Whole30 Compliant Archives - Page 5 of 5

Whole30 Approved Taco Seasoning (and Salad!)

July 17, 2014 by Susan 15 Comments

As the #2catsWhole30 Train pushes through Day 2, I really wanted to try to get some of my favorite recipes out here for y’all. I can’t wait to show everyone how GOOD clean eating really can be. Mexican-American food {i.e. TexMex} is unfortunately an extreme comfort food of mine. Give me some chips, salsa and guacamole and I’m a happy girl. 97% of our date nights revolve around Chipotle. And when it comes to spicy food, the hotter the better.Now, just because you’ve jumped head first into the paleo world with the Whole30 doesn’t mean you have to give up your Mexican food. {Well, those chips, tortillas, and queso sauces - yes. But give me this one recipe to convince you that you can still enjoy a good Taco Salad (minus the chips) and eat clean at the same time!}2 Cats & Chloe: Whole30, Paleo Taco Salad

Ingredients:

For the Seasoning:

1 teaspoon of Garlic Powder

1 Teaspoon of Onion Powder

1 Teaspoon of Cumin

3/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon of Smoked Paprika

1 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper

1 pound of Grass-Fed Ground Beef (you could always do ground turkey or chicken also)

1/2 Cup of Water

For the Salad Fixings I use:

Sliced Cherry Tomatoes

Lettuce (Iceberg or Romaine are the best for a Taco Salad, but I just use whatever we have in the fridge)

Peppers and Onions (I use frozen ones from Trader Joes)

Salsa (no added sugar)

Guacamole

Feel free to add any other taco salad essentials that you love - but to keep it whole30 and paleo, stay away from the chips, cheese, and salsa with added sugar.

This is going to be one of the easiest paleo meals you will ever make. Basically you need to collect the necessary seasonings and brown the meat. Once the meat is browned, you are going to pour the seasoning blend onto the meat. Add the 1/2 cup of water. Mix everything up really well so that the seasoning is blended throughout. Put the seasoned taco meat on low and let the water simmer out. Continue to check in on it though, stirring and mixing it every couple of minutes.

At the same time, in a different skillet, it’s time to start cooking the peppers and onions! Like I said - this is a go-to easy meal for me. To help keep it simple, I use the frozen Trader Joe’s Fire Roasted Peppers and Onions. Toss them in the pan and let them cook right up. Again, flip them around every now and then until they are not frozen and appear soft. (You could definitely use fresh peppers and onions as well! This bag of tricks is much quicker and less expensive than fresh peppers are right now though.)

I like to put my lettuce on the bottom of the plate. For Taco Salad, I prefer iceberg or romaine lettuce. But we had neither. So I used whatever was in the fridge. On top of the lettuce went my peppers and onions. On top of that the beef and any other “taco toppings of choice.”

I always wonder if pro-foodie bloggers’ kitchens end up as messy as mine does… Don’t let the pretty food pictures fool you. My kitchen is a hot mess!

To me, the salsa and guacamole are the cherry on top of this taco sundae. Pop a few spoonfuls of each on top of your taco salad creation and then dig in!

Give it a shot and let me know what you think! What taco toppings do you love?

Happy clean-eating!

Whole30 Questions and Essentials!

July 14, 2014 by Susan Leave a Comment

Guys - it is taking every single ounce of motivation and alertness that is still remaining in my body today, to sit at my desk and work. Why am I so absolutely drained? Because I just spent the last four days of my life in Vegas with some of my greatest friends. Oh, and let us not forget that I basically want to spend today driving around town. Again, you’re asking why? Only because my husband is a rockstar.On Friday, while I was busy putzing around the Strip, then getting my hair and makeup done, I got a text from my hubby with this picture:

So yeah, I’d say three-ish days of vacation and returning home to a brand spanking new car isn’t that bad of a life. Can someone please pinch me?

Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas Rehab Cost of Drinks

I would love to share a bit about my beyond awesome, whirl wind trip to Vegas with you - however, we have some business to cover today.

Whole30 Challenge for a Group #2catswhole30

As most of y’all know, I am a HUGE proponent of the Whole30. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that we are starting another group challenge THIS WEDNESDAY. There are about 30 people right now who have committed to spend 30 days eating clean, getting healthy, and supporting each other throughout the process. And we would LOVE for you to join us in this!I have already sent out a few business-y emails with links and explanations. If you want to join, let me know ASAP and I can get you added to the list, and I will forward you the previously sent emails.I wanted to spend a few minutes today, publicly answering a few of your Whole30 questions, purely based on my past experiences. Please keep in mind that I am NOT a nutritionist. I am just sharing what I have read and learned from experience. And most importantly what works for me and makes me feel GOOD.

