All things Pumpkin!

Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin… it seems like every year we start talking about it earlier and earlier! But now that it is officially Fall, and in honor of the big lovely, orange veggie, we will be talking about ALL things pumpkin!

Did you know just how good pumpkin is for you? No, this doesn’t give you permission to eat tons and tons of pumpkin PIE! But adding pumpkin in other healthy recipes (think healthy muffins, oatmeal, coffee drinks, pancakes, etc) is super beneficial!

Mmmmmmm, nothing like pumpkin pancakes in the morning! Enjoy this one with a nice hot cup of coffee (add some honey and pumpkin pie spice to your coffee, too!)

PIN IT HERE: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/149533650103061313/

Workout with a pumpkin??? Well, yeah, why not?!? Pumpkins can be useful to help you get that sweat on right before the holiday season kicks in gear! Check out this FUN way to get fit!

http://shannonmillerlifestyle.com/fitness/do-the-pumpkin-workout

After that workout you deserve a nice, protein packed, super food filled PUMPKIN FRAPPE! Say what??? Yep, that’s right! This recipe is sure to have you feeling like you are drinking a treat you got through a certain coffee shop, and not a super HEALTHY drink! Great for drinking to replenish your body after a tough workout or drink it as one of your daily meals! This isn’t just a protein shake, it’s a meal replacement unlike any other!

PIN IT HERE: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/149533650103091669/

LEARN MORE ABOUT SHAKEOLOGY HERE: www.myshakeology.com/betterfitlife

Don’t forget, I am here for you to help you achieve your goals and dreams. I am also always looking for those who feel that they want to help others achieve their goals and dreams as well. Contact me if you would like more information on what it is that I do as a coach. It is a blessing to be a part of this journey with you!

The Soup that Keeps on Giving: 1 soup turns into 2 recipes!

Can you sense it? Fall is coming and to me that means that it is SOUP season! I love the warmth and the comfort that soup can bring to your home. It makes you feel like curling up on the couch with a blanket and a good book! Anyone with me on this???


Today, I want to share with you a quick and easy couple of soup recipes. The best part is that the first one is just 5 ingredients and then next one uses the first soup's leftovers and just adds in 2 more ingredients for a whole different flavor! And even better, both recipes are HEALTHY!


So without delay, here they are:

So I woke up and had that stuffed up feeling. Oh no. I knew that I needed to make some SOUP! So, I looked to see what I had on hand. 

Here's what I found: some chicken broth, frozen veggies, shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken I bought (shredded up and froze in 2 cup portions) the other day, and some pearled barley a friend bought me at a farmer's market. Yes, this was perfect! Now all I needed was some Italian seasoning and my crock pot!

I mixed it all together and then I set my crock pot on LOW for 6-ish hours. My house smelled so good!!!!

And there was the result! Mmmmmm! 3 adults and one toddler ate out of this with plenty of leftovers! (and that will lead to the next recipe where I made a NEW soup out of the leftovers!

Chicken and Barley Slow Cooker Soup

1 box low sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup pearled barley
1 package of frozen veggies (I used a mix of zucchini, squash, peppers and onions)
2 cups shredded chicken
1-2 tsp Italian seasoning


Add and mix all ingredients to crock pot. Set on LOW for 6-8 hours.

PIN IT HERE: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/149533650103120023/




And now for the second recipe with the leftovers:

Today I wanted a repeat of yesterday's soup, but with a twist. I decided to add 2 more ingredients to my leftovers!

Ingredient #1: 2 cups chopped kale

Ingredient #2: 2 cups of crushed tomatoes w/ basil

















I added all of that with the leftovers of the first soup in a pot on the stove. I heated it at medium, until it was ll heated through and the kale had wilted a little. It was delicious!

Chicken & Barley Tomato Kale Soup

1/2 of the Chicken & Barley Slow Cooker Soup (leftovers)
2 cups chopped kale
2 cups crushed tomatoes with Basil

Add all ingredients to a pot and heat on stove on medium heat. Stir and continue heating until kale has started to wilt a little (about 5-8 minutes).

PIN IT HERE: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/149533650103120030/

Enjoy!!!



-Ashley
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Do you need the support and motivation to live a healthier, cleaner, leaner lifestyle from a private group of people just like you with the help of a coach? If you don't already have a Beachbody coach, why don't you make me your coach today! Click the link below to sign up for FREE and you will receive my weekly newsletters. Contact me on my facebook page or through email (betterfitlife@gmail.com) and let's talk about your goals and how I can help you!

