Margarita Style Portobello Pizzas

You know those recipes you read and think, "OMG I can't wait for my husband to go out of town so I can make that???" ...what? That's only me?? Lol! The hubs HATES pesto. He will grimace if he even senses I may have used it on a dish. He tolerates mushrooms, but that's only been in the last ten years or so. FUN FACT: We've been together for more than half my life! Crazy, right???

Anywho, when I read this recipe originally I knew I would love it but for the two reasons listed above PLUS the fact that it was a vegetarian dish, I knew this was going to be a cooking-for-one sort of night. Who would have thought I would have two back-to-back posts about cooking for one??

This recipe is a great way to use up those end of summer tomatoes. It's also a really great way to satisfy the cravings for a hearty Italian meal when you are trying desperately to stay on track and be good (or...in the land of my 21 Day Fixers, you are trying to save a yellow container for wine!!). 

One of my FAVORITE successes EVER from a
21DF challenger!!!

Speaking of 21DF, I'm so PUMPED to start my next challenge group on Monday! It's a crazy time of year for our family with school starting back up, but that is all the more reason to have a fabulous accountability group making sure I get my workouts in and stay on track nutritionally. My last group just ended and the ladies lost an average of 5.5 inches each--and that's during the summer (aka the season of never ending pool parties and vacations!!). Everyone also reported some great "non scale victories" too--fitting in pants they hadn't worn in years, getting back into prepregnancy clothing, feeling confident, noticing the program become lifestyle not "diet."

 ...AND 21 Day Fix is on SALE through tomorrow. If you commit to giving Shakeology a shot for one month (and you know you're curious!!), you get 21 Day Fix for just $10. That's a no brainer, y'all!! Comment below if you want more info about the challenge group or the sale!! Ok, back to business!! I loved how quickly this recipe came together and how yummy my kitchen smelled! This recipe is a stretch on 21DF, but I would look at it as probably two green containers, a red container, a blue container, and 1-2 of your gray teaspoons. 

Margarita Style Portobello Pizzas 
(yields two servings)

Ingredients:
2 large portobello caps, stems removed and gills scraped out
2 tbsp prepared basil pesto
1 roma tomato
4 slices of fresh mozzarella (from the little ball; not a "Kraft" package ;) )
Salt and pepper
EVOO

Preparation:

You're going to LOVE everything about this.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. While over is warming prep mushrooms by wiping with a wet paper towel, removing stems, and gently scraping gills (the blackish part inside the cap). Rub each cap with a small amount of EVOO and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Place caps gill side down on a foil-lined baking sheet (clean up is SO EASY this way!) and roast for 5 minutes. Flip mushrooms over (now gill side up) and roast for an additional 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, use a serrated knife to slice the tomato and mozzarella. Remove mushrooms from oven (if any liquid has formed inside the cap, drain this off in the sink before "stuffing" the pizzas). Top each cap with 1 tbsp of pesto, 2 slices of fresh mozzarella, and 2-3 slices of tomato. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the top of each pizza, and return to the oven for 5-8 minutes (or until mozzarella has reached your desired state of melty goodness).

 Serving suggestion: I enjoyed my pizza over a bed of quick sauteed spinach to add some "green" to the plate...and my belly :) I just heated a small amount of EVOO in a pan with red pepper flakes and garlic. Careful not to burn the garlic! Add 3-4 handfuls of baby spinach and use tongs to turn it over in the oil. Add a few tbsps of water to the pan and allow spinach to wilt. This whole process seriously takes no more than 3 minutes!!

3 Day Refresh Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Results!

The month May in teacher-land goes a little like this: treats in the lounge, teacher appreciation week treats, treats because we're tired, "Yes a latte sounds great," happy hours to celebrate the end of the year, luncheons to celebrate the end of the year, another happy hour to celebrate the last day...you get the idea. So with summer finally upon us and daily bathing suit wearing in my plans (pool in backyard = daily entertainment for toddler. Mom win!), I felt a little "fluffier" than I wanted to. Additionally, I had noticed myself giving in to cravings without being able to drum up an ounce of will power.

Enter the 3 Day Refresh.

