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15 Easy Appetizers For Game Day

October 14, 2016 by Lindsay 3 Comments

Need some easy appetizers for game day? Here are 15 delicious recipes all with six ingredients or less!

Hi Friends!

Football season is here and that means lots of tailgating and game-watching parties for most people. Inevitably you’ll be put in charge of bringing an appetizer on a day when you’re super busy without much time to throw something together. To help you out, I rounded up 15 quick and easy appetizer recipes. They all have six ingredients or less, which means they’re simple enough for anyone to make!

[clickToTweet tweet=”In charge of an appetizer for game day? Here are 15 recipes with 6 ingredients or less!” quote=”Next time you’re in charge of bringing an appetizer, try one of these simple recipes, all made with six ingredients or less!”]

Good luck deciding which you’ll try first!

Guacamole Waffle Bites via The Lean Green Bean

Spicy Red Pepper Feta Dip via The Lean Green Bean

3 Ingredient Almond Crackers via Eating Bird Food

Spicy Hummus Queso Dip via Fannetastic Food

Buffalo Chicken Hummus Bites via A Cedar Spoon

4 Ingredient Zucchini Tater Tots via She Likes Food

Hell’s Fire Chips via Culinary Ginger

Tomatillo Avocado Salsa via Hola Jalapeno

Sweet Potato Pizza Bites via Eat The Gains

Buffalo Ranch Deviled Eggs via Iowa Girl Eats

Crockpot Boiled Peanuts via The Blond Cook

Baked BBQ Wings via My Healthyish Life

Rosemary Spiced Italian Mixed Nuts via Cooking on the Front Burner

Maple Mustard Sausage Bites via Crumbs and Chaos

Easy Artichoke Pizza Pockets via Healthy Aperture

See a few that look good? Be sure to pin this post for later for quick reference!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Pork and Egg Breakfast Pizza

October 12, 2016 by Lindsay 3 Comments

This Pork and Egg Breakfast Pizza is perfect for a late morning football party or tailgating. Cook the pork overnight, then just shred, assemble and top with an egg!

Thanks to Davidson’s Safest Choice Eggs for sponsoring this post.

Hi Friends!

Today we’re continuing to talk about breakfast…but this recipe will probably appeal to more of a football crowd than a back to school crowd! This breakfast pizza is perfect for an early morning football party or tailgate for one of those noon games that are inevitably on your team’s schedule. This breakfast is protein-packed to help keep you full through the game (or at least until halftime!) and will pair nicely with your drink of choice…alcoholic or

This pizza is protein-packed to help keep you full through the game (or at least until halftime!) and will pair nicely with your drink of choice…alcoholic or non.

These are so simple to make and you could easily assemble a bunch of them to feed a crowd!

Pork and Egg Breakfast Pizza

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This Pork and Egg Breakfast Pizza is perfect for a late morning football party or tailgating. Cook the pork overnight, then just shred, assemble and top with an egg!

Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

mini frozen naan bread
guacamole
pulled pork, cooked
broccoli or cole slaw (optional)
sunny side up eggs
hot sauce to garnish

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Instructions

Toast naan bread. Spread a layer of guacamole on each piece.
Top with pulled pork (and your favorite slaw if desired – I like broccoli slaw for added crunch!)
Add a sunny side up egg to each pizza.
Garnish with hot sauce!

Notes

[clickToTweet tweet=”Serve these Pork and Egg Breakfast Pizzas next time your team plays a noon game!” quote=”Serve these Pork and Egg Breakfast Pizzas next time your team plays a noon game!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Chicken

October 10, 2016 by Lindsay 9 Comments

This Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Chicken is the perfect easy fall dinner recipe. Throw all the ingredients in the crockpot, let it simmer and serve!

Hi friends!

It’s no secret that I love pumpkin and I have my fair share of sweet pumpkin recipes on the blog. Some of my favorites include these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Yogurt Bars and this Pumpkin Skillet Cake. I don’t, however, feature it in too many savory recipes. We’re changing that today with this recipe for Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Chicken.

I’m working on building my repertoire of easy crockpot recipes for when baby arrives and I don’t have enough brain power to think of anything to make for dinner. Others on my list include these Crockpot Meatballs and I already have a few batches of these Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs in the freezer!

This one definitely fits the bill. The pumpkin adds a nice seasonal twist and an extra dose of veggies. I served it in bowls but it does thicken up as it cools so you could use plates. Serve it alone or with a side like rice or naan. I used russet potatoes but sweet potatoes would be good too!

Here’s how you make it:

Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Chicken

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5 from 1 review

This Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Chicken is the perfect easy fall dinner recipe. Throw all the ingredients in the crockpot, let it simmer and serve!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup diced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 cup diced potatoes (peeled)
1 cup corn (fresh, frozen or canned)
1 cup diced red pepper
1 pound chicken
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 (15 oz) can 100% pumpkin puree
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 cup half and half (or whole milk)
1 cup shredded colby jack cheese

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Instructions

Place onion, garlic, potatoes, corn and peppers in a slow cooker. Top with chicken.
In a small bowl, combine pumpkin, broth and spices. Pour over chicken.
Cook on low 4-6 hours.
Shred chicken and stir in half and half and cheese.
Let cook an additional 10 minutes to heat through and serve.

It’s pretty easy. If you want to make it ahead of time you could put everything but the half and half and cheese in a bag and freeze. Thaw overnight, cook as directed and add the half and half and cheese at the end!

Like I mentioned, I used half and half but whole milk or cream would also work. And feel free to use your favorite kind of cheese. I’m thinking this would be amazing with goat cheese….but you probably wouldn’t need a whole cup 🙂

Let’s chat:

Do you use pumpkin in savory dishes or just sweet? What’s your favorite recipe?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Quick and Easy Seafood Recipes

October 7, 2016 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Looking for some quick easy seafood recipes? Learn about the importance of seafood in a healthy diet, plus quick easy recipes to help you eat more fish!

Thanks to the National Fisheries Institute for sponsoring this post.

Hi Friends!

I’m putting on my dietitian hat today to chat a little bit about seafood. Did you know that the recently released 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines For Americans recommend all Americans eat at least 2-3 servings (8 ounces) of seafood, which includes fish and shellfish, per week? How many of you out there are currently eating the recommended amount? If not, you’re not alone. Average intake is below recommendation for all age-sex groups.

Quick Easy Seafood Recipes

{Pesto Shrimp & Potato Kebabs}

Seafood is often under-consumed, but it’s such a healthy protein option so I’m here to help encourage you to eat more of it. It’s a great source of EPA and DHA, which has been associated with reduced cardiac deaths in individuals without preexisting cardiovascular disease. Plus, DHA is important for infant development so pregnant women are especially encouraged to eat at least 2-3 servings per week.

It’s important to note that some seafood does contain high levels of methyl mercury so the guidelines encourage everyone, especially while pregnant and breastfeeding, to choose seafood options that are higher in EPA and DHA and lower in methyl mercury. Some of these options include salmon, anchovies, sardines and trout. Be sure to check the labels and compare sodium amounts as some canned fish can be high in sodium!

{Salmon Corn Chowder}

In other news, the month of October is now officially underway! Did you know October is National Seafood Month? Seems like a fitting time to introduce you guys to the Dish on Fish blog that was created by the National Fisheries Institute to encourage Americans to eat more seafood! Dish on Fish is a seafood-focused blog that shares delicious recipes, nutrition info and helpful tips for upping your seafood intake to the recommended level of at least 2-3 servings per week. They’re also on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.

