Hu Kitchen: The Natural Way to Snack (and the yummiest Chocolate chips!)

HU Kitchen: The Natural Way to Snack

It’s no secret that what I put into my body is super important to me. In saying that, I definitely have a little bit of a sweet tooth when it comes to snacks! When picking a healthy snack not only for myself, but for my growing kiddos, its important that we have a high quality snack.

Recently we were introduced to Hu snacks and we haven’t looked back-they’re now a staple in our house. A lot of times when I have a sweet tooth after a big day of activity, I’m craving chocolate (or after a long day with the kids LOL). If you want to know what Hu is about, have a look at their slogan first- “Get back to human.” This is Hu in a nutshell. Co-founders Jordan Brown & Jason and Jessica Karp immersed themselves in the gut-brain connection, the causes of systemic inflammation, and the impacts of certain foods and additives in our health, immunity and performance. They were incredibly motivated to create a food brand that removed industrial ingredients with simple, healthier ones brought life to their human centric philosophy.

Hu offers several different products which we love- Hu Chocolate chips (our current favorite) which are made with 3 simple ingredients: organic house ground cacao, organic cocoa butter, and organic unrefined coconut sugar. We love to add these to oatmeal, granola, cookies, or even a trail mix! The boys love them!

Hu also offers super yummy chocolate bars which come in several flavors like Vanilla Crunch, Hazelnut butter, Almond Crunch, Salty Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut Coffee, and Simple Dark Chocolate. These bars are awesome because there is no sicky sweet, artificial flavor to them! I love how the ingredient list is short- it gives me reassurance that even though I’m eating something sweet, it is as natural as possible! The size of the bars are also perfect. Not too big or small.

If you love to snack on nuts, HU also offers Hunks in several different flavors. You can check them out here. They also offer cookies and crackers. As you can see, they offer something for everyone. Like I said, Hu is a family favorite.

Hu is Vegan, Paleo, Organic, and has no refined sugars, cane sugar, sugar alcohols, or palm oil. On top of that, they don’t use Dairy or soy, Erythritol, or lecithins and emulsifiers. Hu is a brand that is very committed to offering the best quality for their customers, and I am sure once you taste their product you won’t look back just like us!

If you want to try out some of their products, you can use my code ALEX20 to save on your order! Check HU out here!

Thanks to HU for sponsoring this post. As always, thoughts and opinions are my own.

xo,

Alex

How I’ve leaned out: The ins and outs of my nutrition

Ok. Most requested post of ALL. TIME.

The full round up on my eating schedule, how it works, and alllll about Macros.

So, first of all. I am not a medical professional, a trainer, or a dietician. This is simply what works for ME (and I have seen it work for other people). I feel compelled to share because I know that it will help someone out there.

So, a little background. After having my third son I was really uncomfortable in my skin. Of course, I probably “bounced back” quicker than the average mom, but it still, to be honest, it affected my every day life, my confidence and how I felt. With my oldest son I wasn’t really able to get super lean until after I stopped breastfeeding. Which was an entire year. That felt like an eternity especially since pregnancy is already 9 months long, and prior to that I had been a professional athlete who, ultimately, got paid to be fit.

After my second son, the same thing happened. I worked out, eat right and still held onto that last 8-10lbs until I stopped nursing which was 16 months. I got lean pretty quick, but I got pregnant about 3 months after stopping nursing so my progress ended there!

After having my third, I had heard of a program called FASTer Way to Fat loss. I was seeing other bloggers who had just had babies, who also were nursing, and lose tons of weight WHILE nursing. I kind of brushed it off the first time, but after numerous times hearing about how great it was and how to allowed for flexible eating, I thought “what do you have to lose?”

SO…after much thought I decided to go for it. In May, when my son was about 5 months old, I joined. And I haven’t looked back since. My results were MIND BLOWING. I lost all my postpartum weight, and reached my postpartum form by the time my son was a year old WHILE nursing. I didn’t cut any food groups and didn’t spend hours working out (I kept with my normal strength training regiment). I eat pizza, ice cream and other snacks every week. My milk supply wasn’t affected AT ALL. If anything, I had more milk!

I stayed on the program for almost a year and slowly stopped tracking my macros because, well, life. But after about 18 months, I found myself a little dissatisfied with where I was and went on a strict, clean eating diet plan for 3 months over the summer. While I did get lean, I just wasn’t happy because I was so restricted with my diet. And to be honest the results weren’t better than FASTer Way. Not only was I miserable, I felt like I was plateauing and was at a standstill. I was missing out on moments with my kids (think: summer ice cream nights). I just felt that I coulden’t sustain that diet plan for a long period of time.

So, this past November I got back on the FASTer Way plan and saw again, amazing results within 6 weeks while still eating all the things I enjoy. I LOVE not making separate meals for my family and I and still having flexibility of what I can eat. I’ve lost over 8 inches and 7 pounds since this fall.

