Posts Tagged ‘#LowFat’

Im Baaack with Macro Friendly Mexi Salad

Well well, apparenmexisaladtly when I said I was only going to post when I was really feeling it….that meant never! :/

I apologize for my absence, as it was not for lack of thought about posting but rather a scattered summer mind as well as schedule!!!

Anyway, it is time to put excuses aside and get back atter for this amazingly simple and deeeelicious go-to macro friendly meal of mine.

This is my signature salad (seems too good to call it that) and is old fave for me that has all the makings of a perfect cure to training meal boredom…( that is rainbowsaladif you love Mexican food…as I definitely dmexisalad2o 🙂

Don’t believe me? Check out its credentials ;p

  • Macro friendly
  • tastes like a cheat
  • fast to make ( and consume;)
  • Inexpensive
  • Ingredients that can be made/stored in bulk

Nuff said!

Macro Friendly Mexi Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Spring greens mix
  • 4 oz Organic ground turkey
  • Preservative free taco spice ( 3 Tbsp to 1/3 cup water)
    Ingredients:
    1/2 cup chili powder
    1/4 cup onion powder
    2 tbsp. ground cumin
    2 tbsp. garlic powder
    1 tbsp. smoked paprika
    2 tbsp. kosher (or sea) salt
    1 tbsp. black pepper
    compliments of the The Country Cook
  • 1/4 cup Refried beans (I try and mostly use the organic ones by Pacific because they come in tetra packs instead of unhealthy aluminum cans)
  • 1 tbsp Bolthouse Farms cilantro avocado yogurt dressing (ranch works if you dont like cilantro (whats wrong with you!! jjk) ) Or sub in dairy free dressing and change the macros
  • 1/4 cup Salsa
  • 22 grams Sliced mushrooms
  • 30 grams Chopped red pepper
  • 15 g (approx 1/2 stalk) Green onion
  • 1/4 cucumber chopped
  • Optional – Sliced pickled jalapenos 1/4 cup , 15 g grated Paradise Island skim organic cheese ( both these are counted in the macro listing)

Directions

Saute mushrooms, onions, 1/2 of your peppers lightly. Add Ground turkey and cook until lightly browned. Add mexi spice and water boil then turn down and let simmer for 5- 10 mins (thickened up). Heat beans. Put salad mix in a bowl and toss with the other half of your peppers and the cucumber. Top with meat mix and beans, then the cheese. Finish with the dressing, salsa and jalapenos and be amazed…and delightfully full 🙂

Macros

Calories: 311

Protein: 34 g

Carbs: 19 g

Fat 11 g

Fiber: 6 g

Sugar: 5 g

Juice Pulp Muffins

muffintable

Happy Spring to you all!

Looking back I cant believe how fast time is flying by, and that it has been about 2 1/2  months since I last wrote here.

I have been a busy bee, like most of you out there…waking up from the hibernation phase of winter and starting new projects, education and intentions with the new energy of spring. That being stated, I didn’t deliberately take a hiatus from writing, but I realize now I was feeling a block in this area. 

I noticed when I started thinking of making a new post, that I was feeling resistance. I truly love writing and I also love the topics I write about on this blog, so I needed to dig deep to figure out what was going on. Here is what came up:

I don’t like doing what I am “supposed” to do! 

There, I said it! ; /

I am innately rebellious and like to go against the grain…even sometimes in spite of myself!  I came to the realization that I was looking at posting bi-weekly as a “job”, and the scheduled– ness of it coupled with the fact that I was comparing my writing to long and eloquently written works from well seasoned bloggers, was draining all the joy out of it for me.

So, what does this epiphany mean for me and my page??                                                     It means that I went to my journal and I wrote down what my new intention is this spring for my blog…and it goes like this:

I want to write what is authentic and inspiring to me, and that means writing when I am feeling those feelings and NOT on a schedule. But is this really “good business”? After all, the blogging powers that be are always hailing the importance of constantly putting out content to stay relevant…

Well, I think it would be more valuable to me and my blog followers to go by the old adage “quality over quantity”  and I think that the people who align with the same things I do will appreciate this approach over filler fluff, and I will always feel really good about what I put out.

