So…I picked up a pound of ground chicken last week at the grocery store in hopes to make some homemade chicken nuggets for my picky, carb loving, anti-protein-eating 3 year old but every recipe I found seemed too difficult or I was missing something here and there and to be honest, she probably wouldn’t have eaten them anyway! Time was ticking before the meat either needed cooked or frozen so I decided it was time to get creative…and the Smoked Mozzarella and Tomato chicken muffins were created!
Besides….my amazing, supportive husband “happily” ate turkey burgers for dinner 3-nights in a row so I really wanted to make him something tasty! (Hey – this fall weather has been too good to be anywhere but outside!!!)
WHAT YOU NEED:
(makes 12 muffins)
Prep time: 10 minutes, Cook time: 35-40 minutes
1 pound ground chicken
2 eggs
1 TBS WILDTREE Smoked Mozzarella and Tomato seasoning
1 TBS Minced Garlic
1/2 Cup Low fat, shredded Mozzarella cheese (I prefer the Sargento but any brand will work!)
1/2 cup Rice Krispies
A few things to note: You could sub out the rice krispies for bread crumbs…I was just trying to keep it gluten free and my daughter liked dumping “her” cereal in the bowl so we went with it. Also, the seasoning is what makes this recipe. Wildtree makes organic, non-GMO all natural seasonings…I attended a home freezer meal workshop a while ago and found so many great seasonings that really fit our lifestyle!
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Spray pan with olive oil to prevent sticking (let’s just say learn from my mistakes!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix eggs, seasonings and garlic in a large mixing bowl
Add the ground chicken and stir with a wooden spoon until well blended.
Add the cheese and rice krispies and continue stirring until the mixture holds together well.
Using a large cookie scooper, scoop into a muffin pan. (You can also roll into 2″ balls…I just have an aversion to touching meat and avoid when possible!!) You should get about 12 muffins total.
Bake muffins for 35-40 minutes or until thoroughly cooked through
Enjoy!
For all my 21-day fixers: 3 muffins would equal 1 red serving and 1/2 a yellow.
I run challenge groups monthly where I share my tips for success to a healthier you – whether its clean eating ideas, encouragement to get started with an exercise routine or just all around support to live a happier lifestyle I can help! Fill out the application below and help me #endthetrend
I am stoked about Beachbody’s latest Home Fitness Program, P90 by none other than the amazing Tony Horton!!!!! I first heard about this program at Beachbody’s Coach Summit in Vegas in June and I was pumped! My husband and I (tried) p90X before our wedding over 5 years ago but I just flat out couldn’t do it!!!! There were about 3 workouts I felt comfortable with and the other ones just were just too hard! We ended up doing a workout here and there but never completed “the program” never seeked support and never saw the end results!!!
He’s as silly, crazy, goofy and amazing in person as he is in his videos!
We jumped on P90X3 when it was released. The greatest appeal was the 30 minutes workouts. Let’s be honest, Tony Horton is an incredible trainer and its no secret that if you follow his plan you will succeed…but the key is you have to do the work!!! I’ve dabbled in those workouts but to be honest, I don’t have the strength to go right into P90X3! I know I can get there…I’m just not there yet!
Have you ever tried any of the P90X series programs??? If you did it and completed it – congratulations…the programs are HARD! But if you did it and failed at it – think about why you failed? Workouts too long? You were quite ready to commit? Didn’t have the right support team around you? Just not physically fit to do it all??? I may have a solution for you! This new program may be just what you need to build a base level of fitness so that you can complete something like p90X and get into the best shape of your life! But don’t worry – you don’t have to do it alone!!!
What are the workouts like?
The workouts are not super intense, with continuous pounding on your joints. It’s really pretty simple – simple cardio and simple workouts in just 25 minutes a day for 90 days to completely transform your body and change your way of living. And just like all of Beachbody’s programs, it comes with a simple nutrition guide that is going to help you clean up your daily food intake and focus on the right foods to fuel your body for health! We use multiple recipes from the prior P90 nutrition guide and I am excited to see what this one has in store as well!
What equipment do you need?
A set of weights (dumbbells- when picking the weight, make sure you can do 3 sets of approx 12 reps) … Beginners I would use 5 lbs and intermediate and/advanced 10-20 lbs. Power blocks work great because you can add weight as you continue to build strength!!
Resistance bands (great alternative to dumbbells too, and serve as your back workout so you don’t have to do the pull-ups!
Who would this program be perfect for?
