Poached Eggs on Zucchini Nests

Looking for a quick and yummy weekend breakfast? This is my newest creation and Im loving it. Fresh, clean and delicious! 

Here's what you need:(makes 1 serving)

• 1/2 Zucchini spiralized
• 1 slice turkey bacon (nitrate free)
• 2 eggs
• 2tsp. grated parmesan 
• salt + pepper to taste

Here's what you do:

In a bowl toss together your zoodles with parmesan, salt & pepper. Heat a non-stick skillet and break the turkey bacon into little pieces. Cook turkey bacon until lightly browned. Slit your zoodles in 1/2 and form into two small nests on skillet with divided turkey bacon. Stir lightly to combine bacon bits with zoodles.

While nests are cooking, fill a small pot 1/2 way with water and a splash of vinegar(optional, but helps keep the egg whites together). Bring the water to a boil and then turn down to low. Gently drop eggs into water, cover the pot with lid and cook for 3-4 minutes. 

Arrange zoodle nests on plate and top with poached eggs. Add a little sea salt + pepper if desired and enjoy! 

Thanksgiving Table Survival Guide

How many times have you told yourself that you are not going to over eat at the Thanksgiving table? How many times have you actually kept that promise to yourself? Trust me I get it! The struggle is real!

We are surrounded by family & friends, we feel like it’s a time to eat as much as humanly possible and then sleep for a few hours and then eat some more. I’m here to tell you that your Thanksgiving doesn’t have to end with you unbuttoning your pants or changing into to your sweats! You can still have your cake and enjoy your skinny jeans too!

Here are my 7 tips for a guilt free Turkey Day! 

1. Hydrate! Yes I am going to tell you to keep your alcoholic beverages to a minimum. I have good reason though! Alcohol stimulates your appetite, which is the opposite effect that we want to create on a day like this. Keep your self hydrate with lots of water! Have a glass of wine and then follow it up with some bubble flavored mineral water in a wine glass. People will think your drinking a spritzer (they dont need to know the difference). Keeping your body hydrated will prevent you from over eating and it will help with your digestion too.
2. Fill up on veggies FIRST! When perusing the appetizer’s snack on veggies. They will keep you busy chewing and help to fill you up without the guilt!
3. Offer to bring a dish to the party! This enables you control over at lease one of the dishes on the table! Even if everything else is not on the healthy side you will have that one saving grace dish.
4. Plate your plate RIGHT! A portioned plate should be 1/2 filled with veggies(mashed potatoes dont count they are a starch), 1/4 with protein, 1/4 with starch (choose either potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing or a roll NOT ALL 3, unless they are really small portions of each).
5. Everything in moderation -Don’t drown your plate in gravy, instead go for a light drizzle. Stick with ONE dessert and make it a normal sized portion. Remember the 80/20 rule, eat healthy 80% of the time and indulge 20%.
6. Savor your meal! Eat slowly, enjoy the conversation at the table, don’t rush. It takes about 20 minute for your stomach to let your brain know when it’s full. If you rush through your meal, then hurry up to grab seconds before you know it you will be one stuffed bird yourself. SO SLOW DOWN! Eat, drink (lots of water) and be merry!
7. Workout! Get your body moving before and after your meal. Plan a family hike, press play on your 30 minute workout, take the dog and kids for a walk to the park, plan a family tag football game. Stay active this will help you digest your food better and faster! Plus it will pull you out of your turkey food coma.

I hope this helps you to enjoy your Thanksgiving Table and leave it feeling guilt free and fabulous!

Guilt-FREE Pumpkin Pie GF + DF

Nothing says Thanksgiving quite like pumpkin pie! Am I right!?! 

Here's a recipe you can enjoy or bring along to your holiday festivities and eat without the GUILT! It's light, dairy free, gluten free and low in sugar....YAY!! Hey you can even sneak in an extra piece, honestly...your gonna want to. Its that GOOD! 

Pie Crust:

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1 egg
•  2 tbsp butter

Combine all ingredients until smooth and a dough is formed. I like to blend in a food processor so it becomes very fine. Press evenly into a pie pan. No need to bake first.

Pie Ingredients:

•  1 can organic pumpkin puree
• 1/2 can full fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup raw honey or for a firmer filling, try 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

1. You can either blend in a blender/food processor or beat all ingredients by hand. Make sure there are no lumps.

2. Bake on 350 for about 50 minutes, or until the center is set.

3. Top with with coconut whipped cream!

Coconut Whipped Cream:

• One can coconut cream chilled
• 2-3 tbs. maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Whip all ingredients together until fluffy. Store in the fridge until ready to use. 

I hope you and your family enjoy this recipes! xo Lisa 

Pumpkin Spice Chia + Chocolate Overnight Oats

Oh man I am LOOOOVING everything pumpkin spice right now! 

While planning out our family weekly meals, I wanted to incorporate a few overnight oat recipes for an easy on-the-go breakfast. I came across this pumpkin spice almond beverage at Trader Joe's last week. I have been loving it in my shakes + pumpkin spice lattes and I thought hey why night try it in place of almond milk in my overnight oats recipes!?!

Then my wheels started turning and I thought hmm what goes with pumpkin spice.....CHOCOLATE!!! And that's how this recipe was born. 

Not only is it seasonally delicious, but super nutrition too! It's got plenty of protein with the addition of chia seeds + almond butter to keep you going all morning long. 

