Sunday, November 8, 2015

21 Day Fix Approved Tuna Salad Dip



I really love quick and easy 21 Day Fix snacks. This took me less than 3 minutes to make. I loved it and my toddler did too! I actually started a different program recently called ChaLEAN extreme, that focuses more on counting calories rather than portion control (although portion control is still equally important!) but I often resort back to many of my favorite 21 Day Fix recipes. Hope you enjoy it, and as always, feel free to share in the comments below!


Ingredients
1 can of tuna, drained
1 hard boiled egg, chopped and diced
1 tsp mustard
1 tbsp plain nonfat greek yogurt
salt & pepper to taste
shredded cheddar (optional)



MAKES ABOUT 2-3 SERVINGS

Instructions
Mix together in a small bowl and serve in a crock or small serving dish with celery or crackers


Monday, November 2, 2015

Snickers Shakeology



The Halloween candy is among us!!! Having trouble resisting the temptation to make a dent in your kid's candy stash? Try making this Shakeology recipe to ward off those cravings. Never had or heard of Shakeology? Here's the low down:

It has over 70 superfoods in it that aid in regulating your digestion, boosting your energy, filling in the gaps nutrition-wise, managing and/or losing weight, fighting off those nasty cravings for junk food, keeping you focused, and the list goes on and on. It comes in a variety of flavors... strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, greenberry, and even vegan strawberry and vegan chocolate (Latte flavor to be relaesed in 2016! So exciting!) This stuff is GOLD. I can't go a day without it. It makes me feel amazing and helps me stay on track with my nutrition.


Wanna know more?

Email me at teamheartandswole@hotmail.com

Wanna try it?

http://tinyurl.com/o2fwu9p 

So, back to this recipe! The beauty of Shakeology (besides it's nutritional value) is that there are hundreds and hundreds of different ways to make your shake. You can add in extracts, fruits, veggies, nuts, etc... virtually anything. Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to comment how you like it!







Snickers Shakeology


1 scoop chocolate Shakeology
8-12 oz unsweetened almond milk
2 tbsp PB2 (or almond butter)
1 tsp caramel extract
4-8 ice cubes

Blend & Enjoy! Garnish with slivered almonds on top if you wish!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram (@teamheartandswole_) and like my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/teamheartandswole)

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Chipotle Avocado Tilapia Bowls

I just recently tried Chipotle for the first time ever. I'm hooked! I love their food - hell, I love Mexican food, PERIOD. So I've been feeling inspired lately to make some Tex-Mex style recipes. This is by far one of my favorite recipes I've ever made. It was a huge hit with my husband and we both especially loved how the avocado sauce balanced out the spice of the tilapia seasoning mix. 

I'm going on vacation with some out of state family this weekend and I'll be making this for lunch one of the days we are there. I can't wait to see how they like it! This weekend I'll be pairing it with a Corona for sure!

I was never much into cooking until the last year or so. One thing I've learned is how fun it is to switch up a recipe and make it your own. I tend to use canned corn and black beans, but fresh is great too. Or try grilling instead of blackening the tilapia and corn on the stove. Get creative and let me know how it turns out! Now keep in mind this isn't necessarily a 21 Day Fix approved recipe like I tend to stick with, BUT the beauty of the 21 Day Fix eating plan is that you CAN tweak almost any recipe to be 21 Day Fix approved, especially with those handy little containers I love so much!

When I made this, I was at my mom's with no other camera than the one on my phone and honestly did not even expect this to turn out so AMAZING. So unfortunately I did not get step by step pictures. Normally I would have just made it again to get the pictures, but this was a fairly in demand recipe when I had shared the picture below so I didn't want to keep you all waiting ☺




Ingredients
Tilapia Seasoning:
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 small tilapia filets
Chipotle Avocado Crema:
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • juice of one lime
  • 1 large avocado
  • 1-2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp Mrs Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning
  • salt & pepper
Other Ingredients:
  • 3 cups COOKED quinoa
  • 15 oz. black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can corn, rinsed and drained (or fresh corn cut off the cob)
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
  • 2 roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1 large avocado, sliced (optional)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar (optional)

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Instructions
  1. In a food processor or blender, add yogurt, juice of one lime, avocado, garlic, Mrs Dash Chipotle Seasoning, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Place in refrigerator to chill.
  2. In a small bowl, add chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix together.
  3. Rinse and pat dry tilapia filets and season both sides of the fish with the seasoning mix you just mixed in the small bowl.
  4. Heat a large skillet to medium high, and warm the corn and beans. When cooked, place in a bowl off to the side, cover.
  5. Next, blacken the tilapia on each side.
  6. Assemble your bowls, place ¾ cup of cooked quinoa in a bowl, then add in equal parts black beans, diced tomato, corn, tilapia, and then top with avocado cream sauce (easiest when piped it through a bag), and cilantro. You can also garnish with avocado slices (if you love avocado THAT much like we do!) and/or top with shredded cheese.

