Cucumber Tuna Bites

Cucumber Tuna Bites

Ingredients: 

2tbsp Mayo
1 Can of Tuna
2tbsp Red Onion
1 Large Cucumber
1tsp Dill Weed
1/4tsp Ground Pepper
1/4 Avocado



 Total Calories = 400



Directions:
 - Mix tuna (drained), mayo, dill and ground pepper and set aside
 - Peel the cucumber and cut into bite size slices
 - Use the end of the peeler to hollow out the middle of the cucumber slices,     taking out the seeds
 - fill the cucumber cups with tuna

 -Top with slices of avocado and enjoy!

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Tasty and healthy! This is my awesome hubby's creation and I'm excited to share it. Brendan had to create his own recipe because we were missing a lot of key ingredients to a bunch of other recipes we found online.We haven't really cooked with quinoa or eaten it more than a couple of times so being experimental was kind of a shot in the dark, but he wanted to give it a try. To be completely honest, I wasn't expecting it to come out very good because we didn't have a lot to work with and I thought it might come out a little too plain or bland.  But boy was I wrong! I'm very impressed with Brendan's cooking skills and he definitely proved that sometimes the simplest recipes (meaning fewer ingredients) are the tastiest.

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

roasted peppers

coat in olive oil

grill for 4-6 min till skin starts to peel, or oven @ 450 for about 15 min, more or less depending how soft you like the peppers

quinoa

1 cup quinoa

2 cups chicken/veg stock

-bring quinoa to boil, then turn down to low/med for 10-12 min till quinoa is fluffy, toss with a fork

sauce

half red onion

cloves of garlic

garlic salt

pepper

roma tomatoes

parsley

-caramelize onions and garlic, add garlic salt and pepper to mix

-add tomatoes after onions are caramelized

-continue cooking on low/med for about 5 min, stir occasionally

-add the quinoa, add parsley, stir it all up

-spoon into peppers

* the mix of sweet and savory in the sauce makes the quinoa delicious, even if you usually don't like quinoa

*serve with corn on the cob, salad or any other side you like. Enjoy!

 

My Favorite Shake

Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Protein Shake 

This is my absolute favorite protein shake! It's only 320 calories and has 24g of protein, which is a great way to start the morning. Eating breakfast is normally a chore for me, I'm not always hungry first thing, but I need fuel to start the day. I'm currently attempting to workout mid-mornings during the week and this is the perfect shake before I hit the gym. I tried drinking this shake for the first time before doing a Zumba class (where I usually burns over 550 calories a class) and I had noticeable increase in energy. To top it off, it's without a doubt the best tasting protein shake I've ever had. If you have a sweet tooth like me, you wont be disappointed!

Ingredients:

1 Scoop Chocolate Fitmiss Delight 

2 Tbsp (heaping) Organic PBfit

8oz Vanilla Almond Milk 

1 Banana 

Ice or water as needed 

Blend, Serve and Enjoy! 

***I'm normally not a huge almond milk fan, but for this shake, it tastes delicious! 

Products:

Chocolate Fitmiss Delight

- Amazon Prime $25.47

Organic PBfit
- Costco $11.99

Week 2 of Wednesday to Wednesday Weight Loss and Wellness

My childbearing years have finally come to an end and it is now time to really focus on feeling and looking great again! It's been a long journey which includes multiple pregnancies, an intense sugar addiction, hypothyroidism, and chronic pain issues. Just five short months ago I weighed myself before heading to the hospital the morning of my scheduled c-section. The scale landed on 198lbs. Granted I was 9 months pregnant but I knew at that moment that I had a lot of work ahead of me to get back down to a healthy weight. I am 32 years old and am 5 feet 5 inches tall. I was always a slender kid growing up and didn't really start putting on any real weight until I had an allergic reaction to the Depo-Provera shot in my early twenties. I was on the birth control for a little less than a year but managed to gain 15lbs every 3 months! I didn't even realize the extent of the damage until the nurse taking my weight informed me of the extensive weight gain. After that ordeal my metabolism has never been the same. I worked hard during the rest of my twenties to stay fit but realized this would be a life long struggle.

I currently have a 2 year old daughter and a 5 month old son so I've spent a good portion of the last 3 years pregnant. During both pregnancies I had quite intense sugar cravings which unfortunately I gave into a little too often. Let's just say that ice cream was a staple in my diet. Not so great for managing my weight gain! I managed to gain 40lbs with my 1st pregnancy, only lost 20lbs of it before getting pregnant again, and then gained another 40lbs with my son. However, over the last couple of months my best friend Amy and I have decided to ban together and support each other during this life style change. Having an accountability partner is huge for me. If I don't have one I tend to rationalize my unhealthy choices in my head. It's always nice to have someone who cares to talk you off  the edge!