I’m a huge seafood lover and have shared several recipes with you guys over the years. It’s a great source of lean protein and contains lots of important vitamins and minerals. Some of my favorite seafood choices are shrimp, salmon, canned tuna, cod and tilapia. I thought I’d round up a few of my favorites for you in case you missed them the first time and encourage you to give them a try!

Happy browsing!

Easy Fish Chowder

Paleo Shrimp Scampi

One-Pot Shrimp and Orzo

Almond-Crusted Salmon Nuggets

Curried Tuna Salad with Apples

Let’s chat:
Are you a seafood lover? What’s your favorite recipe?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of National Fisheries Institute. The opinions and text are my own.

Dinner Made Easy Ebook

October 5, 2016 by Lindsay 8 Comments

The Dinner Made Easy Ebook gives you one month of healthy meals, grocery shopping lists, meal prep tips and more, all in one place to make your life easier!

Hi friends!

I’m so excited to announce the launch of my most recent ebook. As I’ve mentioned a few times over the past couple of weeks, I teamed up with a few of my blogger friends – Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers, Brittany at Eating Bird Food and Gina at The Fitnessista – to create this Dinner Made Easy Ebook for all of you! We’re so excited that it’s finally ready to share!

Here’s a little more info about the ebook:

Not sure where to start?

That’s where we come in! Our goal is to make healthy eating as easy as possible for you, so we created a 4-week meal plan filled with 20 healthy dinner options. The recipes are a mix of favorite blog recipes, old blog recipes that have been revamped and a few new recipes as well!

Plus, we made you a grocery list for each week of meals, and gave you a few bonus food prep tips to help you see what you could do ahead of time to make busy nights even easier!

It’s kind of like hiring the four of us to come prep and plan your food for the week! Whether you’re hitting the drive-thru line a few too many times per week, ordering take-out often or spending too many nights eating cold cereal for dinner, this ebook is for you!

Sound like something you need? Just click the button below to purchase your copy for our introductory price of $9.99.

But don’t delay! This sale price is only good through Sunday, October 9, 2016. After that the price increases to $12.99!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Let 4 healthy living bloggers plan dinner for you. Grab a copy of the Dinner Made Easy ebook!” quote=”Let 4 healthy living bloggers plan dinner for you. Grab a copy of the DInner Made Easy ebook!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Blueberry Avocado Smoothie Bowl

October 3, 2016 by Lindsay 9 Comments

This Blueberry Avocado Smoothie Bowl is packed with nutritious and healthy first foods to give your baby! Plus it’s super thick to help them practice their self-feeding skills.

Thanks to the Hass Avocado Board for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

As you’re probably aware, baby girl’s arrival is getting closer and closer. In preparation, I’ve been going back and reading some of my earlier “Dear Chase” letters and reminding myself just how fast the first few months go. Before I know it, we’ll be getting ready to start giving her solid foods! For those of you who have been reading for a while, you’ll recall we took a modified baby led weaning approach with Squish. Read more about that in my post about How To Modify Baby Led Weaning. I plan to do the same with baby girl and that means one of her first foods will be avocado!

When the Hass Avocado Board reached out to me and asked me to share a little bit about my experience with choosing avocado as one of my baby’s first foods, I jumped at the chance! You guys know how I feel about The importance of Healthy Fats For Kids!

Avocados were recently named as an optimal first food for babies in this paper – “The Role of Avocados in Complementary and Transitional Feeding“. It definitely meets some of the criteria you should consider when you’re choosing first foods for your baby, including:

Nutrient Density – Foods that are low in sugar and packed with multiple nutrients are a great choice! Avocados are a great source of fiber, folate, potassium, Vitamin E and monounsaturated fats (healthy fats that are important for brain development!) Plus they’re low in sugar!
Texture and Consistency – Introducing them to a variety of textures early on can help them develop their chewing and swallowing abilities.

And as an added bonus, avocados are great for mamas as well, especially while pregnant and nursing! They’re a good source of folate which is critical for fetal and infant health and development and the monounsaturated fats are important to breast milk quality. So you can feel good about feeding avocados to your kiddos and enjoying them right along with them!

While I first introduced Squish to avocado simply by giving him slices, I soon started looking for other ways to add it to his diet as well. Tip- if your kiddos are having a hard time grasping the slippery avocados, try rolling them in crushed Cheerios to make them easier to grip!

This Blueberry Avocado Smoothie Bowl is packed with nutrient dense foods that are all great options for first foods for babies. Plus, there’s nothing that says you can’t enjoy one as an older kid or adult as well! I made it extra thick, which makes it a great option for letting them work on the self-feeding skills. Just prepare yourself for the mess and let it happen!

Here’s how you make it:

Blueberry Avocado Smoothie Bowl

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This Blueberry Avocado Smoothie Bowl is packed with nutritious and healthy first foods to give your baby! Plus it’s super thick to help them practice their self-feeding skills.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup cooked & mashed sweet potato
1/3 cup mashed avocado
3/4 cup frozen blueberries (I use wild blueberries)
1/2 cup full fat vanilla yogurt (or plain)
Cheerios for topping, optional

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Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a high powered blender and blend until smooth.
Spoon into a bowl and top with Cheerios if desired.

Note, I didn’t add any liquid to this because I wanted it to be extra thick. You could add 1-2 Tbsp water if you need a little bit to get your blender going.
This makes two small servings or one adult serving.

Also, this smoothie isn’t overly sweet. If you’re serving it to older kids or adults, you may want to use vanilla yogurt or add a splash of maple syrup for sweetness. You could also add some orange juice or milk to thin it out and drink it or add some baby food prunes to the smoothie if your kiddo needs help pooping like mine!

Let’s chat:
Mamas – what was your baby’s first food?

For more delicious avocado recipes, be sure to follow the Hass Avocado Board on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars

September 28, 2016 by Lindsay 95 Comments

These Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars are easy, kid-friendly and full of protein and fiber. They make a healthy breakfast or snack and can be eaten on-the-go!

Thanks to ADA Mideast for sponsoring this post

*Note, this post was originally published in September 2013. The recipe and photos were updated in September 2016*

Hi Friends!

I’ve got a delicious recipe to share with you guys today. As school starts up again, I’m teaming up with the American Dairy Association Mideast to share a healthy breakfast recipe.

I wanted to create something that was grab-and-go. As a kid, I never had trouble getting up to eat breakfast, but my sister was constantly oversleeping/running late/skipping breakfast on her way to school. This is a great option that can be made ahead of time and eaten on the run.

These bars are full of flavor and super moist! It’s almost like eating cake for breakfast 🙂 Plus, it’s a great way to use up some of those apples you picked at the orchard.

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars

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4 from 7 reviews

These Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars are easy, kid-friendly and full of protein and fiber. They make a healthy breakfast or snack and can be eaten on-the-go!

Author: Lindsay
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 22 min
Total Time: 32 minutes
Yield: makes 8-12 squares 1x

Ingredients

Scale

4 T butter, melted
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp cinnamon
1.5 cups oats
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 cup chopped apples

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Instructions

In a bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients and mix well.
Add remaining ingredients and stir until just combined.
Spoon into a greased 9×9 pan and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Notes

Be sure to chop your apples small.
If you’re worried your bars will be too crumbly, you can reduce the apples to 1 cup and add an extra egg.

Note – A couple people have said that this bar is too crumbly for them. Be sure to cut your apple chunks small and let cool completely before cutting.

