Protein Balls

[liquidstayce]

Got another one.......

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar free honey (steel's Nature Sweet is one brand)
1 cup unflavored protein powder (i have 100% anywhey unflavored)
1/2 cup grape nut cereal (or can used rolled oats but less crunchy)
sprinkle of cinnamon
sprinkle of splenda
Mix peanut butter, honey and protein powder together till well blended. Form into balls. In another bowl mix grape nuts, splenda and cinnamon together. Wet peanut butter balls with water and roll into grapenut mixture. Place in frig and grab when you need a yummy snack!

Change the unflavored to choclolate protein powder and you have the recese's version

[Martrae]

Sugar free honey? How'd they get the bees to do that?

Seriously, is it really honey or just a chemical compound that replaces honey?

[Mop]

I had the same question.

[liquidstayce]

It's made with malitol which is a sugar alchohol which also means it can cause a laxitive effect if you eat too many. If you plan to eat a bunch in one sitting then make it with regular honey.

Can be found at Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, http://www.Bariatriceating.com, and a lot of other places online.
Steel's Sugar Free Honey.....

Nature Sweet. Sugar Free - Reduced Calorie. A thicker version of maltitol combined with a natural honey flavor and a touch of caramel color, and you will swear that you are tasting high quality honey. Excellent for table top use or in baking. You can create your own flavored honey spreads by combining with our fruit products or make your own sugar free honey salad dressing or honey mustard. Reduced calorie. Kosher

Nutrition Facts serv. Size 1 Tbsp. (14g) Servings Per Container 20 Amount Per Serving Calories 24 Fat Cal. 0 Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 0mg Total Carb 6g Fiber 0g Sugars 0g Matlitol 6g Protein 0g

Ingredients: Maltitol syrup, natural honey flavor, caramel color.

[Martrae]

Nothing against you Stacy, cuz the recipe sounds yummy and I know you're trying to help, but are all these 'real' food substitutes really any better for you? Seems like we're using more and more chemicals in place of things that are 'bad' for you and it really doesn't make sense to me.

[liquidstayce]

As far as sugar alcohols go.. I'm not a huge fan but given my limitations they may have a place once in a while in my diet. I like finding stuff I can still eat it and don't have to sacrafice a ton of flavor. That includes sweets. I actually have not tried the sugar free honey yet but am thinking about it. In a small amt it may have its uses and for me it will be a test to see what my digestive system can handle. I have to eat like a diabetic now. I can not have sugar or concentrated sugar products like honey or the "white" carbs. Splenda, Stevia, and sugar alcs are my options. Stevia of course being the best if trying to go herbal/organic but the flavor doesn't always work with certain recipes. Maybe 8 months from now I could have one bite of cheesecake or use a dash of real honey but it is out of the question for me today. I love fruits but even fructose could send me dumping. Right now about the only fruit I have done is 2oz of unsweetened applesauce with 2oz of 2% cottage cheese.

I also have to keep my protein intake up as much as possible as I am healing from surgery. Protein first above all. Adding in the protein powder helps since I can't eat that volume. High protien is really good for people trying to build muscle as well. Sure an egg or real food is better but it isn't always an option and I like some varitey. I can only eat 1 egg in a sitting or two egg whites. I have that for my breakfast. 1 egg is about 7 grams of protein. I'm trying to get in around 90 - 100 grams of protein per day spread out over 4 to 5 4oz meals so you can see how I have a challenge here! I just started adding in cheese and ground turkey too which helps.

When I am back to fruits and veggies I will buy organic whole foods whenever I can and as long as the price is within reason. I did this prior to surgery as well. Sometimes going organic just doesn't balance with the budget. I think thats the trick.. it is a balancing game for me with everything!!!!!!!! Ideally, unprocessed whole and organic foods though are always the best.