You asked and you shall receive! These are truly chocolate, peanut butter balls of amazingness.

I vividly remember biting into my first buckeye as a child at a neighbor’s holiday party. While all of the other neighborhood kids were busy playing a game of indoor tag and the adults making small talk and sipping on spiked punch, I found myself, all 3 feet of me, staring, quite literally eye to eye, at a plate full buckeyes sitting on the table.

I don’t know how many I ate that night but I can tell you that it was enough to a) confirm my adoration of chocolate + peanut butter and b) give me a massive stomach ache.  Totally worth it, in my opinion. Back then, I had zero knowledge of what fat and calories were but lucky for me, those buckeyes went straight to helping me grow vertically and not horizontally. I wish I could say the same about them now but I can’t – which is what made me get to thinking of a healthier but equally amazing version. These healthified buckeyes have just 4 simple ingredients: peanut butter, ground flaxseed, old-fashioned graham crackers and dark chocolate.

Just mix the peanut butter, graham crackers and flaxseed together, shape into 1″ balls, stab with a toothpick and pop in the freezer for a bit.

Then, melt some dark chocolate.

Dip and let dry!

I can almost guarantee your {sweet + salty} fix will be satisfied with these healthified treats. They’re not be as smooth and creamy as the originals, but I actually prefer the nuttier taste and texture of these. The classic buckeyes now just seem way too sweet to me! And since I’m a #RD2B, let’s do a little nutritional comparison of the original recipe to this healthified version.

The healthified buckeyes also have 66% of the daily recommended amount of Omega-3s, an essential fatty acid that has wonderful protective, anti-inflammatory properties. Yes, I’m talking each ball of peanut butter & chocolate goodness.

Here’s the math.

• 2 tablespoons of flaxseed = 132% daily value for Omega 3s.
• This recipe has 12 tablespoons (3/4 cup) of ground flaxseed and makes 12 buckeyes.
• 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed per buckeye = 66% of your Omega 3s for the day!

I’ve gone back for seconds the past 2 days purely because I felt I could benefit from a few more Omega 3s… not because they’re just too good to resist or anything.

This recipe can’t get any simpler.

Healthified Buckeyes.

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Serves	12
Prep time	15 minutes
Allergy	Peanuts
Meal type	Dessert
Misc	Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold
By author	elle

Satisfy your peanut butter & chocolate fix with this healthier version of the original buckeyes. Less calories & fat, more fiber, protein and healthy Omega 3s!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons ground graham crackers, about 9 whole (Trader Joes makes wonderful, old-fashioned style grahams!)
• 3/4 cups natural peanut butter
• 3/4 cups ground flaxseed
• 3oz dark chocolate (slightly less than an average-sized bar)

Directions

Step 1

Mix crushed graham crackers, flaxseed and peanut butter, stirring until well combined.

Step 2

Roll heaping tablespoons of mixture into 1" balls and place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Insert 1 toothpick into each and freeze for 30-45 minutes.

Step 3

Right before removing from freezer, melt dark chocolate in a double boiler (or heat in a bowl placed in a small saucepan with water). Dip each buckeye into the chocolate and place back on the wax paper-lined baking sheet.

Step 4

Remove toothpicks and refrigerate until ready to serve.

So what do you think? Are you a diehard fan of the original buckeye or will you give these a try?

Enjoy your Friday!

I did too. I haven’t had a pager since high school. I can’t say I’ve missed those days of decoding numerical messages from friends but as one of the new dietetic interns at UNC, pagers are part of the uniform! When it comes to actually assessing and counseling patients and writing diet orders, I have no idea what I’m doing quite yet but some person thinks I’m important enough to get my own hospital pager, or will be eventually.

I’ve spent 3 full days at my clinical internship and am loving it so far, despite the fact that 2 1/2 of those days were spent in orientation meetings, computer trainings and standing in the world’s longest line for my ID badge.

Totally random fact about me: I’m heinously un-photogenic in ID photos. Seriously, my friends laugh almost every time I open my wallet! Well, I waited for 2 hours in line for this badge and afterwards it took me 45 minutes to get up the courage to look at the photo. I mean, after spending 2 hours of my life in the ID badge line, I felt a little invested in this thing! I have to say that overall, it’s not too bad considering what I’m used to! …and I might be willing to show you those other IDs if you guys really want to see. Also, I kind of love that my name is in the same font as used on ELLE magazine. How chic?

