Product of the Week

These are like a treat, but healthy! I really was surprised how much I liked them because they are "crunchy" and not chewy which I usually prefer. But they aren't really that hard compared to other granola bars I have had that aren't chewy.

The serving size is two bar for only 180 calories, 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

Perfect snack or an addition to a breakfast or lunch. It is a good option for someone craving chocolate too!

Check them out!

Squat Challenge

Sometimes you fall off the wagon and sometimes you fall WAY off. I don’t recognize myself lately and it’s not a good feeling. I needed to do something about it and waiting for “the new year” wasn’t going to work for me.

Trust me when I say that my last post “Feel Good Food” is a real thing and I need to keep reminding myself of that. What you put into your body really does change you in one way or another.

Yesterday I started a one week challenge with five other ladies doing squats. You have to start somewhere and this is where I am starting to get back on track. It helps to have other motivating you too. Additional to that I am really concentrating on water intake this week in order to get rid of bloat, to feel more awake and energized and to keep me full so I don’t over eat. I kept it pretty light yesterday with food for the first day and was really hungry at night so made some healthy quinoa porridge to fill me up. I also did some grocery shopping for the week to make better decisions.

Squat Challenge Day 1:

 

Ø  12:30am – 25 squats

Ø  6:30am – 25 squats

Ø  10:30am – 25 squats

Total: 75 squats

 

My goal for the 7 days is to complete 1,000 squats! It’s a good goal and doable if I push myself. I wasn’t feeling too great last night so I didn’t do any so that is why yesterday’s number is lower than I wanted. But today, I will do better.

Whose's with me?

 

 

Feel Good Food

This is always something “people” say. People say a lot of things and you can’t always believe it all, but this you can. There have been times I totally blew that little saying “feel good food” off and thought it’s all BS. Then I would continue to eat whatever crappy food I was eating and the end result was not great.  Ding! Ding! Ding! There’s a reason why. Feel good food is a real thing. There’s so much truth in it. Eating that type of food DOES make you feel good, more energized, awake, less bloated and happier. I’ve experienced it a million times over. I eat bad food and feel depressed, fat and blah. I eat good food and feel good about myself and more alive.  I do more and accomplish more when I have whole grains, healthy fats and food in my body. When I eat bad I become lazy and sad.

Granted, I can treat myself to something “bad” and still feel good too, but it’s more so when the “bad” food consumes you and your entire day that you feel different.  One meal, one snack or something won’t make you feel crappy, it’s when over indulging happens and a whole day of bad choices go by. I personally like to enjoy food, good and bad but moderation is key.

Today I started my day with a big superfood, shakeology and packed a healthy protein filled lunch to fill me up until dinner tonight which is a healthy pizza option. Still gotta have my pizza! J Finding healthy alternatives to your favorite foods helps me a lot. I still have regular pizza on occasion of course but I like to have pizza quite often so having . A plan is good to have for the day or week because this will prevent eating out, bad choices and binge eating which we are all guilty of. Not everyone has time to work out or even cook so prep and a plan helps the week go more smooth.

 

 

Good vibes,

 

Jenn

Product of the Week

 

 

Hey everyone!  My beachbody friends on Facebook always talk about different extracts to add to their Shakeology like coconut, mint, almond, carmel.  Some of these are hard to find, but the Watkins line of extracts can be found at most Walmarts.  It is also sold on Amazon but it's about double the cost then Walmart which is about $3.00.  This is found in the baking aisle. Check it out when you are out and about next time.

 

I first added some to my coffee and loved it, now I also add it to my latte Shakeology. It would be a great addition to some homemade cookies instead of using vanilla too. I also heard the mint extract is great in chocolate shakes. I want to get the coconut one in the summer for that tropical feel to my drink.

 

Try it and enjoy!



Quinoa Cakes

 

You know me and quinoa, I love it and it's a great source of protein and a healthy food that fills you up. I ate these for dinner last week and really enjoyed them.

 

The recipe calls for:

 

2 cups quinoa, cooked

2/3 cup fontina cheese, grated

3 tbs flour

1 egg

2 tbs olive oil

2-3 chives

salt & pepper to taste

 

-- Add the olive oil to a pan and heat on medium.