I've done one round of 3 Day Refresh before. That was more of a "I want to know what this is all about" adventure." This time was "I need a reset like yesterday."

Day One meals! Fiber Sweep and yummy afternoon snack
not pictured :)

The Good:
-There's real food, y'all. Yes, the food is only in the form of vegetables and fruit, but this isn't juice cleanse or something radical.
-My days started with Vegan Chocolate Shakeology. You can't go wrong there.
-Fell in love with coconut sparkling water all over again. Perfect summertime drink!
-Forgot how much I really enjoy hot tea--was a relaxing way to end each day, and has wayyyyy fewer calories than the glass of red wine I had been sipping nightly before this Refresh.
-Dinner each night was followed with Vanilla Fresh (a protein packed vegan shake), so it was sort of like having dessert :)

The Bad:
-10AM Fiber Sweep drink. I will admit that this is 100% better than other fiber drinks I've gulped while doing things like a 10 day cleanse (why on earth did I ever do something like this for ten days when it can be done in three??????)
-Little hasn't been sleeping super great lately, so I really missed coffee on Day Two. Toughed it out and made it through the day thanks to some accountability from the husband and some friends!

The Results:
-Down four pounds
-Feel less "fluffy"...the perpetual teacher's lounge bloat is gone.
-Didn't go for coffee first thing this AM! I eventually had some because I love it, but I actually had enough energy to get my workout in first thing this morning.
-Got the slap in the face I needed. I do not need to eat every scrap that Little leaves on her plate. I will enjoy veggies with hummus as much as I would pretzels or pita chips.

I feel ready to dig in and cross some goals off my list now. It's almost like I needed this little wake up call to remind myself of why maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to me. In fact, my lunch today was almost identical to the lunch I had yesterday on Day Three because that was what sounded good to me.

I needed this reminder!!

Check my facebook page (fb.com/fitfoodiefam) soon to see my hot husband's results! He's been such a trooper. I'm super impressed with how well he has stuck to the plan despite it being a really low calorie cleanse. He didn't even bat an eyelash when I reminded him we would be "refreshing" on our 8th wedding anniversary. Our toast to many more years just featured sparkling coconut water instead of prosecco this year :)

Interested in trying 3 Day Refresh? Follow this link, or comment below and I'll send you the deets and help you get back on track!

21 Day Fix Approved: Baked Chicken Fajitas

I have a GREAT group of ladies in the middle of their 21 Day Fix journey right now. I'm always inspired by my challengers, but something about this group and their tenacity, dedication, and positivity has me pretty overwhelmed. Add in that each of them has a list a mile long (don't we all???) of reasons to NOT be taking care of themselves ("I have a small baby at home," "I work full time," "I HATE cooking."....I could go on and on!), and I'm even more inspired by their successes. After just ten days, here are a few of the victories (scale and non-scale!!) they shared with me...

-"I didn't skip a single workout!"
-"I...realized how much water I was not drinking. I'm carrying a water bottle now."
-"I think I'm more flexible."
-"I zipped a pair of shorts I haven't worn in two years, and my waist is down a 1/2 an inch!"
-"I'm just proud of myself for not giving up...I'm only down a few pounds, but I love how Autumn reminds me it is one pound at a time."

Y'all. That's the reason I do this. It isn't about a quick fix. And even though this program is only three weeks long and usually has pretty ridiculous results (one of my challengers is down 18 lbs after two rounds of 21 Day Fix!!!), it's not about the "get fit quick" scheme. You aren't ingesting anything that isn't whole food based and good for you. There aren't weird supplements or creams. If quick results are all you are after, you need to find a different blog to read because I'm more impressed with the little victories like the ones I shared. These women have committed to making LIFE STYLE changes. Is it always easy? No. Are there days that are harder than others? Yes. But are we making small changes that over time will have a lasting effect for the health and well being of both ourselves and those we live with and love? Absolutely.

OK. Stepping down from my soap box :)

Last night I asked my gals what had been their favorite meal so far. The first vote was for this quick and easy Baked Chicken Fajita dish...that I coincidentally was making as the comment was posted to facebook, lol! I LOVE that in the time that it takes for my oven to preheat, I have the whole dish ready to go. Heat up some tortillas and slice an avocado while the fajitas are baking, and dinner is served!

