food

As much as I love my PAC (plain ass chicken), brown rice and greens, I am in need of a little variation! As I have said before, it is easy to eat clean when eating the same meals on a weekly basis. Especially if you are food prepping and cook one day a week for the meals the rest of the week. This is usually my lunch routine, but for dinner I love experimenting with different cuisines!

I also love going out to eat on the weekends, and that seems to be when I struggle the most with a healthy diet. Weekends are hard and there are so many temptations! Of course, while looking at a menu full of yummy goodness, you may want to go the opposite direction, but don’t be fooled! There ARE healthy things on the menu, we just need to become aware of what to swap out.

We recently had a sushi and movie date night this weekend, and I refused to go out on a limb and settle for white rice, tons of sauce or fried tempura. I LOVE sushi, but instead of the usual we can always opt for grilled salmon, brown rice, veggies or sashimi (raw fish). That is exactly what I did, and I left not regretting my meal.

Here are some clean eating thoughts for a sushi night out:

skip the white rice (head straight for brown rice)
go sauce-less (sauce is high in sugar and calories!)
say no to tempura (fried…enough said)
avoid the sake and go for water or tea (alcohol slows your metabolism and promotes fat storage!)
go raw! (fish are packed with nutrients and Omega 3s)

Sushi dates are do-able while eating clean as long as you make healthy swaps and take the time to think about what you are ordering!

Speaking of food, another cuisine that is one of my favs… Mexican! Who would have thought that you can actually eat a healthy burrito or taco. Here are some ideas to help guide you:

~~Tortilla~~ Wheat tortilla or wrap in lettuce
~~sour cream~~ non-fat greek yogurt (I swear it tastes the same)
~~salsa~~ chopped tomatoes
~~guacamole~~ avocado slices
~~taco meat~~ lean ground turkey

There are SO many variations to eating healthy, and you can still enjoy different cuisines. No need to avoid restaurants as long as you make the swaps, and maybe you’ll be fine with the occasional treat now and then!

What is your favorite cuisine to order out?

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I’m sure you have heard this a million times before, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day! I find myself eating a lot of the same meals, especially during a busy work week. My go-to is a non fat greek yogurt and berry mixture. Sometimes I will add some honey or a taste of natural nut butter. I work for Diamond Foods, so this Kettle Nut Butter is my fav, they also have cashew butter, salted or unsalted. Click here to go to the Diamond Foods Website.

On the weekends, I really enjoy making a yummy breakfast to go along with my nice big cup of coffee. I love making different scrambles and getting creative with all sorts ingredients. An egg white scramble with avocado and smoked salmon on the side has been popular in my house lately. Breakfast is an absolute must for me! If I skip breakfast, I will be dragging and energy less all day long. Be sure to fuel your body with a protein filled power breakfast to give you tons of energy throughout the day!

I have been experimenting with different protein pancake recipes a lot lately. Some miserably failed and some were quite successful. This was the definite winner in my book! A delicious and healthy way to start your day and power you with the fuel you need.

Protein Pancake Recipe

1 scoop Whey Protein (vanilla or chocolate)
2 egg whites
1/4 cup oats
1/2 large banana (you can also substitute with non-fat greek yogurt or pumpkin puree)
1TB Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1/8 teaspoon of Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl or blender. Allow the mix to sit for a few minutes. Heat up a skillet and spray with non stick cooking spray. Pour batter onto the skillet and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook for additional 2-3 minutes. Should make 2-3 pancakes.

Get creative! Top with cinnamon, berries, honey or a natural nut butter.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to eat your breakfast! =)

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