Meal Prep for the Win!

For the past year and a half, I've been a fly by the seat kind of meal planner.  Did I have a plan?  Sure...I figured it out the night before!  Did it work?  Yep!   Was it stress free?  Ummm...no, not so much lol.

So last Sunday I decided to try my hand at meal planning and prep for the whole week.  And let me tell you, it was FAB!

I learned a few things and tweaked my process today and now I AM READY!!

I know meal planning and prep can seem extremely overwhelming so I'm going to lay out exactly what I did today and how I am set up for a week of success.

First, I sat down at my computer, pulled up an excel, and planned out my Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks for Monday through Thursday.  Fridays and the weekends are a little bit tougher but I've got my fall back meals on hand so I'll still be able to stay on track.

I worked backwards and started with dinners first since that's the meal I'm planning for everyone, rather than just myself. I also have my Shakeology every day for breakfast and a banana for my mid morning snack so I added those im there too. Then I filled in the rest based on what containers were left over.

Once I had my meals planned out, I made my shopping list and went for groceries!

As soon as I got home, I got to work!  I made 3 meals today and portioned each out.  The only thing left to cook is Thursday's meal which is a crock pot meal so that will be super simple!

Here's what I'm having this week: Fixate Mac n Cheese, Turkey Chili, Turkey Taco Meat (salads), and Chicken Fajitas.  All easy things to make and even easier to heat up and to keep me on track!

So here's the really big exciting part of all of this!  Not only am I set for the week but all of this cost me $81.  All my meals all week plus dinner for my family.  Planning is key!  Add in my Shakeology and we're talking $110 for a week of healthy eating.

Clean eating doesn't need to be expensive.  Map it out and you can accomplish anything, even on a budget!

Are you ready to commit to clean eating, 30 minutes of exercise a day, and replacing one meal a day with the healthiest shake you've ever tasted?  Email me and I will help get you started on this amazing journey!

Turkey Taco Meat

Who doesn't LOVE mexican?!  Am I right???

I love this recipe.  It's easy and so tasty, and the leftovers keep great!  Perfect for planning out a week of lunches :)

Ingredients

• 1tsp Olive Oil
• 1 medium Onion, chopped
• 1 Jalapeno, chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1lb Ground Turkey
• 1.5tsp Chili Powder
• 1tsp Mexican Oregano Leaves
• Sea Salt - to taste
• 8oz can no salt added Tomato Sauce
• 3T no salt added Tomato Paste

Directions

• Heat oil in skillet and add onion and jalapeno, cook 4-5 minutes
• Add garlic and cook 1 additional minute
• Remove and set aside in bowl
• Brown turkey in same skillet
• Season turkey with chili powder, oregano, and salt
• Add tomato sauce and paste, mixing well
• Cook 8 minutes or until most liquid evaporates

This is so great because you can serve it a number of ways!  Tonight I had mine on a bed of lettuce topped with 1/2 blue of cheese, salsa, and greek yogurt!  

You could also serve over brown rice, in a lettuce cup, or a whole wheat tortilla!

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Spinach & Cheddar Chicken Burgers

With all the gorgeous weather we've been having lately, this past week the family and I took the opportunity to do some grilling!  Unfortunately, our burgers didn't exactly get cooked through before the propane went out on the grill lol but we finished them up inside and they were delish!  Who gets to attempt to grill in November in PA anyways!!

One of my favorite burger recipes, and an alternative to using ground beef or turkey is an amazingly yummy Chicken Burger!  

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Wilted Spinach
• 1/2 small Onion
• 1 Clove of Garlic
• 2 Green Onions, roughly chopped
• 1 lb ground Chicken
• 2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 tsp Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
• 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 cup Panko/Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs

Directions:

• Place Spinach, Onion, Garlic, and Green Onions into a food processor and blend

• Empty into a large bowl and add the following:
• Ground Chicken
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Soy Sauce
• Lemon Juice
• Chili Powder
• Cheddar Cheese
• Panko/Bread Crumbs
• Mix it all together and then form into patties

• Refrigerate for 2 hours, grill, and enjoy!

