Broccoli Mac & Cheese

So eating healthy and homemade Macaroni and Cheese don't typically go together but guess what!

THEY DO! 

This is an adaptation from the FIXATE Cookbook by Autumn Calabrese.  I have been wanting to make this for a long time so I went for it today and used what I had on hand.  (something that I am getting very good at) 

This also made a huge pot so we have leftovers for a few days and with my boyfriends kids coming over I am excited to see if it's a win with them.  

Here is the recipe I used:

4 oz.                     dry whole wheat elbow macaroni (or 3 cups cooked)
4 tsp.                    butter (or coconut oil)
2 tbsp.                  unbleached whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups            unsweetened almond milk
1 1/4 cups            mix of grated Parmesan, pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses
1 16oz bag           frozen broccoli, thawed
1 cup                   chopped baby spinach
1 tsp.                   sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
1/2 tsp.                ground black pepper

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Set aside
2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add flour; cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute, or until brown (don't let it burn)
4. Slowly whisk in almond milk; cook, whisking constantly for 1 to 2 minutes, or until mixture thickens and there are no lumps.
5. Reduce heat to low.  Add cheese; cook, whisking constantly. for 2 or 3 minutes, or until melted
6. Add broccoli and spinach, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, or until heated through.
7. Add in macaroni and mix to combine.

Fix containers-
for 1 1/2 cup serving
1 1/2 green
1 yellow
1/2 blue 

How to save money at the grocery store and still eat healthy

One of the biggest push backs I hear when talking to people about their health is that "Healthy food is just too expensive."  Now, I totally see where they are coming from because I used to think that as well.  I thought it was too expensive to buy healthy food and I didn't understand or value how important really fueling your body with nutritious food was.    I was so much easier to buy a bunch of frozen pizzas, pop tarts, chips, pizza rolls, and whatever else looked good the day I went grocery shopping.  

Fast forward to now and I spend LESS at the grocery store than I used to.  It just takes some time and preparation at home before I go but it is so worth it both for staying on track with my eating at home AND for the pocketbook.  Here are some of my favorite tips that I use each week. 

1. Go in with a list and a plan.

Before I even leave the house for the store I always check the cupboards to see what I already have that needs used up.  Then I come up with my meal plan for the week and search Pinterest for ideas.   Then I make a grocery list of everything I need to make whats on my meal plan and that's all I buy. 

2. Buy generic when possible.

I always buy generic, I can't tell a difference in taste so that's a no brainer for me.  When you are checking the aisles sometimes check the top and bottom shelves.  They will put the generic versions on these shelves because marketing surveys have show that people are more likely to buy what is eye level. HOWEVER ** I always check the prices because sometimes the name brand will be on sale and end up being cheaper that day than the generic.  Bottom line - I buy whatever is cheaper. 

3. Buy in bulk and freeze the extras

Most of the time it is cheaper to buy meat in bulk.  I look for bulk ground beef, sliced flank steak, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, pork chops and ground turkey.  I will make 2 meals a week that use the same meat so I don't have to buy everything.  For example, I will buy chicken breasts in bulk and make two meals that use chicken breast and buy ground turkey in bulk and make 2 meals that use ground turkey.    

Also, check for discounted meat.  Almost every week I am able to get meat at a discounted price because the sell by date is that day or the next.  I tweak my meal plan if needed to use those ingredients.  Last week I bought 1 1/2 pounds of organic chicken breasts for $3.00 TOTAL.  The sell by date was the next day so I just came home and popped them in the freezer to use later that week.  

4. Only buy a few produce options

Often times people think they need to eat healthy so they go crazy on the produce and end up throwing at least half of it away because it goes bad before they use it.  I pick 2 fruit options and 2 veggie options each week and I buy whatever is on sale.  We always have bananas and then option 2 is whatever fruit is on sale that week, be it strawberries, peaches, grapes etc.  And for veggies I will usually buy carrots or mini peppers for dipping in hummus but I try to keep 1 tomato, onions, and potatoes on hand at all times. 

5. Shop the perimeter of store.

This is always listed as a way to shop healthier, shop the outside perimeter of the store.  This is where you will find the dairy, meat, produce, etc.  I only go into the middle aisles if I am looking for something in particular such pasta, peanut butter or seasonings.

6. Stock up on pantry staples when they are on sale.

This is where watching sales can really be beneficial.  When frozen veggies, canned beans, pasta, rice etc goes on sale I will always buy a few to keep on hand.  Even if it's only $0.50 off, if you buy 4 bags of frozen veggies that is $2.00 in savings and they will keep for months in the freezer. 

7. Use a basket instead of a cart when possible.

Ok, how many times have you run in for 1 or 2 things and grabbed a cart out of habit and by the time you get to the checkout you have 15 items and most of them are impulse buys?  If I have to run in for a few things I always just grab a basket.  It gives me less room for extras plus since I have to carry it around the store I am much less likely to throw in heavier items...such as a half gallon of ice cream.

