sunday dinner

March 13, 2013 by fitfoodiele

my ‘rents came over to love on their grand baby this past weekend! so of course i whipped up a few things.

i started with a HUUUGE salad complete with romaine mix, fat-free feta, black olives, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots all drizzled with Braggs liquid aminos, Braggs apple cidar vinegar + a little agave nectar,

and i used up the rest of a papaya to make some papaya-lime salsa.

here’s the original recipe again, but i added strawberries and avocado this time and it was SO much creamier. i highly suggest adding them every time!

this stuff is fabulous paired with seafood! and if you make enough of it, whip out some multi-grain chips or make your own by slicing up a whole wheat tortilla and baking it in the oven until crispy.

roasted, whipped sweet potaters topped with pecans and cinnamon (recipe will be in the ebookie)

and finally, baked, garlic & herb tilapia.

family and food together makes me one happier woman! i sincerely cherish being able to cook for my parents.

then….

for dessert, cinnamon…. apple…. almond cake! the stuff on top is apple whipped cream. it’s sugar-free, fat-free cool whip, diced red delicious apple, and greek yogurt) all blended into a sweet, light, heavenly topping. oh AND, i grinded on some of Trader Joe’s cinnamon sugar

cinnamon apple almond cake

the stuff:

4 tbsp diced apple
3 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tbsp applesauce
1/2 tsp apple pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tsp coconut crystals

do this:

set 1 tbsp of the diced or sliced apples aside along with the coconut crystals, and set your oven to 325 degrees.

mix the wet with the wet and the dry with the dry, then combine. (i made two cakes using my cupcake pan.)

distribute the coconut crystals evenly in the bottom of the two empty cupcake slots, as well as 2 tbsp of the diced/sliced apples (1 tbsp in each slot).

pour the batter on top!

cook for 12-15 minutes, but watch it closely.

take the cakes out, let them cool slightly, then flip them over onto a plate, pineapple upside down cake style. yummmmmmmy!

top with the apple whip, or eat it plain.

2 ‘cup’cakes or 1 big one

**you DON’T have to use the coconut oil if you don’t want to!** i included the nutritional adjustments just in case you omit it, but it does enhance the flavor and texture of the cake a lil bit. your call.

so i was thinking… you wont know what going on over here unless i tell you, duh! i’m working on two books right now which is what’s taking so long. the first will be for our 6 Pack USA clients and is almost complete, then i can really focus on the Fit Foodie Le book! both of them will be available for purchase- you don’t have to be a 6 Pack USA client to access the book and get the recipes though. the Fit Foodie Le book will be a combo of cleaner, healthier, classics like some of the recipes i’ve already shared with you, and tons of new recipes for snacks, dips, dressings, soups, stews, pastas, aaaaagggh!!!!!

i am TOO excited about it and i hope you are too! please be patient though and keep counting down with me.

before i let you go, pleeeease go check out my feature on Fitness, Food, and Style!! i met Dani via Instagram and she is one amazing woman, my goodness. i’m over here struggling to keep my blog alive with one kiddo and she has FOUR!!! what!? she was in the IT industry for a while and became a full-time SAHM (stay at home mom) after the birth of her second child. her blog is super informative for mothers or for anyone striving to just living a healthier life overall. show her some love, please!

BUCKLE UP!!!!!

sunday, sweat, & salmon

January 13, 2013 by fitfoodiele

i must start this post out by giving a HUUUUUGE congrats to everyone that participated in the Chevron Houston Half and Full Marathon races this morning!!!! my Facebook feed is blowing the heck up right now with pics of friends i had no idea were even running this year! the weather wasn’t the greatest, but i am so thrilled to see people sticking to their goals, breaking PR’s and just being such HEALTHY examples. AWESOME job, all runners!

i had this bad boy a few days ago- my protein filled breakfast sammie.

