Tuna Wrap

This is one of my go-to meals right now.  It's fast and super tasty and healthy for fat burning!  I've never tasted tuna like this...The curry powder really makes it.

Modified from this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 (7 ounce) can white tuna, drained and flaked
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise - I wonder how plain yogurt would taste instead?
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• 1/4 teaspoon dried minced onion flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix well and spoon onto lettuce wraps.  Divine.

Lime Fish Tacos! We eat these weekly!

Modified from this recipe.

Ingredients

• Marinade:
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 4 teaspoons lime zest
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste
• 1 pound tilapia fillets, cut into chunks

• Dressing:
• 1 (8 ounce) container light sour cream
• 1/2 cup fresh salsa
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 teaspoons lime zest
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• Toppings:
• 1 package corn tortillas
• 3 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• Shredded green cabbage or lettuce
• 2 limes, cut in wedges

Directions

1. To make the marinade, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, lime zest, honey, garlic, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and hot sauce in a bowl until blended. Place the tilapia in a shallow dish, and pour the marinade over the fish. Cover, and refrigerate 6 to 8 hours.  (I leave it on the counter for 20 minutes and grill it right away). 
2. To make the dressing, combine the sour cream and salsa in a bowl. Stir in the lime juice, lime zest, cumin, chili powder.  Add salt, and pepper in desired amounts. Cover, and refrigerate until needed.
3. Preheat foreman grill. 
4. Grill fish pieces until easily flaked with a fork, about 7 minutes.
5. Lightly brown tortillas on pan on stove. 
6. Assemble tacos by placing fish pieces in the center of tortillas with desired amounts of tomatoes, cilantro, and cabbage; drizzle with dressing. Eat open.

Let's Get Snacking

My favorite snacks...

Need snack ideas that are high in protein and will keep your energy up in the lull of the afternoon?  Here's what I grab.

-sliced apple with 2 tbsp natural peanut butter

-greek yogurt with sliced strawberries and raw almond pieces

-string cheese

-cottage cheese with grapes or bananas/strawberries

-carrott sticks and hummus

-frozen peas

-big glass of water!

Chocolate Dessert Shake

I don't know if this should really be called a dessert shake since it's really just a protein shake, good to have at any time of the day -- but it's sooo good, it's like having a chocolate milkshake.

-Big scoop of ice

-Big scoop of protein powder
-2 tbsp natural peanut butter
-Little stevia to sweeten
-2 tbsp cocoa powder
-1/2 banana1/2 cup milk
*Blend well

38 grams of protein!!  465 calories.  Delicious.

Oatmeal

 I haven't posted in a while but want to start posting a quick tip each day so here we go.

Breakfast!  What's the best thing to eat in the morning to not only get you going and give you energy, but also set your metabolism to burn fat throughout the day?

First, drink tons of water when you wake up!  This will flush out the toxins in your body that your liver worked on while you slept.  Next...remember to have protein with your meal.  Eggs, turkey bacon, or sausage are great sources and if you can find them without additives and nitrates, that is ideal.  There are quite a few organic farms using sustainable practices and feeding their animals natural food (grass!) that now ship to customers around the U.S. 

(I sense my tip turning into a long post...)

I've been browsing U.S. Wellness Meats - http://www.grasslandbeef.com/ - and am going to place an order this week.  (I was referred to this site by Mike Greary of Truth about Abs.  His blog is awesome.  I love his tips and recipes and get a lot of ideas from him.)

If you don't know why it's important to eat grass-fed meat from free-range farms, PLEASE watch these movies immediately:

Food, Inc
Truth About Food
The Future of Food
and more...
(Netflix has them all)

Scary, gross, despicable food practices.  If you take a close look at where your food and meat is coming from, you won't mind paying more for higher quality nutrition for you and your family.  Nutrition is my #1 priority when grocery shopping and feeding my kids.  This means paying more for natural, locally grown, organic food.  And I don't mind the bill since I know it equates with our health and quality of life! 

My 2 oldest kids have not been to the doctor for illness in 4 years.  My 3 younger children have NEVER been to the doctor for illness or been prescribed antibiotics.  Invest in your health and say no to cheap food.

Okay, back to breakfast.  One of my favorite meals is a warm bowl of steel cut oats.  Right now I've been eating the Bob's Mill organic brand.  I cook it for 10 minutes on the stove, add some organic agave syrup, a ton of cinnamon, some raw walnuts, berries or strawberries, and a smidget of milk.  It is delicious. 

My kids are getting used to the natural flavors of food and to alternative sweeteners and don't seem to mind one bit.  I've always said that your kids will eat whatever you make for them and have available (and eat yourself).  There's no reason kids won't love to eat naturally too.

I could blab more but I will try to come back and post daily.  I'm doing research on how to grow an organic garden and I think I'm ready to get some compost and mulch...and plants!  I love how you can grow year-round in San Diego. 

Southwest Lime Salad

I normally don't like making salads with more than a few ingredients since it's time-consuming, but this one is worth it!  I am making this salad for the second time this week.  It is tasty and my kids love it too.  I got it from my sister who got it from her friend.  I made a few edits in the recipe.  You can really mix it up with different ingredients, spices, and measurements.


Today my baby turned 4 months -- and today I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight!!  It feels so good to be able to wear all my clothes again.  I'm not stopping though.  Lots more natural food to burn off the rest of this fat.  Who is with me??


Southwest Lime Salad:

-Cook 1 c dried brown rice in water
-Cool then stir in 1/2 c organic salsa

-Grill or bake 2-3 chicken breasts:
drizzle with olive
add:
-chili powder
-garlic powder
-onion powder

Chop into pieces.

Salad:
Mix of lettuces and spinach
2 chopped tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can garbanzo/chickpeas
1 bunch cilantro chopped
1/4 red onion chopped
1 avocado chopped

Dressing
2 T rice vinegar
2 T olive oil
2 limes juiced
1-2 T canned green chilies
1/4 tsp Stevia
1 tsp salt

Toss salad with the chicken, rice mixture and drizzle dressing on. Serve in big bowls.


The key to burning fat is eating fat-burning foods.  You should combine a protein with good carbs at every meal.  Good carbs basically comprise veggies, but you can also have grains, sweet potatoes, etc, especially if you are working out.  Just remember that the more you cut out grains, the faster you will burn fat and lose weight.  Eat protein and good fats to burn fat!

Free Samples

Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar is SUCH a great health food and has many many nutritional benefits.  You can google it if you want to know more.  I found this recipe online for a great salad dressing:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp dijon or yellow mustard

Other spices - garlic, onion, etc

Sea salt

(It doesn't really keep in the fridge past a day or two so half the recipe if you're not going to eat it all).

This salad dressing is tasty and a much better alternative to store bought dressings that are laden with bad oils like canola, not to mention the sugar!

Anyway, I found this link to get free samples of Bragg's seasonings.  I've never tried them and am excited to test them out.  Click to order yours!