So, you’re probably wondering WHAT is this plan?

The FASTer Way combines intermittent fasting, carb cycling and macro counting for literally an unstoppable combination. I love It because the community is so supportive and it keeps me accountable. I love how flexible it is- I can pretty much eat whatever I want as long as its in my macros. I DO try to stick to an 80-20 percentage of clean food vs. not so good food, but the fact that I can fit treats/meals in multiple times times a week and still get results is amazing.

What exactly Is Carb Cycling, Intermittent Fasting and Macro Counting?

Macronutrients (or macros) are the molecules our bodies need to grow and be active. We use these molecules as energy to do work on a cellular, tissue, organ, and organismal level. This energy helps us break down nutrients, repair damaged cells, grow new cells, and more. Macronutrients are broken down into three basic categories: carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

I was familiar with doing macro counting prior to starting FASTer way the first time…however it was still a little bit of a learning curve! It was 100% COMPLETELY worth it though! I can say that it is an adjustment tracking all of your food and entering it, but after the first week it just becomes part of your day. Most of the time I enter everything the night before, or right when I wake up. Now because I’ve been doing it so long I pretty much know if I’m on target or not because I tend to rotate a lot of the same foods. I currently use My Fitness Pal to track all my macros.

 What is my eating schedule?

Currently right now I am a part of the VIP Faster Way program and our week varies, but usually we have 2 days low macro (25 % less of each macro), 2 low carb days, and 3 regular macro days (read: carbs!!!!) The VIP program is for those that have completed one round of FASTer Way. Just a side note, I didn’t join the VIP program the first time after I finished my first round. I was able to continue to track my macros and stay accountable on my own for quite some time. This is an option for those of you who are self -motivated, but just need help initially getting setup with HOW to lose the weight and what macros you should be eating.

Right now, I’m at a point where I feel like having that group and accountability is important to my progress which is why I chose to join VIP after my initial round this fall.

If you are joining FASTer way for the first time, I believe that they have simplified things and you only have Regular macro days and low carb days! EASY PEASY.

Ok, so breaking down each day for what I’m currently doing right now:

Regular Macro days:

These days consist of lots of carbs and generally I match these up with my lifting days (especially lower body) to ensure I am fueling my body with awesome slow burning carbs (think oats, fruit, and sweet potatoes). These are the days I’m more likely to fit in treats like pizza, ice cream, etc.

Low Carb Days

These days consist of basically doubling my fat (yes…over 100g of fat!), but keeping my proteins the same and lower my carbs to below 50 for the day (ouch!). Think eggs, avocadoes, olive oil, chicken, salmon….I try to usually do intervals or running on these days.

Low Macro Days

These days consist of lowering my macros 20% across the board! I try to make this a low intensity workout or a rest day (long walk or run).

FASTer Way

I know this sounds overwhelming and confusing but honestly it gets easier every day and within 2-3 weeks you will have it down to a science. Also, there are videos (I listened to these in the car on the way to work/doing laundry etc) explaining everything step by step and over a 7 day period in what is called “Prep week.” Allie, who was my coach, literally is available for any question you have and is super accessible and knowlegable.

So here’s the thing. I think a lot of people think that people put little effort into becoming fit. It simply doesn’t work that way! That’s the reality. Yes, this takes energy and planning. But I don’t meal prep hardly AT ALL and I’m still able to make this work pretty well. You HAVE to make your nutrition and fitness a huge priority in your life in order to see results, especially the older you get. Once you make it a routine/habit after 3 or 4 weeks, its literally just a part of your day! And the beauty of this is you can pick your own meals, your own foods and work them into your plan/diet as you see fit! I always recommend if you DO want to have a treat that day- put that in your macros first so you don’t go over!

What is great about FASTer Way to Fat Loss is that you have a coach that is dedicated to helping you every single day, and a community/facebook group that is there to keep you accountable. This was HUGE for me. Posting my daily macros forced me to stick with it and know that every day WILL NOT be perfect! Progress >> Perfection.

If you EVER have any questions about any of this feel free to email me peanutbutterblondie@gmail.com, or DM me on Instagram @alexsahlen2. I am more than happy to help!

FASTer Way is HANDS down the best investment I ever made Postpartum (and now as a busy mom of 3) and if I were to have another baby, I would not wait to start- I would be joining a round literally at 6 weeks Postpartum.

For those that are interested in joining the next round that starts March 28th…click here!

