Breakfast Stuffed Acorn Squash

This past weekend, we celebrated Friendsgiving here in Cincinnati. It was, as always, so much fun and so delicious. It's nice to celebrate with friends. I had a hard time at first, when we moved to Cincinnati. It wasn't that far from home, yet I felt that it was impossible to meet new people. Luckily, that didn't last too long. I made instant friends when I started working at Caribou Coffee that year, and I added to that as I got to know J's colleagues.

We ate many glorious dishes at Friendsgiving. I made the turkey, using the Rosemary Apple recipe from my Thanksgiving Roundup. Oh man. Yeah you guys have to try that one. There was salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pies...just about everything you can imagine. Mmm Mmm.

Anywho... onto the recipe. I made this squash last week. It was a little chilly outside, and this dish definitely hit the spot. I don't think I've ever made anything with acorn squash. It smells a bit like pumpkin when you cut it open, but it's a little sweeter in taste. Man was it good. I loved the breakfast flavors that accompanied. This recipe is from paleOMG. This lady has some great stuff!

Foodie's Friday Favorites | Week of Nov 8. 2015

Alas... Another week has gone by! Hard to believe it is mid-November. I feel like I am already miles behind on Xmas shopping, However, I did make strides this week. I found some great deals, and bought a few things off my list (thanks to one of my favorites below)! Wahoo!

Here we go! My Friday Favorites :) Hope they give you some inspiration or something new to try for the weeks ahead.

Korean Pork Chops Recipe

Can anyone believe the weather right now!? I mean... I live in Ohio, so I guess I can. You just never know around here. We started this morning in the low 60s. It's November! WTH? I'll take this nice weather and football at the same time, anytime.

Speaking of football... GO COLTS! YES. We finally got a win last Sunday. However, tragedy struck a few days ago, when we found out that Andrew Luck will be out for 2-6 weeks due to injury. "Luck"ily ;) we are on a bye this week. Feel better Andrew!! (I'm sure he reads my blog lol)

Today's recipe is one that would be great on the grill. If I would've thought about it before hand, I would've had the hubs fire it up to cook up these pork chops. Have I mentioned I love pork? I found this recipe while searching pinterest, of course, and could not wait to try. It's super simple, with minimal ingredients. Who can beat that on a weeknight!? This pork chop deliciousness comes from Jo Cooks. It looks like some of her recipes are Paleo, and all of the recipes on her site look DELICIOUS. Check it out!

Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup

It's almost here!! The most grand holiday, where we celebrate all of the carbs...er..I mean something about giving thanks, pilgrams yada yada

Anyway, it's definitely the time of year where we celebrate with family. It's also the time of year where we pack on the pounds. It's easy to do, with all of the delicious feasts that are held at Thanksgiving. My biggest tip around this time of year, is offer to bring what you can. If you are providing a dish or two, at least you will know that there will be something healthy to eat. You will know exactly what ingredients are in the dish that you have homemade yourself.

Many are starting to plan their big menus, so I've put together a roundup for you! Here are a few of my choices and ideas for dishes to bring to your next family or friends Thanksgiving :) All of the traditional favorites are here for a healthier holiday.

Foodie's Friday Favorites | Week of Nov 1, 2015

Happy Friday! We've all made it though yet another crazy week. Friday mornings are always rough. You're there, but not quite yet. Gotta get through the next few hours of the work day...then it's the weekend :) Always workin for the weekend.

Anyway, I thought I would start a new weekly series about what I'm liking each week. Foodie's Friday Favorites (see what I did there?).  This will be a short article to send you onto your wonderful weekend with a few of the things that I'm loving at the moment. Maybe it will give you some inspiration to try something new.

HAPPY FALL! | Paleo Pumpkin Turkey Chili Recipe

Another long break between posts... Sorry guys! Fall is always crazy, schedule wise. Work, family, friends.. It's a busy time of year, but I'm extremely thankful!

The weather has been so nice recently. A little rain here and there, but for the most part, it's been gorgeous. Beautiful fall days are just the best. The leaves are so pretty, and everyone is in a good mood.

