Whole Wheat Penne with Chicken and Broccoli for a Crowd

Once a month, my ROLAND ROCKSTAR team of Beachbody Coaches meets for dinner, and to discuss upcoming events, challenges, goals, etc. This week, we decided that it would be best to have dinner at my home, so that we could comfortably talk about business building, take notes, and bring along our laptops. Typically, clean eating dinners are not an issue for me---but, with this large group of girls, I need something that is not only CLEAN--but, simple to prepare for a large crowd. Further, when dealing with a group, it's important to choose a dish that is pretty universal when it comes to individual tastes, allergies, and special diets. I thought this one would be a safe bet! Check it out! 

Whole Wheat Penne with Chicken and Broccoli

Ingredients:

Yield: 12-14 Servings

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 lbs. Organic chicken breasts, cut into 1" cubes

10 cups broccoli florets

2 boxes whole wheat penne pasta

1/2 tsp. Kosher salt

3 Tbsp. Grated parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until translucent. Be careful no tot let the onion brown. Add the chicken and cook, until it is no longer pink throughout. Remove from heat and set aside.

Once the water boils, add the broccoli and cook until just firm and brightened. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the broccoli to the saucepan with the chicken mixture. Cook until the broccoli is soft, but not mushy.

Return the large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta, according to package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1-2 cups of pasta water. Add the pasta, water, and salt to the broccoli mixture and toss to mix. Add the cheese and mix again. Serve immediately, with additional seasonings, if needed.

Serving Size: 2 Cups

Overnight Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats

I am an absolute cereal and oatmeal addict. I LOVE the stuff. Out here on the East End of Long Island, I have a favorite cafe that serves the BEST steel cut oats----topped with cinnamon and berries.  The problem?? It's SO EXPENSIVE! More that $13 for an order of oats. Seriously....OATS. But, why do I keep going?? Because, let's face it....steel cut oats are kind of a pain in the tush to prepare. Sure, It's just a matter of boiling in a sauce pan. But, I don't particularly enjoy waiting 30 minutes for a bowl of oatmeal in the morning.

Recently, I was really craving (24 weeks pregnant) a bowl of the hearty stuff for LUNCH. This is not unlike me---wanting a breakfast dish for lunch or dinner---but, it got me thinking. What a GREAT OPTION for my husband to take to work, as well! Each morning, we have our Shakeology for breakfast together, which is chock full of protein, phytonutrients, antioxidants, super foods, etc. etc.....What a GREAT compliment it would be to send him off with a hearty bowl of steel cut oats, paired with fresh berries and cinnamon for lunch! So, I decided to make a large batch of the stuff in my slow cooker overnight----it keeps in the fridge for up to a week! But, I assure you--it won't last that long.

I added a can of pumpkin to my recipe, mainly for nutritional factor. Packed pumpkin offers added fiber, vitamin A, Beta Carotene, Vitamin C, etc. Further, it gives the oatmeal a nice flavor and consistency, without adding empty calories. I hope you Enjoy this one!

Don't like pumpkin? Leave it out!

Overnight Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats

* This recipe makes QUITE A BIT of oatmeal!

Ingredients

• 2 cups steel cut oats
• 7 cups water
• 2 cups skim milk
• 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• extra milk for topping, cinnamon, brown sugar, berries, for topping (optional, but so worth it!)
• Instructions
  1. Coat the inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients in a large (6 quart) slow cooker and cook on warm overnight or at least 8 hours

Simple and Clean BAJA Fish Tacos!

Warm weather has arrived and Summer is quickly approaching!  This means that our family meals can start to get a little bit "lighter," but we don't want to compromise FUN! My husband and I LOVE our taco nights! Something about the change-up from heavier, saucier meats to a citrusy, flaky fish--seems seasonally appropriate to me when Spring and Summer set in. So, here's a very simple FISH TACO recipe that it sure to please the whole family with minimal time and effort.  Often times, I have no problem using frozen fillets for this meal--typically tilapia, flounder, or cod.
I hope you enjoy it!