Xo

Alex

Talking Collagen: Live Conscious Collagen Peptides

Talking Collagen: Hair, Skin, Nails & Joint Health

Thanks to Live Conscious for sponsoring this post

After having three kids in under 5 years, it’s no secret that my hair, skin and nails had been through a LOT. As most of you know, hair loss after pregnancy and affected me the most after my third son. Prioritizing myself in the months after having my baby was important to me after putting baby first for so many months. Looking for a great collagen to make a difference in not only my hair, but my skin and my nails was my task at hand. Instead of doing the same thing over and over hoping for better results, I decided to rethink the way I treated my hair and skin from the inside out.

I’ve started using Live Conscious Collagen Peptides over the last 90 days and have seen a big difference in not only my skin and hair, but my nails. Normally this time of year they become brittle with the cooler temperatures, but since I’ve been taking Live Conscious, they’ve been stronger than ever.

Its important when looking for a collagen that it is high quality collagen, that the collagen is clinically studied, and the serving sizes are at the clinically recommended amount. Live Conscious Collagen Peptides are high quality, grass fed collagen and have zero additives and fillers. They are third party tested and are highly bioavailable which is HUGE for me. This means that they are easily absorbed by the body, meaning they work better!

What are the benefits of Live Conscious Collagen Peptides? Well, as I mentioned earlier, my hair, skin and nails are on another level! Restoring elasticity, hydrating the skin, and helps reduce the visible signs of aging are all byproducts of these Collagen Peptides. But not only that, they benefit areas of health beyond hair- bones, joints, gut health, and immune system.

I love this product because its SO easy to take- I just add it to my smoothie or any drink in the morning. My husband adds it into his coffee! Its never grainy or clumpy and dissolves easily. When mixed with just water, Collagen Peptides has a subtle, natural taste. They’re virtually tasteless in your coffee, smoothie, or any other flavored beverage!

I had tried other collagen products with little results so I was definitely skeptical at first. But now, after 1 bag, I’ve seen firsthand my nails are stronger, my hair is breaking less easily, and my skin has never been better since using Collagen Peptides. 

The quality of this product is unmatched, and its such an easy way to do a little something for yourself every morning to feel and look your best!

This would make an amazing stocker stuffer for ANYONE!

Have you tried Living Conscious Collagen Peptides before or any other collagen?

Thanks to Live Conscious for sponsoring this blog post. As always, thoughts and opinions are my own!

Xo

Alex

My go-to electrolyte drink: Ultima Replenisher

How I Rehydrate My Workouts: Ultima Replenisher

Thanks to Ultima Replenisher for sponsoring this post. As always, thoughts and opinions are my own.

Spring is here, and before we know it the heat of the summer will be here! I for one prefer to work out in milder temperatures, but being a mom of three means I get my workouts in whenever that happens-which means sometimes in the heat of the day!

My favorite workout always has and will be soccer, but my playing days are over and I generally gravitate towards running (distance and track workouts), resistance training with weights and bands in the gym, biking with my family and running after my 3 kids! As you can imagine, we are always on the go!

Hydration is such an important part of your daily wellness- it really is the first piece of advice I can give anyone. And while I drink a TON of water, after a workout or day of movement with the kids you need a little bit EXTRA which is why I reach for Ultima Replenisher.

Ultima Replenisher is an advanced, balanced electrolyte drink that provides highly effective hydration with six electrolytes and no sugar, calories or carbs! This stuff is a real game changer- the taste is very real as it is sweetened only with organic Stevia leaf which I love! Knowing that all the ingredients are pure and clean are really important to me.

So you’re probably wondering why we need electrolytes? Electrolytes are involved in many essential processes of your body. They play a role in conducting nervous impulses, contracting muscles, keeping you hydrated, and regulating your body’s PH levels. They are basically essential minerals found in your blood, sweat, and urine. Being low on electrolytes can cause cramping and dizziness amongst other things.

Ultima Replenisher is the perfect electrolyte replacement: healthy, effective and tastes delicious! I love how easy it is to use-just take a scoop and shake it up in your water bottle and you are good to go! The canisters are small and portable which is very convenient for my busy lifestyle.

Travel a lot? No worries…when I went down to Florida with my family I was able to take their smaller individual stick packs and not miss a beat down south in the heat!

Ultima comes in several flavors including grape, orange, raspberry, pink lemonade, cherry pomegranate, lemonade, blue raspberry, and watermelon. My personal favorite so far is orange!

I highly recommend that you all check this drink out- whether you are a mom looking refuel after a workout, a high school athlete hydrating during a game, or a college or pro athlete living from the game.

Ultima Replenisher is available at Whole Foods and You can check out their website where you can order directly and learn more about their products: Ultima Replenisher.

Have you tried Ultima Replenisher? Do you drink an electrolyte replacement beverage?

xo

Alex

Fun Finds for March: National Nutrition Month!

Thanks to Babbleboxx for sponsoring this post. As always, thoughts and opinions are my own.

