Showing posts with label cleaneating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleaneating. Show all posts

Monday, July 25, 2016

Egg Muffins (paleo...clean eating...whole 30)

I was in the mood to try something new for breakfast...and expand my taste buds to include eggs. These are great..makes a lot...quick and easy for breakfast.

Ingredients
  • 8 oz. Pork Breakfast Sausage
  • 1 T. Olive Oil
  • 1/2 Sweet Onion, thinly sliced
  • 3/4 C. Bell Peppers, chopped or thinly sliced(any color)
  • 1 `1/2 C. Spinach(packed)
  • 1 t. fresh Oregano, chopped or 1/2 t. dry oregano
  • 9 Eggs
  • Dash of Pepper
  • 3/4 t. Real Salt
  • 1/4 C. Coconut Milk or Almond Milk
 Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a muffin tin.
  2. Place the ground sausage in a sauté pan and heat on medium high. Break up the pork into crumbles with a spatula as it cooks.
  3. When the pork is half way cooked, add 1 T. of olive oil, onions, peppers, and oregano to the pan. Saute until the onion is translucent. Add the spinach to the pan and cover with a lid. Cook for 30 seconds, remove the lid and toss the ingredients. Spinach should be wilted but still bright green. Remove from heat.
  4. Place the eggs in a large mixing bowl along with the pepper, salt, and milk. Whisk together until eggs are well beaten.
  5. Add the sausage and vegetables to the egg mixture and mix in until well distributed.
  6. Divide the mixture between the greased muffin tins(12 total), making sure that each tin has a somewhat equal ratio of eggs/fillings.
  7. Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes. Cool for a few minutes and remove from tins, loosening the edges first with a knife.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

21 Day Fix Snack Ideas

So...I had every intention of running this as a FREE challenge group...But summer is going by so quickly that I just figured that I would make it a blog post. We have been busy every weekend up here in Pickerington...kids busy playing all day..if I had a penny for each time I hear mommy I'd be rich..LOL!!! So I asked a few friends to also contribute to this blog post with some of their favorites. These are all 21 day fix approved...all clean eating (something that seems so hard.but it's really not).
So without anymore chit chat here are 10 easy peasy snacks to keep your health/nutrition goals in check!

1. Greek yogurt with grapes- Mix Greek yogurt and  grapes. For a cooler treat freeze the grapes. 1 red, 1 purple

2. Cucumbers with hummus - I really like English cucumbers because there is no need to peel them. Equals  1 green, 1 blue

3. Carrots and guacamole - Grab the carrot chips and the single portioned out guacamole.Equals  1 green, 1 blue

4. Almond butter and whole grain waffle- Heres a yummy snack that will curb that sweet tooth and keep you full. Equals 1 yellow, 1 blue

5. 2 Hard boiled eggs- I slather on the hot sauce and some spicy mustard and they are delish! Equals 1 red

6. Banana Ice Cream- Freeze a banana and blend in the blender with a bit of almond milk. Freeze in the freezer...so yummy! Equals 1 purple

7. Kale Chips- Another one of my faves…the healthiest green potato chip you will ever eat. De-stem and tear kale into bite size pieces, then add a tsp of extra virgin olive oil. Lay pieces flat on a cookie sheet sprinkle with your favorite spices. I like cayenne pepper. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Equals  1 green

8. Pop Corn- Love this one! Add yummy toppings to fresh popped pop corn like cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Equals  3 cups = 1 yellow

9. Tuna and hot sauce- I know it sounds weird but the hot sauce takes all the fishiness away! Equals 1 red

10. Baked apple- Core and then cut your apple in half, dust with cinnamon. Place on baking sheet center side up at 400°  for 15 minutes or until the apple becomes slightly tender. Equals 1 purple

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Chili Spiced Chicken Salad

Good Morning!!! Hope that you are having yourself a great week! This was our dinner last night. This recipe comes from the nutrition guide book from the Hammer and Chisel program.

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. low fat Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp ground chili powder
1 tsp raw honey
3 cups chopped grilled chicken breast, boneless, skinless
1/2 medium red onion, finely chipped
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1. Combine yogurt, lime juice, chili powder, and honey in a small bowl; whisk to blend. Set aside; this will be your dressing.