BAJA FISH TACOS

Ingredients:

• 4 small fillets of a white flesh fish (tilapia, flounder, cod, etc)
• 1 tbsp of cumin
• 1 tbsp of chili powder
• 4-6 corn tortillas, ezekiel, or other clean tortilla option...even corn tortilla chips!
• 1/2 c grated cucumber
• 1/2 c grated carrots
• 1/2 c shredded cabbage
• 1/2 c chopped cilantro
• 1 cup non fat greek yogurt,
• 1 1/2 tbsp lime juice
• Chili powder to taste
• 1/2 cup each of diced mango and/or avocado, for topping

Directions:

• Rub fish with cumin and chili powder
• Heat pan to medium and spray with cooking spray.
• While fish is cooking grate cucumber, carrots, cabbage and cilantro
• Break fish into pieces and divide into tacos
• Mix some chili powder with greek yogurt and lime juice and spread on top of fish
• Top with the grated veggies, mango, and avocado

Serve with black beans on the side, if you like... ENJOY! 

Mediterranean Bow Ties

Mediterranean Vegetable, White Bean & Goat Cheese Bow Ties

Ingredients:

6 oz. Whole wheat bow-tie pasta (or penne, rotini, etc)

1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 T. dried basil

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1 T. Extra virgin olive oil

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1-2 inch pieces

1 medium bell pepper, cut into 1-2 inch pieces

1/2 tsp dried rosemary

1 cup crumbled goat cheese

Instructions:

Cook penne according to package directions, adding beans during the last minute of cooking. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, vinegar, basil, pepper and salt, and 1/2 of the garlic. Set aside. Heat oil in a large, nonstick skillet on medium-high, tilting skillet to coat bottom. Add zucchini and bell pepper and cook for 4 minutes or until edges begin to brown, stirring frequently. Add the rest of the garlic, and stir for about 15 seconds. Remove from the heat and mix in the tomato mixture. Cover the skillet to keep warm.

Drain the penne/bean mixture, place in a serving bowl and sprinkle with the rosemary and most of the goat cheese. Spoon the vegetable mixture over the top and garnish with the remaining goat cheese. Enjoy!

Chicken with Fennel Ragu

I don't know about you, but I thoroughly enjoy the days when a brand new magazine arrives in my mailbox. As a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher--and a "foodie," in general--I LOVE my FOOD-RELATED Magazines. This month, when the most recent Rachael Ray Magazine featured this dish on it's cover---I KNEW I would need to "tweak" my own "cleaner" version of it.

I love the simplicity of Rachael's recipes...however, I don't always love the nutrition profile. Not a problem. With a few simple swaps---we are still left with an EQUALLY as delicious dish, simple to prepare, and one that packs a serious nutritional punch! Chock full of protein, fiber, and the digestive gifts of fennel---this is one you don't want to pass on. Check it out!

Chicken with Fennel Ragu 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seed (about 1/2 palmful)

1 1/4 pounds ground chicken

1/2 small bulb fennel, finely chopped, plus a few tablespoons chopped fronds for garnish

1 rib celery, finely chopped, plus a few tablespoons chopped leaves for garnish

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 cup chicken stock

1/3 c. Organic whole milk

1 pound whole wheat fettucine

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. In a large, deep skillet, heat the EVOO over medium-high. Stir in the fennel seed. Add the chicken and cook until brown and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped fennel, celery, onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. 
3. Partially cover the pan and cook over medium heat until the vegetables soften, 8-10 minutes. Add the wine, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add the stock and half-and-half. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until reduced by about half (15-20 minutes).
4. Salt the boiling water then cook the pasta to al dente. Drain, reserving half a mug of cooking water. Stir the cooking water into the ragu then toss the pasta with the ragu; season to taste.  
5. Serve garnished with the chopped fennel fronds and celery leaves, if available. Serve with grated cheese at the table, if desired.

Banana Shakeology ICE CREAM!

