Healthy Snacks: Frozen Faux "Cheesecake" Bites

In anticipation (more like dread) of an impeding triple digit heatwave we have headed our way I made a batch of these Frozen Faux "Cheesecake" Bites. They taste like a little bite of frozen cheesecake but are a much healthier choice. I store them in a zipper bag in the freezer and anytime I need to cool down during the week ahead these easy to make, protein-packed, delicious treats will be ready.

Shelly's Frozen Faux "Cheesecake" Bites  

1/2 cup Cottage Cheese
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (any flavor, I used plain)
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (any flavor)
1/2 a Banana

Optional Base: 1 Crumbled Protein Bar
Optional Toppings: Nuts, Sugar Free Chocolate Chips, Sugar Free Jam, More Crumbled Protein Bar, Sugar Free Ice Cream Toppings, Cereal

Pulverize a protein bar into crumbs (the wafer or crispy ones work best: Powercrunch, Celebrate Vitamins ENS 2 in 1, Premier Fiber, Quest Cereal Bars) I just stick it in a quart size bag and hit it a few times with a wooden meat mallet, pressing a pan on top works too. Spoon about a teaspoon or so into the bottom of a mini muffin.

Blend cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, SF syrup and 1/2 a banana in a blender. Spoon mixture on top of protein bar crumbs.

Top with whatever toppings you love. Freeze several hours or over night. When frozen pop out and store in zipper baggie in freezer.

Cooks Note: either silicon or metal muffin pans will work. Silicon is easiest for releasing as they bend. Metal just requires a little time defrosting or I just place it on a warm dish towel (wet towel slightly & nuke for 15 seconds) and they'll pop right out.

If you are wanting ice cream this is a GREAT alternative. Stay cool friends!

More Eggface Sweet and Savory Snacks
More Eggface Desserts

In Case of Emergency: Essentials for the Weight Loss Surgery Post-Op

Watching the Weather Channel and seeing impending Hurricane Harvey in the Gulf got me thinking of my friends in the path of the storm. I hope they are safe and prepared if they are sheltering in place or have the basic emergency essentials in a bag ready to toss in the car if they are told they need to evacuate.

We don't have hurricanes in Southern California, our threats are earthquakes and wildfires but really everyone needs to be prepared. Here's some of the items in mine designed with the weight loss surgery post-op in mind.

List of Emergency Essentials: 

Plenty of Water & SF Drink Sticks
Ready-to-Drink Protein Shakes (shelf stable) or Protein Powder Travel Packets (easily mixed in a bottle of water or Blender Bottle Shaker)
Boxed Bone Broth or Soup
Tuna, Salmon, Crab Packets
Canned Beans or Veggies
Protein Bars & Snacks
Almonds
Roasted Edamame
Beef, Turkey, Chicken Jerky
Peanut Butter
No Sugar Added Applesauce or Fruit Cups
Can Opener
Utensils
Flashlights
Weather Radio
Batteries
Candles/Matches
Cash
First Aid Supplies
A Guide to Basic First Aid and CPR (or better yet take a course)
Your Bariatric Vitamins & any Medications you are currently taking
Copies of your Important Information (emergency phone #'s, maps, addresses, important account #'s/passwords, medical info, insurance info, a portable flash drive with your import info & family photos)
Blankets, Sleeping Bags, Hot Hands
Basics like Toilet paper, Soap, Disposal Tooth Brushes, Tissues/Paper Towel, Trash Bags
Wrench or Pliers to turn off utilities (if needed)
Fire Extinguisher
Cellphone w/backup battery or solar charger
Socks and closed-toe Shoes

Remember the special needs of those in your home:
Pet Food & Supplies
Baby Food & Supplies
Extra Hearing-Aid Batteries, Glasses, Folding Cane, etc.
Kids: Comfort Item, Small Book/Crayons

Every few months set a calendar reminder to rotate food/water items in your kit. You wouldn't want the you-know-what to hit the fan only to find out your can of beans expired in 1998.

