Easy Pork Parmigiana

I made this last night for the family and my 12 yr. old son ate a WHOLE pork chop!  Needless to say, I'll be making it again!  For a lighter version use olive oil and go easy on the cheese.  I served this with a side salad and fresh pasta (found in the refrigerated aisles of the grocery store).

Ingredients:
1 egg
2 T powdered Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 to 2 T of olive oil
4 3/4 inch thick pork tenderloins or boneless pork chops
1 24 oz jar of spaghetti sauce
shredded mozzarella cheese


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix 1 egg with 1T of water in shallow bowl and set aside.

Combine Parmesan cheese with bread crumbs in another bowl.

Start heating up olive oil in a large frying pan.

Dip meat in egg mixture; then dredge in crumbs.  Brown breaded pork in the olive oil.
Place in a greased casserole dish.  Top with spaghetti sauce.

Bake about 30 minutes.  Top with grated mozzarella cheese and return to the oven for 5 minutes.


Enjoy!

October Specials are ending soon!

October specials are ending soon!  I just wanted to give a breakdown of what each of the challenge packs include.  I'm such a visual person so I'm trying to add lots of pictures! :)

First up P90:

THE Tony Horton calls it the "on switch" to fitness.  If you are needing a jump start to your fitness journey or want to start but don't know where to begin I totally recommend this program.  My husband and I have done all of the P90X workouts and have not been disappointed.  I personally haven't done it because it is still so new but I've been hearing great things from the test groups.

Also, for each one purchased, Beachbody is donating $5 to the Wounded Warrior project in honor of Tony's Dad who recently passed away.  

click here to learn more:  

(Sorry these pictures are so LONG but I really wanted you to see what all is included and these were the best ones that I could find that showcased everything.)  

Next up:  COMBAT!  

Seriously one of my favorite workouts of all time.  I can't even explain the power I feel as I punch and kick my way through it.  And you get the gloves free too!  Bonus because if you ask me the gloves are like magic and make you feel like a fighter.  They instantly put me in the mood.

click here to learn more

And last but not least, Les Mills Pump. 

 I'm sure you've heard of this workout at your local gym or YMCA.  I choose to workout at home to save me time and workout whenever it fits into my schedule so getting to have this program available to me at home is the best!  Seriously, the weights alone at a sports store would cost an arm and a leg so to get them and the personalized workouts in one is perfect for me. 

click here to learn more

Click below to see a 15 second video of me doing Pump!

Did you see the weights included?  Just wanted to make sure :)

So there you have it.  Remember, the special pricing goes away at the end of the month.  Please don't hesitate to email me with any questions about the programs.  It's what I love to do!

All the best,

Kristen.  

I finished the 3 Day Refresh!

Today is the day after my 3 Day Refresh!  It's a new program that I picked up because for the last month or so I haven't felt myself and was sick and tired.  Turns out (long story short), I was having thyroid issues.  I'm feeling MUCH better now but after eating whatever I could because it hurt to swallow and a lot of medicine and antibiotics, I wanted to cleanse my system out.  And just to let you know, I've worked hard the past few years to get to my ideal weight so I wasn't trying to lose weight.  I wanted to feel better and give my nutrition the kick start that it needed.  So the 3 Day Refresh was perfect for me because it was only 3 days.  :)

Here is what I did!

For 3 days I had a superfood-packed Shakeology shake for breakfast along with a fruit option. I chose to not give up my coffee totally but I did drink it black.   Of course I didn't drink as much because lets face it, black coffee is no fun.  Then, later on in the morning, a Fiber Sweep digestive health drink.  It was sweet and went down just fine.  Just make sure you drink it up fast!  

For lunch, I had a high-protein Vanilla Fresh shake along with fresh fruit, vegetables, and healthy fat options. For this, I just whipped up a simple salad of cucumber, cherry tomatoes, a little purple onion and a little avocado dressed with balsamic vinegar.  (I thought this was fine but later found out it had sugar in in so next time I might just use red wine vinegar.)  

