Zoodles – Fit Food Made FUN!

photo 2Serving up healthy and delicious meals that are ALSO family favorites can be a challenge, so when I come across a “gem” of a meal that is healthy, delicious, colorful, AND a crowd pleaser, I just have to share it with my fit & busy friends!  I recently purchased a Spiralizer from Amazon and I’m OBSESSED with it.  This is an inexpensive tool that is an absolute MUST in the kitchen of the fit & busy.  You can make “noodles” with just about any veggie you can think of.  Talk about a great way to make healthy food FUN and appealing to the entire family.  This was actually one of my first spiralized creations, and it was a huge HIT!  Yep, even my kids gobbled this one up.

This Zoodle creation was so simple to make.  Follow the easy steps below, or improvise by substituting veggies you have on hand.  Keep it colorful and you really can’t go wrong.

1. Roast cherry and/or grape tomatoes in a little olive oil and salt and pepper until they start to shrivel up just a bit.

2. Cook up some chicken breasts with your favorite method (I used grilled chicken)
2. While the tomatoes are roasting and the chicken is grilling, spiralize 4-5 zucchini and set aside.
3. Prepare the garlic lemon “cream” sauce:
    -sautee 2-3 cloves of garilc in 1 tsp olive oil
    -whisk in about 1/2c chicken stock or broth
    -in a magic bullet or blender, blend together 1/4c cottage cheese and 1/4c NF Greek yogurt with the juice from 1/2 lemon.
    -whisk yogurt mixture into garlic mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
    -stir in some lemon zest and a splash more lemon juice for a bright, fresh flavor.
4. Throw Zoodles into a skillet over high heat, top with sauce, and toss together until zoodles are coated and just begin to cook.
5. Plate up zoodles, top with sliced grilled chicken and roasted tomatoes.
I hope you and your family enjoy this quick, fresh & healthy meal!  Make sure to comment below with your results!
 xoxo,
Malea
*One of the great things about being in the health & fitness industry is that I am surrounded by healthy & talented people who inspire me on my quest to stay fit, busy & fabulous.  My wonderful friend Erin is an amazing healthy cooking goddess, and was the inspiration for this creation.  Check her out on instagram @livingleanwitherin or at www.livingleanwitherin.com.  While you’re there, make sure to sign up for her FREE “Lose 5 in 5” meal plan.  It rocks.

A Smoothie a Day…

chocolate green smoothieWe all know that eating 5 small, balanced meals a day is the best way to stay fueled through our #fitandbusy lives. Well, HOPEFULLY we all know that, and, if not, stay tuned for upcoming blog posts on why this is so important!! In the meantime, let’s talk about a quick and easy “meal” solution that can be consumed on the run, and can be loaded with all sorts of nutritional “extras.” Smoothies, or protein shakes, are an AWESOME way to get a quick, balanced meal into your busy day. I usually like to have a smoothie as my mid-morning meal, at around 10ish, or after I teach my morning class. I love to experiment with different combinations of ingredients, and I ALWAYS try to sneak extra healthy ingredients in there, especially if I plan to share with the little people in my house.

Beware of the smoothie trap!  Not all smoothies are created equal.  Smoothies, such as the ones at the big chain smoothie stores, can be LOADED with unwanted sugar and calories.  Even “all fruit” smoothies can be sneaky little devils with WAY more calories than you expect, and who will take your blood sugar on a crazy ride!  When I am talking about smoothies, I am really talking about blended protein shakes.  It is important to make sure that your smoothies have all of the macros (protein, carbs and fat, in the appropriate ratios) represented in order for it to be a blood sugar friendly meal option that isn’t going to sabotage all your hard work.

Basic customizable smoothie recipe:Strawberry smoothie
Protein powder of your choice (I prefer a whey option, but there are some great vegan choices as well.  You can also opt to add Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for additional protein)
Liquid (water, coconut water, almond milk, coconut milk, regular milk)
Healthy fat source (nuts, nut butter, coconut butter, avocado)
Fruit (½ banana, acai, berries, mango, etc.)
Veggie (spinach, kale, cucumber, etc.)
Healthy “extras” (chia seeds, flax, cacao nibs, shredded lite coconut, etc.)
Ice
Anderson Family’s Favorite Chocolate Smoothie:
Chocolate protein powder (we love Nutri Whey)
Almond milk
Peanut butter
Spinach and/or kale
Chia seeds
Hemp hearts
Bee pollen
Ice
This is a protein & superfood packed smoothie that I know will give my family the fuel they need to get through their busy days.  And, they LOVE it!  Have fun mixing and matching!
xoxo,
Malea