Q: No grains, No added sugar, No dairy, No beans or soy or legumes, No booze?

Are you serious?

Yes. Very much so. And you can do it. It’s just 30 days. You will quickly discover and love how much you CAN eat. Yes, you will miss the cheese pizza. Yes, you will have dreams about talking bowls of ice cream that are battling it out with stalks of celery. Yes, you will be exhausting every single sweet potato option that is available. But like I said, it’s only 30 days. And I promise you will feel good and be absolutely proud of yourself when you wrap this puppy up.

Q: If I can’t drink wine, beer, soda, boxed juice, monster drinks, frappicinos, or sweet tea - won’t I be thirsty?!

Friends, I would be lying if I said you won’t be oh so tired of drinking water. But unfortunately, it is, by far, the best thing you can do for yourself. I am personally not a huge fan of plain-jane water. I have become obsessed with bubbly mineral water. {It makes me feel like I am drinking soda without all the crap and sugar!} Pop some lemon, fruit or mint into your water. Mix it up some!

And believe it or not - you can still drink your morning cup of joe. A cup of coffee is okay. I would limit the amount the amount of caffiene you are taking in, but if you need your morning coffee - have it! BUT - remember you either have to have it black or add some coconut cream to it. No added sugar of any sort. {You want the coconut cream or milk that is found in the can. The heavy stuff from Trader Joes is by far my fave, and must less expensive than that link above, when in store. You can typically find the cans of this milk or cream in the asian food section of your grocery store.}

Tea is also another great option. Seriously. Hot or Cold. When I am on a Whole30, I stick with tea in the morning because I just cannot handle my coffee without stevia. And just your luck, I know of a girl who sells Loose Leaf Tea! And she will be offering a Whole30 discount! {It’s me if you haven’t caught on yet!} Head over to my shop and check out the few teas I have listed. I also have about 15 other flavors I could hook you up with if none of these strike your fancy. Use the Coupon Code: Whole30 for 10% off! {Expires Sept 1, 2014}

Lastly, as far as drinks go, I am going to reference booze. You can bet your bottom dollar that I will be spending tonight and tomorrow night drinking my beloved wine. As you are out with your friends it can be tough to not partake in a glass or two. I know it’s not the same, but I have found that my Whole30 Mocktails are the perfect beverage when I am craving a drink with friends.

Q: How much weight will I lose?

Let me point out, that the Whole30 was not created as a weight lose plan. It is a way to kick your butt into gear; a way to reboot your eating habits and get healthy. That being said, a lot of us will lose weight when doing this. In three months (2 whole30s and 1 month of paleo) I lost 20 pounds. It is possible, you just cannot use your weight as a way to judge your success with a whole30. If you feel good, you make it through the 30 days, your clothes fit better, and you learn a few new healthy recipes - you’ve done well.

Q: I don’t care what you say. I’m going to weigh myself daily.

Remember! You ARE NOT ALLOWED to weigh yourself throughout the whole30. Just don’t do it. Your weight fluctuates so much, don’t let this be something to determine your mood. Hop on the scale on day one and on day 31. Take pictures on day one and on day 31 also!

Q: What about exercise? Can I still hit the gym? What if I’m not that fit?

Look, I am definitely not an expert in this field, but I can tell you what does and doesn’t work for me. I lost 9 pounds on my first whole30 and I only exercised once or twice a week. If you are not an active person, I would recommend adding some physical activity to your regimen. Even just walking. A little at a time is a good start. If you are currently active, there is no reason why you cannot continue your routine. My goal is to work out at least 5 times a week for this whole30. {I’m currently lucky if I workout twice.} I think you should set a fitness goal for yourself too! Goals are great, and you have the support of this group to stay on track and keep you motivated!

Q: There are certain foods that I cannot live without. There are certain foods that are whole30 that I cannot stand. What do I do?

Unless you will die without your {fill in the blank} you can live without it. I struggled with giving up my wine and cheese. Seriously, y’all. I thought life was going to suck without them both, so why even give them up? Because you don’t know until you try AND it’s just 30 days. If you dwell on the fact that you will be going 30 days without {fill in the blank} you are letting that food/drink/object control you. Prove to yourself that wine/cheese/bread/yogurt/snickers/ice cream/chocolate doesn’t have control over your life!

