{Meal Prep Featuring Salsa, Texas & Paleo Powder}

Hello cupcakes!

Who else is loving this awesome weather here in Indiana? This weekend it was finally sunny and in the upper 70's. I took full advantage of the natural sun light to get some awesome food pictures. 

Here is my meal plan for this week:

Post workout: 3/4 c. Puffin cereal with 1/3 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk & 2 egg white muffin cups

Snack 1: 1/2 c Bob Red Mills Gluten Free Rolled Oats with 2 scoops Rich Chocolate Nuzest Protein Powder

Lunch: 4 oz. Salsa, Texas Salsa Verde Chicken, 100g asparagus, 1/3 c cooked quinoa

Snack 2: 2 rice cakes with 1 T Justin's Honey Almond Butter

Dinner: 5 oz slow cooked Salsa Verde Chicken, 113 g yellow squash, 1/3 c cooked quinoa

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Here is a picture of an omelette I made this weekend.

 In a skillet add 1 tsp. coconut oil. Once the pan is hot, add broccoli pieces and 2 chopped asparagus spears. Place a lid on top and let the veggies cook. Add 2 eggs to a bowl with 2-3 T of unsweetened almond milk. Whisk together. Once vegetables are cooked and tender, add the egg mixture to the pan. Wait until the eggs are set on top and then flip the omelette. Fold the omelette over and top with Salsa, Texas Hot Salsa. 

Here is a picture of my lunch I prepped for this week.

Slow Cooker Salsa, Texas Chicken

Ingredients:

3-5 lbs chicken

1 jar of Salsa, Texas Salsa Verde

1/2- 1 c water

Directions:

In a slow cooker, add the chicken. Top with the jar of Salsa and water. Place on low for 6 hours. After 6 hours, open the top of the crock pot and shred the chicken. Return the chicken to the crock pot and let the chicken cook in the salsa mixture for another 1-2 hours. 

Asparagus: 

Cut the ends off the asparagus and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Top the asparagus with Paleo Powder. Roast the asparagus in the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until tender.  

Quinoa:

Cook according to packaging instructions

Egg White Muffin Cups

Ingredients:

Eggs

Green onions, chopped

Salsa, Texas Hot Salsa

Directions: 

Separate the eggs so that you are left with the egg whites. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place a few green onion slices in the bottom of a silicon muffin pan. Place the silicon muffin pan on a cookie sheet to make it easier to transport to the oven. Next, add egg whites to each muffin cup until it is almost full. Top each muffin cup with 1 T of salsa. Bake for 30 minutes or until the eggs are set. 

This was the same meal, I just used yellow squash instead of asparagus. I cooked it the same as the asparagus above.

Here are some links:

{Salsa, Texas}

{Paleo Powder}

{Paleo Powder & Fast Meal Prep}

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I hope you all have a fantastic Monday! 

Let me know if you have any questions below in the comments. 

Also I am looking for ideas of thing you would like to see more of... so let me know!

Later Taters

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away." 

{Rootz Nutrition}

Hello again Cupcakes!

I'm here to share with you some new Paleo Products. It is so hard to find products in the fitness and nutrition world that are Paleo, but {Rootz Nutrition} is one of them!

They have two products: Pre-workout & Post-workout supplements. 

Paleo Energizing-Superfood

Raspberry Lemonade

"Our Paleo Energizing-Superfood is a blend of natural superfoods, plants, and herbs that aims to provide sustained energy and the proper nutrients for high intensity exercise. This product is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and contains plant-based energy enhancers that will provide an extremely powerful boost for an amazing workout, and a sense of well-being that will continue well after taking this product."

The only down side of this pre-workout is the mix settles at the bottom of your cup. Make sure you shake or mix well before taking a gulp! The flavor of this pre-workout was good. I wouldn't say it tasted amazing, but I could tell that there were no artificial ingredients or sweeteners. Most artificial ingredients have a weird after taste, but this pre-workout did not have that! I drank this pre-workout before doing cardio and I did not get as tired. 