Great Resource for Checklists and Planning Info
Resources for Coping with Natural Disasters

Remember friends and family will be worried so when you can use Twitter or Facebook to share that you're OK. Stay safe everyone! Feel free to comment with any items you add to your kit.

Me, 5 years old looking bored with it all, day after Hurricane Belle, in front of the tree that fell across my road, Center Moriches, Long Island.

Protein Packed Snacks for the Solar Eclipse

Today all of North America will be treated to a total eclipse of the sun. Basically we're standing around with goofy glasses on waiting to get mooned ;) so I made some protein packed snacks (well more like Brunch for me as the excitement starts around 10:15) for the occasion.

Ancient eclipses were viewed as a sign that the Gods were angry and were taking away the sun as punishment. You can make these shrimp as angry as you like by adding more seasoning.

Shelly's Simple Spicy Sauteed Shrimp 

1 pound 21/25 Raw Shrimp, Peeled & Deveined 

1 teaspoon (or more depending on how angry you want the the make the Gods or your Guests) Cajun Seasoning

1 Tablespoon Butter

Place shrimp in a non-stick pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray lightly. Cook on medium heat till shrimp are start to turn pink, about 2 minutes. Flip and add butter and seasoning. Toss till coated and fully cooked (just about a minute more.) 

Shelly's Solar Eclipse Mini Protein Muffins

1 Egg, beaten

3 Tablespoons Milk

2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup (find in coffee aisle I used this)

1 Tablespoon Canola Oil

3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix, dry

2 Tablespoons Almond Flour 

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding Mix, dry 

1/4 cup Vanilla Protein Powder

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, almond flour, pudding mix, I used Premier Protein Vanilla 100% Whey 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 non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 13-14 minutes. Edges will be golden, tops dry (toothpick test: stick a toothpick into the center of your muffin. If there is wet batter still on the toothpick, it needs more time in the oven. If it comes out clean, your muffins are done! )

For Chocolate version: Replace the Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding mix with SF Chocolate and the Vanilla Protein with Chocolate, everything else remains the same.

Something fun to do: slice them in half, smear some SF jam or nut butter on the bottom half of the muffin and top with a muffin top of the other flavor.

and because I could resist...

Eggface's Eggclipse Popsicles

Hard-cooked Eggs

Bagel Seasoning (Everything but the Bagel Seasoning at Trader Joe's or Bagel Spice)

Wooden Sticks or Plastic Forks

Well I'm all set... Goofy Glasses, Snacks, Tunes... and tonight I'm going to pop in my go-to movie for all celestial events. Happy Eclipse Everyone!

Your Weight Matters YWM2017 Wrap-Up - Day 3 and 4

The Your Weight Matters National Convention is one of the highlights of my year. It helps me both with my personal health goals and my commitment to using my voice to help others affected by obesity. Please join us next year... July 19-22, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. You will be so glad you did!

If you missed my Day 1 and 2 Wrap-Up

Saturday...

We started the morning with Internationally-acclaimed and super cool Veterinarian, Dr. Ernie Ward who shared his latest research on pet obesity and the connection to human obesity. We know our environment plays a role in obesity and it often effects multiple members of a family including our fur babies. Some interesting connections to human obesity in the marketing of food, ease of access, misconceptions about what is "healthy" and even shaming and stigma. Dr. Ward has a great YouTube channel if you are pet lover I highly recommend you check it out.

Then Dr. Jason Ong talked to us about the current research in how sleep and obesity are related. As a person who barely sleeps (never was a great sleeper pre-op: Sleep Apnea/GERD post-op: 4 hours is a good night) I learned so much and have a lot of work to do in this area.

after a little break to visit exhibits and the photo booth...

We were back with Dawn Jackson-Blatner, you may recognize her name from ABC's show "My Diet is Better than Yours" and her book, "The Superfood Swap." Her energy is amazing and she always brings awesome insights. I love these slides from her presentation. Are you one of these Mean Girls (or Guys)?

This is something I follow personally. What to do when LIFE HAPPENS... Step one: Forgive because LIFE HAPPENS. Step two: Be Curious.... Why? What happened? What can I do next time?

