Easy, Nourishing & Delish Recipes

healthy, easy, simple and tasty recipes for busy people

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GF Cinnamon Apple Cheesecake Muffins +Daisy’s Cottage Cheese Product Review

by 9 Comments

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As much as I love trying new foods, I have to admit there are certain foods I HAVE to eat every day, Cottage cheese being one of them!  I’ve been becoming obsessed with the stuff lately, and been choosing it over my greek yogurt (gasp!).  I’m hooked on the creaminess and distinct texture it adds to certain foods.   You can add it to smoothies and oatmeal for added protein or sub it with cream cheese or ricotta cheese in baking and cooking! I was very grateful when Daisy Brand send me over some coupons to try their amazing cottage cheese!  I was amazed at the quality of the 100% all-natural ingredients that the 90 year old company uses!  Daisy uses no preservatives which sets them apart from any other dairy products!

 

Low-Fat Cottage Cheese cottagecheese-lowfat

Only 90 calories and a whopping 13 grams of protein per half cup!  Super creamy and chunky even though its low in fat!  There are only a few all-natural ingredients :Cultured skim milk, cream, salt, vitamin A palmitate.  Whats not to love?

photo 3  Gluten-free Cinnamon Apple Cheesecake Muffins makes 6-8 muffins

  • 1 1/4 cup Gluten-free oat flour
  • 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup no sugar added apple sauce
  • 1/4 cup milk (I used almond)
  • 1 egg or 2 egg whites, beaten
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup/ honey
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped apple
  • 2 Tbsp. finely chopped pecans (optional)

Filling

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl combine oat flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix well.
  3. Add in apple sauce, milk, egg vanilla and maple syrup.  Combine well then add in chopped apple and pecans and mix.
  4. In a food processor, combine remaining ingredients for filling.  Process until smooth, or about 10 seconds.
  5. Line a muffin tin with liners and add batter one-third of the way for each slot.  Then add a spoonful of the cheesecake mixture.  Finish it up with another spoonful of batter.  Repeat for each muffin.
  6. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until muffins are done.
  7. Enjoy!

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What’s your favorite way to eat cottage cheese?

[Tweet “#glutenfree Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake Muffins are packed with protein and fiber!”]

Thanks to Meatless Mondays for Hosting!

Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins {Vegan option}

by 20 Comments

Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one w/ these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Donut Holes! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients!

*Post and pictures updated 9/14/17*

Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one w/ these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients

Who doesn’t love cookie dough?  We’ve secretly snuck raw cookie dough into our mouths behind our mother’s backs.  And if you’ve never done that, you haven’t lived.

Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one w/ these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients

I made this recipe way back in 2014, so it was due for a redo!  When I first began making this recipe, I intended it to be some sort of a munchkin donut.  After remaking it, I think it tastes more like a soft round baked cookie dough ball.  But whatever they are, they’re delish!

Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one w/ these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients

These guys are made with coconut flour which lends a fluffy, unique texture.  If you’ve never worked with coconut flour before, this recipe would be a great way to start because it’s fuss-free.

Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one w/ these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients

Paleo Munchkins

Anyways, if you’re craving munchkin donuts OR cookie dough, this recipe comes in clutch for ya.  It’s simple and made with nourishing ingredients for the win!  Here is what you need:

coconut flour

eggs (or flax eggs)

coconut sugar

coconut oil

vanilla baking soda

dark chocolate chips

coconut

Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one w/ these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients

Coconut Cookie Dough Donut Holes

Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one with these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients.  Perfect with a glass of milk!

Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 2 eggs or two flax eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. coconut sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cooking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips and coconut in a large bowl until a dough is form.
  • Stir in coconut and chocolate chips.
  • Roll dough into about 15 small equally sized balls. Baked for 15 minutes or until golden. Enjoy!

