How to save MONEY while still eating clean!

This video is actually from one of my FREE 7 day challenge groups, but I thought I would throw it up here to see if it helps anyone else! 

xoxo, Cassandra

Black Bean Corn Relish

This recipe is one of my FAVORITES! you can play with your ratios based on what you like. It is also fun to use infused olive oil here! Shallots or green onion can be substituted for the onion. This is truly an EASY recipe that can easily be tweaked to your tastes, or doubled for more people. A little warning though, I like mine with a little KICK! If you don't, I would add the cayenne pepper to taste!

·      1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

·      2 ears fresh corn – cooked, cooled and kernels cut off the cob (frozen is not an okay substitute here, you need the crunch from fresh corn!)

·      1 red bell peppers, diced

·      1 clove minced garlic

·      1/4 cup onion, diced (I prefer red)

·      1/4 cup chopped cilantro

·      1 teaspoon salt

·      1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

·      3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

·      3 tablespoons fresh lime juice  (juice of about 1 1/2 limes)

·      2 teaspoons lime zest (zest a lime before juicing it)

·      1 avocado, diced

Combine black beans, corn, bell peppers, garlic, onion and cilantro in a large bowl.  In a small bowl whisk together salt, cayenne pepper, olive oil, lime juice, lime zest. Pour dressing over black bean mixture and stir to combine.  Cover and chill for  at least 2 hours (or overnight) before serving. Sometimes I double this recipe, and bring to a pot luck!

Right before serving, add diced avocados and mix gently, being careful not to mash avocados.  Serve at room temperature.

Grilled Carrots and Bison Burgers

 One of the new things I have learned how to do in the past few months, is grill. I LOVE grilled food, BUT I have always been too afraid to use the grill. This most likely goes back to my very first apartment I lived in; my upstairs neighbors set off the fire suppression system with their grill. It dumped TONS of the oily chemical on all of our stuff, the fire department came, it was a big deal. We still live in an apartment, with a fire suppression system on our patio. Which has made me reluctant to grill.

When I started out on this Beachbody weight-loss journey, I realized that I wanted to eat a lot of chicken. But I REALLY love lemon pepper chicken grilled. Mike works nights, so I learned to operate the grill. I have moved on form just chicken, and will grill just about anything now. My new favorite? Grilled Carrots and Bison Burgers! Below is my recipe for each!

Grilled Carrots:
Whole carrots (halved, peeled if you want them peeled)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/8 cup agave nectar
1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning (I prefer the saltless kind)

Mix the bottom three ingredients together and set aside. Place carrots on the grill over medium-low heat. Wait about 5ish minutes I know I'm really accurate. Flip carrots and brush with the glaze. Grill about another 5 minutes or until carrots are tender enough for you. Remove from grill and brush again with the glaze. SO YUMMY. I can literally down an entire PACKAGE of carrots this way. haha

Bison Burgers:
These are super forgiving, but I like to add all kinds of things to them. You can vary your herbs, spices, cheese, etc. to your tastes- but here is how I like them!

1 lb. ground bison meat
1tsp. pink himalayan salt
1tsp. pepper
1tsp. garlic powder (or you can use fresh)
1tsp. minced dehydrated onion (or you can use fresh)
1tsp. cajun seasoning
2 Tbsp Teriyaki or similar sauce

Mix everything together and form patties. I like to make a little "divot" in my patties so they don't puff up quite as much on the grill. I usually do about 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat. If I am not going to eat them that day, I usually do 2-3 minutes, so when I reheat them they don't dry out (and they finish cooking). These are seriously SO yummy and are the perfect summer food.

How to stay on track at picnics this summer

Well with the fourth of july being tomorrow, I thought I would post about what I do to stay on track at picnics, or other potluck type events.

• The first thing you need to do is bring something healthy yourself! I typically try to bring something veggie, or a lean meat. Things like chicken kabobs, green salads, roasted veggies. What I typically shy away from are carb based options. The only reason that I do this is because most people typically bring something carb, AND if there are burgers or something similar, you will most likely be getting enough carbs. 
• So AFTER you have selected your healthy dish, you would want to make sure that you eat before you go to the event. Many times people don't eat before events like that, and so then they see food and want to eat everything in sight. Personally I drink my Shakeology before potluck type events because it curbs my appetite. That way I don't over eat when it is finally time to eat. 
• When it comes time to eat at the potluck, take your plate and IMMEDIATELY fill 2/3 of it with veggies. Then fill the remainder with protein and carbs. 
• Stick to mostly water to drink, but I always allow myself one other drink (lemonade or alcohol etc).
• When it comes time for dessert, try to find something with lots of fruit, and cut the original serving in half. 