2. Combine chicken, onion, pumpkin seeds and dressing; toss gently to blend.

I put lettuce on our plates and then topped it with the chicken salad. I added some balsamic vinegar to the lettuce and tomatoes on the side. It was delicious!! This will be made again.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Fixate: new cookbook from Autumn Calabrese

Autumn Calabrese is releasing a new cookbook....and today is it's release date! Be one of the first to get this book :)
I'm so excited to announce that Autumn Calabrese, the creator of the successful program, the 21 Day Fix, is coming out with a new cookbook TODAY! In Fixate, Autumn takes her simple color-coded containers for measuring perfect portions and applies it to 101 of her favorite family recipes! So you’re not just eating tasty, healthy foods, you’re eating the right amount too. Each Fixate recipe lists color-coded container equivalents and nutrition facts, making it super easy to use with your 21 Day Fix, or any other workout program you’re doing. For example, one recipe might say it’s equivalent to a 1 red, 1 green, and 1 yellow container.

Plus Fixate also includes kid-friendly recipes, as well as Paleo, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian recipes. Just check out these Pineapple Chicken Skewers from Fixate. Don’t they look delicious!? It counts as 1 red, 1/2 green, 1/2 purple.
Are Fixate recipes easy to make?
YES! Just like in the 21 Day Fix, Autumn has kept the recipes simple. She also gives tips for preparing meals quickly, using letfovers, and stocking your kitchen with the right tools.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
Fixate includes Paleo, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free recipes as well!
Is Fixate ONLY for those who use the 21 Day Fix?
NO! Fixate definitely compliments the 21day fix, the 21 Day Fix Extreme, and the Portion Fix, but you can use this cookbook with any workout program since the nutritional information for each recipe is also provided.
How many recipes are in Fixate?
There are 101 of Autumn’s favorite family recipes. There will be breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert recipes!
What does Fixate cost?
Fixate will be $19.95 
There will also be an option to purchase the cookbook with the containers ($34.95)

Here is a link of a sampling of recipes that you will be able to find in the cookbook: http://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2015/05/FIXATE-RECIPES.pdf

If you are interested in the cookbook, email me at sarahwawerek@gmail.com with the subject: FIXATE ME




Monday, July 13, 2015

Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad

I am loving the mangoes right now at the grocery store!!! They are so ripe and juicy!!! Best part thing of this meal is so much of it can be prepped ahead. And also let's face it..the weather is sooo HOT that it's nice not have the stove on for a long time.

Does this not look delicious?
It was super easy to make.
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 chicken breast
1 can black beans
3 limes
1 onion (I forgot to grab a red onion at the store..but I used a sweet onion)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1 mango
jalepenos (amount depends on your spicy likeness)
2 tsps cumin
1 tsp chili powder
Olive oil

Obviously some steps just depends on how you want to prepare it but this is what I did:
First I put my chicken in the slow cooker in the morning. I added the 1 tsp of chili powder and 1 of the tsps of cumin. I cooked for about 7 hours.
When it got closer to dinner I made my quinoa. I added the 1 cup of quinoa, 2 cups of water, and the last tsp of cumin and cooked for the 15 minutes.
While it was simmering, I shredded my chicken and added to the big bowl. I also rinsed my beans,  cut my red pepper and onion, mango, and jalepeno and added to the bowl. Once the quinoa was done I added it to the bowl. I drizzled olive oil and squeezed the juice from the 3 limes. Toss to coat...and serve. It was soo good :)


Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Happy Chocolate Day...Let's celebrate with some shakeology!!!

