Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie {Gluten Free}

My Irish ancestors might curse me for swapping out traditional mashed potatoes for sweet potatoes in this shepherd's pie, but it is sooo yummy and healthy I couldn't resist. Plus, Matt and I are going to Ireland this June with my family, so we will be getting all the traditional shepherd's pie our hearts desire!

This is a great meal to cook up on a Sunday and take for lunch all week. I love sweet potatoes so I could not get enough of this. Lucky for me, Matt is not a fan, so he was on his own :)

Another round of DETOX

After all of the holiday goodies and treats my body was basically begging me for a detox. I started having frequent stomach aches (gluten for sure) and even gained a few pounds (gasp!). I wanted to reverse the harmful effects of carbs and sweets and get back on track, so water and veggies galore!

I uesd all of my past detox recipes and even added in a few new ones:

Can't live without a little berry salad dressing-- Fresh Raspberry Dressing

OR SOUP! -- Detox Vegetable Soup

You can find my other detox recipes here.

This time around I added in some tomato soup, roasted spaghetti squash with homemade tomato sauce, and a delicious sauteed veggie medley that I could eat every day. And I did. I even adding in a sweet treat - frozen mango smoothies. YUM.

Turkey, Pumpkin & Black Bean Chili

Another chili recipe! This time I decided to whip out my slow cooker to let this cook over night. This recipe is a favorite among TLS followers and if you are thinking, "What? Pumpkin in chili??" just know that this is amazing and the flavor of pumpkin does not over power this dish in the slightest.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I can't get enough sweet potato fries. They are my new addiction...

These are such a great alternative to regular white potato french fries, and there are so many different ways you can make them. Drizzle on a little agave syrup for a sweeter treat!

I made these the simple way - olive oil, salt & pepper.

Ingredients:
2-3 medium sweet potatoes
1 Tbsp EVOO
Salt & Pepper
 *Garlic powder is a good addition if you aren't adding agave

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with tin foil. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2 to 1 inch strips. Toss the fries in a bowl with the EVOO and salt & pepper, then arrange on the baking sheet (I also sprayed the tin foil with canola oil spray to avoid sticking). Bake for 20 mins, flipping the fries half way through.

I could eat these for days...

Turkey & Black Bean Chili

Football preseason is here! Time to round up some game day recipes, so I thought I would start with some healthy {but oh so good} turkey and black bean chili.

In my house growing up, football season was the most important time of year. My father is a die hard Patriots fan, so my sister and I bought him a sign to put above our television that says "We interrupt this family for football season". It suits him well to this day. My step mother might just be a bigger fan than my father. I swear I can hear her clapping and cheering back home near Cape Cod all the way here in the city. My father was never too happy that his daughters didn't share in his love for the sport, but after 24 years it has grown on me! Matt and I will definitely be watching this season :)

Matt has some crazy motivation lately. He has been running 6-7 miles almost everyday in addition to circuit training. It makes me crazy that he can workout for a week or two (albeit with EXTREME effort) and look like he has been training for months. Abs all toned....chest definition....drool. Anyways, his motivation has rubbed off on me, so I've gotten more on track with the longer distance runs (mine are 5-6 miles) as opposed to the routine 5ks I was doing. I think my body needs the extreme effort to get the results I am looking for since I have already lost a bunch of weight. I want to lose the final pounds and really tone up - I'll post our workout routines next time.

On to the CHILI!

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad {Lettuce Wraps!}

Here we go again... oh I love lettuce wraps. Me opting for lettuce instead of bread? WHO KNEW.

You know those rotisserie chickens they sell nice and hot at the grocery store? Lifesavers. BJ's sells giant ones for only $5! I love having these on hand to toss over a salad or for a quick dinner. And what better to do with all the leftovers than make chicken salad!

Of course, I had to make this TLS friendly, so I used Greek yogurt mixed with a little bit of Smart Balance mayo (half the fat of regular mayo and no trans fats) instead of a pure mayo base.


Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
2-4 chicken breasts (no skin) or chop up a whole rotisserie chicken (white meat only!)
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup walnuts, lightly toasted and chopped
1/2 cup red onion, diced finely
2 garlic cloves, minced to almost a paste
1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt (1/2 cup if using 2 chicken breasts only)
1/4 cup Smart Balance mayonnaise
1-2 Tbsp red wine vinegar (adjust to taste)
1 Tsp Thyme
S&P


Directions:
Dice chicken (white meat!) and put in a bowl. To toast the walnuts, heat a small skillet over med/high heat and add the walnuts to the pan. Cook for 3-5 mins stirring frequently. Add the walnuts and all other ingredients in with the chicken and combine. Feel free to eat in a wrap...but I'm telling ya - go for the lettuce wraps! YUM!