Snacking!

When trying to lose weight, most people tend to cut out one of the most important steps to weight loss- snacking! Eating snacks can help manage hunger and reduce bingeing. These snacks need to be small, and you still need to be working out :) Moderation and healthy choices are the key to snacking. Try to choose snacks that are around 100-200 calories.

Here are some healthy snack ideas:

• 1.5 cup vegetables and 2 Tbsp Hummus
• 1 cup fruit
• 1 slice Ezikiel bread with almond butter
• 2 Tbsp nuts
• 3 ½ cups or air popped PLAIN popcorn
• 2 cups veggies
• A hard boiled egg.

Snacks to AVOID

• 100-calorie snack packs- chemical SHIT storm right there
• White processed grains
• Yogurt- if it has many ingredients ahem Yoplait
• Store bought muffins and pastries
• Chips
• Doughnuts
• Soda
• Lattes

Take Everyday One Step at a Time

The Ultimate Reset- Mike's Results!

I am SO excited to post this! My wonderful boyfriend just finished The Ultimate Reset. These are his results!

A little description of what the Ultimate Reset is for those of you that do not know- The Ultimate Reset is an internal reset that enables your body to function more effectively (Think of it as P90X for your insides). It is not a typical cleanse because it is not a colon based cleanse- because lets face it, NO ONE wants to spend a week in the bathroom. During the reset, you eat three FILLING meals a day with REAL food that YOU prepare (and even a snack). During the first week, you wean off of dairy and meat to an all vegan diet for the second two weeks.

There are a total of six supplements that you use during the reset, in different order over the 21 days. These six supplements are detox, alkalinize, optimize, soothe, mineralize and revitalize. They work together with each other and your food to restore your body's natural metabolism, cholesterol, and blood pressure.The first week the supplements work to balance your body chemistry, the second week the supplements work to remove toxins and reset digestion, and the third week's supplements and diet work to rejuvenate your health.

I will be doing the reset in July (I HOPE! that or SEPT). Within the next week, Mike will be doing a follow up post here with his favorite recipes, and tips from the reset!

If you want to get EXACTLY what Mike did to get these results, follow the link below to get the Ultimate Reset Challenge Pack (Mike went with Vegan Strawberry for Shakeology, but Vegan Chocolate is about the same nutrition wise, so he would have had the same results regardless)

http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/ BCPCLN305?referringRepId=215970

https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart_Detail.asp?PriceID=363266&Cat=Challenge%20Packs|ALL

Also, just send me a message letting me know you ordered it, and I can verify that it went through the right way :)





Our targeted supplements detox, alkalinize, soothe, mineralize, optimize, and revitalize to restore your body to the highest level of health.

Why I need my meals prepped AHEAD of time

So, many of you out there may be wondering why I am so crazy about having my meals prepped ahead of time. EVERYTHING needs to have zero work that needs to be done in order for me to eat it. It is not because I am so lazy (well laziness may have something to do with it). It is mostly because I pretty much have no willpower and work in someone else's home. As you will see in the photos in this post, I am surrounded by this food daily.

That is frozen HOMEMADE cookie dough in that bag!

 Working in someone else's home is so great for most things, but for eating healthy not so much. While I can make sure that I throw out all of the crappy food at my house, I then walk into a house full of crappy food for a minimum of ten hours a day. This is food that I am allowed to eat. Food like bread, bagels, mac and cheese, Oreos, pasta, ice cream, cookies, cheese, peanut butter, jelly, and lunchmeat.

Ice cream and MORE cookie dough!

Food that I have to make into meals or snacks  for four children four or five times a day. When the kids eat, I have about two minutes to get my food on the table, or my willpower is gone and I eat what they eat. So I prep it ahead of time.

It is so much easier to pop my food into the microwave, or toss some dressing on it and eat it then to have to work for my food. Because I won't do it. Not that I don't WANT to, just that I WON'T. What do you all do to help keep yourself on tack throughout the week?