Winter can be incredibly long in Upstate NY, but once March arrives I always feel optimistic. The days get longer (thanks, Daylight Savings), the temperatures start to get warmer, and the sun shines more. March is definitely a month I look forward to and enjoy!

I also love that it is easier for me to stay active and make healthier choices. Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign that encourages people to make informed food choices and develop healthy eating and exercise habits! I’m excited to share 4 ways to celebrate National Nutrition Month in 2021!

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Refreshers

Gut health is incredibly important to your wellness, so I have been prioritizing daily prebiotics by drinking Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar refreshers. These refreshing drinks are packed with meticulously selected fruit juices, teas and spices along with 2 tbsp of raw unfiltered raw apple cider vinegar in every bottle. Bragg Live Food Products is one of the oldest independent natural food companies in the United States, and after tasting their nutritious and delicious drink, I’m not surprised. To find out more about Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, click here.

Veestro Meal Delivery

As a busy mom of three, sometimes meal planning can get tricky. Between work, soccer practice, and remote schooling, prioritizing dinner and healthy meals can be a challenge which is why I’m happy to rely on Veestro Meal Delivery! Veestro meals are 100% plant based and are fully prepared which is so convenient. Veestro meals are also vegan and shipped frozen to reduce food waste! Right now you can get 25% off any order through March 31st by using the discount code BABBLE25 at htpp://www.veestro.com.

Eat This Book from Running Press



Knowledge is power, and educating yourself about food, nutrition and how to fuel your body is integral to your own wellness. Eat this Book is a fun, illustrated book packed with little nuggets of information and encourages healthy eating. This book has definitely inspired me to be more creative with my favorite foods, while also branching out my own nutritional palette to new options! The illustrations and bright colors make it interesting and engaging for anyone to read, even kids. This would make a great gift for anyone! Click here to learn how you can get a copy of it.

Meat Sticks from CHOMPS

With three small children, I tend to have small meals on the go! I’m always looking for a protein packed, high quality snack to put in my bag to keep my hunger at bay. CHOMPS grass fed beef sticks are a great choice because not only do they have 9-10g of high quality protein, including grass fed and finished beef and venison and free range turkey. CHOMPS are certified paleo, Whole30 approved, keto certified, and free from all 8 major allergens. CHOMPS products are also free from GMO’s, gluten, soy, dairy, added sugar, nitrates or nitrites, MSG, artificial preservatives or coloring and artificial sweeteners. They also taste amazing and offer three different flavors including Original Beef, Jalapeno Beef, and Salt & Pepper Venison.

Click here for a special offer on CHOMPS grass fed beef sticks, valid now through 3/31/21 and save 20% off your order with the code BABBLE20 valid through 3/31/20.

National Nutrition Month

Did you guys know it was National Nutrition Month? What steps are you and your family making for your wellness this month?

 As you guys all know, Nutrition and wellness are so important to me family and I. I love sharing and helping you in your fitness journey.  Let me know in the comments below if you will be trying any of these great products and any of your tips for the month of March!

Xo

Alex

Tortellini Chicken Soup

First recipe of 2021! Here we go! 

I’m always game for a good one pot meal, especially with 3 littles running around. I love how this one is only 6 ingredients and virtually no work! If meat isn’t your thing, you can always omit the chicken sausage! Or, if you wanted, you could use Italian sausage. If you want it a little on the creamier side, add more cream cheese than 8 oz! I served mine with some bread on the side! 

Let me know how yours turns out! 

Ingredients:

2 cans diced tomatoes 

6-8 oz Cream cheese 

3-4 cups Spinach 

Chicken sausage (I used 6) 

4 cups Vegetable broth 

Tortellini 

1. Slice sausage, brown for 3-5 mins in saucepan.

2. Cut cream cheese into squares.

3. Pour vegetable broth, diced tomatoes and cream cheese in crockpot. Add browned sausage.

4. Cook on low for 3-4 hours

5. Put tortellini in crockpot. Let cook for 7-10 mins. Add spinach, in batches, if needed. Cook until wilted.

6. Serve & enjoy!

Guilt Free Dessert: Keto Pint

GUILT FREE DESSERT: KETO PINT

Thanks to Keto Pint for sponsoring this post!

Hi friends!

Happy Monday! Can you believe Christmas is this week? I literally have no idea where December has gone!

I wanted to jump on here and share a new product that I have been LOVING and I know you will too.

As you all know, working out, eating healthy and living an active lifestyle is incredibly important to me! I definitely live by the 80-20 rule where I eat “clean” 80% of the time, and 20% of the time I let myself splurge. I’m sure you can all relate when I say it was more like 50-50! Ha!

With that being said, I LOVE my sweets! I’m a huge ice cream fan, but usually shy away from it unless it’s a special occasion.

Enter Keto Pint.