Friday, September 18, 2015

21 Day Fix Approved Baked Cucumber Slices & Yogurt Apple Dip

I apologize it's been a while since my last post! Has anyone else noticed it is BIRTHDAY PARTY SEASON!? I swear I've never been invited to so many birthday parties in my life, therefore my weekends have been a bit more busy than usual. Anyway, I'll try to post more consistently and give you all new recipes each week.

Today I have two yummy, easy, and 21 Day Fix approved snacks to share with you!




I don't know about you guys, but I can make healthy meals all day long... it's the SNACKING I struggle with. Sometimes I'm so impatient, I reach for some chips or crackers instead of taking the time to whip something up. This pretty much sabotages all the hard work I put into eating healthy the rest of the day! So to avoid those poor decisions, I try to keep snack options like these around the house.

Baked Cucumber Slices


The Baked Cucumber Slices are so simple! First, slice a cucumber. I prefer mine sliced thinly.


Next, place on a pan in an even layer. I use tin foil on my pans to make for easy clean up! I can't believe how many years it took me to start doing that lol. I actually threw away a few pans because of some insane baked-on messes that were impossible to clean up.


Grab some sea salt, pepper, and olive oil (or oil of your choice). Lightly drizzle oil over the cucumber slices and evenly sprinkle the salt and pepper on top.


Bake the slices in the oven for 5-10 minutes on 350 degrees. Let cool for a few minutes and - VOILA! You have Baked Cucumber Slices! This makes about 2 servings and each serving counts as ONE green container and ONE teaspoon if you are following the 21 Day Fix eating plan. Sometimes it's hard to get those veggies in and I love getting them in with my SNACKS.


They're kid approved, too!



Yogurt Apple Dip


Next we have an awesome yogurt apple dip. Also simple and easy, it's a great pair with apples if you're not a fan of eating JUST apples by themselves, like me. I love how ideal apples are for snacks, but I can never seem to enjoy an apple by itself. Enter my yogurt apple dip...


This little crock is perfect for dips like this. Use something similar to make yours in and store if you don't finish it all. Start by simply mixing PB2, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, cinnamon powder, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl or crock. I never really measure the ingredients, I usually just taste it as I mix and add accordingly. This PB2 powder is the bomb dot com, and I recommend using it for other recipes too. I use it especially in my Shakeology as an alternative to your typical greasy fat-filled peanut butter. Also as a side note, Winn Dixie often has extracts BOGO - so stock up!



Slice your apple, dip, and ENJOY! If you are following the 21 Day Fix eating plan, this counts as ONE purple container and ONE red container.



I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and as always, comment below and share how you liked the recipe(s). This weekend I'm doing a smoothie detox so I think I will document my recipes and results  and share with you all afterwards! Thanks for checking out my blog!!!


Baked Cucumber Slices

1 cucumber
Oil
Sea salt
Pepper

(1-2 servings)

  • Slice cucumber
  • Line on a pan in an even layer
  • Drizzle cucumbers with oil
  • Evenly sprinkle salt and pepper on top
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes
  • Cool and enjoy!



Yogurt Apple Dip

1 apple
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
dash of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tbsp PB2 powder

(1 serving)

  • Mix yogurt, extract, cinnamon, and PB2 in a small bowl or crock
  • Slice apple
  • Dip and enjoy!

Monday, August 31, 2015

21 Day Fix Approved Buffalo Lettuce Wraps



I made these TWICE this week, guys! I love this recipe because it's incredibly simple, quick, and has a ton of flavor. There are a lot of ways to switch it up and make it a little different every time. Sometimes I'll top it with plain non-fat Greek yogurt (tastes JUST like sour cream - trust me on this one!) or if I want it really spicy, I'll add a tablespoon or two of sriracha sauce to the mixture.

So first of all YES, this is 21 DAY FIX approved. If you haven't heard of 21 Day Fix, you need to get in on this and message me for more info because the program completely changed my life. It taught me portion control and how to feed my body proper nutrition - which aids in weight loss. (Officially down 44 POUNDS by the way!) I have made this clean eating lifestyle the norm for my family and the kids LOVE all of my 21 Day Fix approved recipes. Secondly, I have to give some credit to my dear friend Sarah Grimo for introducing me to the original recipe! Sarah is a coach on my team that always has yummy and unique recipes to share. You can find her blog at { nerdifitmom.WordPress.com }




This recipe serves 3 people. My husband eats like a ravenous animal, though, so it might feed your family of 4 LOL. Start with 3 chicken breasts cut into small pieces and seasoned with Mrs Dash. I LOVE Mrs Dash. I use it on almost everything and they make several different blends. My favorite is Garlic & Herb! Cook the chicken in a medium skillet on medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes or until browned. You may also add fresh crushed or minced garlic to the skillet while cooking the chicken for some extra flavor.


