Roasted (Air Fryer) Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Quick, easy, clean, and tasty! First time roasting peppers in my air fryer and it turned out great. You can cook more than one pepper in the air fryer at a time, the time might need to be adjusted.

Ingredients

1 poblano pepper

Meats2u Shredded Chicken

1/4 avocado

1/2 lime

Optional:

Salsa

Bolthouse Farms Cilantro avocado yogurt dressing

Instructions

1. Prepare crockpot Chicken ahead of time recipe here but don’t add sauce after cooking.

2. Cook pepper 400 degrees for 6 min, flip and cook another 6 min.

3. Peel off skin and cut slit down center from stem to bottom (don’t cut through both layers.)

4.Stuff with chicken and top with avocado slices and squeeze fresh lime on top. Add other fixings you see fit and enjoy!

Crockpot shredded chicken

This has easily become one of my favorite and quick ways to prep a good amount of chicken for my boyfriend and I especially since we are so busy with our hectic work schedules

It was nice to dust off my crockpot that I was not using at all anymore and it’s gotten to the point where we actually think we want to get a second one just to make even more!

This recipe can be used with basically any sauce that you like depending on what you were going to be adding your chicken to our use the shredded chicken on top of salads, tacos, rice, etc. Because it is extremely versatile and easy to eat cold if you are one of those people who are always on the go.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 Meats2u Chicken Breast
• https://meats2u.com/product-category/poultry/?aff=kelsey&coupon=VIPKELSEY
• 1 Carton organic low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• Sauce of your choosing

Instructions:

1. Place defrosted chicken breast in crock pot. Add as much broth to fully cover chicken and a little bit more I usually use about 3/4 of a carton

2. Cook on high for about three hours or low for six just depending on how long you are going to be leaving your crockpot.

3. Once cooked, drain excess liquid and let it cool down. You can either use a hand mixer or two forks (pull forks in opposite direction)to shred the chicken.

4. Transfer to a large container add your favorite sauce, salsa, or leave unseasoned and add sauce later!

Mix well and store for up to about 3 days.

Chunky Meats2u Shrimp Burgers

Burgers:

• 1 pound @meats2u shrimp, shelled and deveined

https://meats2u.com/product-category/seafood/?aff=kelsey&coupon=VIPKELSEY

• 1 egg

• 1/4c chopped cilantro

• 2 tbs minced garlic

• 1/2 cup Panko

• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

• 1 large shallot, minced

• 1 tsp salt & pepper

• 1/2 cup red pepper, chopped small

Aioli

• 1 avocado,

• 1/2 c plain greek yogurt

• 1 tbs fresh lime juice

• 2 tbs minced garlic

• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

• 1/4c chopped cilantro

• 1 tsp salt & pepper

Instructions

Burgers

• Divide the shrimp in half. Coarsely chop one half and set aside. Put half in a food processor. And grind to a coarse puree. Add in egg, shallot, cilantro, jalapeño and garlic to processor. Process until smooth. Sprinkle mixture with breadcrumbs and process again. Transfer contents of food processor to a bowl & add coarsely chopped shrimp and red pepper. Season with salt and black. Mix well. Form burgers and chill for 1 hour (covered).

• Heat oil in a heavy skillet. Fry the shrimp burgers until golden, about 3 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Drain on paper towels.

Avocado Aioli

• Remove peel and seed of avocado and scoop into food processor.

• Add greek yogurt, lime juice, garlic cloves, jalapeno, cilantro, salt and pepper. Process until smooth.

• Place in a dish, cover and chill for an hour.

If you are feeling discouraged about “Getting back on track”..

It’s probably about that time where the “new year new me “ has lost its luster. I tried SO hard to stay on track through the Holidays, they are tough on everyone! Then I had to throw in the fact that I was sick for weeks back to back and in the middle of picking up my life and moving to a different city PLUS work was a lot of pressure on me.

