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My older sister developed a peanut allergy in middle school, so Skippy and Jiff became contraband in our house. I would gobble down any form of peanut butter I could get my hands on after that. Any time I went over a friend’s house, I would go straight for the pantry, going to town on a jar of peanut butter with nothing but a spoon. At one point, a friend’s mom even started providing my own personal jar of peanut butter when I came over. (Probably so I would stop contaminating theirs.)
While my sister embraced almond butter even before it was cool, I was never convinced. To this day, nothing does it for me quite like the original. I can no longer recommend eating a jar of peanut butter with a spoon, but I have managed to find plenty of excuses to enjoy the stuff as an adult.
Which brings us to these…
Now, these fudge bars aren’t the dense squares of pure sugar you remember from vacation town tourist traps. But they do have all the gooey richness of their namesake. With a rich peanut butter base and a pure chocolate topping, these bars don’t miss a beat when it comes to the world’s favorite flavor combo.
Fortunately, these rich and delicious guilt-free treats are actually super easy to make. In fact, all you need is four simple ingredients to get your peanut butter fix. And since few of us still have a peanut-butter-with-a-spoon metabolism, we’ve kept things light for this recipe.
But don’t worry, you don’t have to sacrifice classic peanut butter for all-natural just to keep things healthy. (Although of course you can if you want.) Feel free to indulge using your favorite creamy peanut butter. (I have my opinions on the Skippy vs. Jiff debate, but I’ll keep those to myself.)
Agave syrup, ground oats, and chocolate chips round out this super simple recipe. For the chocolate chips, we recommend Enjoy Life semi-sweet mini chips. Dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and free of just about everything else you can think of, these chips are great for clean baking.
With just these four ingredients, these peanut butter fudge bars are a sweet treat that’s actually relatively guilt-free. Meanwhile, not only is this dessert recipe just four ingredients, but it’s also no-bake. Yep, delicious, gooey, fudgey flavor and no need for a candy thermometer. Just mix up the first three ingredients, refrigerate in a baking pan for thirty minutes, then top with the melted chocolate chips and pop back in the fridge for another twenty.
These peanut butter fudge bars are so easy, they’re perfect for when those old peanut butter cravings come knocking. In fact, whipping up a batch is almost as easy (and definitely as tempting) as just reaching for a jar of PB and a spoon.
And if you like these peanut butter fudge bars, try out some of our other super easy, lightened up peanut butter recipes, including No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake.
Did these fudge bars satisfy your PB cravings? Have a suggestion or tip to make them even better? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget subscribe to our newsletter!
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(Natural News) Have you ever had the urge to do something that you should not, like wanting to eat junk food when you are on a diet? Even though everyone is vulnerable to temptation, some people just seem to have more self-control. Fortunately, a new study from the University of Miami has uncovered why some people can resist temptation better than others.
The study focused on the individual differences in the ability to control impulses and behaviors. The researchers showed the participants a screen where either the letter “E” or “F” would briefly appear then disappear on the left side. The participants were tasked to focus on that side of the screen and press a button that identified which letter they saw. Before the letter was shown, a sensual image would appear to the right side of the screen. Using eye-tracking equipment, the experiment showed that the subjects took a glance to the right.
“Using this set-up, we were able to challenge participants’ self-control in the face of temptation,” said Rosa Steimke, a researcher at the University of Miami.
The researchers compared the functions of two brain networks in self-control behavior — the cognitive control network and the salience network. The cognitive control network of the brain plays a part in behavior that needs self-control and works on the control of attention. On the other hand, the salience network is a collection of areas of the brain that pick which stimuli is worthy of our attention and is related to the automatic direction of attention.
Lucina Uddin and her group used a method called “dynamic functional network connectivity” to examine which of the two brain networks was more responsible for participants’ likelihood to take a peek at the sensual pictures even if the goal was to focus on the letter to the left.
“Researchers normally study connectivity using traditional approaches, but we used the dynamic approach, which gave us new insight that traditional connectivity analysis did not reveal,” explained Uddin.
The researchers unexpectedly discovered that the cognitive control network and task performance had no relations. Meanwhile, the participants whose brains exhibited a specific pattern of salience network dynamics had better performance and resistance to temptation.
“When we looked at the moment-to-moment, changing dynamic measures of connectivity we saw the relationship of individual differences in eye-gazing behavior emerge,” said Uddin.
Empathy and its effect to self-control
Another region of the brain has been shown to influence the ability of self-control. Researchers from the University of Zurich showed that self-control is influenced by a part of the brain called the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), which is associated with empathy.
In the study, the participants chose between a reward for themselves or one that they would share with others. They were also offered an immediate reward of a smaller amount or a bigger reward if they waited for three to 18 months. Lastly, they were tasked to take the viewpoint of an avatar and tell the number of red dots on a ball that the avatar would see.
Results showed that when the researchers disrupted the rTPJ, the participants were less able to see things from the perspective of their future selves or of another person. As a result, they were less likely to share money with others and more willing to choose immediate cash instead of waiting for a larger bounty at a later date. This suggested that the rTPJ influences perception and how other people may think or feel during social interactions.
The researchers believe that understanding self-control and the ability to delay gratification or resist temptation are essential in improving health and well-being because they affect almost every decision we make in life.
