Quinoa Salad

I absolutely love to host get togethers but always am looking for healthy yummy crowd pleasing dishes.  This Quinoa Salad fits all my required criteria:  Yummy!  Easy to make!  Makes a lot!  Can be made ahead of time!

Quinoa Salad
Serves 10 (1 cup each)

Ingredients:
1/3 cup fresh lime or lemon juice
1 T ground cumin
1 T salt
1/3 cup olive oil
2 can black beans, drained and rinsed
4 cups water
2 cups dry quinoa, rinsed
1 medium red bell pepper
1 medium yellow bell pepper
1 medium orange bell pepper
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:
1) Combine lime juice, cumin, salt, olive oil in a large bowl, whisk.  Add black beans.  Set aside
2) Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
3) Add quinoa.  Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 10-12 minutes or until water is absorbed.  Remove from heat.  Set aside.
4) Dice peppers and cilantro, add to the bean mixture that is in a large mixing bowl.  You need extra space as this is a large recipe.  Toss till combined.  Add in cooled quinoa and mix gently.  Enjoy!

This salad is best if chilled for a few hours to cool completely.  It stays well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.  This recipe is adapted from the Fixate Cookbook.

If you are following the 21 day fix or 21 day fix extreme each serving counts as 1 green, 2 yellows and 1.5 tsp.

Feel free to share with friends and let me know what you think!

Healthy Brownie Batter Oatmeal

Some mornings I wake up and want something sweet, guess that's the nature of the beast when you LOVE sweets!!  Since starting a cleaner lifestyle I've been experimenting with different recipes for healthy quick breakfasts that I can make a head of time and enjoy through out the week.  One of my staples is Steel Cut Oats! Here is a yummy vegan and gluten free Brownie Batter Oatmeal!

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup cooked steel cut oats 

1 tsp all natural almond butter 

1/4 tsp gluten free vanilla extract 

splash almond milk 

1/2 packet stevia in the raw 

1 tsp raw cocoa powder 

1 tsp Vegan Chocolate chips (optional) 

Directions: 

 1) Take a bowl and place prepared steel cut oats, almond butter, vanilla extract and splash of almond milk and stir until combined.

2) Add stevia and cocoa powder and stir until combined.

3) Top with Vegan Chocolate Chips 

4) Enjoy! 

If you enjoyed this recipe please Pin it to your Pinterest using the button below! Thanks for reading <3

**If you are following the 21 day fix, CIZE or Insanity Max Meal plan this recipe would count as 1 yellow, 1 tsp and you would replace 3 yellows during the week to have the chocolate chips if you wanted to add those**

Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt

One of my favorite food groups is DESSERT! Ha!

When I decided to clean up my diet it was hard to find sweet treats that were healthy and satisfying. This recipe has become a staple in my life!!!  Better yet, my husband and kiddos LOVE it!  You can get creative with this and make different combinations but this is the base I always use and is always a crowd pleaser.

Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt
Ingredients:
1 small container or 3/4 cup plain greek yogurt (I use non fat Fage greek yogurt)
2 tsp natural peanut butter
1 tsp agave nectar
1 tbsp mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life vegan chips)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and stir well! Enjoy!

*recipe adapted from The Suburban girl*

**If you are following the 21 day fix meal plan this recipe counts as 1 red, 1 tsp and 1 yellow because of the chocolate chips 

21 day fix: Trader Joes Harvest Salad

As a busy Mom of 3 trying to live a healthy life I often eat on the run.  I do my best to make the healthiest choices with what I am given.  Pre made options and restaurants are just a part of my life and that is never going to change. Instead of using this as my excuse, I'm going to do my best to help you, and others, see how you can eat out and on the go while staying healthy and fit!

Recently a Trader Joe's opened up near us. I feel so blessed because this grocery store has some awesome reasonable items! I especially love their pre-made salads. It's my mission to try all and feature a new salad each week. If possible, I will give the 21 day fix conversion. 

Today I tried the Harvest Salad with Grilled  Chicken. The salad had grilled chicken, 1/2 a hard boiled egg, corn, white cheddar cheese, green beans and field greens with a creamy Dijon dressing. 

It was wonderful! I will definitely be eating this salad again! If you like corn and cheese along side creamy dressings you would love it!! 

If you are following the 21 day fix or 21 day fix extreme eating plan the equivalents are as follows with omitting the dressing provided: 

1.5 green containers, 0.5 red containers, 0.5 yellow containers, 0.5 blue containers **use your own dressing for your orange container**

Interested in joining my next challenge group fill out this form: https://healthylifewith3.wufoo.com/forms/zmxs1dr1xwm8y3/

Chocolate Shakeology Iced Latte

Today as I was walking around Downtown DISNEY I walked past Starbucks. I wanted an iced coffee soooo badly! I kept seeing people walk around with Starbucks cups and those darn green straws!!!  Ahhhhh!!!!  

I couldn't wait till I could get home to make myself a healthier version!!  Here is what I came up with!!  This yummy AND healthy MOCHA ICED LATTE!!

Try it and let me know what you think!!  Be sure to check back for more recipes!