Fall is also a WONDERFUL time for food. Oh man...All of the warm, delicious recipes pop up during this time of year. Pumpkin everything. I'm one of those pumpkin freaks. Yep. Not at all afraid to admit it. I love cooking with pumpkin. It's so creamy, and it brings out some delicious flavors in your food. There's also sweet potatoes, squash, apples, etc... Yum!

I've been playing around with my pumpkin turkey chili recipe for some time, and I think I've finally got it down. The fire-roasted tomatoes really compliment the pumpkin well in this recipe. I also love adding cinnamon. It's such a great flavor. This chili is PERFECT for leftovers. Make up a huge batch, and eat this throughout the week :) It's also a one-pot meal, and super fast to make!

Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

Hello friends!! I haven't forgotten you. It's been a super busy few weeks. Lots of events happening, and I'm in charge of a division retreat at work.

It's been cray. But, I haven't let my healthy eating fall by the wayside! Here's a recipe to spice up your everyday dinner. I found this one on Pinterest, while looking for something different to do with shrimp. It's pretty easy and relatively quick. Two requirements for a weeknight in my book.

Get The Most Out of Your Leftovers! | Food Storing Tips

As you probably already know, I LOVE LEFTOVERS. I usually try to make enough food at dinner, so that I have plenty to take for lunch at least once, if not twice. I don't always have enough, but when I do, I make sure that it's stored correctly. There's nothing worse than thinking you have a yummy leftover lunch, and then opening the fridge to find fuzzy green mold all over. When stored properly, your leftovers should last around 5 days. This will leave you with ready-to-go lunch options, as well as emergency dinners.

Some of you have said you love leftovers too, and some have said you don't. For those of you that don't like leftovers, you may not be storing your food correctly. If that's the case, you may be left with a weird texture, such as too hard or too soggy foods.

This article will hopefully give you some tips to storing your leftovers.

Paleo Comfort Food Recipe : Potato & Kale Hash

During the week, I teach Piloxing on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30. I don't get home until after 7:30, so hubby cooks the meals on these days. It's so nice to come home, shower, and have a hot meal ready for me after my workout.

I've started this week with a not-so-nice head cold and a cough. So when Jeremy said he was cooking this Potato & Kale Hash from The Domestic Man, I knew it would hit the spot. It definitely did not disappoint. This simple hash has SO much flavor.  My tummy was very happy after this meal.

Jeremy always gets his recipes from The Domestic Man blog, and let me tell you....They are all super delicious. The meals are hearty and healthy. It's a win win for sure. AND it's Paleo!

All of the photos in this post were taken by Jeremy. Double points for hubby this week.

Busy Weeknight Dinner Recipe : Ground Turkey & Veggie Skillet

This week has been a little crazy. Monday was Labor Day, and that was actually pretty relaxing in the morning. However, then we had to run errands and do all of the weekend stuff that we had neglected to do earlier. Over the past couple days, I've been running errands, teaching, and packing and prepping for this weekend (when I haven't been working).

This weekend, one of my VERY best friends is getting married! I have known her for about 8 years now, and I could not be happier for her. I'm a bridesmaid in the wedding, so it's extra special that I can stand by her. :) Ahh I just can't wait.

Anywho, J and I are taking the day off tomorrow to head to Indianapolis, so our nights have been pretty packed. I wanted a quick weeknight meal, that could be made in less than 30 min. This one came in around 15! Perfect.

Easy Weekend Salad Bar Lunch

Labor Day weekend was just wonderful. My parents came to Cincinnati to visit us, and we had a blast. We did things around town, ate at some delicious restaurants, shopped, and spent some quality time at home as well. By the time Monday rolled around, it was nice to have a relaxing morning at home.

I thought that, because we had spent (a little too much) money over the weekend, it would be good to make something at home for lunch.

I had bought all of the ingredients, and some I had at home, for this DIY salad bar towards the end of the week. Everything was basically ready. I just had to throw the chicken in the crockpot in the morning, and pull everything out of the fridge when we were ready to eat! Simple and easy peasy.

Garbage Chili Recipe

Woah! Calm down, this recipe doesn't contain actual garbage ;) I actually stole this term from Nom Nom Paleo. Basically, it means I threw a bunch of left over stuff together to make a meal. Michelle from NNP uses this idea for stir-fries, but I thought that the same rule could apply to just about anything.