July 7th is a fun foodie holiday to celebrate chocolate!!! I <3 holidays like this. While a good old Hershey bar sounds yummy....I got goals to keep in mind. I celebrated with my go to chocolate shakeology....
I am also here to share 83 chocolate shakeology recipes with you.
First off, my go to recipe:
~ 1 scoop of chocolate shakeology
~ 1/2 banana
~ 1 tbsp. Peanut butter
~ 8 oz of water and some ice cubes

Here are the rest..
Reminder all shake recipes are made with 1 scoop of chocolate shakeology and you can add water,milk, almond milk, or coconut water.
3 ingredients:
  1. Plain~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup water + 1/2 cup of ice optional
  2. Iced Mocha ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup cold coffee
  3. Chocolate Vanilla ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. vanilla extract + 1 cup water
  4. Nutella ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. hazelnut extract + 1 cup water
  5. Peanut Butter Cup:1 cup water + 1 tbsp. peanut butter + 1/2 cup ice
  6. Iced Hazelnut Mocha~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. almond extract + 1 cup cold coffee
  7. Chocolate Mint~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. mint extract + 1 cup water
  8. Peppermint Patty ~Chocolate Shakeology +1 cup water, 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  9. Chocolate Strawberry ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup strawberries + 1 cup water
  10. Frozen Chocolate Strawberry ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup of water + 1 cup frozen strawberries
  11. Frozen Chocolate Banana~ Chocolate Shakeology+ 1 cup water + 1 frozen banana
  12. Chocolate Orange~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ cup orange juice + ½ cup water
  13. Chocolate Raspberry~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup raspberries + 1 cup water
  14. Chocolate Blueberry~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup blueberries + 1 cup water
  15. Chocolate Bee ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. honey + 1 cup milk
  16. Choco Cherry~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ cup black cherries, pitted + 1 cup vanilla almond milk
  17. Creamy Candy Cane ~Chocolate Shakeology + 2/3 drops peppermint extract + 1 cup almond milk
  18. Chocolate Vanilla Bean ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp vanilla extract + 1 cup water
  19. Chocolate Ginger ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. ground ginger + 1 cup milk
  20. Chocolate Cranberry ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 cup cranberry juice + 1/2 cup water
  21. Chocolate Almond Chai ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 tsp. almond extract + 1 cup chilled unsweetened chai tea

4 Ingredients

  1. Pina -Banana ~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ medium banana + ½ cup pineapple juice + ½ cup water
  2. PB and J ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter + ½ cup strawberries + 1 cup water
  3. Chocolate Coconut ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. coconut extract + ½ cup coconut milk + ½ cup water
  4. Raspberry Orange ~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ cup raspberries + ½ cup orange juice + ½ cup water
  5. Chocolate Spice ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. cinnamon + ½ tsp. nutmeg + 1 cup milk
  6. I love Berries ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup strawberries + ½ cup blueberries + 1 cup water
  7. Cheeky Coconut ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. coconut extract + 1 medium banana + 1 cup milk
  8. Maple Buttercup ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. almond butter + 1 cup milk + 1 tsp. maple syrup
  9. Chocolate Banana Nut~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter + 1 medium banana + 1 cup water
  10. Cherry Monkey ~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ cup black cherries + ½ medium banana + 1 cup milk
  11. Frozen Mint Chocolate ~ Chocolate Shakeology + Fresh mint + 1 cup water + 1 cup ice
  12. Funky Monkey ~Chocolate Shakeology + ¼ medium banana + ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk + 1 cup milk
  13. Chocolate Frappuccino ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 cup cappuccino flavored soy milk + 1 cup cold coffee + 1 cup ice
  14. Chai Cocoa ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup unsweetened chai tea (cooled) + 2 teaspoons raw honey
  15. Nutty Chocolate Banana ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup water + 1 medium fresh or frozen banana + 1 tablespoon peanut butter
  16. Nuts for Chocolate ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. almond butter + ½ tsp. almond extract + 1 cup almond milk
  17. Maple Buttercup ~Chocolate Shakeology “ 1 Tbsp. almond butter + 1 Tbsp. maple syrup + 1 cup water or milk
  18. Almond Joy ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup light coconut milk + 1 Tbsp. almond butter + Ice + Water, as needed
  19. Mexican Chocolate ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup almond milk + 5 big dashes cinnamon + ice to taste
  20. Coconut Sweetie~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. honey + 1/2 cup light coconut milk + 1/2 cup water
  21. Maple Berry Cream ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. pure maple syrup + 1/2 cup strawberries + 1 cup skim milk
  22. Chocolate Cherry Spice ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 cup pitted black cherries + 1 tsp. cinnamon + 1 cup water
  23. Coffee Storm ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 tsp. almond extract + 1/2 tsp. rum extract + 1 cup cold coffee
  24. Snowflake ~“ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp vanilla extract + 1 cup skim milk + Crushed candy canes (for garnish)
  25. Chocolate Peach Dream ~ Chocolate Shakeology + Handful frozen peaches + 10 oz. unsweetened almond milk/rice milk + 2 oz. crushed ice
  26. Frozen Yogurt ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 scoop vanilla frozen yogurt + ½ cup water + Ice

