Product of the Week

 

These are too good to be true!  They taste so good and are not only a great source of fiber, but not they have a protein bar line.  There are other flavors to choose from but this one is my favorite.

 

Try them out!  You won't be disappointed.

Cucumber Salad

 

The recipe calls for:

4 cucumbers

4 tbs plain fat-free greek yogurt

1 tbs fresh dill, chopped

1 tbs white wine vinegar

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp garlic powder

 

-- Peel, seed and slice the cucumbers as seen in the photo.

-- In a bowl mix all the ingredients, minus the cucumber.  Once the sauce is mixed good, add the cucumbers and toss.

-- When eating as leftovers just be sure to mix it up again.

 

Enjoy this refreshing side dish on a hot day!

Healthy Ice Cream Sandwiches

I've posted this recipe a couple years ago, but what better time to post it again.  Spring is here and the warm weather is coming.  This is a super easy recipe that makes a great snack especially on a hot day.  The kids will love them and they are a lot better for them than the ice cream truck.

The two different kinds in the picture below are:  a low-fat cinnamon graham cracker with some natural chunky peanut butter and fat-free cool whip and the other one is a chocolate graham cracker with just some fat-free cool whip.  Just wrap them separately in saran wrap or foil and put them in the freezer.

You can add anything to them instead of peanut butter like nutella, chopped nuts, sprinkles, even sliced fruit.

I have been really craving ice cream lately so this is a much better alternative than Dairy Queen and Rita's.

Have the same craving?  Satisfy it in a healthy way...

100 Days of Happiness

I have been seeing people post on Facebook things that make them happy lately with the hashtag #100happydays but I never looked into it until one of my friends posted the link to the website explaining what this challenge means.  It is really inspiring!  Sometimes we forget to live in the moment and make every day a good day.  I am definitely not the most postive person in the world, I worry a lot and tend to think of negative things that could possibly happen, but since being pregnant I am really trying to be more postitive.  I want to be the happiest I can be to enjoy this special time in my life and stress as less as possible.

The challenge is a great way to incorporate more positivity in my life and I signed up today and will begin the challenge TODAY.  What better day than today?  I will be posting my 100 happy days on my Twitter account, username SickestJenn.  A link to my account is on the righ side of the website.  It is going to be a great next 100 days for me!  You deserve to make them great too.  Check out the link explaining what the challenge truly is and how it could help you be a happier person.

JOIN THE CHALLENGE!!!

 

To start this off, here is my post for today:

 

"Today is going to be a good day.  #Starbucks has my favorite pumpkin bread again.  I got the last piece.  #100happydays" 

Sodium Free Seasonings

I have been really cautious of the amount of salt I am consuming because I don't want to retain a lot of water weight during this pregnancy.  I found some salt free seasonings and have used them on steak and chicken this past week.  They have 14 different kinds: spicy, lemon pepper, italian, etc. 

Check out the website to see all the different flavor options:
14 Salt-Free Seasonings

When I grilled steak the other day I used the garlic and herb seasoning and yesterday I used the chicken seasoning for my chicken.  I don't taste a difference with the missing salt in the seasoning.  It worked great for both meats and I will definitely be getting some more kinds to try.  The chicken made great leftovers for a salad today...

Baked Potato On The Grill

HAPPY MONDAY!

Did you start grilling yet?  I have!  Here is a smiple recipe for making a baked potato on the grill...

The recipe calls for:
potato
olive oil
spray butter
fat-free greek yogurt

-- Clean the potato and poke a few holes in it.  Cover with a paper towel and microwave for 3 minutes, more if it's a bigger potato.
-- Spread some olive oil on the potato and wrap in foil.  If you want more of a grill taste skip the foil.
-- Grill the potato away from the fire while cooking everything else on the grill.
-- Slice it open, spray a little butter and a dabble of greek yogurt.

Greek yogurt is the perfect substitute for sour cream. It's way more healthy, has zero fat and is a great source of protein. I really don't taste much of a difference surprisingly. I bet you could even fool the kids or your husband by just telling them it's sour cream.



The Start of Clean Eating

Goodbye processed foods, hello fresh healthy food!

I've come to realize I need to start consuming less sodium during this pregnancy.  I am going to mainly do clean eating.  Yesterday I stocked up on fresh fruits and vegetables and I am excited to start putting even better foods into my body and for my little baby boy.  Other great foods to eat are whole grains like quinoa, healthy fats like avocados and salt-free assorted nuts.  All which are now in my pantry/fridge.  I ate a lot of vegetables already but adding fruits and other things I am not used to eating will be great for me and help my body out in the long run.  As a former vegetarian I am not a huge meat eater but I bought some fresh beef, low in sodium and a great protein for the baby.  I need to broaden my tastes for at least the next few months.  I also want to find some great recipes with quinoa.

So far I made a yummy fruit salad I can have for the whole week, bring it to work and have for a healthy snack.

