The Essential Clean Eating Grocery List

Want to get started eating healthy but don't have any clue where to start! Relax, girlfriend! I have you covered! Below is a SIMPLE clean eating grocery list that you can literally mix and match to make WEEKS of easy, healthy meals! Here's a peak and we will go through each category a bit and and I end of this post, you can download a copy and take it to the store with you this weekend! #winning

Lean Protein
Essential in a healthy, clean eating diet! Lean ground meats can be cooked in batches and used throughout the week. Rotisserie chickens are a staple at my house--shred off the meat and take off the skin and and top salads with it, make chicken salad, or just have it heated up alongside veggies.
I also love cottage cheese, Greek yogurt and hardboiled eggs for snacks!

Fruits & Veggies
Obviously this is not a complete list--you can add whatever fruits and veggies you like but they should take up a big part of you shopping cart! I chose the ones on the list based on nutrition content and versatility (you can throw together a simple side salad with mixed greens in about 10 seconds!)

Grains
Don't try to no-carb it, girls. Your body needs carbs for the fiber, vitamins and minerals. Not to mention the satisfaction!!! Stick with minimally processed whole grains whenever possible and just remember carbs aren't BAD--you just have to make sure you are balancing out your healthy carbs with veggies,  protein and other healthy food.

Canned/Other Items
Tuna, beans, good quality marinara and unsweetened vanilla almond milk are staples in my house! You can do so much with them and they are so versatile!

Nuts and Seeds
These are GREAT for healthy snacks--I always like something crunchy! Just don't overdo it. A serving of almonds is about 10-12 almonds..not an entire bag! I usually sprinkle them on top of Greek yogurt! You can throw a teapsoon of chia seeds in pretty much everything and it's instantly healthier! (French fries and chia seeds anyone??)

Healthy Fats
Your body NEEDS fat! So drop the "fat free" situation and just work on balancing out healthy fats with the rest of your diet. Olive oil, nut butter, avocados and cheese are some of my favorite healthy fats--in moderation.

Spices and Condiments
The list could go on forever here! Stevia or honey are my go-to sweeteners for coffee. Maple syrup is great drizzled over Greek yogurt. You can make a quick vinaigrette with just balsamic and olive oil for a side salad and taco seasoning....i use that on soooo many things!!!
I'll be mixing and matching these ingredients for a complete week's worth of meals in a later post! In the meantime, you can download and print the shopping list below! ENJOY!!!

DOWNLOADABLE CLEAN EATING GROCERY LIST

St. Patty's Day Crockpot Beef + Guinness Stew

Happy St. Patty's Day to ya! Is it St. PATTY'S or St. Paddy's?? It's short for St. Patrick so why do people spell it with  two "d"'s?? #lifesmysteries. Anyhoo, today I am am sharing and oldie but goodie recipe I have had in the archives for years--Crockpot Beef + Guinness Stew!

Is it totally healthy? Mmmmm..let's call it "healthy'ish." After all, I do insist on eating right 80% of the time and St. Patty's Day I believe falls into the other 20%. :) The reason I love this stew is because it's E-A-S-Y! Enjoy!!!

Photo Credit: Blissfully Delicious

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. stew meat, cut into large chunks
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 14.5 oz can of Guinness
1 cup beef stock (or more, as it cooks)
3-4 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 springs fresh thyme
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt/Pepper

 INSTRUCTIONS

1. Toss stew meat with flour, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
2. Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a large skillet and cook meat in batches until it is just golden brown on the outside (does NOT need to be cooked through).
**LAZY GIRL NOTE: You can skip the browning of the meat and just throw it right until the crockpot after you have seasoned it, but know that you will be missing a KEY layer of flavor that happens when you brown the meat.
3. Toss browned meat into the crockpot along with the onions, garlic, carrot, tomato paste and sprigs of thyme. Pour beef stock and Guinness down over the top of everything and give everything a nice stir.
4. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 5-6 hours until meat is tender. If the stew needs more liquid as it cooks, feel free to add more beer or beef stock :)
5. Serve with Irish soda bread or any crusty bread...and more Guinness :) Because remember...

Seven on Sunday ~ September Edition!

September went FAST. Like, really, really fast! We were thrown into the world of school and soccer and I swear, in a heartbeat it was over! So the words that describe September are school, soccer...and a little bit of theater and cousin love thrown in :)

The month started off right with a visit from our Chicago Cousin!!!

Will proved he was still not too old for the "baby rides!"

These two definitely belonged in JAIL!

His ride on the Merry go Round was a little too hot....

So much Cousin LOVE!!!!