For my snack I ate two stalks of celery and 2 TB of hummus which I found to be plenty.  My advise is to chew your food SLOWLY and really enjoy it.  I think it makes it last longer and helps with digestion.  

For dinner, I had another Vanilla Fresh shake along with the choice from a list of delicious, easy-to prepare dinner recipes. You can also have tea twice a day.   

Now lets talk about WATER!  It is super important to drink TONS more water.  The shakes can't do their thing without it.  Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces and you'll be fine.  Yes, I was peeing ALL of the time but I wanted to clean out, right?  So for three days I could handle it.  I even went shopping with hubby on day 3 and used the bathroom in REI 3 times.  But who cares?  I guarantee you that no one else did!  

So what did I learn from this and what were my results?!

1.  This program so doable!  My first day was the hardest and I know it was all mental.  I went through all the emotions and excuses to quit!  I don't really need this, no one will know if I finish, It's too difficult (which is wasn't!), etc.  But I stuck with it because I announced to the world and to my healthy lifestyle FB page that I was doing this.  I wasn't going to let anyone see me fail!  I wanted to do this for me and for you to show that you can do it too!

2.  I was only tired on the first day.  And I was never light headed or anything.  Yes, there were times that I got hungry and it wasn't time to eat yet.  BUT, it forced me to slow down and evaluate if I really was hungry.  Sometimes I was just thirsty and sometimes it was stress.  I had nieces coming for the weekend and a boy that broke his hand on the last day!  I could have quit but I kept going because honestly, what would have beer or a piece of my daughter's cake going to do for me?  

3.  On this day after, my energy is through the roof.  Can't put a price on that!  

4.    I lost about 2 1/2 pounds and I don't know how many inches because I didn't measure.  Like I said before, I wasn't trying to lose weight.  I really wanted to concentrate on the experience and how I FELT and not the numbers this time.  I was doing this with a friend at the same time and she said she could fit into her super skinny jeans for a girls weekend and was very happy about that. Yay for non scale victories!

So will I do this again?  

You bet.

My question to you:  

Would you do this type of cleanse?  Tell me in the comments below why you would consider it.  Can't wait to hear from you. 

Kristen

A casserole replacement

This a repost that I wanted to share again:  
When our family started eating healthier, most of my casseroles were cut from the menu.  But every once in a while you just need something creamy right?  I made this recipe last night to satisfy that craving. No cream of mushroom soup or loads of sour cream.  This recipe only uses half a block of cream cheese and it makes a BIG pot.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!  Just say NO to casseroles.  

~Mexican Crockpot Creamy Chicken~

Ingredients: 

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup salsa
1 bag frozen corn (I used half the bag)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Rotel tomatoes and chilies
Chili powder, salt and pepper to taste
1/2 block light cream cheese

Put chicken in crock pot, cover with all ingredients except cream cheese. Cook 3-4 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low. Shred chicken and mix back in with light cream cheese until melted. Cook 15-20 minutes longer until heated. 
Serve as soft tacos with lettuce tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, etc.

The 21 Day Fix & Meal Planning tool

They say that it takes 21 days to create a habit, right?  Lately I was noticing that I was getting pretty lazy in the nutrition part of my health.  My bad habits were starting to show and my pants were getting a little too snug.  The day that it was a struggle to button some of my favorite pairs of jeans, I knew that I needed to start the 21 Day Fix.  

What is 21 Day Fix™?
21 Day Fix is a nutrition and fitness program that makes losing weight so simple,
anyone can do it. Easy-to-follow portion control and 30-minute workouts take
the guesswork out of losing weight to help you see results fast—up to 15 pounds
in just 21 days!
Whether you want to lose a few pounds before your next vacation or jump-start a
bigger weight-loss goal, 21 Day Fix is the program for you. It’s simple, it’s fast, and
it works. If you’re ready to get serious, 21 Day Fix can help you lose the weight.

