the drink. And it comes in at less than 100 calories per glass. It does require a bit - not a lot - of prep work but it's worth it as you take a sip on the patio, watching a now 2-year-old swing a bat like a major league player.

Berry Cool Lemon Cooler

1 container Lemon Yoplait Greek 100 yogurt
6 ice cubes
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup lemon sparkling water, more or less to taste

Mix yogurt with a spoon and scoop onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Freeze until slightly firm, or until ready to use.

In a blender, add ice cubes and pulse into nearly crushed. Add blueberries and continue pulsing until there are no large chunks of ice. Scoop 1 cup of mix into a large glass and add sparkling water, stirring until desired consistency. Place half of frozen yogurt scoops in glass. Serve with straw. Makes 2 servings.

Note: If yogurt is frozen overnight, it will be easier to eat if you bring it to room temperature or defrost it slightly.

Variation: Stir in half container yogurt with drink for a creamier take on the drink.

Disclosure: Yoplait provided me with free product coupons but all opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: While I'm not 100 percent in love with the yogurt's nutritional profile, namely its inclusion of artificial sweetener, I can't deny its accessibility, price point and the role it could play in someone who is on a weight loss journey, especially as many Greek yogurts have 150 to 200 calories per container and a lot of sugar. The taste is good, too, especially when used in a dish like this.

Things I've been eating + giveaway

I was feeling so proud of myself. I had reviewed two days of entries on MyFitnessPal, and I had noticed that it had been two days since I had eaten meat.

And I hadn't died. Shocking, I know.

Also shocking - I can be wrong but we'll get to that in a little bit but first, like any good eater, let's talk about breakfast.

I was fortunate enough to receive a gracious and generous box of goodies from a blend, and it included rye bread from Liz's favorite bakery. I'm a German girl, through and through, and I have been finding any chance I can to eat it. Breakfasts have been a (whole) egg with cheese on rye toast and served with some kind of produce. Tuesday it was an orange; this morning, grilled zucchini.

I'm making another go at a more substantial morning snack and, thanks to Bzz Agent, I'm trying out Kroger's yogurts - Greek, Greek Lite and CARBmaster. I prefer the Greek to Greek Lite but this particular morning I had the Lite pineapple mango with a bit of sliced banana and trail mix I found at Fresh Market. It was a great balance of protein plus carbs to hold me over to my lunch date.

One thing: My lunch date got held up and I had to scrounge up a snack from a drawer. I'd like to say I picked the nuts but it was a handful of marshmallows and some raisins. However, I did not eat the lint roller. Win.

Our big idea for the day was to find some Cajun- or Creole-inspired food to ring in Mardi Gras. We went to one of my favorite neighborhood places, and I got my even more favoritest salad - red beans and rice over lettuce with tomatoes and cheese - and gumbo. See, this is where I was wrong about the meat. Gumbo had chicken.

And putting the fat in Fat Tuesday was a packi from a neighborhood bakery. Apple, if you are interested. I ate half to only feel sort of fat.

I was feeling rather full and sick to be honest from the paczki that I didn't snack my way through the afternoon, saving room for dinner - blackened salmon po boys and Alexia Foods Multigrain Onion Rings.

The onion rings were courtesy of Alexia, and I was excited to try a more nutrient-dense version of a favorite indulgence. They were crunchy, hearty and tasty.

I had a post-dinner workout planned, and I grabbed a handful of candy. To power me through, of course.

The workout pretty much sucked - I blame the lingering illness. But the good news ... well, totally unrelated. Alexia Foods is offering one Healthy Strides reader a gourmet cooking prize-pack giveaway. The winner will receive an Alexia apron, Alexia kitchen timer and a coupon for a FREE Alexia Product 

You can also sign up to be part of the Alexia Ambassador Program for exclusive recipes, coupons, free gift cards and kitchen gear. Simply visit http://rewards.alexiafoods.com to begin earning points towards these prizes and more!

To enter, simply leave a comment telling me which Alexia Foods product you would select with the coupon.

 The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The winner will be selected at random and announced on the blog Thursday, Feb. 21. The winner will have 72 hours to claim her prize (by emailing hlthystrides at gmail dot com) or a new winner will be selected.

Food Friday: All Greek to me {+ giveaway}

There were two things I missed when I was limiting dairy during marathon training: cheese and ice cream.

Wait. Make that three things. I missed cheese, ice cream and Greek yogurt.

Whether it's topped with berries and nuts or the occasional granola, stirred into oatmeal or a topping pancakes, it's a delicious snack or breakfast. And healthy, too. Greek yogurt has more protein than traditional yogurts, fewer carbohydrates and less sodium.

But of course you already knew that.

