Posts

…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Stuffed Jack-O-Lantern Bell Peppers…

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Looking for a great way to create a Halloween themed dinner for your family? Or are you looking for a dish to take to an upcoming Halloween party? Here is a great (and simple) recipe for a Spoo-tastic dish for the upcoming holiday.

 

What you will need (This recipe will make 6 bell peppers):

  • 1 lb lean meat (you can use ground turkey, chicken, beef, deer, or whatever you would like!)
  • 6 bell peppers (any color will work! But Orange will be the best to imitate a real pumpkin)
  • 2 tablespoons of the olive oil
  • 1 cup of black beans
  • 1.5 cup or rice (I used Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onions
  • 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
  • 1tsp salt
  • 1tsp pepper
  • 1.5 cup low fat cheese
  • 1 clove of garlic

Instructions:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees Ferinheight
  • WASH and Cut the tops off the peppers
  • Remove the inside content of the peppers and wash them again
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
  • Add the meat (for my peppers in the video I cooked chicken)
  •  Season meat with salt, pepper, garlic, and other desired seasoning
  • Add mushrooms, onions, rice, beans, and whatever else you would like to add to the skillet
  • Cook all off the contents, breaking up the lumps, until the meat is thoroughly cooked (approximately 8 to 10 minutes)
  • Once all contents are cooked stir in cheese
  • Evenly distribute contents of skillet into the bell peppers
  • Sprinkle a small portion of cheese on the very top of the peppers
  • Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the baking dish
  • Cover  backing dish with foil and bake for 15 -30 minutes (the longer you cook it, the softer the pepper will become. If you want a firm crisp pepper cook it for a smaller amount of time)

Sever these stuffed peppers with your favorite side dishes and enjoy a delicious Halloween themed meal!

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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Bell Pepper Nacho Bites…

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Who does NOT love nachos?

OK… if you do not love nachos there is no way we can be friends. The savoy mixture of seasoned meat with cheese and fresh veggies…It is making my mouth water to just think about it!

I decided to create a simple, healthy, and cost effective alternative to one of my favorite dishes.

This would be a great dish to have as a finger food when you have people coming over OR it can be a great snack/meal.

Ingredients:

  • 1 package ground lean meat (turkey, chick, lean beef)
  • Assortment of Bell Peppers (red, orange or green and I made 4-6 “bites” per bell pepper)
  • 1 cup low fat Cheese
  • 1/4 cup Salsa
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
Directions:

1. Cook meat thoroughly, add desired seasoning if desired

2. Drain meat and mix salsa/tomato paste to coat meat for flavor

3. Scoop out seeds from peppers and cut into boats (each pepper = 4-6 pepper boats/bites)

4. Scoop meat into pepper boats and sprinkle cheese on top of the meat

5. Either heat up in microwave for 2-3 minutes or stick bell pepper boats onto a non stick baking sheet in the oven at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes (or until all of the cheese is melted)

6. Remove boats from oven (or microwave) and top with your choice of vegetable (such as minced onions, lettuce, etc.)

You can also top these bits with low fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

By substituting the chips for the bell peppers you are able to cut out a huge overload of carbs without sacrificing the quality or flavor of this dish.

By using lean meat, this will also allow you to cut the amount of fat that is traditionally in this dish.  You can get creative and add diced tomatoes, olives, and other things that you will traditionally find in nachos.  Please be mindful when you add more items.  That can compromise the healthy nutritional value of this meal.

Bon Appétit

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Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Chocolate and Cinnamon Breakfast Bites…

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There are a few ways that you can make this, but I decided to make mine in a unique way.

This is a GREAT breakfast option for those who need to grab food and GO in the morning.

Ingredients:

  • I tbsp. cinnamon
  • 1 scoop protein or 1 pack or 1/4 cup (*** PLEASE be aware that different protein powders will produce different results. For this Recipe I used the Advocare Vanilla Meal Replacement Shake***
  • 1/4 cup of honey
  • 1/2 cup of oat flour
  • 1/4 cup of Chocolate peanut butter (BUT you can use regular peanut butter)
  • 3/4 cup of whole oats
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

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You can MAKE your own oat flour! All you need is rolled oats and a food processor OR blender.  Put a few cups of rolled oat into the food processor/blender and mix it until it becomes fine like “Flour”. You can also purchase it BUT I just decided to make my own.

