Chicken Tortilla Soup

 

This weekend I visited Bahama Breeze for the very first time!  I fell in love with their chicken tortilla soup so I knew I had to recreate it for this rare Fall weather we are having in Florida!  I searched online for a recipe and changed it up a little. It is definitely not a quick recipe. It takes about 45 minutes to prep but the flavor is AMAZING!  It is healthy too...SCORE!  

INGREDIENTS

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 cup *Calabasa Squash, diced ½"

½ cup Red Onion, diced

1 tsp Chopped Garlic

1 Sliced Jalapeño, no seeds

8 cups Organic Chicken Broth

1½ cups Corn Kernels, frozen

1 cup Grape Tomatoes, diced

1 Potato, ½" diced

Salt and Pepper to taste

Juice of 2 limes, fresh squeezed

1 tsp Oregano

1 tsp Cilantro

1 pound Chicken Breast, fully cooked & sliced

Avocado 

Corn Tortilla Strips

* Pumpkin can be substituted for Calabasa if necessary.

Heat the oil in a large pot until hot. Add the calabasa, onions, jalapeños and garlic, then sauté until they lose their raw appearance. Add the chicken broth, corn, potato, and tomatoes, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the calabasa is tender. Season to taste with salt, then add the lime juice, oregano, cilantro, and fully cooked sliced chicken breast. Simmer for at least 5 more minutes.

Garnish with avocado and tortilla strips before serving.

Enjoy!!!  Let me know how you like it!  

Shakeology Giveaway

 

How can you score some free Shakeology to sample?  Head on over to my Facebook page and add me. Find my 2 year Healthiversary video and follow the directions in the post! It's that simple!  

www.facebook.com/nshumardkeen 

Don't Be Fooled By a Quick Fix

As I was walking through the store recently I saw shelf after shelf of diet pills and all these products that promised to help you lose weight FAST!  I used to have a love/hate relationship with this aisle...

❤️ - I thought one of them might work. I was excited to lose the lbs. quickly. 

🚫 - I was wasting my money because while some of them made me feel better, I didn't lose weight...

At least not long term!

Now I just HATE 🚫 this aisle. There's so much more to life than being skinny. Your goal should be ➡️ HEALTHY!  Unfortunately the products on those shelves are anything but healthy. 

As I checked the ingredients in these products, it broke my heart. So many of these products contain extra caffeine and other stimulants like guarana, and one of the scariest to me... a supplement called bitter orange (Synephrine).  It is VERY similar to ephedra with the same types of side effects (Increased heart rate and blood pressure; reports of anxiety, stroke, irregular heartbeat, heart attack). There's a reason it is banned by the NCAA. 

No amount of weight loss is worth risking your health. I don't care what route you take with your weight loss but PLEASE do your research on stimulants before jumping on board with something.  Friends don't let friends ruin their health for the number on a scale!

🗝For extra knowledge, check out the links below⬇️

Information on common stimulants:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20046409?pg=2

More on Synephrine:

http://www.m.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-976/bitter+orange

Egg Muffin Cups

I almost always make these for breakfast and they are delicious, especially when paired with a side of turkey bacon!

🔸 100% Natural Egg Whites (Check ingredients on prepackaged)

🔸 FRESH pico de gallo (diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro) 

🔸 Shredded cheddar

🔸 Mrs. Dash seasoning of choice 

🔸 Sprayable coconut oil 

Put 10 cupcake/muffin papers in a muffin tin. Spray lightly with coconut oil. Pour egg whites until 3/4 full. Add a heaping tablespoon of pico de gallo. Sprinkle cheese and Mrs. Dash seasoning on top. 

Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit. 

Enjoy! 😊

 

Crock Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad

🍴Crock Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad🍴

🔸1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
🔸Juice from 2 limes
🔸1/2 cup fresh cilantro
🔸1 packet of taco seasoning (or see clean recipe)
🔸1 tsp. dried onions
🔸1/2 cup water

Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Remove chicken, shred, and mix it with the liquid left in the crock pot.

Add it to the top of a salad with your favorite toppings or put it in a tortilla. I like to use nonfat plain Greek yogurt as a sour cream substitute. 

Kid approved, husband approved, and 21 Day Fix approved!  Yes, please!

Enjoy! 😊

Healthier Million Dollar Spaghetti

Tyson asked me to make Million Dollar Spaghetti this week and you know I had to find a healthier way to make it. 😜

Here is what I came up with…

1 lb of ground turkey breast

1 jar of spaghetti sauce🔹🔹

1 cup of lowfat cottage cheese

8 oz. neufchatel cheese, softened

¼ cup of nonfat plain Greek yogurt

2 TBSP parsley

½ tsp garlic powder

1 box of whole wheat spaghetti

Cheddar or mozzarella cheese to sprinkle on top

🔹🔹Homemade spaghetti sauce is best but in a pinch, check the labels of the sauces at the store.  Stay away from Ragu or Prego.  Look for the sauces that have 5 grams or less of sugar and 250 mg or less of sodium.  Also, the ingredients list should be short and only things that you have heard of.

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

🔺Preheat oven to 350.

🔺Cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.

🔺Cook ground turkey and stir in spaghetti sauce and let simmer.

🔺In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, softened neufchatel cheese, plain Greek yogurt, parsley, and garlic powder.  Mix until well blended.

🔺In a lightly sprayed (I suggest spraying with coconut oil) 9x13-inch pan, place half of the cooked pasta in the bottom of the dish.  Spread cheese mixture over noodles.  Top with the remaining noodles.  Pour meat sauce over the noodles and sprinkle with cheese.

🔺Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.  Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

For all my 21 Day Fixers, I would call one serving - 💛💙💜❤️

It would go great paired with a 💚