Healthy Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies

This girl needs sweets in her life. Sometimes even for breakfast.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies

3 mashed bananas 
2 cups oats 
1 egg 
1/3 cup peanut butter 
1/4 cup almond milk 
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips 
1/4 cup walnuts 
1 tsp vanilla 
1 tsp cinnamon 

Mash bananas. Mix everything together. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes 

Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

It's coming you guys! The biggest food holiday of the year followed by lots of parties and gatherings as we prepare for Christmas and the New Year! A huge part of these holidays is the table. I love the table. I love gathering, I love hearing the stories and laughter, the clanking of dishes as we sit across from one another. Food is the means to which we gather. It helps us celebrate. It helps us remember. Food gives a pathway to connection and communication. Our holidays are wrapped around food and I so love it but while you are trying to implement healthy habits, this can prove difficult. So, I wanted to share some practical tips!

My Goal: 

-I want you to enjoy your food thoroughly 

-I want you to not feel guilty 

-I want you to still get results 

Lofty goals but I totally believe it is possible! 

1. Get moving every day

Whether you push play, hit the gym, walk the dog, or have football game with your family, get that blood pumping! 

2. Eat a healthy breakfast.

Make sure you're eating a balanced breakfast at the start of your day.  This will keep you satisfied as you move into more temptations later on! It starts your day off on the right foot!

3. Eat lots of fruits & veggies.

Eating lots of fiber will keep your body energized and your immune system healthy! It will also keep you feeling full longer.  Eat lots of fresh fruits, veggies and even nuts to keep you full!

4. Listen to your body

Eat until you're about 80% full.  If you're still hungry go back for seconds and if you're not just stop.  Enjoy your food but also be aware of when you're body is telling you its full.  Slow down while you're eating so you can be more aware. This is my biggest struggle and something I have to continuously keep in check. 

5. Volunteer to bring a dish to a gathering

This will give you a chance to fill your plate with something you know is healthy but also delicious. Fix up a traditional recipe using cleaner ingredients or make something out of your regular that you are just as excited to try! 

6. Scope out the food

Check out all the food at the dinner party so you can decide what you actually want to enjoy and eat!  When you put a little bit of everything on your plate you're often left with a few dishes that really aren't you favorite but you feel obligated to eat them just cause its there.  Scope out what you want before hand so you can just pick your favorites!  If you're still hungry go back for your second choices later.

7. Don't label anything as "off limits"

Enjoy a dessert and some fun foods during the Holidays. When we label certain dishes as off limits it leaves us feeling deprived and often causes the restrict-binge cycle.  Enjoy your favorite foods and desserts and don't feel guilty - permission has been granted!

8. Drink a lot of water!

Drinking a lot of water is going to keep you hydrated and full.  It keeps you from eating those empty calories. Especially if you're consuming alcohol make sure to drink a glass after each drink! 

9. 3 Bite Rule

When you really want something but don’t want to indulge in all those unnecessary calories take 3 bites. The 3-bite rule breaks down like this: take one bite to say “hello,” one bite to savor the flavor, and one bite to say “goodbye.” With each bite, slowly chew the food so you can really taste it.

10. Get Rid of the Leftovers

Enjoy your special treat meal but don’t keep that food lingering around your home. You will be more likely to keep on indulging and your body will start craving more food like that.

May you have a blessed, happy and healthy holiday season!

Pork Carnitas

I could eat Mexican food for every meal! I guess that is what I get for living in SoCal and Arizona my whole life! But healthy and Mexican food don’t really seem to jive together all that much. So when you find a delicious and healthy Pork Carnitas you do your due diligence and share the love! One of my favorite things to do as a Health Coach is to take people’s favorite recipes and Fix them up into versions they can still be proud to serve to their family and friends! This recipe is me Fixing up my favorite food! 

Pork Carnitas 

-3 lbs of Pork Loin

-2 Bay Leaves

-1.5 cups of water

To Make the Rub Combine:

-2 tbsp of chili powder

-2 tsp cumin

-1/2 tsp cloves

-1 tsp onion powder

-2 tsp garlic powder

-1 tsp sea salt

-1 tsp oregano

Directions:

Mix all spices together except bay leaf in a bowl. Rub down entire porkloin with spices and place in your slow cooker. Add the bay leaf and water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred. Stir the meat to coat with juices. 

Cilantro Lime Chipotle Topping (Do not omit this, it totally adds to it!)

-3/4 to 1 Cup Greek Yogurt

-1/4 cup Fresh Lime Juice

-1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro

-1-2 Tbsp of Chipotle in Adobo (amount depends on how spicy you want it)

-1 lime cut into wedges for garnish

Creamy Cashew Coffee

I love to start my mornings with a good cup of coffee. But black, just can’t do it. Creamer was my bestie in coffee but I realized my coffee needed some cleaning up. While my go to is a All Natural Almond Milk Creamer this Creamy Cashew Coffee is my weekend treat! Sounds strange, I know! But it is delicious! And there is no draining or straining or nut milk bag fussing with this! And if you are worried there are going to be cashew pieces floating in your coffee, don’t be. I don’t know how it works, but thankfully my job isn’t to know, my job is just to share this foamy smooth amazingness.