Romaine lettuce wraps

Summer Spinach Salad with Fresh Raspberry Dressing

Another TLS Detox friendly recipe! I found some super fresh raspberries at the market this morning and I knew immediately I wanted to make a detox friendly dressing with them. Since all you can eat on detox is fruits and veggies it is hard to eat plain old salads without any dressing on them. Raspberry dressing to the rescue! It is so simple and I'm quite amazed myself at how good it tastes.

Ingredients:
2 cups Baby Spinach
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup diced fresh strawberries
1/4 cup chopped fresh broccoli


Dressing:
6 oz fresh raspberries
1/2 Tbsp dijon mustard
1-1/2 Tbsp red wine vinegar


For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. If you are not detoxing feel free to add 1 Tbsp EVOO

Detox Vegetable Soup

I just got back from an awesome family vacation on Lake Winnisquam in New Hampshire - a family tradition for 13 years now! Most nights, dinner is a community event, so we have steak night, spaghetti and meatball night...you get the idea. After all the delicious home cooked food I decided I need to put my body through detox again. I might just be crazy.

For my second detox I decided I needed to make some veggie soup! Last time I didn't have something quick and easy like this to go to, so this time it was a must.

I'm already starving. It's only day 2 of 7. Detox is hard, but sooo worth it.

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce wraps are my new obsession. You can take a usually fatty meal {beef tacos} and turn it into something light, healthy, and amazingly delicious.

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

I love being able make comfort foods healthy. Yes, tacos are a comfort food for me - much love to my Mexican family on my Mom's side :)

In Mexico, it is a sin to put sour cream on your taco. However, I LOVE IT. But, I no longer use sour cream...ever. I have switched to Greek yogurt and I find that it gives the same creamy, tangy flavor without raining on your healthy eating parade. Check out this article from LiveStrong.com that gives all the details on the nutritional differences between Greek yogurt and sour cream. It is a deal breaker.

TLS Weeks 7-12: The Home Stretch!

We made it!!!!!! 


Final Stats after 12 weeks: 

• Down 15 lbs
• Decreased body fat by 3.8%
• Metabolic age lowered by 10 years!
• Inches lost overall: 9

Having already lost 20 lbs prior to TLS I am extremely happy with these results! This program was exactly what I needed to get over the plateau I was in and it completely changed my metabolism. We had some amazing transformations in our group and I can say without a doubt that this program really does change lives.

12 weeks ended up seeming longer than I thought it would, but definitely not in a bad way. After 6 weeks on the TLS program you are allowed to introduce grains back into your diet. Don't get too excited though! This does not mean you can now eat whatever you want and pig out on that pasta and bread you've been craving for the past 6 weeks (you know you were). The whole purpose of the TLS system is to transition your lifestyle, so when I say you can eat grains I mean whole, natural, nutritious grains like quinoa. You can also choose to avoid grains in general until you reach your weight loss goal because by eliminating them the weight will come off faster.

Before I started TLS I already had a pretty good foundation of knowledge when it comes to healthy eating, so for me the 12 week program was not as hard as it might be for others. The detox in week one was truly the most challenging part (obviously!), but in the end it was so well worth it that I will be doing it again. The most valuable part of the program for me was learning about reading labels. I honestly do not buy anything anymore without reading the key points, such as fat, carbs, sugar, and of course ingredients.

I will admit...I cheated. But it proved how much my metabolism has changed because it didn't effect my weight or progress. Plus, I have been on this "lets lose weight" path for a lot longer than 12 weeks (with results, I might add), so I wasn't too hard on myself with guilt for a little cheat. I am a firm believer that everything in moderation is perfectly fine; it is a matter of educating yourself on how much is too much.

Now that this program is over I am going to continue to eat the TLS way - I simply refer to it as clean eating. I am also going to get back into training mode so I can reach my goal and actually run that half marathon this year!

Matt wants to do a triathlon, so that's next!

TLS Weeks 5 & 6 + Italian Spinach Pie

Weeks 5 & 6 on TLS are pretty similar to 3 & 4 only now introducing exercise is extremely important. YAY I CAN RUN!!! I started running again after detox week, but I hadn't gotten back into my normal weekly routine yet because I really wanted to see how the low glycemic diet alone would effect my body. And boy did it! I finally broke through that stubborn plateau and dropped another 10 lbs! I bought my first size 6 EVER. S-I-X! HOLLER!! I was never in single digit sizes let alone a 6! I have never felt better in my life and I am so excited to get back on track with training for a half marathon. I should note my first race won't be until the fall now since I had knee issues and then started TLS and had to break from my training and I DO NOT want to run my first race in the hot summer months. I want to come out alive, thank you.

I am usually drinking one TLS shake per day and I found a flavorless fiber supplement from GNC that I add to it so it really keeps me full for a long time. I drink my shake around 8:30 AM, have some fruit around 11:30/noon, then won't be hungry for lunch until 1 or 2 PM. The timing is great because most days I can't bring myself out of bed early enough before work to run, so my workouts are done after work and no one likes to run (especially distance) completely famished.