I did retest the recipe after their comments and found that decreasing the apples to 1 cup instead of 1.5 cups and adding an extra egg makes them a bit less crumbly.

If you’re making these to eat on the run, let them cool completely, cut into bars, and place in individual ziploc bags. Store them in the fridge and you can grab one on their way out the door. If you have a little more time in the morning, stick one on a plate, microwave to warm it up, and top with a little peanut butter. Or try crumbling one into a bowl of yogurt!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Try these Easy Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars on a busy weekday morning!” quote=”Try these Easy Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars on a busy weekday morning!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Maple Cinnamon Latte

September 26, 2016 by Lindsay 10 Comments

Change up your coffee routine with this Maple Cinnamon Latte. It’s easy to make at home and the perfect drink to pair with breakfast on a cool morning.

Thanks to LACTAID® for sponsoring this post!

Hi Friends!

Today I have a fun little drink recipe to share with you guys. I know those are kinda few and far between here on the bean and that’s because honestly, I mostly drink water and that’s it. But I do, with the exception of the first several weeks of this pregnancy, enjoy my morning coffee. Although I usually drink it black with just a splash of milk, sometimes it’s fun to change things up.

You may not know it, but Thursday is actually National Coffee Day. To celebrate, I’m teaming up with my friends at LACTAID® to share this Maple Cinnamon Latte with you guys. It combines two of the ways I change up my coffee routine when I’m in the mood – lattes and a sprinkle of cinnamon…but also adds a fall twist thanks to the maple syrup!

As you guys might recall, I’ve been working with LACTAID® this year on their No More #DairyEnvy Campaign. It’s near and dear to my heart since I struggled with lactose intolerance in high school and college. Their milk is real dairy, just without the lactose so people with dairy sensitivities can enjoy them too!

When they asked me to create a drink to celebrate National Coffee Day at home, a latte immediately came to mind. I used LACTAID® milk instead of regular milk so that my dairy-sensitive friends could enjoy one right along with me and I’d encourage you to do the same!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Start your morning with this Maple Cinnamon Latte made w/ @lactaid milk for no more #dairyenvy!” quote=”Start your morning off right with this Maple Cinnamon Latte.”]

Here’s how you make it:

Maple Cinnamon Latte

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Change up your coffee routine with this Maple Cinnamon Latte. It’s easy to make at home and the perfect drink to pair with breakfast on a cool morning.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: Serves 1

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup strongly brewed coffee (sub espresso if desired)
1/2 cup LACTAID® Milk (Whole, Reduced Fat or Fat-Free)
1 tsp maple syrup (add additional tsp for extra sweetness)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

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Instructions

In a large glass, warm LACTAID® milk in microwave 15-20 seconds.
Add maple syrup and cinnamon and stir well to combine.
Pour strongly brewed coffee into mug and add half of milk mixture.
Use a hand-held milk frother to froth remaining milk into foam.
Add to top of coffee mixture, sprinkle with additional cinnamon and serve!

Note- you do need a milk frother to make this…but they’re fairly inexpensive. I like this one (affiliate link) but there are some even cheaper! Buy one and keep it with your coffee supplies for when you feel like getting a little fancy!

Hope you guys enjoy this tasty fall treat as much as I did!

For more great recipes using LACTAID^®, follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Pasta

September 19, 2016 by Lindsay 9 Comments

Only one pot required for this Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Pasta! This easy, healthy dinner recipe is the perfect one-pan meal for busy weeknights.

Hi Friends!

Let’s kick this week off with an easy recipe, shall we? I made this Skillet Mediterranean Chicken last week and it was a big hit! The idea stemmed from a big tub of fresh spinach to use up, as well as a package of chicken. I paired it with a few other staples I always seem to have on hand, like red peppers, pasta and feta and the result was an easy dinner that cooks right in the skillet, making cleanup a breeze.

I actually broke my own rule and tried to photograph this one while Squish was awake, since he was protesting his nap. He helped himself to about half the dish while I spent equal amounts of time trying to get everything set up to photograph and keep him from burning his hand on the skillet.

Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Pasta

In the end, I snapped a few photos as quickly as I could…and then we ate this for lunch immediately and dinner later that night. I guess you could say we like it! If you don’t have a skillet, you could make this in a large pot or dutch oven as well. Feel free to use your favorite kind of pasta!

Here’s how you make it:

Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Pasta

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Only one pot required for this Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Pasta! This easy, healthy dinner recipe is the perfect one-pan meal for busy weeknights.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

1 Tbsp oil
1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red pepper, diced
1/2 cup diced onion
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup dry pasta
2 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup crumbled feta cheese

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Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add chicken, garlic, peppers, onion and spices and saute for 10 minutes.
Add dry pasta and broth and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium and cook for 8-10 minutes or until pasta reaches desired tenderness and chicken is cooked through.
Add spinach, tomatoes and feta and heat through.
Serve warm.

This would also be great with fresh tomatoes if you have them….and you could sub goat cheese for feta if you prefer it!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Add this Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Pasta to your dinner menu this week!” quote=”Add this Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Pasta to your dinner menu this week!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Apples

September 14, 2016 by Lindsay 8 Comments

These easy Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Apples take just five minutes to prep and are perfect for a healthy fall dinner.

Hi friends!

Just popping in to share these sheet pan pork chops and sweet potatoes. Lately, I’ve been all about finding quick, easy dinners that take minimal time to prep. Even though I do food prep, there are still some nights when I make dinner after we get home from the gym and on those nights I’m usually dealing with raging post-workout hunger, a cranky toddler etc. So I need things I can throw together quickly so I can then spend my energy elsewhere while it cooks.

This sheet pan dinner definitely fits the bill. You just plop some pork chops on a pan, mix together a few spices, toss the veggies, add them to the pan and boom- you’ve got pork chops and sweet potatoes in oven.

Pork Chops and Sweet Potatoes

I love pork and apples together so I knew I wanted to use apples in this dish and then I threw in some sweet potatoes and red peppers because those are always plentiful in the fall. A delicious mixture of ginger and cinnamon adds some flavor, making this a super tasty meal.

So here’s how you make it:

Pork Chop Sweet Potato Recipe

Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Apples

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These easy Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Apples take just five minutes to prep and are perfect for a healthy fall dinner.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups chopped sweet potatoes
2 cups chopped apples
1 red pepper, chopped
1.5 pounds porkchops (I used thick cut boneless)
Salt and pepper
1 Tbsp fresh ginger (I use ginger paste)
1 Tbsp oil
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp brown sugar

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Instructions

Place porkchops on a large, foil-lined baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.
Place chopped vegetables and apples in a large bowl.
In a small dish, combine ginger, oil, paprika, cinnamon, garlic and brown sugar and mix well.
Spoon mixture over sweet potato mixture and stir to coat.
Arrange mixture on baking sheet around the pork chops.
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until pork chops reach desired temperature.

Some notes:

I used boneless pork chops but you could easily use bone-in.
Your cooking time will vary a bit depending on the thickness of your pork chops.
Chop your sweet potatoes fairly small so they cook all the way through.
Also, I chose to just go with a little salt and pepper on the pork chops themselves but you could easily make some extra of the spice mixture and spread some on the chops as well!
If you’re not using ginger paste (this is my favorite) you may want to add a little extra oil to help a paste form before adding the mixture to the veggies and apples.

This pork chop sweet potato sheet pan dinner is sure to please!

