Orange Cinnamon Chicken

I just discovered a new seasoning! Seasonings are really a great way to mix up your meals without overcomplicating anything:) I am all about quick meals, so playing around with seasonings is the perfect way for me to add variety, while still being efficient with my time!  So this is what I have been using to season my chicken and oatmeal for the last couple of days, and I really LOVE IT! I like cinnamon on just about anything, and have had it on chicken before, but adding the orange peel gives it something a little extra! It's delicious! I got the orange peel seasoning at Safeway, but I think it can be easily found in most local grocery stores:)

Chipotle Salad

Chipotle is one of my favorite places to grab a quick, healthy meal if I want to eat out. The hubby and I don't go there too frequently, but the past few times I have gone, I have started changing up my order a little bit to keep the calories low enough for it to be a worthwhile meal:) I usually order a bowl, and have been substituting A LOT of veggies for rice and beans...and the veggies really are delicious:) So my bowl is usually something like: lots and lots of veggies, double chicken, pico, hot sauce, lettuce, and if I am feeling extra hungry I will get light avacado (because if you don't request 'light', they will basically put an entire mashed avacado on your salad...yum). Chipotle is kinda expensive for one meal...or I would probably eat there more frequently...but my alternative salad is pretty dang good, too:)

Chipotle Salad

4 oz. Chicken Breast
1/2 sliced red onion
1 sliced green bell pepper
2 Tbs hot salsa (salsa of choice)

1 tsp Sriracha
3 cups baby romaine lettuce

To prepare the chicken:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 F. Trim and cube raw chicken. Season chicken (I use a lot of sea salt with Weber Kick'n Chicken seasoning). Bake covered for one hour. Remove and let chicken cool while remaining covered for 30 minutes.

Salad:
Sautee red pepper and green bell peppers with some sea salt. When that is finished, toss all of the ingredients in a bowl and enjoy!

Easy:) and yummy! And Macro Friendly;)

Calories: 238
Carb: 19.8 g
Protein: 29.8 g
Fat: 5 g

Dine With Me

I was asked what my meal plan is like during a typical week, so I am going to give you all a little peek into my diet. Keep in mind that every person has different caloric needs, so this wont necessarily work for everyone, but it has been working for me:)

I generally eat the same meals every day for a week, because I am currently in competition prep. It might seem a bit 'boring', but all the meals that I eat are quite yummy:)

I take a multivitamin daily...I would recommend this for anyone and everyone. It is rare for a person to hit all of their vitamin and mineral needs every day without this (especially people who have a typical 'American diet').

SO. Here is my dining for the day:)

7:00 AM Breakfast

Protein Waffles (Strawberry Valentine Protein Waffles) Vanilla protein powder and replace strawberry with 1 oz. Banana
.25 cup (35 g) Blueberries (to top the waffle)
~302 calories:  36 carb, 3 fat, 32 pro

10:00 AM Snack 1

1 Scoop Protein Powder (Dymatize Elite Gourmet)
.5 Tbs Chia Seeds
2 Quaker Caramel Rice cakes
~250 calories:  30 g carb, 5 g fat, 25 g pro

12:00 PM Lunch

4 oz. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
.25 cup steamed asparagus (or microwaved)
.5 cup black rice
Red Curry Powder
Turmeric
~270 calories: 30 g carb, 3 g fat, 31 g pro

2:00 PM Snack 2

4 oz.  Extra-Lean Ground Turkey
3 oz. Sweet Potato
40 g  Raw Almonds
Mrs. Dash Sodium Free Seasoning
~434 calories: 26 g carb, 22 g fat, 38 g pro

5:00 PM Dinner

4 oz. Extra-Lean Ground Turkey
.5 cup Black Rice
1.5 oz Avacado
2 Tbs Medium Chunky Pace Salsa
~405 calories: 34 g carb , 20 g fat, 39 g pro
8:00 PM Snack 3

1.5 cup Lentil Vegetable Soup
Mrs. Dash Sodium Free Seasoning
~227 calories: 24 g carb, 2 g fat, 37 g pro

Total: 1888 calories: 170 g carb (~35%), 55 g fat (~25%), 202 g pro (~45%)

That's it! I will occasionally switch out some of my meals to add some variety, but when I switch my meals I am generally moving around food items from each meal (so swapping my sweet potatoes with my rice). As long as I keep it clean and keep my calories and macros the same, I don't worry too much. Drinking a lot of water is a big deal, too. At least 1 gallon daily (~3.5 L). Don't skimp on water. It helps to curb cravings and enhances immunity. Your body needs water.

So, there you are.  A typical day (week) for me right now:) I have other meal plans that I follow during different weeks, but this is what I am currently eating. Take it for what it's worth:)

Spicy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

I have a bit of an addiction. Cafe Rio Barbacoa Pork Salad. Unfortunately, it probably isn't the most healthy meal...not to mention the $10 per salad...

SO. I looked for a copycat recipe for the pork...and, as you might imagine, it is loaded with sugar. Sugar is delicious, but not exactly what I want to be feeding my body. I kept looking and found a recipe on bodybuilding.com. I decided to give it a try, and am happy to say that it turned out really well! I did make a few adjustments of my own...and I will be honest, I have a tendency to 'guesstimate' my measurements, but this time I only did that with a few of the seasonings:) So, here it is with my adjustments. Click on the link above if you want to see the original recipe and directions!

Spicy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

• 1/2 medium Onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp Sucanat
• 1/2 tsp Blackstrap Molasses
• 1 tbsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground Black Pepper
• 3 lbs Pork Tenderloin, trimmed
• 6 tbsp White Vinegar (I didn't have Cider Vinegar)
• 1 cup Low-sodium Chicken Stock
• 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• Crushed Red Pepper (probably about 1 tsp)
• 1 tsp sucanat
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

And here's a little secret...I topped a protein pancake with some of the pork, and it was not bad at all:) Better than a bun, but if you don't want to try that use some 100% whole wheat toasted English muffins! YUM!