Meal Prep Fun

If you owned a time machine and could go and visit Amy of 10 years ago you would balk at the amount of fast food and carbs that I regularly shoved into my mouth. I blame it on the fact that we never went out to eat when I was young and fast food was a novelty. Every chance I got - I ran to McDonalds or Burger King because "ooo, its a treat!!"

Yea... about that. I may have been a little off the mark on that one. Now that I have been introduced "not treating my stomach like a garbage dump" I follow the 80/20 rule for intake.

This means 80% of the time I am eating clean, whole foods, following the 21 Day Fix portion guide. The other 20% of the time I am open to where life may take me. :) Sometimes this means that I stay on the path or it might mean that I indulge with a little ice cream or a plate of nachos as a treat... but I have worked hard to get to that point.

To make sure that I keep my ratios where they need to be I 100% of the time have to meal prep each week. Nowadays food is available everywhere you go and chances are it it just will not meet the nutritional value that you need. Prepping your meals ahead of the time so you are not in a bind and heading to the Golden Arches is the key to any foolproof plan!

Here are my top tips for Meal Prepping Gone Right:

1. Sunday Funday
Always prep on a Sunday. I say this because my workweek is Monday-Friday and this means I have fresh food ready to go. Meal prep should only take you 1.5 - 2 hours, if you plan ahead! Do you grocery shopping the day before or earlier in the week. If you try to do everything in one day you will get burnt out!

2. Be Picky
Choose 2-3 meats that you will eat throughout the week and stick to them. Find recipes that use these meats and do not deviate. The goal is that you can prepare the meat in bulk cut down on your cooking time. Think roasted chicken on Sunday and chicken fajitas on Wednesday. One batch of chicken knocks both of these out!

3. Cut it Out
Dice, dice and dice! Cut allllll your veggies and store them in easy grab and go containers when you get them. You are much more likely to pull pre-cut veggies for a snack than a giant cucumber that you have to clean and chop up when the hanger pains creep up on you.

4. Looks Aren't Everything
Tupperware and containers are prime real estate when you are meal prepping so make sure you have a ton on hand. I recommend getting ones that can easily stack into themselves when not in use so that you free up some cabinet space. I am fan of the Rubbermaid ones that you can find just about everywhere and recently have started using Pyrex as well. Anything works really!

5. Who has Time for This? 
Umm.. You? I sure hope so? Trust me... the first time is going to feel awkward. Your palms will sweat. Things will be weird and messy and you will want it to just be over soon. BUT it gets better! Each week - you will figure out the timing a little more... throwing the chicken in the crockpot as soon as you wake up + hard boiling eggs in the oven while chopping veggies = saving an hour!!

Hope these tips help! I like to keep things pretty basic in "prep land" and then season during meal time when I know what I am in the mood for :)

Easy One Dish Family Dinner - Fish & Veggies

Every week we roll into the evenings with the best intentions - THIS is going to be the week of zero slip ups, hitting every work out and eating off our nutrition plan without a hiccup. 

I can count the amount of weeks that my husband and I have been able to do that on one hand. Couple reasons for this: 

1.  Jimmy loves pizza. He must eat it every week or he will spontaneously combust (and he is very good at convincing me to eat it with him) Enter - the reason I perfected a cauliflower pizza crust that we love!

2. We are freakin' busy y'all! Just like each of you, the day just sneaks up on me and by 6pm I am tapped out. Work, kids, commute... it all adds up and if there is ever a time that I will go off track it is dinner. 

All I need is an evening with an unprepared-not prepped meal plan and the sky is the limit. Order Chinese food? Sure, general Tso's... get in mah belly! Want Italian? What is... I'll take a ginormous Stromboli to split, Alex? 

Even worse - this is when I go rogue and eat the foods that attach my body (gluten, soy, heavy amounts of dairy). It hurts and I pay for it but exhaustion and hunger can lead you to stupid and silly decisions. A missing thyroid is no joke people... granted, I joke about it regularly :) 

A couple weeks ago I came across a recipe that I knew I could make work for my husband and picky toddlers, and our busy schedule. I got rave reviews from the clan. This means Jim loved it, Wyatt ate it after a 30 minute argument, and McKinley shoved it in her mouth as fast as she could. 