This program is really suitable for anyone – any age level – and any fitness level. Whether you’re looking for a break from your typical routine of high impact plyo…or whether you’re just getting started and need to build your foundation. Your focus may be weight loss and it may be muscle toning and building. Or you may already be in good health and just be looking for something new to add to your routine. If you fit any of these categories – this program is for you!
When, when when????
The anticipated release date is September 23rd, 2014 through a Team Beachbody coach which is ME! Lucky you 🙂
How do I get the most out of this program??
I want to make sure that this doesn’t become another fitness program that you invest in that sits on your shelf and collects dust. I want to make sure that when you get the program in the mail, you bust it out, you make a plan and you SUCCEED! My job as a coach is to be your support system, to help you to decipher the meal plan, to put a list of foods in place, to start together on October 20th and to track our progress, stay accountable, stay motivated and encourage one another to get into the best shape of our lives.
Oh, and by the way, at the end of the challenge you can enter to win $500 for your transformation and you can get results…who doesn’t want a little extra $$$$
Jamie was part of Beachbody’s initial test group and got some pretty amazing results!!!
What is the test group??
It is a closed Facebook group where no one but the members of the group can see what is being posted. I will walk you through how to set realistic goals for yourself, how to meal plan, prep, how to set yourself up for success, then each day you log into the group for a post of the day, motivation, recipes and tips. We will track progress through our online group and you will succeed! Trust me, if you commit I will meet you half way! I won’t let you give up! Are you ready to put all fears aside and go for it? What’s the worst that can happen? You could lose a few pounds, kick the soda habit and have a ton more energy! Not so bad, right!!!!
What do I need to do?
The only requirement is that you purchase the P90 Challenge pack through me as your coach. I will be giving you all of the details to get the package once you complete the application below. I must be your coach and only my customers and coaches are allowed to participate in this group.
All you have to do is decide that now is the time for you to make a change!!! Let’s do this together!!! Fill out the application to be the first to know about the release date, the details and more!!!!
Fall may not have officially started but the leaves are changing, football is in full force and there are pumpkins everywhere! My husband was pushing for an Apple Pie blizzard from Dairy Queen but my lack of self control told me one quick trip through the drive through and the chance of me leaving with only one in hand was slim. So I started thinking of a late night snack that would fill his void for ice cream and keep my goals in tact…and this happened…
Caramel Apple
*8oz of liquid (I used unsweetened almond milk but you could also use water, or a combo of milk and water)
*1 Scoop VANILLA Shakeology
*1/2 of a green apple, sliced
*1 tsp caramel extract
*Lots of ice!!!!
Blend until smooth and enjoy!!!
NOTE: I like to eat mine with a spoon, so I always fill with about 8-10 ounces of ice and “crush ice” on my blender fist then hit the “mix” for about 30 seconds. It comes out thick and smooth – just like ice cream but without all the added stuff!!!!
For all my 21-day fixers* out there: 1 red, 1/2 purple
* The use of milk rather than water would add approximately 40 calories (unsweetened almond milk) and part of a yellow container if following the 21-day fix meal plan.
Get your first month’s worth of daily, dense nutrition delivered right to your doorstep by clicking HERE.
Not quite sure if you’re ready for a full month – but still want to give it a try? Try the 4-flavor sampler pack!
I love trying out new combos and finding new ways to enjoy my daily dose of Shakeology, and my caramel extract hasn’t failed me yet!!
As I walked down the basement to mix up a little late night snack for my hubby I knew I wanted to use the caramel extract but he tends to prefer the vanilla shakeo over the other flavors. Every other combo I had tried so far used chocolate shakeo and caramel extract. So, I stared at the blender, caramel extract in hand, for about 3 minutes before remembering I had a stock pile of frozen bananas and the wheels started turning. I decided to include a few banana pieces but rather than my usual (heaping) tablespoon of PB2 I went with the cocoa of PB2. A bit of chocolate but not overwhelming. I tossed in a sprinkle of pink himalayan sea salt and BAM – complete! It was a hit with my hubs and after a small taste I knew I’d be duplicating the next morning 🙂
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 Scoop Vanilla Shakeo
1 TBS Cocoa PB2
1 tsp caramel extract
1/2 a frozen banana
A few shakes of pink himalayan sea salt (optional)
10 oz liquid (I used all water for mine, but 10 oz of almond milk for my husband – totally up to you and your preferences)
Lots of ice!!!
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Add all ingredients to the blender. Crush ice for about 20 seconds and then blend until you reach the consistency you like. I prefer eating mine with a spoon so I blend it pretty thick!
All this goodness coming in just around 200* calories!
