Watermelon Feta Mint Skewers

Here's a fun recipe my friend gave me and it's delish!! (and pretty).  When you go to parties or BBQs and are trying to stick to your goals, keep this in mind...BRING SOMETHING YOU WANT TO EAT and that's in line with your goals.  There is almost always a veggie and fruit platter so maybe bring a prosciutto & melon app, or hummus dip for veggies, clean guacamole with veggies & chips (for the others).  You can do it, it just takes a little planning ahead that's all.  Here's the full recipe HERE.

Watermelon Feta Mint Skewers

 

Ingredients:
* 4 oz feta cheese, in a block (I used low-fat)
* 1/4 of a large watermelon, cubed into bite-sized pieces
* Mint leaves
* Skewers/toothpicks
* Balsamic for drizzling


Directions:
*Cube the watermelon into bite sized pieces.
*Cube the block of feta.

*To assemble, stack the feta and watermelon with a mint leaf in between. Using a skewer or toothpick, skewer the stack.


*For added flavor, I used a reduced balsamic vinegar drizzle.This is entirely optional, but also entirely delicious so that’s your call. To make the drizzle, add ½ cup balsamic vinegar to a small saucepan and reduce for 3-5 minutes until thickened. Drizzle over the skewers.

Swapping out simple carbs for complex carbs

Carbohydrates are an important part of your diet, but that doesn't mean go load up on cakes and cookies.  Wouldn't that be nice!   

The three main kinds of carbohydrates are sugars, starches, and fiber. They're called “simple” or “complex” based on their chemical makeup and what your body does with them, but since many foods contain one or more types of carbohydrates, it can still be tricky to understand what’s healthy for you and what’s not.

Simple carbohydrates are composed of easy-to-digest, basic sugars, which can be an important source of energy. Some of these sugars are naturally occurring, in fruits and milk, while refined or processed sugars are often added to candies, baked goods, and soda. When trying to figure out if a source of carbohydrates is good or bad, remember this: The higher in sugar it is, and the lower in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, the worse the food is for you.  I know that might seem intuitive, but you'd be surprised how easily we forget this.

Complex carbohydrates, found in whole grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables, contain longer chains of sugar and usually take more time for the body to break down and use. This, in turn, provides you with an even amount of energy.  You can read more about it HERE.

It's not as difficult to make the switch as you might think and these little changes add up to BIG changes. What do you think you can swap out pretty easily?

Why it's so bad to skip meals

It's best to eat 5 times a day, 3 meals and 2 snacks.  If you eat like this, you're likely to be eating less during your meals because you don't get to the point of starvation and over eat.  It's not just me who does that is it?  Some days I swear I eat as if i have a newborn that might wake up any second!  Those days are gone, but the habits aren't!  

Try setting a timer on your watch or phone, to remind you if that's what it takes. It takes 21 days to form a new habit so it will get easier and you won't have to do this forever, I promise! Never "forget" or get "to busy" to eat your meals because you screw up your metabolism and it doesn't work as efficiently as it could. Who wants to do extra work to make their metabolism work at top speed, if you don't have to! NOT ME!!  How you fuel your body affects your focus, energy, emotions, exercise, sex and sleep. (yeah I said it, and it's true!)

Try packing a cooler with all your easy go to treats like apples, almonds, Shakeology, water and Lara or Kind Bars to keep you out of trouble when life changes things up!!  Because it will.  My Odyssey has a built in cooler that is a Godsend and has saved me many times!

Shakeology for the win!

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I know...rough life, right?  Losing weight while eating Shakeology in a bowl with fruit and 70 Superfoods + only exercising 25-35 min / day. So hard, amiright??? 🤗

When people ask me if they'll have to "choke down Shakeology", I can't help but wonder what they've been drinking?!!? No. Freaking. Way. ❤️🙌🏻🙋🏼

True story, I did a BLIND taste test between Shakeology and Wendy's Frosty last summer with both my boys (ages 3 & 7 at the time), and they both individually chose Vegan Chocolate Shakeology!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 I'll be honest, I was worried they’d chose the Wendy’s frosty because almost every kid loves sugar and with Shakeology only slightly above broccoli on the Glycemic Index, I was shocked! Matthew literally wouldn't drink his Frosty and this kid doesn’t refuse anything sugary! 

Ingredients:
1 scoop / packet Vegan Chocolate Shakeology
⅓ C unsweetened Silk Almond Milk (water or other milk alternative will do).
¾ C berries (or ½ banana) **berries are less sugar, so lower on GI too

Stir Shakeology and liquid till you get desired consistency and then add fruit or nut butter. ENJOY!

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Brownie nutter butter batter - aka healthy Reese's Cup!

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It's movie night in the Vining household and daddy is away on a business trip, so the kids and I curled up watching Chicken Run and having Shakeology brownie-nutter batter (yes, it's clean) for dessert. I'm feeling generous tonight, so we each got our own! They better not expect that all the time!

Perfect Friday night with my boys while we wait for daddy to come home. 

Ingredients:
1 scoop / packet Vegan Chocolate Shakeology
⅓ c water (to taste, for consistency)
1 ½ tsp creamy nut butter (I prefer dark roasted, make sure it’s clean!)

Stir together and add more water if it’s too think. This doesn’t turn out the same with Whey formula, so stick with Vegan. I mean, how can brownie batter be bad, but it’s just better with Vegan :)