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite sheet pan dinner?! Leave me a link!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Barely Banana Protein Pancakes

September 12, 2016 by Lindsay 85 Comments

These Barely Banana Protein Pancakes are made with just 4 simple ingredients. They’re a kid-friendly breakfast or snack recipe that can be made quickly in the blender!

Note- I was provided a free copy of this cookbook. All opinions are my own.

Hi Friends!

I have a special treat for you guys today (Be sure to read the whole post!) If you’ve been paying attention in my toddler meals posts, you probably know that we’re breakfast creatures of habit around here. Now, I’m totally fine with that, but it is fun to change things up every once and a while. So when my friend and fellow RD Katie from Mom’s Kitchen Handbook reached out to me to check out her new cookbook, I jumped at the chance when I realized it was ALL ABOUT BREAKFAST!

Rise And Shine: Better Breakfasts for Busy Moms (affiliate link) is packed with 75 super easy breakfast recipes that all sound phenomenal. In this digital world, it’s been a while since I looked through a physical cookbook but I definitely spent some time tagging some recipes to try in this one.

A few that immediately caught my eye were:

Photo Credit: Erin Scott

PB Waffle Iron Sandwich
Milk & Cereal Bars
A Green Smoothie (even the kids will love)

Actually I pretty much wanted to try all of them, so huge congrats to Katie for writing such a phenomenal cookbook….but these Barely Banana Protein Pancakes were the first recipe I tried. And they were a huge hit! They’re similar to my Sweet Potato Protein Pancakes but with a little bit different twist.

Squish and I both loved them and Katie’s been kind enough to let me share the recipe with you guys!

Here’s how you make them:

Barely Banana Protein Pancakes

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Ingredients

Scale

3 eggs
1 cup oats
1 1/3 cup cottage cheese
1 small ripe banana
oil or butter for greasing skillet
blueberries for topping, optional

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Instructions

Combine eggs, oats, cottage and banana in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a greased skillet and cook like regular pancakes.
(I made about 18 silver dollar sized pancakes)

I added some cinnamon to mine…and instead of syrup, I just defrosted some frozen blueberries and smashed them up to make a sauce!

Now, did you note that these pancakes require a blender? Well here’s the good news. We have a blender to give away to one of you! And not just any blender….A Nutri Ninja!

A little more about the blender:
Ninja^® Blender System with Auto-iQ™ Technology has pre-programmed settings with unique blending patterns that deliver smooth consistent results, with no guesswork required. These programs combine unique, timed pulsing, blending and pausing patterns that do the work for you. The digital countdown timer shows blending time remaining, allowing you to multitask. Available at all major retailers nationwide, starting at $249.99.

Feeling lucky? Enter below! One lucky winner will win a copy of the Rise & Shine Breakfast Cookbook and a Ninja Blender System!

TO ENTER:
Just leave a comment below and tell us your ultimate go-to breakfast for busy mornings!

Giveaway is open to continental US Residents only. Giveaway ends Wednesday September 14, 2016 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be picked using random.org.

To grab your copy of Rise and Shine OR Katie’s other fabulous cookbook Best Lunch Box Ever, check out her site for details.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Try these Barely Banana Protein Pancakes for a healthy breakfast from @leangrnbeanblog!” quote=”Try these Barely Banana Protein Pancakes for a healthy breakfast option!”]

Enjoy!

–Lindsay–

Cajun Meatloaf

September 10, 2016 by Lindsay 6 Comments

This Cajun Meatloaf recipe is perfect for dinner. It’s healthy, full of flavor and easy to make. Plus it freezes well so feel free to double the recipe!

Hi friends-

Allow me to introduce you to meatloaf- also known as world’s ugliest food. But I promise if you can look past its unfortunate appearance, it really is quite tasty. Since I recently celebrated 6 years of blogging, I decided it was time to really buckle down and start working my way through some of those early year 1 posts and giving them a little update.

This Cajun Meatloaf has been on my list forever. I actually make it quite frequently myself and whenever my mom comes in town I ask her to make one to throw in the freezer…but I just couldn’t get excited about photographing meatloaf so I’ve been putting it off.

Well, I finally got my act together…and since we eat this fairly often, I thought I should publish this as a whole new post since I’d bet hardly any of you saw this the first time around 🙂 This is actually my Aunt Meg’s recipe. It’s one that I remember my mom making all the time while I was growing up because everyone seemed to love it…except me.

That’s right….as you know I was world’s pickiest eater growing up and meatloaf was definitely not on my list of approved foods for about my first 25 years of life. I’m glad to say I’ve turned the corner, however, and now I can happily eat it along with hubby and Squish.

So here’s the recipe.

Cajun Meatloaf

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This Cajun Meatloaf recipe is perfect for dinner. It’s healthy, full of flavor and easy to make. Plus it freezes well so feel free to double the recipe!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: serves 6

Ingredients

Scale

2 bay leaves (optional)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
2 Tbsp butter
3/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup green or red pepper, chopped
1/4 c green onion
2 Tbsp Tabasco
1 Tbsp Worcestershire
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tsp garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
1 lb ground pork
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onions, peppers, green onion, garlic, Tabasco, Worcestershire, and seasonings.
Saute until soft, then stir in milk and ketchup. Cook 2 min more.
Remove from heat and cool to room temp.
Put meat in a large bowl. Add eggs, breadcrumbs and vegetables (take out bay leaves if using).
Shape into one large loaf or two smaller loaves.
Bake 30-40 minutes or until meat is cooked through.
Let rest 10-15 minutes, slice and serve!

Note that I think this meatloaf is actually best when reheated…so I love making it for food prep and eating it throughout the week. It definitely gets firmer and easier to slice as it sits.

If you’re going to freeze it, cook as directed, let it cool, slice it and then wrap in foil and place in a ziploc bag! That way you can take out just a few slices at a time, or the whole loaf!

[clickToTweet tweet=”This Cajun Meatloaf from @leangrnbeanblog is easy to prep ahead of time and freezes well!” quote=”This Cajun Meatloaf is easy to prep ahead of time and freezes well for busy nights.”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Turmeric Yogurt Chicken

September 7, 2016 by Lindsay 13 Comments

This Turmeric Yogurt Chicken is the perfect food prep recipe. Put the chicken in the marinade ahead of time, then simple coat with breadcrumbs and bake for a quick, healthy dinner!

Hi Friends!

I made this Turmeric Yogurt Chicken a while ago but am just now getting around to sharing it with you. I knew it was a hit when both the toddler and the husband gobbled it up. The marinade is super easy to make and keeps the chicken nice and juicy. Just prep it ahead of time and when dinner time rolls around, simply coat the chicken in breadcrumbs and pop it in the oven. Voila! Dinner in a jiffy.

Turmeric has become quite popular lately. It’s a great spice known for its anti-inflammatory properties and a couple months ago we bought a huge jar of it at Costco. I’ve been loving it with chicken but you could also use it to make things like golden milk!

When I bake breaded chicken like this, I like to put a cookie cooling rack across my baking sheet and put the chicken on that so the bottom doesn’t get as soggy…but if you don’t have one, you could bake directly on a foil-lined sheet.

Here’s the recipe:

Turmeric Yogurt Chicken

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This Turmeric Yogurt Chicken is the perfect food prep recipe. Put the chicken in the marinade ahead of time, then simple coat with breadcrumbs and bake for a quick, healthy dinner!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2/3 cup plain yogurt (regular or Greek- I use full-fat)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon paprika
1 cup panko breadcrumbs (i use whole wheat)

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Instructions

In a small bowl, combine yogurt, garlic and spices and stir to combine.
Place chicken in a large ziploc bag.
Pour yogurt mixture over chicken and toss until well coated.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Place breadcrumbs on a plate, remove chicken one piece at a time and dredge in breadcrumbs.
Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet and lay chicken on rack.
Bake at 400 for 25 minute or until chicken is cooked through.