It really can be affordable to eat healthy, you just have to plan and prepare.  It never goes well when you go to the grocery store hungry and list-less.  When that happens to me I always end up wandering every aisle and spending 3x as much as I wanted to.   I hope these tips were helpful! If you have a trick that you use please drop it in the comments and share with us 

My snacks today

I have been a rockstar with following the meal plan this week.  I am so proud of myself for sticking to my containers and keeping myself accountable and on track.   The eating is always what slips me up because I have one slip up and then it's just a downhill spiral of extra containers until I am totally not even following the meal plan.

Today I made two snacks to keep on hand for the rest of the week.  One was deviled eggs and the other was Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Shakeology balls <- Yes! You read that right..Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!  ON THE FIX!  

I am so much better at staying on track when it's ready and in the fridge so I can grab and go.  That's why meal prep really makes this so much easier for me to succeed at keeping my nutrition in check.

Here are the recipes

Deviled Eggs

6 hard boiled eggs

2 tbsp mustard

2 tbsp greek yogurt

Hot sauce

Paprika

1.Empty Yolks into a bowl and add mustard, greek yogurt,(as much of both to get the consistency you prefer), a few dashed of hot sauce. 

2. Combine all together and put into plastic baggie to use as piping bag.

3.Use baggie to fill egg halves up, the sprinkle with paprika. 

Fix Portions | 1 red

Makes 3 servings, serving size 4 halves

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Shakeology Balls 

½ cup all-natural almond butter
¼ cup raw honey
½ cup finely chopped raw almonds
2 ½ scoops Vanilla Shakeology
2 Tbsp. mini semi-sweet (or dark chocolate) chocolate chips

1. Combine almond butter, honey, almonds, Shakeology, and chocolate chips in a medium bowl; mix well.
2. Roll into thirteen balls, about 1-inch in diameter each.

Fix Portions | 1 Yellow + 1 tsp.

Makes 13 servings, serving size 1 bite (ball) 

Time to get serious!! Back on the 21 Day Fix

September was sort of a crap shoot.  I had good intentions of staying on track but after finished Country Heat in August, I thought I would just wing it in September and that didn't work at all.

My eating was more like 50/50 instead of 80/20 and my workouts were less than impressive.  So tomorrow Jason and I are cracking down and starting the 21 Day Fix and we are hitting it HARD.  I have our meal plan ready for the week, the food is prepped and in the fridge and I am ready to feel better, stronger and healthier.  I struggle so much with having one bad day and then it turns into a bad week, then a bad month and so on.  So we are doing this together, plus my support group starting October 10th will be even more accountability.

Meal Plan for the week

I do better when I keep it really simple, so I stick with what works.  I figure out our dinners and then I eat very basic the rest of the day.  I always have my Shakeology for breakfast because that is my one non-negotiable for the day but sometimes lunch is light and then I have a snack mid afternoon.  I really just listen to my body and eat when it tells me I am hungry.

Going back the 21 Day Fix is actually really exciting for me.  It's the program that started it all and it's so easy to follow that I know it will help me get back on track and drop the few pounds of "fluff" I have put on over the summer.   

Do you need accountability also?  Let's do it together!  I have a group starting October 10th and I will help you reach your goals and stay on track with your workouts and nutrition.   Plus, I am entering everyone who joins by October 3rd into a raffle for a FIXATE cookbook which is loaded with recipes that are ALL approved to eat on the program.  Shoot me an email if you want more information or fill out this form.

My struggle with food

I finished up Country Heat on Tuesday.  I LOVED it, it was so much fun.  I was really skeptical that I would enjoy just dancing for 30 days and not lifting weights but the workouts were fast, and still really worked your legs. I nailed the workouts and was consistent ALL 30 days of the program, but where I bombed was the eating.  That has been a struggle for me since I was a teenager.  The only time I ever really stuck to the meal plans and all the containers was my first round of the 21 Day Fix.

I know I can't be alone in this! I do really good the first week but then I will cave into temptation and overdo my yellow or blue containers and then it seems like I just plunge into a big spiral of bad eating.  This round the last week was a real struggle for me, I feel like I am letting all of my challengers down and most importantly myself.   I am the person who can workout everyday and not lose a pound but I can eat healthy for a week and lost 5 so it makes me even madder at myself that I can't stick to it when it's such a crucial part of my results.

On Monday I am starting the 30 Chisel Program from The Masters Hammer & Chisel.  I am COMMITTING to finish the program from start to finish and successfully follow the meal plan.  I am tired of being mad at myself for cheat days. Do you want to do it with me??  I could use all the support and accountability I can get.

Wanna be my accountability buddy : http://bit.ly/dm87fit