Out of all the recipes I have shared in the last 2 1/2 years in my groups this is the one that I get the most requests for.  I have had to search for and send this recipe so many times that I thought it might just be time to give it a place on my blog!

I adapted this recipe right out of the 21 Day Fix Extreme Eating Plan.  You know the books I used to toss aside and ignore when I got my new workout DVDs.  That was before I realized the results I wanted came just as much from my kitchen as they did from my workouts.

Turkey Chili:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds of lean ground turkey
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 medium red pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped or minced
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp sea or Himalayan salt
• 2 (15 oz) cans of beans- black, chili, or pinto, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz) can of diced tomatoes (I use the one with chilis)

1. Heat oil in saucepan, add turkey, carrots, bell pepper and garlic, Cook for 5-8 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink.
2. Add cumin, chili powder, and salt.  Cook for 1 minute.
3. Add beans and tomatoes (with liquid). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes to until think.
4. Serve and top with fresh cilantro, avocado, or a dab of Greek Yogurt

This makes 6 servings- 1 cup each.
Other nutritional information:

blue container is only if topped with avocado

Enjoy!

 

This recipe combines 3 of my favorite things!

Oatmeal   +  Pumpkin  +  My Instant Pot

This is almost too delicious for breakfast.  It’s like a pumpkin pie in a bowl.

This recipe was made in my Instant Pot, but you could easily make it on the stove top if you don’t have a pressure cooker.

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 cup steel cut oats
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

With your Instant Pot set to Saute add coconut oil.  Add oats and stir as they toast for about 3 minutes.  Next add the rest of the ingredients.  Using the manual setting, set to 3 minutes.  Once it has finished, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes then release the rest of the steam.  Stir and serve immediately.

This makes 6 servings.

For those of you following the 21 Day Fix or Portion Fix meal plan I count this as 1 yellow, 1/2 purple and 1 tsp.

For more delicious and healthy pumpkin recipes click here for my FREE eBook!

Enjoy!

This recipe combines my love of pumpkin and peanut butter!  Seriously- can it get any better???

I will make these into mini-muffins and freeze them for quick, easy treats in the boys lunches or for after school snacks.  Although pretty healthy, they are safer in the freezer because I could eat a whole batch with a nice cup of coffee!!!  YUM

Pumpkin Pie Muffins:

• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed
• 2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Throw everything in your blender and blend!  Either spray muffin pan with coconut oil spray or line it with muffin liners.   Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.  This recipe makes 24 mini muffins or 12 regular size muffins.

If you are following the 21 Day Fix, I count 1 muffin or 3 mini muffins as 1 yellow treat swap.

For my Type 1 friends- each mini muffin is 7 carbs.

For more healthy pumpkin recipes sign up to get my FREE eCookbook here:

Enjoy!

It is no secret that I love breakfast food and that I love oatmeal!  I have been wanting to try overnight oats for a while, but most call for Greek yogurt and that won’t work for me.  So…after looking at a few different dairy free/vegan recipes I came up with one that has been working great for me!  It is 5 simple ingredients and it is super versatile!

Super Easy Overnight Oats

• 1/2 cup of oats (not Steel Cut)
• 1 Tbsp of Chia, Flax, or Hemp Seeds (I used a combination of Chia, Hemp and Buckwheat)
• 1 Tbsp of powdered peanut butter (omit if you want!)
• dash of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of milk (almond, flax, coconut, cow- what ever you prefer)

Extra optional add ins:

• berries
• sliced banana
• dried fruit
• nuts
• seeds
• unsweetened coconut flakes

Put all your ingredients into a jar, put on the lid and give it a good shake.  That’s it!  Put it in the fridge and your breakfast is ready for tomorrow or make a few and you are set for the week.

bonus tip

You can actually add your ingredients into snack size baggies (minus the liquid).  In the morning add 1/2 a cup of hot water and your baggie of goodness to a bowl for a quick, healthy instant oatmeal!

Here’s a quick demo:

I hope you enjoy this quick and yummy overnight oats recipe.  I would love to hear if you add anything that I didn’t mention to your version of overnight oats!

