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Overnight Baked French Toast Cups

January 15, 2014 by Lindsay 24 Comments

A delicious french toast recipe developed for the Healthy Aperture blog.

Hi Friends!

Remember about six weeks ago when I posted this photo for these delightful little Overnight Baked French Toast Cups?!

And then I proceeded to bombard you with IG photos of me eating them at pretty much every meal for the next week or so?

But I couldn’t share the recipe because it was for a client?

Well, good news! The recipe is now live on the Healthy Aperture blog!

{Photo credit: Regan Jones}

CLICK HERE to head over to Healthy Aperture and get the recipe!

Let’s chat: French toast or pancakes?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Move for 5

January 14, 2014 by Lindsay 67 Comments

Hi Friends!

Today’s post is all about movement. When I first started working from home, I noticed that I’ve was doing an incredible amount of sitting. There were days when I was literally sitting in front of my computer for 4-5 hours at a time without moving once.

NOT GOOD.

We all know the dangers of sitting too much. Have you heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking?” I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get up and move as much as you can throughout the day. I understand it can be hard if you have a desk job, but you have to make the effort.

Make it a goal to get up and move at least once an hour.

Do you find yourself sitting too much during the day? Set a goal to get up and move for 5 minutes every hour. Click for several 5 minute workouts that can be done at work or home!

I started setting an hourly alarm to remind myself to get up and take a break. I try to move around for at least 5 minutes every hour. Sometimes it’s emptying the dishwasher or changing the laundry. Sometimes it’s doing a mini workout. Here are some that I’ve been using to get myself moving during my breaks!

Do you find yourself sitting too much during the day? Set a goal to get up and move for 5 minutes every hour. Click for several 5 minute workouts that can be done at work or home!

Use your desk chair (if it doesn’t have wheels), your desk or the edge of a table to do your dips!

Do you find yourself sitting too much during the day? Set a goal to get up and move for 5 minutes every hour. Click for several 5 minute workouts that can be done at work or home!

If you don’t want to get down on the ground, do incline pushups using the edge of your desk or the wall.

Do you find yourself sitting too much during the day? Set a goal to get up and move for 5 minutes every hour. Click for several 5 minute workouts that can be done at work or home!

You can pretty much stand in place to do this one! You only need a few square feet of space.

Do you find yourself sitting too much during the day? Set a goal to get up and move for 5 minutes every hour. Click for several 5 minute workouts that can be done at work or home!

If you don’t have stairs, repeat the first three exercises three times through and go for a 2 minute walk.

Do you find yourself sitting too much during the day? Set a goal to get up and move for 5 minutes every hour. Click for several 5 minute workouts that can be done at work or home!

For the shoulder rolls, do 10 forwards the first time and 10 backwards the second time.
For the forearm stretch, place your hands palms down on a desk or table with your fingers pointing towards you for 20 seconds.
For the back arch, place your hands on your hips, fingers pointing backwards, arch your back and try to get your elbows to touch for 20 seconds.
For the twists, stand up , put your hands on your hips and slows twist side to side for 20 seconds.
For the neck rolls, slowly roll your head in a complete circle. Do five each direction.

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite way to make sure you get up and move throughout the day?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Wild Blueberry & Corn Salsa

January 11, 2014 by Lindsay 37 Comments

A strange, yet wonderful combination of ingredients that makes the perfect salsa topping for meat, fish or tortilla chips! “By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the Wild Blueberry Association of North America and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

Hi Friends!

Hold on to your hats. Things are about to get a little bit crazy up in here! A few weeks ago I got an email (as part of Recipe Redux) about a recipe contest using Wild Blueberries. I immediately started brainstorming and came up with a salsa idea that was a little out there. Then things got busy and all I really had time to do was look at the email in my inbox every day….not actually do anything about it.

Then, while I was at the grocery store on Thursday picking up ingredients for some recipes I’m developing for a client, I passed the freezer case and saw that the wild blueberries were on sale! I took that as a sign…so I grabbed a bag, came home and promptly spent about 20 minutes searching for the tiny scrap of paper I had scribbled my idea on.

Once I found it, I started second guessing myself. Individually, all the ingredients sound great. But putting them together? Was that weird?