For all my fixers* out there: 1 red, 1 purple, 1 tsp
* The use of milk rather than water would add approximately 40 calories (unsweetened almond milk) and part of a yellow container if following the 21-day fix meal plan.
Get your first month’s worth of daily, dense nutrition delivered right to your doorstep by clicking HERE.
Not quite sure if you’re ready for a full month – but still want to give it a try? Try the 4-flavor sampler pack!
Yes, that’s right – you’re seeing ABS on this rocking 52 year old fabulous challenger!!!
I totally did a happy dance when I saw these after pictures roll in! Granted this amazing lady has totally rocked the entire 60 day challenge group but to see those carved out abs after just 60 days of the group made my jaw drop! It may also help that I have known Linda my ENTIRE life as her daughter and I grew up and continue to be best friends 🙂
How did she get these killer results – read more below!
Meet Linda.
I can’t say enough great things about my experience in the Beachbody support and accountability challenge group. Because of this 21 day fix challenge, I am so much healthier, look better and more importantly feel better. I have more energy than ever (I am crediting shakeology for this). I have changed my eating habits to eat clean most of the time. I do have my slip ups but have been able to jump back on with the clean eating. I haven’t missed a workout day since I started the challenge 60 days ago. Sometimes when I slip and start eating out of control, I think of how the old me would have handled it. I would throw in the towel and tell myself: I messed up so I may as well cheat all day, forget the workout, forget the shake and forget the water. Now, when I eat non clean food, I tell myself I will do better tomorrow and stick with the rest of my plan. This is a major change for me. The group has helped immensely . It keeps me accountable and there is so much encouragement. I would recommend shakeology and a challenge group to anyone wanting to be healthier and feel better.
There may be days when you fall backwards. Days when you want to give up, but with perserverance, you will succeeed and I promise you, you will see results well worth the time and effort.
What can 21-days do for you? These are TRUE results from one of my 21-day challenge groups that recently wrapped up. Yes, these results came in 21 DAYS!
Even better – this incredible workout program that helped Linda get into the best shape of her life is on sale the month of September! Create YOUR FREE ACCOUNT today and check out the 21-day fix challenge pack. Fitness + Nutrition + Support = Success
Give me 21-days and I promise you, you can get the results you’ve been looking for!
This easy to follow program can fit ANY lifestyle and any level of fitness!
If you are ready to be the next transformation, get a spot in my next fitness challenge group! 60 days of 1:1 coaching, motivation, accountability, tips, and recipes!
I had chicken breasts planned for the grill and a pile of broccoli from the Farmer’s market all chopped and ready to be steamed. Then my daughter requested “noodles” and I saw the box of pasta in the pantry and thought..Hmmmm…maybe I can whip up a pasta dish instead of our classic “grilled chicken with a steamed veggie and side of rice or quinoa”. I didn’t have any pasta sauce, which used to be a pantry staple, but I did have some olive oil, garlic, and lemon….Enter creativity here!
I started by heating 1 TBS of olive oil and 1 TBS of minced garlic in a large pan. In a separate sauce pan, I began boiling water for the pasta.
Next, I cut the chicken into approximately 1″ cubes and browned until thoroughly cooked through – about 8-10 minutes, stirring consistently. Then I added the pasta to the boiling water.
Next I added the broccoli and juice from two lemons. But when I took a step back I didn’t think I had enough veggies…so I went back to the fridge.
I found a jar of roasted red peppers and fresh spinach – PERFECT!!!! I sliced the red peppers up (actually my husband sliced the red peppers up) and we mixed everything together and topped with 3 cups of fresh spinach and placed a lid on top to steam.
After about 3-5 minutes I removed the lid, gave one last stir and we were complete!!!
Much better veggie to chicken ratio and dinner was complete in less than 30 minutes and its all 21-day fix approved!!! I consider that a success!!!
3 cups fresh spinach (or approximately one cup frozen spinach)
12 oz whole wheat or brown rice pasta cooked according to package directions.
1 TBS olive oil
1 TBS minced garlic or 3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 lemons
Parmasean cheese (optional)
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Heat olive oil and garlic in a large pan.
In a separate sauce pan, bring 6 cups of water to boil and add pasta when water begins to boil, cooked according to directions.
Brown chicken until cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.
Add lemon juice, broccoli and cook for 2-3 minutes
Add roasted red peppers and spinach, cover with lid to steam for 3-5 minutes.
Serve over pasta and enjoy
Its clean, its fast, and it was DELICIOUS!!!!