Here is the link if you would like to purchase or read about the ingredients of this product: {Pre-workout}

Paleo Protein Superfood

Chocolate Banana Nut

"Our Paleo Protein-Superfood contains egg white protein, hemp protein, and sacha inchi protein, combined with a blend of all natural superfoods to provide delicious post-workout nutrition that promotes the growth of lean muscle mass and overall health. This product contains only the cleanest ingredients available, and can be consumed as a post-workout protein shake or as a complete low calorie meal replacement at any time during the day. The Paleo Protein-Superfood contains a full spectrum of nutrients that will rejuvenate your body and get you ready for your next workout."

I like that this is dairy free! Many of you know I cannot have lactose and it can be hard to find a variety of protein powders that are dairy free. One thing I really like about this powder is the amount of fiber. Most other protein powders have no fiber. The macros are also really good!

Here is the link if you would like to purchase this product or read the ingredients: {Post-workout}

Harrison is the creator of Rootz Nutrition. To read more about his inspiring story, follow this link: {Harrison & Rootz Nutrition}

Enjoy your day!

Later Taters

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away." 

*This is not a paid post, rather I am hoping to show my readers that eating healthy and clean does not have to be boring. I like to be real and honest with you, so I will only share products I have personally tried & ones that meet my expectations* 

{Honey Mamas} + Discount Code

Hello cupcakes!

If you love truffles and brownies, you will love what I am about to share with you. I get so excited when I find companies that produce chocolate desserts that taste amazing and use only healthy ingredients. Things I look for when trying out new food products: 

1. Dairy Free

2. No artificial ingredients

3. No refined sugars

4. Created with customers' health in mind 

{Honey Mamas} is a company that meets my expectation! Let me share a little about this company...

"Honey Mama's is a Portland, Oregon based company with a mission to offer nourishing foods that taste out of this world delicious and naturally stimulate well being. Our flagship product is a raw, nutrient rich cacao-honey dessert. It is made from five pure ingredients that combine to offer an easy to digest treat that celebrates your health and brings a rich depth of flavor to your senses! Soy, dairy, egg, gluten, and grain free. Think truffle meets brownie and you’ve got it!"

There are six different flavors of Honey Mamas bars. 

{Dutch Cacao-Nectar Bar}

Ingredients: Single origin alkalized cocoa, raw local honey, sprouted almonds, unrefined coconut oil, Himalayan pink salt, and vanilla.

This flavor was a lot like hot chocolate! I love when I bite into one of these bars and the chocolate just melts in my mouth. One tip, keep these bars in the fridge or freezer. They will melt if left out. 

{Mayan Spice Cacao-Nectar Bar}

Ingredients: Single origin Peruvian cacao, cayenne, Saigon cinnamon, raw local honey, sprouted almonds, unrefined coconut oil, Himalayan pink salt, and vanilla. 

So to be honest, this was probably my least favorite flavor. If you are a person who likes spicy chocolate, then this would be for you. I am not a complete fan of the cayenne/chocolate combination. 

{Oregon Peppermint Cacao-Nectar Bar}

Ingredients: Single origin alkalized cocoa, Oregon heirloom peppermint oil, raw local honey, coconut meat, unrefined coconut oil, and Himalayan pink salt.

This was my favorite bar by far! I am a huge sucker for the mint and chocolate combination. Imagine a thin mint girl scout cookie flavor combine into a truffle like brownie that is way healthier for you. Yep, that would be this! 

{Peruvian Raw Cacao-Nectar Bar}

Ingredients: Single origin Peruvian cacao, raw local honey, sprouted almonds, unrefined coconut oil, Himalayan pink salt, and vanilla.

This flavor is close to the flavor of the Dutch Cacao-Nectar Bar. There is a slight difference between the two. Personally, I think the dutch was a tad sweeter. This one tasted more like a dark chocolate bar because it is made with raw cacao! P.S. raw cacao offers more antioxidants! Score! Overall, I really enjoyed this flavor. 