Guys, this stuff is the REAL deal. Keto Pint offers pints and Keto Ice Cream Bars in several different flavors, and they all taste amazing. The Keto Ice cream bars come in flavors including Peanut Butter Cup,  Mint Chip, and Sea Salt. The Keto Pints come in even more flavors like Chocolate, Cake Batter, Butter Pecan, Black Raspberry, Keto Coffee, and Peanut Butter Cup! The Keto Pint Ice cream bars contain only 2g net carbs per bar (1 serving) and the pints only have 3g net carbs per serving (3 servings per pint).

You’re probably wondering about the flavor….it is off the charts! All of the flavors I have tried have been excellent and I love the fact that I can splurge without the guilt!

I really like that Keto Pint products have a very small amount of sugar that comes naturally from the lactose used in their ingredients. There are no added sugars as their products are sweetened naturally with organic monk fruit and stevia! #winning

 I’m so excited to share this with you because…well, this time of year can be tough! All kids of cookies, cakes, and sweets calling your name for the holidays! Stock your fridge with Keto Pint and don’t think twice about dessert.

Not only is Keto Pint a win in your freezer, but they are an incredible company to support. Keto Pint has partnered with one of the largest cocoa processors in the world in an effort to support its sustainability initiatives. Keto Pint partners with the Cocoa Horizons Foundation to purchase its chocolate products at premium price, helping to fund farmer training in good agricultural practices, farmer support, innovative finance solutions, initiatives to protect children access to education, women’s empowerment and basic health services. Keto Pint is spearheading its efforts to make sustainably sourced chocolate the norm!

Keto Pint also partners with Prairie Farms, a farmer owned dairy cooperative that is comprised of more than 800 family farms. I love how they give back to the farmer community.

A few tips before you enjoy your Keto Pint: Make sure you leave it out for 20 minutes before devouring J AND don’t share ;)

You can find Keto Pint at Whole Foods, Wegmans, Costco, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Food City, Kroger and many more!

Check out their online site at https://ketopint.com, and their social handles at https://www.instagram.com/ketopint/ and https://www.facebook.com/ketopint.

Let me know if y’all try it and love it!

Thanks to Keto Pint for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Xo

Alex

Nutrition Tips for Thanksgiving...

Hi friends! Can you believe its already Thanksgiving? I’m excited for a day of relaxation, family, and checking out Black friday deals for y’all! Shopping online of course :)

I wanted to jump on here and share on how I tackle Thanksgiving from a Nutrition/Diet standpoint! I love thanksgiving and all of its food, but I don’t love how I feel if I overindulge. The last few years I’ve lived by these rules and I’m still able to enjoy thanksgiving, but I still feel good the next day!

6 tips for Thanksgiving

1. Don’t skip meals: My biggest tip is DON’T SKIP meals thinking that it will help you lower your caloric intake! I definitely suggest eating normal so that when it comes time for thanksgiving meal, you’re not starving and less apt to over eating! Think oatmeal, eggs, and lean proteins/veggies throughout the day.

2. Hydrate: Tons of water! Sometimes our hunger messages get mixed with thirst! Drink before you eat!

3. Focus on the proteins and veggies first: I always, always, always fill up on the protein and salad before I go after any sides, desserts, etc! My family always buys a bigger turkey because I eat so much of it haha!

4. Stay active: walk, etc: I know this year is a little bit different, but get outside! Walk, join a virtual 5K, get a quick HIIT workout in…get moving!

5. Watch the apps: I try and pick and choose- I might nix the apps and just have a glass of wine! That way while everyone else is eating, I’m just slowly sipping away! It can be easy to over eat when you are socializing!

6. Remember its just one day! Don’t beat yourself up if you overeat! It’s one day!~ What matters is what you do tomorrow, and the day after that!

Have an amazing Thanksgiving friends!

xo

Alex

6 things to do when weight loss has stalled

It’s Monday! Time to Grind and get the week started!

I wanted to jump on here and share a little wisdom with regard to weight loss & what to do when you reach a plateau! There is nothing more frustrating when what you have been doing STOPS working when you’re trying to get leaner or lose weight…so I’m here to help.

6 things to do when weight loss has stalled

1. NUTRITION: If you guys know me, you know how I preach that good nutrition is the key to getting to where you want to be. Re-evaluate how you’ve been eating. Remember, every little bit adds up. The small piece of donut or spoonful of peanut butter makes a difference. Reign yourself in and I highly recommend tracking what you’re eating whether it be by hand, or by myfitnesspal! This will be an eye opener for sure and get you back on track! Yes, I know its hard AF. But, if you want it bad enough you’ll get through those first few days. It takes 3 weeks for something to become a habit. That discipline will be like second nature after a week or two. My honest recommendation: focus on fats and proteins and lower your carbs.