-- Mix the remaining ingredients. Form patties, I used a 1/4 cup measuring cup.

-- Add the patties to the heated pan. Cook on each side for about 5 minutes.

 

I made an aioli to dip them in which came out great and paired well with the patties. I used minced garlic, a little mayo (light if you have it), a couple drops of lemon juice and a chipotle spice we had on hand. You can use any spice you prefer and can also substitute a different cheese if you wanted.

 

 

Enjoy!



Chipotle Sweet Potato Chili

 

 

The recipe calls for:

 

3 sweet potatoes



4 cups chicken broth
1 lb ground meat
1 tbs olive oil
14 oz can diced tomatoes (drained)
1 cup onion, chopped
2 cups cauliflower, chopped
1 tbs garlic, chopped
2 chipotles in adobo, chopped
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprike
salt & pepper to taste

-- Chop and peel the potatoes. Microwave the potatoes with 1 tbs of water for 90 seconds.
-- Cook the ground meat in a pan.
-- Add all ingredients to the crock pot and stir. Cook for 3-4 hours on high.

The picture is showing without any toppings so you can see the main ingredients and what it looks like.  I will admit it doesn't look as good as it tastes, but when I added my toppings and mixed them all up it was the perfect combination.

The toppings I choose were cheddar cheese, cilantro, light sour cream and a few multi-gran quinoa chips broken into pieces. You can use any toppings you like, but the ones I picked really went well together. It is a spicy chili so the little bit of sour cream mixed in really was a good touch and the crunch of the chips added something special as well.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

+

+

=

Delicious Hot Chocolate!

It is that time of year for a nice cup of hot chocolate or coffee at night time as a treat. Here is what I whipped up last night. It was so good!

-- Add 1 tbs of PB 2, 1 tbs of cocoa and unsweetened coconut milk (or almond) to a pot on the stove.

-- Whisk the ingredients together as it heats.

-- Heat until warm or hot, whatever you prefer. Approximately 5-10 minutes.

ENJOY!

Success!

 

Well, day 2 of the group I have completed what I needed. I feel even more motivated now. Yesterday's workout was AWESOME. Country Heat is better than I thought it would be and a true workout. I sweat just as much as I do with any other workouts. I felt like I really accomplished something and felt good about that and myself. Parker joined in a little here and there, he loved the music and had to put his cowboy boots on for it. Too cute!

 

This program I prefer over Cize which is surprising to me because my dream for many years growing up was to be a hip hop dancer so you would think Cize would be my absolute favorite. Cize is very fun, but it's 15 minutes longer than Country Heat and that 15 minutes is a long time with you have a toddler hanging on your leg or wanting something or bored or thirsty, etc. Cize also repeats a lot throughout the workout. When a new move is introduced, you practice it and then you have to start the routine over and put it all together and this continues to the end with the last move. Country Heat has about 20 or so different moves just like Cize but once you do one or two, you move onto other moves and don't have to repeat the previous ones. I am new to country music, my son likes it. Usually I would say I would prefer hip hop, but that has now changed. Country music really is so fun! The music really kept me interested and excited. Country Heat is something I could see myself doing daily so it was well worth the purchase. Can't wait to do a different routine after work!

 

After a CRAZY day at work, a hardcore workout, making a healthy dinner for the family, prepping my sons lunch for the next day, hanging a stuffed animal hammock and other stuff around the house...

 

I DESERVED THIS! :)

 

Simple, quick and delicious!

 

apple slices

vanilla almond butter

mini chocolate chips

 

 

So good! This or something similar to it will become one of my new favorite snacks.

 



Just checking in...

How's everyone doing this week so far? It's only Tuesday, but we have to make the best of each day we are given. My plan after work is to try the Country Heat Beachbody workout dvd with my son. I think he will enjoy it. I hope at least so it will be easier for me to get a workout in while he's still awake. Once 8pm bedtime comes around I am so tired and it's harder for me to workout at that time. After I get him from school, I will prep the turkey meatloaf I am making for dinner and while it's in the oven dance to some good ole country music. :)

Yesterday started a new Beachbody group with my coach Valerie. I haven't been in a group for a couple months. It was so important to join the October group. The timing couldn't be more perfect. I need this now more than ever. I have done good in some of the past groups and I plan to have another one just like those. With the holidays coming up, I want to enjoy them without the stressing of "dieting". This isn't a diet which is what is great about it. It's a lifestyle and with that lifestyle I always feel better and look better. The people in the group are all so motivating and inspiring that it makes every day a little easier. Getting into a regular routine again will help me feel good, be happier and feel less guilty when I want to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and all the Christmas festivities.

