Green Salad To The Rescue
Hello Green Salad! How I've missed you during the holidays. I'm so happy you are back in my life. <3
Activewear by Lou & Grey
One of my newest discoveries has been the activewear collection by Lou & Grey called Form. I would wear these on my morning drop offs, morning meetings or Saturday morning coffee run and turn it into a walk, bootcamp, run or yoga class. Sharing some of my favorite finds below.
Lately On Instagram
Fresh vegetables from Oxbow Market
Heirloom tomatoes from Whole Foods
Ritual Coffee Roasters t-shirt - Nike leggings - Nike sneakers from Nordstrom
Obsessed with hot yoga! Sweater from Boholifestyle (similar here)
Bootcamp at Fitness Revolution Napa
Puppy love ❤️ "Sparkle" trucker hat from Monday Sparkles
New hair cut by Mod Pod
My To-Go Meal
It's typically whatever leftover protein and veggies I have in my fridge. This was kale, chard, mushrooms, bell peppers, and topped with eggs and pieces of cooked bacon. Yum!
Green Is The New Black
It’s hard to always eat healthy on the go. Between meetings and dropping off the kids at school I try to grab something green and yummy. Green juices (ok...and coffee) give me lots of energy, and a healthy salad is always a good idea to get me going through the day.
Healthy Living
You guys, I need to start eating healthier. I've fallen back in my old sugar habit and eat far too much ice cream. It doesn’t affect my body because I run and exercise regularly, but it makes me SO TIRED and moody (well, first it makes me super happy and filled with energy, but then I crash). And when my eczema starts to flare up, that's when I know I need to stop!
I also feel like I need much more energy to keep up with my 3 kids, my business, my husband, PTA meetings, volunteering at my kids school, and friends. I'm not going to give up sugar completely because I don’t want to be one of those who can’t eat anything. Plus life is too short to deprive yourself from ice cream!
Below is an example of my healthier lifestyle. Please leave your comments if you have any great food or snack ideas. Would love to hear what you eat to get more energy.
Breakfast: spinach and leftover roasted chicken omelette.
Mid morning snack: avocado toast with roasted butternut squash, cranberries, and red onion.
Lunch: stir fry green beans.
Afternoon pick me up: green energy juice.
Dinner: roasted Greek chicken with rustic potatoes. My family fav!
Find of the Week - Riced Broccoli
If you have kids like mine who only like to eat the florets, riced broccoli is the best solution! You can use the food processor to make your own riced broccoli or you can find it at Trader Joe's. I like to cook it with pancetta and topped with an egg. It's like fried rice but gluten free! So good…you must try!
20 Pound Challenge Napa Valley
With summer just around the corner, it’s time for me to get prepped for another 20-Pound Challenge with Napa Valley Fitness Revolution. This will be my third challenge and I can’t tell you how excited my husband and I are to get back at it. The challenges reshape our bodies, clears our minds, and resets our overall well being through proper nutrition and training. It's all backed by a team of coaches that gets participants to move better, look better, and feel better...all in just 42 days. It works every time for us. And we're ready to do it again. I highly recommend this type of program to anyone looking to make a difference in their fitness and diet, and my husband does too.
So how to stick with the program? Join the challenge with your partner, best friend, or a family member. I have to say having my husband in the challenge really helped both of us stay on track and hold each other accountable. Having others join you also worked really well with a five person team challenge we did last fall. But if you can't find someone to join, you can do it. In fact, my husband's first challenge was one he did himself. He dropped 20lbs! Napa Valley Fitness Revolution has numerous individual success stories.
What other benefits do you get by joining the challenge? You will set good examples for your family and will get them involved. I took my daughter to one of the free cooking demonstration by one of our coaches, Tay Espinosa, so that she can learn that prepping healthy food it's actually fun, easy and delicious. This is another reason I tell everyone that our gym its not like any other. They are a community that truly cares about you!
So are you ready for a spring cleaning? Let me hear you say "Yes, I am READY". Join today and use code: momlikethat and get $25 off registration. Promotion ends Thursday 3/31.
See you at the gym!
Baked Cod Lettuce Wrap With Vegetable Slaw
When looking for recipes and meal ideas for my family I like to include something nutrient dense, colorful and focused on veggies, lean meats and healthy fats. Here is one dish that I created with what I had in my fridge. It follows the Whole30 principles. Remember you can alter the recipe with different vegetables, meats or dietary needs.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon of olive oil divided
1 6 ounce fillet cod
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup of shredded carrots
1 cup of shredded purple cabbage
1 cup of diced cucumber
1/4 cup of diced red onion
1 avocado, diced
1 teaspoon of herb de provence
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 lemon, divided
1 head butter lettuce
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a bowl mix carrots, purple cabbage, onion, cucumber, and avocado with oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper and put it aside. Prepare fish with oil, herb de provence, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Wrap it in foil and bake for 10-15 minutes or until fish is easily flaked with a fork. To serve, spoon several tablespoons of the vegetable slaw into the center of a lettuce leaf, then place baked fish on top.
Enjoy!
