Market Mondays Week 3

I just LOVE the market by my house! I love just being around fresh whole natural ingredients! Usually I go on Mondays but I skipped this week and went today so I didn’t get my 10% off for my reusable Harvest Valley bag but none the less I still left happy 🙂

Let’s start with last week where I got Chocolate tomatoes and radishes, spring mix, eggs, bananas, green beans, fingerling potatoes…etc.! (bottom picture) and then move to this week where I will still use some of those ingredients along with what I bought today…lemons, avocados, mushrooms, cookies, more bananas, spinach, basil and mint…etc! (top picture)

Last week I made pork tenderloin that I ate pretty much all week…..

I used the red onion, radishes, tomatoes and potatoes to roast along side this and it was delish!!

I also made this salad and topped a pork sandwich with it and ate it as a side dish….

All ingredients from the market including the cucumbers that week!

I always have spinach and bananas on hand and usually have a smoothie everyday including both of those ingredients!

One day I had this for breakfast with a little bit of left over pork….

Isn’t it pretty!!?? (And that reminds me I didn’t take my supplements today or yesterday!)

Okay now this week I went for some pears as I sometimes use them in my smoothies over bananas and eat with nut butter for snack, avocados to make a cucumber (one left over from last week) pineapple (had some frozen), avocado salad, bananas for smoothies, spinach for Max’s turkey sandwiches and my salads and smoothies, mushrooms and tomatoes for salad and pasta sauce, fresh herbs to plant in pots outside and use as garnish for meals, salad and flavored waters. Oh, also a delicious spinach dip and black bean tortilla chips because I love them and we will eat them over this Memorial Day weekend!! And lastly cookies for the kids and the mommies after school today 🙂 Remember it is all about balance! Move your body, eat fresh and love yourself >>>>recipe for a life full of muscles, love and good energy!

Avocado, cucumber & pineapple salad pictured above:

1/2 avocado chopped

1 cup pineapple

1/2 cup scliced seedless cucumber

Sprinkle with sea salt and dress with 1 tsp grape seed oil or oil of your choice and garnish with fresh mint if you wish!

Tonight I plan on making meatballs and pasta for Max and myself and a colorful salad with carrots, green beans, spring mix, spinach, mushrooms, red onion and tomatoes!

Remember one thing when everything feels wrong, not going the way you wanted to with life or your weight loss, etc.., whole fresh foods heal your body and your mind and most importantly: GRATITUDE HEALS EVERYTHING!!

xoxo, A

5 balanced snack ideas for you!

“What should I eat for a snack?”

I am asked this question often so I put together this post to show you 5 examples of some healthy delicious snacks that I often have. A typical day for me is breakfast, lunch and dinner with 2 snacks in between, But, every day is different and sometimes it is breakfast, 2 snacks, pre workout, dinner and then another snack or breakfast, lunch, pre workout snack, dinner. It just depends on what I am doing that day. Most days I have a smoothie at some point either as a meal or a snack.

A lot of folks freak out about eating too much or too little and count calories but you know what? I strongly believe that is not the way to go. I think that if you stick to these rules you will end up satisfying your mind and body as far as eating goes. (not to mention your sanity)

Eat when you are hungry (make sure it is actual hunger and not a result of being bored, dehydrated or tired) I have heard people say if you are truly hungry you will eat an apple>>point being it is not a craving or being bored or tired. If you are hungry you will want to devour that apple. Think about it.

Make sure you are drinking half of your bodyweight in oz of water daily-more if you sweat for 20 to 30 minutes or more or drink alcohol that day.

Balance your meals and snacks-each one should include carbs/fiber, protein and good fats.

After a workout get protein in your system within 30 min of finishing. Your muscles are begging for it and that is why protein powder comes in handy but if you plan accordingly you don’t have to use it.

Don’t feel guilty about certain foods. Just keep it positive and make sure you are getting your carbs, protein, fats and water balanced throughout the day. If you have a grilled cheese or some chicken wings-enjoy them and don’t punish yourself the rest of the day because you chose to enjoy those foods. You have a choice with everything you eat so don’t think good vs bad, I fell off the wagon with that meal, etc. Just be aware and chose what makes you feel healthy, alert, alive and energetic.

Focus on building muscle and the fat will go away. You are an athlete so act like one. Make your goal to be stronger, faster, lift heavier, squat lower, run/walk longer, jump higher….this is what will change your body.

Ok-finally, some snack ideas!!!

#1. A smoothie with spinach, banana, protein powder, ice and milk or water

#2. Apple slices or rice cakes or seed crackers with nut butter (1 to 2 TBSP) Right now I have cashew and sunflowerseed butter on hand.

#3. 1 cup Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup fruit-sprinkle with cinnamon, yumm!

#4. Nutritious bar-when you really are on the go this is a good option. If you are sitting at a desk or home all day then chose something from the fridge or pack from home. I do try to limit bars so that I can get more fruits and veggies in too throughout the day.

#5. Avocado and orange salad-dress with a bit of sea salt and dash of oil-whatever kind you like to use.

I would love to hear back from you on your favorite snack ideas that help you live a balanced & happy lifestyle!

xo, A

Superfoods Rockstars Challenge

Hello friends!! Ok, I have a great challenge for you this month and on-going! Can you be a Superfoods Rockstar??

All you have to do….eat Superfoods!

I have listed below 15 Superfoods-there are many more but this is a good and not so scary place to start!

Kale

Spinach

Nuts

Berries

Lemons/Limes

Broccoli

Apples

Beets

Avocados

Bell peppers

Cherries

Eggs

Flax

Kiwi

Quinoa

Your mission is to EAT them often, everyday…several times per day at each meal and snack!