If there is a food you swear you hate, but it’s all over the meal plan as a whole30 approved item {i.e. sweet potatoes} all I have to say is TRY THEM. I had people calling me up last time raving about how they hated sweet potatoes. Then they tried the sweet potato fries and were hooked.

Q: What can I use to replace some of my go-to cooking items?

Here are a few things that we cannot live without that I highly recommend you get your paws on immediately.

Ghee - This is clarified butter and is whole30 approved. It’s a necessity in our house as I use it for sautéing veggies, for eggs, and sometimes on sweet potatoes.

Coconut Aminos - The absolute best replacement for soy sauce I have been able to find. It has no crap in it and it allows me to enjoy “Asian” dishes! I even take this with me into sushi places (when I’m not on a whole30, of course!) I use this for my Paleo “Lo Mein.”

Coconut Oil - Use this in your cooking instead of oils like Vegetable oil or Canola oil. I use this for basically everything I cook in a pot or pan.

Coconut Cream - Like I said above, this is a GREAT option for coffee and even tea. I started using it after my first whole30 and have never been able to go back to traditional milk or creamer.

There are also a couple kitchen tools that I use all the time, that make the whole30 a bit easier.

1. My Spiral Noodle Slicer aka my Zoodle Maker. If you are joining us, we will have recipes using this tool starting in week two. There are definitely ways around having one, but not only does it make cooking fun, it is also quick and great when you are craving noodles!

2. A Mandolin - this is great for cutting up veggies. I specifically use it for my sweet potato chips and my sweet potato hash.

3. I HIGHLY recommend that you get yourself a copy of It Starts with Food. While their website is terrific, and you can ask me anything (and I will try to answer or find the answer for you) this book is packed with awesome information to help you through your journey. And it’s prime eligible on Amazon!

Wow this turned into one incredibly long post! I hope you find some or all of this helpful. If you have Whole30 or paleo questions for me as we begin this journey together, please do not hesitate to comment below, or shoot me an email, or find me on Instagram, or even on our #2catswhole30 facebook group!Hit me up if you need anything! I’m super excited to get started with y’all on Wednesday!

Holy Zoodles! Whole30 Paleo Shrimp and Veggie Lo Mein

June 23, 2014 by Susan 3 Comments

For those who follow me on instagram, in the midst of the onslaught work related June wedding and event pics, recently y’all have seen several posts where I’m stark raving mad over my new favorite toy: my zoodle maker.

{via}Seriously! Why in the world was I eating normal, straight-edge sliced veggies when I could be eating veggies that remind me of:A. Real noodlesB. Curly friesC. or My All-Time favorite, french fry making, play-doh set I had when I was a kid.

play-doh french fry and burger maker via amazon

{via}

Never in my life have I experienced oh so much joy while eating vegetables! This “machine” has even tricked me into wanting kids {like yesterday} just so I can try tricking them into eating their vegetables! I sure know that “6 year old me” never would’ve turned down veggies that are more fun to make than play-doh french fries. Just sayin.

With all of that nonsense being said, I want to share a zoodle recipe with you today. Not only am I sharing this because you NEED a Zoodle Maker in your life, but because I am going to be leading another group Whole30 Challenge {#2catswhole30} next month. And I would love for you to join us! And you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be zoodles on my meal plan this go round!

So check out my impromptu recipe below {excuse the crappy iphone photos - I seriously wasn’t planning on this being one of the most amazing meals I’ve had in months!} and then get your butt in gear and order your own Spiral Vegetable Slicer (aka Zoodle Maker!)

*Please note: I usually just “wing it” in the kitchen. Measurements below are not exact. Use ingredients that you and your taste buds like.*

Whole30 Approved - Paleo Shrimp and Veggie “Lo Mein”

What you need:

2-3 Medium/Large Zucchinis

A Bell Pepper

An Onion

Carrots

Mushrooms

Pre-Cooked and Peeled Shrimp {or other protein of your choice}

2 Eggs

Approx. 1/3 cup Coconut Aminios {A wonderful replacement to soy sauce! It contains no sugar and no soy! Amen!}

A dash of onion powder

A tablespoon of Minced Garlic

A dash {or more if you like things spicy!} of Red Pepper Flakes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I know it sounds like a lot of things, but honestly, I just cleared out the veggie drawer in my fridge. Use whatever veggies and seasonings suit your appetite.