{CocoNoNut Cacao-Nectar Bar}

Ingredients: Single origin alkalized cocoa, raw local honey, medium shred coconut, unrefined coconut oil, Himalayan pink salt, and vanilla

This flavor was pretty tasty! I love coconut and chocolate combined. The Honey Mama's Team replaced the almond with coconut meat to make this bar 100% nut free! This combination of ingredients makes this bar very smooth, delicate, and refreshing!

{Lavender Red Rose Cacao-Nectar Bar}

Ingredients: Single origin alkalized cocoa, lavender oil,  dried red rose petals, raw local honey, coconut meat, unrefined coconut oil, and Himalayan pink salt. 

Another interesting flavor combination. I was not sure about this flavor to begin with, but it started to grow on me. I love lavender tea, but I am still trying to get used to it in chocolate form. Any lavender fans out there? 

Joseph Nordqvist from the Medical Knowledge center reports, "Lavender oil is believed to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties which can be used to help heal minor burns and bug bites. Research has revealed that the essential oil of lavender may be useful for treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, and restlessness."

Use the code: "SWEETLIFE " to receive 10% off your order now through March 31st. Here is a link to: {Honey Mama's Shop}

How delicious do these look though!?

Let me give you the nutrition stats on one bar (they all have pretty similar stats): 

Serving Size 1 piece (24g), Servings Per Container 3, Amount Per Serving: Calories 117, Calories from Fat 75, Total Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 5g, Sodium 42mg , Total Carbohydrate 10g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 7g, Protein 2g

To read more about how Christy started Honey Mamas, follow this link: About Honey Mamas

I can't get over how pretty these bars look. I was so excited to get some awesome pictures of Honey Mama's Bars. 

Later Taters

'It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away."

{Paleo Prime}

Hello cupcakes!

I want to share a Paleo Company with you. It's called {Paleo Prime}

Eating Paleo does not have to be boring! Many of you already know, but for those of you who do not let me tell you a little about a Paleo diet. I tend to eat about 80% Paleo. I think eating this way helps me feel the best inside and out. 

Here are the basics of what you should eat on the Paleo diet:  variety of wild and pastured meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.  The foods to avoid: grains, legumes, most dairy, soy and processed sugars. 

If you would like more information about the Paleo style of eating, & the research showing the benefits of eating this way, follow this link:{Paleo}

Paleo Prime makes three flavors of cookies: Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Blueberry, & Vanilla Raspberry

Casey is the founder of Paleo Prime, if you would like to find out more about his mission and the history behind Paleo Prime, follow this link: {Why Paleo Snacks}. 

{Chocolate Chip}

I am a huge chocolate fan! Since I am lactose intolerant, it can sometimes be hard to find chocolate to eat. When I opened up this package of Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies, I immediately got excited. Who doesn't love a good ol' chocolate chip cookie. It's a classic right? One thing I love about the chocolate chip cookie is there are little bits of chocolate scattered throughout the cookie. The cookies are so soft and easily break apart. They are the perfect amount of sweetness as well. 

{Vanilla Blueberry}

I fell in love with this flavor. I think if I had to choose a favorite, this would be my top pick. I love the blueberry and vanilla flavors together. Let me give you the stats on these too... For one vanilla blueberry cookie:

140 calories

8g fat

13 g carbs

2 g fiber

3 g protein

If you are familiar with nutrition on regular cookies, you know that this is a way better option for you! Let me put it into perspective for you. One Subway chocolate chip cookie has 220 calories, 10 g fat, 30 g carbs, 1 g fiber, & 2 g protein. Crazy! The subway cookies is also produced with many sugars, refined flours, etc. 

{Vanilla Raspberry}

Lastly, the Vanilla Raspberry Cookie. I really dig the vanilla in combination with the berries. This could even be a grab n' go breakfast if you are in a pinch. All three flavors are very soft which is something I look for in a cookie. I am not a fan of hard crunchy cookies. 

You can purchase some for yourself on {Paleo Prime} or on Amazon. One thing I love about these cookies is I can stash a package of them in my purse, bookbag, or gym bag and have access to a Paleo snack wherever and whenever. 

Later Taters!

 I hope you all have a fantastic Sunday!

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away." 

