Granola is so incredibly easy and good for you...yet I hardly ever think to make it! I've tried a few versions, and I have to say this coconut chocolate chip granola is fantastic and such a wonderful healthy snack.
The oats promote heart health and are a great source of fiber, as are flax seeds! Flax seeds and the nuts also contain Omega-3's which are good, healthy fats and are also excellent for your heart and help AID in weight loss.
And yes, of course I added dark chocolate bits...yum!! This granola is amazing mixed with Greek yogurt, which I often mix with dark chocolate chips so I thought, why not add them all together? It's completely optional though...in fact I actually did 1/2 the batch without because my husband enjoys eating this granola with milk, like cereal.
I hope you all enjoy as much as my family did. I caught my 18 month carrying the storage container around quite a few times shoveling handfuls of it in her mouth. Thinking I may make a double batch next time!
Makes about 3 cups
Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup flax seed
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a microwave safe bowl, combine the coconut oil, honey and maple syrup and microwave for 15-30 seconds to slightly melt everything. In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, chopped nuts, flax seed and raisins. Pour the coconut oil mixture over top and stir until everything is coated.
Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown (it will be soft when it first comes out of the oven and harden as it cools). Add the chocolate chips when the granola has cooled. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or freeze for up to 2 months.
Week 6 of my Piyo/P90X3/Hammer and Chisel hybrid starts this week. I've been incorporating the 2 sneak peeks of Hammer and Chisel into my workout rotation for the past couple of weeks and it is AMAZING. I got to try out Cardio at our Beachbody Super Saturday event - wow! 18 minutes but I was SO sore the next day! If you don't already have a coach, but want to try Beachbody On Demand FREE for 30 days, fill out the form at the bottom OR send me a friend request and a message on Facebook.
Here is the meal plan I am following this week. Each color represents a different color coded portion control container (want more info? Keep scrolling...the 21-Day Fix is my most popular program and I have challenge groups starting EVERY Monday).
{Click the picture to download or print this meal plan}
I am following the 1800-2099 calorie bracket. I am on the maintenance plan and am not eating at a deficit. You will need to figure out the bracket that is right for you. And if you are not already actively working with a Beachbody coach and you need help getting started, simply create a FREE Beachbody account with me as your coach HERE!
Here are a couple of the recipes from this week:
Honey Mustard Dressing
1/2 cup reduced fat Greek yogurt
3 TBSP Dijon Mustard
3 TBSP honey
3 TBSP rice vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt to taste
Combine all of the ingredients except for the olive oil, whisk well to combine. Slowly add oil until well blended.
Boo! Ha! Who dares to join me for my next 21-Day Fix challenge group?! November 2nd, 3 weeks that will take us to the Monday right before Thanksgiving. How PERFECT! NO tricks just:
* Quick 30-minute workouts
* A fool proof meal plan
* Daily Superfood nutrition
* A FREE 21-Day Fix insulated tote so you can be prepared all day long
* ME as your COACH for motivation and support...
But YES to treats like chocolate and wine...seriously! The next TWO customers will also get a copy of the Fixate cookbook - one more tool to help you succeed. Fill out the challenge group form below or email me at brookegriffin6@gmail.com to join!
You love 21-Day Fix's Autumn Calabrese and Body Beast's Sagi Kalev. What if I were to tell you they've teamed up on a workout program together?!
Announcing The Master's Hammer and Chisel, a 60-day program that you will help you craft a defined, visually-dramatic physique. Autumn and Sagi - both award winning fitness competitors - joined forces to create this one-of-a-kind workout that will sculpt you from head-to-toe.
The bad news...it doesn't launch until DECEMBER. The GREAT news?? Members of Beachbody On Demand now have an exclusive "first look" access to TWO different workouts from The Master's Hammer and Chisel. Don't have a coach and aren't a Club Member (giving you access to Beachbody On Demand)? No problem...sign up here, with me as your coach, and you will get 30 days FREE access...
This started as a challenge...one of the Beachbody coaches on my team asked if anyone had a recipe for 21-Day Fix approved cinnamon rolls and I just had to give it a shot. And while I can't say that they are 21-Day Fix approved, I can say that these clean eating cinnamon rolls (with cream cheese icing no less!) really are as close to the real deal as I can get...
I have a recipe on my blog for Cinnamon Rolls already and I firmly believe you can "clean" up almost any recipe if you know what substitutions work for different ingredients. White whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour, honey for sugar, coconut sugar for brown sugar in the filling...it all worked great!
So my final recipe was a "take-two"...the first time I tried it, the dough was a bit dried out and overall, they weren't as sweet as I had hoped. My children did not mind. They devoured them. And how lucky for them that I couldn't let this rest until I got it right? Let's just say I'm kind of over cinnamon rolls for awhile... ;)
On the second attempt, the dough was MUCH better. Soft and sweeter and yummy! Even the next day, after sitting in the fridge, they completely softened up when popped in the microwave.
