for the love of food...

well here we are again.. another instalment of Heather's healthy favourites.

Came across the recipe for Mini Ham & Chs Qunioa bites and knew it was something we would all love over here. This was SO simple to make.

You must try this. These are packed with protein. 3g per bite. And at less than 50 calories per bite you can feel good about eating these for dinner.. or lunch, or breakfast or as a snack.

You could add in so many other things too..the options are endless. Here is my version of these delightful mini power packed bites.

1 cup shredded zucchini

1 cup grated cheese - I use a light farmers marble cheese.

3/4 cup diced lean ham

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/4 cup parsley - chopped

1/4 cup light cottage cheese

2 sliced green onions

salt and pepper

I also added a bit of red hot pepper sauce. - YUM.

Throw that all in a bowl

Add to it

2 eggs

2 egg whites (I use the egg whites that come in the carton and I think I did about 1/4 cup or so)

Add in 2 cups quinoa

Turn your oven to 350 degrees and spray a mini muffin pan (spray it well) I scoop my mixture with a cookie scoop so they are full. Put in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Let them cool for 5 minutes and remove them.. then try to walk away so you don't pop them in one after the other. :) So good hot, warm or cold. I served this for supper with steamed broccoli. The perfect little yummy bite!

*Adapted from IowaGirlEats

I also wanted to share a couple more of my "secrets" to eating healthy especially when you are in a hurry. Lunch is always a bit hard for me cause I only get home around 1:00 and then by the time I get Jett to sleep it's 1:30... So I have been getting good at always having healthy options on hand. Baby Carrots, Hummus, Whole Wheat Pitas. These are go to's for me. I also always have Baby Spinach and Broccoli Slaw on hand for a super quick yummy salad. I also have been making a batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week. I throw that in a container with black beans and a couple tablespoons salsa (I like the black bean and corn salsa from PC) when I get home I throw some hummus onto a pita and fill it with my mixture.. add in either spinach or broccoli slaw and I have a yummy filling delicious FAST lunch.

On Monday & Wednesday's I teach two bootcamps per evening so I need a power packed something to get me through but eating a full supper doesn't feel good in my stomach so I make myself a Green smoothie. I always walk away feeling full but not bogged down. Here is my favorite combination

Frozen berries

Kiwi

1 cup of greek yogurt

I mix in 2 Tablespoons of protein powder (I have been using an all natural hemp product - really good and gives me tons of energy)

1 cup of Almond milk

Then I fill the blender with spinach

Blend it up and ENJOY.

So there you have it a few of my favourite tips for eating healthy through the week!!

for the love of food...

I love to cook. I enjoy trying new recipes and in the last year I find it most satisfying to make good healthy meals. I enjoy tweaking recipes to make them healthy. I know I have said it before but my girl over at Iowa Girl Eats is the Queen of the kitchen and my heart... she has never failed me. And when I saw her post Thai Turkey Burgers I knew it was something I had to try. I changed a few things and at 350 calories (including the thin burger buns) and 10 grams of fat and 40 grams of protein these are AMAZING. The Peanut sauce will win you over every time!!

Lets get this party started.

2lbs fat free lean ground turkey breast

1 cup shredded carrot

3/4 cup shredded broccoli

I had some red pepper to use up so I chopped that up and threw it in the bowl

3 Tbsp Cilantro (for the haters I would recommend maybe basil)

3 green onion chopped up

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Throw that all in a bowl and use your fingers to mix well.

Then you want to make the peanut sauce sent to us strait from heaven

3 Tbsp smooth peanut butter - I used 2 Tbsp crunchy all natural and 1 Tbsp smooth

1 Tbsp white wine vinegar (her recipe calls for rice wine vinegar - I don't really like it)

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp water

1 clove garlic

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp chilli garlic sauce (like siracha)

1 tsp honey

A thumb size fresh piece of ginger

Zing that up in a food processor or I like to do mine in my magic bullet cause it's just so easy. Now that I have made these I would double the peanut sauce recipe (heck even triple it) you can use it on so many things... think broccoli slaw for a fresh salad or on chicken.. or on your fingers...

Reserve 3 Tbsp for adding to your finished burgers and add the rest to your burgers and mix.

Form patties. I got 5 patties and still had some left over. I put it in the fridge to cook up for an easy lunch tomorrow.

Heat a large skillet over med-high heat and cook for 4 minutes on each side or until they are no longer pink inside. I'd suggest using a skillet as opposed to the BBQ only cause these are quite wet and I imagine they would slip through the grates.

Place a burger patty up on toasted PC thin whole grain buns, top with a couple tsps of the reserved peanut sauce. Add spinach and serve. I served this with steamed broccoli and it was SO good.. a bit on the spicy side so keep that in mind if serving it to kids. .mine however requested sweet chili sauce on top so I think we're ok... Did I mention only 350 cal!!

5 plus stars.. these were so tasty and so easy to make! Eating healthy never tasted so good! Enjoy.

randoms.

I never take photos anymore... this needs to change. I am planning to do a day in the life series or something so I remember to take pictures of the simple things.

I am making goals.. I used to be afraid of making goals maybe cause I was afraid I would never achieve them. I have proven to myself this past year that I can do whatever I set my mind too.

I am going to be writing a bit more on food... I love to cook and in the last year I have really loved to transform recipes into healthy options for my family. I could spend hours on pinterest pinning recipes. I will be doing a weekly bit for The Tyson Method so I hope to share it here too.

Bootcamps are going awesome. I am adjusting... I teach two classes a night. Monday & Wednesday. It's been a bit of a learning curve..seeing how far my body can be pushed and by Thursday I am SO tired.. like falling asleep at the dinner table tired. BUT I love my ladies. how they constantly encourage and inspire me to push myself. They take time of their day to work hard and it shows off!! It's amazing.

My kids.. oh man my kids.. I also plan to write a blog for each of them. We are having some challenges with behaviour and attitude with the twins and are trying to figure out how to mold them.... Jett is a firecracker and at a really fun age. I am thankful I get to be their mom... of course trying to figure out how to do that best is usually the challenge.

I am surrounded by so many amazing people. Do you ever just stop and wrap your brain around all the amazing things God is doing in your life?? I have spent the last few months in a pretty confusing and hurtful place in regards to a few relationships in my life. I've come to realize that it's time to let go of the things I can't change... to see the beauty in authenticity of my real friendships and nurture them the best I can. I wear my heart on my sleeve and realize I want that in my relationships too.

I am brainstorming for a way to show that love and appreciation in the form of a party that helps us give back... stay tuned... you know how I LOVE to plan parties.

I really love the Stallion.. he nurtures me and he gets me. He also always lets me have my special place on the couch.. that means a lot!

I'm getting ready to purge.. like a big spring purge. I want to live with less.. we need to live with less. Thinking a schedule of some sort so I don't feel so overwhelmed and I can go through each room.

Saving our pennies for a trip East to see Dave's family this summer. Being on a budget with a plan is especially helpful as we plan for trips... I can't believe how much Financial Peace University has changed our lives.

So for now that's it.. that really felt good to get that out of my head.. I hope to be back this weekend with some pictures.