My grocery shopping over the weekend was a good start to getting on track and ready for the next 28 days with the group. I didn't get a workout in or drink shakeology on day 1 but day 2 is different. First thing this morning after I showered I blended up my latte shakeology.  Here are the ingredients:

1 scoop latte shakeology
1 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 frozen banana
1 tbs vanilla protein powder

YUM! I am ready for what today brings. Love my superfood shake!

Water, water, water...I usually thrive at this but lately with being so busy at work and LIFE that this has been slacking. Some days an entire day at work can go by and I have only drank coffee, not okay! Today, I will be back on track with this as well. Skipped my regular coffee order this morning since I made latte shakeo and I am working on water bottle number one now. I see a jug challenge in my future this week!

I brought leftovers from a healthy dinner over the weekend for lunch today, Lasagna Stuffed Peppers. Click the link to check out the recipe! It's a winner.

That's all I have for now. More recipes to come!


good vibes,

Jenn

Product of the Week

Limited time only! Perfect for all those basic bitches like myself. I also tried the Cheerios, but this I like much better. Cheerios pumpkin spice was a very strong fragrant taste, this is more subtle. It's the perfect amount of fall flavor and great for a quick breakfast.

Check out your local grocery stores while it lasts. Before you know it there will be Christmas everything in the stores, which I am not complaining about. Haha.

Flo's Chicken & Spaghetti

This is such a nostalgic dish for me. I haven't eaten this for MANY years and I have never cooked it before myself. It's a meal my grandma would make a lot. I always remember as a child, the chicken and sauce simmering in a pan, it would smell up her house and we would always have this meal with buttered bread. My grandpa loved buttered bread. I would often have dinner there or breakfast before school depending on my parents work schedule. They were such great times and I cherish them.

My mother gave me the most information on the recipe she could remember and it's not many ingredients, but the flavor is there. It's a simple dish, but so good. The chicken cooking in the sauce brings this significant taste I remember from many years ago. The recipe may not be exact but the moment I tasted the sauce on the spoon while cooking, I knew my grandma was there helping me make this meal.

The recipe calls for:

chicken thighs or breasts (I used breasts, but my grandma used thighs)
1 large can of tomato sauce
1 small can of tomato paste
variety spices: garlic powder, oregano, chicken seasoning
salt/pepper
1 tbs olive oil
whole grain spaghetti (My grandma would use regular spaghetti)

-- Heat the olive oil in a large pot/pan. Once heated, add the chicken. Add salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder and chicken seasonings to both sides of the chicken and cook the chicken.
-- Add the tomato sauce and paste to the pot/pan. Let this simmer for an hour.
-- Cook the pasta and add it to the pot/pan once the hour of simmering is finished. Stir and serve.

Enjoy this special recipe!

PB&J Sushi

 

I am a huge sushi lover, but this isn't something I am afford very often because it is a bit pricey.  I love the whole experience of sushi - eating with chop sticks, trying different kinds of rolls, exploring different places and savoring each bite.

Well peanut butter and jelly sushi isn't the perfect substitute but it's still delicious and it's a fun spin on the normal sandwich. This is a creative way to switch up your lunch box as well as your kids.

When I used the chop sticks eating this yesterday for lunch I tended to eat slower than when I have a sandwich. That's a plus because it's not good to eat your meals quickly and in a rush. Doing so doesn't give your stomach enough time to get full and this can cause over eating.

Hmmmm...what else can I turn into sushi? ;-)

Honey Garlic Shrimp

 

The recipe calls for:

 

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

1 tbs garlic, minced

1 lb shrimp, uncooked, peeled & deveined

2 tsp olive oil

red pepper flakes

 

 

-- Combine the honey, soy sauce and garlic in a large baggie. Add the shrimp and mix it up so it is covered with the marinade. Let sit for however long you want/can. For me, I whipped this up quickly without much prep so it didn't marinate long, but you can marinate it during the day before dinner so more flavor is absorbed.