Why is 21 Day Fix effective?
Because it’s so simple! You don’t have to count calories, points, or log your food
into diet software. With 21 Day Fix, everything is laid out for you. All you have to
do is use the specially designed portion-control containers and do one 30-minute
workout per day. Commit to it for 21 days, and you’re going to love your results.

How does 21 Day Fix work?

With the 21 Day Fix container system,  you’ll learn how to create healthy portions simply and intuitively. It shows you how to eat whatever you want, in the right amounts, so you can reach your goals fast.  No guesswork, and no calorie counting!  The 21 Day Fix workouts are designed to burn a lot of calories in only 30 minutes.  Any fitness level can do them. If you’re a beginner, follow the on-screen modifier.  And if you’re an advanced exerciser looking  to shed those last few pounds, dial up the intensity and challenge yourself to push harder.

To help you succeed with this program I created original meal planning tools and video explaining how I use them.  (Available way down at the bottom!)  They will help you keep track of your meals and containers used throughout the day.  At the end of the day you can look back on all that you have accomplished and feel really proud of yourself.  At least that is what I do!  

Click the the video below to see how I use my meal planners and leave me a comment telling me what you rock at more; meal planning and healthy eating, working out, or both!  

For more information about the Fix click the logo below!

To download my free meal planning templates just click the link below for the calorie bracket that you need!  

21day1200pdf

21day1500pdf

21day1800pdf

21day2100pdf

Will you do me a favor?!   If you download these will you please leave a comment so I know that you did?  I'm just curious how many people are here.  :)  I would love to know how they have helped you!

Thanks!

My motivation

I've had a few people ask me about what motivates me lately. This picture just about sums it up. For me, it's not about rock hard abs. It's about the fact that I hiked up that very steep mountain WITH my kids and got to see a view that I will never forget. Was it hard? Yes, but I wouldn't trade that feeling for the world. What are you willing to work hard for? Who are you wanting to feel better for? Find your MOTIVATION and run with it.

Do you have a word for this year? My word is ~BREATHE~. I am a jaw clincher, breath holder and it takes a huge toll on my body. I constantly have a stiff neck, jaw and shoulders because of this problem. I'm learning to make myself stop and take big deep breaths throughout the day. I'm doing it not only during my workouts but in everyday life as well.

What is your word?

Meal Plan Monday and some healthy eating travel tips

This was an easy meal plan last week since we were leaving on Friday for my husband's grandmother's funeral.  It was a lovely time with family after we braved the ice storm of 2013 to get there!  I just have to add a picture so you can see what I mean:

Sunday-  Spaghetti squash again!  Google how to cook one until I can post a recipe about it.  I could eat this everyday of the week.  Be sure to use the Italian seasoned ground turkey in your sauce for great flavor.

Monday- Meatloaf.  I know what you're thinking.  Yuck?  But this recipe from my MIL is seriously good.  My kids LOVE it and we need to eat some beef every once in a while around here.  We use 90/10 ground beef and I try to not put too much cheese in the loaf (yeah, right).  

Tuesday-Healthy chicken nuggets.  My kids eat these up too!  There are never any leftovers.

Wednesday- All-American chili chowder.  I have to have a crock pot meal at least once a week.  It keeps me sane.  

Thursday- Brinner (Breakfast+Dinner).  We've been having this a lot lately.  It's so easy and everyone eats it.  I'll share my scone recipe soon.  They aren't by any means healthy, but we top them off with a strawberry jam and greek yogurt mixture.  We scramble some egg whites with a few whole eggs mixed in and serve everything with whatever fruit we have around.

