Healthy Quiche

I got a random craving for quiche the other day and told my self there was no way I could ever dream of making it healthy enough to eat... The. I saw something briefly about using spaghetti squash as crust.... I was very skeptical and thought there's no way my husband will ever eat it, but.... I had all the stuff so I thought why not!

So I actually prepped my squash in the microwaveI poked several holes in it then I threw it in the microwave for 12 mins! Perfect! I got it all scrapped out and ready to go!

 

5 eggs

1 C skim milk (almond or coconut would work too)

1 bunch of spinach

4 strips turkey bacon

Salt and pepper to taste

3/4 if a spaghetti squash

Heat oven to 400

Placed prepped squash in a pie pan and press down as best you can to make a crust.

Cook up bacon in a skillet and crumble when done. Save oils and sauté spinach until tender. Whisk eggs and milk in a separate bowl then add bacon and spinach salt and pepper. Pour into prepped pie pan.

Place in oven and cook for 40 mins, or until egg is completely set!!

Hope you enjoy!!

Spinach steak pinwheels

So I had actually made this recipe a while ago and we loved it! Only thing was that it was full of cream cheese, and just not very healthy. I had gotten some flank steak on sale and was wondering what in the world I was going to make with it... Then I remembered my steak pinwheels... But I wanted a healthy rendition of it.  So I came up with this recipe and let me tell you, it was awesome!!!

1 flank steak, mine was about 1 lb

1/4 C lite sour cream

Bunch of spinach

1 T garlic powder

1 T onion powder

1/4 C Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Turn oven into high broil

Mix sour cream, spinach, garlic and onion powder, and Parmesan cheese together In a bowl.

Pound out flank steak so it's nice and even, about 1/2 inch thick. Salt and pepper both sides of the steak.

Spread the spinach sour cream mixture evenly on one side.  

Roll steak up to make a spiral. 

Cut into 4 even slices (yes this feeds 4)

(The end pieces aren't so pretty)

Broil for 5 mins on each side. Now let it sit for 3-5 mins before serving to let juices set.  Now enjoy!!

Baked Salmon Packets

I just have to say, be prepared for a vitamin power packed dinner with this recipe!!! Sooooo good too! I'm talking about baked salmon packets, filled with spinach, tomatoes, and salmon!! Yummy!!

A lot of people don't like the sound of only being able to have a protein and veggie for lunch and dinner during the 24 day advocare challenge, but I have had so much fun coming up with different recipes for it!! And I'm finding in really enjoying all the veggies!!!

Ok ok, enough talking!! Recipe time!! And remember I'm cooking for 2...so adjust as needed!

(And yes that is a Twinkie box you see at the top... Hey I did do a post on its ok to chat some times!!)

Salmon spinach packets

2 6 oz portions of salmon

1 vineripe tomato diced

1bunch of spinach chopped up

1/2 a lemon juiced

1/4 yellow onion diced

Canola oil (or olive)

1 T dried oregano

1 T dried thyme

1 pat of butter (you can omit if you want)

Salt and pepper to taste

Parchment paper

Preheat Oven to 375

Brush one side of the salmon with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside

Combine tomato, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and a punch of salt and pepper. Set aside

(This looked good enough to eat on its own!)

Now to start building the packets!! Take a square of parchment paper and law in a flat surface. Law down spinach, then 1/2 the diced onion. Place a salmon filet on top then top that with 1/2 the tomato mixture!

Bring up two of the sides together, gently roll down until it hits the top of the tower, fold under the other two sides and place on the cookie sheet. Repeat process for other salmon filet!

Bake packets for 30 mins. 

Gently unwrap the packet and place in a plate with all the juices... Now enjoy!!!

I hope you like them as much as I did!!

Now just to show some results from my advocare experience. Just a face shot, but it shows a lot! I lost 10 lbs and 12 inches on the 24 day challenge!! 

A lot of you ask what is advocare?

85% of how you look feel and perform has to do with nutrition and supplementation. It's hard to explain the 24 Day Challenge exactly by text but simply, the 24 Day Challenge is an all-inclusive diet, exercise (optional) and nutritional solutions program that includes FREE coaching throughout! The Challenge cleans the system out gently and ramps up your body's fat burning! It is NOT a "fad" diet or anything like that...you do still eat real food and such, just coordinated to the two Phases of the Challenge.

we start everyone out with a 24 day challenge. A basic challenge includes meal replacement shakes, omeaplex, spark, herbal cleanse, and MNS3. 