Because I never know what I am going to find around my house..I came downstairs one morning and saw this...that's a headband the baby is wrapped in. #yepthisismylife

Teeth were a big thing this month, too! This one lost her very first tooth!

And after two years, this one got her BRACES OFF!!!

You can find us at the soccer field every Saturday morning! Sarah's team is AMAZING and Will's team is good too...but not as good as Sarah's! HA!

I love this pic that one of Sarah's teachers snapped at school one day! I kept asking her what she bribed Will with......! Sarah LOVES that part of her recess overlaps with her Big Brother's!

Brooke auditioned for a theater company and got in! Not without much DRAMA though..you should have seen her 30 minutes before the audition! Good Lord, I almost thought we were going to have to drive home and call it quits. #dramaqueen

But she got in and I am thrilled for her! Next up is auditions for roles in these two plays!

And on that note, THAT'S A WRAP on September!! Thank goodness October has 31 days...I think that extra day really makes a difference!! HA! Happy Fall!! XOXO

Seven on Sunday ~ August Edition!!!

Where is in the HECK did August go, people??!! Wow--it was pedal to the metal as soon as August 1st hit for whatever reason! We were trying to fit in fun stuff before school started...then school started (SO EARLY!!), soccer season started and the rest is history!!

Here's a recap of the crazy month of August!

Brooke ended her all-summer, everyday theater camp with a final "Works in Progress" show. It's heartwarming to see her do something she truly loves and is passionate about!

Trying to enjoy the last free weekends for awhile, we visited Samuel P. Taylor State Park and played around for the day.

Trying to beat the heat at the water park/pool!

Before-school Kindergarten playdate for these cuties!!

We kicked off the first week of school with outdoor Mass!

And theeeennnnnn....school started!!!!!

How do I have a 7th grader?? Or as Scott saying, "6 more years until she's out of the house!":(

Ready to rock 3rd!

And my baby is off!!!

Look at Sarah's sweet Kinder class!!! They are the most adorable kids and she has a GREAT class! I already love them!

Then soccer started! I never get to see Will's practice because he and Sarah have the same practice time! Scott and I are assistant coaching so it's definitely been a juggling act!

Sweet friends :)

She's ready to kick butt!

She was already SICK after her first week of school!! Poor kid! The long days have been exhausting for her but I remember Will and Brooke being the same way. 8-3pm take some getting used to!

She came home from school one day, passed out at 4pm and didn't wake up until 9am the next day. #wipedout

The kids were SUPER bummed to be going back to school but at least at the end of the first week, they had YOSEMITE to look forward to!!!

This place is beautiful beyond belief. We walked from our campsite the first morning to THIS! SOOOO gorgeous and Yosemite Falls in the background!

"El Captain"

We took a pretty long hike on Saturday to Lower Yosemite Falls--the kids were wiped out but were total troopers!

Group selfie before the hike! I can't believe we got everyone in!! LOL!

We spent the rest of the day, HERE on the "beach" watching the kids play. it seriously doesn't get any better!!!

 Last shot on our way out. We didn't want to leave!!!!

These two are ready for soccer season!!! Will a doubleheader and it was STINKING HOT!!!

Go Shooting Stars and Blue Strikers!!!!

I missed this game because they both had 10am games but Brooke did well and took pics and videos for me! She scored 3 goals! I love how she's smiling and laughing in this pic!! HA!

FYI--Sarah's team is LOADED. It's like not even FAIR!!!! (it's all in the coaching) HAHAHA!

 Hot and FLUSHED!!!! Time to hydrate!!!!

Meanwhile....over at Will's game....I noticed his coach was NOT subbing him out the first half. He kept playing and playing and it kept getting hotter and hotter.  He was playing forward which means TONS of running and by the 2nd half, I could totally see him struggling. 

About 5 minutes left in the game, he fell HARD, got up...ran some more...and about a minute later fell to the ground! I was across the field so I didn't see everything that was happening but it was freaking SCARY! He came off the field after a few minutes even though he said he'd go back in even though he couldn't even catch his breath.

The lesson we taught him was that HE HAS TO SPEAK UP!!! His coach was stressed and had no assistants so I don't think he even noticed Will has playing the whole game because he doesn't SAY anything! He just keeps working and never complains!! Well, until he passes out!

The next game was much better. His coach felt really bad but he put him at goalie and defense for a lot of the game so there was very little running involved, thank goodness (it was 100 degrees). He finished the day out scoring 2 goals as striker. Overall, a great day according to him! HA!

And for the record, he wasn't dehydrated. He had been drinking water all morning but playing the whole game with only a quick break is NOT something he has the stamina to do at this point!! LOL!

Well, August is pretty much a wrap!!! Onward to September!! XOXO