So, this is my little corner of the hospital where I’ll be sitting for the next 24 weeks.

My desk needs a little help decor-wise which I’ll be working on some today and tomorrow. I’m also working on putting together my own pocket guide, a personal nutrition bible for dietitians, so to speak. With so many different nutrition statuses, populations, diseases, calculations, abbreviations and formulas, a pocket guide is pretty much essential. You dietitians & dietetic students know exactly what I’m talking about! I’m determined to make mine functional and cute… I do have to look at it all day, every day so it may as well be easy on the eyes, right?  If I’m successful, it may even be a future blog post topic.

As evidenced by this post, I’m struggling with adjusting to my new schedule. It’s been a while since I’ve had 5:30am workout wakeup calls and an 8am start to the work day. You guys are awesome for bearing with me. I think within another week or so I’ll get back into the groove of blogging around such a full schedule!

The good news is, I’ll be back tomorrow with a fabulous new recipe and you get to pick which one!

Bbq chicken sweet potato skins OR healthified buckeyes (i.e. chocolate, peanut butter balls of amazingness)? 

Whichever gets more votes will be posted tomorrow. Have a great one!

It’s official. We set a date!

… and we’re clearly not in any rush. With myself finishing up school and Rob living in Spain, we opted to enjoy a long engagement and not jump into the chaos of wedding planning full force just yet. I’m sure things will really start coming together more when my hubs-to-be moves home from Europe in August but for now, we have the date and the church! I’ve heard those are the two biggest, and toughest things to decide on so I think we’re off to a pretty good start.

The location is still top secret until we fill in a few more friends and family on our plans. I’m hoping we can announce the destination in a couple of weeks, on May 25th – the 1 year mark!

Also, you might enjoy our engagement story and a fun engagement video if you haven’t checked them out already. Have a great day!

I’m fortunate to have been on a number of wonderful vacations in my life (London, Spain and Austria just within the past year!) I guess that’s one of the perks of being in a long distance relationship, eh? After spending the past week relaxing in Miami, I thought it would be timely to begin writing a collection of posts about healthful vacations, not only to maximize the rejuvenating effects of some downtime but also minimize the stress of transitioning into and out of vacation-mode. I might be starting things a bit backwards but I did just get home from vacation so let’s start with transitioning out of vacation-mode since that’s where my head’s at. Shall we?

healthful vacation series: part I
vacation recovery checklist

I’ll be the first to admit I wish I had a welcoming committee waiting at the door for me when I get home from vacation. I’m sure you know the feeling. You’re tan and well rested from a week of fruity cocktails, no alarm clocks, emails or nagging bosses. You wheel your luggage through the front door, possibly a little bit jet lagged, hungry and grimy from hours of traveling, but a hot shower, a little take out and you’re out cold. The next thing you know your alarm blasts you out of bed, way earlier than your vacation schedule had gotten you accustomed to, and yep, it’s back to reality.

You spend the next couple of days catching up on work, emails, school assignments and sifting through the pile of mail that’s accumulated while you were away. Oh, and then there’s unpacking to do which leaves you with a massive pile of dirty laundry. Awesome. Shall we even mention the the empty refrigerator? There’s not a crumb to be had for breakfast or lunch your first day back, but who has time to eat anyway with all that you have to do?

You might feel like you need a vacation from your vacation. Sometimes, the transition back to reality can be so overwhelming that all the good you’ve done unwinding for the past however many days flies right out the window. Depressing, isn’t it?

I’ve come up with some tips to make the transition out of vacation mode less stressful and more healthful.

Start planning while you’re on vacation, by selecting a couple of new, healthy meals you want to try. Tear out some tasty looking recipes from magazines you read by the pool or on the plane and tuck them away in a safe place. 1-2 days before your vacation ends, take a few relaxing minutes one morning to jot down a quick grocery list to have ready when you get back home. Include all the items you’ll need for those recipes you’ve planned as well as some breakfast, lunch and healthy snack staples such as low-fat milk, yogurt, granola, old-fashioned oats, fresh fruit & veggies, whole grain bread, turkey breast… you get the idea.

When you get home:

Unpacking immediately helps you feel more organized and settled in. It’s the reason you rush to unpack your bags at the hotel the day your vacation starts. Just like it helps get you into the vacation frame of mind, unpacking right when you get home can also speed up your transition back to reality. If you’re not completely exhausted, do it the minute you get home. Start unpacking dirty clothes in front of the washing machine, start a load before you fall into bed and you’ll get a jump on that pile of laundry, too.