I am a major LOVER of frozen yogurt. In fact, my closest confidants in life are well aware of my secret desire to own and operate a frozen yogurt cafe. I genuinely LOVE the stuff. Particularly, the healthful varieties--probiotics, all natural ingredients, etc. Although this recipe is NOT frozen yogurt OR ice cream, it has the exact same consistency--without any of the guilt!

I wish that I could take credit for this recipe--but I can't. Desperate to find a healthy option for my after dinner desires for something cold and sweet--I found this one with a simple google search for "shakeology desserts." It's so fantastic that I had to include it on my personal blog. But--the credit goes to "anitagetfit.com."

Hope you enjoy! Check this out:

Ingredients:

4 – 5 ripe bananas

All natural peanut butter or try PB2 from the health foods store.

1 scoop of chocolate Shakeology 

You will want to first chop your bananas and then freeze them. After about two hours you will want to blend them up in a food processor. It will look like pebbles at first and then it will form into a creamy ice cream texture. Then you will want to add your shakeology and peanut butter to taste. Try and opt for the most natural peanut butter out there. This will make about 3 servings.

Addicted to Sugar? How to Break the Cycle!

This weekend, I was reading one of my favorite Clean Eating cookbooks while I prepared for the upcoming week and started thinking about how much sugar I had cut out of my diet over the past year. One of the things that people come to me so often is that they crave sugar!! In fact, just this week I spoke with THREE people who said they have a killer sweet tooth.  They can't give up their sweets or they can't resist the temptation when placed in front of them.  I know that I really enjoy sweets myself, but I have really worked hard to cut out certain foods that I know are not doing my body any good by eating them!  My mouth just waters thinking about chocolate chip cookies, ice cream cake and chocolate covered anything!  I can tell you that I have successfully transitioned over to clean eating and I have found replacements for those things I used to crave.  When I do go to eat sweets I usually end up with a bellyache and feeling really lethargic.  So, my body now knows what foods it needs vs. wants. 
I am human, though.  I do allow myself to enjoy life and I truly believe in the 80-20 rule.  80% of the time I am spot on but the 20% where I have a special event, get together I pick and choose what I want to have!  But, I can tell you at the beginning I had to go cold turkey until I could gain the control over my mind to make those kinds of decisions without binging!

  

Are you a dessert fanatic? A lover of all things frosted, a champion for cookies and a complete pie-a-holic? Do you dream in chocolate, dally in the candy aisle and feel that your day just isn’t complete without a taste of something sweet?  I know so many people like this, I could sit and rattle off the names of those that can't live without their something sweet after dinner.

If so, in the past you’ve probably blamed your sugar cravings on your sweet tooth, an imaginary body part like the funny bone. And while a sweet tooth doesn’t literally exist in your mouth, pulling your lips towards that ice cream sundae - your body is indeed craving sugar. Why? Because you are an addict, because you haven’t had enough protein, because you’ve used up your willpower and because you associate sugar with sweet feelings and fond memories.

Discover why you crave sugar to understand its hold on the human brain, so that you can combat your natural instincts, put the chocolate down and walk away from the candy dish.

You most likely crave sweets because of one of the following reasons:

1. Sugar is a drug, a fantastically effective dopamine enhancer that works along the same lines as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol – all substances that people love to indulge in, even though it is well known that they aren’t good for the body. A diet loaded with sugar generates excessive reward signals in the brain, and over time, these pleasurable brain chemicals can override your willpower to create an addiction. Just like cocaine – only to a lesser extent – this white powder feels so fantastic to your brain that it usurps your willpower in order to get its next fix. Your brain sends out powerful signals to obtain a sweet release, and your hand reaches for the cream cheese pastry. Like any addiction, it’s not easy to beat – take small steps in reducing your sugar intake, and reward yourself with something other than dessert for each little victory.

2. You aren’t getting enough protein in your diet. The body needs fuel to survive, and the best source for this energy is protein. If your body doesn’t get enough protein throughout the day, it starts to lose energy. Your brain sends out panic signals: I need energy now!!! Nothing gives your body a boost of quick energy like a mouthful of sugar – just ask any kindergarten teacher. You reach for a candy bar in the afternoon, because you didn’t eat enough protein in the morning. Make a point to eat a high protein diet – and watch as your sugar cravings virtually disappear.