5+ Ingredient Shakes

Banana Split ~Chocolate Shakeology + ½ medium banana + 2 fresh pineapple rings + 2 large strawberries + 1 cup water
  1. Pumpkin Pie ~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ cup unsweetened canned pumpkin + ½ tsp. cinnamon + ½ tsp. nutmeg + 1 cup milk
  2. Chocolate Bananas Foster ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 medium banana + ½ tsp. cinnamon + ½ tsp. rum extract + 1 cup milk
  3. Vanilla Almond Fudge ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. almond butter + 1 tsp. vanilla extract + 4 dashes cinnamon + 1 cup milk
  4. Fruit and Nuts ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter + ½ cup raspberries + ½ cup blackberries +1 cup almond milk
  5. Banana Honeymoon ~Chocolate Shakeology + ½ medium banana + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter + 1 Tbsp. honey + 1 cup water
  6. Ultimate Banana Split ~Chocolate Shakeology + 2 fresh pineapple rings + 2 large frozen strawberries + 1 medium banana + 1 cup ice + 1 cup water
  7. Banana Bread ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 medium banana + 2 Tbsp. dry quick oats + 1 Tbsp. chopped pecans + 1 tsp. vanilla extract + ½ tsp. cinnamon + ½ cup milk + ½ cup water
  8. Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake ~Chocolate Shakeology + ¼ cup fat-free ricotta cheese + ¼ cup plain nonfat yogurt + 2 Tbsp. peanut butter + ½ cup skim (nonfat) milk + ¼ cup water + Ice
  9. Smores ~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk + ½ cup brewed coffee, chilled + 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract + 2 tsp. ground whole wheat graham cracker crumbs + 1 cup ice
  10. Vanilla Almond Fudge ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon of natural almond butter + 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract + 4 dashes of cinnamon
  11. Coco Banana Nutter – Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter or 2 Tbsp. PB2 + 1/2 banana + 1 tsp. coconut oil
  12. Cinna-Mocha ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup almond milk, coconut milk or water + 1/4 – 1/2 tsp cinnamon + 1 tbsp. instant coffee + Ice to taste
  13. Pecan Cinnamon Roll ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. cinnamon + 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract + 8 pecan halves + 1 cup skim milk
  14. Chocolate Almond Spice ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 tsp. cinnamon + 1/2 tsp. nutmeg + 1/2 tsp. almond extract + 1 cup almond milk
  15. Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1/4 cup fat-free ricotta cheese + 1/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt + 1/2 cup raspberries + 1/4 cup water + 1/2 cup skim milk
  16. Honey Berry Banana ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 banana + 1 tsp. honey + 1/2 cup blueberries + 1 cup skim milk
  17. Mexican Chocolate Honey ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter + 1 tsp. cinnamon + 1 tsp. honey + 1 cup skim milk
  18. Peanut Butter Split ~ Chocolate Shakeology + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter + 1/2 banana + 1 fresh pineapple ring + 2 large strawberries + 1 cup water
  19. Apple Pie ~“ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ cup diced apples + ¼ tsp cinnamon + ½ cup water + ½ cup apple juice
  20. Snowstorm ~“ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ tsp almond extract + ½ tsp rum extract + ½ cup cold coffee + ½ cup skim milk
  21. Almond Yule Log ~ Chocolate Shakeology + ½ tsp vanilla extract + ½ tsp cinnamon + ½ tsp almond extract + 1 tbsp. almond butter + ½ cup pitted black cherries + 1 cup vanilla almond milk
  22. Yummy Rummy Chocolate ~1 Chocolate Shakeology + 1 banana + ¾ cup nonfat milk, or water, or soy, or rice milk +½ tsp cinnamon + ½ tsp rum extract + ice

Yummy desserts!