Pretty easy, right? Serve with some steamed veggies and rice for an easy dinner!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Try this Turmeric Yogurt Chicken from @leangrnbeanblog for an easy weeknight dinner!” quote=”Try this Turmeric Yogurt Chicken for an easy weeknight dinner.”]

I also just wanted to take a second to introduce you guys to a fun little project I’ve been working on. I teamed up with Julie from PB Fingers, Gina from Fitnessista and Brittany from Eating Bird Food to put together a meal planning ebook for you! It’s basically a one month Dinner Made Easy guide! In the ebook, each of us share a week of healthy recipes, plus a printable grocery list and tips for prepping the meals ahead of time! We’re getting set to release it in a few weeks (including some special bonuses for those who buy it!), so be sure to sign up below if you’re interested in being among the first to know more details on the release and to receive a coupon code!

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite way to use turmeric? Leave me a recipe link!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Easy Toddler Meal Ideas – August

September 2, 2016 by Lindsay 23 Comments

Here are 28 Easy Toddler Meal Ideas from a Registered Dietitian mom. They’re quick, healthy and great for lunch or dinner.

Hi Friends!

Judging by how many of you downloaded the 50+ Toddler Meal Ideas PDF, I think it’s safe to say there are a lot of parents out there looking for quick, healthy meal ideas for their kids. So, I’ve decided to start a monthly series where I share some of the meals I’ve been feeding Squish.

A few things to keep in mind:

First of all, the plates are from Re-Play Recycled. (affiliate link). They’re my favorite and everyone always asks about them!
These are mostly lunch and dinner. We’re kinda creatures of habit when it comes to breakfast and he eats yogurt, fruit and either oatmeal or toast with peanut butter pretty much every day.
Squish is currently 22 months old and BIG for his age. He eats A LOT so if this looks like a lot of food to you, keep in mind it may be more than your child is eating and that’s ok.
I mentioned in this post about Healthy Fats For Kids that I do my best to include a healthy fat source at most meals…but sometimes I don’t, and that’s ok. I also sometimes forget to include a vegetable. We’re working on it!
Like most people, we have our favorite brands. I’ll try to mention some of them in the first picture they show up in. Similarly, if the recipes are on my blog, I’ll link to them!
If you’re intersted in my feeding philosophy, you can read about Why My Toddler Doesn’t Always Eat What I Eat.

Blueberries + Maple Hill Full Fat Plain Yogurt + Oatmeal w/ apples, pb & pumpkin seeds
Kiwi + Sweet potato with Annie’s Organic ketchup + pulled pork
Nectarine + Sweet Potato+ Avocado Chicken Burger with Sabra Original hummus
Blueberries + Maple Hill Full Fat Plain Yogurt + Dave’s Killer Bread (21 Grain) + Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter

Strawberries + Cucumber with hummus + Chicken & Black Bean Quesadilla
Strawberries + Peanut Butter Toast + Meijer brand Spinach & Mozzarella Chicken Sausage
Watermelon + Roasted Potatoes with ketchup + Avocado Chicken Burger
Avocado + Hard Boiled Egg + Strawberries + Turkey

Frozen Peas + Nectarine + Turmeric Yogurt Chicken with ketchup
Grandma’s mac and cheese + Blueberries + Cabbage Roll
Hard Boiled Egg + PB Banana Chia Pudding + Avocado Toast
Avocado + Cheese + Simple Mills Crackers + Turkey + Hummus

Avocado + Blueberries + Costco Cheese Tortellini + Pesto
Plum + Chicken Parmesan with zoodles
Raspberries + Daisy Cottage Cheese + Balsamic Chicken Caprese Pasta with marinara
Watermelon + Pesto Tortellini + Turmeric Chicken + Hummus and crackers

Hard boiled egg + Blueberries + Sweet Potato Bite + PB Banana Chia Pudding
Sweet Potato + Raspberries + Roasted Chicken + Holy Guacamole Guac + Garden of Eatin’ Chips
Grapes + Frozen Peas + BBQ Ribs
Watermelon + Corn + King Crab + Steak

Watermelon + pasta + cheese + ketchup + chicken
Raspberries + Simple Mills Cheddar crackers with hummus + steak with ketchup + string cheese
Green Beans with hummus and Italian dressing + peaches + turkey + guac & chips
Sweet Potato + blueberries + chicken sausage + baked beans

Blueberries + frozen peas + grilled chicken with ketchup + crackers
Watermelon + Squash yogurt dip + meatloaf
Butternut squash + grapes +avocado toast + turkey
Pumpkin Yogurt Bar + cottage cheese + avocado + cheeseburger

Reminder: the plates are from Re-Play Recycled. (affiliate link) and we love them!

Be sure to pin this post for later when you need some easy toddler meal ideas!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Need inspiration? Here’s a month of easy, healthy toddler meal ideas from @leangrnbeanblog!” quote=”Need inspiration? Here’s a month of easy, healthy toddler meal ideas!”]

Looking for healthy toddler meals to feed your kid? Here are 40 ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner to help inspire you if you're stuck in a rut!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out the follow-up post: 40 Toddler Meal Ideas.

Want even more ideas? Signup to download this free 50+ Toddler Meals PDF:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

PS…the reason a lot of these meals are so easy are because of the food prep I do. Be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide To Food Prep Ebook if you haven’t already for more tips and tricks!

A Day In The Life – 21 Months

August 27, 2016 by Lindsay 3 Comments

Hi Friends!

I can hardly believe it but I realized that Squish will be 22 months next week, which meant I was rapidly running out of time to do my quarterly Day In The Life post! But have no fear….I got it done.

A Day In The Life of a Work-From-Home Mom with a 21-Month Old

In case missed any of my previous posts, I’ve been writing one every 3 months since he was born. You can find the links below:

Day in the Life – 18 Months
Day in the Life – 15 Months
Day in the Life – 12 Months
Day in the Life – 9 Months
Day in the Life – 6 Months
Day in the Life – 3 Months

Here’s a look at what our days have looked like recently. As usual, all days are different but this should give you a fairly good idea of what life is currently like with a 21 month old, while 28 weeks pregnant.

6AM – Up and at ’em. After a nearly 6 week stretch of Squish deciding 5am was a good time to wake up, he’s now back to typically waking up somewhere between 5:45 and 6:30. I hear his little voice saying “Mama?” over and over on the monitor so I get up, change his diaper and we head downstairs to eat breakfast.

6:15 – 8:15AM – Breakfast, then PBS Kids and playtime while I try to get some work done. Try being the operative work. Some days I can get in a solid hour or so of work…other days we’re out running up and down the driveway at 6:45AM.

8:30 – 11:00AM – We spend a little time with daddy before he heads to work and then we’re on our own. I put the computer away and we play. This summer that’s meant lots of outdoor time as well as a recent obsession with trains. On this particular day it was finally a little bit cooler than it had been so I took him to the park.

We actually went back to the park we used to go to all the time at our old house and it was crazy to see how much better he was at climbing things he used to struggle with. After about an hour at the park, we tried to go to the library but there were no parking spots!

We stopped at Great Harvest for a sample and a loaf of bread and then came home, had a snack and played with trains.

