Mediterranea Zucchini “Pasta Noodles”

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Since eliminating most grains and wheat from my diet, I have been struggling with substitutions for pasta. I like using spaghetti squash, but it can be hard to find in the spring and summer months. Then I came across zucchini noodles- which are basically just zucchini sliced with a julienne slicer. Now I am hooked. I enjoy the consistency of zucchini “pasta” more than I did spaghetti squash, as it has a consistency much closer to pasta. No matter what sort of diet you follow, an abundance of vegetables are always encouraged. This recipe for Zucchini noodles replaces the starchy pasta noodles, that would normally spike blood sugar and be stored as fat, with fiber rich zucchini that pairs well with just about anything you top it with. The entire recipe can be made in 20 minutes from start to finish. The best thing about zucchini noodles is you can eat a larger portion for very little calories, around 320 for half the recipe. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have.

INGREDIENTS:

2 Large Zucchini

1 Can White Albacore Tuna (you can substitute chicken breast or ground grass-fed beef also)

1/3 Cup Chopped Red Onion

1/3 Cup Sliced Sun-dried Tomatoes

1/3 Cup Sliced Kalamata Olives

1/4 Cup Crumbled Goat Cheese

1 Tbsp Oregano

1 Tbsp Basil

1 Tbsp Fresh Minced Garlic

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Sea Salt to taste

Cayenne Pepper flakes to taste.

RECIPE:

Using a julienne peeler, julienne all zucchini lengthwise. Set aside.

In a large sauce pan or skillet, Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat.

Add red onion, saute til slightly softened- About 5 minutes.

Add garlic and sun-dried tomato. Cook 2 minutes.

Add zucchini, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook for 2 minutes

Add Tuna, Oregano, Basil and Olives. Stir all ingredients together. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

Zucchini should be softened but not mushy.

Next add crumbled goat cheese and stir. Cook until it softens if you prefer a creamy sauce consistency.

Top with sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Dig in!

Makes Two Servings (use one large zucchini per person to increase recipe. ex: 4 People=4 Zucchini)

 

 

 

 

Weight Training Trumps Cardio for Women

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When it comes to losing weight (from fat) and gaining muscle tone and definition, there is nothing more effective for women than strength training. Strength training not only builds muscle and burns fat, but it also increases a women’s bone density which is crucial at any age.   A lot of women fear that using weights will make them bulky, just the opposite will actually happen. Weight training will help improve posture and can actually make you look long, lean, and strong. Something cardio alone can not do. You may notice many exercisers who only perform cardio end up with little muscle tone and look scrawny and even sickly. Also, the more muscle you have on your body the more calories you will burn at rest. You don’t even need to strength train for long periods of time. In fact you shouldn’t. If you use correct form and the correct weights for your current strength, you can get a solid workout with great results in about 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. So stop running for countless miles on the treadmill and pick up some weights. My personal definition of fitness is not a person who can run for the longest period of time, but someone who has great overall strength and tone which reflects the strength and well being inside of their body (strong bones, core etc.).

Check out the video below from D.H Kiefer of Athlete.io (formerly Dangerously Hardcore) He explains this philosophy from a physiological standpoint.

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Kemnitz Family Kitchen Giveaway!

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Living with an autoimmune disease like Celiac can make eating the right foods very frustrating and difficult to navigate. Especially if you have young children with food allergies who can’t tell which food items might pose a threat. That is why I love Kemnitz Family Kitchen’s labels so much. Whether you are throwing a party and want to protect guests with potential food allergies, or want to label gluten free foods in your own kitchen- Kemnitz has you covered. You can use the Kemnitz stickers and pics to clearly identify which food items are safe and unsafe for those with a gluten allergy. Kemnitz has recently expanded their line of labels to include “Vegan”, “Nut-Free”, “Kosher”, and labels you can fill in yourself.

GIVEAWAY!

In honor of Celiac Awareness Month and in partnership with Kemnitz Family Kitchen, I am giving away one FREE pack of Gluten Free Stickers and Pics. Please comment below and share your experience with food allergies or  how you plan to use the stickers for a chance to win!

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Primal Pacs- Paleo on the go!

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I would like to start off my latest product recommendation by expressing my past frustrations with buying dried fruit. I have put countless packages of dried fruit items back on the shelf since becoming a “Clean-Mostly Paleo” eater. I would turn the package around only to find that they added sugar to the already super sweet fruit, or even oil and preservatives. Buying beef jerky would have been out of the question, because I had no trust in what the animal was fed and how it was processed. I questioned if it was ever meat to began with after reading the ingredient lists on popular beef jerky brands.

So that brings me to Primal Pacs. I am very excited to share these Primal goodie bags with you. That’s exactly what they are. Primal Pacs are a Gluten-Free, Preservative- Free, Grain- Free, Dairy-Free snack or pre/post workout fuel.  If I have learned one thing from the Paleo/Primal lifestyle, it is that its devotees LOVE to eat. And most of them also follow a rigorous workout routine that is anything but typical. So it only seems natural that Primal Pacs would serve up 24 grams of protein, and that’s in one of their small pacs! To make Primal Pacs pack an even bigger nutritional punch, Most of that protein comes from the organic grass-fed beef jerky, which is unbelievably moist and flavorful. Grass-fed beef (full of Omega-3s and CLA) is a staple in any clean eaters diet, so it is nice to have a portable snack food that incorporates it. I will be taking them with me when I hit the trails hiking, stair climbing and mountain biking this summer. I found that they are great to combat the craving for something salty-sweet. The pacs are also filling without slowing you down and great for keeping blood sugar stable between meals. They even come in a convenient resealable pouch.

Luckily for us, we aren’t living in the Paleolithic Era anymore, so you can order Primal Pacs on your computer and have them sent to your doorstep! Click the Primal Pacs logo below and fuel up!

Don’t forget to like Primal Pacs on Facebook!

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Giveaway!

Fresh and Fit Followers! If you would like to try the Primal goodness for yourself,  leave a comment below! I only have a few to share, so I will pick random followers and send them their pacs!

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