So far by educating myself on nutrition, diligently keeping a food journal, and adding brisk walks into my daily routine I have been able to shed 40lbs over the last 5 months. My biggest obstacle thus far has been combating my sugar addiction and getting my portion sizes under control. I still have moments of weakness but overall I have greatly improved exercising my willpower when it comes to sweets. In my twenties my main concern was looking good but now as I get older the more my focus has turned to overall health. Of course looking good is always a bonus! But unfortunately I have a lot of illness and disease in my gene pool. Therefore I know I cannot get complacent and assume that I am immune to disease.

Along with Amy I will be keeping a food and exercise journal on the My Fitness Pal app and Fitbit. And experimenting with different techniques that incorporate healthy living into our busy lives. It's easy with children to get so busy that you forget to take care of yourself but I also know how important it is for us to be healthy. Not only for us but for these kiddos too! It's time to make a permanent lifestyle change and not continue on the road of yo-yo dieting.

Week 1

Goal #1: This week I will be focusing on getting a daily walk in. I prefer to go in the mornings since it gives me energy for the rest of the day but if my schedule doesn't permit I will do my best to do it in the evenings.

Goal #2: Making sure that I drink enough water. Since I am currently breastfeeding I need more than normal so my goal is 96oz per day as recommended by my physician.

Wednesday, July 6th

Starting Weight: 162lbs

Breakfast: Raisen Bran Cereal (1 cup)

                 Milk (0.8cup 1%)

                 Chia Seeds (1 tbsp)

                 12oz Coffee (with 2 tbsp of cream and 2 tsp of sugar)

Lunch: Ham sandwich on multigrain bread w/ lite miracle whip, spinach, cheese, and tomato

Dinner: Chicken Tikka Marsala

              Wheat couscous

              Garlic nan

Snacks: Hummus (2 oz)

             4 whole mini sweet peppers

             Almonds (1 oz )

             Banana nut granola

Water: 10 Cups 

Exercise: Walked at a brisk pace for 2 miles

 Steps: 6,469

Total Calories Consumed: 2,056

Total Calories Burned: 384

Thursday, July 7th

Breakfast: 12 oz Coffee  (3tbsp of cream & 2 tsp of sugar)

                 

Lunch: Shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on whole wheat bun

             Salad with lite italian dressing (2 tbsp)

             Steamed carrots (1 cup)

Dinner: Cheese Burger (no fries)

              Broccoli (1 cup)

Snacks:

             Strawberries (1 cup)

Water: 11 Cups 

Exercise: 3 mile brisk walk

Steps: 11,045

Total Calories Consumed: 2,064

Total Calories Burned:635

Friday, July 8th 

Breakfast: 12oz coffee (2tbsp cream & 2 tsp sugar)

                  Homemade breakfast skillet (potatoes, sausage, egg, and cheese)

                

Lunch: Shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on whole wheat bun

             Salad with lite italian dressing (2 tbsp)

Dinner: Homemade beef tacos with lean meat

              Black beans

              Rice

              Salsa

Snacks: Multi grain toast with 1tbsp of peanut butter

Water: 9 Cups

Exercise: 2 mile brisk walk

Steps: 5,904

Total Calories Consumed: 1,973

Total Calories Burned: 384

Saturday, July 9th

Breakfast: 12oz Coffee (3tbsp of cream & 2 tsp of sugar)

                  Pink Grapefruit (with 1tsp of sugar sprinkled on top)

                  Multi grain toast with 1tbsp of peanut butter               

Lunch: 2 Soft tacos

Dinner: 1.5 cups of homemade Goulash

Snacks: Whole grain flat bread & hummus

Water: 12 cups

Exercise: 4 mile brisk walk

Steps:  15,173

Total Calories Consumed: 1,545

Total Calories Burned: 578

Sunday, July 10th

Breakfast: 12oz Coffee  (3tbsp of cream & 2 tsp sugar)

                 Pink Grapefruit (with 1tsp of sugar sprinkled on top)

                 Multi grain toast with 1tbsp of peanut butter               

Lunch: Ham sandwich on multigrain bread w/ lite miracle whip, spinach, cheese, and tomato

Dinner: Veggie Quesadilla w/ salsa

Snacks: Quinoa chips

Water: 10 cups

Exercise: None

Steps: 2,357

Total Calories Consumed: 1,852

Total Calories Burned: 0

Monday, July 11th

Breakfast:  12oz Coffee (3tbsp of cream & 2tsp sugar)

                   1 cup Great Grains Crunchy Pecan cereal

                   0.8 cup 1% milk

Lunch: 1.5 cups homemade Goulash 

Dinner: Homemade breakfast skillet (potatoes, sausage, egg, and cheese)

Snacks: 1 med orange

              Quinoa chips (2oz)

              Multi grain toast

              1tbsp peanut butter

                