-- Heat olive oil in a pan on medium. Once heated, add the shrimp. Heat the shrimp until they are fully cooked through, make sure to mix it a little or flip the shrimp. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on the shrimp while it's cooking.

 

I didn't get to go grocery shopping this weekend because I was away but next time I would add some sort of veggies. I think broccoli or edamame would go great with this. This time I just cooked a little quinoa and poured the shrimp over it.  7 pieces of shrimp was only 80 calories so I had 14 pieces.

 

This recipe takes only 10 minutes for prep and cooking. Can't beat that!

 

Enjoy!

Monday Motivation

After an amazing fall weekend away and a couple months of major slacking compared to how I was prior to vacation...it's time to get back into the full swing of things.

No one can nor has to eat extremely healthy every meal of every day. It's a balancing act. I firmly believe that. For the most part when I'm on track I can balance this very well. The one part I seem to lack when it comes to the daily grind of it all is the exercise. I know I can do it. I have, a million times over. There was a time in my life I went to the gym every day and loved it. I don't have time, the money or the babysitter to do this now though so adjustments need to be made to still get what I need daily within my means.

I have the discipline, the desire and the motivation. In the summer I worked out 21 straight days in a row. This is something I have never done before in my life and I did this at my heaviest weight. I don't believe it's necessary to do it without any rest days or breaks but proving to myself I can made me proud.

Next week I start a group with my beach body coach, so this week I am preparing for that. I want to get into the groove of it all again which includes protein shakes/shakeology, working out, drinking enough water, food prep/meal planning and healthy grocery shopping.

I got a free 3 day pass to the gym by my work and I will be going there today through Wednesday. This is jump start my motivation for exercise. I made a protein shake for my breakfast today. I will concentrate on my water intake and make a point to drink even when I am busy at work. The next few dinners are planned for my family. I am ready!

I figured I would do a variety of exercises this week. The gym during my lunch break is one, some lifting at home and walking with Parker after school since it should be nice outside. I will be getting a new beach body workout dvd in the mail later this week called Country Heat. I like to have a good variety of workout dvds so I don't get bored and a plus is Parker should like this one since he loves dancing and country music. It can sometimes be hard being home with him and trying to get a good workout in. He loves to be on top of me, such a mama's boy, which I am not complaining about. This dvd should keep us both moving while also having fun.

Time to fall back in love with myself because I deserve to. Whose with me?

Keep a look out for some healthy recipes...


good vibes,

Jenn

Salsa Chicken Quinoa Casserole

I am starting to finally use my crock pot more. My goal is once a week. It really makes for an easy after work meal with no stress and rushing around. I walk in the house after getting my son at school and it smells amazing, all my worries about what's for dinner are gone and I can concentrate on quality family time. 

This healthy recipe didn't disappoint. I look forward to eating leftovers for lunch today. :)

The recipe calls for:

3 chicken breasts

8 oz quinoa

2 cups salsa

1 can black beans

1 can corn

2 cups water

8 ounces shredded Mexican cheese blend

1 can green chiles

5 ounces queso fresco

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Optional toppings:

avocado, tomatoes, greek yogurt, olives, extra salsa or cheese

In my opinion next time I think I will skip the queso inside the crockpot and only have my husband use it as a topping. There's so many other flavors that to me it was just added calories to the mixture. 

-- Put the chicken in the crock pot. I used frozen chicken because it was easier but you can use thawed.

-- Rinse and drain the beans and drain the corn. Keep the liquid from the green chiles. 

-- Add all ingredients to the crock pot except water and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Once all other ingredients are added, top the mixture with the water and remainder of the cheese. You can also use chicke broth instead of water. 

-- Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 

-- Serve with toppings of your choice. 

Lasagna Stuffed Peppers

Lasagna with no pasta, super low carb! It's a simple recipe and delicious. The peppers bring a great taste to the dish. I will definitely be making this again. 

The recipe calls for:

4 large peppers (we used red)

2 1/2 cups marinara sauce

ground meat

1 cup part skim ricotta cheese

1 cup part skin mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup parmasean cheese

italian seasoning 

-- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and put foil on a baking pan. 