Grab that handy grocery list you already wrote and you’ll be in and out in no time. The sooner you fill your fridge with your usual healthful foods, the sooner you’ll get back into your normal eating routine. Your body will thank you. DON’T: Grocery shop when you’re exhausted (i.e. ridiculously jet lagged) or hungry. You’ll be more tempted to over-fill your grocery cart with unhealthy, impulse items.

Whether you cook up a meal ahead of time, pack lunches for the next couple days, or just chop up some fresh fruits and veggies to snack on or use in a dish later in the week, dedicating an hour or two to meal preparation will help you feel less scatterbrained and not desperate to get your hands on whatever you can find when hunger hits. Here, meal prep is all about making the healthier choice the easier choice.

Plan your day around your workout. Everything will get done, I promise. Do you usually meet a friend for a run on Monday evenings or hit the gym before work on Wednesdays? Keep those plans. Immediately reestablishing your workout routine will boost your energy, fight those back-to-reality blues and make you a more productive person. DON’T: Go overboard. Spending crazy amounts of time at the gym trying to work off those extra vacation calories will most likely do more harm than good. You’re probably short on time as it is and most likely make up for that longer workout by skimping on sleep. Being sleep deprived has it’s own unhealthy effects on the body including increased appetite (leading to increased calorie consumption) as well as decreased energy, mental acuity and ability to manage stress.

When you’re tired, even the smallest task or obstacle can feel overwhelming. Am I right? You spent your vacation resting up but it’s important to stay well rested. Getting a good night’s sleep before post-vaca day #1 will make it easier to get out of bed when your alarm goes off and will give you the clear mind and energy you need to start catching up on all those responsibilities.

You didn’t think I’d leave you without an actual checklist, did you? Pin it or print it for your next post-vacation recovery. Your choice!

Vacation recovery doesn’t have to be unbearably painful. All it takes is a little bit of prioritizing!

These beautiful blossoms instantly made me think of my mom on my run this morning. We both love hydrangeas so I snapped a few photos to send her way and called her the minute I walked in the door.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! I wish we could be together today but our 20 minute chat put a smile on my face this morning! You’re a rockstar and I couldn’t have asked for a better mother. I hope all you moms out there have a wonderful day, too!

After a leisurely morning together yesterday, the fiancé and I headed to South Beach to do a little shopping, sightseeing, and obviously, a little eating and drinking.

A few things we saw along the way: the gorgeous beach, classic art deco buildings

and legit paparazzi stalking some female celeb with her mother (from what we could gather.) I decided to give them a dose of their own medicine and gave them a big wave as we walked off. Let me tell you, I had some serious camera envy going on. These guys had lenses for days. Their cameras must have weighed 15 pounds each!

Fashion moment: I’ve been rocking this chain-link mesh necklace on vacation a lot this week. It’s super light and you’ll never guess where it’s from just by looking at it.

I love long necklaces but with my record of catching them on things (i.e. countertops, table corners), the less expensive the better.

We stopped for a happy hour beer at The Clevelander, a party-tastic hotel bar right on Ocean Drive.

The Clevelander certainly does attract an interesting crowd! We people-watched for a bit, which could have gone on for hours, but our tummies started rumbling so we ventured on to have an early dinner on Lincoln Road. We stopped at an Italian restaurant called Tiramesu and chose 4 dishes to share: a pear salad, fried eggplant, rigatoni in a bacon tomato sauce as well as a mushroom and ricotta pizza.

It was delish. With Rob living in Spain and traveling around the world for work, we don’t often get to go on daytime dates – but we surely know how to enjoy ourselves when we do!

I’m heading back to NC tonight since my clinical dietetic internship starts bright and early at UNC Hospitals on Monday morning, but I’ll be back here next weekend to spend a couple more days with the man before he goes back to Spain!

Well, it’s time for a sweaty workout, breakfast and some reading by the pool before my flight this evening. Enjoy your Saturday!

Hi gang, happy Friday! My vaca here in Miami is slowly winding down but I’m soaking up every minute of it. I think last night I slept for 10 hours! Rob finally got to take a day off of work so we spent the morning hanging out together. We decided to brave the 80 degree temps and blazing sun at 8am and head out for a run across this fun little bridge we’ve been eyeing from our hotel room.

