Chicken & White Bean Soup

This soup was so good that I am psyched to eat the left-overs today!!  The entire family enjoyed it & hubby went back for seconds. 

Ingredients:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

4 large carrots, peeled & cut into rounds

2 medium sweet potatoes, chopped into cubes

**2 cans of cannallini (white kidney) beans, drained & rinsed

2 cups baby spinach

1 large onion, chopped

1 - 32oz. box low-sodium chicken stock

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 Tbls. curry powder

1 clove fresh garlic, minced OR 2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. black pepper

2 tsp. sea salt

**To give the soup a creamy texture put one can of the cannallini beans in the blender with a little water or chicken stock & puree until smooth. Whisk together with chicken stock.

Add all ingredients, EXCEPT the spinach, to the crock pot & cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.  

3-3 1/2 hours through the cooking process pull out the chicken breasts & cut into bite-sized pieces.  

I find this keeps the chicken moist & delicious.

 Return chicken to the crock pot & stir into the soup.  Add the spinach to the soup at this time as well.

For more family friendly clean eating recipes, click here.

Banana & Oats Trail Mix Cookies

In truth these cookies came about because my toddler peeled all the bananas left in the fruit bowl yet turned out to be a delightful treat.

My little helper already peeled the bananas so I just had to mash them up & he helped me mix up all the ingredients.

~3 ripe bananas, mashed

~1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

~1/2 cup almond, cashew, & dried cranberry trail mix 

(I used the Archers Farm brand from Target)

~1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

After mixing all the ingredients well I used my mini scooper to make perfectly portioned cookies.  You could also use a rounded tablespoon.

I placed the cookies on a cookie sheet & baked them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

For more clean eating recipes your family will love, click here.

Having a greater purpose - are you cut out to be a Beachbody Coach?

These lyrics from a song we often sing at church will not stop running through my mind today.  I know that I was put on this earth for a greater purpose.  I was put here to help others, to inspire others, to do MORE!  

For 12 years I worked as an elementary school teacher - helping my students each day to realize their inner awesomeness.

For the past 10 years I have had the honor of being a mother & teaching my own children life lessons & how to be loving, compassionate individuals.

19 months ago I found a gateway to a new opportunity to help people on a new platform - as a Beachbody coach.  My coach helped me achieve a new level of health & fitness that I never realized I was capable of.  Then she helped me realize that I could pay it forward by helping others on their path to a healthy lifestyle.  It has been one of the MOST REWARDING experiences of my life!  

Helping others with support through online accountability groups, meal planning tips, teaching folks the beauty of clean eating, hooking them up with home workout programs that are proven to be effective...this is just the tip of the iceberg.  

If you are passionate about 

*fitness

*clean eating

*helping others

*being your own boss

*setting your own hours

*ending the trend of obesity

*being in the best shape of your life

*providing support & accountability for friends & family to get healthy

...being a Beachbody coach may be the dream job you've been looking for!

I am looking to mentor 5 sincere, motivated, and passionate women in my next coach apprenticeship group beginning October 6.  If you are serious about helping others, paying it forward, and becoming an entrepreneur  then complete your application today:

  

Fill out my online form.

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What is P90?

A few years back, when I was in what I call my "baby making phase," my hubby jumped on the bandwagon & took on the challenge of P90X.  I remember watching him complete the 1 - 1 1/2 hour workouts, doing push-ups, pull-ups, crazy plyometrics, grunting, sweating....and thinking, "there's no way I'd ever be able to do that!"

Tony Horton was on my flight to Las Vegas when I attended Coach Summit 2013.

Fast forward to December 2013 - I was more than a year into my new healthy lifestyle journey & ready to step up my game, but with four young children I still couldn't see myself doing the hour & a half long workouts.  Tony Horton must have heard my call & came out with P90X3 - extreme results in power-packed 30 minute workouts.

<<<<Day 1 of P90X3

Day 90 of P90X3>>>>

Now you may be saying, "I don't have an hour & a half to work out with P90X." or "The word EXTREME freaks me out."  "I need something EASY & FUN to start my workout journey."  "I'm just a beginner, where should I start?"

Tony has once again taken my call & he has developed the pre-quil to all his extreme programs - P90! Tony Horton has developed this gateway to fitness for beginners.  

