Carrot Cake Pancakes + Cream Cheese Frosting

28 March, 2013 by Claire | 1 Comment

This recipe was inspired by the raisins I happened to have in my pantry, the baby carrots I incidentally picked up at the grocery on Monday, Easter, and most importantly, my profound love of cake, whether it’s the pan or carrot variation.

Carrot Cake Pancakes
Calories: 241 | Fat: 2.0 g (Sat Fat: 0.3 g) | Carbohydrate: 42.0 g | Protein: 18.5 g

Cream Cheese Frosting
Calories: 46.3 | Fat: 0.0 g (Sat Fat: 0.0 g) | Carbohydrate: 5.8 g | Protein: 5.6 g

ingredients:
1/3 C instant oats
1 t cinnamon
6 T liquid egg whites
1/3 C + 2 T fat free Greek yogurt (I like Fage 0%)
1/4 C shredded carrots
1 t vanilla extract
1 T raisins
2 T fat free cream cheese
1 packet Splenda or Truvia
optional: 1 T sugar free syrup

directions:
1. Combine the oats, cinnamon, egg whites, 1/3 C Greek yogurt, shredded carrots, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
2. Stir in raisins and refrigerate your mix overnight.*
3. In a separate small bowl, mix together 2 T Greek yogurt, cream cheese, and sweetener until completely smooth. Refrigerate until your pancakes are ready to eat.
4. To cook the pancakes, heat a large skillet coated with PAM over medium heat and pour in the pancake batter, flipping after 3-5 minutes. Each pancake should be about ~1/4 of the batter.
5. Stack your pancakes with about 1-2 T of the frosting in between. Top with the remaining dollop and, if you’d like, a drizzle of syrup.

*The batter will be very thin at this point, hence the overnight refrigeration to give it time to thicken up. If you don’t got time fo’ dat, use only 3 T liquid egg whites and thicken with additional oats or flour if need be.

Spring Break Slender Down Swaps + Freebies

27 February, 2013 by Claire | Leave a comment

If you’re reading today’s post then you must’ve it through yesterday’s shocking announcement: spring break is less than two weeks away! Fortunately, there’s the Spring Break Slender Down meal plan, a no nonsense set of meal suggestions that will help you become the lean, mean, poolside-laying, (slender) margarita-sipping machine that I know you are.

Today’s post should give you a better idea of how to make the meal plan your own.
The swaps can be used to change up the meals I suggested yesterday. Just make sure you check the nutrition information per serving before switching things around, as everything will have different calorie and nutrient content. Of course this list isn’t all-encompassing so if there’s something you have a question about incorporating into the Slender Down, let me know!

Freebies should get you through the day by either adding some spice to your meals or giving you something free to snack on between designated meals. Keep in mind that not every meal plan can work for everyone, so if you’re absolutely starving while on the Slender Down, you should think about adding 100-200 calories to the plan.

For more tips and meal suggestions, follow me on Instagram and check out the Spring Break Slender Down Facebook album!

Also, if you wanna show off your Slender Spring Break Meal Plan creations, tag me on Instagram or Twitter and add #springbreakslenderdown!

Spring Break Slender Down Meal Plan

26 February, 2013 by Claire | 1 Comment

So, uh, spring break is really soon. That means bikini pictures plastered all over Facebook is really soon.

If that thought has sent you running into the back of your closet, looking for the nearest maxi dress, chill. I’m here to help. Today’s post is a meal plan that will have you treating your body well during these dire times. It’s nothing extreme, because that’s not what I’m about. But, depending on your goals and your starting point, it could help ya trim down a bit before it’s time to tie the knot in your bathing suit top.

Now, as a warning, these meal plans have calorie counts on them and they get pretty specific regarding their source. If that totally freaks you out, ignore it and follow my meal suggestions in terms of portions and ingredients, making appropriate swaps as needed. The calorie count is just there for those that are interested. If you’re in that pool, I’d suggest downloading either the MyFitnessPal or Calorie King apps to your phone so you can keep track on the go.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see how I’m following the meal plan. I’ll be posting Spring Break Slender Down suggestions in case you need further inspiration from the list below. Those are just jumping off points for you to get creative.

Sound good? Let’s continue.

Here’s the meal plan to follow on days when you don’t hit the gym. Those freebie calories can be used for a post-dinner snack like a Deep Chocolate VitaTop, or throughout the day for the little things you can’t live without– a sprinkle of grated cheese, a spoonful of salad dressing on your green salad.

*Non-starchy vegetables include things like broccoli, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, cucumber, eggplant, onions, mushrooms, etc. Basically not potatoes, corn, beans, winter squash, pumpkin, etc.

This is the plan to follow on days when you hit the gym, which should happen 3-5 days a week for about an hour of combined cardio and strength training. Aim to burn at least 300-400 calories. Freebie calories can be used the same way you did on your rest days.

*Have your pre-workout snack 30-60 minutes before you start sweating, whether it’s before breakfast or between your lunch and afternoon snack.

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If you have questions, please post them in the comments and I’ll try and help you the best I can! No single meal plan will fit everyone’s needs, so let me know if you have an issue and I’ll see how I can tailor things to suit you.

Also, if you wanna show off your Slender Spring Break Meal Plan creations, tag me on Instagram or Twitter and add #springbreakslenderdown!

Insta-Recipes: Slender Sweetheart Cupcakes

14 February, 2013 by Claire | Leave a comment

Happy Valentine’s Day, Slender Students! Whether you have a Valentine or not, I think we can all agree on one thing: cupcakes are awesome.

Let’s finish Insta-Recipe week off with something sweet and remember the upside of not having anyone to share these cupcakes with is that you get twice the cupcakes.

Slender Sweetheart Cupcakes
Makes: 18 cupcakes| Calories per cupcake: 120
Fat: 2.2 g (Sat Fat: 0.8 g) | Carbohydrate: 23.8 g | Fiber: 0.5 g| Protein: 0.5 g

ingredients:
boxed Funfetti cake mix
12-ounce can of Sprite Zero
8-ounce container of Cool Whip Free
package of fat free/sugar free pudding mix (don’t prepare)

directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350° and line two muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together your cake mix and Sprite. The Sprite will foam a bit, so pour slowly or in two parts.
3. Fill cupcake liners 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes for 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
4. For the frosting, mix together the tub of slightly thawed Cool Whip with the pudding mix. Refrigerate until cooled cupcakes are ready to be frosted!

recipe from Chick Rx

My Best Body

27 December, 2012 by Claire | 2 Comments

Slender goals for the new year! | The Slender Student

In a shocking turn of events, the world didn’t end in 2012. Know what that means? We all have another chance to slender down and earn our best bodies in 2013. I’ve set some goals for myself, both short and long term.

- Before 2013, squeeze in a two day skinny bunny cleanse.
- Continue to take advantage of the gym near my parents’ house and keep hitting the tred and weights for the duration of winter break.
- Get back into boot camp next semester.
- Step it up from the 5K to the 10K Turkey Trot next Thanksgiving.
- Create more prep/freeze meals to free up time.
- Eat more plant food.
- Incorporate more healthy fats into my diet.
- Buy Starbucks less often… and consume less coffee while I’m at it.
- Promote positive body image, starting with my own. Girl power.

What are your goals? Sometimes it helps to “time stamp” things. What do you want for yourself by spring break? What about a full year from now? I’d love to hear!