Warning...your home will smell like a fiesta!

Baked Chicken Fajitas
(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 Tbsp EVOO
2 tsp chili powder (I usually opt for 1/2 chipotle chili powder and 1/2 regular...I like heat!)
2 tsp tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as Rotel)
1 medium onion, sliced
1 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 small green bell pepper, cut into strips

Sliced avocado (optional)

Salsa (optional)

Corn tortillas

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips in a greased 13×9 baking dish.
In a small bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt.
Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat. Next add the tomatoes, peppers, and onions to the dish and stir to combine. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are done. Top corn tortillas with chicken, vegetables, avocado, and salsa.

Clean Eating Sriracha Chicken Tacos with Asian Slaw

Don't call it a comeback...but dang is this recipe worth coming back to y'all! And with a new domain! Man, oh man. Feelin' all sorts of fancy now ;)

This recipe was originally shared with me by a good friend. A few little tweaks to make it "my own" and WOW is really the only accurate description. This was such a fun recipe to add to the meal plan for my clean eating challengers this week--the group really stepped it up a notch by committing to eat clean for five days...AND workout utilizing Beachbody OnDemand. It was so fun to mix up the workout schedule a bit and try a different program by a different trainer every day. It's so nuts that seriously THOUSANDS of dollars worth of programming is available on Beachbody OnDemand for the teensy fee of about $12.99 a month. Oh...and the nutrition guides are uploaded too! Good grief!
If you'd like to be a part of my next challenge, be sure to follow my Fit Foodie Fam facebook page to hear when we're gearing up for the next challenge!

This is the face of a girl super stoked about
leftovers for lunch....at 8pm the night before.

Sriracha Chicken Tacos with Asian Slaw
(serves 4-5)

Ingredients:

For the chicken

2 cups chicken breast, cooked, shredded (I love to cook shredded chicken in the crockpot!)

1 tablespoon coconut oil

2 tablespoons fresh ginger, diced

3 garlic cloves, diced

2 tbsp Sriracha

3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

1/8 teaspoon paprika

For the slaw: 

1/2 cup carrots, shredded

1 bag "fiesta" coleslaw (I found it at HEB; it has cabbage, carrots, and some broccoli, too! You could sub any bagged coleslaw mix.)

1/4 cup green onion, chopped

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1/2 poblano, thinly sliced

3 tbsn low-sodium soy sauce

2 tbsn honey

1 tbsn sesame oil

1 tbsn rice wine vinegar

1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

1/2 tspn black pepper

For serving: 
Whole wheat tortillas

Sriracha

Preparation: 
To make the slaw: In the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce through black pepper. Toss in all remaining ingredients till combined. Let marinate for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours in the fridge.

To make the chicken: In a small bowl, whisk together sriracha through paprika. Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic and stir for about 30 seconds (until fragrant). Stir in chicken and cook for 1 minute. Add sriracha mixture, and cook till warmed through. If it seems a little dry, add a tablespoon or two of water to loosen the mixture.

To assemble the tacos: Fill tortilla with chicken and slaw. Top with sriracha, if desired. Enjoy!

21 Day Fix Approved Pizza ... or "Pit-za"

Not sure I can count this as a recipe or if anyone will ever be able to recreate the delisciousness. Some times the best dinners are born out of an unexpected change of plans and a picky toddler ;)

Our girl has ALWAYS been a hearty eater. We’ve only had a few items be met with objections, and her favorites for a long time cracked me up—a kid who squeals at the sight of broccoli? You’re kidding, right? Somewhere in the beginnings of the (premature) “terrible twos” though, she’s developed a few new teeth and some seriously strong opinions. Two weekends ago, for example, homegirl subsided on nothing but Trader Joe’s cereal bars and mandarin oranges. This past weekend, if you wanted to serve her a banana, don’t you dare give it to her sliced, or it will be fed to the dog. But offer it whole? Devoured. Oye.

