Apple Pie Oatmeal

Apple pie oatmeal is such a quick, easy, filling, and delicious breakfast that it's hard not to love! It's especially good in the fall when you see all kinds of sweet apple treats everywhere!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup of uncooked oats

3/4 cup of green apple chopped (or whatever kind of apple you like)

2/3 cup of water

pure maple syrup

chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Add the water to the oatmeal and microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds. 

2. Add apples and sprinkle with handful of nuts

3. Drizzle with pure maple syrup

Coconut Lime Chicken

I was on the hunt for a new dinner recipe. If you know me, my go-to dinner staple is chicken. I couldn't come up with anything new and exciting so I decided to go searching my favorite place, PINTEREST and I found this Coconut Lime Chicken Recipe that looked great.  I love coconut and anything that has a fiesta kick to it!  It is by Sarah Nevins from A Saucy Kitchen.  She has some great recipes so check out her site.

So let me know what you think!  I hope your family loves it as much as I do.

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, about 1 1/2 pounds
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepepr

1 tbsp. coconut oil

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1 chopped red chili (optional)

1 cup organic chicken stock

2 tbsp. lime juice (about 1 large lime)

1 tbsp. chopped cilantro

1/2 tsp. red chili flakes

1/2 cup of full fat coconut milk from a can or coconut cream

1 tbsp. arrow root (for paleo) or corn starch mixed into 1 tbsp. water. (optional)

Directions:

• Place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound them down to make them an even thickness.  This will help the chicken cook evenly and make it more tender.  Sprinkle each side of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Melt the coconut oil in a large skillet over a medium high heat on the stove.  Add the chicken breasts and cook each side for 5-7 minutes or until browned on each side.  Remove the chicken from a skillet and set aside on a plate. The chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked  yet because you will be returning it to the heat in a few.
• Add the chopped onion to the same skillet and saute for a few minutes to soften.  Add the chili pepper if you are using it.  I personally did not use it.  I don’t love spicy foods and I really didn’t think my kids would like it either.
• Saute another couple of minutes.  Add the chicken stock, lime juice, cilantro and chili flakes.  Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce down to a simmer.  Let simmer for about 5 minutes to let reduce down.  Add the coconut milk and bring to simmer again for another 5 minutes.  Add the starch and water at this time if you are using it.  You  may need to raise the heat a little to bring this to a boil to activate the starch.  Once the sauce thickens you can take it back down to simmer.
• Add the chicken back to the skillet, cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked the whole way through.
• Serve with rice or cauliflower rice and put the sauce on top.
• Add a little extra sprinkle of cilantro to the top!

ENJOY!

Zucchini Chips

Today I'm going to share about zucchini chips, yes you read that right..zucchini. I'm going to be honest, a lot of people love kale chips but I HATE kale. I just can't stand it. I found the zucchini chip recipe in my Fixate cookbook, and I decided to try that since I hate the idea of Kale chips so much. I was pleasantly surprised! 

Ingredients:
- 2 large zucchini very thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees F
2. Place zucchini slices in one layer between the paper towels to help draw out the liquid
3. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper
4. Put the zucchini slices onto the parchment paper
5. Brush zucchini with oil and sprinkle with sea salt
6. Bake for 2 hours, or until brown and crispy

I would love to hear what you think about these! 

Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

I'm going to be honest right now...I used to hate all things pumpkin. I wouldn't eat anything pumpkin flavored at all! It wasn't because I didn't like the taste because I honestly hadn't tried anything pumpkin. I think it was because when I thought of pumpkin I thought of carving them for Halloween. Ha! One day, I finally tried a pumpkin dessert somebody brought into work one day, and I LOVED it! I tried it before I knew it was pumpkin, so I accidentally found out I liked pumpkin. Anyway, now that I'm not a pumpkin hater anymore I have discovered a couple new recipes I like. This is my favorite breakfast one!