I served mine on a whole wheat bun with a touch of mustard.  So good and so easy! Try it out and let me know what you think!

Comfort Food - Mac N Cheese!

It's no secret that I absolutely love the 21 Day Fix Cookbook, Fixate.  This is my number one, go to tool for meal prep!  It's been such a time saver!

One of my absolute favorite recipes is the Mac N Cheese recipe.  It is to die for!  I've made it pretty much every week since I picked this baby up!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked whole wheat macaroni
• 4 tsp coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1 1/4 cups sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 cups cooked chicken breast
•  6 cups steamed broccoli
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper

Instructions

• Pre-make the chicken, broccoli, and macaroni.
• Note: follow the box of macaroni for cooking instructions but skip any "extras" like salt or oil
• Melt oil in a large saucepan
• Add flour and whisk continuously for 1 minute or until brown
• Slowly whisk in almond milk, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes until thickened
• Reduce heat to low and add cheese, continue to whisk for 2-3 minutes until all cheese is melted
• Add chicken, broccoli, macaroni, salt, and pepper.  Stir for 1 minute or until heated through.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Mason cannot get enough of this recipe!  He loves it!  

Another thing I LOVE about this is how great the leftovers keep.  I'm always skeptical of reheating broccoli but this heats up perfectly!

The Salad Dressing Debate

What's your dressing of choice?  In this house, we are a bit divided!  Hubby loves Italian, that's all he eats...unless its on pizza, then it's Ranch all the way!  I myself am a true Ranch lover at heart! 

When I started my clean eating journey I assumed I would just have to give it up all together.  That was until I stumbled upon this amazing recipe!

Looking for a clean and healthy Ranch Dressing recipe?  Look no further!

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup thick Greek Yogurt (I use Fage 2%)
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp Celery Seed
• 1/4 tsp Salt

Instructions

Mix it all together!  Yes, it's that easy! :)  If you like your dressing a little creamier like I do, whisk in a little bit of water until you get to your desired consistency.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Challenge Group 411

Many of you have heard me talk about Challenge Groups and how much I absolutely love and believe in them.  Maybe I've even told you about them, asked you to join, or maybe you've been a challenger!

I wanted to take some time to explain what exactly a Challenge Group is and why I feel they are vital to success.

Let's start with my Challenge Group background.

I was a challenger in my first group August of 2014. I was nervous, scared I would fail, wouldn't be able to hang, wouldn't get the results that others were achieving. 

I was out of shape, overweight, and down right miserable. I hated leaving my house, I was embarrassed of how I looked and felt.  I knew I needed to do something and decided I needed to give it a try. So I took the plunge, orders T25, the 3 Day Refresh, and Shakeology and dove in head first. 

The Challenge Groups typically consist of 4 weeks.  The first was pre-game week. We all got to know each other, talked about our goals, our WHY, all things to get us comfortable with the amazing people we would be spending the next 21 days working with. 

When the 21 day challenge went in to full swing I was so ready to do this! My coach was motivating me! Other coaches and challengers were motivating me!  And most importantly, I was motivating myself!  I saw all these other amazing challengers ready to kick some major ass and I was right there with them!  If they could do this, so could I!

My first Challenge Group I lost 4.2lbs and 8.5 inches!  Pretty awesome right?!  It felt incredible!!

Since my first Challenge Group over a year ago, I've continued to either participate in other coaches groups or have hosted/co-hostsed my own.  Not a month has passed that I haven't been involved in one of these amazing groups!  I attribute a HUGE part of my success to these awesome Challenge Groups and here's why.

Weight loss is difficult enough as it is.  It can seem unattainable and overwhelming.  Doing it alone only intensifies these difficulties.  What these Challenge Groups provide you with is a safe environment to post your triumphs and struggles, a group of amazing people all working towards a common goal, and a coach to help you every step of the way. 