Kiddo approved cous-cous with
Italian seasoned ground beef, carrots, and spinach

I made our favorite, go-to chicken dinner Friday night, and discovered our girl LOVED it the next day when I cautiously attempted to serve it to her for lunch. Same thing happened the following day, so when I got home Monday evening I was intent on quickly throwing together a couscous dish that would sneak some protein and veggies in unbeknownst to the Boss Lady. So below is the “recipe” (if you can even call it that!) for C’s dinner…which then morphed into the most delicious thing I’ve made since I started 21 Day Fix again last month.

The last two rounds of 21 Day Fix have been WONDERFUL. The support of REAL women with REALLY busy lives. Delicious meals focused on portion control instead of calorie counting (ain’t NOBODY got time for that). An easy, go to super food shake to help meal prep be easy breezy and to really curb cravings throughout the day. And…fantastic FAST workouts—seriously finished in 30 minutes—that eliminate the jiggley bits and make you feel STRONG.

We’ve had so much fun and the results have been SO amazing that I’m gearing up to start a new group with new challengers on 3/16—leave a comment below with your email, reach out to me on facebook, or send me an email at fitfoodiefamATgmailDOTcom. You get accountability, support, and I share my meal plan and grocery list with you for all 21 days!

You could totally commit to a program that lets you eat this, right????

Saved a "yellow" container for some vino!!

OK—y’all forgive me on this recipe. It was the most off-the-cuff thing I’ve done in a while, but it worked so beautifully. I’m attempting to recreate the steps in my head (but you have to remember my brain works at about 97.56 MPH 24/7!). 21 Day Fixers: I counted one “pit-za” as one yellow, one red, one green, and a generous blue container. I wouldn’t have this every night while “fixing”, but it’s a great treat meal!

21 Day Fix Approved “Pit-za”

(Yields: 2 servings)

Ingredients:

2-3 tbsp EVOO, divided

1 lb lean, organic ground beef

¼ cup shredded carrots

1 can petite diced tomatoes (divided)

1 ½  tspn garlic powder (divided)

1 tspn Italian seasoning

1 tspn oregano (divided)

Pinch of red pepper flakes

1/4 cup tomato sauce (add more if needed)

2 whole wheat pitas

Assorted veggies for topping (I used red and green bell peppers and sliced mushrooms)

½ cup mozzarella cheese

¼ cup feta cheese (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stove, and add 2 tbsp of EVOO to pan to heat. Add ground beef and cook till brown and crumbly. Drain excess oil. Add carrots, 1 tspn garlic powder, 1 tspn Italian seasoning, ½ tspn of oregano, and half of the can of diced tomatoes to pan and stir to combine. ***At this point, I removed half of the beef mixture and stirred into a package of prepared whole wheat couscous with some finely chopped frozen spinach. This was the “toddler” version of dinner because for some unknown reason, my kid doesn’t like pizza. Go figure.***

Brush the remaining tbsp of EVOO on the pita bread and pop in the oven on a baking sheet or pizza pan to begin toasting up a bit. Keep an eye on them, so they don’t burn. I recommend 5-7 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, using my magic bullet, I puréed the remaining diced tomatoes with the remaining spices (1/2 tspn of oregano, ½ tspn of garlic powder, and pinch of red pepper flakes)—this was mostly because I didn’t want “chunky” tomatoes on my pizza. You could skip this step—but at your own risk ;)

Pull pitas out of the oven. Top each with a “red” container (for my 21 day fixers!) of the meat mixture. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on both pitas. Top with desired veggies, then sprinkle with feta cheese if using. Pop “pit-zas” back in the oven for a few minutes to allow veggies to cook and cheeses to get melty (probably 5-10 minutes)

21 Day Fix Approved: Balsamic Beef Stew

I've hosted several 21 Day Fix groups in the last year as a Beachbody coach. They're always fun. They're always full of great women that keep me motivated. But this month's group has seriously blown me away. Not only are their results ASTOUNDING--

 "I just had my second baby three months ago--and I can't WAIT for bikini season! ...I'm blown away by how my body has changed from day one. I am so beyond excited and pumped about round two. At this point, I have 0 cravings for junk food and NO desire to have a cheat meal; my only craving now is to see more and more results!"

 "I got into a smaller pair of jeans today! Woohoo!!"

"I'm so glad I did this for myself. You have made this process SO easy to follow!"

