Energy Dog!

About a month ago, I made the commitment to buckle down and start INSANITY over again from start to finish (having gone through the entire workout twice before, I was ready to push myself again).  For those of you who don't remember, INSANITY is a series of workout DVDs from Beachbody which you do in your home.  It's intensity is unmatched by anything I have ever tried before, guaranteeing you incredible results in a mere 60 days (using nothing for resistance but your own body weight).  It's awesome!  To keep myself motivated this time around, I joined an online group.  We all started INSANITY on the same day (1-31-11) and are there to support and encourage one another on our journey through this INSANE workout!!

Occasionally, people in the group have questions that pertain to other things besides the workout itself.  Last week, one of girls in the group had a question about energy bars.  She was looking for ideas for something in the 300 (or under) calorie range which tastes great.  Of course I recommended the P90X Peak Performance Protein Bars which I have mentioned previously; however my suggestion was overshadowed by a genius recipe suggestion by one of the other group members.  I've named it the Energy Dog.  It's delicious, nutritious and even humorous.  Who would've thought, a snack that delivers a punch line??  So thanks to Chris for your ingenuity.  Many of us in the group have tried and loved it and it deserves proper recognition.  So here it is,

The Energy Dog

It is soooo simple.  Take 1 slice of whole grain bread (try to use bread where there is no mention of sugar or high fructose corn syrup, or the words enriched or bleached in the first five ingredients).

Spread one tablespoon of natural peanut butter or other nut butter on the bread (as you can tell by the above photo, I used almond butter).



Peel a whole banana and place on the bread.  Roll up the bread to resemble a hot dog.  Chow down!!

Altogether, this meal/snack packs about 300 calories.  It's an energy powerhouse for sure.  

Bananas consist mostly of  (natural) sugar and are high in fiber making them ideal for an immediate and prolonged source of energy.  Bananas also are low on the glycemic index (do not have a negative impact on blood sugar) and contain antioxidants.  Bananas are extremely high in potassium (but low in sodium) making them perfect at reducing risk of high blood pressure and stroke.  Oh, and did you know that bananas can help with improving your mood?  Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can be converted to serotonin - which can lead to improved mood!  If the look of the snack doesn't cheer you up, the tryptophan will! 

Almonds also are full of fiber, protein, are rich in antioxidants and help to reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.  Studies show that although nuts are high in calories, nut lovers are less likely to be overweight than those who avoid nuts (perhaps due to the high protein and fiber content which lead to a sense of satiety).

Everyone knows that fruits and veggies contain antioxidants, but not everyone realizes that whole grains are also sources of these key nutrients.  Whole grains also reduce risk of heart disease, decrease cholesterol levels and blood pressure and help to regulate blood sugar.

So, all in all, the Energy Dog is a perfect, nutrient-packed, natural food solution to a quick snack or meal on the go!

Grab one today!!!