Black Bean, Avocado, & Corn Salsa

1 can black beans, rinced and drained
1 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
2-3 tomatoes
1/2 cup red onions, chopped
1/4 bunch of cilantro
1 package Good Seasons Zesty Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix ( 2T of water, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/3-1/2 cup oil)
2 avocados chopped
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
salt to taste

Chicken Enchiladas Over Rice

So this past week I have been googling my little eyes out with learning more about health food and I think I spent a little too much time on the computer because I just felt soo sick. Not so healthy spending so much time on the computer!! Every time I opened my computer my head started to hurt. Anyway, I am excited to share what I have been learning, but for now I will just share a delicious recipe that will for sure be added to our rotation of meals! YUM!

Chicken Enchiladas Over Rice
 Ingredients:
1-2 chicken breasts, (about 1 pound) cooked & shredded

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 medium onion, diced

1/2 red pepper, diced

1/2 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles

1/4 teaspoon salt*

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 (10 oz.) can green chili enchilada sauce

1/3 cup red enchilada sauce

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

 Serve over Brown Rice

Top with:

Avocado

Green Onions

Tomatoes

Greek yogurt or sour cream

Cilantro

Chips

  

Directions:
*(I somehow forgot the /4 when I first posted the recipe and it was just read 1 teaspoon. So sorry if anyone made it and it was super salty!)

I cooked my chicken by boiling it, then shredding it

Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet and cook onions for about 3-5 minutes.  Add garlic & red pepper and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

Add cooked chicken, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, salt, & enchilada sauces.  Let sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes.

Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through. (If you are watching your cheese/calories intake you can always leave out & and let people sprinkle on (top) their own cheese.) Now stir in the Greek yogurt, do not bring it to a boil! Cook on low heat or the Greek yogurt will curdle. Once mixed and heated through you are ready to devour.

Serves: 4-5

Super Bowl Breakfast

Meet my two new friends! I love these little guys! They are sooo good for you!

Where to begin?!

 Let's start with goji berries. I first discovered these little guys when looking for foods that would help with infertility. Not only did I discover that goji berries help with increasing fertility naturally but recent medical research has identified several powerful medicinal properties, including: anti-aging, anti-cancer, weight loss promotion, enhancing libido as well as fertility, immune system boosting and much more. I will do a later post going into further detail!

And now for the amazing Chia seeds... How did I live without these little guys?! Their health benefits are amazing..

8 x more omega 3 than salmon

22 x more magnesium than broccoli

5 x times more calcium than whole milk

2 1/2 x more iron than spinach

2 x more potassium than bananas

2 x more fiber than bran flakes

5 x more protein than kidney beans

8 x more phosphorus than milk

equal to asparagus in folate

equal to antioxidants in blueberries

Some of the many benefits include:

energy boost/stability

lose weight & keep fit

anti aging

lowers cholesterol

stabilizes blood sugar levels

improves digestion

reduces inflammation

balances electrolytes

improve hydration

increase lean muscle

speed injury recovery

healthier skin

better sleep

better mood

Okay, and while we are at it, I will introduce you to a couple more friends I used to make my super bowl concoction. Crunch flax cereal, which is basically every allergen free~soy free, dairy free, gluten free, wheat free, nut free, egg free, fish free

And my little sweetener

 

This is one of my favorite random breakfast concoctions! mmm!

 

Super Bowl

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of your favorite yogurt (i have used plain greek & goat yogurt)

sweetened to taste, I used vanilla liquid stevia

1/2 cup crunch flax cereal or favorite cereal

1/2 cup of berries

1 tablespoon of chia seeds

2-4 tablespoons of goji berries

Directions:

Mix together & enjoy!

Chart comparison on chia seeds: http://www.azchia.com/chia_seed_tables/usda_comparisons.htm

Polar Plunge & Healthy Hot Chocolate

This past weekend my hubby did a polar plunge!

 Which is crazier?

Running a race vs. plunging into a FREEZING cold lake where ice was chiseled away just before the plunge?! 

Might I point out the man standing on the iced lake in the background and the fact that they were serving alcohol there! I'm sure it's due to the craziness factor to get people to jump into freezing cold water!!

