ACHIEVE!

I saw this quote today and fell in love!  All of us get tired and discouraged, but what a great reminder that you can achieve anything you set out to do!

Fire-Roasted Meatloaf

I purchased a Paleo Slow Cooking book from Barnes & Noble, and let me just say it was worth every penny!  I am so busy during the day, and it is so nice to throw everything into the crock pot and have a yummy, nutritious meal ready to go at dinnertime.  This recipe was a HUGE success with my family!  See recipe below...

Fire-Roasted Meatloaf

1/2 head cauliflower, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/4 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 pound grass-fed ground beef (I buy this at Sprouts.)
1/2 c. of fire roasted salsa
1 small can of fire-roasted diced green chilies
1 egg
1/2 c. almond flour
2 1/2 tsp. of chili powder
3/4 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. basil
5 T. organic tomato paste
Salt and pepper to taste

1.  Using food processor, finely chop the cauliflower, garlic, and onion and set aside.
2.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, salsa, chilies, and egg.
3.  Add the cauliflower, garlic, and onion mixture to the beef mixture.
4.  Add the almond flour and spices to the beef mixture.  Using your hands, kneed and mix all the ingredients together.
5.  Shape the beef mixture into a loaf and place it in the slow cooker.
6.  Using a spatula, evenly spread the tomato paste on top of the meatloaf.
7.  Cover and cook on high for four hours or until the internal temp. of the meatloaf has reached 160F.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Motivation

 

ENOUGH SAID!

Juicing

Back to school for my kids means back on track for mom! 

 

I had a great summer!   A staycation here and there with my hubby and kids.  A girls weekend in Vegas with my sisters to see Beyoncé!  And an amazing trip to Hawaii with my cute fam!  But what do these places all have in common...Food!  And whoa am I feeling the effects!

My good friend, Lara, introduced me to juicing a few months ago and I absolutely LOVE it!  It helps me feel energized, (yes, even more than a Diet Coke), and helps clean out and regulate my system.  I've even noticed a change in my complexion!  So, wanted to share a few recipes that I have found and have enjoyed...

 

This first one I call "Lara" since this is what she had me try, and got me hooked!  Super simple, and my kids love it too!

Lara

 

1 apple

1 carrot

Approx. 1 Cup strawberries

(And sometimes when my kids aren't looking, I'll sneak in some kale or spinach.)

 

Citrus Green Juice

 

6 kale leaves

6 Swiss chard leaves

1/2 cucumber

6 clementines

 

Carrot Apple Ginger Juice

 

3 carrots

2 apples

1" Ginger

 

Green Juice

 

1/2 cucumber

3 celery stalks

1-2 apples

6 kale leaves

1/2 lemon

1" ginger

 

And one more that I am going to try later this afternoon...

 

Sunset Blend Juice

 

1 lg. sweet potato

1 med. carrot

1 red bell pepper

2 lg. red beets

2 Golden delicious apples

1 orange (optional)

 

I like to get creative as well, and add pineapple, mango, spinach, kiwi, etc.

 

There are a lot of juicing cleanses out there.  If you choose to do, for example, a 3 day juice cleanse, prepare your body by drinking a lot of water in the days leading up to your cleanse.  Eat clean. No red meat, soda, sugar, dairy, or caffeine.

 

Personally, I love balance.  I eat 3 healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each meal includes a lean protein.  And for snacks I drink my juice along with a handful of almonds, or I'll add a little protein powder to the juice to get my protein intake.

 

Happy juicing!!!

 

(And yes, I'm drinking my juice from a Thor cup...Kind of a crush.) :) 

 

 

Just a Little MOTIVATION!

10 Tummy Tightening Foods

 

Summer is just around the corner and we all want to lose a few pounds to fit into the perfect outfit or swimsuit. I have listed a few foods with magical fat burning properties to help you with this dreaded task of weigh loss. Just remember – not one food alone can do the job. You have to have a plan and a purpose. Make sure you are eating the proper amount of calories for your body.
Here are a few Tummy Tightening Foods to help get you on the right track to a slimmer summer:
1. Oats with Cinnamon- Oats are a great start to your day. They will help keep you full while the cinnamon has natural thermionic properties which may increase your metabolism. (Love this Skinny Slow Cooker Oats recipe)
2. Grapefruit- Grapefruit helps lower insulin levels which promotes weight loss and fast metabolism.
3. Red Peppers- Peppers contain Capsaicin which can help with burning stubborn fat.
4. Almonds- Almonds are a great source of protein to help keep you full and keep your metabolism kicking. (Skinny Almond Trail Mix here)
5. Salmon-Salmon is loaded with Omega 3 Fatty Acids which is beneficial for fat loss. (Check out our Skinny Caribbean Jerk Salmon or Skinny Blackened Salmon)
6. Avocado- While avocados are considered a fat, they are a healthy fat. Your body needs healthy fats to use as energy to promote fat burn.
7. Blueberries- While Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, they are also low in sugar and great for a healthy low calorie snack.
8. Green Tea- Natural caffeine can help speed up the metabolism and keep you energized to burn more calories throughout the day.
9. Chicken- Chicken is a great source of lean protein. By placing more protein in your diet you can lower the amount of carbohydrates you take in while promoting weight loss. (Check out our hundreds of Skinny Chicken Recipes here and on Pinterest.)
10. Sweet Potato- Sweet potatoes are great for keeping your blood sugar levels stable while promoting a better, faster metabolism. (Click here for our Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes)

*Courtesy of Skinnymom.com*

30 Day Challenge

30 Day Challenge

May 1^st-30^th

Eat 5-6 meals per day containing an item from each category.  (1 protein, serving of fruit and/or veggies, etc.) This will help speed up your metabolism.

Drink water… No soda!

Beware of “hidden calories”!  Ex. Mayo, salad dressing, a few potato chips, etc.

Little to no sugar.

Keep a food journal.  This will help you keep track of what you’re eating, and what you may need to change in the future. (If needed)

One cheat meal per week.  Choose wisely…For ex. Date night!

Exercise at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week.  Good Luck!!!