Go-To Snack and Progress

Dark Chocolate Almond Milk and Plain Greek Yogurt with fresh strawberries, dark Chocolate chips and a drizzle of honey! 

Ohmigosh, the almond milk is divine! I am absolutely obsessed with this stuff! Literally, I drink it at breakfast, after diner and for a snack. Sigh... It's ridiculously addictive. And the yogurt isn't bad itself, but I'm not as partial to it. I could live without it, buuut I'm not gonna because it makes for a perfect treat. 

I've been eating really clean and healthy and kicking my own a$$ working out and  finally feeling some progress. I haven't weighed myself (because I just can't go there), but I can tell my clothes are fitting better and my overall muscle tone is changing. I love seeing results! :)

It's What's for Lunch

Another day, another Quinoa dish

Today, I added cooked black beans with sautéed Serrano peppers, Half of an Avocado, and some Feta Cheese to my Quinoa. 

It was a very hearty lunch, filled with protein! It has kept me full the entire afternoon which typically doesn't happen. I usually require an afternoon snack, but haven't thus far today. 

I'm instead enjoying a cup of coffee while I finish up with my work day. 

Crazy for Quinoa

Quinoa with Edamame, Sautéed Mushrooms, and 1/4 Cup of LowFat Cottage Cheese {I was out of my preferred Feta}

 

After last nights gorge fest during the Super Bowl, I am trying to detox my body of all the yuckies I consumed!

My favorite go-to recipes almost always includes Quinoa! If you haven't heard of Quinoa, you must be living under a rock because word of it's benefits for your body has spread like wildfire over the past couple of years! I have been experimenting with it since I went GFree in '09. It is very similar to the way you prepare rice , but the texture is closer to that of Couscous. You can pretty much add any and everything to it to make different yummy concoctions! My one word of advice is to always use something wet to provide a more enjoyable texture. I like using Viniagrette based dressings, Salsas, or even acidic fruits such as Limes, or even Pineapples! 

The recipe I used for the above picture is 

1C Quinoa to 2C Water {I always prepare in bulk so I have some left for my weekly lunches}

1/2 C frozen Edamame (shelled)

1/2 C sliced Mushrooms (sautéed)

1/2 C LowFat Cottage Cheese (I prefer Feta for taste)

Sesame seeds 

Carmelized onions for taste 

Salt and pepper 

And a drizzle of my fav! Ceasar Viniagrette Dressing 

And there you have a healthy lunch option that's packed full of protein!

Kale

So, there is a huge Kale craze lately and I am definitely on board! I'm a smidge obsessed with it! I eat it almost every day and I've found tons of ways to use it.

A few examples...

Kale Chips baked in the oven with various different seasoning mixtures. 

Chicken Taco Soup with Kale

Quinoa with sautéed Kale and Mushrooms

Egg white omelette with steamed Kale, Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Jalapeños

Green Smoothie with Kale, Pineapples, Plain Greek Yogurt and honey

And my addiction this week is this Kale salad with Cucumber, Broccoli, Slivered Almonds, Golden Raisins and Ceasar Viniagrette salad dressing. YUM! I've eaten it threw days in a row because it is THAT good!