Easy Whole30 Recipes
Here are a few of my easy Whole30 recipes. I like to get my ingredients prepped on Sunday so I can mix and match dishes all week. I usually have the following in my fridge: chopped bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers as well as cooked steamed kale, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. I also like to have emergency protein ready like cooked bacon, ground beef and grilled chicken. To save time I sometimes get a roasted chicken from the grocery store (On Friday's they're on sale at Whole Foods). For fruit I always get apples, bananas, melons and berries. I like to keep at least a couple of avocados on hand for salads. And last I always have roasted/cooked sweet potatoes. They come in handy for frittatas or any egg dish.
I've said it before, clean eating doesn't have to be complicated or expensive if you plan ahead. A great app for ideas, planning, shopping and cooking is the Nom Nom Paleo App. It will save you time and keep you on track.
Have a healthy weekend!
Simple frittatas. Recipe here.
Lettuce wraps. I stir fried some of my chopped veggies with my emergency protein and topped with raisins. Voila! lunch is ready!
Slow Cooker Beef and Tomato Stew. This dish is a must try! The whole family will love it. You can get the recipe here.
Made a quick salad with leftovers. Lettuce, bell peppers, grilled chicken, bacon, chopped almonds and raisin. Topped with olive oil and lemon juice.
I used whatever left I had in the fridge to make this vegetable and chicken soup. Boil 2 cups of chicken broth then add your veggies and protein. A pinch of salt, white pepper, ginger or whatever seasoning you like. Topped with some cooked bacon.
I made this salad bowl for dinner. I used steamed broccoli, kale, roasted sliced sweet potatoes, bell peppers, grilled chicken, avocado and raisins. Olive oil and lemon juice for dressing.
Baby Wipes To The Rescue
The other day “Naked and Afraid” was on television. If you're not familiar with the show, it's basically this: drop off two naked people in the middle of nowhere and allow them to bring one and only one item, and then film. I told my husband if I am ever on that show the one thing I would bring is a pack of “Baby Wipes”. Who needs a pot or knife when you can have baby wipes to help you stay clean in the middle of an insect infested jungle!
All my kids are out of diapers, but I still use this moist invention for everything. It’s one of the most essential items in my cleaning arsenal. I use them on the kids to clean off spaghetti sauce that they can never get into their mouths but is always well placed high on cheek bones and eyelashes. I use them at restaurants to clean up after the poorly tipped bus boys. I use them at playgrounds to clean off who-knows-WTF was on that slide. But I also use them to clean around the house - baseboards, doors, light switches, etc. They are magic!
Here are more ways to use them. Have a happy weekend everyone!
Whole30 Results and Celebration
Well, we did it! A Whole30 five week challenge and a combined 15 lbs down for us! We went to Espetus in San Francisco with the family to celebrate. We did not totally pig out even though it was all you can eat! Below are pictures of our fun day. I also want to share some notable, non-weight related results:
CLEAR SKIN - For the first time in my adult life my skin is clear of eczema! It makes me feel so much more confident about myself. And I'm saving money - I’m not wearing foundation and am using much less makeup overall. I asked my dermatologist about this and she said it’s likely because I omitted dairy, processed foods and sugar.
BETTER MOODS - I noticed that this time around I have less intense mood swings (especially during that time of the month). Both my husband and I noticed that I was a lot more balanced.
BETTER SLEEP - Unless the kids are in and out of our bedroom all night long, I’m sleeping between 6-8 hours each night. I feel rested and energized every morning.
MORE MUSCLE TONE - I’m able to see all my hard work at our boot camp workout pay off through toned muscles. I lost an inch at my waist and an inch off my belly. Definitely feeling stronger!
WEIGHT LOSS - I lost three pounds and my husband lost 12 pounds in the past five weeks. I was going to boot camp four days a week, so I’ve likely put on muscle weight.
OUR FUTURE PLANS - We like the way we feel when we follow the Whole30 diet, so we’re going to stick with it using an 80/20 balance. That’s roughly four meals a week to indulge in other things.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
This Brazilian Mojito is out of this world. So GOOD!!!
Traditional Brazilian appetizers - fried plantains and cheese bread.
My semi Whole30 plate from the buffet.
The meat keeps coming until you tell them to STOP!
Our dessert was hot Belgium chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and cafe bom bom (expresso with condense milk). Definitely NOT Whole30 compliant. (For the record, we're already back on Whole30!)
Whole30 Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day. I like eggs, fruit, potatoes, and if I’m being honest, chocolate croissants and pancakes. Because I’m avoiding those last two for the remainder of my Whole 30 challenge I need to brainstorm healthy and tasty options each morning. I do a lot of prep ahead of time and cook after I drop off the kids at school. Here’s what I prepared last week with my new spiralizer toy. I hope you get some ideas for your own meals.
Sweet potatoes spirals with spinach and baked eggs. Cook the potatoes first with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder for about 10 minutes then add the spinach. Crack eggs on top then cover it with foil for 5-7 minutes depending on how well done you like your eggs. Sprinkle red chili flakes and serve.
This dish is the same as above but I used white sweet potatoes and carrots instead.
I like to roast potatoes in big batches then eat through out the week. Roast at 350F for an hour.
