Many women spend years trying to improve their health through discipline, rules, and willpower — often believing they need to be harder on themselves to succeed. But research increasingly shows that self-compassion, not self-criticism, is often what supports lasting change. Self-compassion doesn’t mean ignoring your goals or lowering your standards. It simply means approaching yourself with the same patience, understanding, and encouragement you would offer a friend. When you

Chocolate and Peanut Butter... it's a winning combination! And these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bites are no exception. A bite size treat that boasts a healthy balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats to leave you feeling satisfied. They make a great pre or post workout snack, are perfect for satisfying sweet tooth cravings, and make a yummy late night 'treat.' The best part? They only take about 10 minutes to whip up! OMGee... what's not to love? Chocolate Peanut But

The holiday season is my favorite time to cozy up in the kitchen and bake a few better-for-you goodies to share. And this Chocolate Banana Bread has become a total crowd-pleaser! This healthier chocolate banana bread is rich, moist, and quick to make — the perfect midlife-friendly treat for holiday baking or everyday snacking. With a few simple ingredient swaps, you get all that indulgent chocolatey flavor without derailing your healthy-living goals. The best part? It comes

I don't know about you but a fresh out of the oven warm and gooey cookie brings back memories! Like a plate of warm cookies waiting for me after the first day of school or a fun Sunday afternoon baking with my mom. Those are the fond memories sparked whenever I bake up a batch of these Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies! I love how easy these are to make, with a few simple and hearty ingredients, in minutes you can enjoy a nutritious and delicious cookie! Ingredients • 1 & 1/4

The deliciousness of chocolate and the goodness of protein have come together to satisfy your sweet tooth and support your health and fitness goals in this rich and creamy way. Enter the  Chocolate Mint Protein Brownie!  A level up on the traditional brownie, these protein brownies make a great pre or post workout snack, a fun anytime treat, and a tasty dessert to share with friends and family. Many of my clients ask me how they can whip up healthier versions of their favorit

Chocolate and Oatmeal in a tasty muffin? Um yes please! Check out these tasty Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins! These muffins pair nicely with fresh fruit and your morning cup of coffee or tea, make a great pre or post workout snack, and are a tasty after dinner “treat"! You can easily whip a batch up in just under 30 minutes, then store them in the fridge for up to a week or pop half the batch in the freezer to take out and enjoy whenever the craving strikes. Ingredients 2 & 1/

Do you love chocolate but feel like you have to avoid it in order to support your health and weight loss goals? No way! These Double Chocolate Muffins are delicious and nutritious! Yes not only are they double the chocolate, they boast some nutrient dense ingredients and thanks to a few healthy swaps they're actually even richer and creamier than the store bought kind! I warn you now, while you're indulging in their YUM it may be hard to stop at just one! Ingredients 1 C w

Calling all chocolate lovers!! This week I share with you one of my FAVORITE chocolate recipes: Chocolate Haystack Cookies! They're so rich and creamy it's hard to believe they are actually loaded with heart healthy ingredients too! Who knew eating better could taste so good?! Such a quick and simple recipe to whip up, with a list of ingredients you probably already have on hand, so you can easily satisfy your sweet tooth in no time flat. I like to put half the batch in the f

Pumpkin is not only a tasty fall favorite, but also a great way to boost the nutrition of your favorite baked goods, leaving them nice and moist... Like these Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies! A healthier spin on a seasonal favorite, these cookies DO NOT disappoint! This simple recipe yields about 24 small cookies that can easily be whipped up in just under 30 minutes. Making them your new holiday favorite. Ingredients 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter (softened) 1/4 C light

What is it about Fall that stirs the chocolate cravings? Is it Halloween? The call of the holidays? The shorter, darker and colder days? Whatever it is, there seems to be no shortage of chocolate temptations around, which is why I love this tasty chocolate indulgence: 2 Ingredient Chocolate Cupcakes! They're are so rich, moist and EASY to make! Plus they use a special ingredient that delivers... pumpkin! For fun events I like to make jumbo or mini muffins. Enjoy them plain

Yes, Chocolate and Peanut butter, it's a winning combination! Add some hearty oats and you have yourself a delicious and satisfying little bar! That's what these Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are all about! And bonus - because this recipe yields a big batch, you can share it with friends and family or just freeze half the batch to pull out and enjoy whenever you want them! Ingredients 1 C creamy natural peanut butter (or nut butter sub) 2 large ripe bananas, mash

Do you love chocolate? Then you are in for a real treat! This recipe is a chocolate lovers dream, so deliciously rich and satisfying it's sure to soothe even the toughest sweet tooth craving: Chocolate Banana Muffins! Plus we've leveled up a few of the ingredients with few fun swaps to help you better support your eat better goals without sacrificing any of the delicious flavor! Whip up a batch and let us know what you think! Ingredients 3 bananas, mashed 1/4 C honey 1 ts

Calling all chocolate lovers! These 4 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins are a chocolate lovers dream, and they're so simple to make with just four ingredients, you need zero baking skills to make these rich and creamy muffins! Not only are they simple to whip up in a flash, their ingredients boast some pretty awesome benefits too. Personally I love having a muffin at breakfast paired with some fresh fruit or my favorite greek yogurt! YUM! Ingredients 2 ripe banan

I often recommend that my clients steer clear of many of those pre-packaged protein bars on the market because most are loaded with added sugar, salt and a bunch of other unhealthy ingredients that can add up to a glorified candy bar. Instead, try whipping up a batch of your own, like these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars! Packed with protein, complex carbs and healthy fats these bars answer the call without adding all those empty ingredients and yes, they are tasty too

Love chocolate? Looking to add more veggies to your diet? Reap the rewards of both with these Chocolate Zucchini Muffins! Baked goods like muffins, breads and cookies, can actually be super simple (and tasty!) way to sneak in more veggies and these muffins help you do just that! And bonus: you can whip them up in just under 30 minutes, so you'll be free to enjoy them just about anytime a chocolate craving hits... YUM! Ingredients 1/2 C natural creamy peanut butter (or nut