I am starting to try to do some DIY crafts more, need to be more of a crafty mom for baby Parker...

Easter Egg Decoration

Mason Jar turned into a Decorative Q-Tip holder

Simple 3 Ingredient Recipe

Just three ingredients makes Coconut Rice & Beans...

The recipe calls for:
1 can black beans
1 cup jasmine rice
1 can light coconut milk

-- Bring the can of coconut milk and rice to a boil in a medium pot.  Once to a boil, cover the pot and put it on low for 10 minutes.
-- Rinse the black beans.
-- When the rice is down, add the beans and mix.
--  You can season it with some salt and pepper if you want too.

The beans is a great source of protein!  Enjoy!

Product of the Week

Annie's Organic Peanut Butter Chewy Granola Bar

 

 

Only 120 calories per bar!  These bars have some iron, 3g protein and 1g fiber.

 

Happy Spring!

If you didn't start Spring cleaning there's no better time!  I know I still have a lot to do.  It is officially Spring and I couldn't be happier.  It's supposed to be about 50 degrees today and sunny later, I'll take it!  Make sure to get outside today for a little!

Don't forget to head to Rita's for your free water ice!

 

Indulge today.

Enjoy it.

Celebrate Spring.

Mexican Chicken Salad or Burrito

The recipe calls for:
ground chicken meat
avocado, chopped
black beans, rinsed & drained
shredded lettuce
fat-free greek yogurt
taco sauce
taco seasoning

Optional:
shredded cheese
burrito wrap (whole-wheat is best)

-- Cook the ground chicken meat in a pan.  Mix in the seasoning packet and a little water.  Add the beans to the pan to warm them up.
-- Put chicken and bean mixture on top of shredded lettuce. Add chopped up avocado, a little fat-free greek yogurt and some taco sauce.
-- Mix it all up and enjoy your mexican chicken salad!
-- The other less healthy option is to put all those ingredients into a burrito wrap. If you choose this option use a whole-wheat wrap.


The meat mixture makes for great leftovers, I am eating it as we speak for lunch.

Product of the Week

Another great on the go breakfast or snack!

 

Starbucks Strawberry Smoothie

 

This drink has 16g of protein, 7g of fiber, vitamins, iron, a whole banana and is only 290 calories and 1g of fat for the non-fat milk option.  I haven't been to Starbucks for over 4 months since I am pregnant, it was nice to step foot in one again.  I missed it.  This may be sad but it made me feel like me.  I used to go there daily for coffee.  Obviously I couldn't get coffee because of the caffeine, but this is a great substitute and I finally get to use my christmas giftcards.  The baby needs mommy to eat a lot of protein so this is a great source.  I asked my doctor and made sure protein powder was okay to have before getting this.

 

Recipe Review

"It was really good.

The nuts were what did it for me."

-- Blog Reader

 

This was the arugula walnut pesto spaghetti squash recipe.  Check it out here!

Arugula Walnut Pesto

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

This isn't an irish recipe, but it's GREEN and delicious!

The recipes calls for:
1/4 cup walnuts
1 garlic cloves
1 1/3 cup arugula, packed
3 tbs olive oil
1 tbs water
2 tbs parmesan cheese
dash of lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper


-- Toast walnuts in a small pan on medium heat.  Make sure to keep stirring them so they don't burn.  Toast for about 5 minutes.  Let them cool.
-- Add the walnuts, garlic, arugula, olive oil, water, cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a food processor or chopper.  Use what you have in your home.  I had a mason jar leftover from our wedding favors that were perfect to hold the pesto.


I used the pesto for a spaghetti squash meal.  Yum!

For this recipe just add a few more steps:

-- Cook a medium spaghetti squash.  See link.  Let the squash cool.
-- Scrape out the squash with a fork.
-- Mix the spaghetti squash and the pesto mixture in a bowl.
-- I heated up the spaghetti squash in the oven for about 5 minutes on 350 degrees and sprinkled a little extra parmesan cheese on top before putting it in the oven.  You could also just pop it in the microwave for a little.


Basil is one of my favorite flavors ever, but I must say this recipe and arugula substitute was really good and different.  The toasted walnuts gave it such flavor.

Crock Pot Chicken

Anytime we are able to use the crock pot is a good thing because it's just so easy.  Well, Shoprite keeps sending us super coupons and this was one of them, a free chicken!  How could we pass that up?  It's healthy, protein and the way we made it was delicious.

The recipe calls for:

a whole chicken

2 tbs + 2 tsp of jamaican spice

1 tbs brown sugar

a few dashes of lime juice

 

-- Skin the chicken, put it in the crock pot and put the above ingredients on the chicken.  It's that easy!

-- Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

 

I was so pleased with how it came out and the gravy it made was really good.  Nothing else needs to be added to it, ton of flavor.  Use any spice you like doesn't need to be jamaican.