Be Our Guest Review

Ever since we saw the Be Our Guest restaurant construction begin a few YEARS ago we have wanted to try out the restaurant.  When it was new there were crazy long lines.  Being annual pass-holders we decided to wait it out.  So after craziness settled down I suggested to my husband Jason to make a reservation for his birthday!

We had no idea what to expect.  I did not look up reviews, etc before I made the reservation and even before going.  I assumed it would be a character full service dining like most Disney restaurants are.  Wow, we were so wrong but pleasantly surprised!  Be Our Guest is a higher-end fast service restaurant.  How fun!!

We walked up, gave our name and waited in a short line outside.  They escorted us inside where we waited in another line.  We had never been so we did not know what to expect.  The kids enjoyed the lobby and atmosphere!  Next we were shown to the room where you order at a kiosk.  There is a computer screen with pictures of the food options.  Wow!  There were so many different healthy options!  We went for lunch so I will tell you what we had and our review but for the whole menu check it out here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/be-our-guest-restaurant/menus/

My husband ordered the Croque Monsieur.  It is a grilled sandwich of carved ham and gruyere cheese and bechamel with pommes frites for $11.49.  He said it was pretty good and the portion was average. Basically it was a pressed Ham sandwich with fries.  Nothing special and a safe choice.

For the kids we split the whole-grain macaroni with marinara sauce and mozzarella and a side of peach applesauce for $6.99 as well as the grilled cheese with tomato soup and a side of french fries for $8.99.  The kids really enjoyed their food.  The macaroni came plain so you could add as much sauce or cheese as you would like which was really nice.  The grilled cheese was cut up into 3 long strips perfect for dipping.  Everyone enjoyed a few fries and the applesauce was just ok.  My daughter wouldn't eat it but our littlest did.

I try to eat a healthy clean diet and follow the 21 day fix 80% of the time so for myself, I ordered the Tuna Niçoise Salad.  It was a generous portion of seared tuna steak, green beans, a few small roasted potatoes, olives, roasted bell peppers, sliced cherry tomatoes and small poached egg for $13.49.  I really enjoyed this salad and wasn't able to finish the tuna steak.  While following the 21 day fix or 21 day fix extreme I would consider this salad to be 1.5 green, 1.5 red, 1 orange  1/2 blue and 1/4 yellow containers.  Personally I left off a lot of the olives and salad dressing because it was flavorful enough with the variety of veggies and tuna steak.

Tuna Niçoise Salad

Overall we REALLY enjoyed the ambiance, food choices and decorations.  The kids loved looking at all of the different rooms and their wall hangings.  They LOOOOVED the enchanted rose and asked me to take lots of pictures to look back on.  I would a major bonus was the dark air conditioned rooms as they were a nice break from the July Florida heat.  We will definitely be going back!!

Always fun trying to get a picture of all 3 

**If you are looking for help with the 21 day fix please comment below or email me at healthylifewith3@gmail.com**

Dairy Free Oatmeal Banana Cookies - 21 day fix dessert

One of my all time favorites and vices is COOKIES!  I don't discriminate when it comes to cookies!  Sugar, chocolate chip, cutouts, gingerbread - you name it, I will eat it!  Since I've made a change to be healthier and eat cleaner cookies are limited.  Well, not anymore with these super yummy Dairy Free Banana Oatmeal Cookies!   

If you are following the 21 day fix  you should know that you can trade out one of your yellow contains for one of these yummy cookies!  

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

(Makes 8 cookies - Serving size is 2 and replaces 1Yellow container on the 21-Day Fix)


Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
2 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
2 medium ripe Bananas, mashed
1/4 cup golden raisins 
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Vegan chips)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Lightly spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Combine oats, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl, making sure to mix well.
4. Add mashed bananas, walnuts, golden raisins and chips if using, mix well.
5. Drop by heaping Tbsp onto your baking tray.
6. Bake for 14-15 minutes, or until they are firm.
7. Cool and Enjoy!

(recipe adapted from 21 day fix meal plan guide)

These cookies are a great Dairy Free option!  I sometimes enjoy them for breakfast on the go or if I'm having a sweet craving.  My kids also like them which is exciting!  

Never heard of the 21 day fix or you are looking for a Coach, comment below, message me or head over to my website: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/ERICAAMADORI

Family Friendly HEALTHY Baked Ziti

I have been on the search for a healthy pasta dish, more specifically BAKED ZITI!!  My husband is a pasta lover, I guess I'll blame it on his Italian genes!  He always gets bored with my typical chicken dinners so I have been inspired to create a HEALHY Baked Ziti that is also FAMILY/KID friendly!  It's not too time consuming and makes for great leftovers!!  It also fits very nicely into my Insanity Max30 or 21 day fix Nutrition Plan!  This dish includes carbs, protein, cheese/dairy and veggies so it a 1 DISH, complete meal!  

If you enjoy pasta, cheese, any one dish meals you will LOVE this recipe!

Ingredients (**I try to use Organic as much as I can**)
-1 pound lean ground beef 
-sea salt and pepper 
-1 T Italian Seasoning 
-1T mined garlic 
-2 cups carrots sliced/chopped 
-1 cup tomatoes diced 
-1 cup plain tomato sauce 
-3/4 cup 1%/part skim ricotta cheese 
-10oz dry whole wheat/grain pasta 
-2/3 cup mozzarella cheese 

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375.  In a large sauce pan add ground beef and cook until browned.  Pour cooked beef into a dish.  Save some of the fat from the meat in the pan to use to cook with.

2) Before you prepare sauce, cook pasta.  In a large pot, add 6-8 cups water and bring to a boil.  Cook pasta according to directions on box.  Drain and set aside.   

3) While pasta is cooking, create sauce.  In the pan with some of the beef fat add garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and carrots and sauté for about 10 minutes or until softened.  Add diced tomatoes.  Add tomato sauces and seasonings.  Let simmer for about 10 minutes.  

4)Add ricotta cheese, stir in slowly.  Add cooked beef, stir.  Add 1/2 mozzarella cheese and stir.  

5) Spray a large casserole dish (9x13) with cooking spray.  Add the pasta mixture to the dish.  Sprinkle other 1/2 mozzarella on top of pasta mixture.  Bake for 15-20 minutes to melt cheese.  Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and/or basil if desired.

If you are following the Insanity Max 30, 21 Day Fix or CIZE Nutrition Plan this dish makes 4 servings. One serving would be 1 Red, 3/4 Green, 1/2 Blue, 1.5 Yellow and 1/4 Purple 

Never heard of the above nutrition plans and want to learn more about clean, portion controlled eating and daily exercise check it out here: More info

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