  1. Chocolate Mocha Mousse ~Chocolate Shakeology + 2 egg whites, whipped + ¼ cup blueberries + 1 Tbsp. instant coffee crystals + ½ cup water
  2. Pancakes ~ 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology + 1/4 cup rolled oats + 2 tbsp. unsweetened almond milk + 1 tsp. vanilla + 1 tsp. baking powder + 1 egg + 1 egg white.. Blend and pour into pan to cook like any other pancake.
  3. Cookie Balls~ 1 cup Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup peanut butter + 1 cup quick cook oats + 1/3 cup honey. Combine ingredients. Roll into balls and eat.
  4. Frozen Chocolate Shakeology Bark ~5 tbsp. coconut oil, melted + 5 tbsp. Chocolate Shakeology, stirred until blended. Pour into tinfoil-lined pan and freeze until hard. Store in refrigerator.
76. Chocolate Ice Cream ~Chocolate Shakeology + 1.5 cups of Almond Milk or Fat Free Milk + 1/2 Banana + 1 Tbsp. Peanut butter + 1 cup (or more) of Ice. Freeze until desired consistency.
77. Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe #2 ~Chocolate Shakeology + 6 ice cubes + 1/2 banana + 1 1/2 cups of almond or coconut milk + 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter (I used PB2). Mix in blender, pour into bowl, and freeze for 2 hours.
 78 Chocolate Energy Cookie Balls ~“ 1 1/2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 cup almond flour + 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats + 1/4 cup almond butter + 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1/4 cup sliced almonds. Combine Shakeology, almond flour and oats, mix well. Add almond butter and milk. Roll into balls and then roll into almonds.
    79. Peanut Butter Oat Bars ~ 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology + 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats + 1 scoop protein powder + 1/2 cup peanut butter + 1/2 mashed banana + nonstick cooking spray. Combine ingredients. Mix well. Spray pan with nonstick spray and press mixture into pan. Cover with plastic wrap and press down. Freeze for 3 hours before cutting into bars.
80. Peanut Butter Cups ~2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology + 1/4 cup dark chocolate morsels + 1 tbsp. psyllium husk powder + 1/2 cup pumpkin puree + 6 tsp. smooth peanut butter. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Melt chocolate morsels in microwave until just melted. Combine Shakeology, psyllium husk, pumpkin in food processor. Divide into balls and press flat unto muffin cup, leaving a depression in the middle. Spoon 1/2 tsp. peanut butter on top. Drizzle melted chocolate to create thin layer. Freeze 30 minutes.
    81. Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream ~ 2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology + 1 cup milk + 2 medium frozen bananas (freeze without peel) + 2 tbsp. peanut butter. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into glass bowl. Cover and freeze 4 hours.
82. Chocolate Pudding ~ 1 1/2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology + 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin + 3/4 cup boiling water + 2 cups vanilla almond milk (unsweetened). Dissolve gelatin in water. Add almond milk. Place all ingredients in blender and combine. Pour into 4 dessert cups and refrigerate 4 hours.
83. Smoothie Bowl ~ 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology + 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1/3 cup strawberries + 1/4 cup mangoes + 1/2 cup cucumber + 1/4 cup blueberries + 1 tbsp. chia seeds + 1 cup ice. Blend almond milk, strawberries, mango, cucumber and Shakeology until smooth. Add ice and blend. Pour into bowl. Top with blueberries and chia seeds

Enjoy!!!

Monday, June 22, 2015

Greek Chicken Pitas

I don't know about you all, but where I live (south Florida) it is super HOT!!! With my meal planning, I am trying to find things that are A). easy to cook B). Light C). and not hot (like soup hot...spicy hot I LOVE). This recipe meets all the requirements for my summer cooking!
I did my chicken in the slow cooker. It's just easier for me to throw my chicken breast in there. I am not a big fan of those chicken strips sold at stores in the Ziploc bags and I could get the chicken from the deli section...but I just prefer this method.
this meal was super easy to prep since the slow cooker took care of the cooking part. Just cut up some veggies...add some lemon and chives. Cut the pitas in half and you have yourself a fabulous dinner!
Each serving has 380 calories.
 