Answer: yes.

But what else is new? My brain comes up with some pretty weird things. So, I threw everything together in a bowl, stuck it in the fridge and told myself I’d taste it in the morning.

Verdict: LOVE.

Here’s the thing. There’s bacon in this recipe…and feta…two flavors which I happen to love. They also happen to be two pretty strong flavors, so that’s pretty much all you taste at first. But then if you keep eating, you occasionally get a burst of blueberry flavor or a bite of sweet corn and it creates a beautifully delicate balance of flavors!

Next problem was- how do I eat this?

Answer: Grab a spoonful. Eat. Repeat.

Or, you could use it as a topping on some grilled chicken. Or try it with some chips. Or, when you really need to take photos and don’t have either of those things, try it over some shrimp cakes 🙂

I realize this isn’t for everyone…but for those of you who are willing to give it a chance, here’s the recipe:

Wild Blueberry & Corn Salsa

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

A strange, yet wonderful combination of ingredients that makes the perfect salsa topping for meat, fish or tortilla chips!

Author: Author: Lindsay L

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup corn kernals
1/4 cup onion, diced
3/4 cup red pepper, diced (1 medium)
1 jalapeno, minced
2 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
juice from one lime
1 cup wild blueberries (thawed & drained)

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Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir gently to combine.
Serve cold, room temperature or warm.

That’s about as easy as it gets, isn’t it?

A few fun facts about wild blueberries. Compared to conventional blueberries they have:

More intense flavor
Double the antioxidants
Deeper blue pigment
Grow naturally in the wild
Have more berries per pound
Contain less water (so they freeze better)
Have a higher concentration of phytochemicals

You can find out more about the on the Wild Blueberries website!

This salsa is the perfect way to sneak in some extra antioxidants and phytochemicals, while also adding great flavor!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Winter Games Workout

January 9, 2014 by Lindsay 29 Comments

Hi Friends!

Let’s talk workouts today, shall we? It’s been a while since I posted one that isn’t crossfit-related and I kinda miss it. Thanks to Blue Diamond Almonds for sponsoring this post. As you guys know, the Winter Games are gearing up to start in Sochi in under a month and I can’t wait! I love watching all the skiing events because I’m totally in awe of everything those athletes can do. I’ve been on skis exactly once in my entire life and let me just tell you that my first trip down a VERY SMALL hill did not end well!

Anyways….I started to get even more excited about the Winter Games when my friends at Blue Diamond Almonds reached out to tell me that they are the official snack nut of the US Ski Team and US Snowboarding! As an RD, I was super pumped to hear that because I always love to see healthy snacks being promoted and I think it’s awesome that Blue Diamond is helping provide healthy fuel to the Winter Games athletes!

“Nutrition is a key component of our athletes’ high performance training program. Our snowboarders and skiers must sustain their energy for long, exhilarating workouts and competition,” said Allen Tran, MS, RD, USSA High Performance Chef. “Blue Diamond Snack Almonds are ideal snacks for our athletes because they are high in protein and rich in fiber which helps them maintain their energy levels.”

I love that here’s a huge focus this year on making sure these athletes are provided with healthy food options while training and competing, especially lean protein sources. Fun little tidbit: As a healthy snack, Blue Diamond Snack Almonds are being offered at the USSA Center of Excellence training facility and kitchen in Park City, UT, where hundreds of U.S. winter athletes are preparing for the upcoming Games. In Sochi, Russia, the USSA team, which is the largest contingent of athletes at the Winter Games, will all be able to snack on a rainbow of Blue Diamond Snack Almond flavors as well!

So, I’m sure I’m not in the minority when I say that watching elite events like the Winter Games ALWAYS motivates me to kick my own training up a notch! On that note, I put together a fun little bodyweight circuit workout for you guys to try. It’s designed to get your heart rate up and blood flowing to help combat the arctic chill we’re currently experiencing!

PLUS the moves are all things that you might see some of your favorite skiers and snowboarders incorporating into their training as well!

bodyweight winter circuit workout 1

In case you’re not familiar, here are some links that show you how to perform these exercises:

Burpee Broad Jumps
Skaters
Box Jumpovers
Mountain Climbers
Plie Squat Jump

Now….go have yourself a killer workout and then refuel with lean protein and healthy carbs to help your body recover!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds.

