Clean Eating Coconut Cocktail

I am typically a water drinker all day, every day...but occasionally I like to enjoy an adult beverage on an evening out or a holiday.  I usually go for a glass of wine, but yesterday I wanted something different.  I saw a friend share a recipe similar to this on Facebook & I had to give it a try.  Let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS!  So delicious it was HARD not to go back for a second drink!

Clean Eating Coconut Cocktail

1) Fill a highball glass half way with crushed ice.

2) In a shaker mix 1 shot coconut rum, 1/2 cup chilled coconut water, the juice of 1 lemon, the juice of 1 lime, & 2 tsp. stevia.

3) Shake well.

4) Pour over ice & enjoy!

Find some clean eats to go with your cocktail here.

Free 7 Day Introduction to Clean Eating

Clean eating does not mean that I spent an extra long time scrubbing my vegetables before making my salad.  Nor does it mean that I eat nothing but "rabbit food."  Clean eating is a healthy lifestyle that has increased my energy, improved my health & fitness, and made me look at food in a whole new light.

I never thought of myself as a terrible eater.  I always enjoyed vegetables & drank lots of water.  I never ate a lot of junk food or drank soda often.  But when it came to sweets & starchy carbs, I was eating far too many!  Additionally, my portion sizes were way out of whack!  Did you know you could over-eat healthy foods??? You can!

Join me to unlock the mysteries of properly fueling your body, what to eat, when to eat, & in what combinations.  Find out how meal planning, food prep, and batch cooking can make healthy eating accessible for every busy family.

Would you like the opportunity to learn the basics of clean eating, be provided with a meal plan & healthy recipes?  The week of April 21 I will be running a Free 7 Day Introduction to Clean Eating via Facebook.  Email me at jessicahrbek@gmail.com to join!  Have a friend or family member who could benefit?  Send them my way.  All are welcome.

Check out some of my family's favorite clean eating recipes here.

Crockpot Quinoa with Turkey Sausage

During soccer season my crockpot is my BFF, providing us with yummy, low maintenance suppers. This dish was actually a happy accident.  I had intended for it to be a soup, but it turned out to be more of a casserole consistency.  It was thick, hearty, yummy, and HEALTHY!  My daughter scarfed hers down & asked for seconds.

Ingredients
-1 medium onion, sliced
-4 large carrots, sliced
-10 oz. frozen spinach
-1 lb. lean turkey sausage (I used sweet Italian sausage, but I think hot sausage would taste amazing as well.) - cut sausage into bite-size pieces 
-32 oz. reduced sodium chicken broth
-1 cup uncooked quinoa
-2 tsp. garlic powder
-1 Tbls. freshly ground black pepper
-1 Tbls. dried oregano
-1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
-a sprinkle of sea salt

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT QUINOA in your crockpot & cook on high for 3-4 hours.  Stir in quinoa, turn heat to low, & cook for 1 hour.

This made enough for us to have dinner for two nights.  Score!

So Easy & so Delicious!  Enjoy!

Click here for more family friendly clean eating recipes. 

Red & Black Bean Burgers

Last week I was looking through some cooking magazines for some inspiration for new dishes & this one really caught my eye!  I am always  using beans in other dishes (mixed with rice, in chili, in soups), but I never really made beans the star of a meal....until tonight!  This evening these Red & Black Bean Burgers were a hit with the whole family.  I was seriously skeptical & though that at least one of the kids would turn up their nose, but that was pleasantly surprised when everyone happily chowed down.  Matter of fact, my 9 year old didn't even realize what the burgers were made of until he just peaked over my shoulder as I write this post & asked "there wasn't any meat in those burgers??"  Awwww yeah!  Momma wins again!  The family is eating healthy & enjoying it.

Ingredients:
2 cans dark red kidney beans (no salt added), drained & rinsed well
1 can black beans (no salt added), drained & rinsed well
2 carrots, peeled & shredded
1 cup wheat germ
2 Tbls. ground flax seed
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
sea salt & fresh ground black pepper used generously to taste
extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
1. After draining & rinsing beans place them in a large bowl & mash them lightly, leaving some beans whole.  Stir in the remaining ingredients & combine well.

2. Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil & put on medium heat.

3. Use your hands to form the bean mixture into burger patties & place into the pan.  Do not move the patties once you have placed them in the pan.  Allow them to cook for approx. 10 minutes until  a brown crust has formed on the bottom of the burger.  Flip the burgers & allow to cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until both sides have  a nice brown crust.
*This recipe made about 10 burgers & was enough to feed my family of 6 & still have some left overs for lunch tomorrow!

*Instead of using a bun I used a pizza cutter to slice whole wheat tortillas into fourths.  Then I put them on a pizza pan & popped them into a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes, just to toast them up a little bit.  Then everyone got two triangles of tortilla to use as a "bun" for their bean burger.

Looking for more kid-tested, hubby approved clean eating recipes?  Click here!

Beachbody's Special Sales for April

Beachbody has some awesome sales going on this month on workouts that I LOVE - Focus T25 & Brazil Butt Lift!  I have completed both of these workouts & seen great results.  In celebration of these workouts becoming available for an AMAZING price, I have added an extra-special challenge group that will begin on April 14 - Operation: Swimsuit.  Want to join this exclusive 60 day challenge?

 Click here to learn all the benefits of a challenge group & complete an application to join TODAY!

Check out this video to learn more about the amazing specials Beachbody is offering this month!

BBQ Chicken Wraps

On super busy nights with guitar lessons, soccer practice, & keeping everyone in line I am so thankful for my crock pot & it's amazing ability to cook our dinner ahead of time & allow us to eat quickly between activities.  Today I tried something new & came up with this tasty dish.

BBQ Chicken Wraps

In your crock pot combine:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can diced tomatoes with mild green chiles (no salt added)

1 Tbls. Cajun seasoning (or paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper)

1/2 cup water

Cook on low for approx. 6 hours.

When chicken is fully cooked use two forks to shred the chicken.

Add 1 cup frozen (or fresh when in season) corn & homemade BBQ sauce*.  Stir well & allow to cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.

*Homemade BBQ sauce

1 15oz. can tomato sauce (no salt added)

1 Tbls. apple cider vinegar

2 Tbls. Blackstrap molasses

1 Tbls. raw honey

2 Tbls. black pepper

2 tsp. sea salt

2 tsp. garlic powder

Whisk together & enjoy!

I served this on whole wheat tortillas for the kids & for the grown ups we used romaine lettuce leaves for our BBQ chicken wraps.  I topped my BBQ chicken with some fresh, crunchy Rainbow Slaw.

Check out other family favorite clean eating recipes here!

Rainbow Slaw

Here is a new, fresh twist on coleslaw!

1/2 head cabbage, sliced thin or shredded
3 carrots, shredded
6 small sweet peppers (I used 2 red, 2 yellow, 2 orange), sliced thin
1/2 onion, grated

Combine all veggies & top with this simple homemade dressing.

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 Tbls. apple cider vinegar
the juice of one lemon
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. celery seed

Whisk together all dressing ingredients, pour over veggies, & stir well.  Cover & refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to marry well.

Looking for more clean eating recipes?  Click here!