A Look Inside My Fridge

 What's In My Fridge??

1) Brita water pitcher!!! Gotta drink up that water!! 

2) Fresh pineapple juice (Mostly for the hubby to mix with Shakeology.)

3) Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light (for those times I want a little butter this does the trick!)

4) Eggs (We eat this for breakfast everyday in every form)

5) Grapes. (After grocery shopping we separate servings of grapes in little baggies for on the go snake that are quick to grab)

6) Tomatoes (I don't really like them raw, but if you do POWER to YOU! I do eat them cooked though and in guacamole. You can make homed pasta sauces, sauces for all types of meats, salsas, etc)

7) Unsweetened, Plain Applesauce

8) Dijon Mustard

9) Greek Yogurt, Plain (Great substitute for sour cream when you have a chance)

10) Light Vanilla Yogurt (Also good for freezing for frozen yogurt)

11) Watermelon (All cut up and ready to snack on)

12) Guacamole (Set up for my turbo wraps and for a quick snack)

13) Fresh blueberries (Love them in yogurt & whole wheat pancakes)

14) Apples

15) Sprouts (Love them in salads and sandwiches)

16) Baked potatoes & sweet potatoes

17) Broccoli Slaw (Great steamed or cooked with pasta sauce)

18) Mixed Lettuce (I try not to do Iceberg so it doesn't really have a nutritional value)

19) Fresh spinach (For sandwiches, to cook, for salads)

20) My bottom drawers of the fridge are full of veggies: lettuces, peppers, bean sprouts, etc.

Other drawer has meats: Lean turkey, provolone cheese, turkey sausage & bacon, ham)

Sorry for the bad freezer pic, but here's what I got stocked in it:

1) Tons of frozen chicken. We buy it and separate into baggies and freeze

2) Sweet potato fries for those lazy days

3) Flank steak 

4) Tilapia

5) Turkey burgers

6) Beef burgers (Gotta eat them once in awhile)

7) Frozen veggies

8) Looks like ice but I actually freeze sofrito in it to use for quick cooking & the other one has chipotle peppers I blended earlier and freeze 

9) Frozen broccoli (Can you tell I love broccoli?)

10) Frozen yuca

11) Empanada Discs (Not healthy, but gotta make them once in a great whole)

12) More frozen veggies (Peas, spinach, edamame, etc)

13) More frozen chipotle & sofrito in baggies

Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter Balls

 Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter Balls

From: Shape Magazine

Infused Latin Chicken

Infused Latin Chicken

Made the most yummy chicken sandwich the other day!!! I am very proud of my creation! It was quick, simple, & delish!!!

Recipe: (Makes 2 servings)

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast 

2 teaspoons of olive oil

1 packet of Sazon w/ Annatto

(found in Hispanic section of supermarket)

1 tsp Garlic powder

1 tablespoon Oregano (or I add more cause I'm obsessed)

Salt & Pepper to taste (very little salt)

1 tablespoon Onion powder

2 whole wheat bread rolls

Toppings of your choice (Avocado, Tomatoes, Onions, Lettuce, light spread of greek yogurt or mustard)

Directions: 

1. Slice 1 chicken breast through the middle to make two thin slices. Pound out if you want it thinner.

2. Heat up 2 tsp of oil in pan

3. Season 1 side of both pieces of chicken with half of the seasonings and put seasoned side down in pan.

4. While one side is cooking, put the remaining seasonings on the side of chicken facing up.

5. When almost cooked through flip chicken over to other side

6. Put the bread rolls on top of a pan with no oil just to toast up.

7. Place desired toppings.

For low carb you can eat the chicken without the bread roll or do only bread on the bottom, leaving off the top piece.

My veggies are just steamed broccoli and broccoli slaw with a little pepper and lemon for seasoning.

 

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

cauliflower crust pizza

Serves 2; Image & Recipe from: eat-drink-smile.com 

(Courtesy of Kati Heifner as well)

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
olive oil (optional)

pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings*

directions:

To "Rice" the Cauliflower:
Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.

One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

To Make the Pizza Crust:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.

Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven. To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).

Enjoy!

*Note that toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.

Tropical Strawberry Shakeology

Guess what tomorrow is???? Tropical Strawberry Release Date!!! You know I will be ordering me some of that!! Looks soooooo yummy!!!

Garlic Flank or Skirt Steak

Garlic/Lime Flank or Skirt Steak


Recipe:


2 pieces flank steak or skirt steak
1 squeezed lime
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
3-4 tablespoons garlic minced or from jar (depends on your taste)
1 1/2 tablespoons of oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
Pepper & salt to taste




Simple recipe. 

Simply place all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to make a marinade. You can either precut the strips or put the steak in a plastic bag whole like I did for 3-4 hours or overnight. I then used my Foreman grill to grill the steak so I did not use oil. Afterwards cut the steak against the grain to enjoy as is or in corn or whole wheat tortillas as tacos.

