With the summer winding down, things can get hectic. In August, we focus on quick & easy ways to stay on track.
Easy Baked Stuffed Chicken
-Two chicken breasts, butterflied
-Sliced tomatoes
-Fresh spinach
-Sliced cheese of your choice
Lay chicken flat and layer tomatoes, spinach and one slice of cheese on one side. Close the the halves together and secure with toothpicks if necessary. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken or use a seasoning mixture of your choice. Place on baking rack and bake at 350 degrees until chicken is firm and cooked through (varies based on thickness of chicken breasts).
Easy Roasted Carrots
-2 cups baby carrots
-2 teaspoons diced garlic
-1 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil
-pinch salt/pepper
-1/2 teaspoon parsley
In a bowl, combine 2 cups baby carrots, 1 teaspoon (melted) coconut oil, salt, pepper, parsley, and diced garlic. Mix until carrots are well coated. Baked at 350 degrees until tender.
Smoothie of the Month | The Sneak Attack
-1 medium banana
-1/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks
-1 serving protein of your choice (vanilla or unflavored)
-1 cup baby spinach or green blend (kale/spinach/chard)
-1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
-teaspoon ground chia seeds and/or flax seeds
Mix well & enjoy!
Banana Ice Cream
Older bananas needn’t go to waste. Dice them up and freeze the slices on baking trays and then toss them into a blender to create an ice cream that is not only extremely healthy, but actually has the consistency and texture of ice cream.
You can add in your favorite nut butters, fresh or frozen fruit, or melt a little dark chocolate and pour it over the top. You can even add chocolate protein powder to it, as bananas are loaded in potassium, to make this an excellent post hot summer workout snack. Easy indulgence, zero guilt necessary!
Quick Commandments for Healthy Weight-loss
1. Drink a glass of water before meals.
2. Substitute one meal a day for a superfood protein shake.
3. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into the diet, replacing grain carbs with vegetable carbs.
4. Eliminate all non-water drinks from diet, this is an easy one that makes a huge difference.
5. Eat many small, healthy snacks throughout the day to keep metabolism revving and hunger satiated.
(Low to no calorie snacks to consider: cucumber, carrots, celery, pickles)
6. Choose leaner cuts of meat.
7. Choose foods based on Glycemic Index, low glycemic foods are best.
8. Try and consume the majority of calories before 7 or 8pm.
9. “Cheat” foods only after very hard workouts or race efforts.