Chick peas, apples, and kickboxing!!

I have a confession. I used to think I had a sweet tooth. Then, as I started eating more clean and healthy, I realized that my true vice is salty, savory, crunchy snacks! Salty tooth you might call it? I used to be able to pop a bag of popcorn and down the entire thing in one sitting, no problem. However, that isn't the a good habit to maintain when trying to stay lean and fit... so I need to find a healthy, crunchy, savory alternative!

Before I share my homemade recipe, I have discovered a delicious popcorn alternative in Boom Chicka Pop! So tasty, and much healthier than microwaved popcorn. It is all air-popped and you can find sea salt or slightly sweetened options! 1 cup is only 35 to 37 calories. So good... But moving on to the recipe. This recipe uses the tasty little chickpea! If you are a hummus lover, then you are already sort of familiar with the chickpea (otherwise known as the garbanzo bean). However, I bet you have never eaten it in its natural pea form! Well know is your chance! Prepare to be amazed! If you are a fan of corn nuts, then you will LOVE this recipe!

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Makes 4 servings

-1 15.5 ounce can chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans)-1 tablespoon olive oil-½ teaspoon salt-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

*Heat oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

*Drain and rinse chickpeas and place in a bowl.

*Add oil, salt, and pepper to chickpeas and mix well. Spread them out on the baking sheet.

*Bake for 15 minutes.

*Remove pan, shake the chickpeas around so they brown evenly, and return to oven for another 15 minutes until brown and crunchy.

*Enjoy! Eat them while warm, or later when at room temperature!

Apples with PB and granola

-1 apple, sliced
-1 TB melted natural PB
-1/4 cup of your choice of granola
-Dash of cocoa powder and cinnamon

This "recipe" is so easy you could laugh! But I like to give people a delicious snack or meal option every once in awhile that is completely fool proof and literally requires little to NO prep. 

All you do is microwave the PB until melted (I did mine at 10 second intervals to avoid splattering PB). While the PB is microwaving, slice up your apple and sprinkle with cocoa and cinnamon. Once the PB is melted, drizzle it over top of the apples evenly. Finally, shake your granola over the top of the apples and PB and enjoy a decadent, healthy snack! So simple, yet so satisfying!

Kickboxing!

Last week I found a fabulous HIIT workout fitnessblender.com. If you haven't check that website out yet, then you are missing out! TONS of workouts for free, at home access to do on the go when you can't make it into the gym. I usually in the past did not like the kickboxing portion of workouts because I felt like it did not get my heart rate high enough. It turns out that I wasn't pushing myself to my full potential! 

Below I am going to list the basic kickboxing moves that you can do in any combination you want. String 4 or 5 together (Such as jab, cross, hook, uppercut) and do that combination 10 times at your absolute maximum capacity, as if you were really in a fight! Then take a brief 10 second pause, and repeat that same set again 2 more times! You will be amazed at the heart rate peak you can achieve. Do this a few times for a great little mini cardio kickboxing workout!

1. *Jab (non-dominant hand, straight punch)
2. *Cross (dominant hand, straight punch)
3. *Hook (non-dominant hand, horizontal punch)
4. *Upper cut (either hand, straight up as if aiming at the chin of your opponent)
5. *Front kick (facing forward, bent knee, throw kick out from foot)
6. *Side kick (lean body sideways, bent knee, throw kick out from foot leading with heel)
7. *Knee (act as if you are grabbing your opponents shoulders and lifting your knee with force to make contact)

Have fun kicking and snacking this week! Let me know what you try and what you like! <3

-Court