I've said this a million times on the blog... if you make a not-so-great-choice learn from it and put a plan in place so when faced with a similar situation there will be a better outcome. Regret, self-hate, shame and guilt are useless energy and science even tells us harmful to our health. Use the screw-up worksheet, learn from it and MOVE ON.

I love talking about online resources and I got to share some of my favorites today and a few new ones. I used my most recent Your Weight Matters magazine article contribution and blog post to start the conversation about all the ways technology can help us in our journey to better health. I also touched on something I shared in my Thursday session about the power of social media to share our story, advocate for issues we believe in. Did You Know? that as few as 30 tweets will get the attention of Congress about an issue. Our voices are powerful!

The afternoon again is full of decisions and being a food blogger I had to attend the big nutrition panel... with some of my favorite RD's. Happy to say they shared things I am doing... go me! but hearing that helps reinforce those ideas and I always love the practical tips and new resources they share.

I had a little time to answer some Wall of Insight questions (we changed out the questions several times during the day and the insights will be used in future programming) and spend time with new and old friends as I charged up my phone so I was ready for the evening event.

Mmmm Celebrate Vitamins Lemon Crunch Essential Protein 2 in 1 Bars are the bomb!

Oh get this fun thing... In the morning I tweeted about being the first in line for coffee at the hotel Starbucks and when I went up to my room to change I found this awesome gift from the hotel waiting (wasn't I just talking about the power of social media) so cool!

Saturday evening is our Award Ceremony, a chance to honor Obesity Action Coalition members who have helped in a major way throughout the year. The Nomination Committee keeps the winners close to the vest so I learned the winners as they were announced but looking back at the year they all have made such wonderful contributions to the OAC it's no wonder they were nominated. Some pictures from the evening...

I went out with a few pals and finally got some of my favorite Chargrilled Oysters (even if you hate oysters you have to try them this way) and stayed up waaaay too long (sorry Dr. Ong I should have been sleeping) in the lobby laughing and chatting. It wouldn't be New Orleans if there wasn't a funny drunk story. At one point in the evening I looked over and saw 2 wobbly, young men attempting to wheel/steal the life size fiberglass bull art installation in the lobby, they were approached by hotel security as they neared the elevator. I heard them ask the young men nicely to release the bull and sharing with them that it was $1500 to replace it if they broke it. They wisely set the bull down and the guards wheeled it back across the lobby. One of the young men stumbled over to our group and told us as if to warn us "that's an expensive cow" just in case we might have thought to try the same shenanigans ;) LOL Thanks. We asked security if that happens often and they laughed, shook their heads and said, "Never, that was a first!"

I finally got to bed at about 2 AM with my alarm set for 4:30 to pack my bags so I could check out right after our Sunday AM event. I am entirely too old to stay up this late.

Sunday... 

Breakfast was a Premier Protein shake on ice (some people do mimosas I do protein shakes) while watching the sunrise for the last time in New Orleans (well at least on this trip, I love NOLA I'll be back.) I put on my official YWM2017 t-shirt and head down for our final event...

As a final send-off for attendees, the OAC hosted a special Sunday morning event: ENGAGE! Celebrating the OAC's Community. Amber and I shared our favorite memories, moments and lessons from the weekend and asked attendees to share theirs as well... lots of laughs and a few tears! We bonded one last time before leaving New Orleans. It was like the last morning of summer camp!! I wanted to see my Mum and kitties and sleep in my own bed but I wanted to put everyone in my carry-on bag and take them with me too!

What an amazing weekend... and usually we have to wait a whole year before we get to see each other but since the date of #YWM2018 has moved up into July... we are T-minus 11 months till we are together in the real world again!! See you in Denver! Till then where to find me...

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If you did not attend and want to keep up with the plans for next year's event be sure to sign up for Convention e-alerts and follow the Obesity Action Coalition on Facebook tell them Eggface sent you!

Official Storify Summary from Saturday and Sunday with more pictures and videos.