A week ago, we made a TON of Kalua Pork... like so much meat. We ate on it for a couple days, but then it needed a little sprucing up. Most of the ingredients I used in this recipe I had on hand, but I did have to buy a couple things. But it was things like diced tomatoes that cost less than a dollar. It was a quick weeknight meal that also lasted us a long while. Did I mention I love leftovers???

Pork-Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes

September is upon us, and that means FALL is close-by! I'm ready. I'm always ready. Autumn is my favorite season. I love the cool crisp weather, football, activities outside, Halloween... But most important, I LOVE THE FOOD! Pumpkin everything, Soups, Stews, Farmers Market, etc...

Of course I eat sweet potatoes year round, but they are especially yummy, when they are seasonal. This recipe was something I threw together during my Whole30. It's satisfying, and super easy to make, with any ingredients you like. Throw your favorite meat and green on there with some spices, and you've got yourself a meal!

Delicious Slow-Cooker Green Chicken Curry

The University of Cincinnati semester has started, and I am back to teaching Piloxing! Gosh, it feels so good to get back into that routine. Group fit is so incredibly fun for me to teach, and I have a great group this year!

With new group fit classes, comes late dinners. My schedule this year is a little later than I've had in the past. It's in kind of an awkward time, where I can come home from work, but I basically have time to change, turn around and leave. So, it's nice to have some crockpot meals ready to go. When I get home from teaching, dinner is ready. I know my muscles are grateful!

This curry had the most amazing flavor. The base of this recipe is from a wonderful paleo recipe blog called Rubies & Radishes. There are some really awesome things on this site. AND, I found that, like most crockpot meals, the leftovers from this meal were even better than the original meal. All of the spices seep into the chicken and veggies, and you're left with a great lunch the next day.

Farmer's Market Pick! | Paleo Stuffed Peppers

Farmers market season is upon us! This is the best time of year for your local market. There is always fresh produce just begging to be cooked up in a healthy meal.

Jeremy and I love going to the farmers market (Dizzy too!). It's so fun to walk around and see all of the stands and all of the gorgeous colors. I usually have to plan my meals out, but sometimes I let the market decide what's for dinner. You will find that dinner always tastes better, when it's made from local, fresh ingredients.

Recipe! : Simple Paleo Fajitas || Bonus Tortilla Recipe

First of all, sorry about the quality of the photos coming up over the next few weeks. My trusty good camera has pooped out for the moment. I'm hoping to get it fixed, but until then, I will be using my iPhone. Hey...it gets the job done right?

I don't know if this has become apparent over my last month of blogging, but I LOVE Mexican food. I mean I love it. I could eat it for every meal (even breakfast) every day. There's so much you can do with so little ingredients.

Another thing I've been loving lately are spices. We have a specialty spice and tea place here in Cincy, and it's literally right down the street from my house. I have so much fun picking up and smelling all of the different spices. I think about how I could use it in recipes, and new ideas to come up with. We also have a Penzey's right down the street. Yep, I'm screwed. Ever since I was little, I have loved spices. The spice cabinet used to be my favorite smell in the world...I'm not kidding...It was my comfort scent...and still kinda is to this day.

The last time we were in Penzey's I picked up their Southwest Seasoning. I was already planning on making fajitas for dinner, and it was a match made in heaven!

My 5 Go-To Healthy Lunch Staples

I think healthy lunches could quite possibly be one of the hardest things to plan. Sure, I can make a whole bunch of healthy meals when I'm at home. But on the go, it's so much harder to figure out exactly what I want to take. You have to think about what resources you will have at work, school, etc... Plus, you have to get proportions right and plan ahead.Leftovers are always nice, but you don't always have enough for the week.

I have a few lunch ideas that I keep in my back pocket....Just in case! These recipes contain ingredients that I almost always have on hand. They are things that I can whip up rather quickly at home in the morning or at the office. You should always plan at least a couple lunches ahead, but if you have these staples, you will never be left buying food you'll regret later.