Keep in mind that this recipe takes a long time...hours in fact!! Lots of time to let the dough rise. It's a fun project if you have kids. They loved seeing the dough get bigger and the rolls plump up. My 5 and 3-year old were also great rollers and helped spread the filling. A fun weekend activity for all!
I added just a little of cinnamon to the icing. This is optional, but I liked seeing the warm little specks of the spice in the icing. It actually makes a lot, so even after I iced them twice, we still had some left over to drizzle over top (if necessary). These may be "clean" but they are definitely a treat!
The process is long, but I swear it's worth it!! I hope you enjoy them as much as we did. If you have any questions, comment and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!
Makes 12 rolls
{Clean Eating} Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
1 packet fast-rising yeast
1 cup of fat free or almond milk, room temperature
1/3 cup honey
3 tablespoons coconut oil, softened
2 tablespoons warm water
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 1/2 - 4 cups white whole wheat flour (+ more for rolling)
Filling
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons cinnamon
Cream Cheese Icing
4 oz. cream cheese, room temp
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, combine the yeast, milk, honey, coconut oil, water, egg and vanilla and mix on low. Add the salt and about 3 cups of the flour and mix on low until just combined. Switch to the dough hook and add the additional flour 1/4 cup of a time until the dough pulls away from the sides (will still be a little sticky). Continue kneading for about 5 more minutes.
Spray a large bowl with non-stick cooking spray and place the dough ball in, turning a few times to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm spot for 1 hour to let the dough rise. Punch down the dough, then let it rise again for another hour.
Punch down the dough and transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough out to approximately 14 x 22 inches. Spread coconut oil onto dough leaving a 1-inch border on one of the long sides.
Make the filling: combine the coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup and cinnamon in a bowl and spread evenly over the coconut oil on the rolled out dough, making sure to leave that 1-inch border untouched.
Roll the dough into a log, ending with the untouched dough on the bottom to seal the whole thing together. Cut off the uneven ends, score your dough every 2 inches and then cut through using those marks. Place parchment paper in the pans you are using (I used those throw away foil pans) and then spray with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with a dish towel and let them rise again for another hour.
Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes until the tops are golden brown.
While they are baking, make the icing. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, honey, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon until smooth. Scrape down the sides and mix again briefly.
Once you pull the cinnamon rolls out the oven, frost with half of the amount of icing made (it will melt down into the rolls). Then once they have cooled, frost again with the remaining icing.
I cannot tell you excited I am about my meal plan this week! I am running a FREE 7-Day Clean Eating Crock Pot group so most of my dinners (even some breakfasts) are Crock Pot meals or leftovers. I feel like this mom is on break!! It is not too late to join the group...
Week 5 of my Piyo/P90X3/Hammer and Chisel hybrid starts this week. I've been incorporating the 2 sneak peeks of Hammer and Chisel into my workout rotation for the past couple of weeks. If you don't already have a coach, but want to try Beachbody On Demand FREE for 30 days, fill out the form at the bottom OR send me a friend request and a message on Facebook.
Here is the meal plan I am following this week. Each color represents a different color coded portion control container (want more info? Keep scrolling...the 21-Day Fix is my most popular program and I have challenge groups starting EVERY Monday).
{Click the picture to download or print this meal plan}
I am following the 1800-2099 calorie bracket. I am on the maintenance plan and am not eating at a deficit. You will need to figure out the bracket that is right for you. And if you are not already actively working with a Beachbody coach and you need help getting started, simply create a FREE Beachbody account with me as your coach HERE!
Here are a couple of the recipes from this week:
Honey Mustard Dressing
1/2 cup reduced fat Greek yogurt
3 TBSP Dijon Mustard
3 TBSP honey
3 TBSP rice vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt to taste
Combine all of the ingredients except for the olive oil, whisk well to combine. Slowly add oil until well blended.
Spots are still open for my 10/26 and 11/2 21-Day Fix Challenge Groups! Let's get ahead of that holiday slide...
Pick from 21DF or Extreme
Drink Shakeology everyday
Me as your coach!
You can get the 21-Day Fix {OR Body Beast} for just $10 this month with the purchase of Shakeology. And FREE GOODIES -- and insulated tote (I WANT that toe!) plus something extra from me but you have to act fast and email me at brookegriffin6@gmail.com or fill out the form below to join...
You love 21-Day Fix's Autumn Calabrese and Body Beast's Sagi Kalev. What if I were to tell you they've teamed up on a workout program together?!
Announcing The Master's Hammer and Chisel, a 60-day program that you will help you craft a defined, visually-dramatic physique. Autumn and Sagi - both award winning fitness competitors - joined forces to create this one-of-a-kind workout that will sculpt you from head-to-toe.
The bad news...it doesn't launch until DECEMBER. The GREAT news?? On October 1st, members of Beachbody On Demand will get exclusive "first look" access to TWO different workouts from The Master's Hammer and Chisel. Don't have a coach and aren't a Club Member (giving you access to Beachbody On Demand)? No problem...sign up here, with me as your coach, and you will get 30 days FREE access...