Ingredients:
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup oats
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients and mix together until smooth
2. Cook on a skillet just like you would normal pancakes, with medium heat. These pancakes take a little longer to cook than normal pancakes, so don't panic if you get worried that you messed something up! It's suppose to take a little longer :)
3. Top your serving with syrup and enjoy! I like to buy pure, natural maple syrup. It has WAY less ingredients than other brands of syrup. Just make sure you read the labels so you know what you're putting into your body

Shakeology Mug Cake

Pinterest for the win again!! My sweet tooth is very happy with this yummy find! Do you ever find yourself looking in the pantry for anything sweet? Like you'd be happy with anything..cookies, doughnuts, cupcakes, and maybe even a few marshmallows! I'm guilty! This is a quick little treat to satisfy that sweet tooth before you're head first into your pantry!

Ingredients:

- 1/4 tsp. baking powder

- 1 scoop of Chocolate Shakeology

- 1 tsp. of Stevia or Truvia

- 1 egg

- 3 tbs. of water or milk

Mix together and microwave for 90 seconds! Delicious dessert for one is now ready! Yum! You can also add peanut butter or cocoa if you'd like. If you add peanut butter, just add a dollop in the center and push it down a bit. Enjoy! 

Healthy Chicken & Fries

Chicken and fries...a meal loved by many. Unfortunately, the typical chicken and fries meal is loaded with grease and high in calories. I found a recipe on Pinterest that I am liking. Instead of frying the chicken in a bunch of grease, you will bake them instead. It's such a healthier alternative!

Ingredients:

- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

- 1/4 tsp. thyme

- 1/4 tsp. parsley

- 1/4 tsp. paprika

- 1/4 tsp. salt

- 1/8 tsp. pepper

- 1 and 1/2 lb. chicken tenders

- 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. In a bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, thyme, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper and stir until mixed well. Set aside. 

3. Pour 1/4 cup olive oil into a separate bowl

4. Dip the chicken in the olive oil and then into the dry ingredients making sure both sides are coated. Place on baking sheet.

5. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping once. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if you want and serve warm. Chicken internal temperature should be 165 degrees F.

For the homemade fries I cut up sweet potatoes length wise into steak fry strips. Then, put in a large Ziploc bag. Add Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Season Salt. Shake with bag closed then lay then out onto a baking sheet and cook until they're crisp or for about 25 minutes. 

*I don't measure my olive oil or seasoning here. I just make sure I have enough in there to evenly coat all the fry strips without totally drenching them in olive oil. 

I hope your family enjoys this tasty meal!

Quinoa Protein Bars

I don't know about you, but I am always wanting to snack on something. Even if I just finish eating, you can count on me to be hunting a snack not long afterwards. Unfortunately this happens all the time. This yummy snack is easy to make, and it makes a lot too! That means I can make a batch and have several handy for when I'm wanting that sweet snack. Much better alternative than grabbing one of those chocolate-creme filled cupcakes from the pantry.

Ingredients:

- 2 cups of cooked quinoa

- 1/2 cup of natural peanut butter

- 3 tbsp. of honey (I like to use local honey)

- 1/4 tsp. sea salt

- 3/4 cup rolled oats

- 1 banana, mashed

- 1 egg

- 1/2 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut

- 1/2 cup unsweetened chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Mix the first 4 ingredients together very well: quinoa, peanut butter, honey, and sea salt

2. Add everything else to the mixture and mix well

3. Spread out on parchment paper lined pan

4.Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes

Warning: you're going to want to make these all the time now! :) 

Egg Breakfast Sandwich

Here's a super quick and easy breakfast idea for you! This one is perfect for those mornings you have a little time to fix something, but want to feel like you had time to go all out. 

Ingredients:

- 1 large egg

- 2 large eggs, egg whites only

- 1 tbsp low-fat milk (I have to use almond milk and it works fine)

- Cooking spray

- 2 tbsp. roasted red bell pepper, chopped

- 2 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped

- Black pepper, amount to your preference (optional)

- 1 whole wheat English muffin, split & toasted

- 1 slice of mozzarella cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. In a bowl whisk together the egg, egg whites, and milk

2. After you spray your skillet with the cooking spray, add the eggs and stir occasionally for 2-3 minutes (medium-low heat)

3. Add roasted red pepper and basil. Season with the black pepper if you want. Cook for another 1-2 minutes

4. Put the egg mix onto your toasted muffin, and add the cheese now if you decided to add cheese. Top with the other muffin half.