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cooking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips and coconut in a large bowl until a dough is form.
  • Stir in coconut and chocolate chips.
  • Roll dough into about 15 small equally sized balls. Baked for 15 minutes, or until golden. Enjoy!

 

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Satisfy your cookie dough and donut cravings in one w/ these Paleo Coconut Cookie Dough Munchkins! Made with coconut flour and other nourishing ingredients!

You May Also Like:

Paleo Banana Nut Donuts

Satisfy your donut cravings with these Apple Chai Donut Muffins! Full of chai tea and apple flavor without the grains and refined sugar! Paleo + Vegan

Apple Chai Donut Muffins {Paleo w/ Vegan option}

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brulee

by 17 Comments

Now you can eat dessert for breakfast with this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate is a match made in heaven, now PB, Chocolate and Creme Brûlée, now thats a step above! I wanted to combine these three things into one healthy breakfast, Oatmeal brûlée, clean, healthy, and tastes like the real thing without the loads of fat and refined sugar.

 I never ever used refined sugar in my recipes, so when Karis Naturals sent me some of their raw bolivian cane sugar AKA Chancaca, I knew i had to make this brulee. Chancaca is rich in natural molasses and unlike refined sugars, it retains all of its natural mineral content and nutritive properties . 

Now you can eat dessert for breakfast with this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brulee

This all natural sugar is way sweeter than refined sugar, so you can use way less and have an amazing taste, just like brown sugar. I would suggest that you go buy this stuff because it’s amazing, really an honest opinion.This baked oats is Chocolatey as can be and filled with a creamy peanut butter concoction and topped off with some Bolivian Raw Cane Sugar.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brulee

Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 1 serving

Ingredients
  

  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée
  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1/3 cup almond milk or water
  • 1/2 tbsp. cocoa powder
  • 1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. agave/honey
  • 1/2 Tbsp. peanut butter
  • 1 Tbsp. almond milk
  • 1 tsp. all-natual cane sugar I used Chancaca

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine oats, milk, vanilla, honey, and agave in a bowl. Mix well.
  • In separate small bowl combine peanut butter and almond milk.
  • Pour half of oat mixture in a ramekin. Add peanut butter on top, then add remaining oat mixture.
  • Bake for about 15 minutes, or until oats are done.
  • Take oats out of oven and sprinkle with cane sugar.
  • Heat oven to broil ( 550 degrees) and bake oatmeal 1 minute, or until sugar caramelizes (watch closely).
  • Enjoy!

Now you can eat dessert for breakfast with this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée!

[Tweet “Start your day off on the right note with this #healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brulee!”]

Now you can eat dessert for breakfast with this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée!Now you can eat dessert for breakfast with this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée!

  • No refined sugar
  • No processed ingredients
  • 100% clean
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Antioxidantsphoto 2

Now you can eat dessert for breakfast with this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée!

Now you can eat dessert for breakfast with this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Brûlée!

Like This Recipe? Try This one!

Gingerbread Oatmeal Brulee

Apple Pie Breakfast Pizza

by 24 Comments

What’s not to love about apple pie? I mean, the soft, cinnamon and sweet apples with a crunchy golden crust, pure bliss. But all of the sugar, fat, and calories are a big no-no in my book, so why not enjoy the taste of apple pie with real cooked apples with cinnamon on top of a breakfast pizza? Life just got so much more exciting! It’s love at first bite, so sweet, soft, and tasty, the way apple pie should be on top of a chewy, golden oatmeal crust. All natural, all good, all tasty, which is everything you could imagine and more!

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Apple Pie Breakfast Pizza

Apple Pie Breakfast Pizza

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Apple Pie Breakfast Pizza
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1 egg of flax egg
  • 1/4 cup apple sauce
  • 1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • Toppings
  • 1 apple sliced and baked in microwave with cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts
  • 2 Tbsp. greek yogurt/ soy yogurt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine ingredients except toppings in a bowl. Blend well and place on a cooking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spoon into a circle pizza crust shape. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until crust is done.
  • Add toppings onto crust.
  • Enjoy!