Before we left on Friday, I went to the store and was sure to buy some healthy snacks for the road.  We had apples, easy peel oranges, nuts, sugar snap peas and some crackers.   On our travels, we utilize Yelp to help us find healthier restaurants for eating out.  We've found some really cute deli's along the way in small towns.  We like to give them our business as well and leave feedback for other travelers.  Another option is finding a grocery store.  Get creative and build your own salads with pre-washed lettuce bags and little tomatoes or grab some whole wheat tortillas and fill them up with veggies and hummus for a wrap.  You might have to pack a bag before hand with plates, cups and utensils but it will be worth it!  We've also packed a cooler and eaten at rest stops.  The kids can run around while we finish up.  It can be an adventure but in the end, we've eaten healthier, felt better, saved money, and have some great stories to remember.

Here we are enjoying our chicken salad at a rest stop in the Texas hill country this past summer. 

And here's my honey teaching the kids about black widow spiders at that same rest stop.  eek!  One of our many adventures together as a family.  

                           

Another Meal Plan Monday

I skipped a week of meal plans but that's alright because my meals weren't blog worthy anyway.  We took a last minute trip to be with family so our plans got re-arranged and we at out a lot.  This past week I was wrapping up the in-line skating unit with the 3rd and 4th graders at our elementary school.  I also had a long overdue lunch with a friend and the Thanksgiving lunch with my daughter.  A busier week than normal, where I'm not at home during the day, leads to easier meals.

Monday:  Stir fry-  I love this recipe from Erin.  It's simple and full of flavor.  I start with her recipe and then add water chestnuts, baby corns and frozen veggies to make it more of a stir fry.  Don't forget the cashews because that is what makes the dish.  Also, to keep the recipe on the lighter side, start with a small amount of sauce and add more if you need to.

Tuesday: Google how to cook a spaghetti squash.  For the sauce, brown Italian Seasoned ground turkey and add your favorite pasta sauce.  One of my favorite simple recipes for Fall//Winter because the squash goes down in price.

Wednesday:  Easy pot roast in crock pot. Cut up some carrots and potatoes and put them in the crock pot, trim fat off of roast and place it on top of vegetables, sprinkle roast with one package of Lipton onion soup mix and water.  Cook on low 8 to 10 hours.  (I used the recipe on the back of the onion soup box)

Thursday:  Skinnytaste Crock pot taco chili

Friday:  lightened up kale and potato soup

Saturday:  tortilla soup-recipe coming soon!

Brinner:  the usual scones, eggs, fruit and breakfast sausage

As I share these recipes with you, I'm realizing that they aren't as "clean" as they could be.  I'll be working on finding new easier recipes that are using less processed and canned items.  It's been really good for me to write these meals down and see a pattern.  I'm thinking that it will be helpful to me, especially in the next few months, to write down what I eat for breakfast, lunch and snacks as well.  Now I'm off to prepare for Thanksgiving.  Have you lightened up some Thanksgiving recipes?  I'd love to hear about them.

Quick and easy Miso Soup

It's getting cold around here and you know what that means.  Soup!  We enjoy this quick and easy soup for lunch.  Everything you need for this soup is in the picture except for the chow mein noodles that we add for a little crunch.

2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 or 3 green onions, chopped
2 carrots chopped,
1 1/2 cups of purple cabbage (optional), chopped
tofu
Miso Easy, mild and/ or chili flavored

-In a pot, heat 3 cups of water and the veggies until all vegetables are cooked.
-Add 2 Tbsp. regular miso and 2 Tbsp of chili miso to the pot and stir.  (You can play with this combo to make it spicier or more mild)
-Add tofu and let sit for a minute to allow it to heat up.

*Serve with a few chow mein noodles

{This recipe serves two}


Note:  We usually have celery and carrots on hand but not purple cabbage.  When I buy the cabbage, I chop the whole thing up and then freeze flat it in one big bag.  Then I just grab what I need out of that bag and put the rest back in the freezer.  If you look closely, the cabbage in the picture is still frozen.

November Beachbody Excitement~Give and Recieve

Can I just tell you that I'm so proud to be a part of the Beachbody family?  And even more so this month.  Just when I think things can't get any cooler, they come along with this month's promotion.  It's called Give and Receive and it comes in two parts.  

