Live More & Stress Less! An Accountability Group to Help You Feel Less Overwhelmed and Stressed as the Kids Start Back to School!

The start of school is typically a stressful time!! Getting used to new routines, carpools, homework, soccer practices, and games on the weekend!!

There's so much to do it's easy to feel overwhelmed and not accomplish anything!   Have you had a chance to breathe yet and maybe take a few moments to recover?

Many of you would answer "no, not yet"!  Well it's time to change that!!

As moms, our priority is always our family! There's nothing wrong with that...however, if that causes so much stress that we are neglecting ourselves and our health, then that's NOT OK!!

Your health is a NECESSITY! If you're not healthy and being the example that your kids and family NEEDS you to be, then you are not only neglecting yourself but also your family!!

For 30 Days, I want you to learn how to "Live More & Stress Less", through learning to care for your health in a new way - your family will thank you!

My goal in this group is to teach you tips to be stress free this school year, how to put yourself first (this is not selfish) by teaching you:

• How your nutrition plays a key role in your stress and the stress of your children
• How to meal plan, how to make healthier choices
• Easy meals for the family 
• How all this can help you give back more to your kids and family!
•    More Energy
•    More Patience
•    More Quality of Life

Could you use a bit of this in your life?  Are you ready to make a change that will help you feel better all around?  Then, what are you waiting for?

If you want to learn how to stress less so that you can give back more - complete the application below to be considered for a spot in the group! 

Starting September 21st!! Ask how today!!

Complete the application here:

There are tons of Wufoo features to help make your forms awesome.

Clean Chicken Parmesan Bake

I LOVE quick, easy, healthy and TASTY meals!!!  This one is super fast to prepare and pop it into the oven and throw some sides together and you've got a delicious meal in minutes!!

Ingredients
4-5 chicken breasts
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (add a bit more if you use more chicken!)
1/2 Parmesan cheese, shredded or crumbled
1 tsp garlic powder (or fresh garlic)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
(optional- 1 can artichoke hearts drained and chopped)

Directions: (only takes 5 min to prepare!!)

Preheat oven 375

Line baking sheet with foil (this is a must otherwise the cheese will be a PAIN to remove).  Spray the foil with oil or cooking spray.

Mix Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper (and chopped artichokes) together.

Pat the chicken dry and coat in your mixture (both sides).

Lay on baking sheet.

Cook 45-50 minutes until golden brown spots appear on chicken

Serve with Brown Rice and Steamed Veggies!!

Tip: Around 40-45 min carefully dump juices that have accumulated in the pan, helps reduce burning
Tip:  Turning oven to broil for 1-2 min after dumping juices will help create the brown spots on the chicken.  SET A TIMER for it, I'm notorious for burning things when broiling!

Adapted recipe from Adventures with Foodie Felicia

Balsamic Chicken (Slow Cooker)

This is a delicious and super easy crock pot meal!  I got this one from my friend Lisa Decker and it's a winner!!

• 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 medium onion thinly sliced
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp each: dried oregano, basil, and rosemary
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
• Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation

1.  Season chicken with salt and pepper.
2.  Add olive oil to bottom of crock pot and then chicken.
3.  Top chicken with sliced onion and dried herbs and garlic cloves.
4.  Pour vinegar (if you desire additional "juice" add 1/4-1/2 cup water or chicken broth).

5.  Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours

I like to serve this over brown rice or quinoa.

This is an easy meal to make extra for lunches the coming week!!

Black Beans and Rice

I love Mexican food…and I love EASY meals too!  When you combine them together, it's all the better!  You literally can't go wrong with black beans and rice and there are so many different ways to eat them…not to mention it's an inexpensive and meatless meal!

These ingredients I don't have them measurements for everything, it's kind of a "to your taste" type recipe.  I usually will soak dry black beans for a couple days and then cook them all day in the crock pot with seasonings.  My family eats a lot and we always love leftovers, as they make for perfect lunches the next day!

Ingredients:

• Brown Rice
• Dry black beans (1-2 cups depending on how much you want left over, soak them over night or for a couple days, changing the water at least once a day)
• OR if you prefer to use canned beans then a couple of cans will do the trick!
• 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1-2 tsp of ground cumin (I love cumin so I tend to put closer to 2 tsp)
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander 

You can do so much to this recipe.  You can add fresh corn to the black beans or as a topping.  Mix in salsa to the black beans or just top the beans with salsa.  Add low fat cheese, guacamole, non-fat plain greek yogurt (in place of sour cream).  You can also add this to a tortilla!

We like to serve this just over the brown rice and top with cheese and guacamole and some salsa!!

Enjoy!

Clean Eating Black Beans and Rice

21 Day Fix Recipe - Chicken Stir Fry

I'm in need of a few new dinners, so I'm looking to the 21 Day Fix eating plan for something to switch it up a bit!  This is something that is easy and the whole family will love!!

Veggies  (Green Container & 1 spoon)
Ingredients:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped asparagus spears
• 1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 tsp Mediterranean Seasoning or All purpose seasoning.

Directions:

• Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat.  
• Combine asparagus, pepper, carrots, onions, and seasoning.
• cook veggies in skillet, mixing frequently for 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp tender.

Chicken (Red Container)

Ingredients:

• 4 oz raw chicken breast, boneless, skinnless
• 1 tsp olive oil
• all purpose seasoning or Mediterranean Seasoning.

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Place chicken in ovenproof dish
• Spray with cooking spray at the bottom of pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle and juices run clear

Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness and weight of the chicken breast.  

Brown Rice (Yellow Container)

Make whole grain brown rice according to package directions, use 1 yellow container and store the rest in an airtight container for later.

So you have a super filling dinner that will keep you on track, feeling satisfied and on your way to meeting your weight loss goals!!!