3 Clean Eating Crockpot Recipes

Nothing makes me more happy than an easy recipe that pleases everyone in my family!!! These three crockpot recipes fit the bill! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

1. Cilantro Lime Chicken~ The great thing about this crockpot gem is that it's great in winter OR summer and only has SIX ingredients and NO CHOPPING!

Ingredients
Serves 4
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 container fresh-made, store bought salsa
1 packet of low sodium taco seasoning
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup of cilantro, roughly chopped
Juice and zest of 2 limes
Optional toppings ~ sour cream, lime, cheese, avocado, lettuce
Instructions
1. In a crockpot, stir together salsa, taco seasoning, onion, cilantro and lime juice/zest.
2. Add whole chicken breasts and stir to combine.
3. Cook on HIGH about 4 hours or on LOW 6-7 hours until chicken in tender and shreds easily.
4. When chicken is done, shred into large pieces and serve one of the ways below....
My Favorite Ways to Serve ~
1. Soft Tacos: Wrap chicken in soft flour or whole wheat tortillas, top with toppings listed above. Add a side of black beans!
2. Burritos: During the last hour of cooking, add a can of black beans (drained) to the chicken. When heated through, spoon mixture into large tortillas, top with toppings and serve as a delicious burrito!
3. Chicken & Rice: Spoon chicken and all of the delicious sauce over brown rice!
4. Quesadillas: Leftover shredded chicken makes AWESOME quesadillas!


2. Crockpot Chicken Taco "Skillet" ~ Another family fave...the only problem is I always forget to double it for leftovers! Trust me, you will want to double this recipe! I love having this over brown rice, and my family likes it with tortillas or taco shells. It also works cold over romaine lettuce as a taco salad.

Ingredients

Serves 4

1lb ground chicken
1 small onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 zucchini, diced
1 packet low sodium taco seasoning

1 can low sodium black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilis
1 cup (or more) shredded cheddar cheese
Cilantro (optional)

 

Instructions

1. Add diced vegetables and ground chicken to slow cooker with taco seasoning.

2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours, 2-3 hours on high.

3. When meat and vegetables are cooked, top with shredded cheddar cheese and cilantro and serve!

(adapted from Sweet C's)

 

3. Crockpot Mongolian Beef ~ Ok, so there is a bit of sugar in this one so it's not 100% "clean," but it's still pretty darn healthy and my family loves it. You can substitute honey or Stevia for the brown sugar if you want to keep it clean.

Ingredients

Serves 2-4

 

1 1/2 lbs flank steak, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup cornstarch (optional, to thicken)
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
4 cloves garlic, ,minced
3/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium)
1/2 cup water
1/2 brown sugar
2 cups shredded carrots (i used the kind in the bag)
3-4 scallions for garnish

 

 

Instructions

1. Add steak to crockpot.
2. Whisk together ginger, garlic, soy sauce, water, brown sugar and cornstarch (optional); pour sauce over meat.
3. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW 5-6 hours until meat is tender and sauce has thickened (if using corn starch).
4. A few minutes before you are ready to serve, stir in carrots ( i like to add them late in the cooking process so they don't get soggy) .
4. Serve over brown rice and garnish with scallions!

 

 

Hope you and your family enjoys these easy clean crockpot recipes!

 

 

 

A Morning Routine That Will Change Your Life

Let me start by saying I am NOT a morning person. Well, I WASN'T a morning person until last year, that is. I still have vivid memories of my dad waking me up on the weekends at 11:00am. I would DRAG myself out of bed like a rockstar who had been partying all night. Except I was 15 and in bed by 9:00pm...not only was I not a morning person but I was not a night owl, either. Yep, I was the one who got their undies frozen at every sleepover!

My dislike for mornings continued into adulthood as a savored every single precious moment in bed on the weekends....often just lounging until 9 or 10am. Then --- enter KIDS! My lazy mornings were ripped from me, along with any resemblance of free time or ME time! Sound familiar?