2. Do Less: I know this sounds counterproductive, but believe it. I do less- but when I’m working out, I make it count and go hard. Days off are important, especially when you’re training hard! Our bodies needs time off.

3. Sleep: Sleep affects everything in your body including hormones, appetite, energy! Ever heard of cortisol? Do the research! Sleep is crucial to weight loss and just overall body function. Also, those of you who are postpartum are probably reading this thinking…umm its impossible for me to sleep! I feel you! I RARELY did morning workouts when I was nursing and the kids were infants. I fit it in during the day because I already wasn’t getting much sleep. Just know that your baby WILL sleep soon, and its just a matter of getting through it!

4. HIIT: Any explosive movements you can do in your workout will blast fat like you won’t believe! Think: Squat jumps, jump rope, sprints, broad jumps, burpees, or really any activity that you can do for 15 seconds-1 minute will raise your hear rate and burn fat. You don’t need any equipment! Search HIIT exercises on IG or pinterest. I guarantee if you add HIIT into your workout regiment 2-3 times a week you’ll see a difference in your body.

5. Resistance Train: Weight training has CHANGED my body for sure, especially after having three kids. It has been the #1 reason that I was able to lose all the baby weight. Weight training is critical for weight loss because it increases after burn exercise, and by increasing muscle size (this increases the number of calories we burn at rest). If you’re not comfortable and don’t know where to start, hire a trainer. If you don’t have the money for that, buy some bands and kettlebells/free weights. Watch videos online and look at the smallest details. Form is important!

6. WALK. I know this sounds silly, but i Walk SOOOO much and it makes such a difference in weight loss! Move more! Park farther away, walk to your errands, go for even a 10 minute walk 2 times a day. Trust me, it adds up! I shoot for a minimum of 10k steps a day, and usually hit 15k unless the weather has been super crappy! You don’t need to be a marathon runner to lose weight! All you need to do is WALK!!

Remember, be PAITIENT. This process isn’t a sprint, its a marathon!

xo

Alex

Talking Snacks: Nature Valley Packed Sustained Energy Bars

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Nature Valley

Hi friends!

 I’m not going to lie in that the last few days I’ve savored the summer air, slow mornings, afternoons at the park, and long bike rides at night. It’s hard to believe that the school year is already upon us in just a week or two. Summer seems to fly by even quicker as the years go on! I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to get a handle on all of the back to school items: pencils, crayons, art smocks, and of course, back to school lunches and snacks.

 Whether your child is in school every day, doing a hybrid, or is virtually learning/homeschooling, it is crucial that they have the best fuel to power them through the day. Giving your child (and yourself) high quality foods with healthy fats, important carbohydrates, and muscle building protein will help you and your child stay focused throughout the school year!

 With the kiddos back at school and sports, our schedule will be busier than ever. Having healthy snacks that are convenient for on-the-go are important in our house! Nature Valley has been our families go-to snack bar over the years, dating back to my professional soccer days where we were always fully stocked with Nature Valley on game days!

 I’m so excited to share that Nature Valley is introducing its newest snack bar, Nature Valley™ Packed™ sustained energy bars. This unique addition has hard-working ingredients you can feel good about like creamy nut butter, crunchy nuts & seeds such as almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or peanuts and chewy cranberries or blueberries.

 Not only do our kids love these sustained energy bars, but they are part of my daily meal planning. Nature Valley™ Packed™ delivers on the long-lasting energy I need to get through important parts of my busy day-because as we all know, chasing around 3 kids is a full time job!

 I love how these bars check all the boxes in terms of supporting my own active lifestyle- healthy fats, carbohydrates for my workouts, and protein to help me recover when my workout is complete.

 Nature Valley™ Packed™ comes in 2 flavors which both the kids and I love: Peanut Butter & Cranberry, which is made with creamy peanut butter, crunchy roasted peanuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds as well as chewy cranberries. They also offer an Almond Butter & Blueberry flavor which is made with creamy almond butter, crunchy almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds as well as chewy blueberries. The boys love the fruity taste that the blueberries add, and you know me….I love the Peanut Butter!

 Do your body a favor this back to school season and try the Nature Valley™ Packed™ bars! Your family will thank you! To try these bars out today, click here for an easy order!

Xo

Alex

 Thank you to BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Nature Valley for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe

Hi everyone! Happy Thursday! Hope you guys are all hanging in there! 

I don’t know about you, but cooking every single night has forced me to be a little more creative with my meals! I’m really sticking to my nutrition during this quarantine because I have the time! Coming up with some items that fit my macros while not going to the grocery store as often has been my challenge, because as you know a lot of what I eat is fresh produce. 

Last night was a low carb night, but I really wanted to have something in my meal to look forward to (no offense to my grilled fish meals haha). I had been wanting to try and make Buffalo Cauliflower bites at home in the air fryer for quite some time, and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. It got me excited for low carb night! 

