Wraps

What an awesome way to sneak in veggies to your meals, wraps! When you get tired of salads and want just a little more try these Flat out multi grain wraps, the nutritional facts on these are amazing! Check it out:

1 wrap offers 8 g of FIBER, 9 g of PROTEIN and only 17g of total carbs at 100 calories. Load these up with veggies mostly then protein and cheese! I add hot sauce to mine and in these pictured above I used pesto paste, olive oil and greek yogurt to flavor the chicken as I cooked it.  So this combo was super fabulous and spicy with red onion, red pepper, cucumbers, banana peppers and a slice of mozzarella cheese.

One way, I find,  to keep eating healthy and not get bored is to think of the wrap, quinoa, rice,  whatever the grainy source as your blank canvas and keep creating from there! Have a healthy foundation to your meal always available or on hand! Also, trying different ethnic ways of cooking will add variety your meals so mix it up and get the whole family involved in finding new recipes. I am thinking next week I will keep my family fed while I try a different taste from around the world Monday through Friday, from Greek to Cuban to German-anything can be made healthier (even my YiaYia's Pastitsio)!



I hope these wraps make their way into your life! I know a package of 6 wraps is more expensive than a loaf of bread but to me it is totally worth it!!! I don't want just bread or even anything with the word "loaf' in it-ha! I want more for myself  and I want to make the most out of each bite that goes into fueling my body!

Enjoy! xo! A

Legs & Shoulders

My favorite muscle groups to work are by far my legs and shoulders! Use this as a guide but use the appropriate weight dumbbells for your level of fitness. You should always be challenging yourself-NEVER go through the motions, make your breathing rhythmic and push through the last few reps! Of course before you would try any of these exercises make sure your doctor approves that you are healthy enough!!

Start-warm up on the row machine for 5 min or go as fast as you can to 500 meters

Lightweight dumbbell circuit 7.5lbs 15 to 20 reps of front raises, flye, row and press. Repeat 2 to 3 times.

Power T with 7.5 dumbbells (or whatever you can handle that burns you out around rep 10 to 12) Power T is a front raise and a lateral raise to make the shape of a "T" together! yay! Repeat 2 to 3 times.

Seated heavy shoulder press with 2 or more times the weight you used in the above circuit. So in this case 15lb + pair of dumbbells-3 sets of 6 to 8 reps. Rest for 2 min between the heavy sets.

3 sets of 25 Calf Raises-inner, outer and straight-make sure you hit all three positions!! Remember to SQUEEZE!!!

Leg extension machine-3 sets of 15

"Aero Squats" or otherwise know as one-legged squats-3 sets of 15 on each leg

Cossack lunges-3 sets of 15

120 Walking lunges

Hip adductor and abductors machines-3 sets of 15 on each

Barbell thrusters heavy alternating with push ups-21 thrusters, 10 push ups, 15 thrusters, 10 push ups, 9 thrusters, 10 push ups-ALL in a row without stopping.....and now you are DONE!

Enjoy!!!

xoxoxo-A

HEALTHY ITALIAN TUNA BAKE

Directions & Ingredients:

6 oz Greek yogurt

8 oz lite sour cream

2 tsp tomato paste

1/4 c parmesan cheese

1/4 c white or spanish onion chopped

1/2 c chopped mushrooms

1/2 c chopped yellow, green or red peppers (or a combo)

2 cans white albacore tuna

2 cups dry mini penne or rotini whole grain pasta

1 c shredded mozzarella

1/4 to 1/2 c Italian breadcrumbs (whole wheat)-depending on your taste (go easy)

First, boil pasta just under what the directions tell you to because you are going to bake it for additional time.

At the same time in a pan on the stove on med heat mix the yogurt, sour cream and tomato paste with the following seasonings: garlic powder, basil, oregano, pepper, red pepperflakes and paprika. Mix well and let sit for 5 min until warmed all the way through.

Pour the cheesy sauce mixture into the baking dish-I used a 9x13. Strain the pasta and also pour into baking dish.

In the same pan add the veggies along with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar and let cook down for 5 to 7 min.

Lastly, combine all ingredients into the baking dish-finishing off with the shredded mozzarella, parmesan and breadcrumbs. (I also added fresh parsley and more black pepper at this point)

Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 min.

Enjoy!!!
A

Egg Bake

DIRECTIONS:

Cook 5 or so pancakes to line the bottom of your baking dish with-I used a  healthy buckwheat mix and only added water and unsweetened applesauce to make them. (You can also use Greek yogurt instead of applesauce.)

Add 1 cup frozen hash browns

Next, rough chop mushrooms-about 1/2 cup and cook 1/4 lb of sweet or spicy sausage with minced garlic and  some chopped onions to add to the mixture (mine was left over from another dinner so I didn't have to make it this go around)

Layer the meat and mushroom mixture on top of the pancakes and hash browns.

Next, add a 1/2 cup shredded cheese-I used a Colby jack mixture

Lastly, mix 4 eggs, 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup flour with pepper, parsley, red pepper flakes and hot sauce. pour egg mixture over and bake at 375 for 30 to 35 min.