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and a bowl.  Contents in bowl will start to clump together BUT it will not be a paste or batter.  You will want to grab small amounts of the mixture and roll them into small balls (about the size of a ping pong ball). Stick them in the freezer (Leave them in the freezer LONGER FOR BEST RESULTS! I stuck mine in the freezer overnight but around 4 hours should be good enough) and then enjoy.

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Like I stated in the video, I also dipped my breakfast bites with Greek Yogurt! You can use 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt and drizzle about 1 tbsp of honey to make a dip. You can also find caramel, chocolate, or other flavors at your local store and use those prepackaged yogurts to dip your bites.

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You can make these several different ways! You can use regular peanut butter with cinnamon. You can use other spices, you can use other types of nut butter, you can pretty much get as creative as you would like!

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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: FroYo Bites…

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Seeing as there are only a few weeks left of summer (insert cheering from parents who have had to stay home with kids all summer) it can get hard to find health and fun treats for the family to enjoy.  I do my best to try to find treats that will be healthy, affordable, and fun for every member of the family to help create.

For this recipe I decided to make FroYo bites.  This is a simple, easy, and tasty treat that can be enjoyed by all members of the family!


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Any flavor of Greek yogurt that you like. (you can even use plain unfloavored Greek Yogurt).
  • 1/2 cup Fresh fruit/berries
  • 1/2 cup Granola crumbs (you can even use graham cracker crust)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Directions:

  • In a mixing bowl mix the granola, honey, and coconut oil. This will make the granola clump together
  • In cupcake paper (you can use actual paper of silicon cups) pack in a thin layer of the granola/honey/coconut oil mix.
  • Once you create a small base layer dollop on top of the layer your favorite flavor of Greek Yogurt.
  • This is where you can get creative! You can mix in nuts, chocolate chips, fruit, berries, or pretty much anything you want into or on top of your Greek yogurt.
  • Fill your FroYo cup to the top (making sure that it DOES NOT overflow).
  • Place your FroYo cups in the freezer and freeze for about 4 hours (sometimes it does not take as long and sometimes it will take longer! I froze mine over night to make sure they would freeze completely.)
  • Once frozen peel the treats out of the cupcake wrapping.
  • ENJOY!!

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Like I stated above you can get as creative as you would like with this treat! And, it is quick, not very messy, and great to allow kids to help you make.  You can make a whole batch of them and everyone can have their very own unique FroYo Bite.

As a disclaimer: YOU WANT TO WATCH WHAT YOU ADD TO YOUR FROYO BITES! If you add a ton of sugar and added things, it can quickly decrease the health value of this snack. You will also want to use GREEK YOGURT. I tried making this treat with regular yogurt. Yes it was good, BUT having the thick consistency that Greek Yogurt offers makes the treat better (in my opinion).  

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REMEMBER TO REMOVE THE CUPCAKE WRAPPING BEFORE YOU EAT IT. You do not want to get a mouthful of paper/plastic/rubber while trying to enjoy these treats.

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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Chobani Greek Yogurt Turkey Wraps & Chocolate Pudding…

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Greek yogurt:

The product that you can find sandwiched between “regular” yogurt, , sour cream, and cottage cheese  that you can find stocked at your local grocery store.  Greek yogurt tends to be thicker and creamier (some companies have come out with the whipped and lighter versions of Greek yogurt).  There are 100’s of flavors and combinations of Greek yogurt for you to choose from.  Why is Greek yogurt becoming such a popular health food?

It can help with your digestive system:  Greek yogurt contains probiotics which is a healthy form of bacteria that can help to regulate your digestive tract. Consuming Greek yogurt gives your body an extra amount of good bacteria so that it can aid in food digestion and food waste regulation.

It contains nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and a good dose of protein! The additional protein helps to encourage cell growth, and assist with helping to build/repair the muscles and tissues that you may use and abuse when you workout.

It is a food that contains a small amount of lactose so it is a friendly food for those that may be lactose intolerant.

Greek yogurt is a food that would be a great addition to your diet.

Today I created two foods (that you can enjoy TOGETHER) that pack a lot of protein, that are very filling, and they are extremely delicious!

I also wanted to create something that can utilize food you may already have in your fridge.  As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching we all know that there is usually left over turkey and cranberry sauce.  I created this finger licking meal/appetizer option for you to enjoy:

Turkey Cranberry Wraps

Ingredients:

  • 1 large Tortilla (whole wheat is preferred but you can use other variations)
  • Lettuce (about a handful…enough to create a base layer on the tortilla)
  • 2-3 oz of Turkey (you can also use chicken or another lean meat)
  • 2 tbsp Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 cup Greek Yogurt (fat-free)
  • Optional: Nuts, cheese, sliced veggies, ect.