My scale has been dead for WEEKS. I literally did not change the batteries in my scale because I was all messed up in my head about gaining weight and didn’t want to see the number. I thought if I got on the scale it was going to be 12lbs heaver, I’m not joking …. I finally got on last weekend and I was barley up 5lbs and was getting upset over NOTHING.

When you’ve been through tough relationships that make you self conscious about your weight, an eating disorder and then throw in the fact you are constantly scrolling on Instagram seeing all these “amazing bodies” your self image can be a mess. There are going to be times where you miss workouts or you mess up on your meals, you are human BUT don’t let it drag out and be the person that gets in your own way. This definitely has become a lifestyle for me and with that you need to see the big picture. Sure there are times that I’m getting ready for a photo shoot or some sort of event and I go a little bit more hard-core but overall I have come to terms that being a thyroid cancer survivor my life has to be lived a little bit differently with my nutrition.

I love how I look and feel when I TAKE CARE OF MY BODY. that’s how I see all the time in the gym & kitchen, me taking care of ME. Are you taking care of YOU?

Seared Scallops and Cauliflower Risotto

I was looking for a relatively clean meal to enjoy on a Sunday evening while my boyfriend and I are both home to enjoy a meal that’s not in a melaprep container. Keith had never tried scallops before but absolutely loved this recipe! Traditionally risotto is made with quite a bit of fat and it would be way more carbs if I didn’t use the cauliflower rice so the substitution fits your macros while still having a savory meal.

If you don’t like scallops you can also substitute shrimp or chicken.

Ingredients:

Seared Scallops

• 1 lb Meats2u Jumbo scallops

• 3 Tbs avocado oil

• Salt and Pepper

Cauliflower Risotto

• 4 cups of riced cauliflower

• 2 tbsp avocado oil

• 3 garlic cloves minced

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated

• 1/4 tsp

• 1/4 tsp

1 bunch asparagus

Lemon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375. Cut off ends of asparagus and place of a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for 9 mine while prepping the rest of meal.

2. Bring a medium skillet to medium heat

3. Add garlic and green onions to the skillet and cook ~3 minutes

4. Add the riced cauliflower to the skillet and continue to cook until the riced cauliflower is almost tender (~3 minutes)

5. Stir until the parmesan cheese is well incorporated. Lower the heat so that the rice does not stick and cook until the cauliflower rice reaches your desired level of tenderness. Turn off the heat.

6. Pat the scallops with a paper towel. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top (about 1/4 tsp of each if you’re not sure about sprinkling)

7. Bring a frying pan to medium heat; Add avocado oil and wait about 30 seconds for it to heat up

8. Add scallops to the pan and cook for 3 minutes per side. Remove from the heat and pan so that they do not continue to cook.

9.Add a large spoon of risotto to a plate. Top with asparagus, scallops, green onions.

Low Carb Lemon Pepper Chicken “Fried Rice”

So I know that utilizing cauliflower instead of rice is not headline news but I feel like I do often forget how much it is a great filler when you are on a low-carb diet and looking to fuel up!

I am not a huge fan of cauliflower unless it’s roasted, mashed or riced. A lot of people who are on the keto diet or just in general are looking to keep their carbs low definitely should take advantage of incorporating “Riced cauliflower” into their meals. I find it at Trader Joe’s or Sprouts!

I decided to make a lemon pepper fried rice and seriously it was one of the best things I have made since I have been back on my meal plan! A great guilt-free way to enjoy fried rice! If you enjoy making more of a classic version, you can always add peas, carrots, & liquid aminos instead! I will probably make another version of this with some shrimp in the future!

Ingredients:

• Package riced cauliflower
• Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• 1/4 c egg whites
• 2 cups of finely chopped broccoli
• 1Pk Meats2u Lemon Pepper pre-seasoned
• 2 tbs olive oil

Directions:

1. Pre-cook your chicken. I decided to cook it in a crockpot or you can go ahead and bake it however you please! Chop or shred and set aside to add at the end. It’s also to just add top if you are counting your protein intake After the rice is cooked to your own portion (that’s what I do)

2. In a large skillet heat olive oil. Then add package of Riced cauliflower. Cook on high heat too quickly crisp up the cauliflower so it doesn’t get soggy for about 2 min.