The P90 workouts are all about 30 minutes long. The workouts are fun, filled with easy, do-able moves, and lots of variety.  Regardless of your age or fitness level - you can do this program.  

Check out this video preview of P90:

I am looking for folks who are new to fitness and ready to improve their health one day at a time.  Will it be you?  My next challenge group begins October 13. When you join a challenge group I provide 1:1 support, motivation, meal plans, healthy recipes, & accountability to help you reach your goals & start living your new healthy lifestyle! 

  Read more about how a challenge group can help you here.

I'm paying it forward with P90...it's your turn!

Need some accountability, support, & motivation to get you started on your path to better health?  Join my next challenge group!  Complete your application below:

Fill out my online form.

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Fall into Fitness Accountability Group

It's that time of year again when the air becomes crisp, the leaves begin to change, and women across the country are scared to open up their drawer of jeans.  Will they fit?  

Fall can be a busy time of year with kids returning to school, fall sports in full swing, and before you know it the holidays will be rolling around...

It is time to get your health & fitness on track now so you can

*rock your favorite pair of jeans

*feel comfortable & confident in any outfit your put on

*have plenty of energy to keep up with your busy fall schedule

*put healthy habits in place so you can successfully avoid over-indulging come holiday season

Now you are asking HOW???

In the Fall into Fitness Accountability Group!  I am living proof that accountability / challenge groups work.  I will share all the tips, recipes, meal plans, & motivation that worked for me to increase my energy, get into the best health & shape of my life, lose 40 lbs. & 20 inches, & started my whole family living a healthy lifestyle.  

Learn more about my journey here:

How can an accountability group benefit YOU?

You get individualized support from me, your coach.  I will help you select a fitness program that will meet your schedule, interests, & needs.  I help you customize a meal plan that will lead you to a life of healthy eating.  You are in a group with other people on the same journey - looking to improve their health & fitness in a positive, motivating environment.  You will have a place to check in, ask questions, & stay accountable as you go through the ups & downs of starting a new fit lifestyle.

Ready to JOIN?  

Submit your application below & I will contact you via email to get you started!

Fill out my online form.

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Favorite Pumpkin Recipes

The air is crisp, the leaves are just starting to change, we are taking up residence at the soccer fields....'Tis the season for pumpkin everything!  The trick is to walk right past all the "pumpkin flavored" junk the grocery store is shoving in your face & find yourself some REAL pumpkin.  If you are feeling rather adventurous you can get whole pumpkins & roast the flesh yourself...I will tackle that feat another day.  For right now I am reaching for the cans of 100% pure pumpkin puree - the ONLY ingredient is PUMPKIN!  This yummy stuff is low in calories, high in fiber, packed with vitamin A, & chocked full of antioxidants.  What's not to love?

Here are a few of my favorite uses for pumpkin!

Click here for Pumpkin Applesauce Muffin recipe details

Click here for Pumpkin Pecan Oatmeal recipe details

Click here for Pumpkin Cranberry Bread recipe details

Mix 1/2 cup old fashioned oats & 1/2 cup water in a microwave safe bowl.  

Microwave for 1 minute.

Add 1/2 scoop vanilla Shakeology or vanilla protein powder & 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk.  Mix well.

Add 2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree, 2 Tablespoons raisins, & a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.  

Mix & enjoy!

Click here for Chocolate Pumpkin Shakeology recipe details

For more clean eating recipes your family will love, click here!

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

I typically go for chicken breasts, but there was a great deal on thighs at the grocery store so I thought I'd give them a whirl.  I knew the crock pot would be the perfect way to maximize the flavor of these thighs.  This recipe took about 10 minutes to put together (an that was mainly because I removed the skin from the chicken thighs).  The kids all cleaned their plates & my hubby loved it too.

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs in the Crock Pot

8-10 chicken thighs, remove the skin

1 - 20oz. can pineapple chunks in juice

1/2 cup liquid aminos

1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar

2 Tbls. raw honey

2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 tsp. garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, pressed

Season chicken thighs with pepper & place in the bottom of the rock pot.  Pour in the pineapple chunks & juice.  Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl & whisk together.  Pour mixture over chicken thighs.  

Place the lid on the crock pot & cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

We served our teriyaki chicken thighs with brown rice & broccoli.  Yum!!

For more mouth-watering recipes your family will love, click here.