Pour 3/4 cups of your favorite hot sauce into a small mixing bowl. I prefer Frank's RedHot Sauce. Add the cooked chicken, stir, and cover completely with the hot sauce. I like to let it sit for 5 minutes or so to really soak up the flavor of the sauce. Again, if you like it really spicy, feel free to add a tablespoon of sriracha sauce!


Use whole leaves of romaine lettuce as the "boat" for all of your toppings. First I added the chicken, then for fun I added organic corn and black beans. Then I topped that with some crumbled feta cheese to balance out the spiciness! Simple as that. Simple, delicious, and really versatile. Change it up - use different sauces, toppings, and garnishes. Last time I made these, I used the non-fat plain Greek yogurt on top! I normally measure with the 21 Day Fix portion control containers as I serve, but each serving (without Greek yogurt) is about 1.5 red, 1 yellow, 1 green, and 1 blue.

Try it out, let me know how you like it, be sure to share and comment! I will be making it a point to share recipes here at least once a week so stay tuned! :)




Ingredients:

1 head of romaine lettuce
3 chicken breasts
3/4 cup of hot sauce
1 cup crumbled Feta cheese
Mrs Dash seasoning (to taste)
1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt (optional)
1/2 can of corn (optional)
1/2 can of black beans (optional)
Crushed/minced garlic (optional)

(3-4 servings)

  • Cut raw chicken into small pieces and season with Mrs Dash
  • Brown in medium skillet on medium-high heat (with garlic - optional)
  • Toss chicken in a small mixing bowl with hot sauce
  • Add equal parts of chicken, corn and beans (optional), Feta cheese, and Greek yogurt (optional) to each romaine leaf
  • Grab a cup of milk to combat that spiciness and ENJOY! :)

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

NEW Accountability group starts August 31st





If you are interested in joining me, please email me at teamheartandswole@hotmail.com OR shoot me a message on my Facebook like page at www.facebook.com/teamheartandswole :)

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Tomato Avocado Melt


Tomato Avocado Melt
{VEGETARIAN}


The kids and I LOVE this yummy recipe. Through pictures, it might not look like the most appetizing thing ever, but just trust me on this one. Between the avocado and the Veganaise, it really balances out the kick from the cayenne pepper. On a side note, if you haven't given Veganaise a try or you're skeptical, I promise you it's worth trying. As far as the taste, I prefer it over mayonnaise and it's a slightly healthier alternative. I get mine at my local health food store but you can also find it at Publix! I also get the Ezekiel bread from the same health food store.






Start by slicing an avocado and 2 Roma tomatoes. As you may have noticed, I have two different kinds of tomatoes here (whoops!). I used a regular tomato to make extra for the kids, but normally I stick to just Roma tomatoes.





Place 4 slices of Ezekiel bread (or whole wheat bread) on a baking pan or broil pan. Spread Veganaise (or your favorite mayo) on each slice and sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Both of these can be measured by your preference. I usually prefer a little extra Veganaise than normal. Just remember, the more cayenne pepper you add, the spicier! (My kids don't like it very spicy)

Top each slice of bread with the sliced tomato, avocado, and one slice of Colby Jack cheese on each slice of bread. I'm a little OCD with the layout here, almost like I'm playing Tetris LOL.




Broil on HIGH for just 2 or 3 minutes. Keep a close eye, because these babies can burn pretty quick. I learned that the hard way...

VIOLA! A quick, healthy, and YUMMY lunch that even the kids will love. Please feel free to comment and tell me how you liked it if you made it for you and yours! :)







Ingredients:

4 slices of Ezekiel bread OR whole wheat bread
2 Roma tomatoes
1 avocado
4 slices Colby Jack cheese
2 tbsp Veganaise OR your favorite mayo
4 dashes cayenne pepper

{2 servings}

  • Thinly slice tomatoes and avocado
  • Line Ezekiel bread on a pan
  • Set broiler to HIGH
  • Spread Veganaise on bread and sprinkle with cayenne pepper
  • Top with tomatoes, avocado, and a slice of Colby Jack per slice of bread
  • Broil on HIGH for just 2-3 minutes
  • Let cool and ENJOY!

Friday, August 14, 2015

Welcome!

Hi everyone!!

I'm currently setting up this blog so that I can give you all even MORE fitness tips, recipes, and encouragement!

Stay tuned - the first post will be up tomorrow!

I'm so excited to share this with you all and I want to thank you for your continued support, it truly means the world.