{Paleo Doughnuts}

Hello wonderful cupcakes! 

So this recipe is not completely perfected yet, but these will do for now! They did not rise well, so I am still working on that part. Anyways, here is the recipe...

Ingredients for doughnuts:

• 1/2 c. Otto's Cassava Flour
• 1/4 c Arrowroot Flour
• 1/4 c Coconut Flour
• 1/4 c water
• 1 package of yeast
• 1/3 c Date Lady Caramel Sauce
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• About 1 c coconut oil for frying

For the frosting:

• 2 scoops Nuzest Vanilla protein powder {Use code "ToriF" for 15% off your Nuzest order}
• 2 scoops of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
• 2 T Smucker's Simply Fruit Jelly
• Unsweetened Cashew Milk

Directions:

1. Heat 1/4 cup water in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add yeast and let sit for 10 minutes until water is frothy.

2. While yeast is activating, in a large bowl, beat egg. Add vanilla and stir.

3. Add in 1/4 cup of arrowroot flour, 1/4 cup of cassava flour, and 1/4 cup of coconut flour to the egg and vanilla mixture & stir until incorporated.

4. Add activated yeast and water to the batter and stir until combined

5.Heat the Date Lady Syrup until melted and add to the batter.

6. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of cassava flour slowly, stirring after each addition.

7. The batter should not be runny. If runny, add additional coconut flour 1 tsp. at a time & stir after each addition.

8. Place a towel over the large bowl with the batter. Set aside the bowl in a warm place and let rest for 30 minutes. 

9. Once dough has risen, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll into a ball, then flatten and roll into a long tube. Connect the end of each to make a circle. 

10. Once all the doughnuts are formed, heat the coconut oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Oil should cover about 2/3 of the doughnut. Fry doughnuts 3 at a time, until lightly browned. Flip, and fry the other side until lightly browned. 

11. Place doughnuts on a paper towel lined plate to cool before topping with frosting. 

12. Repeat until all the doughnuts are done. 

13. In a separate bowl, add the ingredients for the protein frosting. Add as much cashew milk as you would like (desired consistency). I probably used 1/4 cup of cashew milk. I like my frosting to be on the thicker side. You could also use more cashew milk to make it more of a protein glaze if you wanted. 

14. Spread the protein frosting onto each doughnut.  

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Have a great week everyone. 

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away." 

{Jackson's Honest}

Hello Cupcakes,

Let me introduce you to a new company I recently came across on Instagram: {Jackson's Honest}

I read this excerpt from their website, and I feel like everything I think about is summed up well with this quote...

"The dominant narrative of the food system for the last century has been industrialization and commodification; consumers and food companies have sacrificed nutrient density at the altar of convenience and price.  The bitter irony is that market forces have worked precisely how theory would predict: the United States now has the largest caloric surplus of any civilization in the history of mankind. But these are largely empty calories devoid of many of the most nourishing and important nutrients that humans have relied on for thousands of years of our evolution and derived from a small handful of homogenized monocrop sources. We believe the strains of this commodification process have reached a critical threshold. The manner in which we produce, distribute and consume food is unsustainable in the extreme; for the soil, the farmer, the livestock and the human race." 

Jackson's Honest is breaking tradition by producing nutrient dense products & they keep the consumer's health in mind when creating their chips. 

Another thing I really like about this company is they have a charitable foundation with "the mission to help re-orient the food chain around traditional fats and the concept of nutrient density by working with and educating manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers on the role that nutrient-dense traditional fats can play in a healthy and balanced diet."

Every Jackson’s Honest product includes the statement: “Goodness. Pass It On.” 

To read more about their ingredients, follow this link: {Every Ingredient}

Here are some cool nutrition facts: {Honest Facts}

Now on to two of their products: 

1) Jackson's Honest Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

How beautiful are these tortilla chips though?!

I loved the freshness of these chips! They are the perfect amount of crunchy and I can't get over the color!

It is really hard to see the specifics of the nutrition from this picture, but in each serving there is 130 calories, 7 g fat, 16 g carbs, 2 g fiber, and 2 g protein. 