 Y'all. My cup runneth over. These are real people. Mamas with kiddos. Mamas with full time jobs. Mamas making their health a priority. When I started this journey almost a year ago, it was to get myself back in shape after having our daughter. My "WHY" was selfish--not a bad reason, but totally just about me. Now, each and every day I make sure I get a workout in; I make sure I plan and prepare quick, healthy meals for my family; and I "treat" myself to a super foods milkshake to get in all the nutrients I need as a busy working mama...but it's not about me any more. It's about making it a priority so other's can see that it is possible. I want to help other people reach goals, get well, and be proud of themselves for the changes they've made. And, I want it to be realistic for the average, crazy-busy mamas like me. Small goal--next year I plan to help TWICE as many people as I had the opportunity to this year. What are you waiting for??

Sappy soapbox aside, this week my gals enjoyed a DELISH balsamic beef stew that simmered away low and slow in the crock pots. It took me just 10 minutes before the little one and I loaded up to head out for our day to get this goodness ready. And...it's a totally new twist on "21 Day Fix Approved"--when you break it down, a serving counts as one RED (the beef), one GREEN (the carrots, celery, and onion), and one YELLOW (the sweet potatoes). I made a point to pull out each item and load up my containers to see if I would still get as generous a helping as I wanted, lol. And dang, y'all. It made for a LARGE serving! Enjoy!

21 Day Fix APPROVED: Balsamic Beef Stew 
Ingredients: 
2 lbs stew beef or venison (organic/grass fed if you can!)
2 cups beef or vegetable stock (low sodium preferred)
1 TBS balsamic vinegar
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 stalks of celery, roughly chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
 2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tspn basil
1 tspn rosemary
1 tspn thyme

 Preparation:*This part is so easy I'm almost embarrassed to type it...* 

Place meat in crockpot. Add liquids, then add all other ingredients and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

21 Day Fix Dinner: Buffalo Style Turkey Burger Wraps

A few things strike me as unbelievable this morning....

1. Summer break is nearly over :( I've really enjoyed my time with my little this summer. She's at SUCH a fun age.

2. We're in new house!! The transitition period between selling our previous home and closing on our new home was a bit rough for the whole fam (I think the dog took it the hardest, lol!), so it's nice to settle in.

3. I'm on day 3 (aka THE LAST DAY!) of my first round of 3 Day Refresh! I've really not hated ("loved" felt a tad too strong, haha!) this cleanse. It's SO different from any others I've done. And y'all, we eat pretty well most of the time. As a rule, I try to make as much of what we eat as I can and avoid overly processed alternatives when possible. But in the summer time....hot dogs just smell too good on the grill. And a cold beer on a patio? Umm I'll have another. So this has been a good mid-summer reset for me. Despite lbs not really being a focus for me, the scale is showing three lbs less today than it did on Monday. Ain't nobody gonna be made at that!

4. I've never blogged my fave recipe! I've shared this with a few of my clean eating challenges, and even posted it on the Fit Foodie Fam facebook page, but never here! So here you go!

Buffalo Style Turkey Burger Wraps

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey

½  zucchini shredded (use your cheese grater)

1/2 cup shredded carrots (chop a little to make pieces smaller)

½ cup green onions, sliced

1 egg, beaten

1 tbsp EVOO or coconut oil

½ cup Frank’s Red Hot or Frank’s Buffalo sauce

Lettuce (for “buns”)

Carrot sticks

Celery stalks

Preparation: 

In a large bowl, combine turkey and next four ingredients till mixed (careful not to over mix, or you’ll end up with tough burgers!). Form into four patties. Heat oil over medium heat in nonstick skillet. Cook burgers for 4-6 minutes per side, until cooked through (inside no longer pink and/or reached internal temp of 165 degrees). Pour sauce into pan, and flip burgers to coat. Turn temp to low and let sauce “cook” into burgers for 2 minutes.

Serve wrapped in a lettuce leaf with carrots and celery.

**If you NEED/absolutelycan’tlivewithout ranch or blue cheese with wings, limit yourself to 1-2 tspns with your burger and only use the brand with the least number of ingredients you can find. 21 Day Fixers--try a dollop of greek yogurt to satisfy the need for something cool and creamy with the firey buffalo sauce!