Now! Get our your brand spankin’ new Zoodle Maker!

You know how Ty Pennington would say Move! That! Bus! at the end of Extreme Home Makeover?

Well, it’s time for you to Make! Those! Zoodles!

{seriously. have fun.}

Chop and prep all the veggies {other than the zucchinis, because those are now noodles!} Toss the the veggies into your skillet with half of your coconut aminos, and seasonings. Once they start cooking, add your pre-cooked shrimp.

Saute {how in the world do i get the ´ over the e??} them up until the carrots are almost soft.

Put your zoodles into a separate skillet. I put them into my heavy duty wok. Add some EVOO and let them start cooking. Add your veggies {and sauce that as developed in the pan} to your zoodles. Continue to cook everything all together now. Stirring and Shufflin’ everything around so nothing burns to the bottom of the pan.

Once the veggies have all been merged, I used the original veggie skillet to fry two eggs. Then I chopped them into smaller pieces.

Add the egg pieces to your zoodles, veggies, and shrimp. Add any left over seasonings or coconut aminos to your wok. Once your zoodles are soft, you’re a good to go!

Oh, and Salt and Pepper to taste.

Again, sorry for the crappy pictures. This dish was unplanned but spectacularly delicious.

Again, this dish is whole30 approved, paleo, and gluten free. Hallelujah! Whether you are new to the paleo world, you are trying to cut carbs, or you’re a mom desperate to get her kid to eat veggies… you need to get your paws on this zoodle maker. If you want more information on the whole30 or to simply see why I’m a huge proponent of restarting your eating habits - you can see my results here.

By no means do I consider myself an expert, but shoot me an email if you have questions, or if you want to join us on the July #2catswhole30 Challenge! {It will be starting on July 16.}

I’m linking this post up with the Naturally Sweet Tuesday Linkup!

Birthday Beverages: Whole30 Mocktails

June 17, 2014 by Susan 2 Comments

A mocktail?? Yup. It’s a mocktail. A delicious birthday mocktail. But don’t flip away from this blog quite yet, friends! This is a great alternative to some of my favorite cocktails that, I promise you will… A. definitely enjoy B. possibly, one day, may be preggos and remember these options when you feel the need for a social beverageC. enjoy while counting down the {whole} 30 days until your next glass of wine!Here’s the thing: this girl needs to get back to her paleo roots. Even though I am teaming up with J for a month long birthday celebration and blogging series the Not-So-Dirty 30, my body has told me it’s time to cut back on the sweets. They do say it’s much harder to lose weight after 30 right??If you haven’t heard of the whole30 before I recommend you read up on it here. You can also see my results from the beginning of the year here. It has been a life changing program for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to restart their eating habits.As we all know, I am a huge fan of all things wine and champagne related. Partially for the social aspect. Partially for the deliciousness aspect. You’re going think I’ve gone off the deep end with this, but when I tasted the thirst quenching, amazingness that all of these mocktails bring to the table, I was floored. And *GASP* I was a-okay with skipping the wine.

{My secret: Pop it into a wine glass or mason jar and no one will even know…}

whole30 sangria mocktail with sparkling water

Whole30 “White Sangria Mocktail”

It’s got the light and crispness of a white wine. With the fruit flavors of a sangria. And the refreshing after-effect that only water gives ya!

Fill your glass with frozen fruit.

{I used strawberries, pineapples, and peaches.}

Break them up a bit if possible.

They will begin to dissolve {adding more flavor} as they melt.

Add your favorite sparkling mineral water.

Pop a couple ice cubes in there and enjoy!

whole30 sangria mocktail with mineral water

And because I cannot decide which of these beverages is my favorite - I am bringing you two Whole30 Mocktails today!

Again - this beverage is to die for. And has nothing in it that will cause your belly to bloat!

Whole30 “Gin and Tonic Mocktail”

The ingredients are basic:

Your favorite sparkling mineral water

Lime slices

Ice

Blend all of the above into a stemless wine glass and you’ve got yourself a keeper.

(Just an FYI to science experimenting geeks out there - I like to see the fizziness so I drop the ice cubes in last!)

If you’re feeling crazy and you want a Whole30 “Mojito Mocktail” - I simply add mint leaves to this drink! It’s extremely refreshing and keeps you on track with you Whole30 agenda!

So there ya have it. Not the traditional birthday beverage, but something that will keep you on track with your Whole30 and Paleo goals this summer.

