Tag: when to eat

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Healthy Eats: Meatballs & Cabbage

I’m getting more and more dependent on meals I can prepare in advance so my husband can just pop in the oven if I’m still at work or busy with the kids! I love when the whole meal can be in one tinfoil pan too. This means easy to cook and easy to clean up…for a working mom it doesn’t get much better than that! I usually spend one day each week prepping a few pre-made pans of food for the nights I work late. Turkey meatballs and cabbage has become one of our very favorites for flavor and ease of preparation!

In my recipe for EASY Stuffed Peppers I explain that ground meat loses about 25% of its weight when cooked. So if you’re measuring your meat raw you need to account for this decrease. For the Meatballs & Cabbage recipe I measure 4 oz +/- for each meatball. So if you have a package of 40 oz of ground turkey (Sam’s and Costco sized packages) then you should get 10 meatballs.

Again, super easy to assemble. I take a head of cabbage and remove the outer 1-2 leaves. Then slice into thin “steaks” and place in the bottom of tinfoil pans. Usually 1 head of cabbage will make two pans for me. Then I thinly slice a sweet onion and spread around the two pans as well. I season the vegetables with salt, garlic powder and pepper. Before I portion out the meatballs I season with Italian seasoning or a mixture of whatever spices I have on hand. I’m a big fan of the Penzey’s salt free blends! Place the meatballs on top of the cabbage and onions. Add 1-2 TBSP of low sugar tomato sauce to the top of the meatballs and bake uncovered at 400-425 degrees (depends on your oven) for 55 min-1 hour.

Some helpful notes:

5 meatballs per pan seems to be the max to not have too much liquid cook out and saturate the cabbage. Add your fat portion after the meatballs are cooked. We love feta or Parmesan on the meatballs & cabbage meal but you could also drizzle a good quality olive oil!

We have so many healthy EATS that you can make right in your own kitchen!

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

 

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Healthy Eats: EASY Stuffed Peppers

So there’s stuffed peppers then there’s EASY stuffed peppers. If you’re looking for the easy way to make this meal, then you’re in the right place! In my regular recipe, I first cook the ground turkey. It’s something I thought was necessary for portion control. Turns out, after some research, there is consistency that ground turkey/beef in general loses 25% of its weight when cooked. So, if you measure each raw portion of meat to be 4 oz, then cooked it will be 3 oz which just happens to be a perfect fit in a small to medium pepper.

How to Prepare:

For the EASY stuffed peppers, all you do is clean the peppers and remove the top and inside membranes and seeds. Season your ground lean meat with Italian seasoning. I also like to add fennel seeds as it makes the meat taste and smell like sausage when its cooked! Measure your raw meat to be 4oz give or take a little and stuff it into the pepper. Top with a few tablespoons of low sugar tomato sauce and 1-2 oz of cheese of your choice. You can also wait and add the cheese after the EASY stuffed peppers are cooked. Feta is one of my favorite cheeses to top with!

Bake the peppers at 400 degrees uncovered for approximately one hour. Let cool slightly before serving. Make a few pans up ahead of time with chopped vegetables and you’ll have easy weeknight healthy cooking ready to go for your family!

Check out more healthy EATS recipes here!

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

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Healthy Eats: Blueberry Breakfast Bake

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…easy meals that you can make ahead of time will save your clean eating efforts. Prepare this moist, delicious and nutritious Blueberry Breakfast Bake ahead of time and in bulk so your mornings are fast, easy and healthy!

On hand, you’ll need egg whites, Superseed Beyond Fiber, old fashioned oats (uncooked), and blueberries. I like to make little loaf pans but you could certainly make these in multiple muffin tins.

Here are the portions for a typical female breakfast. In general, men can 1.5x – double the portion.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup egg whites

1 scoop Superseed Beyond Fiber powder

1/4 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup blueberries

For topping:

1 TBSP almond butter or any other natural nut butter

Low or No-sugar syrup (to taste)

Mix the egg whites, fiber powder and oats together. In your small loaf pan, place the blueberries then pour egg white mixture on top. Repeat for as many Blueberry Breakfast Bakes that you plan to make ahead of time. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the edges pull away from the side of the pan and the center is firm. Cool the breakfast bakes then remove from pans and wrap in tinfoil. Microwave when you’re ready to eat and top with the nut butter and syrup.

The ingredients you’ll have on hand are similar to some of our other delicious breakfasts so you can easily try the Pumpkin Breakfast Bake  or the Protein Pancake.

