Healthy {to die for} Chocolate Fudge

I like chocolate. Like...LIKE chocolate. Like, feed it to me by the spoonful. So that's what I did. 

I have about 2.4 million allergies (ok, not quite that many...) so it's VERY difficult for me to find desserts that TASTE like dessert, that I can eat. 

So, I bring you...

Healthy superfood chocolate fudge. 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp nut or seed butter of choice (separates)

1 scoop chocolate Shakeology 

2 tbsp cacao nibs (or dark chocolate chips)

1 tbsp milk of choice 

Directions: in a microwave safe bowl, warm the 1/4 nut/seed butter, so it's stirs easily. Add in the 1 scoop Shakeology. It WILL be thick, but just keep stirring! In a small dish, combine the cacao nibs and the milk. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir, until you have a chocolate sauce. Add the chocolate sauce to your nut/seed butter + Shakeology mix, and stir, stir, stir! Once well combined, lightly stir in the additional 2 tbsp nut/seed butter, until you have a swirl effect. Spread out the mixture on a silicone baking sheet or waxed paper, and freeze for about 30 minutes. Remove from the freezer, cut in to squares, and store in the freezer in an air tight container. 

Voila!

Super Easy Carnitas (21 Day Fix Approved!)

Ingredients:

• 4-5 pounds boneless pork shoulder (I get a big one from Costco) 
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 4 tsp oregano
• 2 tbsp cumin
• 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 tsp onion powder (or 1 small onion, diced)
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 jalepenos
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 lemon/lime (I actually use 2 drops each of lemon and lime essential oil)
• 
  
• whole grain/corn tortillas 
• Optional toppings: diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese salsa, low fat sour cream 

Directions: place the meat in the crockpot. In a small dish, combine 1 tbsp of the olive oil, and everything except the lemon/lime (if using lemon and lime essential oil, add it to the mix). Pour the remaining olive oil on the meat and massage it in. Spoon the spice/olive oil mixture on the meat and massage until thoroughly coated. Squeeze the lemon and lime over the top (if using) and add the bay leaves. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 8-9 hours. Remove the meat from the crockpot and pour the juice in a separate bowl. Reserve for later. Shred the meat using 2 forks, and put the meat back in the crockpot. Pour a little juice over the top, to moisten. Heat some tortillas or prepare your lettuce "shells". Fill each with meat (1/2 red container for each) and add your toppings. Enjoy!

Coconut Flour Brownies || Allergen Free ~ Gluten Free ~ Sugar Free ~ Grain Free

Hi... *waves*. I'm Anna, and I have a million allergies and intolerances. You too? Nice to meet you! Even if you don't, I think you'll love these fudgey LOW CALORIE (yes, I said it) brownies. My toddler ate 2. Ok, 3. And I was fine with that ;-)

Note: these aren't your run-of-the-mill box brownies. These are fudge-like in texture and have a great coconut-chocolate flavor! But if you're used to "box brownies", you might not like these ;-)

Ok, I'll get on with the recipe, already :-)

Ingredients: 

1 cup coconut flour (spooned in to a measuring cup - don't scoop right from the bag or pack it down)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup + 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup cocoa powder

Stevia to taste

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (or milk of choice)

4 tbsp ground flax seed + 1/2 cup water (stir and set aside for 3-5 minutes)

2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat oven to 350*. In a small bowl, combine the coconut flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine & set aside. In a small sauce pan, combine the applesauce, cocoa powder, and stevia. I used raw stevia, and about 2 tbsp worth. Heat the sauce pan on low until the mixture becomes warm and the cocoa powder melts with applesauce and gets runny. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine coconut milk, flax/water mixture, and vanilla. Stir. Add in the wet ingredients from the sauce pan to the milk mix.  Whisk thoroughly, then whisk in the flour/soda/salt. Do not over mix. Grease an 8x8 pan (for thick brownies) or a larger pan for thinner brownies (I used a 12" round pan) and spread your batter evenly throughout the pan. Top with a few chocolate chips or nuts, if desired! Cook for 30-35 minutes. The brownies will seem undercooked! Let them sit out until room temperature, and place in the frig until cool. They have a delicious, fudge-like texture! Cut in to 12 servings. 