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Health Benefits

  • Fiber
  • Protein
  • Healthy fats
  • All natural
  • No preservatives
  • No added sugar
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Antioxidants
  • 100% clean
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

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Cranberry Gingerbread Spice Granola

by 14 Comments

 

I absolutely love all the different flavors of the holidays and Gingerbread is especially one of my favorites.  Because christmas is creeping up on us, I wanted to make a holiday-themed recipe.  I love granola and enjoy eating it with yogurt but I am cautious when buying it because it usually contains loads of sugar.  So I made  my own without all the added sugar.  Cranberries are also an awesome holiday flavor so I combined that with the gingerbread.  And voila, the most perfect holiday inspired granola!  You can give this granola as presents in little glass jars! photo 3

Cranberry Gingerbread Spice Granola

  • 1 1/2 cups oats
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen cranberries
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. molasses (maple syrup or honey could also work)
  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
  • 2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds
  • 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries/raisins
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spread oats on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 10 minutes, or until slightly toasted.
  3. In a small sauce pan add frozen cranberries and place on medium low heat.  Stir constantly for about 10 minutes, or until cranberries defrost and start to pop.
  4. Add molasses and apple sauce and lower heat.  Stir constantly for about 5 more minutes.
  5. In a large bowl add oats and remaining ingredients.  Mix well.
  6. Add cranberry mixture and stir well, making sure everything is evenly coated.
  7. Spread on a cooking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  8. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until done.
  9. Enjoy!

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Health Benefits:

Cranberries:

  • antioxidants
  • fiber
  • Vitamins C & E
  • Manganese

Recipe as a whole:

  • All-natural
  • No preservatives
  • No processed ingredients
  • Refined sugar-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Clean
  • High in fiber
  • High in antioxidants
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Low-glycemic

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Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies {Vegan & Gluten-free}

by 30 Comments

Healthy Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies are a quick and easy grab’n go breakfast that your whole fam will enjoy! Sweet, filling , gluten-free + vegan-friendly!

Healthy Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies are a quick and easy grab'n go breakfast that your whole fam will enjoy! Sweet, filling , gluten-free + vegan-friendly!

*Post and pictures updated 8/09/17*

Cookies for breakfast?  Yup you are not day dreaming, this is real life.  Not just any cookies though, amazing all natural, hearty and delicious cookies!  Ones made with zucchini, which leads to a moist texture just like zucchini bread.  Ones that have no added stuff that will weigh you down.  These babies will be your new favorite breakfast I promise.  

Healthy Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies are a quick and easy grab'n go breakfast that your whole fam will enjoy! Sweet, filling , gluten-free + vegan-friendly!So easy to make, you can freeze ’em, mircowave’em and then eat ’em.  Double or triple the batch and you can have them for a while!  Toss out your processed pastries and pop tarts and replace them with these breakfast beauties!  You will feel full and energized to Healthy Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies are a quick and easy grab'n go breakfast that your whole fam will enjoy! Sweet, filling , gluten-free + vegan-friendly!

Here’s what ya need!

oats

zucchini

sunflower seeds

chocolate chips 

raisins

applesause

egg or flax egg

cinnamon

Healthy Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies are a quick and easy grab'n go breakfast that your whole fam will enjoy! Sweet, filling , gluten-free + vegan-friendly!

Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies

Healthy Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies are a quick and easy grab’n go breakfast that your whole fam will enjoy! Sweet, filling , gluten-free + vegan-friendly!

!

Energizing Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups GF oats
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 large zucchini shredded
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup apple sauce
  • 1 egg beaten (sub flax egg for vegan option)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mixing well and scraping the sides of the bowl each time.
  • Spray cooking spray on a cooking sheet and spoon batter equally into 10-12 cookies.
  • Bake for about 15 minutes, or until cookies are done.
  • Enjoy!