Giveaway Winners Announced/ Recipe: Paleo Slow-Cooker Italian Chicken Soup

First thing's first... GIVEAWAY winners! The two winners, chosen randomly by an online generator, are Kristi and Tiffany :) Congratulations! I'll be messaging you both to get your addresses soon. Free Paleonola. YUM!

Now on to a new and delicious recipe...
With schools heading back to class, and everything starting up full swing, it gets harder and harder to plan your meals. When I teach group fitness at night, I hardly want to work, teach, shower and THEN make dinner. I want things to be ready, when I get home. Thankfully, I have a few slow-cooker recipes in my arsenal.

I discovered Dashing Dish, when I was first starting my health and fitness journey. I was looking for ways to eat better, while not sacrificing taste and satiation. This site does just that! There are so many recipes on her page, and she is constantly posting new and exciting recipes. This is where you find all of your favorite meals turned healthy.

I fixed this Italian Chicken Soup one day, when we planned on attending a Cincinnati Reds baseball game at night. I threw all of the ingredients in that morning, and we had a delicious dinner waiting when we got home. This was super convenient, and saved us some money (and calories) at the ballpark.

Taco Night! : Plantain Tortilla Recipe

Don't freak out! The first time I was looking for a way to make tacos on the Paleo diet, I came across a Paleo plantain tortilla recipe from ZenBelly. I saw the title, and I kind of freaked out a little. In my mind, there was no way I could make these tortillas. No way it would work. Sure, this blogger  I was following could make them, but I'm sure mine would turn out horrible.

Well, quite the contrary! I reluctantly tried these out anyway, and was VERY surprised, when they turned out perfectly :) They were also surprisingly easy. A few ingredients thrown in the food processor, and baked for a few minutes. It's actually a pretty simple. And the hint of sweetness from the plantains compliment your tacos wonderfully.

I've made a few different meats to go in my tacos, but after Jeremy made Kalua Pig without me, I was just craving that porky goodness. So I popped some Boston butt in the crockpot that morning. By the time we got home, we could literally smell it cooking from outside the house. SERIOUSLY! All I had to do was cook the tortillas, and we were ready for Taco Tuesday.

New Recipe! : Sweet Potato Hash with Over-Easy Eggs

Mondays are so blah. Yesterday, I was so tired all day. I was also starving all day lol We had a, let's just say, less than healthy weekend. We ate WAY too much fried food (Goettafest and County Fair). So when I got back to eating normally and healthy yesterday, my stomach was like "WHERE'S ALL THAT FOOD YOU GAVE ME OVER THE WEEKEND!?"

Anyway, when I got home after work, I was ready for dinner right away. This recipe, Sweet Potato Hash with Over-Easy Eggs, was already on the menu for the week. It's ridiculously easy and quick, and seemed like the perfect Monday dinner. Nom Nom Paleo strikes again with delicious Paleo food. This recipe was a Whole 30 discovery and an instant favorite.

Make sure to enter the GIVEAWAY on my previous post! Ends this Friday August 14. Free stuff! And not much competition at the moment ;)

Quick Weekday Breakfast/ GIVEAWAY!

Mornings can get a little crazy. I try to get up early enough during the week that I can get ready, pack my lunch, feed the dog, and make a nutritious breakfast that will sustain me and my husband throughout the morning. Most breakfasts include eggs and bacon or sausage, with a small serving of fruit. I find that this can take me through the morning, and I'm not hungry until lunchtime.

However, some mornings are more insane than others. My go-to quick and simple breakfast lately has been Paleonola. This is not an ad. I just REALLY love this stuff. Paleonola is grain free, gluten free, dairy free, soy free...you name it! This yummy granola is made from real food. There are about 15 or so ingredients. Nothing makes me happier than reading the ingredients, and being able pronounce every word. That's good stuff!

I first found this deliciousness on Thrive Market. (If you haven't seen my Thrive Market haul post, view it here) I was more than impressed. I have since bought just about every flavor. This granola pleases even the most harsh critics :)

I usually fix mine with some strawberries, blueberries and cashew milk. Sometimes, I also have a hard boiled egg on the side. It's filling, and it keeps me full for hours.