3. You have used up your willpower for the day. You wake up early for a run, skipping the snooze button, order a healthy breakfast of oatmeal instead of a doughnut, and then decline the chocolate cake at the office birthday party. You walk right past the bowl of gummy bears on your co-workers desk, order a salad at lunch (dressing on the side) and drink water instead of juice during the afternoon. You’ve been “good” and practiced restraint all day – so when your husband brings home a package of gourmet cookies in the evening, you devour them. All of them. Willpower is a finite resource; it’s a bad idea to go on a diet, try to trim your household budget and stop shopping online all at the same time. You can’t follow the rules exactly every minute of your life, so at the end of the day when you are tired and your willpower is too – you reach for a cookie. And another. Learn to recognize what triggers your evening sugar cravings, and plan to reward yourself in a non-edible way when you feel the urge to eat sweets coming: buy a bouquet of flowers, go for a walk with your dog or watch a funny movie.

4. Sweets remind you of happy times. As children, we are given sugary treats when we behave well or when times are happy (like holidays). We learn to associate the taste of sugar with happy feelings, and as adults, we try to recreate those sweet childhood memories with a chocolate chip cookie, popsicle or ice cream cone. While everyone deserves to indulge now and then, emotional eating rarely brings the satisfaction you crave – and often it just makes you eat even more as you search for those happy feelings. Let yourself have one awesome treat each week, like a hot fudge sundae or scrumptious cupcake, eat it very slowly and enjoy every minute of it. This way you won’t feel like you are denying yourself – and you can sample the sweet treats that you truly want without giving in to cravings.

So if you struggle with sugar cravings and addictions you are not alone!  It's a normal phenomenon that attacks many of us!  But know that you can make a change.  It just takes a little will power to do so!

ASK ME HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN MY NEXT 30 DAY CLEAN EATING AND SHAKEOLOGY GROUP TO TEACH YOU HOW TO KICK THE CRAVINGS, EAT REAL FOOD, GAIN ENERGY, CONFIDENCE AND LOSE WEIGHT!!

Sources:
www.organicauthority.com

How Much Water Should I Drink Each Day?

A question I get asked a lot in my challenge groups is "how much water should I drink each day?" And, because there is not one set number for every person,  I always tell people to drink half of their weight in ounces of water. So, if you weigh 180 pounds--you should aim to drink 90 ounces of water. I know to some drinking water is not an easy task and for others its down right impossible to do without filling it with some kind of sugar  or another type of no calorie, sugar free flavoring. However, these flavoring packets are terrible for you. They are full of artificial sweeteners and chemicals that your body does not need. So, keep reading and I'll show you how you can flavor your water naturally and do you body a favor by giving it extra vitamins!!

First, lets talk about HOW you're going to drink all that water in one day!! A couple weeks ago the assignment for my challenge group was to post your water bottle each time you finished it so we could keep each other accountable to reach our daily goal. I loved seeing all the pictures coming through and I was even tempted to go out and buy some of the super cute bottles!!

It wasn't until I saw the picture above, that I had an ah-ha moment!! We didn't need a cute bottle, we just needed to get a little creative. So I took to Pinterest and to Google to find a way that I could get in my daily intake in a fun and exciting way that would make me want to push hard to finish. Now my goal is 60 oz a day, but, I have been sweating during workouts everyday--and I am also pregnant. So I am shooting for about 80-100oz. It is a lot, but I find that after a few days the trips to the restroom do decrease!! So, I washed out our milk jug and marked the times with fun little words to keep me going through the day--similar to the one pictured above. Of course, a full gallon is 128oz....

 I measured the bottle and set one inch marks every two hours. In the beginning I also had to set a timer on my phone so I remembered to drink up! Then, one of my challengers recently told me about a cool app called WATERLOGGED! SCORE!