-- Slice the peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds, etc. Place them on the baking dish and cook for 20 minutes. 

-- Cook and brown up the meat in a pan. We used lean ground turkey. Add the sauce to the pan once the meat is fully cooked. 

-- Layer the peppers with the meat/sauce mixture, then ricotta, more meat sauce and top with mozzarella cheese. 

-- Bake on the middle rack for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and top with parmasean cheese and italian seasoning. 

-- Bake for 5 more minutes on the top rack. 

Pancake Muffins

I posted a picture of the pancake muffins I made on the Passion N Beauty Facebook page and someone wanted the recipe so I thought I would share.

The recipe calls for:

pancake mix (I used Kodiak Cakes which is an all natural brand that has different kinds. This one was whole wheat, oat and honey)

water, amount as directed on pancake mix 

1 egg

vanilla

cinnamon

mini dark chocolate chips (optional)

-- Mix all the ingredients and bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Simple! Delicious! And most importantly for me toddler approved! :) This is perfect for moms on the go, quick to make and great to have a snack on the go. 

Good vibes,

Jenn

Energy Bites!

Super easy recipe!

- 2 cups oats

- 1/4 cup honey

- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter

- 2 ripes bananas

- mini dark chocolate chips 

- cinnamon

I just winged it with the chocolate chips and cinnamon, amount wise. 

Mix all together, roll into balls and refrigerate for 2 hours. Although I tasted it right out of the bowl and it was amazing!

I feel good...dananananana

Lately I've been realizing how I'm becoming more of who I want to be. An example, feeling good about myself, happier, content, enjoying more, wanting to do and be more. It's really a great feeling. 

Here are some highlights from the past few months, healthy living & bettering me. 

Challenge Yourself

My best friend is running a series of work out challenges to get your body summer ready. The first one was all about the lower body and consisted of squats, squats and more squats. I did a total of 2,405 squats in 29 days. That challenge made me a lover of squats. I truly didn't think this was possible, but it happened! I now do them every day, multiple times a day and with ease. I not only feel a difference but I actually see a difference. My legs and butt have definitely transformed into something I am proud of and all it took was a month. Can't beat results like that! I will still work my glutes and quads but I am happy with what I accomplished in the challenge. 

Today started the second challenge which is all about abs. I'm excited! We have such a great group of motivational supportive women. I am glad this one has begun! There are rest days and the first one is on Saturday. I will rest my abs like I need to but I still wanted to challenge myself in some way. I have decided to do a water challenge.

1 gallon of water drank in one day!

Goodbye toxins!

Who wants in?

If you are interested in joining my friends challenge groups, they are all happening on Instagram. 

Follow: @barbells_babymonitors

Frozen Greek Yogurt

Three things!

1.) I LOVE ice cream. It's one food I could eat daily if it wasn't a million calories in each pint.

2.) I HATE wasting food. It's like throwing money in the garbage. And I am a penny pincher! 

3.) It's getting warmer out!!! 

Those three things inspired THIS:

Last night my son had a greek yogurt with his dinner. He liked it but ate all his pasta first so he was full and didn't finish the yogurt. I didn't want to throw out the rest and covering it with foil is pointless because it usually just ends up in the trash anyways. I've wanted to freeze greek yogurt for awhile now to enjoy like I would ice cream so what better time. 

I put the rest in two cupcake liners, topped with some dark chocolate chips because my "ice cream" flavors always need some sort of chocolate in them and put them in a baggie in the freezer. 

When we got home from school/work I took them out and they looked great! The liners came off fine and they smelled amazing, I used coconut yogurt. I let them sit in a bowl for a little so they weren't as hard. 

Perfect snack for me and my son. They are toddler approved! Can't wait to make different kinds as the weather gets warmer and warmer. My new ice cream substitute! Yum. 

I think I will get small containers for the freezer and make this in bigger batches. :)

21 Day Fix Approved Buffalo Pizza

The recipe calls for:

whole wheat pizza dough

2 chicken breasts

1 cup hot sauce 

chili powder

garlic powder 

oregano

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese

-- Heat oven to 400 degrees.