11:00AM – 1:00PM – Most days we eat lunch between 11 and 12. Some days we wait for daddy to come home, other days we eat before he gets home. On this day we ate closer to 11 because I’d just come across a local gymnastics place that has open gym from 12-1:30 a couple days a week and we had plans to go check it out.

Snapseed

Most days we leave the house at least some point during the morning either to go to the park, play group, swimming lessons, etc. Leaving around lunchtime is more unusual. But we ate lunch and headed over to check it out for about 45 minutes and got home around 1pm.

1:00PM – Naptime. After months of trying to transition his one nap per day to the afternoon, we’re finally getting there. While he was getting up at 5am, he was ready for a nap by 9:30, up by 10:30 or 11 and up the rest of the day which made for some long afternoons. Now, most days he’ll go down for a nap around 1 and sleep for an hour and a half, sometimes 2 hours. Except when he doesn’t. Like this day. On this day he rolled around in his crib for about 30 minutes while I tried to cram in some more work and then he was up screaming.

1:30-4:00PM – So, we made the best of a no-nap day and played some more. Of course on this day I had a conference call scheduled at 2:30 so I did my best to listen in and participate while watching to make sure Squish and his baby weren’t tumbling head first off rocks into the neighbor’s bushes.

4:00- 6:00PM – Gym time. We typically head over to the gym around 4. Some days I workout with the 4:30 class while Squish sits in his play yard, some days we just hang out and watch together. We usually hang around until our 5:45 class starts and then head home around 6. Some days we stay later than that.

6:30 – 8:00PM – Dinner. I try to eat dinner with Squish most nights. Sometimes I just feed him and wait to eat until hubby gets home, but I like him to see me eating, etc so usually we eat dinner together at the counter. After dinner is bath time. Gone are the days of winter when I could only bathe him 1-2x per week. He is a little sweatball and rarely a day goes by that he doesn’t require a bath.

After his bath, we read books. Most nights, daddy comes home around 7:30 or 8, so we try to stay awake and read until then. Then we say night night and Squish goes to bed.

8:00 – 11:00PM – Shower and work. Here’s where I try to cram in all the work I wasn’t able to fit in during the day. Some days I’m able to get a fair amount done in the morning, at lunch and during nap time so there’s less to do at night….but I try to stay on top and ahead of things because you never know when you’ll have a day like this day where you get pretty much nothing done all day long!

Work includes blog stuff, sponsored posts, social media, answering emails, various projects, working on stuff for Regan, etc. I typically take my recipe photos during naptime. My parents also come into town every 4-6 weeks and I try to take at least one day while they’re here to cram in photos of 4-6 recipes so I can get a little bit ahead.

11:00PM – Bed.

So there you have it! We’re less than 3 months away from having another baby in the picture so the next update should give you a glimpse into life with a toddler and newborn. Eeek!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Best of the Bean – Year 6

August 26, 2016 by Lindsay 4 Comments

Hi Friends!

Well, I can hardly believe it, but 6 years ago today I started this little blog! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that it would last this long or grow and evolve into what it is today:

It’s allowed me to connect with so many people, some of whom are now my closest friends, employers and fellow RDs.
It’s given me the freedom to work from home and raise my son while still earning an income.
It’s challenged me to improve my writing, photography and social media skills.
It’s connected me with wonderful companies, inspired me to create delicious recipes and given me a platform to share things I’ve created.

And so much more. This blog has changed a lot since its early days. It started on a whim, where I just posted about whatever I wanted to, complete with terrible photos. Then there were a few years where I went on my journey to become a Registered Dietitian and started sharing more nutrition-related content. Next, I enjoyed my first couple of years as an RD, worked in nutrition communications and started to focus more on making blogging part of my career. And then, over the past two years, I’ve become a full-time work-from-home & stay-at-home mama, continued to improve my photography, started to really focus on quality over quantity and learned to give myself some grace when things don’t get done as planned.

So from the bottom of my heart: thank you! I’m so grateful to each and every one of you who has read my posts, shared my content and supported me on this journey! I quite literally couldn’t do it without you.

Let’s take a quick look back at year 6 of my blogging adventures in case you missed anything!

A year of healthy recipes from a Registered Dietitian.

Here are the recipes I created this year:

Easy, healthy breakfast recipes from a Registered Dietitian

Breakfast
Pumpkin Apple Baked Mini Pancakes
Avocado Bacon Hash with Eggs
Breakfast Pasta Bake
Dinner Roll French Toast Bake
Microwave Egg Oatmeal
Gingerbread Granola
Paleo Breakfast Casserole with Chicken
Savory Vegetable Pancakes
Baked Scotch Eggs
Green Smoothie Pancakes
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
Sweet Potato Protein Cookies
Maple Apple Breakfast Sausage
Spring Vegetable Frittata
Spring Breakfast Salad
Easy Egg Wraps
Whole Wheat Yogurt Waffles
Egg-In-A-Hole Breakfast Sandwich
Cherry Almond Smoothie Bowl

Easy, healthy dinner recipes from a Registered Dietitian.

Main Dishes
Slow Cooker Asian Pulled Pork
Thai Chicken Meatballs
Almond Crusted Salmon Nuggets
Steak Cobb Salad
Avocado Chicken Burgers
Baked Chicken Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce
Warm Spinach Bacon Salad with Chicken
Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese with Sausage and Peas
Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Chicken
White Chicken Chili
One Pot Shrimp and Orzo
Apple Pecan Chicken
One Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
Cranberry Meatballs
Maple Mustard Chicken Skillet
Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes
Ranch Chicken Tenders
Gluten-Free Chicken Marsala
Braciole
Salsa Verde Pork Enchilada Casserole
Skillet Chicken and Dumplings
Easy Chicken Pad Thai
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet
Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Pesto Shrimp and Potato Kebabs
Bourbon Chicken Marinade and Glaze
Chicken Sausage Skillet With Zoodles

Easy, healthy appetizers and side dishes from a Registered Dietitian.

Appetizers & Sides
Grilled Zucchini Roll Ups
Cranberry Clementine Salsa
Easy Spinach Balls
Pesto Chicken Pizza Rolls
Guacamole Waffle Bites
Ginger Garlic Roasted Green Beans with Cranberries
Maple Bacon Roasted Carrots
Green Bean Fries
Pea Salad with Sweet Potatoes

Easy, healthy snack recipes from a Registered Dietitian

Snacks
Sweet Potato Protein Bars
Pumpkin Yogurt Dip
Lemon Energy Balls
Sweet and Spicy Popcorn Snack Mix
Peanut Butter and Chia Jam Oat Bites
Wild Blueberry Kefir Smoothie
Healthy Brownie Bites
No-Bake Cereal Bites
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Yogurt Bars
4 Kid-Friendly Dips

Easy, healthy dessert recipes from a Registered Dietitian.

Dessert
Microwave Sweet Potato Mug Cake
No-Bake Peppermint Chocolate Bites
Pumpkin Skillet Cake
Pear Gingerbread
5 Ingredient Frozen Turtle Bars
Small Batch Raspberry Lemon Bars
Peanut Butter Bread Pudding with Smashed Raspberries
Strawberry Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Lemon Berry Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ginger Peach Oat Bars

18 months

You can find all my baby-related posts from the past year here, including:

Dear Chase letters for months 10-21
A Day In The Life at 12, 15 & 18 months
My second pregnancy announcement
Baby’s first year gift guide
5 Articles That Made Me A Better Mom

I also wrote about blogging:
When Blogging Gets Hard

Looking for a quick, healthy snack made with real food ingredients? Here are 12 kid-friendly energy ball recipes made without protein powder.

