HEALTHY "Hamburger Helper"

I have never actually made or have eaten Hamburger Helper but I thought this would be what it is like EXCEPT healthier!!! So........

Cook 1 lb lean ground meat (grass fed if you can because it is beyond delicious) or ground turkey then drain and place in 9 x 13 baking dish. Season meat with Badia seasoning and a dash of pepper and cumin or whatever you feel you may like....

Cook 2 c elbow macaroni for half the time indicated on the box then rinse in cold water and add to the baking dish.

Add:
1/3 c sour cream
1 c plain Greek yogurt
1/3 salsa
1/4 chopped pineapple
1 c chopped peppers
1/2 c chopped onion
1 c shredded Mexican cheese

Mix all together.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 min then add 1/4 whole wheat panko breadcrumbs and 1/4 c shredded Mexican cheese and bake for another 15 min.

Let it set and cool for 5 min or so then cut. This makes enough to feed an army.
***Use lean meat, whole wheat/grain noodles and Greek yogurt to make sure this is a healthier version!
Enjoy!
xo-A

Chicken & Squash with Tomato Basil Pasta

Chicken & Squash with Tomato Basil Pasta

You will need 1/2 lb to 3/4 lb chicken breast or tenders. Cook chicken w/ a little salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, paprika and lemon juice.  Then set aside.

 

Cook the following in skillet over med heat for about 8 to 10 min while the water for the pasta is boiling:

2 c sliced yellow squash and zucchini

1/4 c chopped white onion

1 tsp. minced garlic

2 tbsp. chopped fresh basil leaves

1tsp. light olive oil

2 tsp. lemon juice and a bit of zest

 

 

Cook pasta-I found these amazing tomato basil noodles by "Amish Wedding"-no preservatives, colors or salt in them AND 9 g of protein in each serving!

 

Add 2 c marinara sauce-I like "Mama Rosa" brand to the veggies. Also,  add the chicken back in. Let it simmer on low together while the pasta is cooking for about 12 min.

 

Drain the pasta and then combine in skillet with everything else. Give it a toss and let them all become friends for a few min before serving.

 

Serve with green salad and make sure everyone is a member of the "Clean Plate Club"-that is what we do here at our house and how we encourage our 4 yr old to eat it all up-yes even that mushy squash he ate so he could be in the club!!

 

Enjoy! xoxo-A

 



Beautiful Not Easy

Yes, I am a personal trainer and yes I work out a lot but the truth is.....none of this is any easier for me than it is for you!!! Running and training for a half marathon is hard. Eating clean is hard. Saying no to going out and going to the gym instead is hard too. Limiting your alcohol and sugar intake, guess what, also HARD!

Even with being a more active person than you may be right now does not mean that any of this comes any easier to me but my advantage is knowing how great the reward is when I am done and when I make good choices!! It will get less hard mentally when you show yourself that you too can eat right and exercise over and over again. It is about forming new habits, changing old ones, doing things that truly make you feel and look good inside and out. It is all worth it.

When I run it is a challenge each and every time-long runs and short-they are all semi torturous to me. It is something that I am not used to doing so I have to work at it. I have to breath right, dress right, eat right, drink right, sleep right...all the stars must align for me to kill a run but when I do there is almost no better feeling than knowing you prepared properly and then hitting a home run! What ever it is that you are doing in your life-maybe it is with your school work or your "work" work, all the same principals apply!  No matter where you are at you must push through and you must keep going. I have come to really understand that a balanced person is a happy person. Set goals and show yourself that you can reach them, break them even. Then break them again! You will be amazed with you-every awesome inch!!

