Wedding Soup – FIXATE

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I’m always looking for healthy recipes that feed my family. You are probably on the lookout for the same ones; do not take a lot of preparation BUT taste delicious! The extra wedding soup was shared with my parents – which they let me know was excellent. A big thank you to my dad for trying the foods I cook and for being honest with how they taste!

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:

  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 6 cups spinach, cut into bite size pieces (*I lightly packed the measuring cup – added close to 8 cups)
  • 20 Italian meatballs (*If smaller size meatballs – add more to the soup)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 TBSP Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

  1. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until onion is translucent.
  3. Add garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
  4. Add broth; bring to a boil.
  5. Add spinach; reduce heat to gently boil; covered, for 10 minutes. I used more than 6 cups of spinach. You could use other greens such as Swiss Chard or Escarole.wedding-soup2
  6. Add meatballs; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. For this recipe, I used frozen meatballs that were baked for approximately 15 minutes in the oven before adding to the soup. I baked the meatballs in the AM and made the soup in the afternoon.
  7. Combine eggs and cheese in a small bowl; mix with a fork to blend. I did add additional Parmesan cheese to the soup when served; 2 TBSP was not enough for my family!
  8. Slowly pour egg mixture into the hot soup, stirring constantly. Gently boil until egg bits are just set (as you stir), about 30 to 60 seconds.
  9. Season with salt and pepper; serve immediately or reduce heat to low to cook more until ready to serve.

Each serving would equate to 2 green and 1 red if following the color coded container system. The recipe makes enough for 6 servings.

The color coded containers and the FIXATE cookbook are available for purchase in my fitness shop.

For more tips, support, recipes, meal planning, and other health and wellness assistance, please apply here by completing my get support form!

wedding soup, FIXATE, Clean eating, healthy

Chicken Noodle Soup – FIXATE

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On Saturday, my daughter and I sat down together to come up with the meal plan for the week. Looking through the pictures from the FIXATE cookbook she immediately pointed to the soups. Chicken noodle soup was her choice and we decided to make it today. Perfect for a chilly day and this recipe does not take much effort to prepare, but tastes delicious – a win for this momma. We set aside approximately 10 minutes in the morning to cut up the carrots, onions, and celery. The chicken for this meal was frozen so we placed water in a pot and boiled the chicken on medium to low heat. Once cooked, the chicken was shredded with a fork. The extra shredded chicken will be used for chicken fajitas later in the week!

chicken-noodle-soup2

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 2 cups celery,  sliced (about 4 medium stalks)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups chicken, cooked & shredded
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots, sliced (about 3 medium)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 1/4 cups pasta
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

  1. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until onion is translucent.
  3. Add broth, pasta, chicken*, carrots, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil for about 10 minutes. *I like to prepare chicken in advance for the week by boiling in water. Once chicken is cooked – shred chicken with a fork. For the chicken soup recipe, I cut up all of my vegetables and boiled the chicken in the morning. Late in the afternoon, I prepared the chicken noodle soup per the recipe.
  4. Reduce heat to low and allow to cook for another 10 minutes.
  5. Add cilantro before serving.

Each serving would equate to 2 green, 1 1/2 yellow, and 1 red if following the color coded container system. The recipe makes enough for 4 servings.

The color coded containers and the FIXATE cookbook are available for purchase in my fitness shop.

For more tips, support, recipes, meal planning, and other health and wellness assistance, please apply here by completing my get support form!

fixate, 21 day fix approved, chicken noodle soup

Peanutty Peanut Butter Squares – Fixate

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This momma is always on a mission to find healthy snacks that my daughter and I can make together. Now that my son is almost 10 months old…he is joining in on the baking fun too! I purchased the FIXATE cookbook to help take the guesswork out of my nutrition plan. There are large colorful pictures to compliment each recipe – I’m a big fan of the pictures when it comes to cookbooks! There’s so many amazing recipes in this book ranging from Gluten Free to Paleo to Vegan and Vegetarian. Not to mention each recipe indicates the seven color coded container equivalents per serving. We all know that nutrition plays a huge role in helping each of us achieve our fitness goals. It’s not a matter of figuring out what to eat; it’s also a question of figuring out how much to eat. Of course, I was excited to see the desserts included in the FIXATE cookbook and I couldn’t wait to make the Peanutty Peanut Butter Squares with my kids. A definite win in our family!

peanut butter, FIXATE, 21 Day Fixed Approved

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:

  • 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
  • 1/2 cup raw honey
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Lightly coat 8 x 8 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Combine peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract, eggs, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl; mix well.
  4. Evenly spread batter into 8 x 8 inch baking pan; smooth top with a spatula.
  5. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes. Squares may be a little soft when coming out of the oven, but they will continue to cook. The cooking time using my stove was closer to 27 minutes.
  6. Allow to cool and then cut into squares.