I feel like I have been keeping a secret from you all!  I am not sure why, but I think it’s time for me to tell you just how amazing Beachbody on Demand is!

So what is Beachbody On Demand?

Beachbody On Demand is an all-access pass to some of the most powerful success tools in fitness.  For real!

Here is what you get:

• 24/7 access to hundreds of workouts from some of Beachbody’s most popular Super Trainers!
• You also get complete program materials, like fitness guides, nutrition guides, meal plans, and workout calendars.
• Exclusive Beachbody workouts not available anywhere else
• The ability to stream your purchased programs anytime, anywhere
• Access to watch on your phone, tablet or computer or stream to your TV using Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire TV.
• Access your Beachbody On Demand using the FREE app on your iPhone or iPad!

Beachbody on Demand also gives you…

• Access to all new programs as they are released!
• Kids and Family collection of workouts!
• Weekly Portion Fix recipes with Autumn Calabrese on her new cooking show FIXATE
• access to Beachbody’s own reality show the 20s: The Search for the next Beachbody Super Trainer
• coming in July- The Shift Shop!!!

 

But wait…there’s more (in my best infomercial voice)

As a Club Member who get’s Beachbody On Demand you also get an exclusive 10% discount on Team Beachbody purchases, from workouts to apparel to gear and supplements, even Shakeology®!

I have saved the best part for last!  You get to try Beachbody On Demand for FREE for 14 days!

 

Or maybe you are ready to get started on a fitness AND nutrition journey??  Try the All Access Challenge Pack and get all this:

• 1 FULL YEAR of Beachbody On Demand
• Portion Fix- the meal plan from 21 Day Fix
• 30 Days of Shakeology
• my FREE Portion Fix eBook Cook Book
• reduced $2.00 shipping
• access to my next Support group for motivation, tips and recipes

Well that’s it!  I have let the cat out of the bag.
My best kept secret is now yours to keep or share!

Are you a busy mom???

Silly question, I know.  We are all busy.  We wear many hats and all too often we put ourselves and our health on the back burner.

We can not add time to our days and although we can all say no a few more times and can simplify our lives a bit, for the most part we have a lot to squeeze into the same 24 hours.

So the kids are back to school and you are busier than ever, but you are also ready to carve out some time for you.  Let’s do this together!

Join me starting Monday, September 5th for my Rise and Grind Busy Mom Bootcamp.

For 21 days we will…

• commit to 30 minutes of “me” time BEFORE the kids get up
• work on ways to simplify our morning routines
• share healthy, easy and family friendly recipes
• replace one meal a day with a quick, delicious superfood shake
• support each other and kick butt!

And here is the best part…

you can win some MONEY by doing those simple things!

That’s right- commit to logging at least 3 workouts a week, drinking a minimum of 5 Shakeology shakes per week and you get to share an equal part of a pretty big pot!

So are you ready to Rise and Grind??

Are you ready to have more energy, feel good, create healthy habits and win a little cash?

Let’s get started.  Simply fill out this quick questionnaire and we can talk about your goals and find the tools you need to be successful!

Talk to you soon!

 

This is one of my favorite salads to have in the summer months.  It is such a refreshing salad to enjoy at lunch.

This also makes up really well in mason jars so you can make a few of them at a time for a quick meal on a busy day.

I use my 21 Day Fix containers to measure a perfectly portioned meal when making this.

• 1 green container of diced cucumbers
• 1 green container of cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 yellow container of chick peas
• 1 blue container of diced avocado
• 1 orange container of dressing

Add all the ingredient together and toss with the dressing.

If making up ahead in jars I will layer in this order:

• dressing on the bottom
• chick peas next
• diced cucumbers and tomatoes on top
• I will add the diced avocado fresh when I eat it

I hope you enjoy this simple and delicious salad as much as I do!

With the Memorial Day holiday coming up I wanted to share one of my favorite salads that I like to bring and share at summer get-togethers.

I also love to make a big batch for myself and have it on top of lettuce for a tasty lunch!

I keep the ingredients and amounts pretty simple, but I am pretty sure you can’t mess this recipe up.

• 2 cups of black beans
• 2 cups of organic sweet corn
• 2 cups of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
• juice of 1 lime
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Just throw everything into a big mixing bowl and mix.  That’s it!  Short and sweat!