Secondly, I have committed to not comparing my work or expression to the work of others and will write my feelings, recipes, points of view, and knowledge in my own voice and in however little or many words as comes naturally to me that day.                                        Only one sentence to go with a recipe?! So be it 🙂 2muffins

I hope you enjoyed this little “rant” or “declaration of my blogging independence”, and I hope it inspires you to set yourself free from old constraints, and to set new aligned intentions this season… Because Spring is for cleansing, and that isn’t just confined to your physical self.  

On that note, if you are planning to cleanse your body (liver is the organ of focus this season), here is one of my fave recipes for using up all that nutritious pulp left over from making your healthy green juices. Also check out my Spring Cleanse program to really get your body and mind cleared out and lightened up for summer 🙂

Blessed Be

Daly XO

Juice Pulp Muffins or Loaf

Ingredients:juicingveg


1 1/2 cups pulp from juicer or grated veg
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup honey or 1/2 cup coconut sugar
2 eggs, beaten or equivalent in egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups gluten free flour ie. Quinoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon                                                       pulp                                             1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup nuts, chopped
1/2 cup organic raisins (optional)

Directions:

1) Beat eggs then mix together with apple sauce and honey ( if using), vanilla and pulp
2) Sift dry ingredients and add to pulp mixture.
3) Add nuts and raisins last.
4) Bake in a greased or lined  9″ loaf pan or a muffin tin at 350F for 45 to 60 minutes1muffin

Healthy Tex-Mex Stuffed Peppers – Vegan Optional

pep  When you think of having a “cheat meal”, what comes to mind?

For me the answer is almost always Mexican food! You know, the Tex Mex version…not really too much like authentic Mexican food, which can actually be pretty healthy. Nope, I am thinking more like high in not whole grain carbs, ridiculously large and smothered in cheese! Is anyone else now hungry?? ;P

That being said, since I have learned about nutrition on a deeper level than just fat content and calorie counting…I see a whole lot more wrong with those types of meals, and it is now harder for me to indulge in them (harder, not impossible…I am human).  For the most part, I keep my eating very clean and conscious. If I do eat out, I would try to find a restaurant with a more authentic, ethical and fresh approach to their ingredients. Usually though, it is healthier, cheaper and easier to  make my own version of my fave foods, and that is what I have done here!

Stuffed peppers are a very easy, fast and healthful option to get your Mexi fix, and although I am not reinventing the wheel here, I thought it was worth sharing my take on this clean “cheat” to inspire you to try them if you haven’t (where have you been!?;), or maybe give you a new flavor idea for your next batch:)pep4

Tex-Mex Stuffed Peppers

serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1/2 large tomato diced
  • 1 lb organic ground turkey (or mashed chickpeas for vegan-just toss with other cooked ingredients and roughly mash)
  • 1/2 cup onion chopped fine
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 1 cup mushrooms sliced
  • 2 large bell peppers halved lengthwise
  • 2 Tbsp pickled jalapenos or banana peppers chopped fine
  • Taco seasoning – either homemade (recipe below, or cleanest no msg version you can find)
  • Fresh cilantro chopped for inside and some to garnish
  • Optional: 1/4 cup black beans, (I don’t use corn because of extra cooking for fresh or most other is GMO), 1/2 cup daiya vegan shreds or grated organic skim mozzarella ( I like Paradise Island).

Salt free mexi spice mix

1 serving for 1 lb of protein

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or dried garlic

Directions

Pre mix your spice blend and set aside. Clean and cut all veggies. Saute your onions, mushrooms and garlic until lightly browned. Add in turkey and cook until no longer pink, add in spice mix, stir well. Add 3/4 cup water and stir. Cook over medium heat until the water is

fully absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside. Place pepper halves open side down in a pan with an inch of simmering water and allow to steam until lightly softened (still standing in shape) not overcooked or mushy. Approx 5 minutes. Remove peppers and place on a foiled baking sheet (if you are melting cheese, if not you can plate them). Stir diced tomatoes and jalapenos and cilantro into your meat mix and spoon into each pepper evenly. Top with shredded daiya or cheese and bake just until melted and a bit browned. Top with cilantro sprig and serve 🙂

pep1

Enjoy xo

Macros: 1 serving of half pepper, without cheese, or optional ingredients.The meat is measured into 3 1/2 ounce portions per half pepper.