Let me know what you think! I love making this for those morning when I have time to cook breakfast, but I don't really feel like it. Super simple, quick, and easy. It also easily follows the 21 day fix meal plan too. Enjoy!

Blender Blueberry Muffins

A home cooked breakfast is probably one of my favorite meals. There's just something about a fresh cup of coffee, the calm morning, and the smells of breakfast cooking that I just can't get enough of! One breakfast food I really enjoy is blueberry muffins. Thanks to Beachbody I found a healthy alternative to the typical blueberry muffin mix packs I use to buy! AND they aren't time consuming to make, so it's a win-win if you ask me! This recipe makes 12 muffins.

Ingredients:

- Nonstick cooking spray

- 1 cup of reduced fat plain Greek yogurt (2%)

- 3 tbsp. raw honey (I love using my local honey)

- 2 large ripe bananas, cut into chunks

- 2 large eggs

- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

- 1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder

- 1/2 tsp. baking soda

- 1/2 tsp. sea salt

- 2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries

- 2/3 cup of chopped walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds (I prefer almonds)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Line your muffin pan with muffin liners or coat with your cooking spray. I like to use the liners just to make my clean-up a little simplier

3. Put yogurt, honey, bananas, eggs, vanilla extract, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in blender. Blend until smooth. You may have to scrape the sides one or two times just to make sure everything gets blended together well.

4. Fold in blueberries and nuts

5. Evenly pour your mix into your muffin cups

6. Bake 20-25 minutes. My oven has a mind of its own, so I start testing them around 18 minutes just so I don't burn them. If your tester comes out clean, they're done

Once they cool you're good to go! 

Now this recipe will make about 12 muffins, and I'm going to assume you will have some left over. You can freeze any leftovers which also makes this recipe something great to make ahead of time to have as an easy on the go treat. You can put them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to have ready to eat right then, or pack them in your lunch box and they'll be thawed out by the time you eat them. If you follow the 21 day fix portion control containers, one muffin counts as 1/2 purple, 1 yellow, and 1/2 blue.

Clean Slowcooker Chili

I love slow cooker meals! There so simple it's honestly impossible NOT to love them, in my opinion! During the school year when life gets very busy, slow cooker meals become my go-to. They're great for those night when nobody feels like cooking and you're tempted to order pizza.

Ingredients:

- 1 lb. ground turkey

- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes (if you buy this canned try to get organic)

- 8 oz. whole kernal corn, canned

- 1/2 onion, diced

- 2 cloves of garlic

- 8 oz. can of black beans

- 8 oz. can of pinto, chili, or kidney beans (your preference)

- 1 tbsp. tomato paste

- 1 package of Lawry's chili seasoning

- Low-fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional...I skip on the cheese but only because of my dairy allergy)

Directions:

1. Brown turkey. Drain and discard any fat.

2. Put all the ingredients except for the cheese into your slow cooker.

3. Cook for 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.

4. If adding cheese, top with cheese when serving

Enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Wrap

During school, this was one of my go-to lunches! It was so easy to make real quick when school activities make you feel like you're being pulled 100 different directions.

Ingredients:

- 1 whole wheat tortilla

- Hummus (my favorite kind is the roasted red pepper, but any you like will work)

- Grilled chicken cut to your preference, I prefer very fine slices 

- Lettuce

-Tomato

-Feta cheese (optional, I can't have cheese so I skip this but I know it would be great on here)

Directions:

1. Spread the hummus on the tortilla.

2. After you cut the chicken how you want it, put it in the wrap

3. Add your lettuce, tomato, and feta cheese on top of the chicken. If you have any other veggies you want to add, feel free!

4.I wrap mine up and pack it in my lunch box the next day! 