It was SO easy and added a little flavor to my meal. This would make an awesome appetizer as well or even a lunch! 

Ingredients :

1 cauliflower head

1/2 cup franks red hot sauce 

2 tablespoons butter (melted) 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

Garlic powder to taste 

1/2 cup flour (I used unbleached) 

Instructions:

1. Cut cauliflower head into small pieces. 

2. Melt butter in large bowl. Add hot sauce and olive oil. 

3. Mix flour and garlic powder in a different large bowl. 

4. Dredge cauliflower pieces in hot sauce mixture, then into flour mixture. 

5. Turn fryer on to 390 degrees, cook for 15-20 mins. Make sure you shake/ flip! I like them crispy so kept them in a little longer!

6. Enjoy ❤️

Xo 

Alex

Monday Meal Plan: Healthy Chicken Parm

Happy Monday friends & Happy March!

I can honestly TASTE Spring around the corner! Its been a little bit since I came on here (we were in Florida and since I’ve been back its been so busy with the kiddos!) so I thought I would hop on and share a recipe that we all love as a family. I actually can’t believe I haven’t shared it!! I was racking my brain the other day for a good family friendly Sunday night dinner and it popped in my head! When I realized that I didn’t share with you all yet I knew I had to make it!

Normally when you think of chicken parm, you think of fried, and heavy! This meal is the total OPPOSITE and it tastes just as good!

Ingredients

1/2 cup Bread Crumbs (f you need more you can always add more!)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Panko crumbs
1 egg, beaten
Chicken cutlets
Mozarella cheese (or cheddar cheese
Jar of red sauce (or if you prefer homemade make that!)
Pasta of your choice (or zucchini noodles)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Boil water in pot. Once boiling, cook pasta.

2. Combine both breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in dish. Beat egg in dish. Dip chicken cutlet in egg, then in mixture. Place on baking sheet with parchment paper (this is important!!! If you use foil it will stick!!). Repeat with all pieces of chicken.

3. Bake the chicken for 12-15 minutes or until browned. Flip chicken. Whe both sides are fully cooked, place cheese on top of chicken and broil on HIGH for 4-6 minutes. While chicken is getting “crispy”, warm sauce.

4. Take chicken out of oven, let cool. Spoon sauce over chicken and pasta. Enjoy!

   Notes:

   -I served this with salad, and sauteed green beans and mushrooms with minced garlic!
   -I happened to use cheddar cheese, but most people would probably prefer mozarella!
   -My kids are obsessed with this meal!
   -I’ll mention again how important the parchment paper is!
   
   

xo

Alex

Meal Plan Monday: Chicken Piccata

Happy Monday!

I’ve been on a roll experimenting with recipes and changing things up for dinnertime! #soproud ! I love playing around with ingredients and putting a healthy spin on meals & sharing them with you all!

I made a really nice Chicken Piccata meal last night for the whole family and everyone loved it!

Ingredients:

Whole grain or Protein pasta
Olive Oil
Butter (optional)
Chicken Cutlets
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 cup Flour (I try to use Unbleached white flour-they were all sold out yesterday)
2 cloves garlic, minced
pre-sliced mushrooms
1.5 cup chicken stock
Capers, to taste
1 lemon

Notes:

Pasta: I usually pick something easier to eat for the kids- angel hair or any other long noodle is a little bit harder for us with the age of our boys so I usually pick ziti, penne or bows! But if you don’t have young kids, angel hair is awesome!
-I definitely recommend buying cutlets of chicken! Much quicker to cook!
-We also made a side of a salad to go with this!

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

2. Mince garlic; warm oil in frying pan. Sautee 1 clove garlic on low.

3. While pasta is cooking & garlic is becoming fragrant, place 3/4 cup flour in dish with salt, pepper. In a separate dish, pour 2 tablespoons oil & 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Dip chicken in oil/lemon mixture. Then dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess.

4. Place chicken in frying pan with garlic . Cook 3 min on each side or until done. Remove chicken from pan. (I added butter when I flipped the chicken for a little more flavor)

5. In same pan, warm other clove garlic with oil. Cook until fragrant. Add mushrooms. Cook until browned. Add 1 tablespoon flour and 1/4 cup stock to pan, stirring with whisk. Add remaining 1 1/4 cup stock and capers, bring to boil. Tip: if it is too runny, add more flour. Add chicken back to the pan and cook for another 3-5 mins.

6. Top pasta with chicken & sauce. Enjoy!
   

xo
Alex

Fast Shrimp Paella

Happy Monday friends! I threw together this meal for the first time tonight and its definitely a keeper! Easy, not a lot of ingredients, tasty and quick!

For this recipe, I used brown rice and frozen peas and shrimp. This meal took me about 30 minutes all up to prepare and cook for (and thats including an intermission to get something for my son who came down from bed! Ha!)

