Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Score BIG with these Superbowl Swaps!


For a lot of people, Super Bowl Sunday equals a hefty Super Bowl snack time. Savory items like chips, dips, wings, and pizza are standard, but it's not a bad idea to also offer up healthy, lighter fare for yourself and guests. 



There are some easy swaps you can make for your favorite Super Bowl snacks that make them a little bit better for you and for your guests' waistlines. And the best part? These Super Bowl snacks are so tasty that no one will probably miss the fatty and greasy fare!

Hold the delivery this year and get creative in the kitchen.   I've made it easy for you.

These easy Super Bowl recipes are definite winners.  No matter who you are rooting for!

Instead of Jalapeno Poppers ------> Cheese-Stuffed Mini-Peppers
Lighten up your Taco Dip ------> Skinny Seven-Layer Taco Dip
Instead of wings ------> Clean-Eating Crockpot Buffalo Chicken
Spice up your salad ------> Mexican Side Salad



Also, as a "dipper", have you tried THESE yet?  They are "tortilla chips", but made with black beans.  They taste super-yummy and satisfy my tortilla chip-craving.  I think there are only 3-4 ingredients in them!



If you try any of these recipes for YOUR gathering, please leave me a note in the comments - would love to hear from you!  XO

ALL THE BEST,

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Weekly Meal Plan: 1/26/15 - 2/1/15

This week's meal-plan! 

I am DONE with the 21 Day Sugar Detox (as of tomorrow), but will be retaining most of the eating habits that I grew to love during these past 21 days.  Just adding a few things back in -- like honey! 

I'll be writing up my final review of the Sugar Detox early this week, so stay tuned for that.

One of my favorite things about planning meals is that it lets us enjoy variety. Instead of eating the same dish five times a week, you can plan your menu so you are always enjoying something new.

Perhaps you can cook fish on Monday, beef on Tuesday, lamb on Wednesday, a vegetarian dish on Thursday and chicken for Friday.  This is particularly helpful if you have children who are picky about their food. You can also ask for their preferences when planning meals so you can be sure they will like to dishes you serve them - I ALWAYS ask for their input!  It has really helped us to move past some of their "pickiness".



In the meantime, here is our plan for the week ahead!

Meal-Plan:  Week of 1/26/15 - 2/1/15

Monday:  Pizza Spaghetti Squash Pie
Tuesday:  Leftovers
Wednesday:  Salsa Verde Grilled Chicken (chicken marinated in organic Salsa Verde, grilled)
Thursday:  Shrimp Tacos and Lime and Avocado
Friday:  Dinner Out with Friends
Saturday:  Mexican-Inspired Taco Pie (My Shepherd's Pie with Mexican seasonings)
Sunday:  Clean-Eats Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken



If you try any of these recipes, I would love to hear from you!  Leave your comment(s) below!

ALL THE BEST,

Friday, January 23, 2015

Clean-Eating Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

Looking for an easy and delicious -- yet healthy -- Super Bowl party meal?  This tasty Crockpot Buffalo Chicken is a simple set-it-and-forget-about-it meal that’ll have your crowd cheering for more!  And, you won't feel guilty about eating it, either!

Serve with fresh Kaiser rolls, or in a large lettuce leaf.  It would be great over brown rice, too!




Clean-Eating Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

Ingredients:
2-3 lb. chicken (we used boneless, skinless thighs - it was what was in the freezer)
8-10 oz. of "clean" hot sauce (no high-fructose corn syrup/added sugar - I used Frank's)
1/2 cup organic low-salt chicken broth
Dry ranch seasoning mix (see recipe below)
2 tbsp. organic grass-fed butter



Place semi-frozen chicken into the slow-cooker.  Pour sauce and broth over the chicken.  Mix together your dry ranch seasoning mix, and sprinkle the mixture over top of the chicken/sauce.  Add butter to crockpot.



Cover and cook on low for about 5 hours.

Remove chicken from the slow-cooker and shred (I use our stand mixer to shred easily).  Do not discard the sauce.  The chicken should just fall apart.  Place shredded chicken back into the sauce in the crockpot.  Stir to coat chicken with sauce. 

Continue to cook on low for another hour, so that the chicken can soak up the sauce.



Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix:
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp. dried parsley flakes
  • 1 tsp. minced onion flakes
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tbsp. dill leaves (the next time I will make this 1/2 tbsp.)
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper


Give it a try and let me know what you think!

ALL THE BEST,

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Your Struggles are Your Strength

What if ... ?

 



I've been getting a LOT of questions lately about my career as a Team Beachbody Coach.  What exactly do I do?  Can it be done part-time?  What if I have another job?  How do you make money?  Can I REALLY do it too?

I debated sharing the video below publicly (I made it for a private group).

Not because I am embarrassed.  But, because I really go into depth about what being a Team Beachbody Coach has done for me and for my family.  It is big stuff.  It is personal.  And, I get a little choked up in the video too.  And well ...... it never fails -- YouTube always gives me the craziest looking "thumbnail".  What is up with that?  Ha ha!

Anyway.  Being a Team Beachbody Coach has done SO much to enrich my life.  It has been an immense blessing for us in an infinite number of ways.  Why WOULDN'T I share that with YOU?   

When you find an amazing restaurant, with delicious food, excellent service, and a fabulous menu - do you recommend it to your friends?  No doubt, right?  No hesitation.

And this -- being a Team Beachbody Coach is SO MUCH more than that.  A blessing.  No 9-5 for this gal!  A life-changer.  Take a look:

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