Snacking Made Simple with Simple Mills Organic Seed Flour Crackers

This post has been compensated by Acorn and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

Snack time is one of my favorite times of the day. Don’t get me wrong, I love a full-on meal, but sometimes you just need something light and delicious to get you through. That’s why I couldn’t be more excited about Simple Mills’ NEW Organic Seed Flour Crackers! They are now available at Whole Foods and the perfect snacking cracker.

I’ve been a huge fan of Simple Mills for years now. Their products are unmatched! These new Seed Flour Crackers take the snacking game to a whole new level! They have the most flaky, crispy texture, making them the ideal vehicle to load up with your favorite toppings! They’re available in three different flavors – original, garlic & herb, and everything, all of which are absolutely delicious and made from a nutrient-dense three-seed flour blend of sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Plus, they provide a great source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants to keep you powering through your day!

Whether I’m enjoying a quick snack plate or making a board of various cracker bites for an at-home happy hour, these crackers are my new go-to. Each flavor is so delicious and fun to pair with different toppings. I absolutely loving topping the garlic & herb with a variety of savory combos like mashed avocado with mini peppers and cilantro, hummus with cucumber slices, or mozzarella with cherry tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar. The original flavor is great with literally anything, but I especially love using them when I’m craving something a little sweet like these goat cheese, strawberry, and balsamic bites and brie, blackberry, and honey bites.

No matter how you’re topping them, you really can’t go wrong with these Simple Mills Organic Seed Flour Crackers! They not only make snacking extra delicious and nutritious but also super simple and easy! It really doesn’t get much better. Make sure to check them out at your local Whole Foods, and let me know what you think in the comments below!

New Year, Same Ice Cream with Halo Top®

This post is sponsored by Halo Top®, but all opinions are my own.

A new year may mean a fresh start and new goals for some of us. I know that I personally have set some health and fitness goals for this year to get back to eating and working out in the way that makes me feel the best. This definitely includes being more aware of the food I’m eating after an overly indulgent holiday season. What this does not mean for me is giving up the things I enjoy having regularly! I’m a big advocate of all foods fitting into my lifestyle. Whether it’s french fries or sweets, I don’t believe in restricting myself. What I do believe in is making better choices i.e. sometimes opting to make my own french fries or enjoying a pint of my favorite ice cream, Halo Top® Pints: Light Ice Cream from Walmart.

Halo Top® makes low calorie, high protein ice cream in a variety of flavors making it easy to cut down on calories without sacrificing happiness. You can literally eat the entire pint (or not) since each pint ranges from 280 to 380 calories depending on the flavor. Whether you’re eating Halo Top® straight out of the pint during a movie night, making banana splits, or having a tasting of all of your favorite flavors with your friends, Halo Top® has you covered!

I picked up some of my favorite flavors at my local Walmart thanks to online pickup and delivery – Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Cup. You can snag them for yourself here. Each one is super delicious and packed with protein! I love eating them as is or even making a simple, delicious ice cream sandwich.

Another one of my favorite recipes to make with Halo Top® is a more wholesome root beer float. I just put a few scoops of whichever flavor I’m feeling (or maybe I mix a few) and add in root beer flavored kombucha to the top of the glass. I also love using berry flavored seltzer water with the Vanilla Bean. Then you just top it all off with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

I’m also super excited to let y’all in on a little secret. Halo Top® Keto Pops and Halo Top® Fruit Pops are coming to Walmart in April! The fruit pops have 50% less sugar than the leading brand, and each pop has just 45 to 60 calories. I know I’m super excited to give them a try, so definitely be on the lookout this spring! Make sure to check out all of your favorite Halo Top® products here

My Favorite Way to Unwin(e)d with FitVine

This post is sponsored by FitVine, however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

If you know me, you know that I love my #WineWednesdays and at-home (or virtual) happy hours with friends! There's nothing better than a nice glass of wine with dinner to help me unwind at the end of the day or a couple of glasses shared over a cheese and fruit board with my girlfriends. That's where my go-to, FitVine, comes in. FitVine makes a variety of ten different delicious wines that are all perfect for those who are active, have dietary restrictions, or are just looking for a better way to fit wine into their life, so basically everyone!

All FitVine wines have less sugars, carbs, and calories than traditional wines. They're also all keto, paleo, and vegan friendly as well as gluten-free and non-GMO. So what does that mean for taste and ABV? Absolutely nothing! They all have a full-bodied, delicious flavor and the alcohol content you'd expect from standard wine. A few other great things I love about FitVine are that their wines have no flavor additives and fewer tannins. It honestly doesn't get any better than FitVine in my opinion!

One of my favorite blends is FitVine's Pinot Noir which has just 0.03g of sugar, 3.7g of carbs, and a 13.9% ABV per 5 oz glass. It's super smooth and well balanced with hints of black cherries and honey, and it's the perfect compliment to your favorite cheese board or at-home happy hour! I picked it up right from my local Walmart, but you can find it at Publix, and Whole Foods as well, or you can find a store near you here.

