Snacking in a Whole New Way

Artichokes are a great, simple, healthy, and inexpensive way to snack!

Place in water with sliced lemon (or lime) and 1 full clove of garlic. Bring water to a boil and then turn to low and cover for 30-45 minutes.

We like to eat with melted non-dairy butter (2TBSP), but you can get creative with your dipping sauce--just try to keep it low-calorie!

Gives you the snacking satisfaction without grabbing a bag of potato chips and my husband LOVES them!

Eating Clean on a Budget

Steel Cut Oats are a great healthy breakfast that you can make cheap! That bag of Oats cost me $1.99 in the bulk section at Sprouts.

Gluten Free, Vegan, Steel Cut Oats

1/3 Cup Oats
2/3 Cup Soy/Almond Milk
Bring to a boil on stove top, then lower heat to low and let simmer until creamy.

We add 1/2tsp of brown sugar, and then our favorite nuts and fruit. By favorite, I mean whichever ones are in season and on sale!

Simple Sweet Potato Soup

Being sick is every excuse to sit on the couch under a blanket, eating fast food, and watching a Big Bang Theory marathon. However, here is your chance to test your will power!

Drink TONS of fluid, try to get outside and exercise even for 10 minutes, and eat clean! You will need the energy from healthy food to overcome your illness.

Simple Sweet Potato Soup
(Gluten Free and Vegan)

1 Sweet Potato
1/2 Cup Soy or Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Vegetable Broth
Pepper, Salt, Red Pepper Flakes

Bake (or Microwave) 1 sweet potato. Mash the baked potato and add milk and vegetable broth. Warm mixed ingredients in a sauce pan to warm and add pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes to taste.

Only 160 calories for the entire thing! Makes enough for 2 (80 calories each)

Kale Chip Obsessed

I will be honest; I have avoided Kale Chips like the plague. My vegan sister tried to tell me they were "Amazing!" at least 30 times. One day, I had a bundle of Kale I needed to cook before we went out of town. I admit to you all; I am an idiot! These are unbelievable!

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Cut Kale from stem
3. Toss in Olive Oil and Salt
4. Bake in oven for 15 minutes and ENJOY!

Sausage & Veggies to Mix it Up!

Skinnytaste.com

We have a tendency to get ourselves stuck in a rut of the same meals, so tonight I'm going to mix it up!

Gluten Free Sausage & Veggies

1 Organic (pre-cooked) Sausage
1 4 Organic Zucchini
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Bell Pepper
1 Red Onion
Olive oil, Salt, Pepper
(Add some Rosemary for a nice change of flavor!)

Chop all of the above ingredients into the same sized cubes. Saute (medium-high heat) in a large pan, with Olive Oil, until sausage is browned. Use salt, pepper to taste. You can always throw in extra veggies like broccoli, yellow squash, or  cauliflower.

My husband usually wants sweet potatoes on the side. To cook these:

1. Peel 2 Sweet Potatoes and chop into small cubes.
2. Place in saute pan with 2 TBSP of water (they cook faster this way) and cover with a lid until potatoes are tender on Medium-high heat.
3. Removed excess water from pan and add 2TBSP of Olive oil. When potatoes begin to brown, add 1/4 cup chopped parsley and salt & pepper to taste.

You can always add the sweet potatoes into the sausage mix, to save you the time and energy of making two separate dishes.

Game Day Food

It's game day at the Smith house. Our Packers are playing strong so far. Hosting a football party is no reason to revert to potato chips and fried food. Fire up the grill with a delicious boneless skinless chicken breast and some roasted vegetables! 

My Coffee Only Has 2 Calories! How Many Does Yours Have?

While many people find the taste of black coffee to be harsh or bitter, their efforts to mask that flavor can increase the calorie count to well over what they may expect. An 8oz cup of black coffee has 2 calories; when you add just 1tbsp of sugar, you are adding 10 calories (but let's be honest...who added just one cube of sugar). Most of the creamers that we purchase in the store can add 30-100 calories to your 8oz cup. If you are making a run to your nearest coffee house chain, your double-pumped vanilla spice deliciousness can bring that cup to 250-450 calories!

I love a latte treat every now and then as much as anyone but I make sure to view it as just that; a treat! This not only keeps my health in check but also save me a ton of money. I have not bought creamer in 2 years and only buy a sweet coffee drink on a treat day.

If you are a chronic cream drinker, then switching to black coffee is no easy task. My recommendation is to switch from creamer to vanilla almond milk, then original unsweetened almond milk, and slowly reduce they amount you use. It will take some time, but eventually you will LOVE the taste of pure clean 2 calorie coffee.

Kale Can Taste Good!

Kale Chicken Salad

2 Grilled Chicken Breasts

3 Cups of Kale

1.5 Cups of Red Cabbage

4 Stalks of Celery 

1 Apple 

1 Cup Halved Grapes (Red or Green)

1/3 Cup Candied Walnuts (I candy my own by roasting in the over for 5 minutes at 325 degrees and then melting brown sugar in a sauce pan stirring in the walnuts)

Dressing:

Light option is 2 TBSP of lime juice, 2 TBSP Olive Oil, 1TSP Balsamic Vinegar

Gluten Free Recipes

More and more people are realizing they have a gluten intolerance or they have jumped on the “Gluten Free Bandwagon” for weight loss. Since both my husband and his brother have a gluten sensitivity, we make every meal gluten free. Here are two husband-approved examples:

Gluten Free Chicken Tacos

2 Chicken Breast

Corn Tortillas

Shredded Cabbage

Cilantro

Red Onion

1 Can Sweet Corn

Jalapeño

Lime

Season chicken breast with chili powder, cayene pepper, salt, peper, olive oil and grill.

To make sweet corn salsa, drain canned corn, add chopped red onion, cilantro, lime juice and jalapeño to taste. 

Shrimp Gluten Free Pasta

1 package Quinoa Pasta (I like it best than rice pasta because it keeps a better texture and uses a superfood!)

1 head Broccoli/Asparagus/Green Beans, whichever is in season or on sale

1 cup cilantro

1 cup Artichoke Hearts

1lb Raw Shrimp

Salt, Pepper, Lemon

Bake Shrimp at 450 for 5 minutes. Make sure they are cleaned properly and cover with 2TBSP olive oil, salt, pepper (add red pepper flakes for a little kick)

Sauté vegetable in large pan, Cook Pasta according to directions and add to a sauté pan with vegetable, artichoke, cilantro, salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Stir in shrimp after fully baked. 

Serves 4.

Healthier Breakfast Option

I made this for my husband 2 days in a row now because it was such a fan! Heat soy milk and oats in a sauce pan until boiling, then turn to low and cover for 5-10 minutes until a desired consistency. Add apples, cinnamon, and pecans. (Try with Almond Milk or Water instead of soy milk)

Resolve: To Keep this New Year’s Resolution

Forget about your resolutions for last year that may or may not have been forgotten by January 15th, 2013. This year, we are dedicated to being dedicated to something. 

We all lead busy lives! Whether your resolution is a number on a scale, a physical goal, or to try to stress less, 30 minutes of exercise a day will make an incredible difference in your quality of life. Even if you can’t space 30 minutes - try some a shorter workout (like the 7 minute workout - it’s even an app!) for a quick fix to keep your commitment.