Pumpkin Spice Chia + Chocolate Overnight Oats(makes 3 servings)

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 cup pumpkin spice almond beverage
• 1 cup oats
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 4 tbs. maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbs. almond butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup raw walnuts
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 3 8oz. mason or ball jars

In a medium size bowl combine all ingredients except walnuts and chocolate chips. Fill jars 1/2 way with oat mixture. Add in a few walnut pieces + chocolate chips. Fill jars with the rest of mixture and top with remaining walnuts + chocolate. Store in fridge until ready to eat. Will last for up to 5 days. 

I hope you and your family enjoy this recipes! xo Lisa 

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Does the Idea of Cleansing scare you!?!

Does the idea of going on a cleanse or detox program scare you?

I know it use to scare me, to be honest it still does a little bit. The thought of living on fruit and veg and juices for 21 days use to make me say,           "I just can't do it!".

Here's the good news! I have learned over the years that cleansing our system isn't about starving ourselves, it's about nourishing ourselves. A good cleanse involves eating FOOD! YES you heard me right, it's not all juices and salads! 

Listen, just like your car need a tune up every 6 month or so, your body does too! To run like the well oiled machine it was built to be, we have to take care of it. Our bodies need to be nurtured, fueled and allowed the time to be replenish and restored. That is what a good cleanse does for us! And let me tell you, your health is soooooo worth it! 

Here are some benefits to cleaning your body right: 

*Improved Sense of Well-Being

*Anti-Aging Benefits

*Lighter Feeling

*Healthier Hair

*Improved Energy

*Clearer Thinking

*Better Breath

*Improved Skin

*Stronger Immune System

*Aids in weight loss

*Rids body of excess toxic buildup

*Promotes Healthy Habits + Changes

If you are ready to see these changes in your own body + mind, then you're in luck! I am hosting a 21 day detox and at home yoga retreat this month!

I will walk you through the whole 21 days and provide you with everything you need to successfully finish a FULL CLEANSE! Meal plan, recipes, shopping list, daily yoga practices, support, accountability and tips on how to pamper your body + mind from the inside out.

I will make this easy and accessible for anyone!

Yes ANYONE can do this! 

Let's face our cleansing fears together and give our bodies + minds exactly what they need......some TLC and a lot of extra nourishment ;

Click here if your ready to get started!! 

B.L.T.A Salad in a Jar!

This salad is rocking my world and upping my salad in a jar game too!! 

There is nothing I love more than a handy + neat little salad pre-prepped in a mason jar (ok my kids & dog might top it...lol.)! They are convenient and make my weekly lunches a breeze.

No more stopping at Whole-paycheck...to build a $8-$10 salad. Or stopping at Starbucks for a salad and leaving with a coffee + an empty wallet! 

Yes the jar salad is making my life and my hubbies life easier, healthier and well maybe a little wealthier too! 

Now, let's talk about this jar salad in particular.... The classic B.L.T.A (bacon, lettuce, tomato + avo). All the flavor of your favorite sandwich now in a healthy salad! Cue in applause.....

BONUS: Its paleo friendly, Whole30 friendly, Gluten free, dairy free, light aaaaand DELICIOUS! 

B.L.T.A. Jar Salad (makes 4 20oz mason jar salads)

• 6 slices cooked Turkey Bacon broken into pieces (nitrate + nitrite free is best)
• 2 cups organic baby tomatoes sliced in 1/2
• 1 whole avocado diced
• 1 bag of butter lettuce
• 8 tbs. paleo ranch style dressing (recipe to follow)

Layer salad in the following order - 1/2 cup tomatoes, 1/4 of avocado, 2 bacon slices, fill remaining jar with lettuce. Cover and store in fridge for up to 5 days! 

Paleo Ranch Style Dressing

• 1/2 cup paleo friendly mayo (homemade or store bought)
• 1/2 cup coconut cream
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• salt and pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients together, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. Pairs great with veggies, or for dipping your gf pizza into. 

I hope you enjoy this salad as much as we do! Please post any comment or question below and let me know if you enjoyed this recipe!

xo Lisa 

SUMMER Refreshers - Make Hydrating FUN!

Stay Hydrated this SUMMER with these delicious infused water recipes. Not only will you up your water game, but you will improving your health in the process! 

We all know how important it is to get enough water into our bodies daily. Just this simple act alone can improve your health and well being GREATLY! But let's face it, plain old water, can get plain old BORING! Am I RIGHT!?! 

Try spicing up your water flavor with some of summers natural bounty! Not only will you up your h2o game, but you will be boosting your health, improving your immune system, strengthen digestion, improving the look of your skin and MORE! 

Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

Mango + Ginger - wonderful flavor and a natural pain reliever. The next time you have a headache, skip the Tylenol and hydrate with this water infused pain reliever! 

Orange + Ginger - Kick up your immune health with this Vitamin C infused refresher! 

Cinnamon + Apple - Boost your metabolism naturally with this zero calorie detox refresher! You will drop weight and have TONS of ENERGY!

Cucumber + Lemon + Mint -  Brighten your skin naturally + cleanse, detox and alkalize your system! Lemon to help with digestion, wrinkles, weight loss. Cucumbers to promote clear skin, flushing out water, and building healthy muscle tissue. Mint to help keep your mouth clean and reduce headaches and stomach aches. 

To make your Infused Water Refreshers: Fill a pitcher with 1piece of the fruit of your choice, sliced to desired size. If using ginger or other root herbs, take a 2 inch piece and cut into slices. If adding fresh leafy herbs, wash and add one handful to your pitcher. Then top with filtered water and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days (if they lasts that long!)!

I hope this gives your some inspiration for staying hydrated this summer. Keep in touch and let me know what recipes your try! 

Happy SUMMER!