Keep reading for the giveaway deets!

10 Tips for Eating Healthy in a Restaurant

Going out to eat is fun... no matter if it's a treat, or if it's because you just don't want to cook that night. It's so nice to have someone else cook the food and clean the dishes. However, if you're trying to stay healthy, it can be difficult and scary at times. The choices on the menu can be overwhelming. And when your spouse or friend is ordering fried this or extra cheese on that, it can be hard to make the right choices.

Lately, my husband and I have been so busy, that it's just easier to order a meal than to cook one. And that's okay every once in a while. But be prepared! It's okay to splurge sometimes, but you can also keep that healthy diet going. There's no reason you can't find something on the menu that won't have you regretting decisions later. When you go out to eat, here are my top 10 tips for staying healthy, while enjoying yourself as well!

Slow Cooker Kalua Pork

Today, in honor of my husband and I's 2nd anniversary, I am doing a post that Jeremy suggested (and took pictures for!). I am usually the one who cooks, but he is a very talented cook as well. He was cooking long before I ever learned to put together recipes. However, once I started eating healthier, I wanted to be in charge of the meal planning and the cooking.

When either of us is away, while the other is at home, it can be quite hard to plan meals. Cooking for one can be difficult. This last time that I was gone for a few days, Jeremy made one of the best recipes for leftovers. Nom Nom Paleo's Kalua Pork. :) It's also probably the most simple recipe you will ever find. This recipe will probably take you maybe 5 minutes to put together, AND it is so darn delicious. I can't even tell you. The flavors... Ahh.

During my Whole 30 research I discovered Nom Nom Paleo. This blog is a WONDERFUL resource for recipes (tons of Whole 30-compliant) and tips for eating healthy. If you're trying to eat more real, nutritious, natural foods, this website is your guide. Michelle Tam, the creator, is also pretty awesome. She now has a podcast as well, with her husband and kids. If you haven't already, go check her out! Her cookbook is also worth the buy :)

Breakfast for Dinner! | Paleo Mexican Breakfast Hash

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals. So, when I can come up with new ways to make it dinner, I'm a happy camper. We had a cookout over the weekend, and there were so many leftovers. I mean so much food. It's crazy the amount of food we still have left. Anyway we ate on that food for a few days, and I was ready for a change.  This is a recipe that I made up with ingredients I mostly already had on hand. There are always eggs in my fridge, so breakfast is constantly an option. I had some chorizo from a while back, that I just hadn't cooked, and some leftover burger toppings (tomatoes & onions). I also got some potatoes from the farmers market this last weekend, and needed a way to use them.

Hence, the Paleo Mexican Breakfast Hash was born. It's a quick dinner that will satisfy those taste buds. You can make it as spicy as you want. You could also make this into an omelet, burrito, quesadilla...really anything. It's very versatile. And if there are any leftovers, you can use them for a fast breakfast the next morning. Win/win! These pictures may not do the meal justice. It was really delicious!

Paleo Chicken Parmesan

Hello friends! I'm back with another healthy recipe to add to your arsenal.

Pasta has always been one of my favorite foods. It's satisfying, comforting....And Italian food in general is just good. Well last week, I made this Paleo Chicken Parmesan from Fed & Fit. The first time I made the recipe, I make the sauce as well. Oh man it was so good. However, this go-around, I didn't have as much time to make everything from scratch. Which is okay. I know, I like to be that wiz in the kitchen too, but sometimes, we just have to take the easy road to keep sane. Trust me.

One thing I was hesitant about was the absence of cheese in this dish. Obviously there is no cheese in the paleo diet. But, I was still a little shocked when it wasn't in the ingredients list. I am happy to report, though, that I didn't particularly miss the cheese. Really! The nuttiness of the almond meal gives this dish plenty of flavor. Oh, and if you've never had the pleasure of making zoodles before, you're in for another carb-saving treat :)

Grilled Tilapia with Avocado Salsa

This particular recipe turned out WAY way better than I ever imagined. The original recipe from The Cookie Rookie had salmon. However, I try to work with ingredients that I already have, so I decided to use tilapia on this one. I love tilapia, but I was afraid this recipe would be a bit bland without the salmon. WRONG! It was delicious! And it was surprisingly filling. I made extra, because I wasn't sure. Plus, it's Whole 30 approved. If you want to know more about Whole 30, check out my last post here.