Cook Smarts Review

January 7, 2014 by Lindsay 74 Comments

Hi Friends!

Let’s talk meal planning today, shall we? Thanks to CookSmarts for sponsoring today’s post. You guys know I’m a huge fan of Sunday Food Prep and meal planning goes right along with that. Although I, admittedly, slack a lot on meal planning…it works for me because I’m good at coming up with meals on the fly. I prep ingredients and most nights I don’t have any trouble turning them into a quick dinner. But I’ve been cooking a long time. I’ve made a lot of things. I have a large recipe catalog (both on my blog and in my mind) that I can pull from. I also have list of go-to meals that I can make pretty much on autopilot (like, ahem, last week when I looked at the clock at realized it was 9pm and we hadn’t eaten yet…and I whipped up a chicken, black bean and red pepper egg scramble in under 10 minutes).

While this method works for me, I’m a realist…and I know it doesn’t work for everyone. Many people NEED to plan their meals ahead of time to help them make it through the week. In fact, it’s something I encourage all my clients/readers/family members/pretty much anyone I encounter to do- because it works.

Some people enjoy the process of meal planning- looking through cookbooks, blogs, recipe sites, pinterest, etc to find new things to try. They like coming up with a plan, making a grocery list, etc. Other people just can’t be bothered. It stresses them out…it’s too much work…it takes too long. And that’s totally fine! It’s for people like this, and even people who like meal planning but sometimes get too busy or too tired to do it every single week, that Cook Smarts can be an excellent option. Some of you might recall that Cook Smarts was one of our Elf4Health Sponsors this year. Elle actually introduced me to them before the challenge started and after getting to know Jess, the founder, throughout the challenge, I decided I wanted to introduce Cook Smarts to you guys because I think it’s such a cool service!

A little more about Cook Smarts:

Their Mission: “Cook Smarts is passionate about helping home cooks live happier, simpler, and smarter in the kitchen. We create weekly meal plans and educational cooking content to empower our community to lead their healthiest lives.”

Their Blog: “We get that figuring out what to make for dinner every night is no easy task, so our blog focuses on smart cooking tips and simple meal ideas. Every post on our blog has been crafted with your busy life in mind, so that after a long day, maybe with kids underfoot, you can still get dinner on the table.”

Their Meal Plans: “Our meal plan service helps you cook more & stress less. Our menus are simple and efficient and can be customized for the paleo, vegetarian, & gluten-free cook. A grocery list appears with just one click and cooking dinner is no longer a chore with our easy-to-follow steps & smart how-to videos.”

How it Works:

You sign up. Bonus- You get 3 weeks of meal plans free when you signup before you have to pay!
After your trial, if you like it, you pay for a monthly, quarterly or annual plan.
They email you a meal plan.
You choose which meals you want to make and customize to your diet needs- They have vegetarian, paleo & gluten-free options.
They make you a grocery list.
You go shopping.
They tell you how to prep ahead of time…or you just take it day by day and make some great home-cooked meals for your family.

Get a visual:

See the meal plan:

Check out their tips and tricks:

cook1

Customize to your dietary needs:

Generate your grocery list and go shopping:

Do some prep work if you want to:

Or just follow the simple recipes (complete with prep instructions) each weeknight. Not sure how to chop something like onions? They have links to videos that show you how!

Plus they’re all about teaching and they have a whole page of cooking tips and free guides for things like pantry essentials and produce shelf life!

Infographic-Produce-Shelf-Life

I even tried out a couple of the meals myself. The chicken pot pie was calling my name! I actually forgot to get puff pastry at the grocery store for the topping so I was super glad that I could look at the paleo and gluten-free options they had available and was still able to make a crust based on what I had on hand!

photo 1 (5)

The gluten-free crust was made with almond flour. I was skeptical at first because it wasn’t really a dough that I could roll out, I just kinda spooned it on top…but it baked up nicely!

So what do you think? Sound like something you could benefit from?

Well, you’re in luck! Cook Smarts is offering all of my readers 20% all of their meal plan packages and gift certificates thru 1/22/14!

