Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Italian Night Clean Eats


One of my favorite foods is spaghetti squash and I’ve seen several recipes on Pinterest lately for great spaghetti squash meals.  Yesterday I decided to make my own plus I made my kids a turkey Italian noodle meal that I also made up. 
 

 

Spaghetti Squash Meal:


 

Ingredients


·         Delallo All Natural  - Fat Free  Marinara 4g. of sugar , 1 Cup

·         Delallo Hot Pepper Garlic,   2 Tbsp.

·         DiGiorno Shredded Parmesan Cheese, 1/3 Cup (sprinkle an additional pinch on top)

·         Small Curd Fat Free Cottage Cheese, ½ Cup

·         Hunts Fire Roasted Tomatoes, 1 small can

·         Mrs. Dash Italian Medley, 1 tsp.

·         Onions ¼ cup chopped and cooked

·         1 Medium Spaghetti Squash

 

Instructions:


1.       Pre-heat oven to 400

2.       Cut Spaghetti Squash in half and remove seeds

3.       Sautee onions

4.       Place Squash skin side down onto a baking sheet

5.       Spread Delallo Hot Pepper Garlic, onions, & ½ tsp. of Mrs. Dash Italian Medley between the two halves

6.       Bake for 20 minutes

7.       Mix Fire Roasted tomatoes, marinara sauce, cottage cheese, shredded parmesan and the other ½ of Mrs. Dash Italian Medley.

8.       Pour all ingredients into the spaghetti squash and bake an additional 20 minutes

9.        Once baked let cool then shred the spaghetti squash (careful not to splatter sauce)

10.   Sprinkle with a pinch of shredded parmesan

 

 

Turkey Noodle Italian Meal


 

Ingredients


·         Delallo All Natural  - Fat Free  Marinara 4g. of sugar , 1 ½ Jars

·         DiGiorno Shredded Parmesan Cheese, 1/3 Cup (sprinkle an additional pinch on top)

·         Small Curd Fat Free Cottage Cheese, ½ Cup

·         99/1 JennO Ground Turkey

·         Mrs. Dash Italian Medley, 1 tsp.

·         1 Onions chopped and sautéed

·         Whole Wheat Macaroni Noodles or Noodle of your choice

·         Garlic 1 tsp. minced

·         1 baking pain

 

1.       Preheat oven 350

2.       Brown Turkey

3.       Sautee Onions & Garlic

4.       Cook noodles as directed then drain

5.       Add Marinara to the onions & garlic simmer on low heat

6.       Mix Parmesan & Cottage Cheese with Italian Medley

7.       Once noodles are cooked and turkey is browned spread a layer of marinara sauce over the bottom of the baking dish, layer with noodles, add a layer of cottage cheese & Parmesan, next turkey then repeat.  The final layer should be the marinara sauce then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. 

8.       Cover with Aluminum foil & Bake for 35 minutes or until bubbling

 

 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Food Preparation Is Key To Healthy Living


Wednesday’s are the craziest day of my week.  It’s one of those jam packed days that I don’t have time to breath.  That's why it's important to prepare my meals and plan what my children will eat at dinner.  Here's a glimpse of what my Wednesday's look like each week. 

My Wednesday


·         4:00 a.m. up and ready

·         5:00 a.m. run 4 miles

·         6:00-6:45 a.m. Kettlebell boot camp

·         7:00 a.m. Starbucks for a cup of coffee

·         7:20 a.m. home; prepare snacks, lunch, and breakfast for everyone

·         8:15 a.m. out the door to drop kids at school

·         9:00 a.m. at the gym to set up for boot camp

·         9:20-10:20 a.m. Boot camp (instruct)

·         10:30 a.m. shower

·         11:00 a.m. out the door for my class at school

·         12:00-1:15 p.m. Class

·         1:15-2:45 free time

·         3:00 pick up kids from school

·         3:25 pick up the baby

·         3:45 p.m. home and completing kids homework, snack time, and preparing for dinner

·         The rest of the evening is spent doing my homework, laundry, baths, getting kids to bed

·         9:00 p.m. all kids to bed

·         9:00-11:00 homework

As you can see it’s very important to be organized and knowing what I’m going to eat during the day or what my family will eat in the evening is important.   Today I stuffed the cooler with raw vegetables, 2 tbsp. of hummus; nitrate free turkey slices and whole wheat bun, protein powder, shaker, low carb and high protein bar, one banana, and vitamins/supplements.   If we don’t organize ourselves then we tend to make very poor choices and eat out.  Eating out every evening took a toll on my family a few years ago and not only did I find myself overweight but my entire family. 

