Healthy Fiber Muddy Buddies

Okay, when I decided to go clean/natural, one of the first things I had to toss were my beloved muddy buddies.  LOVE those things.  However, when I saw partially hydrogenated oils on the ingredient list (aka trans fats), I knew they had to go.  I figured if I made some myself with corn chex, at least they would be BETTER.  So...I started hunting for recipes.  I found one that I adapted slightly and the final product was pretty good, fiber packed, and looked like muddy buddies!  They still aren't "clean", but they are much better! (And I'm not going for a 100% score on natural eating. Just 90% or so) ;-D.

• 2 cups Fiber One 80 calorie honey square cereal
• 2 tbsp PB2 (powdered peanut butter.  LOVE this stuff), prepared 
• 2 Tbsp butter or margarine
• 1.5 squares Bakers Chocolate/almond bark (feel free to use organic chocolate, but I don't view it as worth the money.)
• 1 pkg sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
• (Optional) 2 tbsp powdered sugar

1. Melt the margarine, pb2, and Chocolate Almond Bark in the microwave (microwave safe bowl), for 30 seconds at a time on medium power, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.

2. After melted, add the Fiber One Honey Squares to the bowl and stir with a rubber scraper until cereal is covered. 

3. Let the mixture cool in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.

4. After the mixture has hardened pour it into a large ziplock bag, and add the box of pudding mix and shake gently.  (This is where you can add the extra 2 Tbsp of powdered sugar to the bag, it just makes it a little sweeter).

Makes 4 servings

Nutrition 

Calories 180

Fat 7g

Sat fat .5g

Poly fat 1.5g

Mono fat 1g

Sodium 402mg

Potassium 47mg

Carbs 33g

Fiber 8g

Sugars 11.5g

Protein 3g

Chocolate Oatmeal Chunk Cookies

So, for those of you who haven't heard, my family is going natural/clean.  Not STRICT, prefectionist clean, but we are going to be eating a lot more whole grains, and a lot less processed sugar, refined grains, and additives.

So, I'm learning some new recipes.  Here is my fifth attempt at a FAIRLY clean recipe. Next time, I might try replacing the brown sugar substitute with honey, but I'm worried it will affect the consistency.  These were kind of bitter sweet, but they are the first clean eating cookies to actually make my blog, SO there's been progress.

• 1/4 cup brown sugar zero calorie substitute
• 2 tbsp stevia (granulated)
• 2 tbsp. margarine room temp
• 2 tbsp. no-sugar-added applesauce
• 2 tbsp. Egg Beaters (or 1 egg white)
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
2. In a medium bowl, thoroughly whisk brown sugar substitute, Stevia, margarine, applesauce, egg substitute, and vanilla extract.
3. Add flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, and stir until smooth. Fold in oats, chocolate chips, and chocolate chips.
4. Spoon batter onto the sheet in 6 evenly spaced mounds. Use the back of a spoon to spread and flatten into 3-inch circles.
5. Bake 10 mins.

Makes 6 servings

Nutrition
Calories 118 
Fat 5.5g
Sat Fat 2.5g
Poly Fat 1g
Mono Fat .5g
Cholesterol 0
Sodium 60mg
Potassium 27mg
Carbs 18.5g
Fiber 2.5g
Sugars 5g
Protein 2g