So now that you know how much water you should be drinking everyday, let’s talk about how to make sure you actually get enough. Drinking 100 ounces of water may seem impossible at first, but with these easy tips you can reach your goal in no time.

• Drink 2 cups (16 oz) of water before every meal: Science has proven that drinking 2 cups of water before every meal helps you to eat less during meal time and lose weight. If you do this three times daily – at breakfast, lunch, and dinner – you have already consumed 48 ounces of water.
• Morning and Night: Drink one glass (16 oz) of water when you wake up and another 8 oz glass before you go to sleep every night. This will add another 24 ounces of water to your daily intake. The easiest way to do this is to keep a glass or container of water at your bedside, that way as soon as you wake up and start your day, you can begin drinking water. I also find that if I leave a bottle of water on the counter before I go to bed next to the coffee pot or the microwave that it's front and center when I prepare my breakfast I drink it while I heat my oatmeal.
• Hot Lemon Water: Before I eat anything, every morning I have 2-3 cups of hot lemon water. This not only serves as a nice warm treat in the morning but it also serves as a detox and helps jump start my metabolism.
• Infuse Your Water With Flavor: Water doesn’t have to be boring and infusing your water with fruit, herbs, and other flavors can make it much easier to reach your daily goal. Try adding cucumber, strawberries,lemons, limes, and fresh herbs to create flavorful water. You can add them in individual Mason Jars or in a family sized juice pitcher and refrigerate over night.

Do you want more information on how you can receive support just like this?  email me or send me a friend request on Facebook and I would be glad to chat with you about the types of support you can get from me as your coach!

I hope to hear from you soon and good luck!!!

T25 Accountability and Support with the Summer Slim Down Challenge!

Summer is right around the corner and I swear that the months are just flying by!   I feel like just yesterday I was planning for Christmas and now we are planning for the beach and vacations. Now that I am pregnant with my second child, I remember very vividly the anxiety I had just after having my first one on June 2nd--the start of summer season. Ugh. I had JUST undergone an unexpected cesarean section, not to mention endured a 42 week long pregnancy--and I felt so insecure about my body. Not to mention, sluggish from being awake all night long with a newborn. 

For some, this may seem petty. I was certainly not ungrateful for the blessings that a miraculous new child brought to my husband and I. However, as someone who has ALWAYS been a huge health and fitness enthusiast--(not to mention, a total multi-tasking busy body--GO GO GO) let's just say that the adjustment to tired, overweight, recovering, stay-at-home mom was a COMPLETELY SHOCKING adjustment. At times, it was very depressing--isolating--frustrating--and scary. So, at the start of the summer season in the Hamptons--you can imagine how I felt about trying to get into a bathing suit. I knew that I had to make a change for myself and for my family. Being miserable, lethargic  and moody was not benefitting anyone. I joined a Beachbody Challenge group.

Below you can see my day 1 photo!  If you have ever taken before pictures before you know that feeling.  Literally looking at yourself in the absolute worst light ever and pointing out your flaws and making yourself completely vulnerable is really humbling.  My husband helped me to take the photos. And then---I deleted them. That's right. I completely destroyed my "REAL" day one photos. So, unfortunately, all that I have to show is the one that I am sharing below. 

Luckily, I did stick to the program that I committed to. The ah-ha moment came when I started taking progress pictures along the way or "selfies" as we all know them!  This is when I realized that my body was changing way more than my eyes could see when looking in the mirror.  It wasn't until I was completely done with Turbofire and I compared day 1 to day 90 and I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I mean, I had been watching the scale go down. I had felt my maternity clothes becoming baggy, and I found myself back in pre-pregnancy jeans. People were constantly remarking at how fit I looked. But still, I didn't really SEE IT. Suddenly, in the photos, the change was drastic and mind blowing.  THE CHALLENGE GROUP WORKED! The most annoying part? These photos don't even do my transformation the justice that it deserves, because I didn't take the transformation photos seriously. Lesson learned. Overall, I lost a total of 36 pounds and MANY inches. 