-- Season chicken with garlic powder  and chili powder. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes.

-- While the chicken is cooking, season the dough with some garlic powder and oregano. Add the sauce. 

-- When the chicken is done, cut into pieces and mix in hot sauce. Add the chicken to the pizza and top with cheese. 

-- Cook in the oven for about 8-10 more minutes. 

Feel free to add other toppings too like spinach or onion. The original recipe called for those two toppings but I didn't use them. 

Enjoy!

I Love Plating

Eating healthy isn't always expensive or difficult to make. I forgot to put out turkey burgers for dinner one day this week so I whipped this up real quick. Easy and delicious! 

Like the title says, I love plating food. It's like an art and matches well with my love of photography. Take pride in what you cook. Enjoy not just the food but the act of what you're making and the beauty of what you put on the plate for your family or yourself. I feel like I eat slower this way too. Cherishing every bite. Yum. 

Good vibes,

Jenn

Realization...

I am slowly realizing, it’s not all about the number on the scale.  I have always had that number define my entire day.  I am still one of those people who get on the scale every single morning and if I forget I get upset.  I am fully aware that the scale fluctuates, that not drinking enough water one day could affect it in a negative way or that you may just need to go to the bathroom.  But for some reason it has always made me either very happy or very sad.  Every.  Single.  Day.  For as long as I can remember that is what I did every morning.  Something I want to work on along with everything else I am working on is only getting on the scale once a week.  This will be a personal challenge of mine.  Doing something for years on end isn’t something easy to stop.  It’s a habit.  A bad habit though and one I will learn to break.

I have lost 11 pounds.  I want to lose more, gain more muscle and I have a ways to go but I won’t let that put down all I have done.  My mind, body and soul have truly changed and I know that means something.  That loss was SOMETHING.  I earned it.  I worked for it.  I am going to feel good about that instead of only concentrating on all the weight I have left to lose.

The number on the scale doesn’t change how I feel.  I need to tell myself that and keep on trucking along with my journey.  It’s been a great one.

This goes for sizes of clothes too.  If a shirt or pair of pants fit great on me, looked good, but were a certain size I couldn’t even purchase it.  My mother knows more than anybody that clothes shopping with me has never been fun.  I have always been insecure of my body even when there was no reason to be.  I don’t feel as insecure now than I used to.  That’s crazy to think about because now is when I weigh the most.  But again, that just shows that numbers don’t mean a thing.  It’s all about how you feel and loving yourself, however that may be. 

Now as a 30 year old woman I am realizing, “Why should I be insecure?” this is YOU.  Be proud of you.  You had a baby, you gained weight, you have stretch marks…who cares!  Just work on changing what you don’t like and be happy.  So that’s where I am at.  Being happy…

Whether it’s something as small as a number to negative people in your life, it’s all unnecessary.  Remove it!  It will be liberating.  Trust me.


Good vibes,

Jenn

Balance, Portions & Movement

It's near impossible to not treat yourself, go out to eat or have a piece of chocolate. Right?

It's all about balance. 

I used to have a cheat day. An entire day every week to eat whatever I wanted. That was my first mistake. It caused me to get off track, go overboard and in all honesty just feel like complete crap. I now let myself one cheat meal a week. Without this I know I would feel deprived and all of the above things would happen. Allowing myself one meal won't kill me, it won't ruin all my hard work the rest of the week or be terrible for me. The one meal could be a date night out, pizza night with my family or a day at a bbq. Even with having that one meal to cheat though doesn't mean I need to go crazy or even have to in order to enjoy what I am eating. So for example, last night was pizza night in my house. Instead of getting the typical pizzeria pizza we decided to get pizza to go at my husbands restaurant job. This pizza has less carbs because it's flat bread, they are smaller and I got the margarita pizza so less cheese/oil. I could've easily eaten the whole pie, like I said it wasn't very big. My husband finished his. Instead though I got a big side salad to fill me up. Got my vegetable portion in and ate less pizza. Win win! There isn't anything wrong with getting pizzeria pizza from time to time though. It's a must in most people's lives. It's delicious afterall. With that though I would again accompany it with a big salad and eat one slice but cut it into two so it feels like I'm eating more.

This is called balance. 