2) Jackson's Honest Sweet Potato Chips

Words cannot even describe these sweet potato chips, like I don't even know where to begin.

I love how the coconut oil brings out the sweetness of the sweet potatoes. These little suckers are so addicting that I suggest portioning them out before digging in. They are slightly thicker than regular potato chips which make them even more crunchy in my opinion. 

The nutrition for these are 150 calories, 8 g fat, 18 g carbs, 3 g fiber, and 1 g protein. 

I am looking forward to using these in some recipes to share with you... maybe some healthy dairy free nachos?

I have some questions for you:

1) Has anyone ever had sweet potato chips?

2) What is your favorite snack food?

Later Taters 

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away." 

{Wild Zora} The Perfect Travel Food + Discount Code

Hello cupcakes!

I recently tried Wild Zora Meet & Veggie Bars and I am so excited to take them with me on my flight to California! These will allow me to get healthy protein in while I am flying all the way across the country. I do not like to buy airport food #1 because it is expensive & #2 it is not always easy to find health food

Here is a discount code you can use to get 15% off your order through March: "Healthnut"

 Most of these bars are Paleo & Whole30 approved. 

The first flavor is Turkey Masala & Spinach.

If you are hesitant about the veggies in these meat bars, don't be! The make the bars so delicious & softer than other jerky type snacks. Here are the ingredients:

 Free-Range Turkey, Organic Vegetables & Fruit (Spinach, Dates, Apricots, Onion, Garlic), Spices, Sea Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Organic Celery Powder.

The second flavor is: Parmesan Beef with Kale, Tomato, & Basil

Here are the ingredients:

Grass-Fed Beef, rBST-free Parmesan Cheese (Pasteurized Cultured Cow’s Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Organic Vegetables & Fruit (Red Bell Pepper, Apricots, Dates, Basil, Kale, Tomato, Garlic), Sea Salt, Organic Celery Powder, Spices.

Since I cannot have dairy, I will be giving this flavor to my boyfriend to try. He is excited to try it out.

The third flavor is: Chili Beef Bars with Kale, Apricot, Cayenne Pepper

Ingredients:

 100% Grass-Fed Beef, Organic Vegetables & Fruit (Red Bell Pepper, Unsulfured Apricots, Dates, Kale, Garlic, Onion), Spices, Cayenne Pepper, Sea Salt, and Organic Celery Powder.

This is one of my favorite beef jerky type snacks I have ever had. There is zero guilt associated with eating this snack! I love eating a protein as a snack because it helps keep me full longer.

The fourth flavor is: BBQ Beef Bars with Kale, Tomato, Red Bell Pepper

Here are the ingredients:  

Grass-Fed Beef, Organic Vegetables & Fruit (Red Bell Pepper, Tomato, Unsulfured Apricots, Dates, Kale, Garlic), Chipotle Pepper, Ancho Chili Pepper, Sea Salt, Spices, and Organic Celery Powder.

I am a huge BBQ fan, this flavor is so tasty. I could eat this like every day!

The fifth flavor is: Mediterranean Lamb Bars with Spinach & Turmeric

Here are the ingredients for this flavor:

Natural Lamb, Organic Vegetables, & Fruit (Spinach, Apricots, Dates, Garlic, Onion), Sea Salt, Oregano, Organic Celery Powder, Rosemary, Turmeric.

They remind me of so much of beef jerky, but so much healthier!

Sometimes it is hard to find snacks that match my diet style.

"Wild Zora™ snack bars are made of the same REAL FOOD that Zora, our Founder, feeds her family and friends - and that means MEAT & VEGGIES.  Although she didn’t know it at the time, she created snack bars that are extremely low Glycemic Index (meaning, they DON’T spike your blood sugar), are high in nutritional content, give you lasting energy, and still TASTE GREAT.

Don't forget to get yourself some for 15% off by using the code "Healthnut" :)

What do you think your favorite flavor would be?

To read more about Wild Zora's story, follow this link: Wild Zora

How do you fit more protein into your diet?

I hope you all have a wonderful hump day!

Later Taters

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away."