 

Like This Recipe?  Pin For Later!

Healthy Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies are a quick and easy grab'n go breakfast that your whole fam will enjoy! Sweet, filling , gluten-free + vegan-friendly!

You May Also Like:

Banana Split Breakfast Cookies {Vegan & Gluten-free}

 

Healthy Banana Blueberry Muffin Tops because why waste the bottom when you can just eat the best part? So easy-to-make and are the perfect on-the-go breakfast or snack made with REAL ingredients! Also paleo, gluten-free and have a vegan option!

Banana Blueberry Muffin Tops {Paleo & Vegan}

 



Apricot Baklava Oatmeal

by 15 Comments

I love making up different and unique variations of oatmeal!  I eat it almost every day, so I like to have a little variety!  I couldn’t go to sleep last night, so I was dreaming about different flavors of oatmeal I could make (not normal I know)!  I thought about my favorite desserts, and that idea led me too baklava.  So sweet, crunchy and delicious, this dessert is so satisfying for a sweet tooth!  I also remembered about the overripe apricots in my fridge, so I came up with this variation!  Who would have thought that apricots and baklava go hand in hand?  Well thank God I did, because this here is an oatmeal winner!

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Apricot Baklava Oatmeal

  • 1/2 cup oats, cooked in almond milk
  • 1 Tbsp. crushed walnuts
  • 1 Tbsp. crushed pistachios
  • 1 Tbsp. raisins
  • 1 apricot, sliced
  • 1/2 Tbsp. honey
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 
  1. Place apricot in a bowl with cloves and cinnamon.  Microwave for 2 minutes.
  2. Combine oats with apricot and remaining ingredients.  Stir well and drizzle with honey.
  3. Enjoy!

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Health Benefits

  • Fiber
  • Protein
  • Healthy fats
  • 100% clean
  • No preservatives
  • No added sugar
  • All natural
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Vitamins 
  • Minerals
  • Antioxidants

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Perfect Fall Breakfast: Pumpkin-Ricotta French Toast Roll-ups

by 38 Comments

The flavor of pumpkin means fall and with the best season for baking coming around, I knew I just had to make this french toast roll-up flavor.  French toast roll-ups are amazing, but even more amazing with a pumpkin ricotta filling.  Full of fiber and protein , these are the perfect fall breakfast.  Eat them with a hot cup of coffee and watch the leaves fall, ain’t  Nothing better than that.

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 Click HERE to get your all-natural unrefined Cane Sugar!

Pumpkin Ricotta French Toast Roll-ups

Makes 10 Roll-ups

  • 10 slices ezekiel bread/ gluten-free bread/whole-grain bread
  • 2 eggs or 1 egg and two egg whites, beaten
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup ricotta cheese/ tofu ricotta cheese
  • 1 tsp. agave/honey
  • 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup unrefined cane sugar ( I used Chancaca)
  1. Take crusts off of bread and roll each slice with a rolling pin until flattened
  2. In a bowl combine pumpkin, ricotta and honey. Roll slices up and repeat for all.
  3. In a shallow bowl, combine eggs, almond milk, and vanilla .  Mix well.
  4. In a separate bowl combine cinnamon and sugar.
  5. Heat a skillet on medium-low heat and coat with cooking spray.
  6. Dunk rolls in egg mixture, then add to skillet, cooking them until golden then turning over to the other side.  Repeat with remaining roll-ups.
  7. Once out of skillet immediately roll in cinnamon-sugar.
  8. Enjoy!

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Health Benefits

Pumpkin

  • High in vitamins A and C
  • High in fiber
  • Rich in antioxidants

Ricotta Cheese

  • High in calcium
  • Protein-packed
  • Contains many vitamins

Recipe as a whole

  • All-natural
  • No preservatives
  • No refined sugar
  • No processed ingredients
  • 100% clean
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Low-glycemic
  • Vegetarian
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals

 

 

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Click HERE to check out other awesome pumpkin recipes!