Sign up for me to be your FREE coach:
http://tinyurl.com/FREESignUpWithBetterFitLife

21 Day Fix on SALE this September!

Oh yes!!!! It’s BACK on SALE for September! Talk about a great way to get on track with your health and fitness this Fall! This program has been a definite GAME CHANGER for soooooo many people ever since it came out at the beginning of this year.

WHY is this program so awesome???

- no calorie counting

- no adding up points

- 30 min workouts (with modifications for beginners)

- simple nutrition with Shakeology

- even leaves room for a treat!

Included in this amazing challenge pack deal, you get the complete program with 7 workouts that are only 30 minutes long (plus 1 bonus 30 min workout for purchasing from a coach - ME!) PLUS, you get the super helpful, color-coded portion control containers with the Eating Plan book, a Shakeology shaker cup, AND a month’s supply of Shakeology (super food daily dose of dense nutrition!)!!! All of that for just $140 (that’s a savings of $70!!)!

Get yours today by clicking on this link below!

http://tinyurl.com/BetterFitLife21DayFixSPECIAL

Here’s a yummy, healthy breakfast that anyone can eat, but here is how it is laid out in the 21 Day Fix Eating Guide:

1 purple container (fruit) = fill with berries and grapes (or any approved Fix fruit from the guide)

1 yellow container (grains) = 1 whole wheat sandwich thin, toasted

1 red container (protein) = 1 egg, cooked with southwest seasoning, 2 slices of turkey bacon, then top with hot sauce (hot sauce is a FREE item in 21 Day Fix, so use all you want!)

PIN THIS breakfast HERE ------->  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/149533650102605559/

Now that we’ve got our breakfast, here’s a dinner for you!

1 yellow container (grain) = cooked brown rice with added veggies (yes we added veggies, but not enough for it to mess up the plan!)

Here’s how I made the rice:

2 cups of uncooked brown rice (I used instant)

2 cups veggie broth

1 packet of frozen mixed veggies

Add all ingredients to an oven safe casserole dish with a lid. Cover and cook at 400 degrees for about 20-30 min. Check to see if rice is done. If not, put back in the oven in 5 minute increments.

1 green container (veggies) = roasted broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower

1 red container (protein) = baked chicken breast sprinkled with Italian seasoning

PIN THIS dinner HERE ---------> http://www.pinterest.com/pin/149533650102605411/

And last but not least, a reminder for you all. Everyday is a NEW chance. Create your dreams. Don’t let any negative people get you down. Surround yourself with positive people who will lift you up. Be a person who lifts up others! Be a blessing and you in turn will be blessed! Take this moment RIGHT NOW to decide to be who you want to be - and then be it!

Do you need the support and motivation to live a healthier, cleaner, leaner lifestyle from a private group of people just like you with the help of a coach? If you don't already have a Beachbody coach, why don't you make me your coach today! Click the link below to sign up for FREE and you will receive my weekly newsletters. Contact me on my facebook page or through email (betterfitlife@gmail.com) and let's talk about your goals and how I can help you!

Sign up for me to be your FREE coach:
http://tinyurl.com/FREESignUpWithBetterFitLife



-Ashley

Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

Well.... It worked! I have been wanting to try to make oatmeal in crock pot for quite some time now! I've just been too chicken to try! But I cruised around on Pinterest (one of my favorite "places") and found a recipe that had the most clean ingredients I could (I had to modify it a little) and went for it!

Not only did the house smell like a freshly baked apple pie when we woke up, but breakfast was done before my feet hit the floor! That's a win in my book! 

I read up on different ways to cook oatmeal in a crockpot, and this was the method I ended up using: a double boiler-ish method (yes, that's my technical term for it!). I found one of my oven safe dishes and tried to see if it fit inside my slow cooker. It was a perfect fit! 

(See in the pic the white dish? That's my Corningware!) 

After it was done, we ended up adding a little more unsweetened vanilla almond milk to each of our bowls and then topped with some raisins, chopped walnuts, and ground flaxseed. Sooooo good! Our sweet 2 year old loved it too!

So without delay, here's the recipe:

Apple Cinnamon Slow Cooker Oatmeal

(Makes 4 servings)

• 3/4 cup steel-cut oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 medium apple, washed and chopped (I used a Gala apple)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
• 2 cups water

Mix all ingredients together in oven safe dish that will fit inside slow cooker, except for water. Slowly add water and stir together. Cook on LOW for 6 hours. If your slow cooker has a timer, use that, but if not, you may want to do what I did and get up and turn to WARM after 6 hours is up!

Dish up and top with a splash of more almond milk, raisins, chopped nuts, flaxseed, dried fruit, etc! 

PIN IT HERE: http://pinterest.com/pin/149533650103038254/

ENJOY!

-Ashley