Creamy Cashew Coffee

-1 serving of strongly brewed coffee (about 1.5 cups)

-1/4 cup cashews (roasted and salted is my fave)

-1 tablespoon of honey (more or less to taste)

-Dash of cinnamon

-A sprinkle of sea salt if your cashews have no salt

Blend all ingredients together. 30 seconds on a low speed then 15-30 seconds on the highest speed to ensure creamy smooth texture. Pour into mug and enjoy. 

Library Baby Shower for Baby L-P

Dear Baby Lyons-Pardue,

We are patiently waiting your arrival. We are so excited to meet you and love on you! But as we wait, we celebrate you and your beautiful momma!

Ladies from the church and from your family came to help mommy (and daddy) prepare for your arrival by showering your family with gifts and books from our build-a-library shower. Instead of cards, your friends brought you books with beautiful inscriptions. I'm sure you will love sitting with mommy and daddy and reading all these great books! We played a game of guessing what classic book pictures hanging on a banner came from. These book illustrations led to lots of fun discussions about what books were our personal favorites as kids and as mommies. We also played a guess the ingredients in the baby food, which your mom loved because it reminded her of one of her favorite "guess the ingredients" game on a cooking show (baby, you are lucky for numerous reasons but one is because your mommy is a fabulous cook!). We had so much fun celebrating your impending arrival, know baby L-P that you are very loved already!

The table decorated in tan and white with roses from my rose bush. 

The place settings were drawn on the brown butcher paper with white colored pencil. The "name cards" were all the different roles of mom (ie. chauffer, counselor, photographer, historian, etc.)

The banner made from pictures photocopied from classic books and mounted on tan paper hung from twine and clothespins.

 

Baby food game. (I didn't make any of your friends taste the gross ones, just the good ones)

Your mommy reading one of her book cards with your 4-yr-old buddy.

Some of the ladies from the church who came to celebrate you and your family!

Any day now baby L-P! Can't wait to meet you!

Love,
Amy

Hudson is 1!

To my Hudson,

I look at you and my heart swells. Your smile can light up a room. Your laugh is contagious. Your excitement excites those around you. Your warmth makes people feel loved. You are sweet and brave and passionate and funny. You have captured us baby boy! It has been so much fun and such an honor being your mommy this past year watching you grow, loving on you, and seeing this amazing personality develop. Oh little man, we love you!

At one year old here are some things about you...
You are almost 22 pounds and 30 inches and are in the 53rd percentile in height and weight.
You love music. Anything. Everything. You bounce and sway and wave your hands to the music.
You eat most things but fruit is by far your favorite. Grapes, cuties, strawberries, bananas are amongst your favorites.
The faster, the higher, the more dangerous the better to you. Slides, scooters, bikes you just love to go fast!
You always take one shoe off in the stroller or car seat. Usually the right one.
You started walking at 11 months and by your first birthday were basically trying to run.
You say mama, dada, dog (daw dawg), that (dat), Andy said you said Andy (Annie) when he was watching you, and at your 1st birthday party you said yaya.
You sleep with a monkey that sings and every time I lie you down in the crib you look over at Charlie monkey waiting for mommy to turn him on.
You still love to nurse at 4:30 in the morning and to calm you down after your afternoon nap when you wake up so crankerpie.
You love to be clapped for.
You think your brother is the funniest person alive and love playing chase with him. You love being chased!
You oh ew oh aw oh all the way through Sea World and the zoo.
You sign more and we are trying to get you to sign all done because you like to aggressively throw your food on the ground.

You love to be outside. You are happiest outside. 

The park is your happy place with the beach coming in a close second. 

You are the best at waking brother, daddy, or me up with your tender hugs and excited giggles.

You love to turn the lights on and off. And blow them on and off. 

You love mommy's keys and to pretend your driving. 

You are so freaking cute!

Huddy, we love you sweet smoosh! Happy 1st Birthday! 

Love, Mom 

                            
                                 
                                             

Love Wins

To us,

In the midst of chaos. In the darkness of evil. In the heartache of tragedy. I am reminded that 2000+ years ago a man stood in the midst of chaos, evil, and tragedy and didn’t just skirt around it but went right through it, and won. Love won.  

In the ugliness of this world. In the loud craziness of this world. People are running in to help. Literally running towards explosions to scoop people into their arms. People are generously sharing their resources. People are praying. Meals are being shared. Couches are being slept on. People are listening deeply to one another. People are good. Love is still winning. 

I believe on days like today where the evil and injustice has taken center stage we can either question God’s power or we can (be discouraged and disgusted but) trust love will win. And because I believe that... I am going to be a force of love. I will be good. I will encourage. I will comfort. I will soothe. I will be patient. I will be kind. I will be gentle in my words and actions. I will have self control. I will be light. I will be love. 

Love won. Love is still winning. And love will win.

Love, Amy