Butternut Squash.. DELISH!

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OK. Go buy butternut squash and bake it. It is so good!!!  Squash  is also rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins B6! My cousin from a far away land emailed me a salad recipe. One of the ingredients in the salad is baked butternut squash. I had intentions of making this salad and blogging about it, but could not get past step one in the directions! I could not stop myself  from  eating the warm, baked, butternut squash. It was SO GOOD! I put NOTHING on it. Just baked it at 375 degrees for about 30 min- to an hour (or until a fork will easily go through it). Do not rush the baking process.

I tried the butternut squash plain, and then I dipped it in my favorite ketchup. YUM!  Below is a comparison of sweet potato and butternut squash. They are both delicious and  healthy but have their differences!

                         Butternut squash 1 cup                   Sweet potato 1 cup

calories                        63                                                                         130

carbs                          16.4                                                                         33

fiber                              2.8                                                                          4

sugar                            3.1                                                                          7

protein                        1.4                                                                           2

fat                                   0.1                                                                       0.0

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe Via Sarah Dussault Via Jamie Eason

Most people work a 9-5pm job, or something in that range. My job hours are "I work when most people don't". My day starts at 6am and then my last class usually ends around 730pm. This makes dinner challenging. As much as I would love to make hot meals for me and my fiance, timing is everything. So if I get home at 8pm preparing dinner and cooking it would put dinner on the table at 9pm best. http://youtu.be/SZ1pR5AzF9I

Anytime I find a recipe that allows me to prep before and cook later, I LOVE. I was searching through Sarah Dussualt's blog and found this clean turkey meatloaf recipe. This recipe allows me to prep everything before, have it all ready in the fridge and then  just pop it in the oven when I get home. It is easy and delicious. If you find that timing is an issue when cooking, check this recipe out out and try it!

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I was at Trader Joe's yesterday and was looking at spices for my turkey meatloaf and found this! I know it is marketed as a taco  mix, but who cares! I love that it has so many spices in one packet. Normally I do not add a lot of salt to anything and sometimes I totally avoid it.  So, at first I was hesitant to buy this mix because salt was the #1 ingredient.  I called my friend, who is on her way to getting her Masters of Science in Nutrition Communications, and asked her what she thought of this mix considering the sodium level is at 260mg.  She said that 260mg for pre packaged spices is great, and is still considered moderately low. Just make sure to pay attention to the serving size. In this package you will also find paprika, garlic, red pepper, cayenne pepper, sugar (less than 1g), oregano, black pepper and chili pepper.

The taco mix spices worked great in my turkey meatloaf! I only put one table spoon for 2 lbs of turkey and then I followed the rest of the spices that are in the video above, minus the salt! OH, I also added a HUGE squirt of ketchup to the turkey loaf and mixed it in before cooking.

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ENJOY!

Black Bean Hummus, make your own at home!

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Its easy! We know that hummus is made from ground chickpeas... so how hard can this be, right? I did not have tahini so this is a tahini free hummus. The only thing is that you need a food processor. Mine is about 40 years old, probably. It was my grandmas and she gave it to me, but it works like a charm! Cuisinart, baby!

* Tahini is roasted sesame seed paste. It is actually really good.

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Ingredients:

1 can black beans

1 can garbanzo beans

2 garlic cloves (you can do one if you do not love garlic)

1 jalapeño pepper (mine was spicy- so do a half or none if you do not like "heat")

half  lemon

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoon EVOO

cumin, salt, pepper to taste (I didn't measure I  just kinda added it in)

Directions:

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Add all ingredients to food processor, blend until smooth. I made sure to mince the garlic and Jalapaneo pepper before I put in blender.  If the final product looks too thick add more water and blend again. Enjoy with carrot sticks, or pita chips.

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Let me know if you try, and how it comes out!

Some of my favorite foods

I used to be all about peanut butter, but now almond butter is my thang. I have tried many and all kinds of almond butter, and Trader Joes RAW (they have crunchy and smooth) almond butter remains my top pick. The price is right too ringing in at $4.99!

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A bit pricey but SO freaking good! I love chocolate and almond butter so together it's like heaven. I never used it as a spread, it was more of a spoon and lick type of deal. Best dessert.

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What can I say, I go through mango strips like its my job. I used to always buy the Trader Joes brand of unsweetened mango strips but then they started tasting really chemically and weird to me. So I found "peeled snacks"! They sell them at Starbucks, but since I go through them so fast I order them on AMAZON. They are organic and are already portioned off which helps, especially when these mangos are hard to resist! What are YOUR favorite treats?

baked cod with tomatos and olives (scroll down for recipe)

lauren-91731

1. Drink water
2. Pull your shoulders back and your stomach in and up when you WALK (and then walk some more)
3. Strength train

4. Do my YouTube Videos  (Teen Vogue recently named me one of the Five Fab Fitness Gurus to follow on YouTube!)

5. Take class with me LIVE through my online studio 
6.  Eat small meals throughout the day
7. STRETCH: take 15 extra minute in the morning to stretch and get your blood flowing
8. LAUGH
9. Eat clean.Try to limit processed or packaged food
10. Set goals and reach them. BECAUSE YOU CAN!

In the comments section below, please list one thing you do to stay healthy, strong and fit.

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Ingredients:

Cod or any white fish

ripe vine tomatoes

minced garlic

Kalamata black olives

EVOO

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Wash fish place in some type of oven save dish

Rub fish with EVOO, garlic, salt and pepper (and any other seasoning you desire)

Cube tomatoes place in dish

Cut Kalamta olives, place in dish

Put dish in oven for 20 minutes (more or less depending on thickness of fish)

ENJOY!