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

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Healthy Eats: Stuffed Cabbage

I talk often about convenient meals to help keep you on track during the week. Stuffed Cabbage is both convenient and healthy. The smell they emit while baking is just like Grandma’s kitchen! Assembly is easy and tinfoil pans make clean up a breeze. Stuffed cabbage should definitely be a staple in your “meal plan approved” arsenal.

Here’s how the stuffed cabbage leaves come together:

Place a big head of cabbage in a large pot of boiling water, reduce heat to low-medium and simmer for 10-20 minutes. You may need to rotate the cabbage head if part of it is not covered with water. Once tender, remove the cabbage from the pot and let cool before handling. To peel the leaves, cut the stem off and gently remove each leaf. Make a pile of 10 leaves. You can chop up the remaining cabbage and place on top of the stuffed leaves once finished.

For the filling, we use ground turkey (93/7), but you could also use lean ground beef or ground chicken breast. You’ll need 40 oz. to make 10 leaves. Season your meat with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pepper, and fennel seed. Use a paring knife to cut out the thick part of the cabbage stem. Then measure 4 oz of meat and place on the cabbage leaf. Roll and tuck in the sides like you would a burrito. Place each stuffed cabbage seam side down in the pan.

Sometimes I make a big pan of just stuffed cabbage and other times I use a few smaller pans and divide them up. On top of the cabbage pour low sugar tomato sauce generously. I also top with a variety of chopped vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, zucchini and tomatoes. This is where you can also add the chopped up remaining cabbage.

Bake the stuffed cabbage covered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes then reduce the heat to 350 and continue to cook for another hour. Each stuffed cabbage is a 3 oz portion of meat when cooked. Top with your allotted portion of feta cheese (typically 1/4-1/2 cup) and enjoy!

Healthy food can taste great too and we know how to do it! Try our other tasty healthy EATS by clicking here.

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day! There is no need to guess at how you should eat – let us help you eat right for your body type and goals!

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Healthy Eats: Pumpkin Breakfast Bake

Whether it’s fall, spring, summer or winter, the Pumpkin Breakfast Bake is a delicious treat you will want to eat all year long. They are moist, balanced and packed with fiber. Make several at a time in loaf pans and store in the refrigerator for a fast, on-the-go solution for your early mornings.

The recipe is simple:

3/4 c egg whites

2 whole eggs

1/2 c old fashioned oats

1/2 c pumpkin puree

1 scoop protein whey concentrate (or vanilla whey protein)

1 scoop Super Seed Beyond Fiber Powder

1 TBSP coconut oil

1/4 c dried cranberries

1 dash of ground cinnamon

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl with a whisk until smooth. Pour into a loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. I usually make 3 Pumpkin Breakfast Bakes at a time in order to use the whole can of pumpkin. Each bake is approximately 2 breakfasts for women and 1-1.5 breakfasts for men. There is no need to guess at how much you should eat though. *The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Try our other tasty healthy EATS by clicking here.

 

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Healthy Eats: Sweet & Spicy Pork Tenderloin

What do people miss most when they diet? Good tasting food of course! Make your healthy eats taste great with simple ingredients that don’t add many calories to your meal. Our Sweet & Spicy Pork Tenderloin combines soy sauce, calorie free syrup and spicy garlic chili sauce to make a delectable marinade.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started: trimmed Pork Tenderloin – or trimmed chicken breasts or flank steak. Place your meat in a large resealable plastic bag. Combine equal parts of the three ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined. Pour the marinade over the meat and seal the bag. Toss the meat around in the marinade until it is well coated. Keep refrigerated until an hour before cook time.

For my recipe I used 1/4 cup of each of the marinade ingredients and two pork tenderloins. You could make a little extra marinade to place on the side and drizzle over the meat once it is cooked. You can broil, grill or bake your pork tenderloin, chicken or steak. The finished meat pairs nicely with broiled asparagus and avocado.

Click here for more delicious and easy healthy EATS!

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

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Healthy Eats: Bruschetta Quinoa

Basil, balsamic vinegar, and tomatoes are the basis for a delicious bruschetta. There’s no crispy bread or rich cheese in this recipe but I promise you won’t even miss them when you try our Bruschetta Quinoa. Quinoa is one of the superfoods that everyone has been buzzing about. It’s gluten-free, high in protein and one of the few plant foods that contain all nine essential amino acids. Quinoa also has a nutty flavor and provides satiety that is long lasting!

