Clean Eat Recipe: Coconut Oil Cinnamon Toast

Okay so maybe calling this a "recipe" is a stretch...but we just have to share it. We made this a few times on our hiking trip in Utah and Colorado last fall. It was so easy and gave us the energy we needed for our hard hikes! Oh, and it brought back childhood memories of white bread with butter and cinnamon on top. ;-) The coconut oil makes this snack amazing - no butter needed!

Clean Eat Recipe: Coconut Oil Cinnamon Toast

Ingredients:

• 1-2 pieces of bread (we love Food for Life Ezekiel Bread or Canyon Bakehouse)
• 1/2-1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• Cinnamon, to taste
• Sweetener of choice (stevia, coconut sugar, etc)

Directions:

1. Toast bread until desired crisp
2. Spread coconut oil on top
3. Sprinkle cinnamon and sweetener on top
4. Enjoy!

Budget-Friendly Protein Sources

Here's the first post in our Clean Eating on a Budget "series"! We are SO EXCITED to bring our money saving tips to you! (P.S. If you still haven't started our 12 Month Money Challenge, you have time to join!) We all know protein can be one of the most expensive components of clean eating.  And with so many options to choose from, how do we know which protein source gets us the most "bang for the buck"?  Or should I say "pump for the penny"? ;-)

When comparing the cost of protein sources, it's easier to compare meats based on actual cost per pound (beef vs. chicken or turkey vs. bison), but it gets very confusing when you start adding in other options like fish, dairy, eggs, peanut butter and so on.  So, what we've done is analyzed the cost per 20 grams of protein for individual sources.  Why compare the cost per 20 grams, you ask?  Well, 20 grams should be an average serving size of protein of an active individual.  A chicken breast will have about 20 grams of protein and a cup of Greek yogurt has about 20 grams as well.  So, check out the chart below to see how your favorite protein source stacks up.

There are a few things to consider when looking at this chart...first of all, finding budget-friendly vegan sources isn't all that hard, but it does come with a nutritional cost.  In order to get a decent amount of protein, you have to consume well beyond the recommended serving size and consume additional calories from either fat (additional 15 grams of fat for peanut butter) or carbohydrates.  So, while dry red lentils seem to be the most budget-friendly vegan protein, it probably makes more sense to consume the raw shelled hemp seeds due to the balanced amount of fat, carbs (mostly fiber) and, not to mention, it's a perfect protein.  Hemp seeds also provide an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids and GLA (gamma linolenic acid).  Read more about all the excellent benefits of hemp seeds here.

Our favorite sources of proteins are organic eggs (the whole egg, don't worry about the cholesterol unless your LDL is already high), liquid egg whites (we use them in protein shakes, oats or cooked with veggies), and canned, wild-caught albacore tuna.  Tuna is a great option, because it's somewhat affordable ($1.84 per 20 grams) and it provides a TON of Omega-3s, it's loaded with selenium and provides a great amount of B vitamins (B3, B6 and B12).  One interesting thing to note is that our Costco has the brand tuna we buy (Wild Planet) which costs 50% more on amazon ($4.60 per can) and at least 100% more at our local grocery stores ($6.00 per can) than it does at our local Costco ($3.00 per can).  

All protein sources listed in the chart are of very high quality and are similar to what we would purchase on a regular basis (except salmon).  This chart is meant to show the extremes in costs per servings between types of proteins.

We hope this chart helps guide your decision-making when it comes to filling your pantry (or fridge) with budget-friendly protein sources!

-Scott

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Mason Jar Overnight Oats

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Kohl's. Thank you for supporting He and She Eat Clean.

Wow. I should have started making these years ago! Just like with spiralizing vegetables, we are a little late to the game on overnight oats in a mason jar…but better late than never! We have a ton of oat recipes (like one of our most popular, Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats) but many of them require a crock pot which also means more clean up.

Enter mason jar oats.

I actually have tried these once before but obviously did something wrong because I didn't like them. We've been super busy lately so I decided to give them another chance as a way to speed up our mornings. I must say I was successful this time!

This particular combination reminds me of our Banana Peanut Butter Protein Shake which is basically the best protein shake ever. So this is like eating that shake. Amazing.

You really don't need much for these so they are prefect for those on a budget. I recommend buying a set of 8 oz mason jars. You'll want all 12 to try different flavors – trust me! Plus, I love drinking juice and flavored water out of mason jars. Mason jars make everything better. It's a fact.

Mason Jar Overnight Oats

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana

Ingredients:

• ½ cup quick oats
• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1-2 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 Tbsp peanut or almond butter
• ½ banana, mashed
• 1/8 tsp vanilla
• 2 squares of dark chocolate (choose quality chocolate 70% or higher)

Directions:

1. Mash banana and break up chocolate (I usually use a meat tenderizer for these tasks!)
2. Add all ingredients to a mason jar and stir to combine
3. Cover with lid and store in refrigerator for a few hours or overnight if you are making these the night before

Once ready just stir and eat – these are tasty cold but can also be heated up! These make a perfect meal paired with eggs or a protein shake!

Note: For these pictures I doubled the recipe so don't be alarmed if yours doesn't seem to fill up the mason jar as much.

Kohl's #MakeYourMove campaign isn't only about moving, it's about living an overall healthy lifestyle. We are all busy but taking a few minutes each night or even just a few nights a week to prepare food in advance will set you up on the road to success!

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Kohl's.