Directions:

  • Lay out tortilla on cutting board or plate
  • In a bowl mix together Greek yogurt, cranberry sauce (and any other optional things you would like to add such as chopped nuts, who dried cranberries, etc.)
  • On the tortilla make a small base layer of the Greek yogurt mixture (I made a layer that was about 3 inches in width and it extended the full length of the tortilla)
  • Once the Greek yogurt layer is added and smooth, place a layer of lettuce on top of the Greek yogurt.  You can also add sliced veggie or any other additional items you would like
  • Carefully fold the top and bottom OVER the food that you placed in the middle of the tortilla and roll it
  • You can serve it as one big wrap or cut it into smaller pieces.
  • Watch the following video to get some idea of what I did…

 

Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt (fat-free)
  • 1 tbsp. coco (I used dark chocolate coco but you can use another version)
  • 1-2 tbsp. Walden’s Farm Syrup (Add syrup to create the level of sweetness you would like! For this mixture I used 1 tbsp.  You can also use honey, regular syrup, stevia, or something else.  Add sparingly as you mix the ingredients together so you do not over sweeten the product)
  • 2 tbsp. chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate chocolate chips but you can use another version)
  • dash of vanilla extract
  • Optional: nuts, dried/fresh fruit

Directions

  • Combine all of the above ingredients into a bowl and mix
  • Add other garnishments BUT BE CAREFUL as to what you add! The more things you add you can quickly make this healthy dessert option not as healthy.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Healthy Chili…

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When it is cold outside there are a few items that i MUST have.

These things include:

Tea

Protein Pumpkin Bars

and CHILI!!

When you lead a healthy lifestyle you are always trying to find ways to make some of your favorite recipes healthy and full of nutrients that will satisfy your nutritional needs.

Here is a great recipe that was created by me and my friends that is healthy yet filling and  YUMMY!

What you will need:

  • 1 regular sized can of garbanzo Beans (optional)
  • 1 regular sized can of dark red kidney beans
  • 1 regular sized can of black beans
  • 1 can of petite cut tomatoes
  • 1/2 diced onion
  •  1 can of chili ready tomatoes
  • 1 can of salt free tomato sauce
  • 2 lbs of lean meat (turkey, beef, ground chicken) (in my recipe i used venison)
  • 2 tablespoons of chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons of pepper
  • 2 tablespoons of ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of garlic powder

Note: You can use any variation of beans for this dish!  I used the above beans because those are the beans I personally enjoy.  Also remember you can add any spices or other veggies to this dish! I know some people add diced bell peppers or chopped celery. Get creative and add your own touch! 

Here is how to cook it:

  1. Cook the meat first so it is ready to go!
  2. Drain the oils/waters out of the meat pan
  3. In a crock pot or big round cooking pot place all of the ingredients together.
  4. Turn the heat on low or medium and let it cook stirring occasionally (it will cook for about 2 hours or longer depending on your own personal preference!)
  5. Once things are warm and mixed let the chili cook and serve!

For this recipe i used a crock pot. I cooked the lean meat and placed everything in my crock pot.  I let it sit on medium heat and stirred it occasionally.  

Here is the nutrient breakdown of this meal:

For each meal i will measure out 230 grams of the chili into my bowl.  I have an electronic food scale that i use to help make my measurements as accurate as possible.

  • 1.5 grams of fats
  • 23 grams of carbs
  • 24 grams of protein
  • 325 calories

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You can garnish your chili however you like!

You can add crackers, cornbread, regular bread, or whatever you would like!
With my meal (the picture above) I added 1 tablespoon of fat-free sour cream and 2 tablespoons of mild salsa.

This is a great meal to make a big batch of and have throughout the week for dinner or lunch.  I will make a big post of this and measure out my serving sizes into Tupperware containers.  I will freeze half of the containers and put the other half in my fridge.  This will allow me to choose when i want to eat it but also not letting any of the chili go to waste.  And when i am ready for some of the chili that is in the freezer i will take it and place it in the fridge the night before OR just pop it in the microwave when i am ready!

