Everyone loves the PF Chang's chicken lettuce wraps, and this is a good dupe! Easy enough to whip up on a busy weeknight, and even easier to double to eat the leftovers for lunch or again for dinner the next night!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
1 Tbls. avocado oil
1 lb. ground chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, chopped
1 can water chestnuts, chopped
2 Tbls. coconut aminos
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tsp. honey
salt to taste
Butterhead lettuce leaves

Heat avocado oil in a pan and cook the chicken. Add garlic, carrots and water chestnuts. Cook for a few more minutes until carrots are softened. Mix coconut aminos, sesame oil and honey together in a separate bowl. Add to chicken mixture and stir until well combined. Season with salt to taste. Serve in butterhead lettuce leaves. ENJOY! XO

My husband and I are training for our first full marathon! It's been fun to have something to work toward together and we have actually been enjoying the long weekend runs. Thankfully, the weather here has been pretty nice so we haven't had to navigate snow and ice. Fingers crossed the spring-like weather will continue throughout the rest of winter!

One thing we have had to navigate, however, is ravenous hunger as a result of all of the fuel we are burning! I am really trying to maintain my focus on good nutrition, rather than reaching for the simple carbs that are delicious, but make me feel pretty terrible. So I have been trying to come up with some good options to have on hand for when the hunger strikes.

​These PB Coconut Oat Bars are a perfect snack! They are made with all real, whole food ingredients and none of the junk that makes our bodies feel sluggish. (We need all of the energy we can get.) I also added some collagen peptides for joint health!

PB Coconut Oat Bars
2 cups gluten free rolled oats
1/2 cup ground flaxseed meal
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 
1 scoop collagen peptides
1 cup NATURAL peanut butter (crunchy or creamy, you pick!)
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla

Mix ingredients together until well combined. Spray a 9x9 pan with non stick spray - I prefer avocado oil! - or line with wax or parchment paper. Press mixture into the pan and freeze for a little bit. When ready to eat, cut into 16 squares. Store in the fridge or freezer.

ENJOY! XO

Per bar:
15g fat
23 g carbs
5g fiber
8g protein

This low carb Shrimp + Grits recipe literally takes 10 minutes to throw together - that's much quicker than driving thru the fast food line!
​
Here's what you need:
olive oil
1 pound of raw shrimp, deveined
Tony's seasoning
1 bag Trader Joe's frozen mashed cauliflower
parmesan cheese (optional)

Saute thawed shrimp in some olive oil and season with Tony's. Heat up mashed cauliflower, and if desired, drizzle with olive oil and add parmesan cheese. 

Top cauliflower with cooked shrimp and season with another dash of Tony's. ENJOY!! XO 

Tis the season for football games and finger foods. Put these wings out next time you're hosting a tailgate and your guests won't even know they're a healthier version of their favorite!

I also like to serve these on a low carb day alongside a Caesar salad. We use the Trader Joe's vegan Caesar dressing - it's very macro friendly!

Air Fried Chicken Wings
1 package of chicken wingettes and drumettes (we like the Bare brand)
Olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
pinch of cayenne (optional)

Toss wings in olive oil, add spices and toss to coat. Air fry at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. ENJOY!! XO

If you have been following me for awhile, you know that there are two dinners that I could eat on repeat - salsa verde chicken and NACHOS! Honestly, this recipe is not new, but it's sort of like any other Mexican restaurant food...it's all the same stuff, just presented in different ways, HA!

As a reminder, here's how to make Salsa Verde Chicken:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jar of salsa verde 
salt and cumin

Put chicken in the slow cooker and season well with salt and cumin. Pour salsa verde on top and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. When it's finished, shred with a fork and serve.

This chicken is great in everything! Tacos, tostadas, bowls, salads... But for some reason, I have never tried it in NACHOS!

Here's a healthy and delicious (and guilt-free) way to make crispy air fried corn tortilla chips:
Cut corn tortillas into triangles, spray with avocado oil spray and season with sea salt. Air fry at 400 degrees for 5 minutes (maybe a little shorter/longer depending on your air fryer - keep an eye on them!).