Part 1:  "Recieve":  Whenever someone buys a challenge pack this month, they will receive a $20 dollar coupon to apply to a future purchase.  That would be like getting Results and Recovery formula, the after workout liquid gold, for about half off. * 

Part 2:  In the second piece of the promotion, “Give”, Beachbody is proud to partner with Feeding AmericaTM, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. For every challenge pack purchased or Shakeology order processed (on home direct) this month, Beachbody will give $10 to Feeding America. That equates to a $10 donation for every Shakeology HD order and a $20 donation for every Challenge Pack sold. 

Here's a short 2 minute video about it!

There is no limit to the amount Beachbody will donate and they've promised a minimum of $250,000 with a goal of $1,000,000.  Can you help us reach this?  Each $1 donated provides 9 meals secured by Feeding America, so together, we can provide over 2,250,000 to America’s hungry.  more information about Feeding America, or if you’d like to make a donation yourself, please visit www.feedingamerica.org/beachbody.

*Coupon Terms: When your customers or enrolling Coaches purchase a Challenge Pack in November, they’ll receive a $20 coupon towards a future minimum purchase of $30 or more on TeamBeachbody.com! Coupons will be emailed to the address on file within 7-10 business days of the Challenge Pack purchase for customers and new Coaches and on or around December 11 for sponsoring Coaches. Hurry, coupons expire on April 1, 2014! Coupons may not be used on certain products - see official promotion rules here.

Meal Plan Monday

I want to share my meal plan from last week with you.  It has its imperfections but done is better than perfect right?  In the future, I hope to incorporate more breakfast and lunch options.  I'm pretty boring in these areas so just know that I typically eat oatmeal for breakfast and Mediterranean quinoa salad for lunch.  Snacks for the day are almost always Shakeology.

So without further ado, Dinners were:

1. turkey burgers

2. cauliflower/potato soup

3. crockpot chili

4. zucchini noodles with red sauce ~ Use a julienne peeler like this to make the "noodles" and saute them in olive oil with a little garlic and minced onion.  I made these for my husband and me because the kids were eating hot dogs for Halloween with the neighbors.

5. "Brinner"(Breakfast+Dinner) ~ scrambled eggs, homemade scones, fruit, breakfast sausage

6. Cilantro lime rice w/ black beans

7. Stuffed Pepper soup (I didn't get around to making this this weekend.  I'm thinking of adding it to next week.)

Enjoy!

5 uncommon kitchen untensils that help me cook healthier

Well hello there.  I'm back!  There are so many reasons why I left the blogging world but more importantly, there are reasons that I am back.  Let's just focus on those reasons, ok?  I've missed expressing myself through writing and I've missed the fact of maybe I just might be helping people here.  With that being said, I've had many ideas floating around in my head and I'm ready to jump back in.  Feet first!

Here are the 5 uncommon utensils that I use pretty much use on a daily basis to help me stay on track with healthy eating.

1. Small hand strainer ~  I use this for rinsing my quinoa, rice and canned beans.  The holes are tiny so the food doesn't fall through like a regular colander.

2.  Set of cutting boards ~  We use about 4 on a daily basis and I encourage you to have this many.  Who wants to cut up veggies or fruit when the one cutting board you own is dirty? That alone would make me grab for something else.  Also, I prefer these non-flexible ones because they are easier to clean in the sink.  I run them through the dishwasher every other day or so.  

3.  Julienne peeler ~ This is perfect for making zuchinni "noodles".  I'll share the recipe soon!

4.  Ulu knife ~ This little knife makes cutting up garlic and herbs so fast and easy.  It's fun to use too.

5.  Immersion blender ~  Since it's kind of beginning to feel like Fall here in Texas, soup is on my mind.  I've come across so many soup recipes that call for you to cook all of the ingredients and then add it to a food processor.  I've burned myself too many times and finally picked up one of these at my local grocery store for cheap.  Just blend up those ingredients while they are still in that pot.  (And you don't have to clean a food processor!) I don't use mine too often so I'm not sure how it would hold up with more frequent use.