Each serving would equate to 1 yellow and 2 1/2 spoons if following the color coded container system. The recipe makes enough for 16 servings.

The color coded containers and the FIXATE cookbook are available for purchase in my fitness shop.

For more tips, support, recipes, meal planning, and other health and wellness assistance, please apply here by completing my get support form!

FIXATE, family baking, peanut butter

 

 

 

Beachbody Health Bet Challenge – Get Paid to Get Healthy

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Beachbody Challenge Image

My first virtual accountability group of 2017 kicks off on January 9th; New Year – New YOU! What makes this group even more exciting is that every person who participates in my New Year – New YOU group using the My Challenge Tracker App (the app is free to download on apple and android) has an opportunity to qualify and automatically win an equal share of the $2 million Beachbody Health Bet prize pool. This is the 2nd time that Beachbody has offered the pool prize!

So How Do You Qualify?

Qualifiers must meet all requirements for each of the 4 qualification weeks.

    • Week 1 – January 9 – January 15
    • Week 2 – January 16 – January 22
    • Week 3 – January 23 – January 29
    • Week 4 – January 30 – February 5

Qualification 1

You must be a participant in my New Year – New YOU group on the My Challenge Tracker App by 11:59 PM PT on January 9, 2017. Participants must have a valid First and Last Name, email address, and shipping address associated with their Team Beachbody account by February 6, 2017 in order to be paid out.

Qualification 2

Since you are committed to getting fit…qualification 2 and 3 should be easy! There are 7 Shakeology flavors to choose from and if you have never tried Shakeology before I am here to help you figure out the flavor you like best! I have a lot of recipes to share with you. Here’s the deal…you must log a minimum of 5 Shakeology’s (each accompanied by a Shakeology photo) during each qualification week. The logged photos can be of your Shakeology on its own, your Shakeology preparation on its own, or of you preparing or consuming your Shakeology. Enjoy Shakeology by itself with water, follow a recipe, or create your own beverage or food item of your choice, as long as it’s clear it’s made with Shakeology when you take the photo. All Shakeology’s must be logged by 11:59 PM PT on the last day of each contest week mentioned above.

Qualification 3

Let’s give a SHOUT OUT for those sweaty selfies! Each participant must log a minimum of 3 workouts during each qualification week. All workouts must be logged by 11:59 PM PT on the last day of each contest week mentioned above.

Together we are all stronger!

So who is ready to join in on the FUN!

  • You can win money for checking in daily and logging workouts and Shakeology for the Health Bet Challenge!
  • I can help you stay accountable to the results you want!
  • Challenge Tracker App is helpful for not only tracking your workouts and Shakeology, but your measurements and transformation photos as well as it takes you off of Facebook (we all know can be distracting!)

If you are interested in learning more about this upcoming group, please contact me at Melissa@LLHealthyFit.com or fill at the application on my Get Support page. SPACE IS LIMITED so be sure to reserve your spot today!

Southern Spiced French Toast w/ Bananas & Walnuts

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Yesterday my husband and I noticed that the weather seems to be changing and the trees are beginning to lose their leaves! Summer days sure need to last longer here in Pennsylvania. This morning there was a chill in the air and I decided it felt like the perfect morning to try a new recipe with the pumpkin pie spice I purchased last week.

Southern Spiced French Toast with Bananas and Walnuts Picture

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:

  • 4 eggs (I use eggs from my parent’s farm.)
  • 1/4 cup milk or unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp or more of vanilla extract
  • 4 slices of whole wheat bread or 2 whole English muffins, split apart
  • 1 large banana
  • 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped (You can substitute for another nut of choice such as pecans.)
  • Maple syrup or syrup of choice

WHAT TO DO:

  1. In a shallow bowl, combine eggs, milk, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract. You will want to stir with a fork or whisk.
  2. Add oil to a medium pan and heat over medium heat.
  3. Soak each slice of bread or English muffin half in the egg mixture; approximately 30 seconds each side. It may take slightly longer when using an English muffin. I substituted 2 English muffins (4 pieces when pulled apart) for sliced bread as I did not have any bread in the pantry!
  4. Place each slice of bread or English muffin half in the pan and cook each side for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown.
  5. Top each with sliced bananas and walnuts. Use syrup sparingly!
  6. There was approximately 3/4 cup of egg mixture left over which I decided to cook the eggs and serve as part of my breakfast.