Total Time: 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
1 (6½-inch) whole wheat pita, cut in half to make pockets
3 oz cooked chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes
¼ medium tomato, chopped
¼ cup chopped cucumber
1 Tbsp. chopped red onion (optional)
¼ tsp. dried oregano
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
¼ cup shredded romaine lettuce
2 Tbsp. crumbled feta cheese (about ½ oz)
Preparation:
1. Fill pita halves evenly with chicken, tomato, cucumber, onion (if desired), oregano, lemon juice, romaine, and cheese.

Friday, June 19, 2015

3 day refresh

Before we went on our family trip to Tennessee, I had purchased the 3 day refresh. I had meal planned for our family so we would make wise choices, but let's be serious...there is always a trip to a fast food joint no matter how a road trip goes. I had purchased this to get me back on track after being gone for 9 days and get rid of any bloat that I had.
First let me tell you, this is the HARDEST thing I have ever done!!! I thought it, hey three days how hard can this be? Here are my before pics:

Here is what I did every day while on the refresh:
Day 1:
I woke up and had water.
A little later on I had the vegan chocolate shakeology with 1/2 of a banana.
I had more water.
Then for lunch I'd do the vanilla refresh shake. I had carrots, some blueberries and strawberries, and hummus.
For snack I did the cucumbers with hummus (made them look like sandwiches.
My dinner (which was delicious) was the veggie stir fry. I also had the vanilla refresh shake.
I also had more water throughout the day.
I also did insanity max.

Day 2:
Started off the same as the previous day: water and the chocolate/banana shakeology.
Adding tons of water to the day as well.
For lunch I stuck to the same routine...carrots, blueberries, strawberries, hummus, and the vanilla refresh.
For snack I had some red peppers with hummus.
Dinner I had the carrot salad that is in the recipe booklet that came. I also added the vanilla refresh.
Today I did max following a modifier.

Day 3:
Were the same things except for dinner: I did the cucumber and tomato salad.
For day three I did not exercise at all.

All in all thoughts:
Day 1 as the easiest...probably b/c I had food in from the night before. LOL!!! Day 2 kicked my butt. I had the worst headache. After that I decided that exercising at all probably wasn't the best idea and taking care of three kids (hence no workout on day 3). I did feel a difference and def. less bloated. I wouldn't say I had more energy, but did feel better w/o junk coming into me.

Here are my after pic:

Would I do this agan...probably if I knew I was going to fall of the tracks again eating wise. It helped me get past a weight plateu and I can totally see a difference. It's hard but now I know what to expect and feel like I am better prepared.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Avacado Chicken Salad

The boys and I had spent all of yesterday in the van. I will be the first to admit we didn't make the wisest food choices on the way home. We stopped at Mickey D's, had tortilla chips in the car, Zaxby's chicken..you get the point. We also are just coming off a week vacation in TN where we ate at Paula Deen's restaurant and a few other yummy places (although we did a good job on dinners with our crock pot). This is our first day home and I knew I wanted to make something light...and yummy!
What you are going to need:
2 cups shredded chicken
1 avocado
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp lime juice
1 tsp fresh cilantro
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup plain Greek Yogurt
Easy to make:

 Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20-30 minutes to let all those yummy flavors blend together.


Serve on your favorite bread, crackers, pita pocket or on a bed of lettuce.

Chocoate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

It's been awhile since I last blogged. My family and I spent a week in Gatlinburg. What a fun trip we all had. I will probably blog about our various adventures.
My post today is chocolate peanut butter protein balls. I had made a batch of these for our van ride up (we drove from FL to TN). I made these so we wouldn't have to stop a lot for snacks and also, I wanted to make sure we made wise choices on the road.
These are super simple to make. All you will need are:
1 cup oats
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (can be shakeology or whey powder)

Super simple to do:
Combine ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll into balls. Enjoy. Will last about 5 days refrigerated.