Now portions, the amount of pizza I ate was a good portion. Making a cheat meal a whole pie or having pizza and a bowl of ice cream isn't just one meal. Pick what you really crave that day, one or the other. 

Another thing that is great for your body is smaller portions spread throughout the day. It speeds your metabolism up, keeps you full so your body doesn't starve and you cave and eat poorly. Eating throughout the day helps me also stay hydrated too and get my daily water amount in each day. This also helps me stay full longer.

The second mistake I used to make was skip breakfast and have just coffee. Not good. One, skipping breakfast is a big no no and two coffee will just dehydrate me so that solely as my breakfast isn't helping my body. I now have breakfast every single day. A good portion size breakfast, nothing crazy big, but something to get my metabolism going. Portions is important. And with smaller portions I get to eat more through out the day which makes me happy because I love food. Too big of portions of bad food puts you in a food coma. If you feel like your always in a food coma you're probably eating too much and too much of the wrong foods. I love quinoa, whole grains, etc. They fill me up and also fuels me for the day instead of being in a food coma. 

Pick good foods, with better portions. Doing this will change how you feel. Trust me. 

Lastly with no explanation needed just move MORE. Get off the couch and do more. Whether it be a short workout, a walk or running after your kids. Don't just sit on the side lines. You will miss out on having the body and life you want. I finally took control of my body after having my son and it's been great.

Good vibes,

Jenn

Why do we only eat pumpkin in the fall?

I get why pumpkin is huge in the fall, makes sense. But when baking canned pumpkin is usually always used and that may not be in your front display now but it's still sold in the baking aisle.

I LOVE pumpkin and decided I couldn't wait until fall. I found this recipe and it sure was a delicious breakfast. 

The recipe calls for:

1 cup pumpkin purée

2 1/4 cup oatmeal or steal cut oats***

2 eggs

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk

4 tbsp coconut butter

1/2 cups + 2 tbs organic maple syrup

1 tbsp pure vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips 

-- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-- Line or spray the muffin pan with baking oil. 

-- Mix all ingredients except the chocolate chips in a food processor or blender.

-- Fold in the chocolate chips or use them to top each muffin.

-- Fill the muffin tin 3/4 of the way.

-- Bake in the oven for 22-24 minutes and let cool.

*** So I didn't use oatmeal because the recipe I found said "rolled oats" which I now know just means oatmeal. Instead I bought steel cut oats which I've never had before but knew they were very healthy for you. Because of this I'm sure my muffins are a different texture then the recipe I saw but I like it. Makes the muffins hearty and fills you. 

One batch I only topped the muffins with some chocolate chips and the second batch I mixed them in the batter. 

ENJOY!

Product of the Week

No explanation needed, just buy it! This can be found in your grocery store either in the organic aisle or by the peanut butter. 

I finally got this over the weekend and love it in my shakes now! I always hated getting the natural peanut butter stuck to the sides of the blender so there was always less peanut butter flavor in my shake but this doesn't stick to the sides. It mixes well just like shakeology or protein powder.

I can't wait to see what else I can do with it!

Quinoa Porridge

The recipe calls for:

quinoa

coconut milk

greek yogurt

nuts/mini chocolate chips

natural peanut butter 

-- Cook the quinoa with coconut milk instead of water.

-- Add all the toppings, mix and enjoy!

Some substitute options:

almond butter instead of peanut butter 

jelly instead of yogurt 

fruit instead of nuts and chocolate chips

almonds instead of peanuts/peacans

almond milk instead of coconut 

Start Each Day With Gratitude

5 things to think about each morning...

1.) Smile, because you're alive and living is what you are meant to do.

2.) Begin your routine. Routines aren't boring, they keep you organized and sane. Follow your morning routine daily. It will make all the difference in your week. It will make you feel productive, keep you on time and keep stress away. Everyone's routine is different but everyone needs that structure if you have a busy life or family. One thing I am trying to add to my routine is emptying the dish washer. It's helpful to have that done already when I get home from a long day. Have a night time routine too that you follow daily. Pick up the toys in the living room, prep lunches, pick out clothes for the next day, etc.  

3.) Keep the tv off. Tv is simply a distraction, unnecessary and will get you out of your routine in the morning. Instead turn on some tunes to get you moving! If you don't want to wake the kids, just enjoy the silence. Collect your thoughts. 