The meal replacement shakes are usually for breakfast or if you don't have time to eat a healthy meal. They are completely balanced and have everything you need. 

The omeaplex is an omega-3 fatty acid replacement that helps promote health blood flow and pressure. It also helps with cardiovascular health and boosts your immune system and metabolism. 

Spark is an energy drink that is sugar free and contains 21 vitamins to help provide a healthy balanced source of energy. It won't make you jittery or crash. 

The herbal cleanse you use on the first 10 days of the challenge. It's a metabolic cleansing system that helps rid the body of toxins and waste. It helps improve digestion. It won't make you have to run to the bathroom though. 

And the MNS-3 is a comprehensive system for weight loss through the use of proper vitamin supplementation. It provides you with core nutrition and sustained-release energy. 

There are also companion products you can use with the challenge such as catalyst, which I am currently using!

Catalyst is not required for a challenge but is nice to have because it is an amino acid supplement that helps protect and keep your muscles strong during dieting or workouts. 

If you are ready to make the decision to change your life and health, please contact me at terp0457@gmail.com or visit  https://www.advocare.com/130716541

Healthy tortilla soup

So I have found that soup is the easiest thing to make to take for lunches at work. I can make a big Ol pot of it and have enough for days!! I was really craving Mexican food the other day and sat around thinking of what I could make. Then it dawned on me... Chicken tortilla soup!!! Now if your doing the 24 day challenger this is really good, minus the tortilla strips! But if you want the strips I did come up with a fairly healthy version of them.  So lets get started!!

 

2 cans of chicken broth (fat free)

1 can of water

2 chicken breasts (you can use frozen)

1 can kernel corn

1 can rotel

1 T chili powder

1 T chopped garlic

1/4 onion chopped

1/2 green bell pepper chopped

Here's the real hard part... Throw everything into the pot, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 45 mins to an hr! 

Shred up your chicken and your done!!

This recipient makes 4 servings. 

Now for the tortilla strips. Take a flour tortilla and brush oil in it. Cut into strips and place on a cookie sheet. Bake the. In a 350* oven for about 15 mins! Salt when you take them out of the oven! This Ali makes four servings!!!

I hope you enjoy!!

24 day challenge!

I have to take a quick break from my recipes to share this exciting stuff with you!  I've been doing the Advocare 24 day challenge and am so excited with my results I'm actually posting a pic of my before and after for the public to see!

So I just have to say that Advocare works, it really does!!  I did the 24 day challenge and lost 12", 3" were from my wait alone!!  I lost 10 lbs with the 24 day challenge as well.  I am continuing on with my Advocare adventure!!  

As you can see it works! I've tried everything else out there haha.  Many people ask me, well Michele, why can't I just eat healthy?  And yes, this is a great idea, but the products with Advocare really help restart your system and give it that extra boost.  With the 24 day challenge you start with a 10 day cleanse and I truly believe that I would not have been able to loose the weight without this initial cleanse.  It's like pushing the restart button on your body!

If you too want to change your life and jump start your weight loss please message me and I will be more than happy to help you with your goals!! Or comment below!

Healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

So I have to confess, I have the worst sweet tooth ever!!! Since being in the advocare program I've tried so many different sweets recipes trying to find something that would satisfy the craving and most of the "healthy baked foods" are absolutely disgusting!!! 

I did manage to find these chocolate chips that are nut, soy, and dairy free, and they are really good! With the advocare system you cut out most dairy from your diet so these were a good choice for me to work with.  

Ok so on to these cookies that I found to try and make. They have been the best thing I have found yet to help crave the cookie craving. I will be honest and let you know that these do not taste just like chocolate chip cookies, but they're pretty good haha. Ok ok I know enough rambling!! Here's the recipe!  

2 ripe mashed bananas

1/3 C natural peanut butter

2/3 C unsweetened apple sauce

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 1/2 C old fashioned oats

1/4 C chic chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 

Mix banana, peanut butter, apple sauce, and vanilla all together until creamy. Add spices and salt mix well. Add in oats and fully incorporate. Mix in chocolate chips.