I love having breakfast for dinner and so do my children.  This evening we had breakfast burritos and it was a feeling meal but didn’t require a lot of time or preparation. 

Breakfast Burritos:


Eggs/scrambled

Fresh Salsa

Green peppers

Turkey sausage browned

Whole wheat tortilla

Not a lot of ingredients required and once the eggs and sausage are cooked just add all the ingredients into the tortilla.  Remember keep your meals simple during the week don’t try some new recipe.  Instead save any new recipes you wish to try for the weekend. 

Happy Wednesday!
Doing what I love; Kettlebell Snatch

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Don't Compare Yourself & S.M.A.R.T. Goals


I run a boot camp program and I know sometimes it’s hard for others to avoid comparing themselves with people around them.  I hear them say, I’m just not fast enough or strong enough.  The best feeling I get is when I hear them say, I’m not strong enough but I’m getting there. 

Many people beginning an exercise program have a difficult time imagining going to a gym or someplace other than their living room. I understand that all too well because I was one of those people.  When I was overweight I started exercising at home and I was embarrassed to have my own family watch me.  I didn’t know until once I joined a gym that the people around me exercising weren’t focused on me instead they were busy with their own routine.  Many of the people in a gym, including fit people believe others are watching them too and judging.  It’s amazing how we ALL have those feelings. 

Joining an exercise class is one of the best ways to find encouragement and meet people with likeminded goals.  I’ve taught many classes over the past several years and I’ve watched many friendships develop and a lot of pounds dropped.  There have been studies that concluded if your friends are overweight then you are at a greater risk of being overweight too. 

The most important thing to remember is don’t compare yourself to others.  Everyone has their own journey and take their own paths and time to reach their goals.  It’s not a race and the prize is the achievements you reach along the way.  Little goals help you achieve the bigger goal.

Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals


·         Specific- Set a specific goal. 

o   Example: Don’t say my goal is to get into shape.  Instead my goal is to join a boot camp and exercise a minimum of three days a week.

·         Measurable- Establish concrete criteria to reach your goal.

o   How much? How many?

·         Attainable- Identify the goal(s) that are most important to you. 

o   Listing your goals will help increase you self-image and help you begin to reach you goals

·         Realistic- A goal must be something that you are willing and able to work towards.

o   The higher the goal the more likely you are to achieve it. 

·         Timely- A goal must have a timeline. 

o   When I decided to lose weight I wanted to lose 48 pounds.  I set a time frame based on average weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.  If I lost 2 pounds per week then it would take me 24 weeks.  Instead I lost 60 pounds and it took me 32 weeks!  Don’t say you want to lose 20 pounds in a month! 

Friday, September 7, 2012

New Boot Camp Sessions & Stroller Camp

  2 Day Fitness Boot Camp- 5 Weeks
  • Monday & Wednesday 9:20-10:20
  • Dates: September 24- October 24
  • Cost: $95.00

3 Day Fitness Boot Camp- 5 Weeks
  • Tuesday, Thursday; 5:30 a.m. – 6:30 a.m. Saturday’s 6:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m.
  •  Dates: September 25- October 27
  • Cost: $ 110.00

2 Day Stroller Camp- Includes 3mile-5mile Run/Walks, Stroller Workout & Abs to finish
  **Open to those without kids too. Please note: No children on bikes (sorry)
If you want to do your first 5K this is for you!
  •   Tuesday, Thursday 9:20-10:20
  • Dates: September 24 – October 24
  • Cost: $ 95.00
Location: 332 Bluff Road, Greenwood
To Register Contact: Jennifer Skinny Mom Challenge (317) 491-2993
Email: jennifer@skinnymomchallenge.com