CLICK HERE and use the coupon code TLGB0114 for 20% of any meal plan.
CLICK HERE and use the coupon code TLGB0114 for 20% off any gift certificate.

And once you generate your grocery list, you can head to Whole Foods! Yep- we’re giving away a $50 Gift Card to Whole Foods to one lucky winner!

Enter using the Rafflecopter giveaway below (ends 11:59 PM EST Jan 9th, 2013- US Residents only):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

*This post was sponsored by Cook Smarts. I received a 3 month membership and was compensated for my review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own*

Cheers to 2014!

January 1, 2014 by Lindsay 60 Comments

Hi Friends!

Happy 2014. I’ve been sitting here forever trying to decide what to post today. Judging by the state of the blogosphere the past few days, it appears I’m pretty much the only one not interested in doing a recap of 2013 or posting about my goals for 2014. And that’s totally fine! Instead, I decided to share some 2014 wishes that I have for all of you! Kinda like a 5 things Friday (a la Clare)- except it’s not Friday….you get the idea.

Anyways, here we go- my 2014 wishes for you!

2014 wishes

5 Nutrition Wishes

Downsize your dinner plates– for proper portion sizes.
Eat slowly– so you can recognize when you’re full.
Drink more water– and less everything else.
Eat more whole foods– and less packaged foods.
Prep food on Sundays– for healthy meals all week long.

5 Kitchen Wishes

Clean out your pantry– to give yourself a clean start.
Replace old spices– for fresh flavors!
Disinfect EVERYTHING– to kill germs!
Switch to glass storage containers– to avoid chemicals.
Recycle & compost– for the environment.

5 Fitness Wishes

Lift heavier– to get healthier.
Stretch every day– to prevent injury.
Rest when you need it– to get stronger.
Move more– every single day.
Go for a PR & fail– to push your limits!

5 Life Wishes

Embrace every day– because you’re lucky to have it.
Sleep more– your body needs it.
Chase big dreams– and learn from the setbacks.
Live in the moment– before life passes you by.
Do what makes you happy– because life’s too short.

5 Love Wishes

Go on dates– to keep the romance alive.
Say I love you– while you still have the chance.
Appreciate the little things– they often mean the most.
Talk about your problems– don’t hide from them.
Always be honest– it’s important.

5 Work Wishes

Take more breaks– they help you focus.
Separate your work & play hours– for balance.
Network constantly– for new opportunities.
Learn something new– then teach it to others.
Always do your best– you never know who is watching.

Cheers to 2014!
–Lindsay–

Fitness Friday 61

December 27, 2013 by Lindsay 11 Comments

Hi Friends!

Let’s catchup on my workouts lately shall we? We have to back up all the way to the night before Thanksgiving!

wod

I partnered with my friend Jackie for a little mini competition. It moved quickly and only took about half an hour but it was fun!

FF3

Toes thru rings like a boss

FF2

1. Saturday morning tabata
2. 2:45 for the first wod, finished the round of 12 + 1 clean for wod 2, for wod 3 we had teams of 3 and each person had to do one of the benchmarks. I did my Karen and pr’d my time – 7:25!
3. Andrea Agar came to our gym to wod with us!
4. New nanos 🙂

FF1

I’ve finally gotten back into the habit of walking the dogs almost every day. They’re loving it!

Even when it’s cold out!

I even did my own little turkey trot (walk) with them on Thanksgiving.

Ok, back to WODS.

ff4

1. Hubby & I rowed a partner 10K, switching every 500m! Our splits were actually better than shown but our transitions were super slow!
2. 400 doubles and a partner wod to start the day! This was harder than it looked.
3. Getting the blood flowing!
4. Rough on the legs. Back squats 5@140, 3@155 & 3@175#, 3 sets of 6 Bulgarian split squats each leg at 95#, then 6+25 for the wod

ff5

1. Holy effing miserably heavy after leg day. 11:57 rx and some L sits and rope climbs
2. Upper body day and a wod to get the blood flowing through my sore legs!
3. Rough one. Wasn’t in the mood. 9:13 with 24 inch box jumps.
4. Got my ass kicked at Buckeye Crossfit with this Pearl Harbor #wod. 16 min cap – finished 3 rounds – man makers are a pushup on the bar into a squat clean thruster (95/65)

ff6

1. Yes this is as miserable as it sounds. 9:35 Rx
2. Holy effing legs! 11:23 – 20# ball for round 1, 14# ball for rounds 2&3
3. I subbed TTB for HSPU.
4. The Seven is easily one of the hardest #crossfit wods in my opinion. Subbed deficit push-ups for hspu, 85# thrusters, 165# deads & 53# kb swings. Took me 33:39 – 9 minutes faster than when I did it in May.