Then just layer it all up! Start with the chips, then add the chicken, and then top with whatever you have on hand - beans, salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, jalapenos, etc. Make it your own! 

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. They will be a regular in my rotation for sure! XO

Busy summer days often mean less motivation to put a good meal on the table for dinner. But that doesn't mean you need to hit the drive thru or call for a pizza! You can still enjoy a healthy and delicious meal, without having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. 

Trader Joe's has some delicious chicken sausages that are pre-cooked, so all that is required is a quick heat up on the stove or grill. We paired the spicy Italian chicken sausages with this quick and simple summer salad. My grandma used to make one similar to this and I loved it!

Simple Summer Salad
Chop up and mix together:
red pepper
English cucumber
grape tomatoes
red onion
fresh basil
For the dressing, mix equal parts of olive oil and red wine vinegar. Toss the salad with the dressing and season with salt and pepper.

ENJOY! XO

You know I love a good smoothie bowl. I am so addicted that I find myself going through smoothie bowl withdrawals on low carb days!

Thankfully, I have found a way to enjoy a good bowl every day of the week. Introducing, the Low Carb Chocolate PB Smoothie Bowl!

Low Carb Chocolate PB Smoothie Bowl
In your blender, add:
Ice
1 cup plant-based milk
Chocolate Protein Powder (I highly recommend FASTer Way protein powder. It's clean, macro-friendly, and tastes really good!)
1 Tbls. chia seeds
2 Tbls. natural peanut butter

Blend it up! Pour into a bowl and top with grain-free granola (such as Purely Elizabeth, Trader Joe's, or Target's Good & Gather brand) and another tablespoon of peanut butter.

ENJOY! XO

Cherries + almonds = OOOOOMMMMMMGGGGG.

This recipe actually came about on accident. I had been on a PBJ oats kick, but I ran out of strawberries and raspberries one evening - gasp!! So, I had to dig around the fridge to find a suitable alternative. I went with cherries and peanut butter, and then decided maybe it should be almond butter next time. Winner! And THEN the addition of almond extract really put this recipe into the top ten of all time overnight oats combos.  You MUST try it!

Cherry Almond Overnight Oats
For the base:
1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats
1/2 cup plant based milk
dash of salt
a few drops of liquid stevia
Mix together, cover and refrigerate for at least a few hours, or overnight.

When ready to eat:
Mix a few drops of almond extract into your oats and top with 2 Tbls. natural almond butter and chopped fresh or frozen cherries.  

ENJOY!  XO

I would be surprised if someone told me they've never tried a Nutty Bar!  That chocolately, peanut-buttery deliciousness was always a welcome surprise in my lunchbox!

Who says we can't enjoy Nutty Bars when we live a healthy lifestyle? Not me...I've found a way to recreate them and I even included some extra protein so they're especially guilt-free!

Healthier Nutty Bars
6 thin rice cakes
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
1 scoop protein powder (I recommend the FASTer Way protein!)
1 cup sugar free chocolate chips (I recommend Lily's dark baking chips)
2 tsp coconut oil

First, mix the peanut butter and protein powder in a small bowl.  When combined, spread a layer on each rice cake.  Stack the rice cake in 2 stacks of 3 and, with a serrated knife, cut in half to make 4 bars.  Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave.  and dip each bar until fully coated.  Place on waxed or parchment paper and freeze for 10-15 minutes, until chocolate is set.  ENJOY!  XO

Nutrition info per bar:
301 calories
29g carbs
22g fat
13g protein

I am not a fan of mayo (or condiments in general....I know, most people think this is crazy, ha!!), so tuna salad can be a tough one for me.  This recipe uses avocado, which brings the moisture that mayo lends to traditional tuna salad.  It's a great low carb meal, with lots of protein to keep you feeling full and satisfied!

Tuna Salad (mayo free!)
1 can of tuna (in water)
1/2 avocado, chopped
1 hard boiled egg, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped

Mix together and season with celery salt.  Serve on top of a bed of lettuce, or with a fresh tomato.  ENJOY!  XO