Okay so, I was not sure about testing this recipe out from the Master's Hammer and Chisel nutrition guide. However, my oldest son hates quinoa (he doesn't like the texture), so I thought I would try and go all stealth mommy on him and sneak it in this way. Honestly, I failed miserably and he didn't like it BUT my 2 year old, husband, and myself liked it. So I am 3 out of 4, i'll take it.
How do you cook with quinoa? Usually I make it with half water and half veggie broth. Then toss in some veggies, so this was a change up for me!
Ingredients:
•2 cups cooked quinoa
•1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
•1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
•1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
•3 cups plain Greek Yogurt
•1 Tbsp honey
Directions:
1. Evenly layer quinoa, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, yogurt, and honey in a tall glass.
2. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days
3. Enjoy
Bryan and the boys went to this awesome vegetable stand they do at high schools a couple times a month! They literally have boxes or organic seasonal veggies. They boys were excited to help pick out a box of vegetables
The boys had the best time and donated a box of veggies to the food bank. I really loved hearing them tell me all about the process and why they "left some veggies for other people"! It's these parenting moments that I really do love. Like those real world, real life teachable moments.
Anyway, picture 8 VERY large cucumbers to put to good use. So I am coming up with some fun recipes! Here's what I made for lunch! Any other cucumber go to's?
Fall is officially here! This means people (at least this someone) is flocking to Starbucks for their Pumpkin Spice Latte. So, like many I have guzzled these bad boys down for three months straight each year. However, I have realized a few things about the PSL....
1. They're freaking expensive...like 5$+ a pop!
2. The amount of sugar is astounding.
3. From the little research I have done they also have a lot of things I would NOT want to put in my body (see image below)! Now to be fair they have changed their recipe this year but I couldn't find much information about it at this point (I will update if I learn more)!
For me the Sugar alone makes me want to cringe. That being said my new goal is to not have anymore PSL's (deep sigh) and to experiment with healthier options! Today I made a dairy free pumpkin spice creamer to share and it is really yummy!! Also, below you will see a Pumpkin Spice Shakeology recipe that is delicious!!
DAIRY-FREE PUMPKIN SPICE CREAMER
Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins
INGREDIENTS
• 1½ cups any combo of dairy-free milk you prefer (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk.)
• ¼ cup pumpkin puree
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Organic blue agave
INSTRUCTIONS
1 Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge. Always shake creamer before using.
2 You can add sweetener (especially if you're coming down off of the sweetness of Starbucks PSL) to the creamer, but I prefer to add sweetener to my cup of coffee. I use organic Agave from Costco and add to your liking!
** If you want your coffee a little creamier you can add full fat coconut milk for part of your 1.5 cups!
Enjoy,
-D
** Bonus Recipe for all my Shakeology lovers...it's oh so good!
I love to spice up my water! Did you know you are supposed to drink half your body weight in water each day?!?! It can feel like a lot, especially when your just starting to reach that goal. Water is so important because it aids in digestion, reduces cholesterol, fights bloating, helps keep your skin smooth and wrinkle free, and prevents dehydration and memory loss. Something I like to do is infuse my water with fruits and herbs. It spices it up a bit and it's guilt free. My favorite would probably be oranges and blueberries because I like that sweet and tangy taste together. All you need is a pitcher, two oranges, a carton of blueberries ( or 2 cups frozen), ice and filtered water. I wash all the fruit then slice my oranges. I layer the blueberries at the bottom, then threw in the orange slices, fill the pitcher with ice, then pour the filtered water in. It's super refreshing and I'm I think you'll love it.
Shakeology was a life saving fitness and wellness tool for me in my journey to lose my baby weight. When I first started doing Insanity I didn't feel like I was the type of person that needed to drink a shake every day. I really thought I could manage my eating habits and exercise and still reach my goals. After 60 days of working out and eating pretty healthy I was still at a weight I was not happy with. I had reached a plateau and nothing was working. I decided to purchase a PIYO challenge pack and it came with a 30 day supply of Shakeology. I chose the chocolate because it gave me that quick fix of chocolate everyday to curb my cravings. I later decided to become a beachbody coach to get the 25% discount on the products. I received my shakeology order and blended one scoop with ice, 3/4 cup almond milk, 1 banana, and 1 tbsp almond butter. I got better at mixing the shakes as the days went on and now they taste amazing. In my shipment was a calendar of 30 ways to mix Shakeology. I am a creature of habit and found what worked for me but I know others that love to try new recipes and enjoyed all the recipe options. Shakeology helped me lose the last 10 lbs and now helps me maintain my weight. I drink my shake for breakfast and have switched to vanilla as a change up and I really like it. You can make it however you would like. Here is a little background on Shakeology to help you make an informed decision on if it's right for you.