Totally Clean and Delish:Sun Warrior Protien Powder

by Leave a Comment

I have finally found a protien powder that i‘m satisfied with, nutritionally and tastefully! It’s called Sunwarrior! 

Let me break it down for you, All Sunwarrior Protein Powders are

  • Gluten-free
  • Soy-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Raw vegan
  • Non-GMO

The Flavors are

  • Natural (80 cals, 0 fat, 1g sugar, 15g protein)
  • Vanilla (100 cals, 2g fat, 0g sugars, 19g protein)
  • Chocolate (100 cals, 1g fat, 0g sugars, 17g protein)

I absolutely love the macros in these protein powders, unlike most protein powders, sunwarrior blends are not loaded with sugar, they all contain 1 g or less! Plus, they are naturally sweetened with stevia! And most of them have no fat! plus, a lot of protein in just a small amount! 

The ingredients in the natural blend are as follows:

Proprietary Protein Blend ( Raw Organic Pea Protein, Raw Cranberry Protein, Raw Organic Hemp Seed Protein), Medium Chain Triglycerides

I LOVE that you can pronounce every single ingredient, so you know what’s going into your body! Absolutely NO CHEMICALS OR PRESERVATIVES! How Awesome is that!!!?

Use your protein powder to make this amazing smoothie!

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Vanilla Apple Pie Smoothie

Serves 1

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 frozen apple, sliced
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 scoop Sunwarrior Vanilla Protein Powder
  • 1/2 tsp. xantham gum, optional
  • handful of ice
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.  Blend until smooth.
  2. Enjoy!

My Latest Health-Food Obsession: Elli Quark

by 1 Comment

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I found a yogurt (well, Quark) that is so much better than Greek yogurt! I am a self-proclaimed greek yogurt addict, I pretty much have it at least twice a day, and I am so impressed with Elli Quark, it is seriously my new favorite thing ever. You may ask, what is quark? Well to tell you the truth, I had no idea until I heard about this amazing company.

EQ_Group3

Here is the definition of quark, found on the Elli Quark Website:

Elli Quark is a spoonable fresh cheese with a creamy texture similar to Greek yogurt,
But with a richer, less sour taste. It also has a better protein-to-carb ratio than
Greek yogurt, with high protein and no added sugars.

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That definition is literally spot on. So rich and creamy, my goodness, it comes in so many flavors ranging from the typical fruit flavor of salted caramel, perfection as its greatest. The flavors have just the right sweetness, not too sweet like many other brands.

Elli_Quark_0278

Now if you weren’t already convinced, this brand of yogurt/quark is not only impressive in terms of taste, but also nutrition:

  • Each 6 oz.  container has only 80 calories, yes you read right, only 80 calories for a portion equal to that of chobani, which has roughly 140 calories! 
  • it only has 5 grams of sugar, compared to 26 grams in traditional Greek yogurt
  • No added Sodium
  • 0% fat
  • 2X more protein than traditional yogurt
  • Aids in digestion, probiotic and active cultures are highly effective
  • No added sugar!
  • All natural

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The good news is that Elli Quark is quickly spreading, with more and more locations, it’s becoming much easier to find, plus if you click HERE, you can get a discount and find the closest location possible to ensure you will be able to taste this wonderful new favorite of mine!

FLAVORS!!!:

  • Peach
  • Lemon
  • Cherry
  • Pineapple
  • Blueberry
  • Mint chocolate
  • Red Velvet
  • Sea Salt Caramel (my fav! but they are all so good!)
  • Vanilla Bean
  • Bananas Foster

You can have these anytime,anywhere. They are perfect for traveling, or enjoying at home. You can have them for breakfast with fruit, with lunch as a side, a filling snack or even dessert, they are so versatile and convenient. And for only 80 calories, come-one, these are perfect for when you need something sweet if you are trying to lose weight or not!

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