Week 4 of my PiYo/P90X3 Hybrid begins tomorrow! I gotta say, these two combined together is amazing. The weights of P90X3 combined with the stretching and strength of PiYo - I'm already seeing some really awesome changes through my core and back. If you don't already have a coach, but have either of these programs, or both, fill out the form at the bottom to get in touch if you want to join me. Sounds kind of amazing right?
Here is the meal plan I am following this week. Each color represents a different color coded portion control container (want more info? Keep scrolling...the 21-Day Fix is my most popular program and I have challenge groups starting EVERY Monday).
I have been using the new 21-Day Fix cookbook, Fixate a lot lately because it is AMAZING. I have tried a bunch of recipes from it and there has not been one that I didn't like. If you are interested in purchasing, this will take you to my site --- > CLICK HERE, SHOP, then type Fixate in the search bar. I KNOW you will love it as much as I do!
{Click the picture to download or print this meal plan}
I am following the 1800-2099 calorie bracket. I am on the maintenance plan and am not eating at a deficit. You will need to figure out the bracket that is right for you. And if you are not already actively working with a Beachbody coach and you need help getting started, simply create a FREE Beachbody account with me as your coach HERE!
Here are a couple of the recipes from this week:
Honey Mustard Dressing
1/2 cup reduced fat Greek yogurt
3 TBSP Dijon Mustard
3 TBSP honey
3 TBSP rice vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt to taste
Combine all of the ingredients except for the olive oil, whisk well to combine. Slowly add oil until well blended.
We all know this time of year it's hard to stay on track...weekends usually mean football, a few beers and bad food choices, right? I'm guilty too. And I'm here to tell you, it's not going to get any easier...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Holiday parties??! The next few months are tough. That's why I'm asking you to give me just 21 days before the craziness begins. 21 days of healthy eating and working out and it WILL become a habit.
3 weeks, you and me...ALL IN. You pick your program, or continue doing your own (CrossFit, Pure Barre, the gym, etc). We will drink Shakeology every day and completely dial in your nutrition for those 3 weeks. I will coach you through your entire program, but those first 3 weeks are CRUCIAL to how successful you are for the rest of this year.
Who wouldn't want to be 5-10 pounds lighter going INTO the holiday season? If you are interested in joining, fill out the form at the bottom and I will be in touch!
You love 21-Day Fix's Autumn Calabrese and Body Beast's Sagi Kalev. What if I were to tell you they've teamed up on a workout program together?!
Announcing The Master's Hammer and Chisel, a 60-day program that you will help you craft a defined, visually-dramatic physique. Autumn and Sagi - both award winning fitness competitors - joined forces to create this one-of-a-kind workout that will sculpt you from head-to-toe.
The bad news...it doesn't launch until DECEMBER. The GREAT news?? On October 1st, members of Beachbody On Demand will get exclusive "first look" access to TWO different workouts from The Master's Hammer and Chisel. Don't have a coach and aren't a Club Member (giving you access to Beachbody On Demand)? No problem...sign up here, with me as your coach, and you will get 30 days FREE access...
The 21-Day Fix Original and Extreme are by far the most popular programs among my challengers. I love 21-Day Fix meal plan and have never felt better following it. More energy, less bloat, sleeping great! I have CHALLENGE GROUPS starting EVERY Monday. Fill out the form below to find out more or use these links to make your purchase now!
It's no secret that my family loves our pancakes!! I think this is my 6th blog post on a different flavor of pancakes. And these whole wheat blueberry pancakes are the bomb!!
My family seems to go in waves of what fruit they like best...we go strong on one type for a few weeks, then we move on. For awhile, we were all obsessed with blueberries! So we put them in everything - oatmeal, muffins, pancakes, you name it.
Pancakes are our Sunday morning tradition. This healthier, clean version may not be as easy as just pouring it out of a bag and mixing with water, but they are totally worth it. And honestly, they are SUPER easy. So experiment away!! Be sure to check out my other versions here...
Yields about 30 mini pancakes
Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes
2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
2 large eggs, beaten
1 3/4 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
organic butter or coconut oil for frying
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the honey, eggs, milk and whisk until everything is combined. Carefully fold in the blueberries. Heat a griddle or pan over medium heat. Add butter or coconut oil to melt and coat the bottom. Spoon batter onto griddle or pan, using about 1/4 cup. When bubbles start to form on the top, flip the pancakes and cook on the other side. Remove from pan, repeat with butter and batter. Serve with maple syrup.
To freeze: place pancakes in a freezer bag. Heat for a minute in the microwave to serve!
I'm a super busy mom of 3 and a Beachbody coach. Follow along as I try to find a balance between eating good food and keeping my family healthy and happy! We eat mostly clean with a few fun treats thrown in every once in awhile. Thanks for stopping by!
