Chocolate Shakeology Pancakes

Are you a pancake lover?? 

In all honesty I am not a HUGE fan... But my husband and kids are.  So I have had to come up with creative ways to keep them happy and HEALHY! 

I decided to create a chocolate peanutbutter pancake for them using the most nutritious meal on earth, shakelogy! 

So this means they are eating veggies.... In their chocolate pancake and not evening knowing it!!  SAY WHAT! 

These are Kid tested and Husband approved!!! 

So here you go... 

You will need :

2 whole eggs

1 small ripe banana 

2 Tbs heaping PB2

2 Tbs heaping of chocolate shakeology

If desired- a couple dark chocolate chips or cocoa nibs 

Whip together and Cook on stove like normal pancakes. 

You can eat these with a drizzle of pb2 mixed with milk or water on top! 

Happy Eating!!

Laurens Transformation

Lauren Terpstra is an incredible woman who has vowed to never give up! 

Her transformation isn't quite like most!

The once softball and tennis player lived a very active life and enjoyed hiking and playing sports. 

One afternoon on a hike her life changed forever. However despite the traumatic event and set backs Lauren has decided that her life will be lived with purpose to help inspire those around her to never give up and to shut down all of the excuses as to why people say they can't be healthy and fit.

Lauren is a living, breathing, WALKING miracle who inspires me every day with her determination! 

Here is her story:  

I was hiking at cataract park in Hackettstown (New Jersey) and was trying to cross over the rocks to get to the trail and I slipped. All I remember is opening my eyes and seeing the rocks moving under me, I closed my eyes and opened them finding myself hugging a down tree trunk in the water with a leg that was in the shape of a C.  

The cops showed up and carried me more then half way fireman style to the paramedics, The cop carried me because I was so far down no one could get to me. I was rushed to the nearest hospital in Hackettstown to have immediate surgery because the circulation in my leg was getting cut off.

I shattered my entire ankle, those two bones that stick out on your ankle one of mine is reconstructed it's alot bigger because I had shattered it. I also shattered the entire ankle joint which makes your ankle move up down and around, and my two shin bones the tibia and fibula. I had a metal exterior rod that drilled into the top of my let by my knee cap into the bone and then it came out and drilled into both sides of my heels, that held it all together to a whole I was to swollen at first to do anything so I had a leg and ankle with no bones for 2 weeks. 

I then had a metal plate that served as my ankle joint and a rod with 7 or 8 screws that served as fibula which is the front shin bone and a rod in the back with 4 screws that served as the tibula the back shin bone they took bone marrow out of my hip and put it in my leg. My body reconstructed and created new bone so the metal plate pushed through th skin so they took that out and the metal rod in the front out its now new bone and I have a rod in the back still with screws that will always stay. 


Depending on what I'm doing activity wise it is ok, I cannot run or jump, I can do part of a squat, but not too much because my knee has limited mobility. I have to pop my hip out walking down stairs because it does not bend that way anymore.

I was told I would have very little to no range of motion back and now I have about 75% to 80% range of motion back!

Beach body has given me the life I never thought I would have back, I weighed nothing from all the pain meds and surgery a I had, I was very depressed from the meds and not being able to even walk or go to the bathroom by myself, I had broke my right wrist as well so I had a walker and wheel chair my whole right side was broken, I had huge bruises all over my body I was banged up, 

Once I was able to walk I pushed myself in physical therapy I worked my ass off. I have little to no limp now when they said I would have w bad limp, I started to gain weight though and I wasn't happy because I couldn't work it off I couldn't do what I use to do, I tried running 4 times and failed miserably the last time I tried I fell and just laid on the side walk and sobbed, I had given up with everything basically I had heard so many you won't be able to im sorry that I just gave up, my dr is awesome and tried to push me to try but I was tired of the failure feeling. The day I tried Beachbodys, PiYo I cried, not because I couldn't do it but because I COULD do it. 

I took my first steps on my 19th birthday and began beach body This year at 21. I work out almost everyday now with piyo, depending how my ankle is feeling, and I can proudly say with tears running down my face that I have proven statistics wrong and have gone above and beyond i now hav muscle in my leg that I never thought I'd see again, and in all it feels great to work out yes something's I physically cannot do but I modify or skip it and do a diff workout for those few mins then jump back in and follow the rest of the video. There are times I wish they did amputate my leg because of the pain im in 24/7 they said I would never be able to be a nurse because I'd be on my feet.

I have actively participated in Challenge groups which have helped to push me through on the days I felt like I couldn't do it. These groups have helped me stay accountable and to stay focused on my health and healing.

Amie, Taylor (Heverly) and Beachbody have saved my life, and given me my life back. Taylor pushed me to be a medical assistant. I said well I dont know, I can't. And she said never say that to me again, your doing an interview and you can do it ! And now I'm proving statistics wrong by doing what I love. They have helped me with never giving up on me when I gave up on myself. They both will never know how much I thank the lord to have them both in my life. Thank you Amie and Taylor.

Quinoa Stuffing

Thanksgiving is here and it's time to celebrate and give thanks!! 

However it doesn't have to be a day to throw off your diet and completely kill your progress!  

If your a stuffing lover (or not) here is a recipe you'll be sure to enjoy this Thanksgiving!! 

