Oh, the struggle of trying to eat right and stay healthy during the most active season of the year. By active, I don't mean jogging or sweating at Zumba class. It's that time of year where we are all tempted to enjoy cocktails and stuff our faces while enjoying the company of friends and family. It's currently football season, Halloween parties will be popping up everywhere in a matter of days, and do I even need to mention Thanksgiving and Christmas? 'Tis the season of hunger! But don't fret! I have a few healthy party food ideas that are fun, delicious and won't leave you with gut guilt.  




  Salad Sandwich wraps: This is so easy, you can even let the kids help you put these together. Just wrap lettuce, cheese and whatever you wish into a piece of healthy lunch meat. I actually had the ones pictured above for lunch yesterday, so I didn't get super fancy, but you can make many different varieties- roast beef and horseradish, turkey and goat cheese, etc. Let your imagination run wild!  





  Buffalo Ranch Veggie Dip- This is my substitution for hot wings. I LOVE hot wings! But I don't love how they make me feel after I eat them, or what they do to my waist. For the dip, I mixed a ranch dressing packet (I hate the bottled ranch) with Greek yogurt and a little skim milk, then add buffalo sauce to taste. Serve it with your favorite vegetables, and it will curb your cravings for hot wings.  



  Mini Taco Bowls- This is another gem I found on Pinterest! You can either use regular-sized corn or flour tortillas, (I used corn), and simply spray them with olive oil spray and push them into the crevices of an upside down muffin tin. Bake on 350 until the edges look crispy, then let cool. When they are ready, you can fill them with whatever you'd like! I chose seasoned turkey burger and cheese, then served lettuce and Greek yogurt on the side. They were a huge hit with my family!


 Enjoy!    

It's apple season, and our neighbors brought us some delicious apples after taking a trip to the North Carolina mountains. Some Sundays I love making French toast, but since I'm eating healthier,  I utilized the lovely apples for a warm, comforting autumn brunch recipe. Cinnamon Apple Toast is perfect for a relaxing family Sunday brunch. It's quick to make, kids love it, and is packed with nutrients.



Place your toast on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven heats up, cut up the apple into small cubes and mix them with the butter, cinnamon and honey. Combine the mixture until it's completely blended, then spoon the mixture onto the toast. When the oven is ready, put the toast in the oven for about ten minutes, making sure to check it since all ovens are different.
And that's it! Pretty simple, huh?

Happy Sunday!

It's Sunday, and that means it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy a healthy breakfast with loved ones. Why not whip up a healthy brunch? This Spinach and Eggs Diablo is not only a quick meal to make, but it's an easy recipe to follow!

What you reed:

2 over easy or poached eggs
One piece of wheat bread (or English muffin)
A handful of raw spinach
A slice of pepper jack cheese
Wing sauce or hot sauce (I used wing sauce)
Fresh ground pepper



Set your oven to 350, then lay the spinach over the toast. Top the spinach with a slice of pepper jack cheese, then put it in the oven until the bread is toasted the way you prefer. When it's done, take it out of the over and place the eggs over it. Finally, drizzle with wing sauce and add fresh ground pepper to taste. I prefer to serve mine with a little fresh fruit for extra energy to aid me in my weight loss journey.

Enjoy!

It's FOODIE FRIDAY, so here is a recipe I made last night that was not only super healthy and fantastic for weight loss, but it was so delicious! It is a very easy crock pot meal to whip together as well.

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts
1/2 cup of lemon juice
3 garlic cloves
Fresh dill (as much as you'd like)
Salt & pepper to taste



All you do is put everything in the crock pot and cook it on high for two hours, then low for an additional two hours. Or-- cook it until the chicken is tender- whatever's easier for you and your crock pot.

I added fresh green beans by placing them on top of the chicken so they would steam, and let them cook for 20 minutes. You could do that with asparagus, broccoli or anything else you'd prefer.

It's a quick, low fat crock pot chicken recipe to put together that's perfect for a busy, healthy lifestyle.

Bon Appétit!