This year, I want you to genuinely enjoy Thanksgiving. I want you to be happy, healthy, and blessed, whether you are trying to lose weight or not! These are some of the Thanksgiving “rules” I’ve learned over the years to make for a happy holiday meal. Don’t undereat for the sake of “being good” or …
This Cilantro Lime Quinoa is a healthy, light, and fresh side dish full of protein, perfect for burrito bowls, taco salads, fajitas, and burritos. Pin This Recipe For Later! “Fresh” is my absolute favorite word this time of year (most of the year it’s “spatula”…what can I say? It’s a funny word!). But during the …
These Single-Serving Spinach Scrambled eggs are a fast, easy, & healthy breakfast for weight loss full of protein to start your day on the right foot. I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again – I am not a morning person. I have always wanted to be that person that would just cheerfully …
These Roasted Baby Carrots are an incredibly simple way to add vegetables to any meal. Roasting the carrots brings out their natural sweetness, making them especially delicious! My best friend recently brought her sweet baby boy here to meet everyone from her hometown. It was a pretty wonderful excuse to throw a party and her …
This crowd-pleasing Healthier Jalapeno Popper Dip is still just as creamy and cheesy as the original but made lighter with Greek yogurt and Neufchatel. Have I mentioned that I have the best small group ever? Because I do. These are the most gracious, thoughtful, generous, kind people and I am beyond honored to be a part …
This one-pot Enchilada Quinoa Skillet recipe is a meatless, healthy 30-minute meal, perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep. I grew up in New Mexico, but you never would have known it. I was majorly anti-spice as a kid. While my family was enjoying all of the local green chiles and putting them in every …
Make this one pot Sweet Potato Breakfast Skillet for a simple & fresh healthy meal to brighten up your morning with protein and veggies! A few years ago, I tried the Whole30, which essentially cuts out sugar, grains, dairy, and legumes. It was a little too restrictive for me to continue long-term. Eating out was …
Try these healthy stocking stuffer snack ideas to enjoy your stocking treats without the side of guilt, from gummy candy to chocolate bars. Stockings are one of my favorite Christmas traditions. In fact, this year, I told my husband I didn’t want him to get me any gifts. I just wanted him to go all out …
Try these simple and delicious make-ahead breakfast ideas to have healthy options ready to grab on busy mornings. I am all too familiar with rushed mornings. What can I say? That snooze button is just oh-so-tempting. That leaves me running around the house in a hurry, trying to get everything ready as fast as possible and …
This easy roasted spaghetti squash makes pasta-like strands that make for a perfect and versatile healthy winter vegetable side dish. My mom introduced us to all kinds of foods as we were growing up. I’ve been eating artichokes, jicama, and spaghetti squash for as long as I can remember! Spaghetti squash is all the rage …
This Harvest Quinoa Salad is full of butternut squash, walnuts, cranberries, and Parmesan for a healthy side dish, great for a party. Some friends of mine from church just threw their annual harvest party. Their story behind the party is actually pretty awesome! They just are really grateful for everything God has blessed them with, …
This Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese is an easy and healthy spin on the classic comfort food, making a festive Fall side dish. I am LOVING Fall this year! After desert dwelling for the past 7 years, I am soaking up every little bit of the season that I can. That means watching …
Check out these fun, healthy date ideas to help keep you both on track with your weight loss journeys while you fall more in love with each other date! I have been single, engaged (twice), married, and divorced (AKA single again), so I have experienced all kinds of dates in all kinds of different stages …
This lighter macaroni salad is made healthier by using whole wheat pasta, Greek yogurt, & lots of fresh veggies. The perfect healthy side dish for a picnic! “Pasta” is pretty much a magic word around my niece and nephew (6 and 4) these days. They are still in the stage where they are fairly picky …
These cheesy zucchini quinoa bites use shredded zucchini and mozzarella cheese it to make a bite-sized, protein-packed healthy snack. Pin This Recipe For Later! This is the recipe that won over my quinoa-hating sister. That in itself is a pretty big deal! She has been wary of my quinoa bites since the beginning since she …
Losing weight is tough, especially when cravings hit. Use these 6 tips to stop nighttime snacking and stay on track in your weight loss journey. I have a few unspoken rules for myself when it comes to how I eat. I don’t forbid any foods in my diet, because that is just a recipe for binging …
This healthy summer berry trifle is perfect for a barbecue or potluck. It features light angel food cake, protein-packed Greek yogurt, and beautiful summer berries. I am trying really hard to pay attention to ingredients these days. Honestly, there are foods that I absolutely love (here’s lookin’ at you, Little Debbie Nutty Bars!) and I …
Want to drink more water but don’t like the taste of plain water? Use these 4 natural flavor combinations to jazz up your water. The temperature is heating up these days and I am more and more thankful every day to be missing the 100+ degree temperatures of Arizona! But whether you’re living in the …
These easy Baked Chicken Nuggets with a coating of Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs are a healthy dinner kids and adults will both love. In less than 30 days, I am moving out of my house and my stuff is moving to Colorado (thanks to my amazing dad who is flying out here and driving a …
The ultimate holiday comfort food – sweet and creamy mashed sweet potatoes with maple syrup, cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg. The perfect Thanksgiving side! It’s November! I know, I know, thanks for the announcement, Captain Obvious! It just seems like the last time I blinked it was summer, and now we’re already past Halloween …
Whether it’s Halloween or Valentine’s Day, when you’re trying to lose weight, it’s tough! Here are 5 ways to avoid overeating candy on holidays. I love candy – gummy candy, chewy candy, white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and especially chocolate filled with crispies, pretzels, peanut butter, and caramels. And it just so happens that …
A friend and I were talking recently about kale (because who doesn’t talk about kale regularly with their friends?) and she was telling me that she just isn’t a fan. I get it. I didn’t used to like the stuff either! And then I discovered the secret – the kale massage. Start with your bowl …
I’m still holding onto the last bits of summer as much as I can, which is much easier to do in Tucson since it feels like summer here long after school has been back in sessions! We’re still frequenting triple digit temperatures, which has been a fabulous excuse for eating bowls of watermelon, frozen blueberries, …
These Barbecue Chicken Quinoa Bites bring the flavors of a barbecue chicken pizza into a healthy & protein-packed bite kids and adults will love. Pin this recipe for later! While most people were watching the Superbowl yesterday, I was watching the movie, “Chef.” I’m not much of a sports fan, though I do love the …