Spoon out 2 T rounds onto cookie sheet. Bake for 20-30 mind and let cool.

Now I know you'll want to eat those as soon as they come out, but I think they tasted much better after they cooled!

I hope you enjoy them!! Please comment below for any suggestions or if you enjoyed these!!!

 

Shredded Chicken Salad

The hardest part if this program had to be coming up with lunches to take to work with me. I love chicken salad but wanted a healthy alternative... The. It dawned on me... Why am I not using my salad dressing?? I have thisyogurt based   parmesan  caesar dressing that is awesome!

The only problem using this rather than just mayo is its not quite thick enough... So the solution? 1/2 mayo 1/2 dressing!!

6 oz shredded chicken 

1 stalk celery chopped

1 carrot chopped

1/2 cucumber chopped

A handful of cherry tomatoes halved

1 scallion diced

1 T mayo

1 T dressing

Salt and pepper to taste

And here's the hard part.... Mix it all together haha. 

Enjoy!!!!

Cheating

Ok so I know that the hardest part about changing your eating style and life style is giving up all those fried and baked goodies...I understand fully!!  Here's my little secret though, it's ok to have these...the key to it, is only once in a while!!! Most people refer to this as cheating, and cheating is ok.  We are human, we are going to get cravings, and want to eat out.  The more and more that you deprive your self, the more and more you will crave, and you will eventually just want to quit everything that you have been working so hard towards.
I usually try to only cheat about once a week, and it's usually only for one meal. I stick to my healthy eating for the rest of the meals, and then have my one cheat.
Honestly after eating so healthy for so long, my body rejects most of my cheat foods anyways, and I really do not crave these foods as much any more!!!!
Sorry for such a short, crazy post, just wanted to get out there, that cheating is ok while you are trying to eat healthy!!!

Buffalo ranch turkey burgers

This is probably mine and my husbands favorite healthy recipe haha. We could eat these all the time!!! He doesn't like buffalo so i make him just ranch turkey burgers. So remember for this recipient it's meant to serve just 2 people :-)

1/2 lb ground turkey

2 T ranch mix

1T garlic powder (we like garlic)

1 t salt

1 T Worcester 

1 T hot sauce (more or less depending on your taste)

Mix all ingredients together, do not over work! Make two 1/4 lb patties. Heat up a skillet in medium high heat and make sure it's fully hot! Spray with a non stick spray. Cook patties for 4 mins in each side. Now enjoy!!!

Tomato cucumber salad

This is such an easy, but absolutely delicious recipe!! My husband is always wanting this for a side dish!

So this is literally one of the easiest things ever!!

1 C cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half

1 C chopped cucumber

1 T oil ( I use canola oil due to allergies but olive oil works too)

2 T red wine vinegar (or balsamic)

Salt and pepper to taste

Just take and combine everything in a bowl and let set in the fridge for at least an hr. Be sure to use plenty of salt, cucumber and tomato both need salt to really bring out their favors. Hope you enjoy!!

Strawberry banana peanut butter smoothie

This is an awesome morning shake packed full of protein to get you moving for the day!!! So simple too, just throw everything in the blender and blend away!!

1 C strawberries ( about 6)

1 banana

1/4 c peanut butter

1/2 c oats

1 c coconut milk ( or whatever milk you like)

1 packet stevia

Handful of ice

The original recipe called for 1/2 c peanut butter but too much fat for me, and honestly you should use the all natural stuff, but this is what I had on hand haha.

 

Like I said its super yummy and filling!! Hope you enjoy!!

Original recipe from http://www.mamaowlblog.com/2013/06/16/the-pink-breakfast-smoothie

24 day challenge

So I am entering the last week if my 24 day challenge with Advocare and I'll say I'm very happy with the results so far. I thought about blogging day by day about all this, but I decided to first try out the system so I can truly say if the program works! And I do have to say yes, yes it does!! 

I'm going to be posting various recipes, and tips from my experiences of my first 24 day challenge, and my onward journey from here on out!!! Please let me know if you have any questions at any time!!!