Easy Food for Busy Moms

With school right around the corner I have been trying to focus on foods I can prepare ahead for the week. If it's already made I greatly increase my chance for success. If a rough day comes around and there is nothing prepared chances are I am going to try my best to get something "low calorie" from a drive through. Which is basically a joke.

With that being said.... I LOVE carrots! I have trained myself to eat them plain...without ranch....or in a cake ;]. VICTORY!  I usually have about a cup a day and though I have learned to love the flavor, I think of them as beauty pills. Carrots contain carotenoids which give you a great skin tone.beautiful skin, smaller waist? SOLD. It's just as easy to throw a bag of these in your purse to munch on your way to class as it is a bag of chips. NO EXCUSES!

I had a great new find this week as well! The brand skinny girl started making snacks. After trying this one I am eager to try the rest. It's a cilantro jalapeno hummus, but to reduce calories further they added Greek yogurt for volume. I actually prefer the flavor. I use whole wheat pita chips for dipping. LOVE.

Over the weekend I also threw together my southwest pasta salad! This is a favorite in my household. I plan on having it for lunch all week and I am totally fine with that. I love preparing my lunches ahead of time because it makes lunch a no brainer healthy choice all week.

Click here for the recipe

I use the tyson grilled and ready chicken for the protein in this recipe. I highly recommend them for fellow busy mommys 

You know how you open the cupboards and there is nothing to eat so you get creative and make something like corn chips with melted shredded cheese on top and call it nachos? Yea well this is me detour from that mistake. I always, always keep these in the freezer. They are great for turning salad into a meal, making a wrap, brown rice bowls, pasta salads..... the list goes on. I have created a hundred meals with these as the centerpiece. In fact, maybe that will be a post one day.

I have also been creative about squeezing in extra workouts because for some reason L doesn't want to stay on my schedule ;]. I have 2 favorite fitness apps keeping me on track right now.

1.30 day push up challenge

2.Quick 4

The first is exactly what you think it is. The second is 8 exercises for 20 seconds with 10 second breaks for a total of 4 minutes. I have been trying squeeze these in 3 times a day as "extras". Both are available for free in the Apple app store.

Here's to yummy food and skinny buns.

Southwest Pasta Salad

This is a super easy and satisfying recipe that you can make ahead and enjoy for lunch all week. Preparing meals ahead of time helps you stay on track!

What you'll need:
1 cup salsa
1/4 cup mayonnaise with olive oil
1 tbs siracha
1 cup corn
1 cup black beans
3 cups whole foods organic whole grain pasta
2 cups southwest tyson grilled and ready chicken strips
optional for topping: cilantro, avacado, hot sauce or pico

1. prepare pasta according to box.
2. heat pan to medium heat and cook already prepared chicken until it is heated all the way through. I like to add a little extra cumin to mine! let cool to room temperature.
3. Whisk together salsa, Siracha and mayo
4.mix pasta and chicken into the salsa dressing.
5.fold in corn and black beans.
6. Chill and serve!
200 Calories per cup

* You can also use boneless skinless chicken breast just add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste while cooking then cut into bite size pieces

*I used shells but bow tie or penne is a great choice as well!

Hot breakfast, cold

Starting my Monday off right! Lacey took a morning nap and I made a breakfast that wasn't blended while crossing off some items on the to-do list.

let's see,

bfast is a scramble of 2 egg whites and 1 whole egg

a little chopped onion, tomato and green bell pepper

seasoned with salt, pepper and cumin

on a whole wheat tortilla

topped with salsa

with a side of thinly sliced apple 

and

my obsession---Iced vanilla coffee

what's in my coffee?

brewed some Italian roast when I first woke up

let it cool

poured over a glass of ice

with a splash of almond milk and torani sugar-free vanilla syrup

All of that ^ 250 calories and 18 grams of protein

Don't worry, my life isn't better than yours. I didn't actually get to sit and eat my breakfast in peace. Little one woke up in tears right before I got the chance. I'm afraid I will be eating hot breakfast cold for the next couple years.

just kidding it is. Baby smiles.

4%

Berries and Greens Smoothie

I got this recipe idea from my best friend. Your greens, antioxidants and omega 3's in a glass. Love it.

1/2 cup kale
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup raspberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp honey
1 tbs flax

Blend until liquid.

200 calories