BOOM! Bench pressed 100# for the first time ever today! AND did Annie in 7:00 – with ALL my double unders unbroken!

ff7

1. This’ll get your heart rate up! 8+4 Rx
2. Short but brutal – 3:48 Rx for the wod, 2:18 for the sit-ups
3. Get it! 4:51 Rx + a 120# OHS PR!
4. Holy effing miserable. 12 days of Christmas- like the song. 1, 2-1, 3-2-1, Finished in 47:17. Started out with 115/75 but dropped down after 3 rounds. Haven’t sweat that much in a workout in a LONG time.

Hang squat snatches in action!

ff8

1. Sunday Funday with Jackie. Yes we made up this#wod and no I don’t know why we put thrusters and snatches in the same wod. Terrible idea. Finished in 20:49
2. WOD at Crossfit DUMBO while in NYC. Hubby & I did this together- he subbed ring rows for pullups. Finished in 12:52.

WHEW! I think we’re all caught up now!

How have your workouts been lately?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Christmas 2013

December 25, 2013 by Lindsay 19 Comments

Happy Holidays!
–Lindsay–

{Recipe Redux} Pork Lo Mein

December 21, 2013 by Lindsay 11 Comments

Hi Friends!

It’s time for another Recipe Redux post! This month the theme was:

Good Luck Foods: What will you be serving to get the New Year started with a little luck? Be it black eyed peas and greens, Chinese noodles or even a special family recipe you serve on New Year’s Eve or Day. Please share your good luck dish to start off 2014 in a healthy way.

Craving Chinese? Skip the takeout and make this Pork Lo Mein instead!

Admittedly, the only good luck foods I knew about before this challenge were black eyed peas and pork & sauerkraut…neither of which particularly appeal to me. However, after doing some research, I found that long noodles are considered good luck food and are believed to signify long life or longevity!

You guys know I love my soba noodles….so I started thinking about something I could make with them. When I was younger we used to go out to eat at Asian restaurants all the time. One of my favorite things to order was chicken lo mein. Strangely, that’s one dish I had never attempted to make at home.

I decided to give it a whirl, and double my luck by making it with pork, which is also a lucky new year’s food!

Here’s the recipe:

{Recipe Redux} Pork Lo Mein

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

A lighter, healthier version of your favorite Chinese restaurant dish

Author: Lindsay L
Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups mixed veggies, diced (snow peas, peppers, beans, carrots, bok choy, etc)
2 cloves garlic
¼ c onion
2½ cups cooked pork, cubed
¼ c soy sauce
½ cup broth
1 tsp sugar
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp fresh ginger
1 – 2 tsp sriracha (optional)
2 oz soba noodles
Green onions, to garnish

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Instructions

Cook soba noodles according to package directions and set aside.
In a large saute pan, saute garlic, onion and vegetables in a little olive oil for 5 min.
Add pork and saute 5 min more.
In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, broth, sugar and cornstarch.
Pour into pan, reduce heat and let simmer until sauce thickens slightly (5-10 min).
Add noodles, fresh ginger and sriracha and mix well.
Top with green onions before serving.

Hubby loved this dish. Told me I could make it every day if I wanted to 🙂

Craving Chinese? Skip the takeout and make this Pork Lo Mein instead!

Dig in!

Craving Chinese? Skip the takeout and make this Pork Lo Mein instead!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Winter Caprese Beet Noodle Pasta

December 20, 2013 by Lindsay 21 Comments

This Winter Caprese Beet Noodle Pasta is a healthy low carb dinner option thanks to the spiralized vegetable noodles!

Hi Friends!