4.) Again, get moving! If your time is limited then dance to those tunes or better yet wake up a little earlier so exercise can happen. You may not think it but exercise gives you more energy. During that chug some water. It will awaken you! 

5.) Enjoy something every morning before starting your busy work day or hectic mom life at home. It could be a cup of coffee with an adult coloring book, putting smiles on your kids face by making a yummy breakfast for them or  listen to an old cd while reminiscing in traffic. Not everyone has a lot of time before heading out for the day so this enjoyment for YOU could also be done on your lunch break or during nap time.

Another week at work, for most of us, completed now it's time to enjoy the weekend. I was off the past two days with my sick son so needless to say I am exhausted. Looking forward to the next two days!

Good vibes,

Jenn

Winged it, Balsamic Chicken

Pesto chicken was on the menu for dinner tonight but silly me forgot my son hasn't had pine nuts yet and can't try them until he's two so I had to quickly think of something else. I had leftover balsamic yogurt dressing from salads we had recently and also some leftover part skim ricotta cheese from a 21 day fix recipe I made. I hate wasting food so I used what I had and made this recipe up. I think it came out good! Only a few ingredients needed, healthy and easy to make. 

The recipe calls for:

balsamic yogurt dressing 

chicken breasts

part skim ricotta cheese

balsamic vinegar (optional)

-- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

-- Spray baking dish with coconut oil or whatever you use. Add the chicken to the dish. Marinate the chicken in the balsamic yogurt dressing. 

-- Put chicken in the oven for approximately 20 minutes. It would be longer if you used regular chicken breasts as opposed to the tenders I used.

-- Add a couple small spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese on top of the chicken breasts. Put back in the oven for a couple more minutes to melt the cheese.

-- Once the chicken was done I added a splash of balsamic vinegar but it's not necessary. There is plenty of flavor without it. 

The yogurt dressings are found by the bagged lettuce mixture, the refrigerated area in produce. It's the only kind of dressing I buy anymore. There are a variety of flavors to pick from, some grocery stores have different kinds so look around for your favorite. Marinating chicken in any of the flavors would be delicious I think too, just maybe different toppings to go with that specific flavor.

Enjoy! 

Protein Coffee

I am in HEAVEN! 

The recipe calls for:

ground coffee

chocolate protein powder

water

coconut milk or milk/cream of your choice

-- This is so simple! Add coffee to the filter in your coffee pot like every morning and add one tablespoon of protein powder per two tablespoons of coffee. 

-- BREW and await the deliciousness!

-- Pour in your favorite mug, add milk/cream of your choice and ENJOY!

Each sip keeps getting better and better...CHEERS! ☕️

Who loves pizza night?

Wow! Brown rice pizza crust, who would've thought to do this? I just saw the recipe on the box of brown rice and had to try it! Perfect for our pizza night! This officially has beaten my quinoa pizza crust. I'm in foodie love! This is going to be my go to pizza crust from now on. Can't wait to use different toppings next time and maybe even add some more spices to the crust!

The recipe calls for:

1 bag of brown rice (boil in a bag, 10 minute kind or approximately 2 cups)

1 cup mix of shredded part skim mozzarella cheese/parmasean cheese 

oregano

2 eggs, beaten

-- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking pan. 

-- Mix all ingredients above in a bowl and spread onto the baking pan. 

-- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and add toppings. I just used a chunky mariana sauce, some shredded cheese and sprinkled some dry basil. 

-- Bake for an additional 10 minutes. 

Enjoy!!! Seriously so good!

Wake up call

I feel so tired this morning and I got more sleep than normal. How could this be possible?

Surprisingly I feel more awake after a good workout. Did I workout this morning? No. Did I last night? No. That is why I'm so tired. I plan to tonight but just missing yesterday got me like 😔💤

That is my wake up call, no slacking because this feeling right now sucks. I don't want to feel tired at 8am. I have work to do, a toddler to run after, dinner to make, bath to give and prep for the next day. There's no time to be tired. 

Drank my shake this morning and plan to chug some water when I get into work. I have to wake this body up!

I need to remember this!

Good vibes,

Jenn