Calories: 183

Fat: 6.8

Carbs: 10.4

Protein: 17.1

Fiber: 3.1

Prawn Cashew Sauté On Black Bean and Zucchini Pasta

I love pasta! There is a statement I know many of you can relate to, and

perhaps even agree that we have been taught to feel somewhat naughty about it 😛 Somewhere along the diet crazy and gluten free enthused path society seems to be on,delicious and oh so fabulously carby pasta has become

a bit demonized (ok, slightly harsh..but you get it 😉

I have to admit that although I occasionally indulge in so

me gluten free spaghetti or splurge imageon a particularly irresistible penne at a restaurant…for the most part, pasta has been a thing of my past-a….umm yes, I just made that pun :\ and laughed at my own joke to make it worse!

I digress..

 I have been overjoyed to recently discover and incorporate zucchini pasta (zoodles) as a regular staple in my meal plan, and although it captures most of that pasta-y goodness .. I at times miss the real noodle texture. I always keep one eye on the pasta aisle

at the health food store for any space age super noodles that are sure to be invented any minute now!

Enter black bean pasta by Explore Asian. Praise the universe!!! Can you tell I’m excited :):):) These delightfully thin and light chow mein-esue noodles are gluten

free, high in fiber, really high in protein and relatively low in carbs…basically any figure and imagehealth conscious, closet pasta lovers dream!

A 56g/2oz portion of this awesomeness has 12 grams o

f fiber, only 17 grams of carbs, and a whopping 25 grams of protein (who the heck needs shakes). It is also worth 26% daily value of iron (good news for vegans and most women). Regular pastas cant even compete with around 30-40 grams of carbs per 2 oz servings, no more than 5-6g of protein and just 2-3g of dietary fiber.

I’m sold …and here to tell you to break out your fave home cooked sauces …cause pasta is back baby!

My latest creation with these nutritious noodles has a decidedly Asian influence that compliments this pastas texture as well as blending it with some zoodles for added density. I have also made this pasta with seared tofu and ground turkey and each give their own fabulous flavor! Give it a try and be in guilt free glory. Feel free to share any other recipes you come up with as I would love to give them a try 🙂

Here are the ingredients for an optional homemade sauce that is soo tasty, or I use Mr. Spice Peanut Saute for a quicker and more m

acro friendly alternative 🙂

Asian Inspired Dressing:

Ingredients

serves 4

  • 2 tbsp tahini
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 2 tbsp tamari (wheat-free)
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 1/4 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp ginger root, grated

Prawn Saute on Black Bean and Zucchini Pasta

Ingredients:

serves 1

  • 57 grams Explore Asian black bean pasta
  • 1/2 Large zucchini
  • 4 oz Prawns
  • 1/2 Red bell pepper
  • 1 Tbsp crushed cashews
  • Handful cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 Lime

Cook the spaghetti by boiling a medium pot of water, add spaghetti noodles to the boiling water and simmer gently for 6-8 minutes, or until cooked through. Immediately rinse under cold, running water. Spiralize the zucchini (I used a cheap and very functional hand held version by Gefu), then saute the “zoodles” in a saucepan until brighter green and lightly softened but not mushy. Clean and cut cilantro and red peppers while sauteing the prawns in the same saucepan once zucchini is removed. Toss the spaghetti and zoodles together with the cilantro, peppers and prawns, next drizzle with the sauce and top crushed cashews (I did my own by putting them in a sandwich bag and just maillot them). Squeeze lime over it all and garnish with one slice….EAT & ENJOY <3

image

Approx Macros without sauce

Calories: 386

Fat: 7.5

Carbs: 31.1

Protein: 50.7

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