Here’s how to make my Bruschetta Quinoa. You’ll need 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes, a handful of chopped fresh basil (or 2 TBSP dried if its all  you have), 1/2 cup chopped onion (green, red or sweet white will all work), and 1/4 cup finely chopped spicy green peppers (we grow these in our garden so I have an abundance; you could certainly leave out or add a jalapeno or some bell pepper instead). Add the above ingredients to 3-4 cups of cooked quinoa (follow package instructions to cook). We also make this same salad with couscous and it is also delicious. Fold in 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar until it nicely coats the whole salad. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

This amazing recipe and all of the Check Total Health “Healthy Eats” are created and tested by us! Try our other recipes here.

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day! There is no need to guess at how you should eat – let us help you eat right for your body type and goals!

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Healthy Eats: Protein Brownies

Chocolate and peanut butter are perhaps one of the best combinations ever discovered in the culinary world. But have you ever known their marriage to be healthy? Would you think a chocolate peanut butter brownie would be good for you? Believe it or not, these decadent protein brownies are a perfect quick breakfast or post workout meal. They have no flour, sugar, or oil and their sweetness comes from bananas so their packed with potassium. These protein brownies have as much nutrients as flavor – trust me that’s saying a lot. — Make them now!

Here’s how:

You’ll need 6 very ripe medium length bananas (7-8 inches long). Mash the bananas until mostly smooth. Add in 2/3 cup whey protein concentrate, 1/2 cup powdered peanuts (I use PBFit), 1/2 cup natural smooth peanut butter, and 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder. Stir until well combined. Spread into a generously greased (with nonstick cooking spray) pan. The thinner the batter the less time they need in the oven and the texture will be more like a brownie. I like to use a 8x11x3 glass pan. Bake the brownies at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Brownies should lightly pull away from the side of the pan and no longer jiggle when they are done.

This recipe yields 8 protein brownies with each having 267 calories, 17 grams of protein, 28 g of carbs, and 10 g of fat.

All of the Check Total Health “Healthy Eats” are created and tested by us! Try our other recipes here.

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day! There is no need to guess at how you should eat – let us help you eat right for your body type and goals!

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Healthy Eats: Brussel Sprout Green Goddess

Can you make salad dressings without oil or mayonnaise — yes you can! Salads can be a fun way to mix up your daily vegetables and they can still taste great even without oil and mayo. Typically, I just use fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper to dress a salad. Sometimes I kick it up a few notches though! This particular salad is a Brussel Sprout Green Goddess with Ezekiel Bread croutons. Here’s how to make this delicious salad come to life!

To begin, slice your Ezekiel Bread into small cubes and toss lightly with olive oil and salt. Cook in a non-stick skillet over medium heat for a few minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove the croutons from the pan and allow to cool.

Remove the ends and slice your brussel sprouts in half. Place brussels on a tin-foil lined baking sheet that you sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle the brussels with salt and pepper. Place under the broiler on high for 10-15 minutes shaking the pan every few minutes to promote even cooking. While they are cooking, slice red onion, red pepper, tomatoes and carrots and place in a large salad bowl.

To prepare the dressing, mix 2 tablespoons plain, non-fat Greek yogurt, the juice of a half of a lemon, 2 tablespoons feta cheese, and 1 tsp Penzey’s Green Goddess Dressing base. Once combined, the dressing is ready to be tossed on all of the vegetables. Then top the Brussel Sprout Green Goddess salad with the Ezekiel Bread croutons.

All of the Check Total Health “Healthy Eats” are created and tested by us! Try one of our protein recipes to pair with this salad.

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day! There is no need to guess at how you should eat – let us help you eat right for your body type and goals!

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Healthy Eats: Blistered Tomatoes & Green Beans

Cherry tomatoes so earn their name as they can be as sweet as cherries! Use natural ingredients and let them shine! Blistered Tomatoes & Green Beans will be an instant favorite with your family. This dish is fast and easy to prepare, perfect for weeknight cooking in a pinch.

To prepare, wash and trim your green beans. Also wash and dry your cherry tomatoes. Line a large baking tray with tinfoil and spray generously with non-stick cooking spray. Lay the green beans and tomatoes in a single layer on the tray. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Broil on high (top or one rack down from the top) for 15-20 minutes or until the tomatoes blister and burst. The green beans should also have nice color to them.

Let cool slightly before serving as the tomatoes hold a lot of heat! Enjoy.

The Blistered Tomatoes & Green Beans will pair nicely with one of our proteins that you can find in our healthy recipe index. Click here for more ideas of healthy EATS that you can make right in your own kitchen!

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!