Try this recipe out and let me know what you think!
You can post it on Instagram and use the Hashtag ” #ILFRecipes

Who knows…maybe those who share their creations will win a prize 😉

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…Infinite Life Fitness Recipe: Protein Pancakes…

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One of my staple food items are my protein pancakes!  They are great to eat at breakfast time, but I will also make a batch of them and have them to eat when I am traveling or to have as a snack.  The great thing about these pancakes it that they are low carb, high in protein, and they TASTE AMAZING!  You can also play around with them and make your own flavors.  You can get creative and play around with the recipe to make them just how you like them!

Here is how I make my protein pancakes:

  • 1 large egg
  • 22 grams of your favorite protein powder
  • 5 grams of coconut flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (if you use chocolate protein powder try using chocolate extract)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • water (add until you want it as thin/thick as you would like)
  • Optional:  You can use almond milk instead of water
  • Optional:  Fresh fruit like berries or mashed bananas
  • Optional: PB2 peanut butter powder OR chocolate PB2

You mix all of the above ingredients into a bowl or cup.  You then pour the batter into a skillet, waffle iron, or any other kind of pan that you would like.  You can make the mixture think or thick depending on how you like it.  You can make the batter thinner to make more pancakes.  Cook them like you would cook “regular” pancakes.

I use Walden’s Farm fat-free (sugar-free, calorie free, and carb free) syrup on my pancakes.  IT TASTE AMAZING!  It tastes just like regular syrup to me but without all of the calories and added macros.

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You can play around with what kind of protein powder you like to use.  I have tried several different brands but a brand such as Body Fortress or Cellucor will work fine.  The fun part is finding a brand that offers a variety of flavors and just trying them out.  Different protein powders have different consistencies so you may have to add more or less to get the right mixture for your pancakes.

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When I do my weekly meal prep, I will make several batches of these and freeze them.  This will allow me to make a bunch of them and save them to heat up and eat later.  This also helps them to stay good for longer than a week.  I do this because breakfast is usually one of my busiest times of the day.  At night i will take out a few pancakes from the freezer and put them in fridge.  Usually in the morning they are not frozen any more and I can heat them up with my syrup.

Please feel free to try these out and let me know if you have any questions OR if you have an alternate way to make these!

ENJOY!

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…Weekend Meal Time…

Weekend Meal Options

As promised here are some new recipes that you can try!

What I personally like to do is to cook a few different things over the weekend or over the duration of the week.  Then I will have several different left over meals to choose from when it is time to eat.  I like this method because it allows me to cook and try out new things as well as cook food for the week.  I know that sometimes my schedule gets kinda hectic, so it is nice to have the meals already made and waiting on me in the fridge so I can go home and grab it and go.  This method allowed me to better plan my menus and to plan a variety of food options for me.  I gave up fast food several years ago!  Yes…its true…I have not eaten any kinda if fast food in over two years and i did made the goal at first to force myself to make better meal options and to help me budget and save more money.  I calculated it and I saved over $600 a year by cutting out fast food and setting up my menus and grocery budget.

Here are some great Lunch and Dinner recipes.  I included photos that I took when I cooked these items to help you get an idea of what it looks like.  You can alter and add/take away ingredients that you do not like.  But I will have to say, these meals are very delicious!

Black Bean Soup
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

1/2 c chopped red onion
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
3/4 tsp oregano
3/4 tsp cumin
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 c chicken broth
1 Tbsp feta cheese

1. In a large saucepan, combine onion, oil,
garlic, oregano, cumin, and salt to taste. Cook,
stirring, over medium heat until softened, about
3 minutes. Stir in beans and broth. Reduce heat
to medium-low.
2. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
Mash some beans against side of pan. Serve
sprinkled with feta and cilantro (optional).

Per serving: 205 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated),
447 mg
sodium, 27 g carbs, 9 g fiber, 12 g protein

Cheese & Kale Quesadillas

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes

1/2 c fine-sliced kale leaves
1 Tbsp water
2 9-inch whole-wheat tortillas
3 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese
**I also added green peppers

1. Place kale and water in a microwavable dish.
Cover with microwave-safe plastic wrap and
cook in microwave on high until wilted, about 90
seconds. Remove plastic carefully. Drain kale and
pat dry with paper towel.
2. Heat a heavy 9-inch skillet over medium-high
heat. Place 1 tortilla in pan. Top tortilla evenly
with cheese, kale, and second tortilla. Cook,
flipping occasionally, until tortilla is toasted
and cheese melts, about 4 minutes. Cut into
4 wedges.