I personally hate stuffing, but absolutely love this healthy quinoa alternative! 

Ingredients

2Tbs olive oil

2 cloves garlic chopped

2 cups quinoa

4 cups organic chicken broth 

1 large Apple cubed 

1 medium white onion cubed 

3-5 stalks of celery 

1/4 cup pine nuts

1 tsp pepper 

1 tsp ground cumin 

1/2 cup pine nuts

Preparation

1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium high heat

2. Add onion and garlic, until translucent (turning often)

3. Add apples and celery 

4. Add broth, quinoa, cumin, pepper- bring to boil, then reduce heat  (cook until water is all absorbed- about 10 min) 

5. Remove from heat and add cranberries and let stand for 5 minutes 

6. Add pine nuts, fork and serve 

Quinoa Veggie Burger

Here is a NEW twist to the traditional burger!

I love quinoa, and I love burgers so I thought I should give these a try! 

We typically meal prep on Sundays and I usually make a big thing of quinoa, so I took some of our already cooked stache to make these burgers! 

Basically you can use any veggies you have on hand, but I used organic-carrots, mushrooms, peas, corn, peppers.

I apologize in advanced but I am not a huge measuring person, I throw stuff in until it looks right. 

Here is what you will need:

2 Cups cooked Quinoa (I cook mine in organic chicken stock)

1 handful of mushrooms (5-6)

1 handful cup peppers (yellow,red, orange peppers)

2 organic carrots 

1/4 cup frozen organic corn and peas mix

2 Green onions

2 Eggs

2 Tbs minced garlic

1 1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp paprika 

INSTRUCTIONS:

throw all ingredients into the cuisinart

Spray your pan with cooking spray or add a tablespoon of oil. 

Cook on medium to low heat for about 5 minutes on each side, or until browned. 

*Tip: Make sure patties aren't too thing or else they will fall apart.  

         Be sure to flip gently so they do not fall apart. 

For best results these should cool for a two hours or over night so they do not fall apart.  

Serve however you would like.  But I like them topped with avocado and Pico de Gallo!



Enjoy!

The feel better potion

Shots for health!! 

The Kids are back to school which means germs galore! 

Sore throats, runny noses, coughs and fevers. 

So if you find yourself suffering for any of these symptoms or want to use this for a preventative measure, you can take a shot of this concoction every couple hours to fight infection and sickness and relieve that itchy throat. 

The recipe : 

1 Tbs Organic Braggs Apple cider vinegar

1 Tbs Raw (local if possible) honey 

1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper 

1/4 tsp ground ginger 

2 Tbs water 

*Mix together (will not blend completely) 

*Be sure to mix before every use.  

*Store in fridge to stay fresh. 

Remember raw honey is not reccomended for infants. Not to mention this has a kick to it!!!

Sending well wishes your way!! 

Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

With Fall upon us it's time for ALL things pumpkin! Including those pancakes!!  

And did I mention you can enjoy these babies without the guilt!? 

Yep, you read that right!  Healthy, zero guilt pancakes! 

Here is what you will need:

2 Tbs pumpkin purée 

2 eggs

1 cup old fashioned oats

1 small ripe banana mashed 

1/2 tsp vanilla 

1 tsp cinnamon 

2 dashes ground cloves 

2 dashes ground nutmeg 

Directions: 

Mix all together in a bowl and then seperate onto pan like normal pancakes 

For the SAUCE! 

(Depending upon how much topping you want you can double the recipe, you can also play with sugars to get it to be to your sweet tooth level ) 

1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla or plain almond milk 

1 tbs of pumpkin purée 

1 tbs organic coconut sugar 

Chopped pecans 

Raisins 

Mix coconut sugar,pumpkin purée and almond milk and then poor into hot pan/skillet. 

Continually stir until it mixes down into a thicker sauces (on medium heat).  

Add in raisins and chopped pecans and cook for another minute. 

Once done drizzle over pumpkin pancakes and ENJOY! 

What I Eat at McDonalds

You may be surprised that as a stay at home, working mom one of my favorite places to take my boys for lunch is McDonalds.  

It's actually the perfect place for my kids to play in a confined area while I work. 

We get some fresh air, the kids get to exercise and meet kids while we eat , and I'm not worried about them running off while I get to tap into wifi and get some emails out or blog posts up. 

It's the perfect set up actually!  

So I know some of you are like what!! How can you go there for lunch being a health and fitness coach!? 

What could you possibly eat there. 

It's fairly simple and easy actually! 

It's called.... 

Pack your own bagged lunch! 

I refuse to fill my body or my children's body with the garbage that is in McDonalds food.  

Unfortunatly the options that may look like good choices.  Or healthy choices actually are not at all!! 

In fact the oatmeal and yogurt just about the same sugar and fat as in an ice cream! 

Not to mention the salads are also loaded with fat and full of chemicals. 

No thanks! 

So thank you McDonalds for allowing me to use your space (get a coffee), but I'd rather bring my own food!  

I don't always bring the same food, but today here is what's in my bag! 

Carrots, celery and hummus and then grapes, banana and some nuts.

This is a true "Happy Meal". One that makes my kiddo happy and healthy !