Clean Eating Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are so easy & so good you will find it hard to believe they are healthy!

1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In the food processor combine the following:

1 can chick peas (garbanzo beans) -drained, rinsed, & patted dry

1/3 cup raw honey

1/2 cup + 2 Tbls. ALL- NATURAL peanut butter

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking powder

Mix until a smooth, sticky paste forms.  Be sure to scrape down the sides several times.

3) With wet hands form balls of dough (approx. 1 Tbls. size) & place on cookie sheet.

 Wet a fork & press down lightly in a criss-cross pattern.

4) Bake for 10 mins.

5) Remove from oven & allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for about 2 mins. before transferring to waxed paper or a wire rack to cool completely.

*These cookies will have a soft texture.

For more kid-approved clean eating recipes, click here.

Strawberry Vinaigrette & Spinach Salad

After vacation & eating out for a week straight I was SOOOOO happy to be home & fixing my own clean eats again.  It is nice to have someone else doing the cooking & dishes, but having very little control of your daily menu can be distressing.  So even though we were meeting up with friends for an evening around the pool, I whipped this delicious salad & homemade dressing to share.

Strawberry Vinaigrette

In a blender combine 6-8 ripe strawberries, 4 oz. raw apple cider vinegar, the juice of one lemon, 1 Tbls. freshly ground black pepper, a pinch of sea salt.  Blend for approximately one minute (until smooth / free of chunks).  Then stream in 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil while still blending until well combined.

I put this lovely concoction on top of a bed of baby spinach, cucumbers, sliced strawberries, sunflower seeds, pecans, and a few ounces of goat cheese.  Add a little grilled chicken or fish for a completely delightful meal!

Click here to check out some more of my family's favorite clean eating recipes.

Black Bean, Quinoa, & Veggie Burgers

Looking for a yummy, meatless meal option?  This burger will hit the spot!

1 - 15oz. can low sodium black beans, drained & rinsed

1/2 shredded zucchini

1 cup cooked quinoa

2 small sweet peppers, finely diced (I used one red & 1 yellow)

1 egg

1 Tbls. garlic powder

2 Tbls. Cajun seasoning

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. sea salt

a few dashes of hot sauce

1) Place beans in a large bowl & roughly smash with a fork.

2) Add all remaining ingredients & combine well.

3) Heat 1 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet or grill pan on medium heat.  Form small burgers with your hands using approximately 1/4 cup of the bean, veggie, & quinoa mixture.

4) Cook for approximately 2 minutes and flip carefully (these burgers are on the delicate side).  Cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Serve on a lettuce "bun", whole grain tortilla, or simply with a side of salad.

Check out more family-friendly clean eating recipes here.

Summer Squash & Zucchini with Sweet Turkey Sausage

'Tis the season for yummy summer veggies from the garden & farmers' market.  Two of my favorites are summer squash & zucchini.  Childhood memories take me back to summers spent at the camper with my Grannie Annie & her breaded, fried zucchini.  I would scarf that stuff down.  This recipe uses the zucchini that I love, but uses a lighter, healthier preparation.  

1 large zucchini cut into thin half-moons

1 large summer (yellow) squash cut into thin half-moons

1 large yellow onion, sliced thin

1 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. garlic powder

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Heat EVOO in a large skillet on medium high heat.  Add all ingredients & stir occasionally until veggies are softened, but not mushy.  Approx. 10 minutes.

*You could stop right here & enjoy this as a fresh side dish, but I took the next step & added lean, low-sodium turkey sausage that I had browned & cut into rounds to make this a full-on dinner!*

Added bonus, my oldest is not a huge fan of squash, but since he helped me prepare this dish he was super proud & scarfed it down, no fuss!

Click here for more kid-friendly clean eating recipes.

Lemon Pepper Qunioa

Have you tried quinoa?  Quinoa is an edible seed that has been eaten since ancient times.  It it closely related to beetroot & spinach.  Quinoa is high in protein & naturally gluten free!  Quinoa is a great alternative to rice or couscous and can be prepared in a wide variety of recipes, ranging from savory to sweet.  

In my house we most often eat quinoa as a dinner side dish.  This simple preparation is a family favorite.

2 cups water

1 cup uncooked, pre-rinsed quinoa

the juice of 1 lemon

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 Tbls. fresh ground black pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a 2 quart sauce pan & stir well.  Bring to a boil on high heat.  Lower heat to a simmer, cover, & allow to cook for approximately 10 minutes - until all water is absorbed & quinoa is fluffy.

Check out some more clean eating recipes here.

Tropical Pineapple Shakeology

It is hot, HoT, HOT out there today.  Looking for a way to cool down & feel like you are on a tropical island vacation?  Try this uber delicious shake.

1 cup ice
8oz coconut water
8 oz crushed pineapple with juice
1 scoop vanilla Shakeology
Blend & pretend you are on a tropical island!

Click here for more of my favorite Shakeology recipes.

PiYo Test Group

Have you ever heard of PiYo or taken a PiYo class at a gym?  Starting June 23 you will be able to do PiYo in the comfort of your home with my all-time favorite trainer, Chalene Johnson.

PiYo is a low impact, high intensity workout that will increase your range of motion & flexibility.  PiYo will help you build strength & muscle tone without high impact moves or even weights.  During Team Beachbody's National Wake-Up Call Chalene shared with Beachbody Coaches, that PiYo is a great program for folks looking to increase strength, mobility, & flexibility but who may have an injury that prevents them from doing high impact workout programs.

Check out this video for a little preview of this program: 

I will be running a SPECIAL PiYo Test Group beginning July 7.  You will get motivation, accountability, meal plans, clean eating recipes, and all the individualized support you need to SUCCEED!  

Complete this application to join & be sure to include your email address so you will be notified as soon as PiYo is available for purchase!

Fill out my online form.

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