Kale mushroom onion pasta and roasted cauliflower

Onion, mushroom, bean and kale pasta with roasted cauliflower. Cauliflower, olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper baked at 425 for 25 minutes. Pasta, onion, mushroom, cannellini beans, kale, vegetable broth, garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

Chicken, Corn and Acocado Salad

Orzo Salad with Tomatoes, Basil and Feta

Strawberry Walnut Oatmeal Bake

3 cups oats

2 cups chopped fresh strawberries

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup milk

1/4 cup melted butter

2 eggs

Quick Chicken Tostadas

I LOVED this recipe!! Sooooooo yummy!

And ONLY 318 calories for TWO tostadas!

Makes 6 servings

Simple French Toast

Breakfast is simple this morning. French Toast.

Mix eggs, a little milk, and cinnamon in a bowl.

Dip bread slices in the egg mixture, soak up, put in hot pan on stove (a little butter in the pan already melted). Cook until toasted.

I was searching for non sugar toppings and this is what I came up with...

-Fruit slices (bananas, strawberries, etc)
-Homemade fruit and nut topping (hoping to make this next time)
-almond butter spread
-100% maple syrup
-homemade NO sugar whipped cream (heavy cream + vanilla extract + Stevia (all natural sweetener)

Any other ideas?

Cheese Chip avocado snack

This isn't exactly healthy, BUT you wouldn't catch me adding avocados to my kid's after school nacho snack before... Little steps my friends!! Keep up the good work... Keep trying!!

Fruit and Veggie Smoothie

I usually add sugar to my smoothies. I usually only play it safe and add just frozen strawberries, and maybe a banana, or do an orange Julius. I NEVER try icky other fruit, or spinach!!!

-Fruit and Veggie Smoothie-

Frozen berry mix (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries), banana, spinach, frozen orange juice concentrate (1 Tblsp), apple juice, a splash of water and ice. Blended. Yum!

Can also add Kale... I will try that next time... I am starting slow remember! ;) or add any mix of frozen fruit you like or don't like... Remember you won't be able to taste it so try new things!

P.S. Freeze extra in a cup OR make them into Popsicles for the kids!

Pico de gallo and Mini Taco Bowls

I don't normally eat uncooked onions or tomatoes... I like it in this dish!

-Pico De Gallo-
4 large tomatoes
2 onions
2 bunches cilantro

1 tsp Salt

4 tbsp Lime Juice

Chop up and mix together. Throw on mini taco bowls, or meat or put in a wrap! Add avocados and seasonings (garlic, chili powder) and add to pico de gallo for a dip or add to a chicken wrap!

-mini taco bowls-
Put won ton wrappers in muffin tin (2 per muffin cup). Add chicken, beef (shredded or ground), or whatever meat you like or is leftover from another meal! Add cheese. Cook at 350 degrees until lightly brown. Top with pico de gallo mixture!

In the picture I also tried to turn the won ton taco bowl into a burrito and used beans instead of meat! Not bad!

Butternut Squash Pasta Bake Recipe

I normally would not try this but did and LOVED it!!!!! Sautéed onions and bacon make anything better!

I used what I had in my fridge... Mexican mixed cheeses, and mozzarella cheese!

Oatmeal Recipe

This morning i made oatmeal! I normally love lots of brown sugar in mine... but im trying to go NO SUGAR!

It was yummy with vanilla almond milk, honey, cinnamon, banana, and frozen berries thrown in! I cooked it on the stove to make extra and refrigerate for tomorrow!

Starting our Healthy Eating Journey...

When I was pregnant with my third child it became very stressful with 2 young children running around, morning sickness, and military husband at work or gone too often! I discovered that sipping soda throughout the day made me feel better... in the moment... until I NEEDED another sip or chug about a half hour later! It has been more than a year after my baby was born, and I discovered that I gained more than baby weight while pregnant and CANNOT seem to lose it.

I grew up doing gymnastics and dance classes and even later teaching gymnastics and dance classes and continuing in dance performance. I always was active and strong and never had to worry about what I was eating or doing extra exercise. 

Now I am a stay at home mommy of three little kids (4, 3, 1). I don't have much time or energy to do anything I really enjoy doing (other than playing with my kids of course!). I am usually cleaning and picking up toys, or making food or running errands or eating and watching tv to try to escape for a few minutes. I do not get one moment to myself to think for myself or about myself... it is always where are the kids and what are they doing? I am not able to pamper myself or make myself beautiful. My husband is gone a lot in the military (either at work or TDY), and is currently working on his masters degree so when he is home he is not fully home. Yes, these are my excuses and reasons for not taking better care of myself. But I really shouldn't be making excuses.

I sometimes get inspired and remember what it was like to not have any chub, to be strong and have muscles, and be really happy! I remember and I want. I want to do it, I need to do it, I'm going to do it! I am going to get myself back into shape... eating better and feeding my family better! I sometimes feel bad to what it has come to... my kids eating frozen foods for lunch because it is faster and easier and less stressful for ME! I also realized that I wasn't running, jumping or playing with my kids as much as I used to. I wasn't really enjoying my kids and my time like I Should be... like I deserve... like our heavenly father wants us to be living! He wants us to be happy... to enjoy our life... to do things we love to do, and to love everything we are doing (yes, even chores and cooking and running around like a crazy person sometimes). I need to be happy doing things I wouldn't normally be happy doing, and also teach my kids to be happy doing things they don't consider to be "fun", but still enjoying WHO they are with, and even seeing the good and joy in WHAT they are doing!

I hope to share recipes and food I am eating and cooking, What I did to exercise, and hopefully what changes I have been making to make my life happier!

I am excited to start this.... let's do it!

-Stefanie