Below is a recipe for Sausage & Peppers with Kale:

Please note: it is delicious and packed full of nutrition!!!

What you will need:

Brown rice and Quinoa pasta-2 cups cooked (or some other healthy pasta-not white)

2 hot or sweet sausage links or chicken or no meat if you prefer (about 6 total oz)

Green, yellow, orange or red bell peppers-pick at least 3 colors and you will need 1/4 of each pepper cut into thin strips

1/4 small onion or 1/4 c chopped

Aprox. 1 large handful of kale leaves or more if you want

1 tbsp. pesto

dash of hot pepper flakes and ground pepper

sprinkling of parmesan cheese

1 tbsp. olive, safflower, canola, coconut oil-pick one

How to prepare:

In one larger skillet start your pan with the oil on med heat-add onions and peppers

Start to boil your water for pasta in another pot-add pasta when the water is ready

Start to cook your sausage or chicken in 3rd smaller skillet-cook thoroughly

While the meat and pasta cooks your veggies will be ready

Add 2 spoonfuls of the pasta water to the veggie pan and 1 tbsp. of the pesto

Add the kale (tear the leaves into smaller pcs)

Let sit and stir for 3 min.

Drain the cooked pasta and meat

Add the pasta and meat to the veggie skillet

Top with grated parmesan cheese, dash of pepper and red pepper flakes if you wish.

Mix gently and with love

Serves 3

ENJOY AND CHECK IN WITH ME ON Facebook! Show me your SUPERFOODS!!!

xo-A

White Chili

White Chili

Directions:

Take 1 tsp butter and 1 tbsp. olive oil and heat on med in bottom of pot

Add 1 tbsp. minced garlic and brown for 1 min

Add 1/2 c chopped white onion and brown for few mins

Add 1/2 lb lean ground turkey and brown for 5 to 7 min, mixing every so often

Add the following seasonings: salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin, Badia complete seasoning, chili powder and continue to brown for few more mins

Add 1 c white wine and let simmer on med heat for 10 min, stirring occasionally

Add 1 c chopped yellow baby tomatoes

Add 1 can white bean of your choice-I used low sodium great northern and 1 small can of white corn, stir all together

Stir in 1/2 c plain Greek yogurt, 2 tsp lemon juice, 2 tsp lemon juice

Add another dose of all of the above seasonings: salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin, Badia complete seasoning, chili powder

Cook 1 c of pasta- I used whole grain elbows-when done cooking add to pot of chili

Chop avocado and add to pot

Give everything one last big stir around and let simmer for few more mins

Place in bowls and add shredded pepper jack cheese to top off and whole grain tortilla chips if you like!

Serves 5

Enjoy! A

Healthy Enchilada Lasagna

Enchilada lasagna!

So clean and healthy and the whole family will love this one!

What you will need:

12 small white corn tortillas

1/2 or 3/4 lb diced chicken breast or ground turkey (or omit meat for a vegetarian dish or add black beans)

Yellow, orange, red or green pepper-pick at least 2 of those 4

1/2 c chopped onion-which ever kind you like

1 c chopped tomatoes

1/2 c corn-frozen or fresh off the cob

2 cups salsa- I used a pineapple mango flavored for extra flavor

1 c shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 c lime juice

1/4 tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 c hot sauce

Fresh cilantro, pepper, Badia seasoning, red pepper flakes

8 oz Creamy citrus avocado dressing that I got from Whole Foods-which was the inspiration for this entire meal

DIRECTIONS:

1.Layer 5 tortillas on the bottom of the 9 by 13 baking dish then add 1/2 of the meat and veggie mixture that you cooked in a skillet already (add the hot sauce, lime juice, butter and seasonings as it cooked down in the skillet)

2.Next, add the tomatoes and half of the salsa, half the cheese and then half of the avocado dressing.

3.Layer 4 more tortillas and add the rest of the meat and veggie mix, then repeat step 2.

4.Layer 3 more tortillas and sprinkle remaining cheese on top

Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 min.

Enjoy!! A

Tacos

Tacos!!! Who doesn’t love a taco! I filled these babies with chicken sausage, peppers, pineapple, onions and tomatoes then topped them with avocados, cheese and salsa.

I know a lot of my recipes are not “Super duper clean” but I try to make them as healthy as I can but still making sure they have flavor and can keep everyone happy! In my head I have a scale that goes something like this:

Super-duper clean

Pretty clean

Clean

Not too shabby

Bad

I would give these somewhere between not too shabby and clean!! (Because of the shells and chicken sausage) I stay happy and satisfied by staying mostly in the pretty clean to clean scale and every once in a while I go super-duper clean and of course every once in a while I go bad-I am human!!! I hope you can relate to that scale!!

Directions:

Brown protein in skillet-I chose to use 2 links of chicken sausage or a super clean choice would be ground turkey or chicken breast. I then added chopped pineapple, tomatoes, onion and red peppers. Next I took pepper and Badia seasoning (I use this a lot) and just a touch of the seasoning and sauce that came with the shells in the box. The key here is to NOT use the packaged sauce and seasonings that they provide. Frozen and boxed meals come with sauces and powdered seasonings-that is where most of the sodium and bad stuff is hiding!! Another tip that I try to keep in mind is when making a “filling” for something try to make the bulk of it veggies like I did here, a little meat and mostly veggies goes a long way.

Offer healthy toppings, going light on the cheese and heavier on the healthier picks like avocados and salsa.

Remember portion control too! I had 2 tacos at 5:30 and was full all night-did not need to snack! Happy, healthy, satisfied and full!

I hope you enjoy this recipe idea!

xoxoxo-A