Coco Mocha Almond Shakeology

How am I celebrating my 4 year FITiversary?!?!
✔️kick-a$$ workout
✔️housework
✔️opening up 10 additional spots in my Simple Summer Solutions accountability group (comment below or send me a personal message for details)
✔️Coco Mocha Almond Shakeology
...

Totally glamorous, I know!  Healthy living & being a Fit Momma of Four isn't always glamorous, but it is surely something that I will continue to do for as long as the good Lord allows.
Coco Mocha Almond Shakeology
5 coffee ice cubes (strong coffee frozen in an ice cube tray)
8 oz water
6 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop chocolate Shakeology
1/4 tsp. almond extract
Blend & indulge!

Get more Shakeology recipes here.

Click here for clean eating recipes.

Avocado & Chick Pea Spread

Avocado & Chick Pea Spread
1 ripe avocado
1 can of chick peas (garbanzo beans) drained & rinsed ...
the juice of 2 lemons
1 clove fresh garlic
sea salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the food processor & blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides occasionally, as needed.

I spread mine on a slice of toasted sprouted grain bread & added bell pepper rings & mixed greens for some crunch. YUM! This may be my new favorite lunch.

Click here for more clean eating recipes.

Love the skin you are in

The other day my daughter asked me, "Mom, why are your thighs so big?"

A few years ago that question would have stabbed me right in the heart.

I would have brushed the question under the rug or told her it was none of her concern.
But I have a confident, strong, body-positive daughter to raise...so I said, "why do you think (my thighs are so big)?"...

Then she grabbed my leg & said, "oh, they are all muscle! Your legs must be strong from your exercises."

That right there is why I do what I do...helping my daughter realize that muscles, exercise, & being strong is far more important than being thin or having skinny legs. And that is not to say that thin legs cannot be strong - my daughter is proof of that, you should see that girl run & kick the soccer ball...but she also has not hit puberty.

My point is...

Be confident & positive about the body that God has given you.

Do your best to take care of your body, keep it healthy & strong with good food & daily physical activity.

Talk to your children about body image in a positive way & address how images that they see in the media are doctored to remove flaws.

We are all uniquely & beautifully made, flaws & all. Embrace your uniqueness & love yourself. When your children see you taking care of your health & being body positive they will follow suit.

Read about my transformation story here.

Guilt Free Eggs Florentine

Tis the season for fresh vegetables from the garden & farmers market. I wanted to put together a few of my favorites (tomatoes & spinach) with a little bit of protein.

Guilt Free Eggs Florentine
2 thick tomato slices
2 sunny side up or over easy eggs...
1 cup wilted baby spinach

Yum! Yum! Yum!

Oatmeal Pizza

 

Oatmeal is a breakfast staple in our house.  It is quick, easy, & versatile.  Oatmeal is heart-healthy & a good source of soluble fiber.  Oatmeal is also low on the glycemic index, which means it will not spike your blood sugar. 

The key is to stay away from those packets of flavored oatmeal that contain added sugar & other additives that you don't need or want in your healthy diet.

 

This oatmeal pizza recipe was a great way to switch up the breakfast routine but still get the awesome benefits of oatmeal.

 

 

Ingredients:

-1 ripe banana

-1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or coconut milk, almond coconut milk, cashew milk)

-1 large egg

-1 cup old fashioned oats

-1 Tbls. baking powder

-1 Tbls. ground flaxseed

-1 tsp. ground cinnamon

-1 cup berries (today we used sliced strawberries & blueberries)

 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

2. Spread 1 Tbls. coconut oil on the bottom of a large round cake pan

 

3. Mash banana with a fork in mixing bowl.

 

4. Add egg & almond milk to mashed banana.  Combine.

 

5. Add in dry ingredients & mix until well combined.

 

6. Pour mixture into greased cake pan & spread evenly. 

 

7. Sprinkle berries on top.

 

8. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.

 

*9. While the oatmeal pizza is baking you can mix up a protein rich dipping sauce with 3 simple ingredients.  See the directions below!*

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Greek Yogurt Dipping Sauce

a. Place 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt in a small bowl.

 

b. Add 1 tsp. raw honey (use local honey if you can find it in your area) & a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.

 

c. Mix well.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

10. Remove oatmeal pizza from the oven & allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack for approximately 10 minutes.

 

11. Use an offset spatula to loosen the edges of the oatmeal pizza from the sides of the pan.  Cut gently & remove a wedge.  Serve with Greek yogurt dipping sauce (optional).

 

 

Click here for more delicious, healthy, family-friendly recipes.

 

 

 

 

Venison Meatloaf

 

 

I grew up with a father & grandfather who hunted.  Their aim was not to collect trophies, but to help provide meat for our family.  Venison was frequently the only meat we had in the house.  My mom & grandma were always coming up with new ways to prepare this lean, slightly gamey, red meat. 

My brother is a hunter now as well & was kind enough to share some of the meat with me.

Tonight I used some to make this juicy, delicious meatloaf.  It was so tasty that my whole family went back for more!

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground venison

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

1 stalk of celery, finely chopped

1 egg

1 Tbls. Panko bread crumbs

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. celery seed powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. black pepper

a pinch of red pepper flakes

 

*Combine all ingredients in a large bowl & gently fold until well combined.

*Spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

*Place the meat mixture into the loaf pan & press down gently to even out.

***

 

Topping ingredients:

1/4 cup blackstrap molasses

1 Tbls. tomato paste

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

a pinch of black pepper

 

*Whisk ingredients together & pour on top of the meat in the loaf pan.  Spread evenly across the top of the meat.

***

 

*Bake meatloaf, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes.

 

**Meatloaf will shrink slightly due to the lean nature of venison.

 

Click here for the oven roasted broccoli recipe seen with this meatloaf.

 

Home

 



Avocado Egg Salad

 

This creamy, dreamy egg salad recipe will make you never want to put mayo in your egg salad again!

 

Avocados are a healthy alternative to mayonnaise. 

They are full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, contain more potassium than a banana, high in fiber, & can even help lower your cholesterol.

You can add avocados to salads, dressings, dips, or even spread some on a sandwich or wrap as a delicious, creamy condiment.

 

Ingredients:

5-6 hard boiled eggs, diced

1 small avocado, mashed

1 Tbls. brown or Dijon mustard

1 Tbls. apple cider vinegar

2-3 scallions, sliced thinly

sea salt & black pepper to taste

 

Directions:

- Whisk together mashed avocado, mustard, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, & pepper.

 

- In a large bowl, sprinkle scallions onto diced eggs.

 

-Pour avocado mixture on top of eggs & scallions.  Fold gently until well combined.

 

-Enjoy on top of a bed of greens, make a lettuce wrap on a romaine leaf, or make a classic egg salad sandwich on sprouted grain bread.

 

Click here for more clean eating recipes!