TLS Weeks 3 & 4: Protein Shakes!

4 weeks in and this "diet" is a piece-o-cake. It is easy to see now why it is not called a diet because it really is a lifestyle change. Don't get me wrong, I will definitely still eat pasta and bread every now and then once I reach my goal weight, but this program teaches you the best ways to enjoy the foods you love while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

For weeks 2 through 6 there are no grains allowed, so I am eating strictly protein, vegetables (LOTS), and fruit. Luckily, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index and are allowed! The glycemic index (GI) measures the effects of carbohydrates in food on blood sugar levels. A low GI food includes most fruits and vegetables, medium GI would be foods like whole grains, and high GI includes most simple carbs like white bread and rice/pasta. Pretty simple to follow if you ask me. Luckily, I loooove veggies! Especially broccoli and brussels sprouts. If you are what you eat I must be turning into a brussels sprout.

Week 3 we got to introduce protein shakes! The TLS shakes are literally one of the best I have ever tried. They don't get all lumpy or grainy if you mix them in a hand shaker. Creamy and delicious and there are so many smoothie recipes you will never get bored. The vanilla shakes tastes like ice cream when blended with ice and skim milk - add in some berries and we have a winner! These puppies have 18g protein and 10g fiber!

Week 4 we got to try Extend Bars which are high in protein, fiber, and have only 2g net carbs!

Week 4 also meant it was time for our first weigh in! The results were amazing for everyone in the group - one person lost over 17 lbs! In just 3 weeks time! All by changing your eating habits. Incredible.

TLS Week 2: PROTEIN!

I never thought I would be so excited just to eat some protein!

Detox week recap
Detox was hard. Period. BUT I lost an average of a pound a day and am down 7.5 pounds in the first week! FINALLY past the annoying plateau! Planning meals ahead of time was a crucial part of my success since ALL you can eat is vegetables and fruit. V8 was a lifesaver. If you ever want to cleanse your body through a detox make a meal plan and cook double at dinner so you can have leftovers for lunches. My detox stuffed mushrooms lasted me 3 days and they were delicious! I felt a little tired the first couple of days but it felt so good to watch the pounds melt away without working out. I forgot to mention you are not allowed to work out during detox so this girl was not running! I also felt starving constantly. It is really important to have snacks on hand because you will not stay full for long eating only veggies. After my body got more used to having only fruit and veggies I felt more energized and so motivated to reach my final goal.

Now....on to PROTEIN!!!

Asian Sesame Tilapia

TLS Detox Week 1: Stuffed Mushrooms

Have you ever heard of Transitions Lifestyle System? I hadn't until this past fall when two of my sisters and my cousin all joined this breakthrough weight loss program. My cousin lost 31 lbs in the 12 week program that cuts out carbs and sugars, and has since lost an additional 25 lbs. That is 56 pounds!! She went from a size 12 to a size 2 and has now decided to become a coach for the program along with one of my sisters who also lost 30 lbs.

Who can say no to a "family discount" on weight loss coaching that is going to do nothing but better my health? NOT ME :) I signed up for the 12 week program that consists of weekly group meetings for support (with the coaches), 4 week weigh ins, online support, and a "starter kit" with vitamins, supplements and a journal. I am going to document my progress over the next 12 weeks on this blog which will also include recipe ideas!

The TLS weight loss system focuses on the glycemic index, which is a system for measuring how quickly different foods allow the sugar they contain to spread into the blood. I'll get into more detail of that once I learn it at the weekly classes.

To start off this journey we must put our bodies through detox. It may sound scary and an impossible feat, but it really has not been that bad so far. For 7 days you are to cleanse your system by eating only fruits and vegetables, so that means no fats, carbs, artificial sugars...you get the idea. And it is best to not eat fruit in the morning because of the natural sugars they contain. It can be quite tricky figuring out what to have for breakfast! I have found a good combo that is working for me: 1 can low sodium V8 juice with a handful of grape tomatoes and a handful of chopped cucumbers. Warm lemon water first thing in the morning is a great way to start off the day! Spices are your best friend during detox to keep your food from being bland/boring, which could lead to cheating if you don't feel satisfied. A few people in the group have mentioned feeling weak or shaky from the lack of protein, so it is ok to add a 3oz portion to dinner, but only if you think you might die. And I'm pretty sure no one is going to drop dead from eating all natural foods.

Oh and I should mention.....NO ALCOHOL FOR 30 DAYS. Yikes. I do like my wine - *sad face*

Next week we will be receiving our "starter kits" and will be able to introduce protein back into our diets.

Now for a detox recipe!

Detox Stuffed Mushrooms