I usually try to eat this with some fruit since I cover the other food groups all in one wrap. This wrap is so simple and delicious you're going to end up making it all the time! Don't say I didn't warn you! ;)

Apple Crisp Yogurt Treat

I love a nice warm apple crisp! Especially with a BIG scoop of ice cream! Oh man! Apple crisps are a staple at fall gatherings, but do you even realize how much sugar is in those things?!? No wonder they taste so good! It's shocking honestly! This little creation is a simple way to have your apple crisp without all that added sugar.

Ingredients:

- 1 honey crisp apple (my favorite) cut into bite-size chunks 

- 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips

- 1 cup of plain greek yogurt

- 1 tsp of peanut butter

- sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

Mix & Enjoy! I'm telling y'all, if it's complicated I won't make it! Simple and yummy is my go-to method!

Clean Eating Cookie Dough Yogurt

I have a serious sweet tooth. I use to think I was more of a salty kind of girl, but nope! I want all sweet things! I guess that's what this pregnancy is doing to me. I read somewhere that if you're having a girl you crave sweet. At this point I would have to agree with that. 

Since I have been craving so many sweet lately, I have been on the hunt for healthier options. This clean eating cookie dough yogurt recipe is wonderful! It definitely satisfies my sweet tooth!

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt

- 1 tbsp nut butter

- 1/4 tsp vanilla

- a pinch of sea salt

- 1 tbsp of mini chocolate chips

Directions:

Here's the easy part! Just mix it all together and top with the chocolate chips! A sweet and simple treat makes this pregnant girl happy! :) 

Clean Eating Chicken

Oh man, one of my go-to things to eat is chicken! It's also one of my favorite things to cook because it's so east and literally can go with almost anything! Besides chicken, I am also all about a simple recipe. If a recipe is complicated, you can count me out. Here's a simple recipe that I have found that is great! This is a clean version of chicken parmesan. I have a dairy-allergy, so I like to buy dairy free parmesean cheese to use with mine!

Ingredients:

- 2 pounds of boneless and skinless chicken breasts

- 1/4 cup of bread crumbs (gluten free or just regular panko crumbs)

- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese (the fresher the better and grated!)

- 2 egg whites

- 1/4 tsp sea salt

- 1/8 tsp black pepper

- 1/8 tsp lemon pepper

- 1/8 tsp oregano

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Break open eggs into a separate dish and scramble well

3. In a mixing bowl, combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, sea salt, black pepper, lemon pepper, and oregano

4. Dip each side of chicken breast into the egg and then into the bread crumb mixture

5. Place in a large baking dish

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have! 

Summer Cookouts: Turkey Burgers

It's officially summertime, and you know what that means! Cookouts, picnics, family gatherings, pool time, vacation, and more! Yes all of that is fun and wonder, but that also tends to be when we fall off the wagon with our nutrition.

Whenever my family gets together we usually have a cookout. We have the usual summer meal: hamburgers and hotdogs. Traditional hamburgers are chocked full of saturated fat, calories and cholesterol but they taste soo good! That’s because fat creates flavor and the more flavor the more rib stickin it gets.  But there is a way to preserve flavor and keep it clean!! 

So, now you may be wondering how in the world do I make a hamburger fit into my clean eating routine??

Here's how:

You need to start with lean ground turkey, fresh is best!
Chop 1 onion and fold into your turkey meat
I like to add onion salt (not required)
Garlic
Chopped parsley
Salt & pepper
I also like to add hamburger seasoning to give it a little more flavor
Form into patties and you're ready to grill!
We cook them until the juices run clear

Each burger s eaten on a whole grain bun with any veggie topping you want such as: lettuce, red onion, pickles, and tomatoes. I prefer mustard on mine and my husband prefers all natural ketchup. 

Now you're ready to handle this summer without a problem!

SHAKEOLOGY

What is IN Shakeology?

I owe A HUGE PART of my success to this amazing product.  

I cannot even express how THANKFUL I am that this bag of superfoods was created!

Shakeology has been the absolute game-changer in my life over the last year -- and I will NEVER stop drinking it for as long as I live!

It has....