Here is an example of the Southern Spiced French Toast with Bananas & Walnuts. I used the color coded portion containers, which helps me to keep my nutrition on track! The picture indicates the 21 Day Fix container count. A serving size is 1 slice of bread (1 yellow) so this recipe can feed 3-4 people depending on if the serving size is being followed.

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The color coded containers are available for purchase in my fitness shop.

For more tips, support, recipes, meal planning, and other health and wellness assistance, please apply here by completing my get support form!

 

Country Heat – Week 4

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Week 3 is complete and week 4 of Country Heat starts tomorrow! Follow me on my Facebook (fb.com/LLHealthyFit.com) and Instagram (MelissaBrown66) for daily pictures and videos. I would like to take time right now to reflect on week 3 as well as share my workout and nutrition plan for week 4 with you.

Workout:

Country Heat Week 3 Picture

I felt much better in week 3 than week 2. Cold is finally leaving my body and my energy levels are back to normal! This mommy doesn’t miss out on her “ME” time even when sick. My kids joined me more than usual this week and that is OK. I improvised some of the moves in the workouts so that I could have my little man on my hip. Squats are always one of my go to moves for substituting one move for another. I always make sure that my baby is safe (head supported) in my arms when I am doing the workout with him. I do have two baby carriers that I use as an option when he wants to be close to me. There is a ton of dancing and giggles even if the workout wasn’t 100% on point. I’m making progress when my feet are moving! Check out the video below from the workout Wild Goose Chase.

My workout schedule for week 4* looks something like this:

Country Heat - Week 4 Schedule*I follow the Country Heat Deluxe workout calendar versus the basic.

Meal Plan:

Calorie range 1,200 to 1,499 – Plan A per the Country Heat calculation in the nutrition guide that comes with the program. I love the meal plan because it uses the color coded portion control container system developed by Autumn Calabrese. Shakeology comes in 7 different flavors. I alternate usually between two different flavors for my meal plan. Be sure to search my site for recipes to include in your meal plan. Many of my dinner options are new this week and I will be updating my website with the recipes as I make the meal.

Friday (dinner) and Saturday (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) have not been included on the meal plan for week 4 as we have plans to be with my husband’s family. I accounted for my AM/PM snack ensuring that I have my Shakeology each day. Tips for getting through Friday/Saturday will be shared next week on my website as well as real time in my accountability group. Check out the recipe for Southern Spiced French Toast w/ Bananas & Walnuts; I substituted walnuts for pecans!

Country Heat - Week 4 Meal Plan

If you would like to join my Back to School – Back to You accountability group there is still time. We kick things off TOMORROW – August 22. If you have been thinking about making a change or if you are like me and let the summer fun in the sun get the best of you…do not just give up. The time is now to jump back on the horse and JOIN ME! You always find time for the things you want the most…why not make your health and wellness a priority?!

If you do not currently work with a Coach, please make sure to make me your FREE coach here.

Week 3 Country Heat Pictures

Country Heat – Week 3

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Week 2 is a wrap and week 3 of Country Heat started this morning! So stay tuned for all the updates and videos on my Facebook (fb.com/LLHealthyFit.com) and Instagram (MelissaBrown66). I would like to take time right now to reflect on week 2 as well as share my workout and nutrition plan for week 3 with you. Remember this is a process of changing old habits and replacing them with new ones. It is not always going to feel seamless!

Workout:

Week 2 was the first time that Dance Conditioning was on my workout schedule. This is a nice mix of dance cardio and traditional moves such as abs, lunges, and bridges. Every routine has me sweating and looking forward to the next! These workouts are my ‘ME’ time and life sure seemed more stressful than usual last week. The added stress did not allow my immune system to stay on point. The result was a cold and very tight neck muscles. I would catch myself often clenching my jaw and it took a few days until I could relax. Here are things I do to combat a cold and to feel like myself again:

Ways to Overcome Cold

I’m looking forward to week 3 and being able to breathe easier during my workouts without this cold! My workout schedule for week 3* looks something like this:

Country Heat - Week 3 Schedule

*I follow the Country Heat Deluxe workout calendar versus the basic.

Meal Plan:

Calorie range 1,200 to 1,499 – Plan A per the Country Heat calculation in the nutrition guide that comes with the program. I love the meal plan because it uses the color coded portion control container system developed by Autumn Calabrese. Shakeology comes in 7 different flavors. I alternate usually between two different flavors for my meal plan. Be sure to search my site for recipes to include in your meal plan.