If you like round-up posts, be sure to check out the ones I put together this year:
30 Go-To Easy Dinner Recipes
10 Healthy Ways to Eat Apples For Breakfasts
10 Healthy After School Snacks For Kids
20 Most Popular Blogger Dessert Recipes
10 Healthy Cauliflower Recipes
Easy Slow Cooker Recipes For the Single Guy
12 Kid-Friendly Energy Ball Recipes
10 Ways To Eat More Beans
Healthy Five Minute Breakfasts
Healthy Five Ingredient Snacks
Healthy Packable Lunches For Kids
20 Nut-Free Snacks For Kids
Healthy Fats For Kids

Quick, healthy recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert!

And I had some stellar guest posters help me out while I was sick, pregnant and moving all at once:
7 Tips For a Healthy Relationship with Food
Gluten-Free Paleo Meatloaf
Chocolate Almond Butter Popcorn
Cookie Dough Stuffed Chocolate Cupcake
Broccoli Pesto Pasta Salad
Mushroom Quinoa Meatball Sandwich
Carmelized Peach Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

The Ultimate Guide To Food Prep Ebook

Finally, I published an ebook! Be sure to check it out here if you haven’t already gotten your copy!

50+ Toddler Meal Ideas

And also grab your FREE 50+ Toddler Meal Ideas PDF and stay tuned for our Table Talk: Tips & Tricks For Feeding Young Kids Ebook coming next week!

Thanks so much for reading!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy Snacks For Busy Moms

August 24, 2016 by Lindsay 7 Comments

These Healthy Snacks For Busy Moms can be eaten at home or on the go! Packed with protein and healthy fats, these easy pairings will help keep you full until dinner.

Thanks to Simple Mills for sponsoring this post.

Hi Friends!

It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited to introduce you to a new product! A few weeks ago, my friends at Simple Mills reached out to me about trying some of their crackers. I took a look at the website and was immediately intrigued. I loved the short, SIMPLE ingredient list since that can be hard to find in packaged products.

These crackers are gluten-free and made with a blend of almond flour, sunflower seeds and flax seeds. They have 3g of protein per serving, which I love, and they’re also soy & dairy-free (and several varieties are paleo-friendly). Since they’re full of healthy fats and protein, they’re perfect for helping you stay energized during those busy hours between lunch and dinner! No quick energy bursts and crashes like you’d get by grabbing a sugary snack. I was sent all four flavors to try and was seriously impressed! They’re so flavorful and delicious! Squish and I especially enjoyed the Sea Salt and Farmhouse Cheddar varieties. (PS – If the store locator tells you they’re not available in a store near you, have no fear! You can buy them on Amazon!

As you guys know, we’re smack dab in the middle of back to school season. A lot of the focus right now is on tips for kids – healthy packable lunches, healthy after-school snacks, etc. Today, I wanted to do something a little bit different and focus on all the busy mamas out there! Back to school season can be especially crazy for moms. For many, it involves getting kids up, dressed and fed, packing lunches, dropping them off to school, going to work themselves, picking kids up after school, shuttling them to various extra-curricular activities and getting everyone home for dinner and homework.

The days are long and while it’s important to have healthy snacks on hand for the kids, it’s equally important that moms take care of themselves with nourishing snacks to tide them over during the afternoon rush.

So here are 4 delicious snack pairings that can be eaten quickly and taste great. Enjoy them at work or home, or even in the car or on the bleachers while watching a game or practice.

Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomato & Basil Almond Flour Crackers

Mix 1 can of tuna with 3 Tbsp plain yogurt (or hummus), 2 Tbsp salsa and some green onions.
Optional – add some paprika, cayenne pepper or curry powder.

Guacamole Egg Salad with Farmhouse Cheddar Almond Flour Crackers

Combine 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs with 1/2 cup mashed avocado, diced cherry tomatoes, salt & pepper.

Homemade Lunchables with Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers

Cut deli turkey and your favorite cheese into squares and stack to make mini sandwiches.
Optional- add a smear of guacamole or hummus to each one.

Greek Hummus with Rosemary & Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers

Top your favorite flavor of hummus with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions and feta.

So there you go! 4 simple snack ideas to power busy mamas through their busy days!

[Tweet “Busy mama? You need to try these healthy snack combos from @leangrnbeanblog!”]

If you’re as excited about these crackers as I am, be sure to also check out their baking mixes. They have muffin, cookie, cake and bread mixes, along with mixes for pizza crust, pancakes and waffles. We’ve tried the banana muffins and the pancake mix and both are delicious!

PLUS, Simple Mills is inviting their online community to share their own healthy snacking tips and recipes on social media using the hashtags #BackToSimple and #HealthySnacking. They’re hosting a big, delicious snack giveaway at the end of the month so start using those hashtags now to gain some early entries!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Building A Healthy Lunchbox

August 21, 2016 by Lindsay 7 Comments

Three tips for assembling Healthy Packable Lunches For Kids that are quick and satisfying to help fuel kids through their busy afternoons!

Thanks to Igloo for sponsoring this post.

Hi Friends!

Let’s talk about lunch. Although I’m lucky enough to work from home so I don’t yet need to worry about packing Squish’s lunch, I know a lot of you out there have to frequently pack lunch for your kiddos. Today I teamed up with Igloo to share a few tips about building a healthy lunchbox and doing it in style!

I remember taking a huge amount of pride in my lunchbox as a kid. Picking out a new one was always a very serious occasion because I wanted to find the perfect one to show off to all my friends. In fact, several of my childhood lunchboxes were Igloo brand! No surprise since they’ve been around for 69 years and are still the number one cooler brand and are known for their high quality, durable lunchboxes!

This year, as an adult (but still a kid at heart), I was excited to browse all their options. They have so many bright colors, patterns, and shapes that are fun and stylish! Plus I was excited to learn that all of their lunch boxes are PVC & BPA free, water resistant and contain a thick antimicrobial, puncture-resistant liner that’s easy to wipe clean!

Igloo Coolers

After a bit of browsing, I selected a few to try out! I chose the:

Boys PM Lunch
Girls Hot Brights Messenger
Dual Comp

Once they arrived, I set about filling them with healthy food options! Squish may not be in school, but there are definitely busy days when we’re not home to eat lunch. Last week we needed to be at the gym for a while in the morning so I packed us each a lunch. I was impressed with how much stuff I could fit in and how cool they kept everything.

Here are a few tips I try to follow when I’m putting together a lunch, whether it’s for eating at home or school:

Include lots of options. I never know what Squish will be in the mood to eat on a given day so I try to include a variety of foods for him to choose from.
Always include a vegetable. Sometimes I struggle with this one since vegetables are not his favorite, but I really think it’s important to include a veggie at lunch. They may not always eat it, but continued exposure to vegetables prepared a variety of different ways is good for kids.
Aim for balance. I focus on including several different food groups in every lunch, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, healthy fats, lean protein etc. I may not get them all in each time, but I try not to put together a lunch that all fruit or all protein.
Get colorful. Color = nutrients so I try to serve bright, colorful foods!

Let’s take a look at a few healthy lunchbox ideas:

A classic pb&J sandwich on 21 Whole Grain & Seed Bread, blueberries, string cheese and green beans & tomatoes mixed with Italian dressing.

Sometimes a little dressing can go a long way toward making veggies more appealing to kids.

Hard-boiled egg, Cheddar Almond Flour Crackers, cottage cheese with fresh berries, baby carrots and guacamole.