-given me more energy

-curbed my cravings for sweets

-become my daily multivitamin (which I honestly wasn't taking regularly before)

-become my healthiest and yummiest meal of the day

-saved me tons of money in groceries that I no longer need

-it has allowed me to have a better quality of life because I feel SO much BETTER!

Who do I love Shakeology so much and say I'll never stop drinking it?

Whenever I tell someone that I am drinking Shakeology daily one out of two things usually happens: 1. They make a face at me and look at me like I'm crazy or 2. They begin going on about hos expensive Shakeology is. I can almost guarantee it because it happens almost every single time. I truly believe that I own most of my success to my Shakeology. Nutrition plays a huge part in becoming healthy, even more than working out! Before I started drinking Shakeology, my nutrition was junk. I was grabbing prepackaged "snacks" and eating those for my breakfast, and then I was starving again a couple hours later. WELL NO WONDER!

I never realized how much junk I was actually putting into my body. Since I've started drinking Shakeology I have become more aware of the ingredients in what I eat. I try to pay close attention and give my body what it needs and less of the things that will slow it down. I drink my Shakeology every single morning as my breakfast. By doing that, I was already starting my days off better because I was starting with a healthy choice full of goodies that our bodies need daily. I was also able to stop taking my daily multivitamin (lets be honest, I wasn't taking it regularly anyway) and stop taking probiotics. 

Without going into the details completely, let's say that my body was completely irregular. I would eat something and it would agree with my tummy one day and completely disagree with it the next. I started taking probiotics to help calm my tummy down and keeps things regular, if you know what I mean :) Shakeology has natural probiotics in its ingredients, so I was able to stop taking my probiotic completely. I haven't had any problems since! 

It's been pretty nice to think that I am giving my body everything it needs daily, but that it also taste like a chocolate milkshake! 

I encourage everybody reading this to take your body seriously. You are only given 1, and you can't go without it. Take the time to learn what your body needs and how it works. If you're good to your body, it'll be good back to you! :)

What is Shakeology?

Shakeology is a nutrition packed whole food meal and/or snack replacement shake. It is a protein shake that contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in the amounts you need and in their purest form that no other drink can offer.  Whether you want to shed some pounds, or just want to ensure you are fueling your body with proper nutrients, Shakeology makes it simple and easy!

What’s in Shakeology?

Shakeology is loaded with 70 pure ingredients to give you amazing nutrition in just one glass.  The better thing to say would be what’s NOT in Shakeology.  There are NO sugars, NO additives and NO chemicals! These ingredients are in their whole, pure form giving you optimal health benefits!

Protein helps build and repair lean muscle and is also the building blocks of bones, blood, skin and cartilage. It supports brain function, aids in weight loss and reduces cravings.  Protein also has been proven to improve the appearance of skin, hair and nails, and improve mood.

Antioxidants increase the immune system to help lower damage by free radicals that can lead to heart disease, poor blood pressure, stroke and poor brain health.

Phytonutrients help balance the body by promoting detoxification of organs such as the liver, kidneys and blood. They help prevent disease and keep your body working properly and in balance.

Adaptogen Herbs support the immune system, help protect the body from stress, and help increase energy.

Prebiotics and Probiotics improve digestion and promote regularity.

Digestive Enzymes help the body break down food and increase the absorption of nutrients.

Vitamins and Minerals help sustain health and balance in the body.

Is Shakeology Safe While Pregnant?
(made by two other Beachbody coaches!)

What can Shakeology do for YOU?

How can Shakeology help you?

When replacing one meal a day with Shakeology you can lose weight, reduce cravings and improve your energy.  It can improve your healthy by lowering cholesterol, and reducing the risk of heart disease when drank everyday in line with a nutritious diet and regular exercise.  It can also help save money.  The cost of Shakeology is cheaper than eating out at many restaurants and fast food places. This is a full meal for $4!!! And has way more nutritional value than any other possible meal you could purchase! Once your cravings cut down you are sure to save at the grocery store and even the drug store!  The taste is amazing and the dose of nutrition that you get on a daily basis is AMAZING!

For recipes, more information, and to try out 

Shakeology yourself, visit my Shakeology Website