Water: 11 Cups

Exercise: 3 mile brisk walk

Steps: 9,642

Total Calories Consumed: 1,978

Total Calories Burned: 523

Tuesday, July 11th

Breakfast: 12oz Coffee  (3tbsp of cream & 2 tsp sugar)

                 Pink Grapefruit (with 1tsp of sugar sprinkled on top)

                 Multi grain toast with 1tbsp of peanut butter               

Lunch: 1 cup Great Grains Crunchy Pecan cereal

             0.8 cup 1% milk

Dinner: Homemade cheeseburger with sautéed sweet peppers and mushrooms on a whole wheat bun and brocolli, asparagus, carrots, kale, greenbeans

Snack: Edamame (1cup)

            Orange

            Hummus with sweet peppers

            Quinoa chips

Water: 12 Cups 

Exercise: 3 mile brisk walk

Steps: 9,351

Total Calories Consumed:2,041

Total Calories Burned:241

Wednesday Weigh-In and Week Overview 

Ending Weight: 159.8

Total Weight Loss for the week: 2.2lbs

There is definitely room for improvement especially in the food department but overall I am happy with this weeks weight loss!

Cottage Cheese Snack Ideas

 1. Avocado and Tomatoes

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
1/4 Avocado (80 Cal)
1 Tomato Sliced (35 Cal)
Ground Black Pepper

Total Calories = 205

2. Cranberries and Pecans 

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
1 tbsp Dried Cranberries (23 Cal)
1 tbsp  Pecans (50 Cal)

Total Calories = 163







 
3. Kiwis

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese  (90 Cal)
2 Kiwis (84 Cal)

Total Calories = 174

4. Peaches 

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
1/2  Canned Peach in Light Syrup (53 Cal)

Total Calories = 143




 

5. Celery Sticks

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
4 Celery Sticks (9 Cal)
Ground Black Pepper

Total Calories = 99 Calories

Healthy Homemade Banana-Berry Ice Cream

Ice cream is my absolute favorite treat and I never thought I could come up with a recipe that is this delicious and healthy at the same time. This is seriously the best healthy alternative recipe I've ever made!  We love it and I guarantee you'll love it too! It's creamy and sweet and will satisfy your sweet-tooth.

Ingredients:

4 Ripe Organic Bananas (frozen)


1-1.5 Cups of Organic Mixed Berries  (I got the antioxidant blend which includes: pomegranate, blueberries, raspberries, black cherries, and strawberries)  

2 Heaping Spoonfuls of Organic Plain Greek Yogurt

1-2 Spoonfuls of Organic Honey

(You'll also need a food processor)

Directions:

 Step 1: Peel the ripe bananas, cut them in half,  and put them in a Ziploc bag.

Step 2: Put the bananas in the freezer until frozen (2-4hours).

Step 3: Take the frozen bananas and put them in the food processor.

Step 4: Add Berries.

 Step 5: Add yogurt and honey.

Step 6: Blend on level 2 until you get the desired texture. It should have the consistency of ice cream.

Step 7: Serve and enjoy! Store the leftovers in the freezer.

Our kids absolutely love this healthy ice cream! We can't wait to experiment with other flavors. More recipes to come! 

Veggie Corn Dogs

I grew up a vegetarian for most of my childhood, and I know from experience that there are some pretty bad tasting meat alternatives. Tofu hot dogs are among my least favorite. And while my husband and I aren't raising are children vegetarian, we try to make healthy meat choices as well as limit our meat consumption.

Corn dogs aren't usually the healthiest choice but they sure are tasty and kids really enjoy them. These veggie corn dogs from Trader Joe's are the best healthy alternative for meat corn dogs that I've tried. You really can't tell the difference and kids absolutely love them. They are much healthier and a real treat! Another great Trader Joe's find.

Healthier Donut O's

If you or your kiddos like donuts, these are a great healthy alternative. Another awesome Trader Joe's find. They're made with whole wheat and are covered in powdered sugar (which makes them tasty) but they're definitely healthier than regular donuts. We love these!

Wasabi Roasted Seaweed Snack

I'm always excited when I find a healthy snack that I REALLY enjoy!

These are 60 Calories for the whole pack! You can find them at Trader Joe's for $0.99. But I warn you, they are very addicting.

Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps

I am constantly searching for healthy low calorie snacks and meals. This tuna salad lettuce wrap is filling, tasty and easy to whip up.

Ingredients:

Butter Lettuce
1 Can Light Salt Tuna (60 calories)
1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise  (90 calories)
2-3 Tablespoons Chopped Red Onion
1 Chopped Roma Tomato
1/2 Cucumber Chopped
Fresh Ground Pepper

 Directions:



Place all ingredients in a medium size bowl.

Mix all ingredients together.







Lay out the butter lettuce and put a large scoop of the tuna salad onto the lettuce.

Wrap it up and enjoy!