It was at that moment that I realized I had found my "THING" my "soul mate" workout and the system of not only weight loss but proper nutrition that I could stick with for the rest of my life. In honor of my personal journey and transformation I am hosting a "Summer Slim Down Challenge," because that is what my very very first group was called and I am going to be giving you the SAME support, GUIDANCE, and INSPIRATION that I was given when I started. 

Asking for help is hard, admitting that what you are doing isn't working or that you are stuck in your fitness and nutrition is a hard pill to swallow. But, MOM to MOM, WOMAN TO WOMAN, let me help you!  Not only do I have the personal experience, but I am also a Health Educator, Counselor, and Fitness Instructor.   I have a chid and a husband, I work full time, I am the maid, the cook, the boo-boo kisser, the mentor, supporter and the coach!  I am able to give you real life support because I have been there, done that!  I am armed with a variety of tricks and tips for meal planning, simplifying recipes, and keeping your diet CLEAN. Best of all, I can help you to incorporate it into a lifestyle that the ENTIRE FAMILY can benefit from and enjoy!

My job and my goal as a coach is to help you make this a lifestyle change for good. This is not a crash diet!  In this challenge group--not only will you finish with MIND-BLOWING RESULTS, but you will CONTINUE on your journey long afterwards..

WE ARE MAKING NEW, HEALTHY HABITS. This is the OFFICIAL invite to my SUMMER SLIM DOWN CHALLENGE starting on April 21st!  You will finish this challenge on June 23rd! 10 weeks to a totally new you!  

So, here is the scoop!!!  This month T25 is on promotion which means that they have discounted the price about $90 for the challenge pack.  Plus, T25 is by far the most effective workout I have seen.  Yes you can actually get great results in 25 minutes a day 5 days a week. Trust me, you jump right in, you get started, you work hard and you get results.  Shaun T has great modifications so no matter what your ability level is you can do this workout!  

So T25 is the program of choice, because lets face it we don't have hours to spend in the gym and we have to get on with life.  So this totally fits our lifestyle!

You will need to be committed to replacing 1 meal a day with Shakeology, until you reach your goal weight.  I understand that many people raise an eyebrow to the idea of a "shake" for a meal replacement--I get it. I used to be one of those people. But, you will LOVE Shakeology! This is NOT your typical protein shake--and it CERTAINLY doesn't taste like one. Promise.  Shakeology is a meal replacement with the proper carb to protein ratio, keeping you full without a problem--until your next snack or meal. Further, it is the only product that I have ever used that GENUINE CURBS CRAVINGS for sweets. Seriously, even in pregnancy, it completely demolished cravings and satisfied me.
 Some of us have difficulty finding time to eat! Although I've never been one of these people, I can tell you that Shakeology will also help with this. Not only is it so easy to toss into your shaker cup and hit the road--but it has NINE SERVINGS OF PRODUCE in it! How many fast meals can you grab on the go that will offer THAT!!??
Chock full of probiotics, antioxidants, and super foods---it will make you feel like superwoman and completely demolish belly bloat. Trust me on this---you'll LOVE the Shakeology. I've NEVER HAD a challenger who didn't. Ever. 

So now what?!  What can you expect?!  When you sign up for my challenge group you don't just get a bag of Shakeology and a fitness program!  You get "ME"!  LOL, well you get a lot!  I run private online support groups--where no one but the members of the group can see what is being posted. Then, I have an entire week before we start and I call it "Pre-Season" and this is where we plan and prep.  I help you write goals, we do pics and measurements, we talk about meal planning in depth and I guide you in the right direction to be ready for day 1! 

Then, each week you get a motivational Monday video from myself OR the #2 Beachbody Coach in the company. Also,  a daily post with either tips, tricks, recipes, accountability to keep you on track.  Each day you log in, read the daily post, log your accountability stats and you stay focused on your journey.  There will be ups and downs, days you want to quit, or days that you feel like the progress isn't happening fast enough. That is why I am here!   I will help you stay focused and accountable so this program doesn't become something else you buy, have good intentions and then life get in the way and never finish.  This time it's different!

