Change of season = Change of tastebuds

Since winter hit my cravings for comfort foods has increased! You name it; soups, lasagna, spaghetti, hot chocolate, steamed veggies, etc... A cold salad doesn't always sound good to me like it used to. Steamed or cooked things do! So here are a few yummy recipes and food favorites that I eat almost daily!

EASY PEASY SPAGHETTI (and healthy too!)

Ingredients:






*Italian Seasoned 97% lean ground turkey breast (1 lb)
*Jar of 100% natural Prego Spaghetti Sauce (Light Smart brand- 40% fewer calories, less sugar)
*Carba-Nada Noodles 1/2 pack cooked
*One large spaghetti squash, steamed and shredded
*A veggies of choice for a side (salad, asparagus, or broccoli, whatever sounds good!)

DIRECTIONS:
Cook italian turkey on a medium skillet with a little bit of olive oil. While cooking, steam you spaghetti squash in the microwave. (I cut it in half as set 1/2 in a bowl with about an inch of water. Cook in microwave covered for 5 minutes. Then repeat on other 1/2). Shred the squash noodles with a fork. Cook noodles.
When meat is finished cooking pour jar of sauce over top and heat up.
And that is IT!

Carba-nada noodles are a great alternative to pasta. They have less carbs and more fiber. You can buy them for about $3.50 a pack at www.netrition.com. They are filling and delicious. They also have many flavors like; basil pesto, garlic, and original.

I love using cooked spaghetti squash or shredded zucchini as an addition to my pasta. It helps me eat less pasta, and is much lower in calories/carbs then pasta. Plus it is a vegetable! What more could you ask for?

Watching House with my dinner....Love it....

I LOVE PUMPKIN....
Every fall I become obsessed with pumpkin. Then by the time the season is over, I can't even look at it! Pumpkin is great to use because it is high in fiber and vitamin A! It is also low in calories. 20 calories for 1/4 of a cup! Here are a few pumpkin ideas for you to try! Make sure you buy the pure pumpkin and not the pumpkin pie filling can. If you don't, the filling one is full of sugar just like pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin Oat Pancakes


These pancakes kind of have an eggy texture. You may or may not like them, but I love them! They are filling and only 230 calories for all three! Plus they are high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, and protein!

Ingredients:
*1/2 cup oatmeal
*1/4 cup pumpkin
*4 egg whites (or 2 whole eggs)
*Couple of dashes of pumpkin pie spice
*Stevia to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and heat up a medium skillet. Spray with cooking spray and pour a 1/4 up of batter onto pan, making 3 total. Cook on both sides until slightly brown.

Top with maple syrup, agave syrup, or sugar free syrup! I use sugar free (even though I know that artificial sweeteners are not good for you. It is all things in moderation...right?) I just don't feel as guilty with sugar free.

Pumpkin Protein Smoothie


Into the blender:


*8 oz almond milk
*1/4 cup pumpkin
*1/4 cup oats
*1 scoop vanilla protein
*1/2 frozen banana (for thickness)
*Stevia
*Ice cubes

SO YUMMY!!! Smoothies are great after the gym or in the morning! If I know I am going to be busy the next day, I will make a smoothie and put it in the freezer overnight. Then in the morning on my way to work I will grab it and leave it out for my pre-lunch snack! It is perfect consistency and still a little frozen!


Pumpkin Bowl


This one is a bit odd, and is VERY pumpkiny tasting! It is very filling and really good for you! Sorry I do not have a picture!

Into the bowl:
*3/4 cup pumpkin
*1/4 cup peanut flour (has 15 g. of protein per 1/4 cup! You can buy at www.netrition.com also)
*Stevia
*1/2 tablespoon chia seeds

Mix together. Then add a dollop of almond butter and some granola or fiber one twigs on top! Yum! I love fiber one twigs. They look like rabbit food as my husband would say. They are great to add to yogurt or anything that you want a little crunch added to!

Pumpkin Oats


In the bowl:

*1/2 cup oats and 2/3 cups water. Cook oats for 1-2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup pumpkin, stevia, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, and a banana on top.
*Optional: 1/2 scoop vanilla protein

What a great start to your day. Great complex carbs to keeping you fueled for your workout or for the work day. A little bit of protein, fruit, and greats source of fiber to keep you full throughout the day.


Pumpkin and Black Bean Chili (my husband new favorite soup I make....he doesn't even like pumpkin! haha)

This soup was delicious. I got it from another blog and I do not remember which one or I would tell you!

Ingredients:

*I medium onion, chopped
*1 yellow pepper, chopped
*1 T. olive oil
*2 tsp. minced garlic
*3 cups chicken broth
*3 cups shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie from Costco)
* 1 15 oz. can of pumpkin
*1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
*1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
*2 tsp. parsley
*1 1/2 tsp. oregano
*1 T. chili powder (I used less because my husband DOES NOT like spicy things :)
*1 t. cumin
*1/2 t. salt

Saute onion and peppers in oil until tender in a soup pot over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. It is that easy! ENJOY!

I served with a side salad and garlic bread!



MY RECENT FAVORITE FOOD STAPLES:


Activia Light Vanilla Yogurt

For some reason I am obsessed with this yogurt right now, probably because it doesn't hurt my stomach like other milk products or yogurt. Activia adds additional probiotics to their product, so this much be what helps bread down the milk sugar in my stomach better then other yogurts!

Extra Dessert Delights Gum

I have to admit, gum is my weakness and I crave it after every meal, when I am bored, when I am working, when I am driving, etc.  Pretty much I want it all the time. I love this flavor because it helps with sugar cravings sometimes! I know, I know, gum isn't that great for you. I guess it will be something I really need to work on :)

Mocha Green Tea HP

I have drank this green tea for years. I still have not gotten sick of it. I love all the flavors and the light energy that it gives me. I used to work for this company as well in the past. Each pixie is equal to 50 cups of green tea, with most of the caffeine and all the tannic acid taken out! It is a great antioxidant resource for your body to help fight off cancers, obesity, aging, etc...

Not only does it give you a great energy for your day, but it also helps suppress your appetite. Since I have been drinking it so long, my body it used to it, so I don't get the appetite suppressant effect like I used to.

Right now I am loving all the Mocha flavors warmed up like a coffee. It doesn't have any coffee in it, but just tastes like it. They are delicious!

GREENS 

I found this brand of greens at Good Earth. Each scoop has 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables along with a plethora of other things. I like adding a scoop to my workout shakes in the morning. This brand tastes great compared to other kinds that you have to choke down.

It helps with alkalinizing the body, has a good amount of fiber, is detoxifying, low in calories, and full of greens to help the body!

Warning: BE careful when you start taking greens into your diet. It may upset your stomach at first if you know what I mean :)

Silk Pure Almond Milk

Since I can't have milk, I have to drink almond milk. I have had to get accustomed to it because it has a different texture and taste then milk. This flavor is not bad at all though! I love it!

Big huge jug of water

I got this jug as Complete Nutrition. I love having it around the house so I can constantly be sipping on water. 1 jug a day is my bodies water requirements, so I try to drink at least one a day!

Swiss Miss Diet Hot Chocolate

I have been CRAVING hot chocolate on the cold nights we have been having. I found this product and love it. It isn't full of sugar like other hot chocolates either! YUM!

PUMPKIN


Do I need to say more??????

HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS POST!! MORE TO COME!!!