Taster Party Fun

We had a great group of people come and enjoy the taster party! Thank you to everyone for coming!

Why I Chose Tina's 18 Day Challenge

I didn't save my periscope so that I could publish the video on YouTube - so I will have to type out why I chose Tina's 18 Day Challenge.

It took 4 months of my sister telling me about her weight loss and her energy and what she was doing with these really yummy shakes and her cleanse days. And then I would ask about what "real" food she was eating to make sure she was eating enough calories. It was when she told me how much she weighed that I finally said "I want to do that." I didn't do any research to see what was in the shakes - soy, what kind of whey, artificial sweeteners, sucralose, artificial colors or flavors. Or what was involved in the cleanse day. All I knew was - the results that my sister got and I wanted it to.

Now I know there are SO MANY PROGRAMS you could choose from - I know what is SOOOO GOOD about what I am doing and what is SOOOOO BAD about what some other programs. But really - is someone going to do the research to know why they should do one or the other - NO - they are going to try a program because they relate to results that someone else got. 

At work, one person is trying a 24 day cleanse with advocare. I know what Advocare is - but he doesn't. He is with a group of guys and his brother and they are challenging together. He didn't know what is in the shake, the spark drink has tons of caffeine, he has to take lots of pills, etc. 

Also at work there are couple girls doing MD diet. One has done that diet before and got results fast - restricts her calories, limits the foods she eats, is hungry, suffers a bit at first because she cut sugar out of her diet, she is tired. She doesn't realize that she is slowing down her metabolism. She is just worried about the number on the scale.

So basically - I GOT LUCKY! I got lucky that I chose a good program. Probably if I had been told about advocare or MD diet - I would have tried that too. But what I tried - it is the best - and the longer I do it - the more I learn - the luckier I feel that I chose this lifestyle!

Super Bowl Clean Eating Nachos

Taco Seasoned Chicken

6 oz chicken breast
1/2 tsp chile powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Line large baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray, place
chicken on foil and mist with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
Sprinkle with chile powder, salt, and black pepper evenly on both
sides. Broil 5-8 minutes per side.

Tortilla Chips

10 6-inch no GMO corn tortillas, cut into 6 wedges
1-1/2 tsp. chile powder

Line 2 baking sheets with foil and mist with cooking spray. Arrange
tortillas in single layer and mist with cooking spray. Sprinkle with
chile powder. Bake 14-15 minutes, turning tortilla chips halfway
through. They will crisp up as they cool.

Pico de Gallo

2 tomatoes chopped
2 jalapeno peppers chopped
1/2 white onion chopped
1/2 c fresh cilantro leaves chopped
juice of 2 limes
1/4 tsp sea salt

Combine tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, cilantro, lime juice and sea salt.

Black Beans

1-2 tsp olive oil
1 large clove garlic
15 oz unsalted black beans
1-2 tsp hot sauce (Tessemae's all natural hot sauce)
1/4 tsp sea salt

In saucepan heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook/stir for 1 minute. Add
beans with liguid. Stir to bubbling. Stir in hot sauce and sea salt.
Remove from heat and mash until desired consistency.

NACHOS

10 chips topped with chicken
pico de gallo
1/4 c. black beans
1/4 c. mexican cheese blend
1/2 fresh avocado or guacamole
plain greek yogurt
jalapeno
green onions
cilantro

Top chips with desired garnishes.

Garden Fresh Green Bean Salad

You know you see a picture of a recipe in a magazine or on the internet and think "that looks so yummy"? Then you make it and you think, "I will never make that again." Well - yummy recipe in a magazine and I will definitely make this again. SOOOOOOO yummy! Served it with grilled chicken.

6 servings

Ingredients: 

1 lb. french FRESH green beans (ends trimmed if necessary)

1/2 c. feta cheese crumbles

1 c. cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

2 T. olive oil

2 T. red wine vinegar

2 T. chopped fresh basil

1 large clove garlic, minced

Freshly ground black pepper

Sea Salt

Cook beans until tender crisp. Rinse under cold water. Drain well and pat dry. Put in large bowl and combine with feta cheese and tomatoes (optional item to add is 3 T. red onion chopped - I did not add). Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, basil, garlic and salt/pepper. Pour the dressing over the green beans. Optional to add slivered toasted almonds (I did not add). Let marinate in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before serving cold.