You can add onion to this recipe, but I hate onions.  If you like that sort of thing- knock yourself out and add it!  😉

BTW- Yes, I know it’s strange and yes, I am aware that onions are added to most dishes when I eat out.

Enjoy!

I am always looking for ways to add some protein to our breakfasts.  Eggs are a staple in our house, but sometimes you just need a little variety, and who doesn’t love chocolate for breakfast?

I have tried a few protein pancake recipes and this is our all time favorite!

Chocolate Protein Pancakes:

• 1 1/2 cups almond meal
  
• 1 scoop Chocolate Recover Protein Powder*
  
• 4 Tbsp ground flaxseed
• 2 Tbsp powdered peanut butter (optional)
• 1 tsp baking powder
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 cup almond milk
  
• 1 tsp vanilla

Whisk together all your wet ingredients. Add your dry ingredients and mix well. Make pancakes as you normally would.

I love to use an ice cream scoop to perfectly portion my pancakes.

This recipe makes 8 pancakes.  Each pancake is only 6 carbs.  If following the 21 Day Fix I would count this as 1 yellow per pancake.

* Chocolate Recovery Protein Powder is part of the Beachbody Performance line.

Yep!!  I am one of those annoying people who takes selfies, then shares them on social media!  UGH.  But before you delete me, block me or unfriend me, hear me out for a second…

First let me tell you that I have not always appreciated the selfie.  In fact, I use to think it quite possibly may lead to the demise of our society as we know it!

I for sure rolled my eyes and judged anyone posting a picture of themselves anywhere and don’t get me started on those people taking pics of themselves at the gym!!!  Come to think of it- I used to make snarky comments when I saw people working out live- you know those crazies running in my neighborhood!!  Over achievers.

Here is the thing- the problem was mine, not theirs!  They weren’t hurting anyone.  They were just going about their day, sharing their love of what they were doing and loving life.

At the time I was in no place to stop to take a picture of myself, I was too busy hiding from cameras and looking the other way when I passed by a mirror.  I was too busy hating the way I looked and felt and making every excuse in the book as to why I couldn’t possibly have the time to workout like them.  I have kids!  I don’t have time for that!

So, what changed and why do I take all these selfies??

Well first I found these amazing groups of Facebook of people just like me,  you know- with kids and stuff, who were getting shit done!  I was motivated and inspired by them.  I started to make time for me.  I started to feel better and the funny thing about eating well and getting off you butt- you lose weight!  I lost 20 pounds and found a little confidence.

Then came the selfies!

I had lost all my workout partners.  We got busy, our schedules just didn’t match and I was really missing the accountability.  So one Sunday night I posted a picture of my workout cloths (not of me wearing them or anything crazy like that) and I posted on Facebook that starting tomorrow morning I was going to get up at 5 am to push play and wondered if anyone wanted to join me?  5 am rolled around, I got up, put on those cloths I set out, went downstairs and took a picture of myself in all my morning glory.  Then I posted it!  Slowly but surely people started joining me on Facebook at 5 am.  We started our little accountability group.  Slowly more people started liking and chiming in and I was hooked.  When ever I wanted to ignore the alarm, I would think of the tens of people who were waiting for my post and I didn’t want to let them down.

Reason #1 I post those selfies…Accountability!  I needed to be held accountable to those 5 am workouts!

Reason #2 came as more of a surprise.  The more I posted those selfies, which caused me to stay consistent with my workouts, which delivered results, the better I felt about myself.  I started to really truly love my selfie.  I started to feel comfortable in my own skin.  I started to feel pretty enough to want to be in pictures.

Isn’t there enough self loathing and in this world?  Couldn’t we all use a little break from hating on ourselves?

So now when I see someone I know post a selfie I get so happy for them!  I like and love those pictures right away.  I love to see their smiling faces and I am glad they are confident enough in themselves to post that picture!  If they are checking in at the gym or in their basement about to push play, even better!  Good for them!

So there you have it!  I am a selfie addict and I post about my workouts every day!  You will not hear me apologize for it, in fact, I usually ask people to join me.

Love your selfie, you are beautiful!!!