it’s got 2 egg whites and 2 oz of lean grilled chicken breast previously dipped in some calorie-free, carb-free, fat-free, Walden Farms pancake syrup and sandwiched between a Thomas light, multigrain english muffin. who needs a high-priced drive-through breakfast sandwich when you can make these right at home? my family doesn’t.

before heading out to church this morning, i had another one and added some dijon mustard for some tang. some cheese will make it even better! stats: 225 cals, 3g fat, 26.6 carbs, 8g fiber, and a WHOPPING 30g of protein! YUP!

so today was the launch of 24 Hour Fitness’s new Total Body Conditioning format (HIIT) and i had so much fun sweating it out with the members! please, allow me to give just one more shout out to my amazing husband for his support.

weights? yes. cardio? not a big fan. nevertheless, he was in my front row doing his thing and making crazy faces at me as usual.

this is my 5th year teaching and i always, and i mean always, get butterflies in my tummy right before class. i don’t think that feeling will ever leave me. soon as i put that mic on…

it’s ON!!

i feel unstoppable when i am in my zone!

they made breaking a sweat look FANTASTIC. so inspiring.

i was on such a natural high which called for rr selfies- it was a modest turn out and i KNOW the class will only grow to be bigger and better in the coming weeks. i just love family gym dates! heeeey, Chiso

so salmon is STILL on sale at HEB this week *big cheese*. the price did go up a dollar, but it’s still a couple dollars lower than regular price. i couldn’t pass it up. soooo, here are more healthy, fresh salmon meal ideas:

salmon is amazing when paired with fresh dill, but i didn’t have any. i used another toasted Thomas english muffin, broke apart some of the baked salmon and put it on one side, and i slathered the other half of the muffin with a homemade no-fat cream cheese & green onion spread. i smell a salmon, dill, chive, cream cheese dip coming soon, don’t you!? no pun intended.

fresh blackberries are on sale too! i made a spring mix salad for lunch one day last week and threw a few on top for one of my meal 5′s. grilled squash, roasted new potatoes and a hunk of garlic and herb salmon went right along with it. i roast or grill my food A LOT- you create so much flavor! steamed is my least fave…

yesterday, my fam got together at my grandma’s house for a huge pot luck style brunch. what did i volunteer to make? banana pancakes, duuuuuh!

i quadrupled my original recipe and blended 3/4th of the oats in a powder but i left 1 cup whole for texture. you already know the ingredients, so i’ll spare ya.

all griddled up and ready to be devoured.

if you gone do brunch, do it right! i brought sliced fresh bananas, chopped pecans, Cary’s sugar-free syrup, and whipped cream along to top them. we also had:

a beautiful concoction of fresh, ripe fresh fruit brought by my cousin Anne,

eggies made with love by my aunts,

french toast (made with organic, low-fat milk, right, Kristy!)

here’s one end of the table,

this thing was soooooo sweet and delectable! i had to know what the crust was and found out it was a big sugar cookie, yum! topped with cool whip, cinnamon, and fresh fruit. awesome idea that i WILL be stealing and tweaking lol.

aaaand here’s the other end.

time spent with the people i love and a big table of FOOD. i love my life.

aren’t these guys the cutest!? also brought by cousin Anne- they are soy yogurt shots topped with fresh fruit and granola.

the tasted as amazing as they looked. i know you see that bacon

welp, it’s that time again.

rest up

Q: what is your FAVORITE brunch food?

hands down, mine is french toast.

tears to the weekend

April 17, 2012 by fitfoodiele

i sure did hate to see this past weekend go!

are you still running?? the 5 and 10ks have not stopped and neither should you. the weather is getting warmer and warmer, so stay hydrated out there. i’m doing a 10k at the end of this month (look for it over there in the sidebar) with my buddy Kara; i’m excited about our running date!