We did a 4 mile out-&-back and checked out a couple of cute neighborhoods with beautiful homes along the way.

We were hot and super sweaty but only had to make it back across the bridge when we heard the draw bridge sirens ding and gates come down.

and before we knew it, we were home free.

I’ve been engaged for 5 months. What?! Where has the time gone? I honestly don’t think I’ve thought about wedding planning since making a trip to Lake Tahoe to scope out some potential venues back in February. This semester was just too busy with school and studying for comps. Plus, the fiancé living in Spain makes wedding planning a tad bit more challenging than it already is.

Nothing has actually been planned or purchased yet but while on vacation with Rob this week, I’ve been perusing Pinterest for wedding favors, table settings, hairstyles and wedding dresses.

Part of me has always loved the look of halos, especially on brides. There’s just something very romantic about them to me.

From top left to bottom right: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

I’m envisioning a bohemian-style dress with my hair down or loosely tied back, a couple of big curls and some type of halo. What are your thoughts on this hair accessory?

Good morning! An 8am date with the treadmill at the hotel gym sure did get me going this morning. I usually consider treadmill runs over 3 miles to be a form of torture but this morning, 5 miles flew by thanks to a speedy pace (7.0mph/8:34 minute miles) and dialing up an episode of my favorite tv show on my iPhone. I’ve discovered that soap opera drama is a great distraction from the boredom of treadmill running.

Being good to my body is a big part of how I enjoy my vacation. I’ve been making an effort to stick to a healthy morning routine so I can enjoy my lazy afternoons by the pool and dinners out with the fiancé without a bit of guilt. I wake up, hit the hotel gym for a sweaty workout and head back to our room for breakfast. Eating cereal out of a short water glass is a bit weird but it does the job.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my cereal and fresh berries the past few days. Telling a little white lie to score us a mini fridge was the best idea I’ve had all week!

The best thing about this vacation morning routine is having the freedom to indulge a little in the evenings. Last night, Rob and I took his parents down to Coconut Grove to do a bit of exploring.

While walking around town, we stumbled upon a happy hour special we couldn’t pass up.

This lovely little cup of happiness is called a Caipirinha. It’s similar to the mojito in that it’s made with rum, sugar and lime, but ours came with muddled strawberries and lychee fruit. I can see why this is Brazil’s national cocktail!

Well friends, it’s time to hit the shower and get ready for a fun afternoon with the future in-laws (FILs). Rob’s at work all day but we’re heading out to do some exploring around town before dinner together tonight.

Enjoy your day!

Hi friends! Since this is my 1 week off between spring semester and the start of my clinical dietetic internship, I tagged along on the fiancés business trip to Miami for some relaxation and fun in the sun.

I spent most of the day yesterday settling in since we got here late Saturday night and pretty much crashed into bed. I lounged around the hotel room until noon before getting my sweat on in the hotel gym. 30 hilly minutes on the elliptical machine with this view plus some strength training afterwards was pretty easy to put up with. Today’s workout was much of the same, 40 minutes of cardio, strengthening and stretching.

Much to my dismay our hotel room here had no refrigerator. There’s a 37″ flatscreen and a massive king size bed but no mini fridge!?

Keeping the hotel room fridge stocked with healthy snacks and breakfast items is essential to eating healthier on vacation. I called the front desk only to be told they were available… for $10 per day. What? Since when are mini fridges an upgrade? I kindly said thanks but no thanks… and hopped on Twitter to see what you all thought. You were equally dismayed and gave me some good ideas on how to score one free of charge.

All it took was one little white lie at the reception desk (which may have involved the words medication or breast milk…) and there was a mini fridge waiting for me in the hotel room after I picked up a few items at the grocery store!

I stocked up on fresh fruit, berries, cereal, yogurt, low-fat milk, carrots, garlic hummus and turkey sandwich-makings for healthy breakfast and lunch options this week. I also picked up a bag of my favorite sandwich counterparts: sourdough pretzel bites and salt & vinegar chips. The key is portion control with those babies! As you can see, a little white lie can be healthy once in a while.

Well, its time to wash off the day’s sunscreen and get ready for dinner! Rob’s parents actually flew into town to visit for a couple of days because we haven’t seen them since before the engagement!

Enjoy the rest of your Monday!