So, are you ready?!  April 21st starts day 1 of workouts!  Are you in?  If you want more information please email me or fill out the "contact me" pop up to the right!

Ezekiel Bread Pudding

My Mom's very favorite dessert is bread pudding. Who can blame her? The stuff is absolutely delicious, comforting, and decadent. The problem is that it is loaded with refined carbohydrates and sugar. As a result, traditional bread pudding can leave you feeling pretty weighed down and sluggish. You know--the "brick-in-the-gut" feeling. 

But, with Mother's Day approaching quickly, I'd really like to make my mom a version of her favorite indulgence that offers more nourishment, and less guilt. One of the key components of this clean eating version, adapted from Oxygen Magazine's recipe, is that it uses Ezekiel Bread. If you're unfamiliar with Ezekiel---it is a plant based bread that is free of artificial risers, preservatives, fillers, and chemicals. Based in sprouts, flax and other plant sources--Ezekiel provides a great source of fiber and protein. Best of all, it's delicious!

On with the recipe!

Ezekiel Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 10 slices Ezekiel raisin bread 
• 3 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 whole eggs, 2 egg whites
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup organic raw cane sugar
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• Pinch sea salt
• Coconut oil cooking spray
• Mixed berries and Low fat Greek yogurt, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Meanwhile, whisk all wet ingredients, plus raw cane sugar and spices, in a large bowl.
2. Tear each slice of bread into about 8 pieces.
3. Lightly spray a 9″x13″ baking dish with coconut oil cooking spray and place bread into the dish.
4. Cover bread with wet mixture and, with clean hands, press down until bread is evenly moistened.
5. Bake in the oven for about 1 hour. 
6. Serve with berries and Greek yogurt on the side. Enjoy!

Pregnancy and the 21 Day Fix? You Betcha!

Let me just stop and take a moment to reflect on how HORRIBLE my eating habits have been for the past month. 

It all started when I went to the Florida Keys to visit my Dad. Talk about amazing food---tropical delight! I let everything slide and ate whatever I wanted, right down to the Key Lime Pie! And truthfully, I didn't feel badly about it. I mean, vacation is vacation--right? Not to mention, I'm pregnant! Gotta have a little bit of enjoyment. Upon returning to Long Island, I would get back on track. Not a problem.

Except, it HAS BEEN A PROBLEM! I can't seem to get back on track! Here's the thing.....I am not a person who struggles with exercise--or even poor food choices. Generally speaking, I look forward to daily movement and I naturally gravitate towards clean, nourishing foods. The problem is that I don't always listen to GENUINE hunger cues---and I eat mindlessly. Picture this---digging into boxes, bags, grabbing handfuls of this and spoonfuls of that. Complete emotional BINGE EATING. That's me. Granted---I'll be spooning cottage cheese and grabbing handfuls of Kashi cereal---but nevertheless, it's completely mindless and unrelated to a physical NEED for food! And nighttime!!?? THE WORST! I really need to get this on track....

But I know what you're thinking. Realistically, I'm pregnant. Who cares if I gain weight, right? I mean, I'm SUPPOSED TO gain weight....

Umm… me?!!!

Yes. I'm pregnant. But, does that mean that the next few months are an all-out double-fisting-meatballs free for all!!?? No.

NO. NO. NO.

SO MANY PEOPLE fall into this trap. And, I'm not going there. It's the "I'll get back on track after I have the baby" mindset. Have you any idea how DIFFICULT a set up that is? To form poor eating habits and sustain them over the course of MONTHS....pack on extra, non-baby related pounds, undergo a major surgery (c-section for me, folks), and bring home a BRAND NEW HUMAN BEING---only to have to revamp my entire nutrition and exercise regimen? Ummmm....NO. It's no wonder why so many people fail at losing the baby weight with this mindset. Any mother knows....once the baby is here.....it's ALL ABOUT BABY. There's no time to focus on my menu planning, fitness, and weight loss. Come on! I have to HIT THE GROUND RUNNING! 