Healthier Shrimp and Grits

I'm from the south. Born and raised in Texas. That means a few things are absolute truths:

1. When I say, "Would you like a Coke?", I prob mean Dr. Pepper :)
2. "Y'all" is a contraction I teach in my Language Arts class.
3. Football is a religion. When we planned our wedding, stern instructions were given that it was not to take place during football season (the husband neglected to give the same directions for babies though....lol!)
4. Our regional cuisine isn't always the most figure friendly (but I triple dog dare you to find one that is tastier!)

Moving to Houston after spending 3 years in Michigan meant that we were returned to the land of sweet tea and Tex-Mex. We weren't as familiar with cajun cuisine, but it sure didn't take long for us to warm up to it....or to notice that jeans weren't buttoning as easily as they once had.

I included this meal as a part of a clean eating challenge I hosted this week, and it received RAVE reviews; so I'm glad to share it with y'all. The pic isn't the best, so my apologies for that one...I didn't really intend to post this recipe, but peer pressure is fierce!!

If you're bummed you missed my clean eating challenge this month, you still have a chance to join in on my upcoming 21 Day Fix challenge--we will combine three fiercely important components to achieving long lasting results...
     *FITNESS (thirty minute workouts done in the comfort of my living room? Yes, please!)
     *NUTRITION (a clearly outlined nutritional plan that focuses on portion control, rather than calorie counting and incorporates Shakeology once a day as a dense--and delicious--nutrition boost!)
     *SUPPORT (a super positive, super pumped-up accountability group where we will share meal plans, recipe ideas, and keep each other focused and motivated)

If you want to join our challenge, comment below and I'll send you the details!!

Red Pepper Shrimp (aka lighter Shrimp 'N Grits!)
Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine

Ingredients:

For the grits:

1/2 cup quick-cooking grits

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp salt

¼ cup  + 2 tbsp (for serving) shredded cheddar cheese

For the shrimp:

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

12 oz peeled & deveined shrimp

1 tbsp  EVOO or Coconut oil

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

Pinch of cayenne

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp salt

2 medium scallions, diced finely

Preparation:

1.       Prepare grits: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil on high heat. Stir in grits and return to a boil. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, stir in garlic powder, Worcestershire, cayenne, salt, and cheese; cover and set aside.

2.       Meanwhile, prepare red pepper shrimp: Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add oil to pan to heat, then add peppers and lightly coat pepper with cooking spray. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until pepper begins to lightly brown on edges. Set aside on a plate.

3.       In a medium bowl, combine shrimp with remaining ingredients, except scallions and cheese, and stir until well coated. Add mixture to skillet in a single layer and cook on medium-high, without stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes, until shrimp is opaque in center. Remove from heat and stir in red pepper and scallions.

4.       To serve, divide grits among 4 dinner plates and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Spoon equal amounts of shrimp mixture over top.

21 Day Fix Wrap Up ...and easy Tilapia Tacos!

Today marks day 21 of the 21 Day Fix!! I couldn't be more pumped about how I feel, how I look, and how my eating habits have changed. The program not only get your butt in gear, it resets the way you think about portions and food groups. Autumn Calabrese did an amazing job putting together a work out plan that is manageable, and yet still leaves you sweating. The meal guidelines are clear, but flexible enough to accommodate cooking preferences, cravings, and even the occasional glass of wine :)

Things I learned during this process:
1. Meal planning is amazingly helpful in the land of the working mom with a seven month old. It was great to map out what I needed for the week and to grocery shop once a week.
2. Meal prep was crucial--I would grocery shop on Saturday or Sunday and spend Sunday evenings after little went to bed chopping and preparing anything that could be done in advance.
3. Sure, yogurt parfaits are pretty, but I did much better spacing the containers out and having a separate snack from the red container and the purple container.
4. I sure don't need to eat as much as I had been before the 21 Day Fix--it really got my eyes and my stomach on the same page on what is really needed.

I really think I'll continue to think with "containers" in  mind as I plan our meals and pack my snacks and lunch for the day. I'm starting a T25 Challenge group tomorrow and am stoked about continuing my journey towards a healthier and more fit me!!