http://thegreen2green.com/

weekend recap:

i started my saturday with my fav class- 1 hr of total conditioning @ lifetime. my hubby usually goes to play basketball for his workout, but for some reason everybody took this past saturday off as there were no hoopers in sight according to him! so, he hit me up for a brunch date right after i finished up. we tried a new place this time, Otto’s Deluxe Grill. unfortunately, we won’t be back as Sonny felt he could have made his meal himself, at home. touche! kudos to us for trying something different though, right!?

pretty cut and dry, eh? i got their sampler breakfast- scrambled egg whites, ham, one pancake, and hash browns. ham was the only option other than pork sausage and bacon. that really is a blueberry pancake. ultimately, the hash browns were the highlight of the meal for me.

moving on, my east coast boos were in town for a friend’s wedding!!

i’ve never met a woman more giving than Ijeoma (r). as the saying goes ‘you can’t please everybody’, but this girl sure does try! i am so honored to be her friend. she looks amazing, as usual!

my girl Ijeoma and i at Siju & Bola's wedding

this is my fellow blogger, crazy talented, close friend Dami and i having a grand time @ the wedding. you MUST check her out (Parchment by Dami) as she is simply incredible at what she does. she made the invitations for my co-ed baby shower last year, and she is currently working on the invites for my little man’s first birthday party next month!

my dear friend Dams & i

plantain was on the menu so i was super happy. Dams loves me so much she gave me all of hers. ok i asked first.. she was taking too long O_o

jellof rice, stewed goat, hen, fish, plantains, and a green salad was also served. Sonny always hints for me to add more Nigerian dishes to my repertoire… workin on that

i didn’t get any of that beautiful cake cause i had to head out early, bummer.

i started my Sunday off with taking Dams back to the airport we headed to church when i returned, and then on to celebrate my husband’s 10 year reunion with his fraternity (line) brothers and their wives @ Brio.

i stated with their field greens salad that came with tomatoes, gorgonzola, and pine nuts, and balsamic dressing (on the siiiiide)

the shrimp and crab crepes sounded SCRUMPTIOUS so i tried them…very good!

Sonny sent his plate back after one bite! it was just a fritatta, but that creamy sauce was prolly what did it for him. he ended up playing it safe and trading it for a tilapia and spinach dish. ( as if we don’t eat that enough @ home lol)

i knew our little guy would catch a nice long nap since we had been out all day, and he did just that on our way home. so i went straight to the gym and got in an hr of cardio while my window of opp was wide open! we ended the evening with some tv and lounging.

ok back to today! i’m trying a different recipe for dinner tonight so i’ll let you know how it goes. i’m hoping after it sits for a few hours and the flavors marry that it will turn out pretty tasty. i’ll call it a soup for now, we’ll see..

sweet jerk soup (haha)

the stuff:

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
jerk or any type of seasoning you like, to taste
1 carton low sodium chicken stock/broth
1 large tomato
1 bag frozen okra
1 med sweet potato
bunch of fresh cilantro
1 bag frozen spinach
1 med shallot
1 yellow onion

do this:

chop up the shallots and onions and cook them until translucent (2-3 min). add your chopped chicken breasts and cook until there is no more pink.

can be found in the bulk aisle @ HEB - thanks, Nkechi!

then, add in your fresh cilantro and jerk seasoning.

go ahead and pretty much add in everything else. your chopped sweet potatoes, tomatoes, okra, spinach,

and more jerk seasoning.

mix.

once combined, add in your box of low sodium chicken broth.

put the top on and let it simmer for a good 20 minutes.

so far, it’s really sweet. the only thing i’d do different next time is either use another seasoning OR use less sweet potato. the combo of them both is too much. i’m gonna make some brown rice to serve it with. have a great night and enjoy your dinner!!

winner winner chicken dinner

April 12, 2012 by fitfoodiele

who loves instagram?! *raises hand* i mean just look at what i have concocted in a matter of minutes:

my husband traded my EVO in for an iPhone4s- just one of my many birthday gifts from him:) but i’ll get to that post next, can’t wait to share. anyway, this was dinner tonight- grilled ranch chicken breasts, brown rice and black-eyed peas topped with homemade mango salsa.