Whether you’re new to clean eating or a seasoned pro – if you’re interested in more information about ways to enjoy clean eating and/or if you are interested in the 21-day fix workout program, fill out the form below to join my upcoming health and fitness accountability and support group! Together we can end the trend of obesity!
Do you ever struggle to keep produce fresh, meals adequately planned, while managing to find that exact amount that leaves you balanced for each meal without wasting at the end of the week??? Oh meal planning – its such an art!!!
It seems like we are always running out of fruits and veggies and when I do stock up I end up throwing something out by the time garbage day rolls around regardless of how much I plan – and if there’s one thing that bothers me most its wasting food! Its like practically throwing money down the drain. So in an effort to avoid multiple trips to the grocery store and maximize my time and money spent in a week I started doing this one little trick to make my produce last a little longer: soak EVERYTHING in vinegar-lemon water!!!
Did you know that soaking your produce in a mixture of lemon juice and vinegar will help keep your produce fresh longer and cleans them all at the same time??? I started doing this a few weeks ago and it really helps! I try to get to the farmers market on Saturday morning and I come home, fill my sink with 2 cups vinegar and squeeze two lemons into the water and toss in the rinds then add all my produce! The only thing I did separately this week were the blueberries…too much other stuff in there! So they were done in a separate batch. Just soak everything for about an hour, let everything air dry, then package up into containers and/or freeze! I was able to get this done while doing other things around the house and now everything is ready to be consumed later in the week!
A few other tips I’ve learned:
1) Certain fruits and veggies spoil faster than others…so that being said: Berries, Bananas, Kiwis, Avocados, Spinach/Lettuce and Grapes should be consumed first….Followed by Tomatoes, Mangoes, Peaches, Melons and Zucchini…then Cucumbers, Pineapples and Pomegrante, and save your Carrots, Oranges, Potatoes, Celery and Apples for last. So as you meal plan keep this in mind!!!
2) In addition to eating your ripest produce items first – buy some that are ready to eat and some that need to sit a while. For example, I bought two sets of peaches on Saturday – 4 of them were ready to eat and my husband and I ate them Sunday and Monday and 4 more are sitting out and should be ready by Wednesday so we can have them later in the week. Same thing goes for bananas, avocados and pears!
3) Don’t be afraid to FREEZE!!! I know berry season is almost over so I doubled up on my blueberries and strawberries for several weeks and whatever didn’t get consumed by around day 3 after I bought them got tossed into a freezer bag. I’ll use these in my Shakeology, I’ll add them to yogurt and I’ll add them to my oatmeal. I don’t like to eat frozen berries alone but mixed in with something else and they’re great!!! Same thing goes for Bananas. If I ever see bananas on sale I’ll snag a whole bunch then I let them ripen and then cut into quarters, lay flat in a ziplock bag, freeze and then they’re ready for my morning Shakeology smoothie!!! Just make sure you peel them first…I’ve told several people to freeze their ripen bananas and they toss the whole thing in the freezer and let me tell you that peel doesn’t come off too easy!!!
If you find these tips helpful and would like to get 1:1 coaching and support along with motivation and accountability as you begin and/or continue your health and fitness journey, please fill out my challenge and accountability group application below! I share tips and recipes and I will help you with the one thing I always found so difficult – MEAL PLANNING! Remember – your health and fitness success is 80% nutrition. You can get all the results and support you need right in your own home – and you don’t have to do it alone!
As one month comes to a close and another one kicks off I am always anxiously awaiting the Beachbody Challenge pack monthly promos. These are a great way to add in a killer workout program at a steap discount when buying your monthly bag of Shakeology…and what better way to kick off the month of September and back to school season than with THE 21-DAY FIX!!!
This program has been the hottest seller since its release in February and it continues to be today. The perfect combination of healthy balanced portion controlled meals and daily exercise which hits your total body head to toe. And what better way to wrap up the combo pack than with a month supply of your daily dose of dense nutrition – SHAKEOLOGY!
You can read a bit more about the program HERE as well as my own success with this incredible program.
If you’re ready to join me, we can do the 21-day fix TOGETHER – my next support group kicks off September 15th
Its time to get BACK TO SCHOOL & BACK TO YOU
If you are interested in this or any other workout program and would like to get 1:1 coaching and support along with motivation and accountability, please fill out my challenge and accountability application below! I will share tips and recipes and I will help you with the one thing I always found so difficult – MEAL PLANNING! Remember – your health and fitness success is 80% nutrition. You can get all the results and support you need right in your own home – and you don’t have to do it alone!