There's a dizzying array of Greek yogurt brands - Chobani, Fage and Oikos (my first foray into Greeks) - and more traditional yogurt brands such as Dannon and Yoplait have come out with their own versions. It's a $5 billion business {source}, with each brand trying to create its own niche. Chobani has a loyal following in the blogosphere and Fage has its own group who appreciate its tang.

But Yoplait is targeting someone else. Someone who can't afford to "spend" 150+ calories on the sugary concoctions of other producers. Someone who budgets snacks. Someone who is busy and needs a quick snack on the go.

Yoplait's Greek 100 is 100 calories and just 2 Points Plus if you follow Weight Watchers. It has 10 grams of protein for staying power and 9 grams of sugar (there are artificial sweeteners in this yogurt). And though it has no fat, it still has a thick consistency that Greek yogurt fans enjoy.

I sampled a bit of this yogurt during the summer, and I found it to be good. A tad sweet but good. It's something easy you can throw into your purse .... I mean lunch bag ... for a quick snack at work without having to worry about calories or portions.

And I do mean you. The folks at Yoplait have generously offered to send a case of the new yogurt to five - yes, 5! - readers.

Happy snacking.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end on Sunday, Nov. 18. Winners will be selected at random and announced on the blog Monday, Nov. 19. Winners have 72 hours to claim their prize (by emailing hlthystrides at gmail dot com) or new winners will be selected.

Food Friday: Snack finds

I've been snacking. A lot lately, so it seems. And while I have my go-to snacks - sliced cucumbers, fresh fruit, 100-calorie packs of almonds - I've come across some new (to me) things that I thought I'd share.

Seapoint Farms Dry-Roasted Edamame,  Spicy Wasabi flavor. I first discovered dry-roasted edamame in a Go Picnic! pack but have since seen it at Marshall's and niche grocers. I love it as a salty snack alternative to nuts or crackers with a punch of protein. A quarter-cup serving has 130 calories, 4.5 grams of fat and 14 grams of protein. And if you get the Spicy Wasabi flavor, I promise you that it has enough POW! that you won't be going back for seconds. I am a wasabi lover - it's a good part of the reason I like sushi - and this did not disappoint. Some pieces can have more wasabi powder than others so if you have a sensitive tummy, I would go with the traditional flavor.

Yoplait Greek 100. Greek yogurt for a dairy free gal? I know, I know. The company had contacted me before my decision to limit my dairy so when it came to my door, I thought I should at least give it a try.

{what I love about it} It's only 100 calories, still thick like fuller fat Greek yogurts and just 2 Points Plus if you are following Weight Watchers. I had a hard time finding plan-friendly yogurts when I was regularly attending WW and it's even tougher with Points Plus. It's also a bit more affordable than some of the other brands such as Chobani and Fage.

{what I didn't like about it} It is sweet. Almost sickeningly sweet. So much so that I felt an insane sense of mother's guilt giving Miles bites of it. I will say that I had been accustomed to eating Fage 0%, which I get ridiculously cheap at my butcher, and has about 16 grams of sugar from fruit. Yoplait Greek 100 is sweetened with sucralose (brand name Splenda), which explains the sweetness.

Earl Grey Latte with soy. OK, it's not so much a snack as a beverage - sue me. I picked up one of these the other day at Starbucks, and I fell in love.

Since I got my Keurig Vue, I've been obsessed (to say the least) with coffee, and I'm trying to balance it with something I can pretend is a bit better for me. The tea latte is just that. I got mine unsweetened (later added stevia) and was singing its praises for the three-block drive to work as I listened to a podcast of "This American Life" (also an obsession). It is a bit of a calorie-buster at 140 for a tall but it's a nice treat.

Snack drawer. I made a pit stop at Target this week to replenish my snack drawer (that's my reason, and I'm sticking to it), and I picked up a few things for the afternoon munchies - mandarin oranges in light syrup, 100-calorie packs of raisins and Fiber One Strawberry PB&J bars.

And maybe some fun-size Snickers Almond. Maybe ...

Anything else you would add to the drawer? I may or may not need another reason to hit up the Target.

Berry, berry tasty

Best. Breakfast. Ever.


Two whole-wheat waffles, toasted, topped with 1 cup mixed berries (blackberries, raspberries and blueberries) and 1/4 cup 0% Fage with a smidge of Truvia mixed in. And you can't forget the healthy sprinkling of cinnamon. (Remember, cinnamon has been shown to lower cholesterol and help with blood sugar!)

These waffles were like the fattening kind you get at a restaurant. Except better. They weren't overly sweet - just sweet enough. The Fage was creamy, like whipped cream, but didn't melt into a puddle on the plate. And you seriously can't beat fresh berries, especially right now (and especially since they were on sale for $1 a container).

I just wish I hadn't put the rest of the berries into my smoothie this morning because I could eat this for breakfast again.

And again.

And again.