3. Drizzle in egg whites and once they are not translucent, stir in broccoli with any other veggies you would like to incorporate!

4. Add Chicken and enjoy!

USE CODE VIPKELSEY on your next MEATS2U purchase

Taco Tuesday with a twist

So does this count as taco Tuesday? I was craving tacos with all the fixins’ But I decided to loaded up on a sweet potato instead. I used Meats2u Chicken patties to stuff them full of lean protein. It is part of the Chicken Lovers pack. You can get it here and use VIPKELSEY 1/2 off shipping and next day delivery Monday-Thursday

Ingredients:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes, approximately 2 lbs total 
• 1 package of Meats2u Chicken Patties
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt, more or less, to taste

Garnishment:

• 1 medium avocado,  peeled and pitted
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp salt, more or less, to taste
• 1/8 tsp black pepper, more or less, to taste
• 1-2 tbsp lime juice, to taste
• Salsa

Additional Garnishment:

• freshly chopped cilantro
• chives
• Sliced lime, to squeeze
• plain greek yogurt or sour cream
• sliced jalapeños

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Poke each sweet potato all over with a fork. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Bake the sweet potatoes for approximately 40-50 minutes, or until fork tender. You can also microwave instead to cut down on time.

2. During the last 10-15 minutes the sweet potatoes are baking, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet placed over medium heat. Once the oil is heated add the Meat2u patties breaking it apart as it cooks, so that there are no large chunks. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until the meet is no longer pink.

3. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool before handling. They will be too hot to handle and slice into to stuff right out of the oven.

4. While they are cooling, combine the avocado, salt, pepper, lime juice, and garlic powder into a small mixing bowl. Mash thoroughly to combine. Adjust seasonings and juice to your taste preference.

5. To serve, cut each sweet potato in half and scoop out the centers into a bowl. Mash and mix up with salt/pepper. Refill the potatoes then top with mashed avocado mixture and salsa

6. Garnish with any additional toppings of your choosing!

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Meal prep Monday’s usually consist of plain dried up chicken, broccoli and brown rice right? Because it’s simple easy and quick! But it doesn’t have to be like that and chances are the more boring than your meal prep is the more likely you are to trash it and eat something else while you’re at work.

Lemon Pepper chicken only takes a few more steps and makes such a difference!

What you’ll need:

• Sprig of fresh rosemary
• Six chicken breasts (skinless)
• 2 lemons
• Lemon Pepper seasoning
• Capers (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a baking sheet or large casserole dish.

2. Lightly spray olive oil on the dish and add chicken. Lightly season with lemon Pepper and turn over and season again.

3. Thickly slice lemons and add to the top of each chicken piece. Squeeze any extra lemon on top.

4. I LOVE capers so I also added 1 tablespoon to the top

5. Add the fresh rosemary and bake with foil for 20-30min depending until cooked. Spoon the lemon juice in the dish every 10 min while cooking. Time will vary depending on the size of the chicken pieces.

I served this with oven roasted asparagus and tricolored quinoa.

#BarDiscovery : The Perfect Bar

I have been working on checking out a variety of different protein bars in search of some “clean” options. Now everyone has different goals when it comes to choosing a protein bar whether its low sugar, low carbs, no additives, or low in fat. When you go toward the “natural” bars, they seem to be higher in fat in sugar because they use a different ingredients. An example of this when you sweeten with dates compared to stevia, you of course are going to see the sugar go up but it all depends on what your priorities are in your choice.

My first review on my #bardiscovery quest is The Perfectbar. The founder was a San Diego Local DR. BUD KEITH  who knew that what we eat has a direct effect on how we feed and had that food is nourishment mentality. He passed this concept down within his family and now brothers and sisters run the company with the mentality that “food has to be real”

The bars are found in the refrigeration section, always. Their line consists of the following categories: peanut, almond, lite, and mini.