Per serving: 119 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated),
336 g mg
sodium, 22 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein
***NOTE***  I combined the above to recipes for one meal! Here is the picture.


Tilapia Tacos
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes

1 c coarse-crumbled leftover cooked tilapia
fillets (recipe 40)
1/4 c red onion slivers
1/4 c thinly sliced kale
1/4 c canned diced tomatoes, drained
2 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp lime juice
1/8 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
2 9-inch whole-wheat tortillas, warmed

In a mixing bowl, combine tilapia, onion, kale,
tomatoes, feta, oil, lime juice, cumin, pepper
flakes, and salt to taste. Toss. Spoon onto
tortillas. Fold tortillas in half. Cut each half into
two pieces.
 Per serving: 291 calories, 14 g fat (3 g saturated), 571 mg
sodium, 25 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 18 g protein

Stuffed Chicken Parmesan

prep time:20 min
start to finish:55 min
makes:6 servings
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 5 oz each)
1 box (10 oz) Cascadian Farm® frozen organic cut spinach, thawed, well drained
2 oz 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup fat-free egg product
12 stone-ground wheat crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup Muir Glen® organic Italian herb pasta sauce
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (1 oz)
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling-pin until about 1/4 inch thick. (I did not have a rolling pin, so I found something else to use)
2. In medium bowl, mix spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon basil and the garlic until blended. Spread about 1 tablespoon spinach mixture over each chicken breast; roll up tightly. If necessary, secure with toothpicks.
3. In small shallow bowl, place egg product. In another small shallow bowl, mix cracker crumbs, 1 teaspoon basil and the pepper. Dip each chicken breast into egg product; coat with crumb mixture. Place seam side down in baking dish.
4. Bake uncovered 20 minutes. Pour pasta sauce over chicken; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until thermometer inserted in center of chicken reads 165°F. Remove toothpicks from chicken before eating.
1 Serving: Calories 290 (Calories from Fat 100); Total Fat 11g (Saturated Fat 4 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol100mg; Sodium 450mg; Total Carbohydrate 10g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 3g); Protein 38g
Hope you enjoy trying out these recipes.  Keep looking for more and have a great weekend.
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…Taco Tuesday?…

Does your family regularly participate in weekly meals?

When I was a child, I knew that some days of the week we would be graced with tacos…or spaghetti…or burgers. And as a child,  I think there is nothing more exciting than expecting to have one of your favorite meals each week!

BUT this could be a potential problem for those who are trying to adapt healthier eating habits,

NO WORRIES! I am sharing some healthier alternatives that can turn your Taco Tuesday into a HEALTHIER Taco Tuesday.  Now you and your family can keep your taco date each week without you breaking your healthy eating habit! 🙂

  • Try using LOW FAT sour cream and cheese.  This can help cut those unwanted calorie intake in almost half!
  • Try using soft tortillas and try to use WHOLE WHEAT tortillas instead of the traditional shells.
  • Have you ever considered using ground turkey meat instead of regular meat?  If you do not like turkey meat try to get LEAN hamburger meat.
  • Try to have steamed veggies instead of Mexican rice and beans (or you can use black beans for a healthier option!)
  • Try to measure out correct portion sizes for your tacos/taco salad so you are sure to not double the food you are supposed to consume for the meal!
  • Skip the carbonated drinks or sweet tea! Try to stick to water for your beverage of choice
  • try to limit or cut out guacamole!  Yes it is healthy for you but it packs a lot of calories!
  • Think about using shopped baked chicken or shrimp instead of beef!

Still want chips with your meal? Try to make your own! Get a normal round tortilla, lightly spread some olive oil on top, slice the tortilla into the desired chip sizes you would like, then sprinkle it with sea salt (or any other spices you may have).  Put your over on 350 degrees.  Place your tortillas in the over for about 15 minutes.  MAKE SURE TO WATCH IT!  They get brown pretty quickly.  You can let them get as brown as you would like before they burn (the browner they are the more crunchy they are!)  Take them out and let them cool for about 10 minutes, and you have healthier “chips” for you to enjoy with your meal.

There are a lot of things you can change or add to make your family meals a healthier meal!  You just have to be mindful of the ingredients you are using and learn what to substitute to help make it taste just as yummy as you would like! You do not have to sacrifice good tasting food so you can eat healthier!

Happy Taco Tuesday!

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