Grilled Avocado

Grilled Avocado


Need I say more....
Found this on Pinterest...not my recipe. This will become part of my weekly eating.


Cut an avocado in half, sprinkle with olive oil and lime juice, and place face down on the grill for five minutes. Then fill with salsa and sour cream, and sprinkle on a little more lime juice.

5 Ways Hydrating Can Keep You From Hurting

5 Ways Hydrating Can Keep You from Hurting (From P90X Newsletter)

By Howard Shapiro

You're all set for your 3:00 workout. Pre-workout snack? Check. Exercise clothes? Check. But just when you thought it was safe to Push Play on your P90X DVD, you realize there's one important thing missing: your water bottle!

That little 12-ounce bottle is truly a fitness enthusiast's best friend. After all, adequate fluid intake during a workout is essential for comfort, performance, and safety. And the longer and more intensely you exercise, the more important it is to drink the right kind of fluids.

Here are five important things to know about hydration and exercise:

1.  Water works wonders. Did you know that in 1 hour of exercise, your body can lose a quart or more of water? (If you did, give yourself a big pat on the back.) It's a fact: Water helps replenish your body because of the amount you sweat during a typical workout. 
   
   Drinking water throughout your workout has a variety of other benefits too. Your muscles can start to cramp if you don't drink enough. This is because water aids in the removal of lactic acid, which is the primary cause of muscle soreness. 
   
   It also helps prevent the dreaded "D" word: dehydration. 
   
   Becoming dehydrated can severely hamper your athletic performance, slowing you down and making you feel sluggish. But in extreme cases, it can also cause dizziness, heatstroke, or even death. Last time I checked, none of these seemed like appealing options. 
   
   Want to make a preemptive strike against dehydration? Don't wait until you begin your workout to get water into your system. So when should you start, you ask? Great question.


2. Drink water before, during, and after your workout. Many people tend to forget about drinking before exercise, which can be another major reason for dehydration. None of the water you drink when you start working out makes it into your system quickly enough to help your body. This is why you need to drink about 15 to 20 ounces 2 to 3 hours before you work out in order to hydrate properly. (Sorry, this doesn't include alcoholic beverages.) 
   
   It's also vital to stay hydrated while you exercise. Remember to drink 8 to 10 ounces of water approximately every 10 to 15 minutes while you work out, not just when you're thirsty. And once you finish working out? Since your body needs to replenish the electrolytes it lost during exercise, a good sports drink will do the trick quite nicely.


3. The skinny on sports drinks. Sports drinks are perfect for athletes, or those exercising at a high intensity for 60 minutes or more. These drinks contain fluids that supply the needed calories required for continuous performance. 
   
   Be careful though, as most of these drinks add extra calories from sugar, which can wind up hurting your diet if you drink too much. How's that for a catch-22? 
   
   The bottom line is there's nothing wrong with sipping on a sports drink throughout your workout, and afterwards to replace essential electrolytes.


4. Know the signs of dehydration. The first sign is thirst. I know this sounds painfully obvious, but it's true. When the body is dehydrated, it sends a message to the brain that fluids are needed. 
   
   The next sign is the ever-annoying muscle cramp. When you sweat, you lose sodium, which causes cramping of large muscle groups. People sweat at different rates, and those who sweat more are at greater risk for cramping. 
   
   Next, it's time for a little bathroom break. No, not now—during your workout. 
   
   Basically, if your urine is the color of lemonade, you're doing well. If by chance it's leaning toward the color of apple juice, you need to reach for another glass of fluid. Other symptoms of dehydration include headache, poor concentration, fatigue, constipation, disorientation, and light-headedness.


5. Tips for "wetting" your appetite. Here are a few helpful reminders to ensure that you don't find yourself on the verge of dehydration:
   
   
   
   
   
   • Carry a bottle. Many people find it useful to fill up a big plastic drinking bottle. If you carry it with you all day, you won't find yourself without water when it's time to work out. Plus everyone else is doing it, so you'll look really trendy!
   
   
   • Set a reminder. Set your watch to beep at the top of each hour, or set a periodic computer reminder so you don't forget to drink.
   
   
   • Track your progress. Keep a log of how much you drink. This will help increase awareness and help ensure you're staying on track.
   
   
   • Little by little. Whatever you drink during your workout, take it in frequent small amounts. This proven strategy guarantees that your body will absorb fluids more rapidly and effectively—leaving you energized and well hydrated.
   
   
   
   

In truth, the dangers of dehydration are real and often overlooked. However, staying hydrated before, during, and after exercise will keep your body's engine running smoothly. You'll be protecting your internal organs and preventing your muscles from getting damaged. I'll drink to that!