This past weekend I was on an 8 mile run through the city and during that run I passed two spots that greatly used to bother me. I ran past two different fields where my husband (at the time) and his girlfriend (at the same time) played in an adult kickball league. I ran past with such satisfaction and happiness as if it never happened and I counted my lucky stars that I am who I am now and have in my life who I have now. If you are struggling with your past in anyway do something else to overcome it. The answer is not revenge or anger.There is nothing you can do to change it but you can change you for the absolute better-even better than you were then, because you were. That is the goal here, keep getting better every single day. This again can apply to anything in your life not just fitness but in my opinion being fit is where it all starts. It is a confidence booster and a way to reflect on the journey your life has taken you on so far.  The journey I am on...... building my muscles which in turn is building my self- esteem/worth and love for life-because it is beautiful but it sure isn't EASY.


xoxo
A 

Greek ground turkey tacos

 

Greek Ground Turkey Tacos

Step 1:

Cook 1 lb ground turkey in skillet with 2 tsp minced garlic

After the turkey starts to brown a little add the following:

1/2 c chopped green and yellow or red pepper

1/4 c chopped sweet onion

2 tsp kalamata paste

1/4 c chopped kalamata olives

Season with pinch of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder and 1 tsp oregano

I used a bag of "Steamfresh" brown rice and added into the mix at this point (totally optional though)

Step 2:

For the toppings chop the following:

Tomatoes

Spinach leaves

Cucumber

Feta cheese

Makes a great salad, wrap or taco!!! The ground turkey/rice mixture also is great on its own for a meal the next day!

Enjoy! A

 

 

Ultimate Oatmeal

Ultimate Oatmeal w/ greek yogurt, almond butter, almond milk, protein powder, strawberries and cinnamon!

Mix together:

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Microwave for 1 min

Add and stir in:

1/2 scoop vanilla creme protein powder

1 tsp plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp almond butter

As much cinnamon as you want-about 1/4 tsp or so

Microwave for another 1 and 1/2 min (oatmeal is tricky so you have to keep an eye on it when it is in the microwave or it will explode-not fun to clean up but not the worst thing that can happen in your day!)

Slice your favorite berries or apples and top off (about 1/2 cup chopped)

Essential to a balanced breakfast, you have your clean oats (complex carbs) and protein (Greek yogurt, almond butter and powder) with a kiss of natural sugar from the berries!!

Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!!!

xoxoxo-A

 

Chicken, peppers and angel hair tossed with pnb & soy sauce

What you will need:

Seasonings: (1/2 tsp of each)

ginger

garlic powder

cinnamon

dry mustard

blk pepper

Sauce:

2 tsp Light olive oil or reg olive oil

1 tsp natural peanut butter

1/4 c lite sodium soy sauce

2 tsp sriracha or hot sauce

whisk together and add into pan right before you drop the pasta in to toss

Peppers and onions:

1/2 cup sliced red onion, 2 cups chopped sweet peppers-yellow, red, orange

Chicken:

cube 1 and 1/2 lbs chicken breast and boil in water for 8 min. Drain and then add back to pan with 1/4 c water remaining. Add to the skillet 1 tsp unsalted butter, 2 tsp minced garlic, the peppers and onions. Season with the above seasonings evenly and cook for 10 min on med while the pasta cooks.

Angel hair or other pasta:

Whole grain, 4 servings-cook according to package

Toss all together and serve! Serves 3 adult portions and one hungry 4 year old!



Enjoy! A

Mustard chicken, roasted butternut squash and blue cheese salad

Mustard chicken, butternut squash and blue cheese salad!!!

(Inspired by two fellow blogger’s recipes!)

Chicken-cook ½ lb chicken breast or tenders in skillet with:

2 tsp lime juice and pineapple juice, dash salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder and 2 tsp honey or spicy mustard

Roast 2 c cubed butternut squash in pan with dash salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and parsley on 350 for 40 to 45 min

Assemble the following for the “salad”: 2 c chopped Iceberg lettuce, 1 c arugula, 1 chopped tomato, ¼ c crumbled blue cheese and ¼ c chopped red onions

Dressing: I used Chef Tim’s sweet balsamic vinaigrette (it is so good!!)

I also did this on a day that I worked from 6 am to 1 pm then again from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm….so during the afternoon I made the chicken and stored it in the fridge. I prepared the squash and then my boyfriend put it in the oven at 7:15 so when I came home at 8 pm all I had to do was put the lettuce and veggies together then add the squash and chicken. The squash had cooled down a little bit but was still warm (not hot). I microwaved the chicken for 45 sec just so it wasn’t cold but again not hot.

Timing and Teamwork made this happen with little effort and it was so good!!! Even if you get home late you can still eat healthy-just takes a little planning!

Makes 2 adult sized dinner salads!

 

ENJOY!!!

XOXO-A