I got to try carob chip, cranberry crunch, fruit and nut, almond butter, cranberry crunch, almond coconut, and almond acai. I also had a couple of the minis which were perfect snack size!

So one of the questions on your mind is probably if they must be refrigerated at all times and the answer is no! They advised that they’ll last 2 weeks unrefrigerated at room temperature. However, if exposed to heat or kept unrefrigerated for longer than recommended the natural fruit, seed and nut oils may begin to separate, and the bars can become oily. I took them out with me when I ran the stairs at 1,000 steps beach in Laguna and they were a delicious and fresh pick-me-up post workout. The Coconut bar was so fitting for the California Beach vibes!

The Bar:

The bars all have a pretty hearty texture, which I loved! They are still soft but do not crumble while you eat them! The fruit pieces add just the perfect touch of sweetness, which by the way I am not usually a fan of but loved in this bar! They are a pretty good sized bar, most of their bars average at about ~2.5oz so would even say more on the larger side in comparison of other bars I’ve tried! The retail for about $3.35 each depending on where you go or how many you buy.

Whats inside:

The protein content ranges from about 8g-13g and the sugar ranges from about 14-19g with most being around 18g. The bars contain Over 20 nutrient-dense organic whole foods provide a good source of vitamins and minerals. Plus ingredients such as kale, spinach, alfalfa and celery (although you don’t even taste it at all!). I love that they are sweetened with organic honey. I learned that honey is actually a complex carbohydrate that will ensure your energy levels last. Their vegan flavor uses low glycemic organic dates as the sweetener.

The bars are gluten-free,  with vegan and soy free options! Since there are so many definitions of vegetarian they will let you decide for yourself if its right for you. Every Perfect Bar recipe except their vegan Almond Coconut flavor contains Grade A nonfat milk powder and dried whole egg powder, both animal products. I was a lacto ovo vegetarian for most of my life (which mean I eat vegetables, eggs, and dairy products but who do not eat meat) so I understand how that get complicated and appreciate how they advise.

The Final Verdict:

I really loved the variety of flavor options and they are definitely so much more fresh tasting than your average over processed protein bars which is super nice to get a break from! For the size, taste, and quality for me, its definitely a win!

Protein Crazy: I want it clean!

When was the last time you investigated the ingredients in your protein powder? My meal schedule includes alternating between a meal and a protein every 2.5-3 hours so its safe to say I eat a good amount of protein every day! So I have been on the hunt for a “clean” protein powder that also tastes good!

My wish list included:

1. non-soy
2. low in sugar
3. dairy free
4. no harsh chemicals
5. no sugar substitutes

I connected with Maggie Yount who is a leader of the My Whole Healthy Revolution, a Certified Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach.

 

Website: https://linkinprofile.com/mywholehealthy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mywholehealthy/

 

Maggie and I connected on Instagram after another Thyroid Cancer Survivor I follow on Instagram posted  a picture of Life’s Abundance Vanilla Plant based protein powder. We were talking about my concerns and she was extremely helpful and responded quickly! I decided to try the powder and oh my goodness was it delicious!

Since yesterday was National Icecream day and I did not partake I was craving a post workout milkshake! I decided to mix the protein powder, a 1/4 c of frozen bananas, and unsweetened almond milk in my Nutri Bullet. It was so creamy I felt like I was cheating! I added some cacao nibs from Navita’s Naturals to the brim! This was so delicious that I had to break out a spoon to scoop out every last bit in my cup!

I think this protein would be the perfect powder to use in baking because it didn’t have a after taste that you find in a lot of protein powders on the market and it mixed very smooth! I use protein powder in my waffles, oatmeal, pancakes, breakfast muffins, and so much more! A lot of times adding a protien powder leaves a distinct taste which makes it a bit unappetizing!