This recipe is super flavorful. It's fast, easy and really yummy. Plus, it's got the avocado salsa topping. (aka a more limey guac without the tomatoes) Avocados are so good for you. They are full of the really good fats, and probably why this dish was so filling. I love an excuse to use avocado in any dish. Let's be honest... I really don't need an excuse. I eat them like apples sometimes. Alright, enough confessions! On to the recipe! I paired this with some leftover corn on the cob I had in the fridge. MMM!

My FAVORITE Pork Chop Recipe

About a year ago I read a book called "It Starts with Food," and did a month-long Whole 30 diet. If you've never heard of this book, its all about what the food we eat does to our bodies. The book describes what foods we should be focusing on, and what foods we should eliminate. It's a really great read. Very informative and inspirational. It will make you want to start eating less processed foods today. The Whole 30 diet has you focus on those real food groups; meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, some fruit, and good fat from nuts, oils and seeds. I highly recommend doing this at some point. It's a great reset for your body, and has helped so many people. Look it up!

Anyway, I discovered my absolute favorite pork chop recipe while doing the Whole 30. It's from the blog Life, Love, and Pursuits of Katie. This recipe is so quick, and there's not many ingredients. I usually pair it with a roasted veggie. Last night, it was brussels sprouts! For this, I usually get the bone-in pork chops from Whole Foods. This time, I used some from Fresh Thyme. They are always so delicious. The bone really gives it some extra flavor. Plus, you can save them for a bone broth! I have a ziplock in the freezer that I keep bones in for later.

NEW RECIPE!! / Banana Chocolate & Almond Butter Muffins

One of my biggest issues has been my sweet tooth. After lunch and dinner, I have a real problem with craving something sweet. It's BAD. I have a candy bowl at my desk at work, and I do a pretty good job of staying out of it most of the time. However, sometimes those cravings take over. It's so weird...I only got a really strong craving for chocolate after I started loosing weight. I don't know what it was, but I HAVE to have it now.

That being said, I'm always looking for healthy dessert recipes and recipes to tame that beast. Last week, I made these Banana Chocolate & Almond Butter Muffins adapted from Colorful Foodie. Man oh man. These things are dangerous... only they're not! I tweaked this already guilt-free recipe a bit to make them completely paleo. Eat one for breakfast, post workout snack, dessert, or just because you've got that sweet tooth that won't leave you alone. Whatever the reason, you'll be able to fully enjoy :)

 PS I took the ingredients photo the night before I made the muffins. I decided the day that I cooked them, that I would use the coconut cream instead of the greek yogurt.

My First Thrive Market Haul

So if you follow me on Facebook, you have probably noticed that I have been obsessed with a few different sites lately. Ipsy, Stella & Dot (don't get me started), FitFoodFoodie ;) (See what I did there?) and Thrive Market. You've probably heard of Thrive. Maybe one of your favorite food blogs has mentioned the site, or you've come across it, scrolling through Facebook. If you haven't checked it out, you definitely should! Read on to see what all I got in my first order!

New Recipe! / Paleo Chicken Chow Mein

It has been a very busy summer. I mean busy. Just about every weekend, we have something planned. Whether it's in Cincinnati (our current location) or in Indiana (Muncie is home, Indy is where my very best friends live) we have been pretty much booked solid through August, and even some into October. Needless to say grocery shopping has been difficult. I like to go to the farmers market, but when my favorite one is on Sundays from 9:30-1:30p, it's hard to get there. I've been trying to come up with low-key meals that don't take many ingredients and do not take a lot of time. If you'll remember from a previous post... I'm lazy ;)

Anyway, last week, I made Chicken Chow Mein adapted from Little Bits Of. It made plenty of food. I heart leftovers. I mean most of the time, it's just Jeremy and I eating the food that I make. But, I'll make tons of leftovers, so that we can grab some for lunches later on. They are WONDERFUL for lunches during the week. And a welcome break between salads. It keeps me on track health-wise, and it keeps me from buying something at work. Win win!