What is Shakeology?
Shakeology is a nutritional shake that provides a wide spectrum of healthy nutrients in a low-calorie formula. Whether you use it as a meal replacement for weight loss or simply to ensure your body gets all the nutrients it needs for optimal health, Shakeology takes the guesswork out of nutrition.
What's in it?
Shakeology contains over 70 ultra high-quality ingredients conveniently located in one glass, to deliver nearly all the nutrients you need to maintain a healthy diet. It's good for you, and good for everyone, because everyone's diet is deficient in some of the key nutrient groups packed into just one Shakeology serving.
Protein from whey, which is highly absorbable, gives you 8 essential amino acids that help you build muscle, lose weight, support brain function, and keep your skin and bones healthy.
Vitamins and minerals support optimum health.
Antioxidants boost the immune system and help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, blood pressure, and stroke.
Phytonutrients support immune function and have anit-inflammatory properties.
Prebiotics support digestive and immune health.
Digestive enzymes help in the digestion of foods and increase the absorption rate of those foods for optimum health.
Why Shakeology?
I love Shakeology because I am a busy mom and it is a quick and convenient way to get complete nutrition. It supplies me with the energy I need to help keep up with the kids and my hectic lifestyle. It is also easier to make, tastier than 5 salads a day :), and it is an excellent way to eat healthy when eating a full meal is not possible. If you don't like eating fruits and vegetables then this is a great way to get all the benefits of eating a full bowl of fruits and vegetables without having to actually eat them. If you have high cholesterol then this will help you lower total and LDL as well.
How do I use it?
It's very simple.
Mix 1 scoop of Shakeology with 8 oz. of water. If you like, add ice. Or if you want something more filling and maybe even more satisfying, blend your Shakeology with ice and nonfat or almond milk. Shakeology dissolves easily, but blending it will give it a thicker, creamier texture. Honestly, when I make my shakeology I always add more than 8 ounces because I think it's too thick! The more liquid you add the thinner it gets!! :)
Interested?
If you are interested in trying Shakeology or you want more information feel free to message me, or get s sample below.
Here is a great recipe for making your own lemonade. This helps me if I am craving something sweet or really want a glass of juice. A glass of juice is great every once in a while. Make sure to get the fresh, not from concentrate brand. Another alternative is to make it yourself. This way there is no sugar, it's all natural ingredients, and you know exactly what your drinking!
This may be one of my boys favorite things to make for two reasons. First, they like to lick the lemons and make silly faces:)
Second, They love juicing the lemons!
Sugar Free Lemonade Recipe
Yield: 6 cups
Ingredients:
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 8 lemons)
5 cups water (I prefer sparkling water!)
about 4 droppers full of liquid stevia
a few fresh mint sprigs
Instructions:
Juice lemons
Pour lemon juice into a pitcher
Add the water and stevia and stir to combine
Stir in mint and muddle with a wooden spoon if you would like it to taste mildly minty
So, this recipe is hands down my boys and hubby's favorite overnight oatmeal. I can literally make a triple batch and it is done for come morning time (Picture a wolf pack on the prowl :)). I love making this on school nights because in the morning I don't have to think, I can just grab it out of the fridge and pop it in the microwave.
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
1/2 C. Old Fashioned Oats 1/2 C. Milk 1/2 C. plain yogurt 1/2 Apple, red, diced 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg pinch ground cloves 1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds (optional)
Put everything in a mason jar or tupperwear. Mix it (my boys LOVE to shake it). Put a lid on it and pop it in the fridge overnight. In the morning I like to warm it up for 1-2 minutes (you don't have to), I just don't like the cold texture in the morning.