This is my very easy scrambled eggs with roasted potatoes, fruit, and veggies.
Yellow squash with marinara sauce and grilled shrimp. I stir fry squash noodles then add sauce and grilled shrimp on top. I don't like to eat before my workout so I made this dish as a late breakfast and early lunch. Great way to refuel!
Creative, Healthy and Delicious Paleo-inspired Meals
If you read my last post you know that my husband and I are on a five week fitness reboot challenge. I'm happy to say we've completed week two and are feeling stronger and healthier! Food is a big part of this challenge and I've became more adventurous by trying ingredients I don't normally use such as cauliflower and zucchini. Here are some of my favorites dishes. Enjoy!
BREAKFAST
Cauliflower tortilla toped with eggs, bacon, and bell peppers
Sausage, asparagus and baked eggs. Cook the sausage first then add asparagus with salt and black pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Crack eggs on top of the asparagus and then broil for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle red chill pepper on top before serving.
LUNCH
Leftover salad bowl. Steamed broccoli, diced cucumber, radish, pineapple, roasted potatoes, and pork adobo over romaine lettuce.
Brussels sprouts with bacon and mushroom. Recipe here
DINNER
Polpette Di Vitello. Recipe here
Don't they look fantastic? My kids couldn't stop eating them!
Zucchini noodles.
Zucchini noodles with Polpette di vitello and pesto sauce. To make zucchini noodles I highly recommend this.
Pork chops with my homemade pesto sauce (one cup of basil, 1/4 cup of almonds, 3 cloves of garlic, salt, black pepper, and 1/2 cup of olive oil) Blend them together till all ingredients are mixed.
It was so good that my father in law, a true meat and potato Oklahoman, thought the pork sat atop mashed potatoes!
Whole30 - A Five Week Challenge
If you follow me on Instagram you know that I had too much fun with the family over the summer. We went on an epic five-week, Western states, national park road trip. Do you know how much junk food is out there when you're on the road? As much as I tried to order healthy meals for my family it was very hard in this part of the country. As a result, my husband and I decided to reboot with a five week fitness and Whole30 challenge. Our goal is to only eat whole foods and exercise. No processed foods, sugar, dairy, grains, legumes or alcohol, and work out at least three times a week.
Over the weekend I prepped and cooked up a storm of healthy dishes. I like cooking or grilling big batches of bacon, grilled chicken breasts, sausage, and pulled pork at the start of the week for quick and easy meals later with salads, eggs, and stir fry veggies. I also like simple ingredients that I can find at any store. For those of you who have asked about recipes or want a little inspiration for your own clean eating cooking regimen, below are a few of my favorite meals.
Remember clean eating should be easy and fun and not hard or complicated. I like to think of it as mixing and matching clothes. It gets me inspired!
Enjoy!
Roasted spaghetti squash at 375F for an hour
Stir fried asparagus, sausage, and red pepper on top of spaghetti squash
Leftover veggies over scramble eggs for breakfast
Kids like clean eating!
Slow cooker Kalua Pig. Recipe here
Sixteen hours later...
Riced cauliflower for some tortillas. Recipe here
Cauliflower tortillas with pulled pork and veggies
Pulled pork wraps with fresh fruit
Asian salad from Costco (I don't use the toppings or dressing) with leftover meat and homemade dressing (olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper)
Farm to Table - Napa Grass Farmer
There's a lot of talk about farm to table, but we have mostly dined at restaurants that preached it. Now we're trying it at home by signing up with Napa Grass Farmer, which offers a bounty of local, organic, and humanely raised meat. We signed up for a monthly pork delivery, but they also have chicken, lamb, buffalo and turkey. I cooked the bacon first and you know it's good when your kids devour it within seconds. Next I'm going to make their pork chops for dinner so stay tuned for that. We also love our local fruit and vegetable stand for our produce. Don't these peaches and plums look amazing? They are soooo good! I'm a truly believer that kids eat more when they eat fresh and simple dishes.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Three Favorites
Peonies are my favorites
Beet juice with carrot, kale, and apple. Yum!
Your Monday's are soon to have a little more sparkles. Stay tuned! #passionproject
Life Lately
I can read this cookbook all day…. Love!
Where have you been all my life? These sunscreen towelettes are the best invention ever!
My two new favorite Paleo breakfast duo - pancake mix and hot cereal
To get a smooth natural tan I like to mix this one from James Read with body lotion. That way it only gives your skin a sun kissed look instead of turning orange. Apply it before bed time and wake up with the look of just gotten back from a sunny vacation…
This bar is perfect for before or after my run
Boston State of Mind
In two years, I went from running zero miles to seven half marathons and one full marathon. This year I thought I was going to slow down, until last month when three different people told me that I should try to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I laughed out loud each time! But those outside voices sparked the inner voice to say, "Hey, this is a sign, you should go for it." It will be challenging, but I love a good challenge. The verdict: I'm going to try to qualify for Boston this year at the Santa Rosa marathon. If I don't qualify this year, then I'll try next year and then following year. I'm sure by the time I hit 50 I'll complete the Boston Marathon! Wish me luck!
Photography by Doug Zimmerman
// New Balance Neutral Light Running Shoes //