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Sure, my parents could force me to eat broccoli or cauliflower at dinner with the threat of no dessert. And of course, someone always slipped some optimistic baby carrots into my lunchbox. But there was no veggie requirement for breakfast.
Pancakes and eggs came with bacon or sausage, not string beans or peas. No one ever insisted on a side of leafy greens with my morning cereal. In fact, the worst thing that could happen to a kid at breakfast was a fruit salad, which really wasn’t too dangerous.
Fortunately, I grew out of my veggie-phobia, and now I actually use breakfast as a chance to get ahead on my daily veggie intake. This baked vegetable omelet is the perfect way to pack tons of veggies into your morning.
This baked breakfast is filled with onions, green peppers, and baby spinach. But you don’t have to stop there, there’s plenty of room to toss in your own favorites. Since I’m a huge mushroom fan (my younger self would be shocked and disgusted) I usually slice up a few and toss those in too. Red and yellow peppers can add some flavor and color, and even some chopped broccoli can be a great addition for you cruciferous die-hards.
Of course, not everyone gracefully ages out of their vegetable-phobic childhood to become full-fledged veggie hounds. For some of us, veggies are still more of an obligation than a treat. But fear not. Remember when you were little and your mom would smother your veggies in cheese to get you to eat them? Burying your veggies in an omelet has more or less the same effect. With warm baked egg and low-fat cheddar cheese, even the pickiest of eaters may find these veggies a little more appealing…Even if that picky eater is literally thirty years old and coming over for Sunday brunch. (There’s one in every friend group!)
Anyway, while this baked vegetable omelet may take a little longer to cook (40 minutes in the oven), it requires less finesse than your traditional omelet. For this recipe, just combine the ingredients, pour into a pan, and toss in the oven. It makes for a great weekend or holiday brunch, or bake ahead and reheat for a quick weekday breakfast. Either way, this recipe is a delicious, painless way to start off your day on a nutritious note. Veggies for breakfast may not be required, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to get a head start.
And if you liked this baked vegetable omelet, try our slow cooker version for another twist on the breakfast classic.
Let us know what you thought of this recipe in the comments, including any add-ins or suggestions! Meanwhile, don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest and check out our Facebook for more breakfast inspiration.
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Start Monday Morning off with this. See how it benefits your week!!
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When the holiday season rolls around, certain foods take the stage and liven up almost any meal, including breakfast.
This holiday-inspired breakfast recipe features two holiday superstars: apples and cinnamon.
This delightful cinnamon protein pancakes recipe even calls for clean-eating ingredients like applesauce, coconut oil, almond milk, and coconut flour.
So, you can stick to your diet even over the holidays!
Diced apple slices add juicy chunks of seasonal goodness, while cinnamon lends a sweet and spicy kick.
The best part?
These pancakes pack a serious protein punch that’ll keep you full all morning long, thanks to egg whites and vanilla protein powder. With its protein-rich, low-fat nutritional profile, you can savor these heavenly pancakes without worrying about your waistline! The perfect treat on chilly Autumn mornings, these pancakes will warm your belly and bring smiles to everyone at the breakfast table. Imagine waking up to the candy-sweet aroma of baked apples and warm cinnamon. So much better than your alarm clock, right?
Like us on Facebook, or follow us on Pinterest and Instagram, for more delicious clean recipes!
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Every family holiday gathering needs a classic green bean casserole. For this Classic Green Bean Casserole recipe, we took an oldie but a goodie and skinnied it up. To do it, we used Greek yogurt instead of the usual canned cream soup to achieve that creamy texture, and opted for baked red onions in place of fried onion strings.
This casserole recipe has all the flavors you love in the classic version, but with only half the fat and calories, and none of the artificial ingredients. Give it a try for your next holiday gathering and let us know what you think!
Tried it and loved it? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Give us your feedback in the comments section!
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What better way to welcome the chillier weather than with a warm, comforting bowl of turkey sweet potato stew? Stews tend to call for a boatload of veggies and spices, meaning they yield incredible depth of flavor and fabulous textures. This crave-worthy version features two beloved holiday foods: turkey and sweet potatoes. The tender, juicy goodness of turkey compliments the candy-sweet, buttery potatoes just beautifully, and this recipe lets the killer combo truly shine.
Along with these two scrumptious superstars, our recipe calls for a bunch of nutrient-rich superfoods, like carrots, onions, peppers, garlic, and cilantro. Savory spices like paprika and red pepper flakes lend a zesty kick, while Greek yogurt adds rich, creamy character to the stew’s texture.
You only need one large pot to whip up this satisfying, belly-warming recipe. Although perfect for the holiday season, this Turkey and Sweet Potato Stew is yummy enough to enjoy year-round, whenever the mood strikes!
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As you probably know, the perfect turkey has crispy skin along with flavorful, juicy meat. While there are many ways to experiment with this dish, our Herb Rubbed Turkey takes a classic approach. To do this, we first coat it with an herb rub, stuff it with aromatic vegetables and herbs, and roast it to perfection. It takes several steps to accomplish, so make sure you read the instructions closely and give yourself plenty of prep time.
Our Herb Rubbed Turkey will make a great addition to your Thanksgiving family dinner! Try it out this holiday season alongside your other traditional favorites.
What sides are you planning to serve with your Thanksgiving turkey this year? Tell us in the comments section!
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