if you don’t have a grill pan, listen to me- it is SO worth the investment. i got mine from wally world (walmart) for 17 bucks.

when grilling with this thing, you gotta make sure the fire is high and the pan is HOT. i turned it on and let it warm up a bit before throwing my marinated chicken breasts in.

you know it- hidden valley ranch dry dressing mix..i love this stuff.

throw them in and listen to that sizzle!

i did about 8-10 min on each side. look @ those grill marks. i like grill marks.

if you are unsure whether it’s cooked through, take a knife and just make a small incision in the center. no pink allowed.

Sonny’s plate.. he eats his sides separately.

i grabbed my plate/bowl and threw everything together. i like a big bite of everything at once.

this will be our lunch for tomorrow, naturally.

i never told you guys about my Easter brunch! this was our menu: salmon fritatta

ranch new potatoes, mini maple-pecan monkey bread, and fresh fruit.

my guys and i then traveled over to my aunt Annette’s house for my little one’s first Easter egg hunt! she always makes GREAT food, so i made sure to bring my camera. if only i had used it more though- i was too busy eating and making my to-go plates to take pictures!! i will so be making some of these appetizers for sure. this was only a super small portion of everything she had.

this one was full of flavor- tart and sweet. gorgonzola bites with candied walnuts:

i believe i ate like 7, no kidding. crostini bread, slice of pear, slice of gorgonzola, then topped with a candied walnut and broiled in the oven for a few minutes. you must eat each element in one bite to get the full effect! next (and unfortunately last- booooo, i know), salmon crostini. will have to get the recipe from her, but they tasted fab. fitfoodiele approved!

what special/traditional dishes did you make for Easter?

rodeo run – the10k experience

February 25, 2012 by fitfoodiele

bib is ON- it’s time.

it was 80 deg wed. and thurs, then we wake up friday to the low 60′s outta nowhere. this morning was even colder, naturally! about 53 deg or so. it really was perfect running weather so i’ll stop complaining.

that should be you!!! it was a great turn out again this year. over 15,000 participants helped raise 400k+ for Texas high school students via the Rodeo.

wrappin that thang up!! hubby got a shot of me juuuust before i crossed under the finish line. the crowds and all the cheering and yelling never fails to help me blast through that final mile. (spot me yet??)

gun time – 57:50, chip time – 55:07!!!! i really just wanted to finish under an hour, though.

@ the post-race party. yet another reason i love HEB- they sponsor most of the races i participate in lol and ALWAYS have the best post-race snacks. they were giving out fudge ice cream bars but the line was RIDICULOUS:( i was too hungry to wait.

‘hey look, a bull.’ the line to take a pic with this guy was about as ridiculous as the ice cream line. after making our rounds at the different vendor booths and running into countless friends (it was seriously a mini reunion at one point) we headed to brunch.

not even gonna attempt to blame this on trying to keep the tradition going- truth is i am such a creature of habit!!! i could think of no other place for breakfast than LePeep..i just couldn’t. and YES, i got the same thing i ordered last time *eye roll*

hot chocolate

egg white scramble with smoked turkey and veggies. i believe this is called ‘the health nut’ on the menu. i subbed out the fresh fruit for potatoes cause i had a banana at the post race party. and i love potatoes. drowned in ketchup.

one wheat pancake.

sonny’s plate. his stack of pancakes aren’t pictured but are hiding to the right.

CONGRATS to all my friends who ran 5 and 10k’s for the very first time today!! way to set your goal and ACHIEVE IT!!!! EXTREMELY PROUD of yall for taking that giant step and simply signing up. this is only the beginning;)

i’m subbing a weights class at the gym for another instructor tomorrow morning so my muscles really need to recuperate for the rest of the day. headed home for an evening of napping and lounging. have a fantastic saturday!