Allow me to share:


One Dish Fish and Veggies: 

• Fish Fillets (I used tilapia because my son loves them)
• Asparagus or a green veggie of your choice 
• Olive oil
• dash of butter
• Pampered chef lemon seasoning (or whatever tickles your fancy) 
• Salt & pepper
• Lemon – sliced

The Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Place tin foil in pan and spray it down. 
• Fill half pan with asparagus and cover with olive oil 
• Place fillets on other half of dish and put a small dollop of butter on each. 
• Sprinkle Pampered Chef or your choice of seasoning over fish. Season asparagus with salt & pepper to taste. 
• Slice lemon and place on top of each fillet 
• Cook for 30 mins or until fish is 145 degrees and veggies are tender. Be sure to check so your fish does not overcook :) 

Enjoy and relax...Prep time is 5 minutes top! 

Clean Eating Crock Pot Chili - 21 Day Fix Style

I enter into every workweek like it is a war. Who is going to survive. Me? Or the clock ticking to get to Friday? 

Having an easy meal prepped and ready to go is crucial to survival in this family. A recent favorite is Crock Pot Chili and it easily adapts to fit our new healthy eating style. 

Enjoy the recipe! 

Clean Eating Crock Pot Chili - 21 Day Fix Style

2lbs ground beef
1 onion - chopped 
2 red peppers, chopped
2 cups carrots, chopped 
1.5 cups celery, chopped
15 oz can diced tomatoes 
15 can tomato sauce (get one with no extra junk added!)
1 extra can of water
2 15 oz cans black beans

Seasonings to taste:
salt & pepper
chili powder
cumin
basil (I had basil powder on hand and it was *fine* but fresh is better!!)
onion powder

Toppings
All natural turkey bacon cooked SUPER crispy - (Applegate makes a great gluten free one... although "great & gluten free-turkey bacon never really go hand-in-hand) 
Avocado, pitted and insides all chopped up to top with

How I did it: 
Step 1. Cook the onions and the beef together in a saucepan.

Step 2. Feel slightly annoyed that you have to cook something that is labeled a "crockpot meal" - its okay. I did too, you will get over it after you taste the deliciousness. 

Step 3. Drain ground meat juice. Marvel in your healthy natural for not eating gross oils. You are awesome!

Step 4.Chop the veggies. Allow your toddler to play with second pepper because you do what you have to do to get meals cooked (this is a safe place!). 

Step 5. Throw all that stuff in the crock pot. Mix in the veggies and sauces on top. Stir. Mix. Stir it up again. Relish in the fact you are getting an arm work out right now. Wow, you are killing it on this healthy lifestyle thing! 

Step 6. Set crock pot on low for 7 hours. 

Step 7. Come back. Swirl again - your arm may be tired.

Spoon it all out into individual bowls and top with crumbled bacon/avocado. Gobble up, relish in the fact that even a one year old will eat it and love life!

21 Day Fix Math: 2 Cups Equals

1. 1 Red = Beef
2. 1 Green = Sauce, Peppers, and Onion
3. 1 Yellow = Beans

**adapted from paleonewbie.com & fitsimple.com

Superbowl Sunday Treat - Gluten Free Cauliflower Pizza

Not sure what you can bring to the big game tonight? Not to worry - I have a family favorite that we make time and time again. It is a crowd pleaser and you won't have to wait for Pizza Hut to get there with the delivery!

Plus - my family is going to nosh on some extra veggies and be none the wiser. #momvictory

Easy Cauliflower Pizza

4 cups raw, grated (or chopped in food processor) cauliflower - SEE TIPS! 
2 eggs
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley
Italian spice blend to taste

Pizza sauce

Toppings as desired (pepperoni, peppers, cheese, spinach, pineapple, mushrooms, etc) 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray or use parchment paper. 

In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, egg, mozzarella and all desired spices - make sure you get ALL the excess water out of cauliflower!! Press evenly. 

Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes. You may turn over once if desired. Check this regularly - every over and different and cauliflower does not cook the same as regular dough!

Remove the pan from the oven. To the crust, add sauce, then toppings and cheese. I am a veggie fan - husband is a meat lover!

Place under broiler, on high heat, until cheese is melted.

TIPS: 

Using parchment paper so the pizza does not stick. Get the excess water out as much as possible after grating the cauliflower :)
 - Do this by taking the ground up cauliflower and putting it in a thin dishtowel. Wring it TIGHT as you can and you will see tons of water drip out (it's sorta gross!). I employ the muscles of Mr. Lockrin Fitness for this OR if he isn't home - smash it against the kitchen sink to get better grip!

Don't spread this too thin or it will fall apart - you will end up with a pizza soup: spoon needed! It is still delicious, just might not be your style :) 

**recipe adapted from sparkpeople.com