Weekly Menu 7/16 -7/21

Happy Monday Everyone!

As sad as I am that the weekend is over I have learned to love Mondays. I always feel more motivated to eat healthier, workout harder, and be more organized.  Monday's feel like a clean slate and for some reason that always makes me happy!

Before I share the menu with you I wanted to post about a fantastic product I discovered a few months ago and it has now become my FAVORITE breakfast.

In the mornings I give myself about 3.5 minutes to grab breakfast before work

(I'm pathetic and am always late everywhere) 

So making scrambled eggs with hashbrowns and a smoothie just isn't realistic for me.

I need protein in the mornings to fill me up and sustain me for atleast 2 or 3 hours but its very difficult to find a protein powder or protein bar that is healthy and not loaded with artificial sweeteners or 12 grams of sugar.

I've finally found what works best for me:

NUTRASUMMA Chocolate Flavored Pea Protein

You can buy it ONLINE or I buy it at THRIVE which is an acai bowl shop located by Fitness Works on Higley and Basline. It is $34 for a 2lb container.

Here is why I love it

The highest-quality protein for vegetarians and vegans
Nutra Summa Pea Protein

• Complete protein from 100% vegan source
• Promotes tissue repair*
• Provides 20 grams of protein per serving
• Free of soy and soy’s side effects
• Contains no gluten
• Easy to digest and absorb
• Outstanding taste with nothing artificial

** Only 3 grams of organic sugar and also sweetened with stevia

Here is what I do to make my protein smoothie:

- 1 cup crushed ice

- 1/3 of a frozen banana (slices)

- 1 scoop protein

- 2 tsp. flax oil (can't even taste it!)

- enough water to allow the smoothie to mix

Blend and enjoy a breakfast full of protein and healthy fat!

236 calories if you include the flax oil and only 163 calories if you don't!

And here is the menu!



WEEKLY MENU PLANNER

July 16^th – 21^st

DAY	LUNCH	DINNER
Monday	Jess: Eat Out	Chicken Parmesan Whole Wheat Breadsticks Olive Garden Salad
Tuesday	Jess: Leftover Chicken, Breadsticks, Salad, FRUIT	Cheesecrisps 5-Layer Mexican Dip Spanish Rice
Wednesday	Jess: Leftover Spanish Rice, Green Pork Enchiladas,FRUIT	Skinny Twice Baked Potatoes Steamed Broccoli
Thursday	Jess: Sandwich, carrots,  FRUIT	Taco Soup
Friday	Taco Soup Leftovers	Eat Out
Saturday	???	Costco All Natural Bruschetta Pizza



Eating Cleaner and Working Harder

I've read many times that what you eat determines 80% of what your body looks like, and exercise makes up the other 20%.  For some people this may be true, and I completely agree that you ARE what you eat, but for me it is 50/50.

When I started eating cleanER over 2 years ago I was so excited that I didn't have to exercise! If you eat healthy then you'll have a rockin' bod right?

WRONG!

I lived in denial for the first year or so and just continued teaching dance and counting that as my exercise, but in October of 2011 the scale hit a new high and I decided something needed to change.

Thankfully I met a wonderful trainer, Krista Estrada, who trains out of her home. I personally trained with her once a week for 8 weeks and I fell in love with fitness! 

Since October, I participated in the Annual Thanksgiving 10k Turkey Trot as well as the 5k Warrior Dash.

       

 March - June of this year I have been doing group circuit training with the amazing Krista at a park in Mesa.  However, it is now JULY and WAY TOO HOT outside to work out.  

Since stopping the circuit group training I have fallen into a slump.  I convinced myself that I don't know how to put together workouts on my own and that I won't be successful.  But working out isn't difficult and doing ANYTHING is better than doing NOTHING!

So as part of my new fitness goal, I will be recording my weekly workouts to hold myself accountable, and to hopefully give a few of you some workout inspiration if you too are in a rut.

Remember that eating cleanER is a lifestyle and so is exercising!

The workouts will be posted under the FITNESS tab at the top of the page.

  If you have any questions about the workouts or an exercise, just comment on the post and let me know!

Weekly Menu 7/9 - 7/14

As always, I find myself spending hours upon hours each week trying to plan out my meals.  It should NOT be this difficult but somehow it gets harder and harder each week.  I have an issue with repeating meals too often and I continually strive to try new recipes and add new varieties of food into our meals.

After a week of NO PLANNING and making meals 

"on the stop" (terrible idea)

I decided to make myself a cute and colorful Menu Planner because that always helps me feel more excited about getting organized.

