Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

There is nothing better than a good ol Spicy Taco Salad!! Making it healthy... even better!! There is always healthy alternatives to make sure you are satisfying your cravings while reaching your ultimate health and fitness goals!! 

This recipe was absolutely amazing!! I hope you like it as much as I did!! Be sure to comment below if you liked it! :) 

INGREDIENTS:

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2/3 cup light sour cream or yogurt
• 1 tablespoon minced chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad:

• 4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• 2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts) Leftover grilled chicken works too.
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
• 1/3 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 frozen bag steam fresh kernel corn cooked

DIRECTIONS:

1. To prepare dressing, combine first 6 ingredients, stir until well mixed.
2. To prepare salad, combine lettuce and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over salad; toss gently to coat. Serve immediately. Store leftovers in the fridge – it’s just as good the second day!

Tip: Add a spoonful of adobo sauce for a spicier salad.

Yield: 4 Servings   Servings Size: Approx 2 1/2 cups

*If you are ready to start or working on your fitness journey  and would like daily support, tips, and accountability to help you reach your ultimate goals, please fill out the application below for a spot in my next 30 day private fitness challenge/support group! This is an opportunity for you to surround yourself with others with similar goals and get nutrition and fitness tips that will help you make this a lifestyle!

Did you know... Healthy FAT helps you BURN FAT?

So many people try to stay away from fat altogether because they have this thought in their mind that it will make you gain weight! FALSE!!! 

Its the unhealthy fat that makes you gain weight! If you put yourself on a healthy diet, and eat good fats, your body will actually help you on your weight loss journey!

One thing I will add is if you are going to add healthy fats, please be aware there is NO healthy fat that is calorie free! That does not mean leave it out of your regimen! It means you will just have to have fewer of another macronutrient with the same amount of calories per gram... yup.. CARBS!  I am not saying leave carbs out either lol!

You need a good portion of each to really give you the best results possible! I do not count calories simply because you can eat 100 calorie M&Ms all day and still be in your calorie range and nothing else... Well, that is NOT the healthy and long term healthy route! So, I would rather count macros so you are getting each food group and getting nutrients in to fuel your body. That would be called the "Right way" of a healthy nutrition regimen. 

Why low fat diets are NOT good for you:

I can't help it, I LOVE Peanut Butter!!! 

"Lower-fat diets can have negative impact on adipokines which impact fat loss. Adipokines are hormones released specifically from your fat cells. One such hormone, adiponectin, is a true fat-burning hormone that works to enhance your metabolism and increase the rate in which fats are broken down, curbing your appetite. Lower-fat diets lead to lower levels of adiponectin." -Bodybuilding.com

Not only do you NOT want to have a low fat diet, but when you are eating fats (healthy fats), they are actually more satisfying to you compared to other nutrients! Many low calorie foods will keep you hungry which causes over eating.  So adding these healthy fats will actually prevent the issue of over eating!

One more thing.. be sure when you are eating, you want to portion size!  Eating 5-6 small frequent meals is recommended.  When you eat these smaller meals, you will feel fuller longer, whereas if you ate 2 or 3 big meals, you are starving by the time you eat, and then you over eat, insulin levels spike and peek and throws off your entire body. This may not happen right away, but long term affects of overeating will cause these possible issues.

I have personally found lots of success with portion control and using the color coded containers from Beachbody's 21 Day Fix Program! 

Not only are you getting a fitness program with 30 minute workouts  that work your entire body and help you tone, lose inches, and get ripped, but also the nutrition plan is incredible and focused on portion control! This portion control nutrition guide allows you enough portions of each food group to fuel your body and get the best of the best results! 

I am currently eating 4 servings of fats a day based on the program and I am 5'5 and 140 pounds.  This is what is working for me and if you are looking for a specific regimen, this is a perfect opportunity to get you exactly where you want with your health and fitness goals!

*For more information on getting started on a regimen and you would like my free coaching, please fill out the application below for a spot in my next fitness challenge group/support group where you will get daily tips, recipes, motivation, and support!

Avocado Stuffed Salmon

Avocado Stuffed Salmon

Ingredients:

• 2 Medium Avocados
• 2 Small Salmon Filets
• 1 small white onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• 2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Squeeze
• 1 Tsp Cracked Pepper
• 1 Tsp Garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp Fresh chopped Dill

Directions:

• Put oven on BROIL on HIGH. Place salmon on foil sprayed with EVOO or PAM.

• Squeeze lemon on top, then with pepper and garlic powder. Bake for 14 minutes. 

• Let cool for 10 minutes and using a fork, shred salmon and place in bowl (discarding skin). Mix in onion, Greek Yogurt, and dill.

• Squeeze other half of lemon and add pepper to taste
• Scoop middle of Avocado out, leaving about 1/2 inch inside. Cut avocado into small pieces.

• Place Avocado with salmon mixture. Mix well until combined ingredients.

• Fill each Avocado with salmon mixture. 
• ENJOY!

