Sunny Day Bentos

We're having a beautiful weather week. We started the winter with several weeks of rain and my walks (my preferred form of post weight loss surgery exercise) were either inside a warm, dry shopping mall or bundled up, dodging cloud bursts.

This week we are having perfect 70's and 80's, sunny days. I've been taking full advantage of it. I've been making myself a yummy protein shake in the morning and then taking off walking, hiking, or on a bike ride. There were a few days of work too (blah, gotta pay the bills) but even those days I tried to at least eat all my meals outside. Here's some of the super cool bento box meals I ate...

Bento #1:

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Chocolate Pecan Turtle Protein Muffins
Green Box (top right): Sliced Cucumber
Blue Box (bottom left): Chicken and Ham Cold Cut Rollups (in the little blue box) Mustard
Orange Box (bottom right): A Happy BabyBel Cheese

Shelly's Chocolate Pecan Turtle Protein Muffins

1 Egg, beaten
3 Tablespoons Milk
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Caramel Torani Syrup
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix
2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa (Hershey's is what I used, baking aisle)
1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
12 Pecans
Pinch salt

Mix egg, milk, syrup and oil (applesauce or cottage cheese can sub for oil but 1 T divided between 12 muffins is really not a lot) and combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix pancake mix, cocoa, protein powder and salt. Tip dry into wet and stir till combined. Pour into a non stick mini muffin pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Place a pecan on top of each.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Makes 12 moist, delicious, mini muffins.

Bento #2:

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Melted Chicken & Provolone Roll-up
Green Box (top right): Shelly's Raspberry Cheesecake Protein Yogurt
Bottom left: Just the Cheese Crunchy Cheese
Orange Box (bottom right): Pitted Fresh Cherries

Shelly's Raspberry Cheesecake Protein Yogurt

3 oz. of Greek Yogurt (could use SF Pudding too)
1/2 to 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Raspberry Torani Syrup
1 teaspoon SF Cheesecake Jello Pudding Mix, dry

Mix till well combined. Eat as is or great for dipping strawberries, sliced bananas, fresh cherries, apple slices or chunks of protein cake.

Bento #3: I took to the park and ate with this family of turtles...



Pink Box (top left): Madras Lentils
Green Box (top right): SF Andes Mint (found them at CVS) (in the little blue box) Shelly's Cool Yogurt Dip
Blue Box (bottom left): Shelly's Thai Chicken Skewers
Orange Box (bottom right): Cuties Clementine

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Got some great stuff at the Farmer's Market today. I have a bunch of cooking projects planned. I'll share the tasty ones.

P.S. Have you entered the Progresso Souper You Contest yet? Enter! I want to see one of my pals get the VIP treatment this year.