Tuesday, June 2, 2015

clean eating: citrus flank steak

Citrus Marinated Flank Steak:
Ingredients
•The juice of 1 orange
•The juice of 2 limes
•¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
•2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
•1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
•3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
•1 teaspoon ground cumin
•1 teaspoon salt
•2 pound flank steak

Instructions
1.With a small, sharp paring knife score the steak on both sides.
2.Combine the orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin and salt in the bowl of a food processor or blender; puree until smooth. Place the steak in a large, resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over it. Press out the air, seal the bag and marinate at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
3.Prepare the coals on the grill until they are glowing red with a white ash around them. Drain and discard the marinade and place the steak 4 inches over the coals; sear quickly, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
4.Move the steak away from the direct heat, cover the grill and continue to cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 F, about 7 to 10 minutes longer. Remove the steak from the grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

clean eating: sriracha lime chicken chopped salad

This recipe is super yummy! Don't let the title of the recipe scare you. You can adjust the heat to fit your taste buds: today I'd love to share with you sriracha lime chicken chopped salad! This might be one of my new favorite ones!
Sriracha Lime Chicken
2 organic chicken breasts
3 tbsp sriracha
1 lime, juiced
1/4 tsp Himalayan sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Salad
4 cups lettuce, chopped
8 pineapple slices, using pineapple corer
1 cup organic grape tomatoes
1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
1 avocado, cubed
Lime Vinaigrette
1/3 cup light olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 limes, juiced
2 tsp raw honey
Dash Himalayan sea salt
Instructions
1.1. Heat the grill
2.2. Season chicken with salt and pepper
3.3. In a bowl or marinade dish, combine sirarcha and lime
4.4. Add chicken and let marinade in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, the longer the better
5.5. Once marinaded, add chicken to grill
6.6. Cut pineapple using pineapple corer and add to grill, grill for 3-4 minutes on each side
7.7. While they are grilling, chop lettuce, then chop avocado, tomato, and red onion and add to serving dish
8.8. Whisk together dressing, taste, and adjust seasoning as desired (i.e. more lime, additional sea salt, additional vinegar)- place in fridge until ready to use
9.9. Once chicken is done cooking, assemble the salad, toss with dressing and enjoy!

Clean eating: BBQ carrots

I waanted to share a simple and easy side dish to prepare with some of meat entrees I have already shared or will continue to during the week.
Today is bbq carrots!
•2 pounds organic baby carrots
•1 teaspoon black pepper
•1 tablespoon onion powder
•1 tablespoon garlic powder
•1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:
Place all the ingredients in a large Ziploc bag. Shake the bag until all the carrots are well coated.
Place a piece of aluminum foil onto the grill. Place the carrots on top of that in a single layer.
Put your lid down on the grill.Grill your carrots for 30 minutes occasionally stirring with grilling tongs.
You will know they are done when they are easy to pierce with a fork.


Clean eating: Foil Packets: Steak

This is a meal my hubby was totally suspicious about! He thought that I was nuts that I wanted him to put a foil packet on our grill. I totally surprised him and we both enjoyed this meal....
I present to you: Lemon herb steak foil packet:
Ingredients (for one packet):
1 thin cut steak (i used rib-eye)
1/2 lemon
1 sprig fresh rosemary
Dried Thyme
Salt (Kosher) & Pepper
Butter & Olive Oil
Heavy Duty Foil – 2 sheets (approx. 12″ x 12″)
Asparagus or your choice of vegetables

Directions:
preheat your grill to medium high. on a piece of heavy duty tin foil (approx. 12″ x 12″), lightly coat with olive oil and dot with butter. season both sides of your steak with salt and pepper. place the steak in the center of the foil. sprinkle with thyme, rosemary leaves and a slice of fresh lemon. place fresh vegetables and lemon next to the steak. dot with butter and cover with the second piece of foil over the top. seal each side of the foil shut. once your packets are sealed and marked, place them onto the grill at medium-high heat. grill them for 8-10 minutes (depending on how you prefer your meat), flipping them over halfway through cooking. when they are finished grilling, let stand for 2-3 minutes before you open foil in the middle and enjoy


Clean eating: Citrus Grilled Chicken

Here is a delicious recipe for  grilled citrus chicken!!
Ingredients:
•1 orange
•1 lime
•2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
•1 teaspoon minced garlic
• boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I had a package of 5 when we did this)
•1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
•1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
1.Zest orange and lime into a large bowl.
2.Squeeze orange juice into bowl.
3.Add oil, garlic and chicken, shift in bag to make sure the chicken gets all the flavorings.
4.Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
5.Prepare grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
6.Remove chicken from marinade, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
7.Cook chicken 6 minutes per side or until done.


