Less Is More: Clean Eating With Lärabar On The Go

Momma Told Me: Sometimes less is more.


As many of you know, I've played around a lot with Vegan and clean eating over the past year. When a close friend of ours made a dramatic lifestyle change, 2 years back, I was worried everyday events, such as social gatherings and seasonal celebrations, would become hard to include him in. I can only imagine the undertaking of so dramatically limiting your everyday palette, while being so acutely aware of every ingredient in every item placed before you. So I committed myself to exploring what it truly meant to be Vegan, and set out to experience an array of dietary options we could both enjoy during mutual events. I'll have to say I was surprised- eating 'simpler' was not always easy!

When you live a busy lifestyle any commitment to healthy eating or living can seem like a massive chore. I've found the simplest way to begin eating cleaner is to go back to the basics. Most of my best Vegan recipes include 5 ingredients or less, and often have at least one base ingredient in common. I use dates often, not only for their nutritional content, but their texture and binding impact within recipes. And I find, when I limit the ingredients I can not only enjoy the natural richness of flavors, but I fuel my body with pure, clean, energy that satisfies me long beyond a hunger craving.

It wasn't long ago my friend asked if I'd ever heard of a brand called Lärabar, a company that's entire motto revolved around 'food made from food.' I scoffed a little imaging it was another brand committed to non-GMO, preservative free food- which is great, but truly, how all food should be made in my opinion, and nothing too special. As it turns out Lärabars are actually food brought down to it's simplest structure- they're about as 'real' as you can get next to eating the ingredients in their raw forms. Imagine grabbing an apple and some almonds, walnuts, and raisins and heading out the door on a hike- that's the Apple Pie Lärabar in a wrapper. Convenient, delicious, real, food. Period.

My two biggest hurdles to eating cleaner, and healthier, is the lack of convenience on the go, and the cost of keeping delicious healthy ingredients on hand. Cue Lärabar products at Sam's Club. Sam's Club members can now pick up a Lärabar 18ct variety pack of fruit and nut bars or a 16oz Chocolate Macaroons Lärabar Bites bag and keep their cupboards stocked with real, delicious, snacks. For those who have never experienced Lärabar before, the 18ct variety pack is the perfect way to play with fun flavors and try some of the brand's most popular bars like Cashew Cookie, Apple Pie, and Peanut Butter Cookie.

These flavors might sound like indulgent bars from heaven but they're all non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free, and Kosher. They also pack a powerful blend of natural fiber and protein to help keep you feeling satisfied and fueled on the go. My favorite, Peanut Butter Cookie, contains just 3 ingredients- 3! And it's so satisfying I actually chop up half a bar for an afternoon snack in a little bowl I like to call 'Peanut Butter And Jelly Protein.'

You don't need to be a master chef to whip up this delicious snack. All you need is about 5oz of Greek Yogurt (I like to use Blueberry Greek), fresh blueberries, raspberries, honey (note: honey is not Vegan), and half a Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar. slice your Lärabar in slivers, then slice each sliver into quarters so you get a little bite-sized pop of delicious chewy peanut butter flavor in each bite. Then layer your Greek yogurt with a sprinkling of Lärabar pieces, raspberries, and blueberries until your bowl is nice and inviting. Drizzle a thin ribbon of honey atop and enjoy clean eating at it's most delicious!

So you might not be quite ready to toss out the soda pop and candy bars from your kitchen, but clean eating can be equally convenient and satisfying for you none-the less. Eating simple, real, whole ingredients is a lifestyle change, but Lärabar makes it easy for anyone to enjoy the fruits of their labor with inspired products that are just as tempting. Not much for bars? Check out their Lärabar bites, the 5 ingredient Chocolate Macaroon flavor is worthy of hiding and hoarding all on it's own. Now, tell me, what's a simple low ingredient recipe or snack you love to prepare and eat to recenter yourself?

What Daughter Says: Real quality ingredients don't need to be dressed up to taste great. Lärabar is proof of that.

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding Recipe- Bring Home The Season's Flavors With Yoplait + Walmart

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of General Mills. The opinions and text are all mine. Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.

Momma Told Me: Bake the season.

Growing up in Southern California there were no immediate changing of the seasons. By the time it started to get a bit brisk outside 2 of the 3 major holidays had already passed. And, even then, it was hard to take note of these changes when the roads are lined with palm trees (leafing is minimal, to say the least) and a dismal day of weather consists of a few hours rain, on a bad day. Yes, the sun is never far away, and that can make it pretty hard to get in a seasonal mood. If you're suffering from 'seasonal displacement,' as I like to call it, one more Pumpkin Spice coffee beverage might not be enough to really bring the season's joy to your home and heart. And that, my friends, is why I not only stock up on seasonal flavors, I bake with them, often.

Yoplait Greek, and other varieties of, yogurt is a staple in our fridge- Whether I'm reaching for a cup to unwind at the end of a long day, or planning my next culinary creation, it's a must. Not only does the substitution of Greek Yogurt in everyday recipes help me out in a pinch when I've forgotten to re-stock on staple ingredients, but it's often a lower calorie alternative to ingredients such as butter and heavy cream. So, when I spotted the seasonal flavors of Yoplait yogurt on the shelf at my local Walmart, I knew I had to hoard stock up on Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! Pumpkin Cheesecake, Yoplait Light Pumpkin Pie, Yoplait Original Apple Crisp, and Yoplait Greek 100 Caramel Apple.