I am going with the plunge!

CRAZY!

My little feet were so cold just standing there. I think I wore the wrong shoes! I felt like I could break every single toe off. I am such a wuss when it comes to the cold.

It was a fun atmosphere though! It kind of reminded me of the ragnar race where teams were all dressed up! The dressing up (or down) ranged anywhere from tighty whities (which I am glad I did not see them come out of the water!), floaties, super heros, to scoobie doo and the gang.

Mr. Polar Bear himself was even there, who my son had a constant eye on, to make sure he wouldn't come anywhere near him! I had to assure him that there was a man underneath it and that he was just wearing a costume to ease his worries!

Getting ready for the plunge

 

The pep talk

 The admiration
and then

 THE PLUNGE!

All in all, he said it wasn't too bad!

Well besides the alcohol, they did have hot chocolate, crispy creme donuts, bagels, and pretty much every unhealthy thing there tempting me!! I must confess I did have some of that sugary hot chocolate with some half & half to cool it down! Just a little! It was freezing, I had too!

When I got home I was inspired to see if I could come up with a concoction of healthy hot chocolate and here it is.... 

3 simple healthy ingredients, okay maybe 4!

Healthy Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 cup milk (I used so delicious sugar free vanilla coconut milk)

1 tablespoon of cacao

1 tablespoon of agave

a dash of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

Mix ingredients together. Add more or less cacao & sweetener to your liking, if desired. I used my blender! If using a blend tec, you could just use the soup button. If not throw it in a sauce pan and just warm to desired temperature. Don't scorch though, you don't want to take all the healthy nutrients out of the cacao!

Zucchini Bread Smoothie

I thought it would only be fitting to also try my other favorite sweet bread in a smoothie. Man, what I would have given to have this during the holidays when I gave up sugar and all I wanted to do was eat zucchini bread. Yummers!

Zucchini Bread Smoothie

Ingredients:

3/4 cups apple juice

1/2 frozen banana

1/4 of zucchini (med. size)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoon walnuts

2 tablespoon oatmeal

ice

Directions:

Blend ingredients together and add ice to desired consistency.

Banana Bread Smoothie

Woke up this morning to this!! This was dang good! I am a sucker for banana bread and usually like nibbling on the batter! It felt like a was drinking the batter in a good kind of way;) Here's to a good day!

Banana Bread Smoothie

Ingredients

1/2 cup your favorite milk (I used vanilla coconut milk)

1 frozen banana cut in slices (mine was ripe, but not very ripe)

1 Medjool date, pitted

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2-3 tablespoons walnuts

2 tablespoons oats

Directions:

Blend milk, walnuts, date, oats together until well blended, then throw all the other ingredients in. Add ice, if desired.

One Ginormous Serving of Oriental Chicken Salad

Dieting & feeling hungry?! This salad will do the trick!
 
This is one of my favorite go to salads when trying to lose a few of those dang pesky pounds that sneak up on me! This salad is so ginormous, it always leaves my belly nice and full! The best part besides it being quick, tasty, and a healthy meal is it is only 315 calories!!

Oriental Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

3 ounces cooked chicken, diced*

3-4 cups cabbage, thinly sliced or shredded

1 carrot, shredded

1-2 green onions, chopped (throw as little or as much as you like in)

4 tablespoon Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing

1-2 tablespoons of slivered almonds, toasted (optional)

a splash of rice wine vinegar (optional)

you can also add Mandarin oranges, but I don't like them so I left them out!

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a bowl & toss to coat. That's it! You can also simplify it by buying rotisserie chicken and a bag of coleslaw mix.

Serves 1 ginormous serving or a couple of servings

* I have cooked my chicken several different ways with this recipe. I have seasoned it with Mrs. Dash or McCormick Chicken Season. I have also marinated it in the salad dressing and then cooked it.

315 calories 

with 4 cup cabbage & no slivered almonds! That's a whole lot of healthy food! Very filling!

 Calorie break down:

3 oz chicken~ 140 cal

1 cup shredded cabbage~ 20 cal

1 medium carrot~ 25 cal

2 tablespoons Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing~ 35 cal

1 tablespoon of sliver almonds~ 50 cal (optional)