I went dragging along this way for years and years until one day (3 kids and many sleep deprived years later) I decided I need to get my body back and start working out again. Buuuutttttt.......I had no time. I worked most days, had kids to take care of the other days, sports to drive to, lunches to pack, mouths to feed and I needed to work my precious sleep in there somehow! But I was desperate and something had to give. So I decided the only time I could squeeze my workout in was at 5:00am.

You know what? Not only did I get my workout in everyday, but I learned to TRULY appreciate the morning. The stillness. The quiet. The pure and utter joy I got from this ME time. I had never read The Miracle Morning before I started this routine ( and I still haven't read it in it's entirety) but the principle of the book and what I do each morning are essentially the same.

Here is my simple morning routine- i start at 5:00am and end at 6:00am.

1. Exercise (30 minutes): I don't enjoy working out at all...EXCEPT when I am done I feel like a million bucks! Working out in the morning is KEY for me for the sheer fact that it doesn't give me all day to make excuses about why I can't get my workout in. And even if the whole day goes to he**, I at least know I accomplished something great to start the day.
   
2. Reading/Motivation (15 minutes): Reading is also something "I don't have time for." So mornings is when I get it done! I also choose something along the lines of personal development vs. fiction (I save that before bed or another time).  I like to start the day with my mind filled with positive thoughts or information I know will help me grow either personally, spiritually or professionally. Right now I am reading a book called Untangled about navigating your way through parenting a pre teen. Choose a book that is relevant to YOU--figure out what you need "help" with and find a book about it! It can even be a devotional or positive quotes book--anything to get your mind in a good place.
   
3. Warm Drink and Daily To Do List (5-10 minutes): For me, this is COFFEE (black, one Stevia packet), but tea or hot water with lemon or warm milk are great too! The warmness brings a sense of calm to the day. Along with my warm drink I get out my phone and write the things I need to accomplish for the day in my Reminders section. Checking those things off during the day is a huge mental boost! You can even add "Drink morning coffee" to the list if you really want to feel accomplished fast!! LOL!
   
4. Silence (5-10 minutes): A a mom of 3 and part time teacher, there aren't many times in the day that I get to enjoy true and utter SILENCE. Just 5 minutes of pure silence and being in my own thoughts sets a calming tone for the day. During this time I like to express gratitude and list in my head things I am thankful for.

This morning routine is so simple yet sets the tone for your entire day! I think if you implement a morning routine similar to this one you will:

• Gain a sense of peace
• Lower your stress
• Feel accomplished
• Improve your overall health and even lose weight!
• Feel energized
• Feel more gracious and less anxious 

If you are not used to getting up early, trust me, it takes some getting used to. But I truly urge you to try it for at least 2 weeks (Monday- Friday) and allow your body the time it needs to adjust. I am telling you, friends--this morning routine has been a true lifesaver to this busy mama craving ME TIME. :)

10 Simple Healthy Snack Ideas ~ With Printable List!

Ah, snacking--although it sometimes stirs up visions of potato chips and buttered popcorn on the couch, but snacking--HEALTHY SNACKING--is actually essential to a healthy, well-balanced nutrition plan. After eating a meal, your blood sugar levels rise, but then can quickly decrease...which can be a reason for fatigue (that 3:00pm feeling..know what I mean??!) Snacking can help combat this decrease and tide you over until the next meal.
A few of my rules of thumb when thinking about healthy snacks:

• Snacks should ideally be high fiber and high protein. This will not only keep you full, but boost energy levels. They are also slow to digest so your blood sugar levels won't take a nosedive 30 minutes later. Staying away from carb heavy snacks (think potato chips, Cheese Its AKA: empty calories) will help keep you satisfied longer.

• Portion size matters!! Snacks should be just that--SNACKS--not entire meals. Aim for between 100-300 calories per snack. It's just something to tide you over until your next meal, not completely fill you up.