Kids can dip a variety of things in the guacamole including the egg, crackers and carrots!

Turkey, cheese and hummus rollup on a whole wheat tortilla, nectarine, snap peas with yogurt ranch for dipping & a small cookie.

There’s definitely room for a small treat in a balanced lunchbox!

Balsamic Chicken Caprese Pasta, grapes, full-fat yogurt and trail mix.

Leftovers are great for packing in lunchboxes, especially things like pasta salad that taste good hot or cold. Make your own trailmix so you can customize with your kiddo’s favorite mix-ins!

[Tweet “Build A Healthy Lunchbox with these tips from @leangrnbeanblog!”]

Igloo helps you enjoy the life you work so hard for and is right along side you with cold drinks, fresh, healthy food and warm smiles. Be sure to check out Igloo’s Back To School collection and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Let’s chat:

Do you have guidelines you try to follow when packing lunches? Any tips?

Need more ideas? Check out these 50 Packable Lunch Ideas (great for kids and adults!)

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy Fats For Kids

August 17, 2016 by Lindsay 12 Comments

Learn about the importance of healthy fats for kids, sources of healthy fats and easy ways to add them to your child’s diet to help with satiety, brain development and more.

Hi Friends,

Lately I’ve been focusing a lot on healthy fats. A few months ago, I was starting to get a little overwhelmed with feeding Squish because it just seemed like he was hungry ALL.THE.TIME. After talking to several fellow RD moms, including Jill Castle (a childhood nutrition expert), one big change I made was to really focus on giving him a healthy fat source at every meal. I feel this has definitely helped him feel more full so he’s not asking to eat quite as frequently.

Healthy fats are a concentrated source of energy for the body. They help slow the absorption of carbs and helps us feel full longer. Plus our bodies can’t digest and absorb fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, D, E & K without them.

{Fats: Avocado + Whole Eggs}

I reached out to Jill and asked her to share a few thoughts about the importance of healthy fats for kids.

She says, “In our healthy eating obsessed world, parents may make the mistake of excluding fat in the young child’s diet, sacrificing it for more fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. But, young children need fat to grow well. In fact, babies and young toddlers need almost half of their calories from fat, preferably monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which help with brain growth and development. And even older children still need around a third of their calories from a healthy fat source.

Fats can also help with satiation after eating. In other words, a meal with fat will be more filling and satisfying than a meal without it. I always include room for fat (either included inherently in the food itself or added to the components of the meal or snack) when planning healthy meals and snacks for children.” Be sure to also check out this article she wrote about healthy fats for kids.

{Fat sources: Whole Eggs + Peanut Butter}

Fat is so important for brain development. As kids grow, their brain is rapidly developing so adequate fat intake is crucial. Another fellow RD, Dr. Chris Mohr, says “Research suggests having adequate levels of DHA may help with cognition, standardized test scores and there are even links to improved ADD/ADHD outcomes, memory, focus. Studies like this one are continuously being done on this subject.”

He states that “Fat is one component of the diet. Like any ingredient, it’s not the only thing we eat. We – including kids – eat a variety of foods on a regular basis. Fat is one piece to that. It is essential to proper growth and development.”

{Fat Sources: Full-fat yogurt, almond butter, pumpkin seeds}

———

Note: I realize there are varying opinions about whether all of these fats are considered healthy. As an RD, it’s my opinion that variety is key. Just like with any food group, I don’t recommend focusing on just one or two fat sources.

While I tend to favor options like avocado, nuts & seeds, eggs & yogurt, I do feed Squish all of these fats throughout the week, including things like butter and coconut oil. I work hard to ensure his diet is well-balanced and varied across all of the food groups and while this is the approach I recommend when asked, I also respect the opinions of others who choose to avoid certain fat sources.

———-

So here are some of my favorite fat sources, plus some ideas for easy ways to add them to meals and snacks!

Avocado
-Slice or cube and use as a topping for tacos or casseroles.
-Make guac and use as spread on sandwich/wraps or as dip.
-Mix into egg or tuna salad.
-Puree into smoothies or desserts.

Whole Eggs
-Fry and use to top a sandwich.
-Hard boil for a snack.
-Scramble or bake in a breakfast casserole.

Oils (Olive, Coconut, Vegetable, Avocado)
-Toss and coat vegetables before roasting.
-Coat pan before sauteing or baking.
-Use in baked goods.
-Make hummus.

Nuts & Seeds
-Make nut butter to put on sandwiches or in baked goods.
-Make energy bites or trailmix for snacks.
-Crush and use as coating for baked chicken or fish.
-Blend into smoothies.
-Stir into oatmeal, yogurt, pudding etc.

Whole Milk Yogurt
-Top with fresh fruit for a snack or add to smoothies.
-Use in baked goods (or to make frosting!)
-Mix with powdered ranch for a vegetable dip.

Butter & Coconut Butter
-Spread on toast or on the outsides of bread before making grilled sandwiches.
-Melt butter and saute vegetables for main dishes and side dishes.
-Add to soups or smoothies to make them creamier.
-Use coconut butter to make healthy cookies or energy balls.

Milk (Whole or 2%)
-Serve plain with meals or blend into smoothies.
-Use to make chowders.
-Make chia pudding.

**Another favorite- salmon! Grill or bake with a glaze, make salmon salad to eat with crackers or make salmon cakes and serve with a dipping sauce.**

.[Tweet “Learn about the importance of healthy fats for kids from @leangrnbeanblog!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Egg-In-A-Hole Breakfast Sandwich

August 15, 2016 by Lindsay 7 Comments

This Egg-In-A-Hole Breakfast Sandwich is a protein-packed, healthy breakfast recipe that’s ready in under 5 minutes. The perfect way to start your day!

Thanks to Davidson’s Safest Choice Eggs for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

Today we’re talking about back to school breakfasts. We all know it’s hard to get back into a morning routine once school starts up again. And since you guys know breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I hate when I hear about people skipping it this time of year because they feel like their mornings are too busy.

Enter this egg sandwich. It’s ready in 5 minutes, fun to make and eat and packed with protein, healthy fats and whole grains. Win win win!

This sandwich is everything: warm turkey, melty cheese, freshly sliced avocado and a perfectly cooked egg on whole grain bread (I used Dave’s Killer Bread 21 Grain & Seed). If that doesn’t sound like breakfast perfection, I don’t know what does!

Egg-in-a-Hole Breakfast Sandwich

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This Egg-In-A-Hole Breakfast Sandwich is a protein-packed, healthy breakfast recipe that’s ready in under 5 minutes. The perfect way to start your day!

Author: Lindsay
Yield: serves 1

Ingredients

Scale

2 slices whole wheat bread
4 slices deli turkey (i use low-sodium organic)
2 slices Muenster cheese (or your favorite kind)
1 egg
avocado, optional

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Instructions

Toast bread. Heat skillet while bread is toasting.

Place turkey and cheese on one slice of bread and microwave for 15-20 seconds to warm turkey and melt cheese.

Turn a glass upside down and press into one slice of bread to remove a circle.

Butter skillet, place slice of bread with circle missing in the pan, crack egg into hole. Let cook for 1 minute. Flip entire slice of bread over and cook until egg reaches desired doneness.

Top turkey and cheese with avocado slices and slice of egg toast.

Slice and eat!

Notes

[Tweet “Try this Egg-In-A-Hole Breakfast Sandwich from @leangrnbeanblog on a busy morning!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay-

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