While we're not quite to November yet the hustle and bustle of shoppers at Walmart easily put in the holiday mood. In fact, I ran into my league-mate while in line at the checkout and they're the one who gave me the idea for today's wonderful recipe- Caramel Apple Bread Pudding! There couldn't be a better comfort food recipe for Greek Yogurt- warm, gooey, and fluffy with it's custard base. This slow cooking treat is perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast with Yoplait Greek 100, or solo as an after dinner treat.

Yoplait Greek 100 Caramel Apple from Walmart has just 100 calorie per cup, and a light natural flavor that is enhanced by real bits of apple. I loved how the somewhat sour taste of greek yogurt played with the light cinnamon sweet of caramel apple. Neither component was too overwhelming and the texture was perfect for my heavy cream substitute in the recipe! 2 (single serve) cups of Yoplait Greek 100 Caramel Apple replaced 1/2 C of heavy cream and 1/2 C of milk, significantly cutting the calories per serving, and offering this bread pudding a lighter, fluffier end product.

Bread pudding is the perfect seasonal recipe because it's a comfort food that can be prepared over time and slow cooked with ingredients most have laying around their kitchen. For this particular recipe, if you don't have caramel on hand, you can also slow simmer a can of condensed milk (in the can) for 2-3 hours. The result is a thick caramel like dulce de leche that requires minimal effort and skill!

Caramel apples actually remind me of my childhood holiday visits to Massachusetts in the Fall, when we would drive out to the apple orchards in Connecticut to drink fresh milled cider and pick our own apples for candying. There was always something so magical about seeing the rows of trees in the orchards, and the fresh pies lined up on the farmhouse bakery case- to me, that is Fall, and these are the memories I bake with when bringing the holidays, and seasons, into my home.

Whether you're an apple fan, or note, this Caramel Apple Bread Pudding won't disappoint- make it for an upcoming family gathering, or prepare some simple to fill your home with welcoming aromas and a touch of the season. I've been having a little slice, topped with Yoplait Greek 100 Caramel Apple yogurt every morning this week (and boy do I feel spoiled!) No number of pumpkin spice lattes could ever replace the sticky, creamy, sweet, and salty pairing! You'll find Yoplait Greek 100 Cramel Apple yogurt, and the other seasonal varieties, on shelves at a Walmart near you now- don't wait to pick them up, they're already going fast here! For more great seasonal serving ideas and recipes be sure to check out Yoplait on Facebook.

What Daughter Says: Sometimes all it takes to bring the season into your home is some classic comfort food inspired by the season's flavors.

I #WhipItUp With Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! Cheesecake Bites Recipe + A $15 PayPal Giveaway

Momma Told Me: Indulgences aren't for every day.

It's a great thing I'm not lactose intolerant because I love my dairy much too much to give it up in any capacity. Even as a young girl Momma would sneak into the fridge and split a slice of deli cheddar with me for an afternoon treat. We knew we were being bad- sure there's the calcium and protein, but dairy has a bad rep for being indulgent in a bad way. In college I had a habit of breaking into a pint of Ben & Jerry's every other night. Thankfully my metabolism kept up with my sweet ice cream cravings, but I find myself less lucky the older I get. These days I'm seeking a satisfying treat with much less guilt.

That's why I've replaced ice cream with yogurt. Gone are the late night candy bars and calorie packing guilt fests of dessert cravings. Instead I reach for a flavorful and satisfying option like Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! with just 100 calories per cup and the most decadent fluffy texture for that mousse like mouth-feel that's sure to pamper even the pickiest of sweet seekers. Available in 8 tempting flavors such as Strawberry Cheesecake and Lemon Meringue, Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! are packed with Calcium, Vitamin D, and that extra Protein kick Greek yogurts offer. Protein packed yogurt means a more indulgent edible experience and less stomach grumbling (a longer lasting full feeling) later!

Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! manage to pack 100 calories per cup into the same standard 3.4oz cup as traditional Yoplait Greek cups, while maximizing flavor and experience thanks to the extra fluffy whipped texture. I feel almost like a little kid again sneaking my dairy with Momma when my spoon slices into that frothy sweet yogurt. And Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! are perfect for an afternoon snack, last minute dessert or fulfilling breakfast. Just add your own favorite blend of fresh fruits, granola, nuts, and more to make a delicious parfait or oatmeal bowl!

Cheesecake is one of my personal vices- When there is cheesecake around I simply cannot control myself, so I generally do NOT allow cheesecake in the house. However, with Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! Strawberry and Blueberry varieties I can whip up (pun intended) some delicious single serving cheesecake bites in just a few minutes and a few hours of chill time. Just make a simple graham cracker crust with a pinch of sugar, daub of butter, and crushed grahams and press it into the ice cube tray of your choice (silicone will be easiest but plastic trays will do.) Then blend a dollop of cream cheese, fresh fruit, and the Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! of your choice for an instant cheesecake layer you can plop on top. Toss into the freezer for 4-5 hours then drizzle with a layer of liquid chocolate for one irresistible snack that surprisingly modest in calories.

These Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! Cheesecake Bites are perfectly satisfying and mess free ways to indulge during a warm afternoon or for a simple dessert- just try not to eat them all! best of all, you can experiment with different fruits and Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! for limitless flavor combinations! If you haven't tried Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! you simply have to; head on over to Publix where you can load a coupon for a $1 off the purchase of 5 Yoplait Greek 100 Whips to your account then stop by and pick up one of each flavor to host your very own taste test. I can't wait to hear what your favorite indulgence is! Check out our Cheesecake Bite recipe below then enter a special $15 PayPal giveaway for a chance at $15 to try all of the Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! on your own!

What Daughter Says: Thanks to Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! you CAN indulge every day!

 

One Momma Told Me reader will win $15 via PayPal to try the Yoplait Greek 100 Whip! flavors of their choice!