Here is our Menu for the week, including Jess's lunch Menu that I'm going to try and be good and pack for him :)

The things we do for love <3

WEEKLY MENU PLANNER

July 9^th – 14^th

DAY	LUNCH	DINNER
Monday	Jess: Eat Out Kim: Leftover Turkey Tacos	Smashed Potatoes Grilled Chicken House Salad
Tuesday	Jess: Leftover Chicken, Potatoes, & Salad, FRUIT	Grilled Tri-tip steak TJ’s Grain Mix Zucchini
Wednesday	Jess: Turkey & Ham Sandwich, FRUIT, Nut Trailmix	Green Pork Enchiladas Spanish Rice
Thursday	Jess: Leftover Green Pork Enchiladas Spanish Rice, FRUIT	Whole Wheat Pasta and Meat Sauce Olive Garden Salad
Friday	Sloppy Joes	Eat Out
Saturday	Sandwiches or Lentils & Rice	Easy Orange Chicken Broccoli and Rice

I'm trying out this recipe on Saturday Night

http://www.asweetpeachef.com/chicken/easy-orange-chicken/

Looks Delicious!

Enjoy your week and remember to EAT CLEANER!

Avocado Chicken Parmigiana

Jess frequently requests Baked Chicken Parmesan for dinner.  While playing around on Pinterest the other day, I found this amazing recipe for 

AVOCADO CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

photos and original recipe via ellenaguan.blogspot.com

Jess and I both devoured it with THIS SALAD on the side.  It was a delicious change to our normal chicken parmesan and one that I will definitely make again

(serves: 4 | Preparation: 15 minutes | Cooking: 15 minutes)

Ingredients:

2 Chicken Breast Fillets, halved lengthways (I prefer to use chicken tenders because they are the perfect size and it's really difficult to cut a breast in half perfectly)
1/2 Cup Plain Flour (I use whole wheat)
2 Tablespoons Fresh Milk
2 Eggs
1 1/2 Cups Dried Breadcrumbs (see THIS RECIPE for homemade breadcrumbs)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil/Cooking Spray
1/2 Cup Tomato Pasta Sauce
2 Avocado, Sliced
1/2 Cup Grated Mozzarella Cheese 


Method:
1. Place chicken breast in a clear plastic bag(alternatively between 2 sheets plastic wrap), using a rolling pin or meat mallet pound until 0.5cm thick.

2. Place flour and breadcrumbs on two separate plate and lightly whisk milk and egg together in a shallow bowl.

3. Coat 1 piece of chicken breast in flour(shaking off excess), dip in egg mixture then coat in breadcrumbs using your fingertips pressing on to secure.

4. Place on prepared baking tray lay with foil or baking paper, repeat the same process with the remaining chicken breast with flour, egg and etc.

5. Lightly spray or brush the prepared chicken with oil, bake for 10 minutes(turning after 5 minutes to have evenly colours on the breadcrumbs) in 400 degree preheated oven.

6. Remove from oven and spread each chicken breast with 1 heaped tablespoon of pasta sauce. Arrange avocado slices over sauce and sprinkle with decent amount of mozzarella cheese.

7. Return to oven and bake for another 5 - 7 minutes or until golden and chicken is cooked through.

8. Serve with either garden salad or use it as a main topping on cooked pasta.

Strawberry Summer Salad

Hello everyone! 

It is officially summer if you couldn't tell by the DISGUSTING heat outside.  It seems that all I want to do these days is put on shorts and a baggy T-shirt, grab a popsicle, and watch Boy Meets World re-runs on my DVR.  I have so many things I want to do this summer (cook great meals, workout, shop, swim, etc) but the heat is seriously stunting my ambitions :)

My awesome sister Kelli and her husband Payne had us over for dinner a few weeks ago and I must share with you the salad recipe she made

Summer Salad with Strawberries and Feta

Recipe by Our Best Bites

–Salad greens (I just used chopped Romaine lettuce and Spinach)

–Crumbled feta cheese (This could be omitted if you're not a fan, I used the smallest amount)

–Thinly sliced red onions (Didn't have this in my fridge but will add it next time!)
 
–Sliced strawberries

–Candied pecans or walnuts (I used Candied Pecans I found at TJ's)

–Crumbled Turkey Bacon

–Honey Red Wine Vinaigrette to taste

Combine Ingredients in a large serving bowl and drizzle vinaigrette dressing on top. 

Serve immediately.