To date I have lost 23lbs and 27 1/4 inches!  I've still got more to lose and will continue to do so by hosting and participating in these amazing Challenge Groups :)

I would love to share this amazing opportunity with you!  I cannot stress enough how life changing all of this has been for myself.  I'm finally happy in my own skin again.  I no longer dread leaving my house.  And most importantly, I'm enjoying life again!  A benefit for both myself and my family :)   

Yummy Chicken Parm...or Bust!

Chicken Parm is a favorite meal in the Blasco household.  All 3 boys love it.  It's something I can make and know that everyone will eat it and be happy!  We have a favorite recipe that I've been making for years...I don't even remember where I got it, I just know that we love it!

Unfortunately, it's not the healthiest meal ever!  The recipe basically involves dipping the chicken in melted butter and then heavily breading it with a flour/breadcrumbs/cheese mixture...sometimes even double dipping!!

By now, I think it's pretty clear that I'm in love with the Fixate cookbook!  Each recipe that I've tried has been so delicious!  So tonight, it was time to try the Chicken Parm recipe! 

Shawn was very skeptical!  He's very set in his ways and likes what he likes!  But, he agreed to try it. 

This recipe took some time, I would recommend making the chicken and sauce ahead of time!  But it isn't a difficult recipe by any means!

Pasta Sauce Ingredients

• 2 TBSP Olive Oil
• Medium Onion, chopped
• 4 Cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1 6oz can Tomato Paste
• 1/4 Red Wine
• 2 28oz cans Whole Peeled Tomatoes
• 2 TBSP Agave Nectar
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 3oz Parmesan/Parmigiano Cheese Rind (not totally necessary, but I did include this in my sauce)
• 3 TBSP Basil

Pasta Sauce Directions

• Heat oil in large sauce pan and add onion, cook for 5-6 mins, stirring frequently
• Add garlic and tomato paste, stirring constantly for 2-3 mins
• Add wine and cook for 2-3 mins stirring constantly
• Add tomatoes, agave salt, and pepper, bring to a boil and reduce heat to a gently boil, cook for 3 mins
• Add cheese rind and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally
• Add basil and enjoy!

Chicken Ingredients - get ready, there's a lot lol!!

• 2 TBSP Pine Nuts
• 1 TBSP Cornmeal
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/2 tsp Ground Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano Leaves
• 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme Leaves
• 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/4 cup Almond Flour
• 1/4 cup Coconut Flour
• 2 TBSP Grated Parmigiano Cheese
• 1/2 cup Low Fat Buttermilk
• 1 Large Egg White
• 1 lb Chicken Breasts
• 1 TBSP Olive Oil
• 2 TBSP each of shredded Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan Cheese (you will need this amount X number of chicken breasts used)

Chicken Directions

• Preheat oven to 425
• Put pine nuts and cornmeal in food processor, pulse until finely ground
• Combine nut mixture, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, salt, baking powder, almond flour, coconut flour and grated parmigiano cheese.  Set aside.
• Wisk egg white and butter milk in separate bowl
• Heat oil in large skillet, add chicken and cook for 3-4 mins
• Transfer chicken to baking dish and bake for 10-12 mins
• Reduce oven temp to 350
• Top each chicken breast with 3 TBSP Pasta Sauce and 4 TBSP of Mozzarella and Parmesan mix
• Cover with foil and bake until cheese is bubbly, then enjoy!

I made this in stages.  I made the chicken first and then before topping with the sauce and cheese I left it sit out covered in foil while I made the sauce which takes time!  I baked the chicken the second time for 15 minutes.

So...what did my family think??  I LOVED it!  I practically had devoured my plate before Shawn had finished cutting his up lol!!  Hey, I was hungry lol, and it was delish!!

BOTH boys LOVED it too!  They even asked for seconds! 

And Shawn...well...he really liked it too!!!  He said he would definitely eat this healthy version again :)  Now, if only I could get him to eat whole wheat pasta lol!!!  Slowly converting him :)

There are so many amazing recipes in Fixate, I seriously cannot get enough!  Love trying all these new recipes and experimenting with them on my family!