Ok – so some of my close friends may remember the devastation I had when I had visited the Grove City Outlets a little over 3 years ago and saw a chocolate covered pretzel “blizzard of the month” at Dairy Queen and decided I’d get it when we got home – only to later find out that Grove City was one of 10 test locations in the US that had it and it was not available anywhere else. As a 8 month pregnant mama to be and avid ice cream lover – I was seriously DEVASTATED. I talked about it for weeks!!! Looking back, I’m totally blaming that one on the hormones 🙂
Well…fast forward 3 years and now shakeology has replaced my weekly blizzard (most weeks!) I have started getting a little creative and it hit me – I had done a chocolate covered pretzel shakeo – why not add some PB and Caramel!
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1/2 Cup almond milk
6 oz water
1 TBS PB2 or All natural PB
8 small pretzel rods/sticks
1/2 tsp caramel extract
lots of ice
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Mix all ingredients together in your blender – Crush ice and/or Blend (I always “crush ice” first for about 10 seconds, then blend for about 30 seconds to get it really smooth) and pour into a nice big cup and eat it with a spoon! Just as good – if not better than – a blizzard and something that is actually good for you! Warning – this shakeo may become addicting 🙂
It seriously does taste like ice cream…the trick is all in the blending!!! And it is packed in right around 300 calories!!! Now that’s a healthy treat!!! Let me know if you give it a try!
Want to give Shakeology a try? Try this flavor sampler pack to figure what which is your favorite! I like them all and LOVE the chocolate!!!
I’ve been trying to add some new dinners to our weekly rotation. My husband never complains but one can only eat so much grilled chicken and turkey burgers!
When I sat down to do my meal plan for the week meatloaf quickly came to mind! Meatloaf has always been one of those meals my mom would make as I was growing up, when I was home for a weekend in college or still today visiting with my family. I’ve never been able to make it quite like her but I always try!!! I took bits and pieces from things I remember her doing and this time around tweaked it to make it clean, gluten and dairy free and still taste good – sound impossible?!?! Not at all!
Best part – I had this thrown together before my oven was even preheated to 350 degrees!!!
WHAT YOU NEED:
2.5 pounds lean ground turkey
4 Egg whites
1.5-2 cups fresh salsa (I found mine at SAMs club, but most grocery stores have a fresh salsa – just check the ingredients! Mine was primarily tomatoes, peppers, jalopenos, onion and garlic therefore I didn’t feel like I needed to add any additional ingredients/seasonings.)
4 Cups fresh spinach, chopped
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
(note this can be cooked in the slow cooker or oven – see below)
OVEN OPTION:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. I started with all the meat and egg whites and kept adding the salsa and mixing until I got a consistency that looked like it would hold together. Then I folded in the chopped spinach. You can put in as much or as little as you like. I found its a great way to add in a few more veggies and it certainly looks prettier – and who doesn’t like their food to look as good as it tastes?!?! 🙂
Moving on…
I split the mixture into two loaves and put them on a double layer pan that allows any grease to drip down. I actually never use a meatloaf pan!! Plus, when I cook I almost always make enough for at least two meals. And with my grandparents visiting tomorrow I found this as the perfect opportunity to get dinner made ahead of time and be able to visit with them when they are here!
I put a small dent in the middle to make sure the center got cooked thoroughly, and baked for 30 minutes to brown the outside.
Ready for the oven!
I removed the meatloaf from the oven, covered with foil, and cooked another 30 minutes, checking to make sure they were cooked through.
One for dinner tonight – the other one for tomorrow!
I chose to serve mine with steamed kale tossed in lemon juice and a little sea salt. My hubs had his as a sandwich! Tomorrow I am planning a quinoa salad and asparagus with the leftovers.
For the 21-day fixers out there…I would just count this as one red, even though there is some greens and some purple with the salsa…your portion size will depend on how you slice it but using the container will ensure you don’t over or under do it!
CROCKPOT OPTION:
For those days when you need to put dinner in, go to work or go run errands and have it all ready when you come home:
-Simply follow the mixing instructions above.
-Lightly spray the crockpot with olive oil and place the meat inside, leaving a 1/2 – 1″ space around the ends so the meatloaf isn’t touching the sides.
-Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours – and wahhhallaaa! Serve with your favorite veggie and some sweet potatoes for a complete meal!
Whether you’re new to clean eating or a seasoned pro – if you’re interested in more information fill out the form below to join one of my upcoming health and fitness accountability and support groups! Together we can end the trend of obesity!
Maegan Blinka 