 *If you are on the 21 DAY FIX or FIX EXTREME MEAL PLAN, here are the container breakdowns: (per half Avocado)
1 Red
1 Blue

 Yes, even my almost 3 year old LOVES his salmon and Avocado!! Its all on what you introduce them to early!! :) 

Clean eating is 80% of your results... without planning your meals, chosing healthy foods, it will be difficult to reach those goals of yours!

IF you are looking for support, motivation, and accountability to help you reach your health and fitness goals, please fill out the application below for a spot in my next Fit For Summer Challenge/Support Group!

*1:1 Coaching is FREE with purchase of your home fitness program and SHAKEOLOGY

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Avocado Deviled Eggs

Avocado Deviled Eggs

As Memorial Day was here and tons of parties, I wanted to make something different, but still keeping within my limits of my nutrition.  I still have goals, so if there is anything I can do to help stay on track, I will do it!  Plus I absolutely LOVE cooking, so it works out perfect!! :)

One of my favorite party foods are Deviled Eggs..I know yoke and mayo are not really the greatest for you, so I made a healthy alternative so I can still enjoy my favorite foods without the guilt!!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium Avocado 
• 4 hard boiled eggs
• 1 Tsp Lime juice
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Himalayan Salt
• 1 tsp Cracked black pepper
• 1 tsp Paprika

Directions:

1. Crack hard boiled eggs, cutting them in half length wise and throw ONLY 2 of the 4 yokes away (save the rest for the middle.
2. In a small bowl, mash the Avocado and 2 remaining egg yokes together until smooth.
3. Mix other ingredients in the mixture.
4. Scoop the Avocado mixture into the cavity of the hard boiled egg.
5. Sprinkle Paprika over top of eggs and filling.
6. Serve and ENJOY!!

If you are ready to commit to a new healthier lifestyle that will help you reach your fitness and health goals (lose 5, 10, 25, or 100 pounds) and would like daily accountability, motivation, along with daily tips, recipes, and support, please fill out my application below for a spot in my next fitness challenge! (I will respond within 24 hours)

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Chicken, Cucumber, and Avocado wrap

I have been getting excited to make things with Avocados, so I thought of a few ingredients to throw together and this is what I came up with!! 

Chicken, Cucumber and Avocado Wrap!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb cooked chicken (shredded with a fork)
• 1 cucumber sliced thin and cut 4 ways
• 1 Avocado (chopped)
• 3/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1/4 chopped onion
• 1 small bunch cilantro chopped
• 1 small sliced tomato 
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper
• Dash of Himalayan salt 
• 1 whole wheat wrap

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix cucumber, Greek yogurt, onion, lemon juice, dash of black pepper and salt, and cilantro together and set aside
2. Heat wrap for 10 seconds in microwave and lay out
3. Add cucumber mix onto wrap, then add 1/4 of chopped Avocado, tomatoes, and 3 oz shredded chicken. 
4. Roll up into wrap and enjoy!!

I am using this meal during my P90X3 and FOCUS T25 programs! This healthy Chicken, cucumber, and avocado wrap can be used for lunch or dinner! 

Homemade Guacamole

Ok so as weird as this sounds, I was never a fan of Avocados... I know most people love them and they are so healthy, but for some reason, I have a hard time with the texture! I literally have had them 2 times, which was during my 21 Day Ultimate Reset! It was a very strict plan, so I was limited on what foods I could eat, so it was included in my salads, but would never eat it alone!
It was not until another co-worker of mine who is an amazing cook, brought in this green dip...Everyone was going crazy over how "amazing" it was, but the color and texture turned me away.. All day long, I kept hearing all about this Guacamole dip, so I decided to taste just a little bit! I took 1 scoop and added it to my brown rice and lean turkey burger.  I was completely blown away! That may have been a bite from heaven lol! I could not believe this entire time I was so opposed to Avocados, but really I just needed a good recipe with it!
So here it was! The most amazing dip I ever had... AND IT WAS HEALTHY!! Anytime I have a dip and it taste good, its usually not a healthy recipe.

HOME MADE GUACAMOLE DIP

Ingredients:

3 Avocados

1 large lime

3 roma tomatoes (chopped)

1 small onion (chopped)

2/3 pint of plain Greek yogurt

1 small bunch cilantro (chopped)

1 packet hidden valley ranch fiesta dip

A few shakes of Chipotle tobasco sauce

Directions:

Add avocados, Greek yogurt,  cilantro, ranch dip, onion, and tobasco sauce into a food grinder ( I use a Ninja). 

Add chopped tomatoes and mix. 

Squeeze 1 lime on top (will help keep its color longer).

If you want the dip to maintain its color longer, the less air that touches the avocado, the longer it will stay green.  You can cover the dip with a pastic wrap and refrigerate.

* Serve with whole wheat pita chips or your favorite snack/dinner!

As silly as it sounds, this was amazing with brown rice and turkey burger!