• Drinking 12-24 oz. of water with each snack will help tremendously with digestion and just that overall "full" feeling. You want a snack to to satisfy you for at least 2-3 hours..not make you feel more hungry. Water definitely helps with this.

That being said, I present to you 10 of my absolute favorite healthy snacks! ALL of these snacks are on my rotation every single month! They are all super simple, and readily available--no weird food here, peeps!

1. Celery + peanut butter: Roughly 5-10 celery sticks and 2 teaspoons PB.
2. 3/4 Cup Cottage Cheese + 1 cup berries (strawberries, blackberries, etc)
3. 3/4 Cup 2% plain Greek Yogurt + drizzle of honey + 10-12 almonds
4. 2 hardboiled eggs + a little salt and pepper
5. 1 piece of whole wheat toast + 2 teaspoons almond/peanut butter + 1/2 sliced banana
6. 10 whole wheat crackers + 1 mozzarella cheese stick
7. 10-12 almonds + 1 small sliced apple
8. 1/2 toasted whole grain bagel + 2 teaspoons ricotta cheese + drizzle of honey
9. 1/2 mashed avocado + 10 whole wheat crackers
10. 3/4 cup cottage cheese + 1 cup sliced red pepper and cucumber + salt/pepper

Here's the printable list!!! Click -- 10 Healthy Snacks

10 Simple, Clean Eating Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast! You have heard over and over that it's the most important meal of the day...but if you are anything like me, you never believed it! I was NEVER a breakfast eater until about a year ago. I have learned to LOVE and appreciate breakfast, especially a healthy, clean eating breakfast! It truly is a meal that fuels me through the morning and without it, I am a wreck by 9am!!

Breakfast does not have to be complicated at all! On the weekdays I am rushing around getting 3 kids (and myself!) out the door, so Mama don't have TIME for anything fancy! What I do have time for is making sure I get at least one serving of protein in--because that is what will help keep me full until snack time!
Here are my top choices for easy, FAST healthy breakfasts ~

1. Overnight Oats + berries: If you haven't jumped aboard the overnight oats bandwagon, it's not too late! Takes about 3 minutes to prep before bed and you wake up to a delicious breakfast! Here is a "base" recipe: 1/2 unsweetened almond milk + 1/2 cup rolled or steel cut oats + 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup. Stir togther and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, top with berries and enjoy!

2. 2% Cottage Cheese and Berries

3. Egg Cups: Another bandwagon you MUST get on! I make a batch of 12 on a Sunday and have them for breakfast or snacks the whole week. You can add whatever you want but see one recipe HERE.

4. Whole Wheat English Muffin + 2 teaspoons peanut butter + sliced banana

5. 1 slice whole wheat toast topped with 2 hard boiled eggs, salt and pepper

6. Thin whole wheat bagel or English muffin, toasted + 2 slices Canadian Bacon + 1 slice of sharp cheddar cheese

7. 2% Plain Greek Yogurt + Honey + Almonds

8. Whole wheat toast spread with 1/2 avocado + sliced tomato

9. Whole wheat waffle, toasted with peanut butter  + 1/2 cup fruit

10. 2% cottage cheese + 1 small apple, diced + sprinkle of cinnamon

Easy Breakfast Egg Cups

Want a SIMPLE breakfast that you can prep ahead of time and will be waiting for you all week long?? These Easy Breakfast Egg Cups fit the bill! They are a go-to at my house for breakfast--packed with protein and I love how you can customize the "fillings" to fit your taste!

Easy Breakfast Egg Cups (makes 12)
7 large eggs
1/4 cup of milk
Salt/pepper
Whatever "fillings" you like--red pepper, Canadian bacon, onion, tomatoes, cheese, etc.

1. Mix together eggs, milk, salt/pepper
2. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray and fill half full
3. Drop in a small handful of whatever chopped fillers you want, top with cheese and bake about 20 min on 375 or until set!!
** They keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days. Heat them up in the microwave for about 20 seconds and ENJOY!!

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...