Everything PUMPKIN!!!

I don't know about you, but once Sept. hits I feel like it's FALL...all around me, like BAM!! The weather starts to change and get cooler, the evenings are shorter, the new shows are back..oh and PUMPKIN returns!! I know what you are thinking, but IT'S NOT Fall yet!! and that's right, until a few more days :) So I am getting a jumpstart on my FALL this year because I am literally obsessed with anything and everything PUMPKIN!! From the foods, to the candles, to the decorating..everything in fall is PUMPKIN in this home! Sounds like it wouldn't be a problem right? except no one else in the house really likes to eat pumpkin except me, lol..so that means I get to try and come up with new ideas for myself :)

Since I LOVE everything PUMPKIN, I figured I NEEDED to get my Shakeology on-point for fall too! So I will be posting new Fall Shakeology recipes as I come up with them!

Here is what was on today's menu and it was fantastic, and Paleo-approved!!!

Chocolate PUMPKIN delight!!

Ingredients:

One scoop Chocolate Shakeology

1 c unsweetened almond milk

1/2 c pumpkin puree (i used Libby's)

1 teasp. pumpkin pie spice

Ice to taste

Cals: 230

This one is for sure a keeper!!

And for another little treat, I must also disclose my favorite go-to snack right now!! These are super easy to make and ALSO Paleo approved! I make a batch on Sunday and they stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrig for a week!!!

Fresh Pumpkin Muffins

1 1/2 c almond meal or flour

3/4 c canned organic pumpkin

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice

1/8 tsp sea salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 eggs

1/4 c organic maple syrup

Optional:

1/2 c dried cranberries (you could also use regular or white raisins)

1/2 c chopped pecans

Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix ingredients, except nuts and dried fruit, in a large mixing bowl. Once ingredients are blended, fold in chopped nuts and dried fruit. Spoon into oiled, mini muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when put into a muffin.  (If using a regular cupcake tin, add 5-10 min to the total baking time). Let muffins cool for a few minutes before removing them from the pan. Enjoy!


I WOULD LOVE to see what you have up your sleeves for FALL!!! Shoot me an email here, find me on Facebook or on my blog HERE :)!

Meal Prep: Your biggest key to success!!! How, what, when and why??

Well it's September, I seriously cannot believe that another summer is over and fall is upon us! Our Mom's Biggest Loser Challenge kicks off tomorrow and with that I came to realize the number one question everyone asks me...How do I plan for my week??
I know from personal experience that if there is one way that I usually succeed at things it is by being prepared! It goes as far back as to when I was in nursing school..I realized that if I made flash cards for that nursing test, I passed...If I kept notes at clinicals, I succeeded...so then why would I not do the same when it came to me and my family's eating all week?

I truly believe that the number one way to succeed when it comes to your food and fitness for the week is short and simple: PLANNING!!!

Now I know so many people say I have NOOO time to plan, I run run run...well I am NO different, trust me...but on my Sundays, or today, my day off, I usually take about 2 hours to plan out my week! This is usually done by preparing my food, as in my beans, quinoa, salads and meats, then all week I just grab and go!
Now who doesn't have time for that?
The number one problem without planning is that when you are driving those kids around all night to sports, with no clear cut plan, you WILL and I reiterate, you WILL drive-thru McDonald's...it's just second nature..
And all those moms that do not work during the week, then you can prepare and meal plan while the kiddos are now in school during the day, the possibilities are endless..

So how do I meal plan? Well here is how I plan for my week, I do this EVERY single Sunday:
I print out my menu, my fitness program and my food log..that way I have no real chance to fail when it's right there in front of me :)

Once I plan out my meals, then the organization begins!! This way I just grab and go all week :)

For those meals that I can not pre-package into my Fix containers, I will then make a huge batch and use them sporadically throughout the week..Here  is an excellent recipe for a great fast breakfast meal!

Egg White Muffins Recipe!

Makes 12 muffins (2 eggs each)
Ingredients:
1 carton of egg whites or 24 egg whites.
Options:
Baby spinach
chopped onion
chopped red pepper
chopped jalapeno...
chopped ham
chopped mushrooms
Sriracha sauce
shredded cheese

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Choose ingredients you prefer to use and maybe mix it up, so you have something different every day. chop if necessary.
-Spray pan
-Add chopped ingredients to each cup
-Add 1/3 cup liquid egg whites or 2 egg whites per cup
-Bake for 30 minutes.
-Immediately remove and let cool on a rack. Once cool, place 2 in a ziplock bag with no air to keep them all week in the fridge. In the morning, remove from bag and heat in microwave for 1 minute.

For a whole list of easy, fast recipes visit my Recipes page HERE!!

Don't forget, YOU are the biggest KEY to your own success with anything that you do!!! A few small changes now will pay OFF huge in the end :)