Packed with protein and good carbs!!! So delicious! I love this so much because you can use whatever you have around, add any veggies you have, salsa, use ground turkey instead of sausage, omit the pancakes, change the cheese (spinach and feta with egg and hash would be great!!!) No butter was used to make this masterpiece. This my friends is what heaven looks like or at least what a kick ass brinner (breakfast+dinner) looks like !

 

Enjoy!!!

xoxoxo-A

SALMON with BLACK BEAN spaghetti

 

What you will need:

1 lb salmon

Black bean spaghetti-3 to 4 servings

1/2 c chopped yellow pepper

1/4 c chopped sweet or white onion

1/4 c chopped walnuts

Olive oil-drizzle

Honey-1 tsp

Hot sauce and/or combo with Sriracha sauce-3 tsp or more if you like it really spicy

Garlic-2 tsp minced

Lime juice-2 tsp

Wasabi mustard-2 tbsp

 Lite sodium soy sauce-1/4 c

Seasoning: Crushed red pepper, black pepper, ginger

Directions:

Bake salmon in oven approx 10 to 12 min on 400 degrees

Boil water and cook spaghetti for 6 min

In skillet over medium heat drizzle olive oil and add in yellow peppers, garlic, onions and walnuts let cook out for 5 min then add honey, wasabi, lime juice, soy sauce and hot sauce. Mix together well and add spaghetti again mixing around well or another 5 min or so. Add the salmon on top of the plated spaghetti mixture and serve-pouring any remaining juice/sauce over top.

Full of flavor and so good for you!!!
Enjoy!

xoxoxo-A

 

 

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce wraps! Love this idea and there are endless combinations you can prepare! Make it fun, think outside of the box...make them your own!

I used :

1 lb cubed chicken breast

1 c corn

1/4 c each onions, celery, carrots, silvered raw unsalted almonds

Seasoning for the mixture:

lime juice, cumin, Badia complete seasoning, cilantro,  parsley, ginger, crushed red pepper, pepper, garlic, 1/4 c lite sodium soy sauce (I would have made it spicier for sure with wasabi, Sriracha  and Red Hot if my son wasn't eating it too-he handled the above flavors great though!)

I sautéed the chicken first with all the seasonings/juice/sauce and slowly added in the veggies and then spot checked for taste and added more of whatever I thought it needed. Total cook time 20 min. Wrap in iceberg lettuce and serve-I need a little help on my wrapping skills but that will come! Enjoy!!! xoxoxo-A

Apple Tart Smoothie

Ingredients:

3/4 c Plain Greek yogurt (can sub with a banana and 1 scoop protein powder...will be less "tart' though)-which you may like even better!

1 small granny smith apple chopped-skin on

1/2 c almond milk, soy, skim or whatever you like-but keep it on the lite side

3 tsp oats

1 tsp chia seeds

2 tsp flax seeds

throw in a few of each: walnuts and almonds

3 ice cubes

Blend

Enjoy!

xoxoxo-A

Healthy Cheeseburger Pizza

[caption id="attachment_619" align="aligncenter" width="403"] Healthy Cheeseburger pizza[/caption]

Who says eating healthy isn't super yummy and delicious!? Make smarter choices and enjoy all of your favs! I used Greek yogurt, lean beef and a better crust choice than the traditional pizza and voila! I get to eat one of my favorite things and my jeans still fit! Awesome!

What you will need:

Crust-thin or whole wheat

Meat-ground turkey, lean or extra lean ground beef (1/2 lb)

Sauce: 3/4 c plain Greek yogurt, 2 tsp spicy brown mustard, 2 tsp ketchup, 2 tsp hot sauce, salt sparingly, pepper and red pepper flakes to your liking

Toppings: chopped onions, pickles, tomatoes

Cheese: 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or Colby jack cheese-the less cheese the better so go easy

Bake according to the crust instructions.

ENJOY!!!!

xoxoxo-A

 

2013 Resolutions!

Rev up my workouts-no 2 workouts should ever be the same!

Eat cleaner and even healthier!

Set weekly goals.

Organize my junk pile daily-don't worry I will never get rid of you....

Learn something new every day to then teach others!

Uplift others with positive compliments as much as possible!

Try new things-leave my comfort zone-that is where things happen!

Inspire others to be fit!

Own each day-no dwelling in the past or worrying about the future!

Notice the good in every situation!

Stick to my plans and goals!

 

When planning your goals or resolutions-be specific and think big!

Whatever you put your mind to you can do!!!

xoxoxo-A

Pomegranate pork roast

What you will need:

Pork roast-1.5 to 2 lbs

1/2 c arils (pomegranate)

1 lemon quartered

1 granny smith apple sliced

1/4 c chopped onion

2 stalks celery chopped

2 cups low sodium chicken stock

1/4 c lemon juice

Seasonings:

2 pinches sea salt, 3 pinches ground blk pepper, 2 pinches cinnamon, 3 pinches cummin, 2 pinches  parsley

Slow cook in crock pot on low for 5 to 7 hours. I am serving mine with clean baked hash browns topped with just a  little  shredded pepper jack cheese on top.

Enjoy!

xoxo-A