Holiday in Funcie

Well the holiday weekend is over...and it's Monday again... the weekend is never long enough. However, I can't complain, because we did have a wonderful weekend. Jeremy, Dizzy and I traveled back home (Muncie, IN) this past weekend, to celebrate the 4th with family. We had a really wonderful time, and ate some delicious food.

For Independence Day, we went to Minnetrista. My mom and I put together some delicious paleo salads, and we had a picnic with the family. My mom plays clarinet for America's Hometown Band, (she was a band director for many years) and they played a lovely concert on the green. After the concert, there was a fireworks show! I was very impressed. The show was done to music, and very well done at that.

There are now cows behind my parents house. Dizzy enjoyed greeting them every day.

Have a Healthy July 4th!

HAPPY FRIDAY! :)

It's that time of year again...SUMMER! I'm honestly not the biggest fan of summer. I'm that person complaining about the heat and humidity...then turing around and complaining about the cold and snow. I'm an autumn kinda gal. Spring is great too, but it's still rainy. Fall is the PERFECT weather. Okay so I'm a complainer lol.

However I do enjoy July 4th. Everyone's always in a great mood. The weather is generally nice, there are parades, fireworks, and all sorts of delicious food. Whether you're grilling out, having a picnic, or having a regular meal in the kitchen, you are bound to have a delicious meal or two on Saturday. This year, we are traveling back to good ole Muncie to celebrate the holiday with my family! My mom is playing in America's Hometown Band, and we are planning on a picnic before the fireworks. I'm on the hunt for great ideas!

So here's my 4th of July roundup of some of my favorite go-to Paleo recipes to keep your holiday healthy and on track!

SUPER Easy Side Dishes

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love to cook. I love finding new and exciting recipes that will challenge my skills and my taste buds. However... sometimes, especially during the week, I am tired and lazy. Shocking right!? My go-to side for those lazy nights (and sometimes regular nights, because of their yumminess) is roasted vegetables!

You can use any vegetables for this side. My absolute favorite is oven-roasted green beans, but you could literally use just about any vegetable. It's always great to check out your local farmers market for the freshest and tastiest items. Here's how I typically roast veggies:

1.  Set your oven to 400 degrees F.

Weekend Camping / Mediterranean Dip Recipe

This weekend, I went camping with a lot of my TIU (Tone It Up) Ohio sisters. We were wary about the weather, but we ended up having a blast! We went hiking, ate healthy food and talked around the campfire. It is so nice to be able to instantly connect with people, and just have a really great time. We stayed at Hueston Woods in College Corner, OH. I would definitely go back. The woods were beautiful.

Hello World!

A few people have requested that I get back to blogging my recipes. I must admit, I'm terrible at keeping up with this kind of stuff, but I would really like to try! I'm going to start out by blogging a couple times a week, and see what you all think. Hopefully, I can turn this site into something that will be both entertaining as well as informative. So here's a little bit about my love of food...

I love food. That's really it! However, like many of us, I can't just eat all of the yummy things without facing the consequences (unlike my husband...but that's a different story). I love to try new things, to taste new things, and to explore different ways to cook the foods I love. For about the last 5 or so years I've been obsessed with healthy cooking. And as of about a year, I've been exploring paleo cooking. I'm not strictly paleo by any means, but I love to eat real, unprocessed food as much as possible. I love the way it makes me feel. I also splurge a bit on the bad stuff sometimes too. I mean I'm human, and sometimes the most unhealthy food is just too delicious not to try. I'm always looking for new recipes to entertain my taste buds.

This site will allow me to share some of my favorite recipes with you! The good, the bad, and the occasionally ugly. ;) I've chosen the name Fit Food Foodie for now. It may end up changing, it may not...stay tuned.

Last weekend, my husband, Jeremy, and I traveled to Farmington, MO (about an hour away from St. Louis) to attend his cousin's wedding. It took place at a beautiful winery there called Twin Oaks. While the weather didn't necessarily cooperate, it was a super fun wedding with great people and delicious food. We were able to visit some of my family while in the area as well! Overall, it was a great time.