I'm also a huge fan of FitVine's Cabernet Sauvignon. It has just 0.06g of sugar, 3.9g of carbs, and a 14.1% ABV per 5 oz glass. I picked it up at my local Whole Foods when I was grabbing all of the ingredients for this flavor-packed one-pan dinner, and it couldn't have paired better!

One-Pan Baked Salmon, Potatoes, and Mushrooms Recipe:
(Serves 2)
1. Pour yourself a glass of FitVine Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy while you prep and cook your dinner.
2. Quarter 8-10 baby potatoes, toss them with avocado oil, sea salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme, and bake on a baking sheet in a preheated 425 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.
3. Season two salmon fillets with seafood seasoning or the seasonings of your choosing (sea salt and pepper work perfectly fine).
4. Slice 8-10 Baby Bella mushrooms, and toss them with avocado oil, sea salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme as well.
5. Add the salmon fillets and mushrooms to the same baking sheet, and continue to cook for an additional 10-12 minutes until the fish is cooked through.
6. Serve with your favorite fresh greens, tomatoes, and/or other veggies and a nice glass of FitVine Cabernet Sauvignon, and enjoy! That Cabernet-mushroom combo is perfection, trust me!

You truly can't go wrong with any of FitVine's wines. Some of my other favorites are their Sauvignon Blanc and Rose, and I love to make a nice, light mimosa with their Prosecco. There's really a FitVine wine for everyone! I usually pick mine up at my local Whole Foods or Walmart, and they're also available at Publix. You can use this store locator to find the closest retailer near you. Let me know which wine you try first and which is your favorite in the comments below!

Keeping It Consistent with Mighty Spark

This post is sponsored by Mighty Spark, however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

There are many misconceptions when it comes to healthy eating - it’s too time consuming, the food is bland, recipes are difficult to follow, you can’t eat anything, the list goes on and on. It really doesn’t have to be so hard! Healthy eating doesn’t need to be all or nothing. It’s not about extremes; it’s about sustainability. To combat these misconceptions, I wanted to share a few of the things that have worked for me when it comes to trying to live a consistent, healthy lifestyle.

1.  I enjoy veggies with (almost) every meal.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I love to get my veggies in! Whether it’s enjoying a salad for lunch, having a veggie-packed omelet, or making veggie noodle “pasta”, I try to make vegetables a key part of most of my meals. That’s not to say I don’t eat meals without them, but generally, they’re a staple throughout the day. It's important to note that the keyword here is *enjoy* because I don't just get my veggies in, I make sure to pick ones that I genuinely like. I never force myself to eat something because I feel like I "should" but rather because it's what I want and am craving. One delicious way I like to get those veggies in is with these Bruschetta Chicken Meatballs over Shaved Asparagus!

Recipe (Serves 5-6):

In a large bowl, mix together 1 lb Mighty Spark Bruschetta Ground Chicken Blend, ½ of a tomato, chopped, 8 chopped fresh basil leaves, and 3 chopped garlic cloves. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 12 minutes. Flip the meatballs and cook for an additional 12 minutes.

In the meantime, using a peeler, shave 3 bundles of asparagus (or thinly slice with a knife). Heat up 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add in one small container of halved cherry tomatoes, the shaved asparagus, and 4 cloves of chopped garlic. Sauté for about 5-8 minutes until the asparagus softens. Add in ¼ cup of shredded parmesan and the juice of ¼ lemon. Cook for an additional minute until the cheese melts. Serve and top with the chicken bruschetta meatballs.

2. I choose the foods I’m craving and that will keep me feeling satisfied.

Just like with my choice in veggies, I try to listen to my body and what it’s craving in terms of anything I eat. If I’m not feeling a food, I won’t force myself to eat it, and if I’m craving something, I will have it. I also generally try to pick foods that will fill me up and keep my feeling that way. Lean protein and healthy fats are key. I love Mighty Spark Chicken Snack Sticks, avocado, or mixed nuts as an easy snack when I’m feeling hungry between meals

3.  I keep it simple.

I love cooking most of my meals at home. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely go out to eat (multiple times a week in fact), but I like to cook the majority of my meals at home so that I really know what I’m eating. When cooking, I try not to over-complicate it. I like quick and easy meals that don’t skimp on flavor. Usually these will include lots of seasoned veggies, protein, healthy fat, and complex carbs. One of my favorite go-to easy meals is throwing a Mighty Spark Queso Fresco & Jalapeno Turkey Burger on the stovetop or grill and cooking it up with some side veggies and baked sweet potato fries.

Overall, living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s all about finding what works for you! Keep it simple, listen to your body, and stick to it! Consistency is key.