Clean eating: spicy lime black beans quina salad


Today's recipe is a side dish, quinoa lime salad. It is really yummy! A side might not seem so WOW to some but think of your typical side dishes...macaroni salad...potato salad...colesaw...nothing that healthy about those. This is so light and yummy. I make a lot and take it in for lunch during the work week.
These are more or less estimate for the ingredients...
quinoa
1 can of black beans
1 red pepper
1 red onion
cilantro
garlic
cumin
jalpeno
2 limes

Cook the quinoa. In a large bowl put in the drained and rinsed black beans. Chop the red pepper and red onion. Add to the beans. Chop cilantro and also add. Chop the jalepeno (add as much as heat you want to taste). Stir in the quinoa. Add the olive oil, garlic, and cumin and stir. Add the juice of the lime and the zest of 1 of the limes. Mix...chill...serve...enjoy!

Clean Eating: BBQ sauce

Good Morning! Today's recipe is a simple one: Homemade BBQ sauce! I am the type that usually buys one (especially when they go on sale) but thought for this challenge I'd give this a shot!! It wasnt too hard (just had to mix to a right combo that both hubby and I enjoyed). We put it on thin cut chicken breasts...and it was delicious!
Clean eating bbq sauce
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce – no sugar added
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste – no sugar added
1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
4 tablespoons unsulfered molasses
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Clean Eating: Raspberry Oatmeal Cookies

Last night I was craving a sweet. I really wanted a DQ blizzard...but I am really trying to stay disciplined in my diet (and obviously that DQ blizzard isn't a part of it). So when I got up this morning I knew I was going to need something to curb those sweet attacks! Luckily we went to Costco and bought a big ol' container of raspberries so this fit the bill. They are light...full of flavor..and super easy to make.

Ingredients:
1 c instant (quick-cook) oats 
¾ c whole wheat flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ c honey
6 tbsp fresh raspberries, diced

Steps:
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the honey until thoroughly incorporated. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Fold in the raspberries. Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.
  3. Drop the cookie dough into 15 rounded scoops on the baking sheet. Bake at 325°F for 13-15 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet.
Now let me tell they do not look at all appetizing when in the fridge chilling:
 

But once they are cooked and cooled they were beautiful delicious cookies!!!
My husband enjoyed as did our 15 month old!! This will more than likely become a summer time favorite sweet!
 
 

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Clean Grillin' summer

Is anyone as excited as I am that summer is right around the corner? While I do live in Florida, we are getting super close to the end of the school..which totally symbolizes SUMMER for this kindergarten teacher.
As a beachbody coach I always try to think of fun and exciting ways to keep my friends engaged and wanted to extend this to you all. I have started a Facebook group that will feature various recipes to make sure you keep on track nutrition wise while grillin' out.
Here is a link to my summer grillin' clean group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1471286679828517/members/

Hope to see you there!! Starts on May 23rd!
If you are having any problems contact me directly!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Healthy Banana Pancaes!

First off, Happy Mother's Day! Today I got to plan out my day and what we were all going to do and eat!
I usually start my da off with shakeology...but thought I'd switch it up for the day! Searched around and thought that banana pancakes sounded like the perfect way to start my day!
 

These were seriously delicious and easy to make.
All you need is:
2 eggs
1 banana
1/2 cup oats...
1/4 cup apple sauce (I always use the unsweetened)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Put all ingredients into the blender and pulse for about 30 seconds. Warm up your griddle or pan and light spray. Cook just like a regular pancake.
You can add fresh fruit to them to sweeten them (or dark chocolate chips). I ate mine just as is and enjoyed them!
It's a great addition to our morning breakfast ideas!