Shameless plug--T25 Challenge Packs are still on sale!! Order by April 30 to save $90!!!

And the results...we've never had a scale in our home. I'm much more comfortable tracking goals and measuring progress with how I feel and how clothes fit (or don't fit, haha!). And today I got into my favorite jeans!! Haven't been able to squeeze into these since at least October 2012--but I held on to them!! And am dang glad I did!!

And for sticking till the end of this long post, here's a quick recipe to add to your weekly meal plan. Despite a little cheating on my fix this morning at Easter brunch with the family, this was almost 100% 21 Day Fix approved. If you're completing the fix, one serving would equal a red container, 1 yellows, and a green. The El Tiempo green sauce...well, that's negotiable how you'd count that :) We served it with a quinoa, black bean, corn, and pico de gallo salad that would also count as a yellow.

Quick Tilapia Tacos:

Ingredients:

3 tilapia loins

1 tspn cumin

1 tspn chipotle chile powder

1/2 to 1 tspn coconut oil (EVOO or cooking spray could be subbed)

4 corn tortillas, warmed

2 cups coleslaw mix

2 tbsp cilantro, chopped

1 lime

2-3 tbsp El Tiempo Green Sauce (HEB has a sauce called "That Green Sauce" that would work great, too!)

Preparation:

Mix coleslaw, green sauce, juice of 1/2 lime, and cilantro in a small bowl and set aside. Heat skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle tilapia loins with spices on both sides. Add coconut oil to pan. When oil is hot, add fish to pan cook for 3-4 minutes per side till fish flakes easily. Break fish into small pieces, and serve with coleslaw and green sauce on tortillas. Serving size is two tacos. Sliced avocado would have been yummy as a topping also, but ours had sadly gone bad. 

21 Day Fix Meal Plan: Week Three

Ok...I won't say that the creativity is fizzling, because I know that's not the case....but a weekend with the husband away has led me to short cut this week a bit and revert back to the week one meal plan with just some minor tweaks. Gotta make it to the grocery store before nap time this morning!! Sorry y'all!! I'll definitely blog some of the recipes I neglected to during week one, so you won't be left high and dry :)

I've been completely floored by the progress I've made using the 21 Day Fix. My body looks different. I feel different. I am thinking about portions differently. Just a little three week "reboot' has done me a whole lot of good :)

While I'm looking forward to the days where I don't have to mentally bargain with myself as to whether or not I really want another yellow container in my day or if a glass of wine would just be the wiser choice (haha!!), I know that many of the changes I've made in this short, short time will certainly be longer term than the 21 days I committed to this program.

Want to give the 21 Day Fix a shot? Comment below and let me know!! I would love to help you see these positive changes in your life!!

21 Day Fix--Meal Plan Week Two

Can't believe week one wraps up tomorrow! Y'all....the progress is real. I had to tighten the waist band on our Ergo baby carrier this AM so little would be snug and safe on our walk. I....wait for it...noticed my abs for the first time in a LONG time. Even before I became pregnant, I was a little "softer" around the middle than I had been, so to actually see the beginning of definition in my mid-section was super exciting :)

Things I learned during week one:

1. I'm much more likely to workout if I layout or pack my clothes in the AM. It's like they stare at me alllllll day long, haha!! I've really enjoyed getting a workout in at school with some of my coworkers--nothing works better than accountability partners!

2. Meal planning needs to have more overlapping ingredients and intentional meal prep on the weekend--with the babe becoming more active (which is SO fun), I'm exhausted by her bedtime. Having ingredients ready to throw together makes it a lot easier to not stop by Freebirds on the way home.

3. While yogurt parfaits and rice cake/PB/banana are pretty snacks, personally I need to be able to break the snack apart into pieces that can be eaten separately. You'll notice more "broken down" snacks this week--things I can munch on quickly during the breaks between my classes. This helps curb hunger and keep me focused.