I love this meal because using frozen shrimp and peas really cuts down on prep time. Rice is a super easy carb to make, and you throw it all into one pan! Also, tumeric is an EXCELLENT spice to use - there are so many health benefits to it (google it!).

Enjoy!

Easy Shrimp Paella

Ingredients:

1 cup of rice 
Olive oil 
1/2 tsp ground tumeric
1 cup chopped pepper (your choice what color) 
1-2 cloves garlic, minced. 
1 cup frozen peas
1/3 cup water
1.5 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined (I use frozen) 
Salt and pepper to taste 
Cilantro for garnish (optional) 

Directions:

1. Cook rice as per directions 

2. Heat olive oil, garlic and tumeric in a frying pan. Cook until fragrant. Add peppers. 

3. Add shrimp and cook until no longer opaque. Add peas. Add water if needed (I had a little leftover water as the shrimp were defrosting, so I did not even need to add it!)

4. Mix cooked rice and mix. Simmer for 3-5 minutes. 

5. Top with cilantro. Enjoy!

Hope you all had a great Monday!

xo

Alex

Meal Plan Monday: Peanut Tofu Rice Bowl with Avocado

It has been a minute since I shared a Meal Plan Monday, and I’ll be honest it is a HUGE goal of mine to share more recipes in this space! I know so many of you follow me not only for fashion, but also for nutrition & fitness which is why I want to share more behind the scenes of what I eat on a daily basis. My goal is to share two recipes a month, if I can churn out more, great! The hardest part is that I am a creature of habit…so writing new blog posts on recipes means I have to make new ones! ha!

I meant to make this recipe last week, but I just reverted to making pancakes for dinner because by the time I got all 3 kids to bed I was tired AF! Trust me when I say that this recipe was worth the wait! This is hands down one of my favorite recipes I’ve ever made for the first time and I’ll definitely be adding this into the rotation. Its fast, easy, and not a lot to cut up (this is key for me in my stage of life!).

Keep in mind that you definitely don’t need to use Tofu (you could totally use chicken), but I thought it would be good so I went for it!

Peanut Tofu Rice Bowl with Avocado

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup spinach leaves (you can use more or less! Up to you!)
1 cups broccoli florets
2 teaspoons olive oil or additional sesame oil
16 oz extra firm tofu (I used firm and it was a little mushy so I would recommend extra firm!)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Avocado

Peanut sauce

1–2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons chili sauce
1/4 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut tofu into small cubes. Warm olive oil in frying pan or wok. Sautee tofu until lightly browned. While tofu is cooking, whisk together the ingredients for the sauce (sesame oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, chili sauce, peanut butter) until creamy and smooth. Add sauce to the tofu bowl and let marinate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. Cut Broccoli and mince garlic. Sautee garlic until fragrant. Add the broccoli for 3-5 mins.

Add tofu, in batches, along with the marinating sauce until crispy and golden browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add shredded carrots, and spinach. Cook until spinach begins to wilt. Add 1/4-1/2 cup water depending on how thick you want the sauce. (I used 1/4 cup)

Top with Avocado & Enjoy!

xo

Alex

Monday Meal Plan: Turkey Bolognese

Turkey Bolognese

Happy Monday friends! Wanted to hop on and share this awesome cold weather & family friendly recipe that is fast and easy…and also healthy!

A couple of notes- you can swap out the turkey for beef, and if you want to go lower carb, you can switch out the pasta for spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles. BUT if you remember what I said earlier…Carbs are not bad. I eat it with pasta! I just make sure I eat it on a day I am more active :)

Most stores have the mirepox already made & canned peas means easy peasy with 3 kids. I put the red pepper flakes on when I have dished the meal out because red pepper flakes + kids = no bueno! Ha!

Ingredients:
Ground Turkey
Olive oil
2 cloves garlic
Pasta of your choice
Zucchini (2-3)
Mirepox (I think you get this at Wegmans already made-but basically its onion, carrot & celery. Super easy!)
1 small can Tomato paste
1 & 3/4 cup Vegetable broth
Can of peas (I use about 1/2 the can)
Red chile flakes to taste

Directions:

1. Bring a medium sized pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook until tender. While the pasta cooks, prepare the turkey bolognase.

2. Chop and mince garlic. Cut the zuchinni into half moons.

3. In a frying pan, warm oil. Add mirepox, and cook until soft. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook until carmelized. Add turkey and cook until lightly browned but not yet cooked through. Add vegetable broth and zucchini, stirring until turkey is cooked through and zucchini is tender. Add the pasta and peas.

4. Remove from heat. Season to taste with red pepper chile flakes.

5. Enjoy!

Have a great night everyone!

xo

Alex