Here are some tips this week if you are finding it difficult with nutrition/meal preparation:

  1. Carve Time Out To Develop Meal Plan: Pick a day of the week (weekend or week day) to determine the food items that are going to be part of your meal plan broken out into breakfast, AM snack, lunch, PM snack, and dinner. You can find me developing my meal plan on either a Sunday or Monday. The day can fluctuate based on your schedule, but it is important to set time aside each week.
  2. Meal Preparation: There are certain tasks that you can do in advance to make preparing food less time consuming on you. So you developed a meal plan, used the meal plan to make a grocery list, and shopped…now what! There are certain tasks based on your meal plan that can be done in advance for the week ahead.
    • Portion out snacks into containers or zip lock bags. This way they are available for a quick grab and go or can easily be placed in a cooler bag for wherever the day takes you.
    • Broil chicken or brown ground meat; store in an air tight container.
    • Chop vegetables; store in an air tight container together or separate by vegetable type.
  3. Set Goals: Ask yourself what you would like to accomplish this week? These goals should be specific to what you are going through and make the time frame achievable. Be sure that these goals are visible to you! WRITE THEM DOWN! Here are some example goals that I use for my nutrition:
    • I will drink 1/2 by body weight in ounces of water this week.
    • I will measure my food in the portion control color coded containers this week…let’s face it…we can become relaxed and get off course. Back to the basics helps me refocus.
    • I will take 15 minutes every single day to clear my mind this week. I like to break this 15 minutes up into 3 mini mind breaks! I’m not looking at my phone or checking email.

Country Heat - Week 3 Meal Plan

If you would like to join my Back to School – Back to You accountability group there is still time. We kick things off on August 22. If you have been thinking about making a change or if you are like me and let the summer fun in the sun get the best of you…do not just give up. The time is now to jump back on the horse and JOIN ME! You always find time for the things you want the most…why not make your health and wellness a priority?!

If you do not currently work with a Coach, please make sure to make me your FREE coach here.

 

Beachbody Health Bet Challenge

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Beachbody Challenge Image

I’m so excited for my upcoming Back to School – Back to You group that kicks off August 22nd. The first week will be all about preparation (meal planning and getting your fitness program) and workouts will officially start on August 29th. I like to have that first week of the group a time to help everyone prepare and answer any questions related to the start of their journey!

What makes this group even more exciting is that every person who participates in my Back to School – Back to You group using the My Challenge Tracker App (the app is free to download on apple and android) has an opportunity to qualify and automatically win an equal share of $1 million dollars up to $3 million dollars* total prize pool. The pool starts at $1 million; however, can grow up to $3 million as Beachbody adds $5 per challenge pack sold until August 31st to the initial $1 million pool prize.

So How Do You Qualify?

Qualifiers must meet all requirements for each of the 4 qualification weeks.

    • Week 1 – September 5 – September 11
    • Week 2 – September 12 – September 18
    • Week 3 – September 19 – September 25
    • Week 4 – September 26 – October 2

Qualification 1

You must be a participant in my Back to School – Back to You group on the My Challenge Tracker App by 11:59 PM PT on September 5, 2016. Participants must have a valid First and Last Name, email address, and shipping address associated with their Team Beachbody account by October 2, 2016 in order to be paid out.

Qualification 2

Since you are committed to getting fit…qualification 2 and 3 should be easy! There are 7 Shakeology flavors to choose from and if you have never tried Shakeology before I am here to help you figure out the flavor you like best! I have a lot of recipes to share with you. Here’s the deal…you must log a minimum of 5 Shakeology’s (each accompanied by a Shakeology photo) during each qualification week. All Shakeology’s must be logged by 11:59 PM PT on the last day of each contest week mentioned above.

Cafe Latte

Qualification 3

Let’s give a SHOUT OUT for those sweaty selfies! Each participant must log a minimum of 3 Beachbody workouts during each qualification week. All workouts must be logged by 11:59 PM PT on the last day of each contest week mentioned above.

Together we are all stronger!

So who is ready to join in on the FUN!

  • You can win money for checking in daily and logging workouts and Shakeology for the Health Bet Challenge!
  • I can help you stay accountable to the results you want!
  • Challenge Tracker App is helpful for not only tracking your workouts and Shakeology, but your measurements and transformation photos as well as it takes you off of Facebook (we all know can be distracting!)

If you are interested in learning more about this upcoming group, please contact me at Melissa@LLHealthyFit.com or fill at the application on my Get Support page. SPACE IS LIMITED so be sure to reserve your spot today!