  What about you?  What would you add to the list?

The Beachbody 21 day Ultimate Reset

Wow I took a long bloggy break, didn't I?  We are in full summer mode here but Hubby and I just finished the 21 day Beachbody Ultimate Reset and I wanted to tell you about it.  It's a 21 day gentle cleanse to rid the body of toxins and learn to eat cleaner.  Complete with daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner plans.  The program comes with all of the supplements you need along with a participant portal to keep you on track and motivated to finish.

• I love roasted beets.  And the kids do too!
• I CAN drink lots of water.  This was honestly the scariest part for me.  I got used to all of the extra potty trips quickly. I've never been a huge drinker of water but now I'm converted.   This little smily face on my water bottle might have had something to do with it:

• Before the reset I hated eating fruit in the morning.  It kind of interfered with my coffee drinking.  Sort of messed up, huh?  Most of the mornings we were assigned a fresh fruit plate for breakfast and I can't get enough now. 

{yummy looking, huh?)

• I missed my morning coffee but I didn't die.  James found me some fake coffee to drink which leads me to believe that my morning coffee was more of a comforting ritual than the need for caffeine.  I'm drinking a cup of real coffee right now and it's not like the heavens opened up or anything when I finally got to have that first sip.    
• I will forever eat toasted walnuts in my oatmeal.
• I will forever eat toasted nuts/seeds in my salads.
• We have decided we don't need meat at every meal!  Don't worry we haven't become vegetarian or vegan.
• James lost 9 pounds and I lost 4.  I have to say that the Ultimate Reset is NOT a weight loss program or starvation diet. When you look at the meals in the guide it sort of looks that way but once you get into a groove of eating super clean, you actually eat less and feel more full.  I honestly didn't believe that until I experienced it.  People have lost a lot of weight but that's simply because they have cleaned up  their eating habits for the better and it shows for them in weight loss.  We weren't in this to lose weight (don't hate me) so when we started getting too low and losing energy we upped our food intake.  We added oatmeal in the morning along with the fruit and I started adding eggs and small amounts of protein the last few days.  

{I know these are the worst pictures of me ever!}

• I didn't miss working out much until my PMS kicked in and I realized that working out is like therapy to me.  (They advise you not to work out while doing the program because you are taking in less calories than usual.) 

• But mainly I learned that diet is essential to getting the body that you want.  Not just exercise!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not out for perfection and rock hard abs.  I'm a 38 year old mom with other issues to deal with.  But when I see people pinning the next new 10 minute rock hard ab workout along side the best chocolate cake recipe ever, I'm not expecting them to see the changes that they want to see. I know it sounds harsh but it's no coincidence I caught myself thinking time and time again during the reset, "this is how they do it"!  All of the trainers that I see on a daily basis while working out with my dvd's at home.  They do a super clean healthy meal plan along with exercise!  And at the risk of sounding like a commercial, Beachbody has it for you.  Not only for them, but for YOU, too!  Exercise plans and meal plans to get you on your way to not just a better looking body, but one that works more efficiently to give you a more enjoyable life. 

Sorry, I'm stepping away from the microphone now.....

Anyway, So why did we do this?  

Honestly, we have been working out hard for two years straight.  Going from one program to the next without a long rest.  We thought this would be a good way to give our bodies the rest that was needed.  Well, we rested our muscles but don't be fooled about the rest part.  It was hard work to eat so clean all of the time.  More shopping trips, more chopping, more planning.....But it was all worth it to take away the small things from this program that, when put together, add up to a big change for us.  Also, since we know that Beachbody doesn't do anything less than awesome, we wanted to be able to personally recommend this product to others that are needing a big change in their diet.  

All in all, James and I are glad that we did it.  It was another challenge to conquer together.  If you have any questions at all about the reset, or making healthier choices in your life, just email me!  I'm only a click away.