4 Tips for Staying on Track Through the Weekend

Staying on point wth nutrition can be hard over the weekend! As a health and fitness coach, I run fitness accountability groups for those that want that extra boost of motivation and help along the way. I work with individuals one-on-one, too, and so often find that ladies will totally throw away their nutrition over the weekend, and not exercise at all. They come back on Monday frustrated, guilty, and don't know how to break the pattern. 

It's not the weekend's fault. It's the habit. The pattern. A series of triggers that lead to behavior. For example, when you go on vacation, sometimes you have to rethink processes: "Get up, brush teeth...now, where's my toothbrush? Oh yeah, it's in that bag...oh, there's my missing sock! I should really get breakfast. Oh look, donuts!" We reach for the sparkly object and forget to brush our teeth altogether. When we are outside of our habit (or habitat), performing simple tasks can be difficult or require extra thought. 

On the other hand is the "trigger": what's triggering the person to behave a certain way? When you watch tv, do you want a snack? When you're around friends and family, is it hard to keep your hand out of the candy and chip bowl? These can be habit triggers that can lead to over eating.

STEPS TO HELP YOU STAY ON TRACK DURING THE WEEKEND:

1. Keep your healthy habits! Do you run every weekday morning? Don't abandon that run Saturday and Sunday. Do you have a healthy smoothie for breakfast every day before work? Keep that going!

2. Identify your "triggers": do you relax more on the weekends, and often enjoy a snack when you relax? Maybe change it to a healthier snack, or adopt a new habit while you're relaxing (like knitting, or coloring). At family gatherings, sip a glass of water or munch on veggies. If a healthy option isn't available, bring one yourself!

3. Vision your reward: how will you feel when you pass up the cookie plate? How will you feel if you don't?

4. Remember your WHY: why do you want to be healthy? I know that may be a silly question, but really...why? Is it to fit in your favorite jeans? Is it because you have no energy when you don't eat well? Do you want to feel beautiful and comfortable in your skin again?

When done together, these 4 steps are sure to help you conquer the weekend...and feel like a badass on Monday. ❤️

Quick & Easy Pancakes!

These are a staple in our house - the toddler loves them! Great for on the go snacks, too. I will often make a big batch & freeze them. 

Oh, you want the recipe?  

In a blender combine: 

1 C milk of choice

3/4 C water

2 C oats (old fashioned or quick oats)

4 eggs

A splash of vanilla extract

About 1/2 cup veggies (I love using a chunk of squash or a handful of baby carrots!)

A little stevia or honey. 

Blend well & let the batter sit for a few minutes as the pan warms up. The batter will thicken a bit. Make like you would regular pancakes!

Let me know if you try them! 😊

Coconut Flour Brownies ~ Allergen Free, Grain free.

Hi... *waves*. I'm Anna, and I have a million allergies and intolerances. You too? Nice to meet you! Even if you don't, I think you'll love these fudgey LOW CALORIE (yes, I said it) brownies. My toddler ate 2. Ok, 3. And I was fine with that ;-)

Note: these aren't your run-of-the-mill box brownies. These are fudge-like in texture and have a great coconut-chocolate flavor! But if you're used to "box brownies", you might not like these ;-)

Ok, I'll get on with the recipe, already :-)

Ingredients: 

1 cup coconut flour (spooned in to a measuring cup - don't scoop right from the bag or pack it down)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup + 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup cocoa powder

Stevia to taste

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (or milk of choice)

4 tbsp ground flax seed + 1/2 cup water (stir and set aside for 3-5 minutes)

2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat oven to 350*. In a small bowl, combine the coconut flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine & set aside. In a small sauce pan, combine the applesauce, cocoa powder, and stevia. I used raw stevia, and about 2 tbsp worth. Heat the sauce pan on low until the mixture becomes warm and the cocoa powder melts with applesauce and gets runny. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine coconut milk, flax/water mixture, and vanilla. Stir. Add in the wet ingredients from the sauce pan to the milk mix.  Whisk thoroughly, then whisk in the flour/soda/salt. Do not over mix. Grease an 8x8 pan (for thick brownies) or a larger pan for thinner brownies (I used a 12" round pan) and spread your batter evenly throughout the pan. Top with a few chocolate chips or nuts, if desired! Cook for 30-35 minutes. The brownies will seem undercooked! Let them sit out until room temperature, and place in the frig until cool. They have a delicious, fudge-like texture! Cut in to 12 servings.