Ingredients:

My sister, who just recently graduated nursing school, is my non-official ingredient investigator. She gave this two thumbs up and wants to try it herself! “Rebaudioside A” was the only thing I personally was not familiar with but my sister quickly informed me that is Stevia (Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of the plant species Steviarebaudiana (1)) -more info bellow in FAQS

Other info:

• Non-GMO
• Vegan
• Gluten Free
• Soy Free
• Dairy Free
• Grain free
• No Added Sugar
• No Artificial Flavors
• No Artificial Preservatives
• No Artificial Colors

Why no soy? I believe (and so does Life’s Abundance) that soy can disrupt thyroid function which may lead to hypothyroidism and thyroid problems. I have been avoiding soy since my thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2013.

I would definitely recommend trying this protein powder! Reach out to Maggie: maggie@mywholehealthy.com

FAQ

I also wanted to the FAQ PAGE from Life’s Abundance that I found was extremely helpful:

Why should I choose foods that are non-GMO?

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. Genetic modification is a technique that alters living cells to produce new chemicals and functions in plants and animals. Many food scientists question the safety of genetically modified foods because they do not know if eating GMO foods over a lifetime can damage our health.

What is vegan?

A vegan is a person who does not eat or use animal products.

What does gluten free mean and why is it important?

Gluten is the sticky protein found in certain grains including wheat, barley and rye.

To people with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is very important because it is the only known treatment for celiac disease, an autoimmune digestive disease. People with celiac cannot digest gluten, which causes inflammation in the digestive system and affects the small intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. Symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, and anemia.

People with gluten sensitivity have similar symptoms to those with celiac disease but test negative for it as well as wheat allergies. These people may feel fatigued, depressed, bloated and have abdominal pain.

Gluten-free grains include rice, corn, quinoa and buckwheat.

I have noticed “soy free” foods lately and I want to know if soy products are unhealthy?

Soy is one of the top food allergies, especially among babies and children. Symptoms of soy allergy are typically mild, although anaphylaxis is possible. People avoiding GMOs may avoid soy since more than 90% of soybeans grown in the U.S. are genetically modified.

Soy can disrupt thyroid function which may lead to hypothyroidism and thyroid problems.

Soy contains phytoestrogens, compounds that mimic human estrogen.

Is eating dairy free healthy?

People may go dairy free if they are lactose-intolerant, have a milk allergy or are vegan.

People with lactose intolerance do not have the enzyme lactase which helps to digest milk and they can experience diarrhea, nausea, bloating and cramps when eating dairy products.

Milk allergies, which are one of the top 8 food allergies, occur either minutes or hours after having milk or milk products and can cause hives, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps.

People may also avoid dairy for ethical reasons or believe it helps keep their skin clear.

Sugar is a natural ingredient so why do I care if there’s no sugar added?

Eating too much sugar has been linked to inflammation throughout the body and increased health risks. It is important to check labels since manufacturers frequently add sugar to many products that you would not think of as sweet, such as pasta sauces, chicken nuggets, cured meats, and ketchup. Also, sugar comes in many forms such as cane syrup, high fructose corn syrup and crystalline fructose.

What is rebaudioside A?

Rebaudioside A is an ingredient that is extracted from stevia leaves. It is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, so very little is needed to sweeten foods and/or beverages.

What is monk fruit extract?

This fruit grown in Southeast Asia is one to one-and-one-half times sweeter than sugar so very little is needed to sweeten foods and/or beverages.

Are natural flavors healthier than artificial flavors?

In general, artificial flavors tend to be in foods that are overly processed. If a food product contains artificial flavors, check to make sure that it doesn’t also contain other less desirable additives like artificial colors and preservatives.

What’s wrong with artificial colors?

Artificial colors may cause hyperactivity and behavioral changes in children. Some artificial colors have been linked to increased health risks.

What’s wrong with artificial preservatives?

Some artificial preservatives have been linked to increased health risks.

What are the manufacturer’s credentials?

This dietary supplement is manufactured by a company that is GMP certified and FDA regulated in the USA.

 

DISCLAIMER: all statements made are cited and my own personal options are not medical advise as I am not a doctor! Any health concerns should be directed to your doctor!