A special congrats goes out to Sharon H for winning the first Not-So-Dirty 30 Giveaway! Sharon please contact J or myself to collect your prize!

If you’re looking for a more traditional cocktail to get you through your Tuesday, I highly recommend you head over to Bless Her Heart Y’all and check out this Strawberry Basil Margarita!

I’m also linking up with Living Free’s Naturally Sweet Linkup today!

What is your favorite Whole30 Beverage?

For the love of drinks that are natural and delicious…

Until next time,

My Whole30 Results and Experience

February 20, 2014 by Susan 5 Comments

{via pinterest}

This blog post is long over due. If you know me in real life, if you follow me on instagram, or if you happen to be one of my facebook friends, you know that I spent January doing a #Whole30. The hashtag really doesn’t have to be there. It’s called a Whole30, but I feel like it looks so much more hip with the #.

My 30 day extreme paleo challenge was tough. My husband is a good man. He put up with my whining, my I-want-to-kill-everything attitude that popped up every now and then, he ate at Chipotle more than anyone ever wants to… wait… Chipotle was never a problem. I went through sugar withdrawals, I learned several new ways to cook eggs since I had them for breakfast every day, and I gave up wine. GASP! NO WINE?! Yuppers! No wine. Not even a drop.

And it was one of the best experiences of my life.

I had tried to do a whole30 in the past. And I failed. I’m pretty sure I didn’t actually commit. Like, there was no mental commitment. I allowed myself to cheat. I allowed myself to sneak some cheese on my Chipotle burrito bowl. I gave up around day 23 because “I made it 3 weeks… that should be enough right?”

Nope. 23 days wasn’t enough. And sneaking cheese really wasn’t worth it.

I had results in 23 days. But nothing spectacular. And nothing that made me feel like I really accomplished something. In January though, when I made it the full 30 days, with not even one single cheat - I felt like I could take on the world.

My skin cleared up. My migraines disappeared. I felt amazing. I lost 9 pounds. Hallelujah, my clothes fit again! (Which meant I stopped crying every time I would get dressed. Yes, that was really happening. Again, my husband’s a saint.)

I have been really hesitant to put my before and after pictures out in the world. There’s only about 4 people who have seen them. I’m not proud of how I looked. And I’m still not super happy with how I look. But it’s a process. And if the results just happened overnight, I’m pretty positive I wouldn’t appreciate the changes as much. So here you go. Drum roll please… my before and after pictures from my first successful Whole30. {Be kind with your judgements please!}

This picture, to me, is the most obvious. And the most embarrassing.

You can see a slight difference in my face. It’s a bit less round.

No 6 pack here… but again, a bit less round. And still completely embarrassing to be posting. Please don’t judge.

So there you have it. I wish I could reach through this computer screen and really just tell you how awesome this experience was. But I can’t. So I am doing it again in March. Not so much for me… I’m still eating healthy, minus my ridiculous addiction to snacking on almond butter and raisins. (That needs to stop. Stat.)

What do you have to give up, you ask? Grains, dairy, Booze, Legumes and Soy, Added and Processed Sugars… basically everything is clean, fresh food. Nothing from a box. Unless you pack your meals in a lunch box before work. Homemade Lunch Box meals are a-okay! 😉

After a random, meaningless post on facebook late last night, about possibly doing another Whole30 in March, I had almost 15 people contact me saying that want to do it! SO!! I will be sending out recipes, tips, and I am going to try to put together meal plans and grocery lists for you full of recipes and meals that worked for me. And I suggest you join us.

Last week when I mentioned the idea to my mom, she flat out said “Well I would have to look at my calendar first.” Guys, it’s just 30 days. As I get older, time flies by. Seriously, time is speeding up! You might as well take advantage of it.

It’s delicious, clean and healthy food that you will love. That office party pizza and cookies will happen again. I promise you there will be more wine tastings. The world does not have a shortage of cupcakes. But there’s only one you. This is the only body you’ve been given. So give it a shot. I promise you will hate the process (for at least the first 2 weeks) but you will love the results.

{Unless you’re getting married in March… then I recommend you eat wedding cake. Tons and tons of wedding cake.}

A week after the Whole30 and feeling great!

I recommend you check out the information on the Whole30 Site. If you want to join in on the fun, or you have questions, shoot me an email and I will get you added to the list: [email protected]

I’m looking forward to it friends! I hope you are too!