4. Autumn Calabrese doesn't mess around! Her workouts are legit, y'all.

5. It was easy to focus on the meal plan last week because I made it a priorirty. I wanted to make sure I got used to the portion sizes and kept control of quality of ingredients myself. This coming week, there are a few places where I could definitely go off the deep end if I wanted (I'll share a pic of hte dessert table at our Teacher Appreciation Lunch....it's ridiculous!!), but I'm going to mentally focus on what the container sizes would look like while loading up at the buffet. Plus, it's hubby's 32nd birthday on Wednesday!! Going to sub a yellow container for some vino...totally worth it :)

Here's the meal plan! Underlined dinners are ones I hope to blog the recipes of during the week, so be on the lookout for those posts. I will also try super hard to post a grocery list for this week tomorrow (requested by the BFF!).

Shout out to Erin at Ecstatic Erin Gets Fit for the tostada recipe!! Visit and LIKE her FB page!!

Have questions about 21 Day Fix? Have goals I can help you reach? Let me know!!

21 Day Fix Dinner: Cedar-infused salmon and strawberry spinach salad

Day three of the 21 day fix is in the books! I really feel that the portion control aspect of the program has taught me so much--I'm eating more frequently, but the right amounts. And I'm not going hungry at all which tells me that my body is getting what it needs. And I just think the little containers are adorable! Haha!!

For workouts, I haven't been very good about sticking with Autumn's DVDs--there is a small group of us that workout together after work, and we've been sampling various Beachbody programs. Tuesday we did T25 (Beta round Core Cardio!) and today we tried Brazil Butt Lift--it was a blast!!! I can't get over that both of these programs are on sale this month!!! Both are AMAZING ways to tone up before summer arrives and brings with it swimsuits, shorts, and tank tops. Comment below if you'd like more info about the challenge pack promotions for the month.

I'm also super pumped to share that in honor of the sale, I'm cohosting a T25 challenge group that is set to begin April 21! Participating in a challenge group was the way I became hooked on Beachbody--the accountability is wonderful. Again, let me know if you'd like to know  more!!

On to the good stuff!! Tonight's meal was cedar-paper wrapped salmon and a yummy salad. Easy, delicious mid week meal that was a snap to throw together. Details below!!

Cedar-infused Salmon and Strawberry Spinach Salad

Ingredients:
2 4-6oz pieces of salmon
Cedar paper
1/2 lemon, sliced
1 teaspoon Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute (I use this stuff ALL THE TIME!! So good!)
3-4 cups baby spinach
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup pecans, chopped and toasted (pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds would be great here, too!)
1/4 cup feta cheese
Dressing of choice (I just doused with a favorite Cabernet Balsamic Vinegar I scored at Vincent Arroyo Winery on a girls' trip a few years back)

Preparation:
Submerge cedar paper in water, and soak for at least ten minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle salmon with the 21SS and top with a few lemon slices. Wrap in cedar paper so that the seam will be on the bottom of the salmon filet (alternatively, you could wrap with kitchen twine--you may want to soak that also). Place salmon bundles in a baking dish and roast for 18-21 minutes (depending on thickness and your preference).

While salmon roasts, arrange spinach on each plate. Divide berries, pecans, and feta between each salad, and dress as desired.

When salmon is cooked through, remove from cedar paper, discard lemons, and enjoy!!

A crisp sauv blanc would be delicious with this meal...post 21 Day Fix, of course!!

21 Day Fix--Week One Meal Plan

Getting excited to start the 21 Day Fix on Monday! I spent C's morning nap time planning out the meal plan for the first week. While I usually plan out a week's worth of dinners for us at a time, I have never planned out every single snack and meal, so it was an interesting process. It really feels like each day I will be eating a TON of food--not something you can usually say when you're trying to shed a few pounds and tone up!! The hubs is on board and totally supportive, which will certainly help...although I don't think he's ever turned down a meal I've made him!! Here's what we'll be having next week:

I'll be posting recipes for a lot of the items included on the meal plan soon, so be sure to check back!!

Getting started!

This first post has been a long time coming. Heck, this journey to a healthier me has been a long time coming! Looking forward to sharing some recipes, tracking progress on fitness goals, and sharing entertaining stories about our crazy little lady. Super excited to get started on my next fitness goal--the 21 Day Fix! I'll be posting food pics here as well as any recipes that are shareworthy, so stay tuned!

If you're interested in making some healthy changes in your life, ask me how!