And, that means addressing the issue RIGHT NOW.

Fortunately, my pregnancy thus far has been extremely healthy. As I've already said---I am a very active and fit mama--and I enjoy eating healthfully. For the first 20 weeks, my weight gain has been slow and steady--the doctors are pleased. But in the past few weeks, I cannot seem to get a handle on the mindless munching. Everything sends me rushing to the pantry---stressed about work? Pantry. Trying to decide on nursery ideas? Pantry. Not getting along with a family member? Pantry. Anticipating an exciting visit with friends? Pantry. 

You get the point. Suddenly, the weight is coming on faster than usual. My digestive system is not---errrrrrrrr----functioning well. I feel sluggish. And, worst of all--at the end of the day, I have NO IDEA what I actually ate! Does that make sense? I mean, I have no concept of my usual 6 "mini-meals" every day. Suddenly, my day has been a cluster of frantic trips to the pantry and fridge to grab and pop something into my mouth. It's kind of humiliating to put this out there---but, it's the truth.

And now, in recent days, I see that my face is starting to fill out. My arms are losing tone. My pants are tighter around the thighs---UGH! Let's just say, "it's not baby, folks!" I have to get back on track.

The loss of planning/organization in my diet is what lead me to do the 21 Day Fix while pregnant. While the program is a diet and exercise plan, it's main focus is helping folks deal with portion control. Basically, it's screaming my name! I have been doing some of the workouts on my own, but thought the nutrition portion should best be left until post-baby. This is not an appropriate time to restrict calories... 

21 Day Fix Program

Except I need to take a look at PROPER nourishment for myself and this baby. 

Therefore, tomorrow I will be diving in to this awesome program! 

So how does it work, especially considering I'm pregnant? When you purchase the program, you are given an exercise schedule to match up with the dvds that you received. You're also given an eating plan that tells you how many containers you can eat per day based on your caloric needs. The containers are color-coded which makes meal planning super easy. 

21 Day Fix Containers

After calculating how many calories I should be eating a day, I figured out how many containers I get. It really is WAY less intense than it sounds.  For the program, I get to eat between 1800-2099 calories a day. That's right, loads of HEALTHY calories to help this tiny human grow! 

This means:

5 Green containers

3 Purple containers

5 Red containers

4 Yellow containers

1 Blue container

1 Orange container

5 Teaspoons (for oils, peanut butter, etc)

That is a LOT of food folks!! Plus, it's all nutritious… something the tiny human will thank me for!

I made my weekly meal plan to help break it down even more.

*Menu from Katie Graue

You might notice this doesn't follow the allotment to a T. While I do get 3 Yellow containers a day, one is to limit their milk intake to three times a week. The tiny human has me going through about a gallon a week, so I had to be realistic. I am knocking it down and replacing some with water, but I want that daily milk intake. If my body says I need it, I'm going to listen! That's why I'm mixing it with my Shakeology every day.  The orange containers are dressings, nuts, etc. Three times a week, you are allowed to replace them with something small and sweet, like chocolate covered raisins. Since the tiny human has intensified my sweet tooth, I'm allowing a small daily snack to keep myself at bay. I would much rather allow myself a small splurge than go nuts and eat a pint of ice cream.  I am also not eating all of my teaspoons, as I usually never cook in oil. 

So there you have it. That's how a pregnant lady plans on doing the 21 Day Fix! I will also add that most of the exercises will have to be modified, as I cannot do any ab work. If it calls for me to lay on my belly, I'll do some yoga stretching instead. That should help me in a few more months!

Just to avoid confusing/criticism, I am NOT doing this program to lose weight! I am doing this program to get myself back on track, watch my portions, limit my sweets, and eat more veggies! What I've put on is what I will have to deal with until post-tiny human. However, if I can keep it from spiraling out of control, I'm sure as heck going to try. And, of course, I have the support of my doctors on this journey. 

I would love for you to join me! If you'd like to see the program, email me or check out the challenge pack here. I have 21 DAY FIX ongoing regularly--and I'd love for us to support one another!