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 :)