I have a special treat for you guys today. My friend Ali, who blogs over at Inspiralized, is stopping by to share a delicious recipe with you! I found Ali’s blog a few months ago while moderating images for Healthy Aperture and fell in love with it immediately. Her photography is gorgeous, her recipes are amazing, and anything spiralized is just SO FUN! If you haven’t checked out her blog yet, go do so immediately… then come back for the recipe!

Take it away Ali!

Eating healthy during the winter can be especially tough. When the temperatures drop, we are faced with the temptation of big, warm bowls of cheesy pastas. Luckily, I have just the solution! By using a spiralizer, you can easily turn vegetables into noodles and substitute those in for regular wheat noodles in your favorite pasta and noodle dishes. Not only do they have the same texture as regular noodles (especially when cooked), but they also have a quarter of the calories and carbs. Not to mention, they’re gluten-free!

Eating bowls of spiralized veggies is a great way to get your daily dose of veggies, packing in the vitamins and antioxidants you need. During the winter, some veggies (like zucchinis) are out of season. However, there are plenty other vegetables out there to spiralize for a healthy bowl of noodles!

Today, I’m taking the classic Caprese Salad and Inspiralizing it into a wintery pasta. Instead of using basil, I use parsley, which can better withstand the cold so it’s easier to find during the wintertime. Roasted garlic and cherry tomatoes, roasted beet noodles (made easily with the spiralizer!), mozzarella, and chopped parsley make this a delightful wintery pasta dish that’ll fill you up… without any bloat later!

Winter Caprese Beet Noodle Pasta

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Roasted garlic and cherry tomatoes, roasted beet noodles (made easily with the spiralizer!), mozzarella and chopped parsley make this a delightful wintery pasta dish thatâll fill you up… without any bloat later!

Author: Ali M
Yield: 1 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 large beet
olive oil, to drizzle
salt and pepper, to taste
5 cherry tomatoes
1 garlic clove, sliced thinly.
3–4 mini balls of mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Place the tomatoes on a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven (once preheated) and roast for 15 minutes. After 10 minutes, add in the garlic.
Take the beet and chop both ends off. Peel the entire beet. Place the beet into the spiralizer and spiralize it. Place the beet noodles onto a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
Five minutes into roasting the tomatoes, add the beet noodles into the oven. Let cook for 2 minutes, remove and place the mozzarella balls randomly on top of the noodles. Let cook for another 5-7 minutes or until mozzarella has melted and noodles are darker in color and have softened.
Remove the noodles from the oven and transfer to a bowl. Top the noodles and mozzarella with the roasted tomatoes. Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy!

In case you’re new to spiralizing, here’s a video to show you how to spiralize beets:

Pretty simple right?

Dig in!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Winter Caprese Beet Pasta is a healthy low carb meal from @leangrnbeanblog & @inspiralized!” quote=”Winter Caprese Beet Pasta is a healthy low carb meal from @leangrnbeanblog & @inspiralized!”]

Let’s chat:

Have you ever used a spiralizer?
Do you like veggie noodles?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Fitbit Force Review

December 19, 2013 by Lindsay 341 Comments

Hi Friends!

Last week, I was contacted by the wonderful folks at Fitbit to see if I’d be interested in reviewing their newest model, the Fitbit Force. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now, you may recall that I used to have a Fitbit Ultra and I LOVED it. I even wrote a whole post about how much I loved it after I got it for my birthday (Should I Get A Fitbit?). Unfortunately, it went through the wash a while ago so I’ve been without one for some time.

So, of course I jumped at the chance to check out this newest version.

fitbit9

Like I said, I was sent the Fitbit Force, but they have several other models as well. Here are a few of them:

fitbit1

I’ve been wearing the Force for about a week now and so far I am LOVING it.

Here’s what I like about it:

It’s comfortable. I was a little nervous going from a clip-on to a wrist model…but one of the downsides of the clipon is that I was always forgetting to swich it when I changed clothes. The Force is a wrist band model and it’s pretty much just like wearing a watch. It’s easy to get on and off and adjustable to fit the size of your wrist (not a fixed size like some other brands).
The display. First of all, it tells the time, so it is, effectively, a watch. This makes it beneficial not only as a pedometer but also to tell time. You can scroll through all of the things it tracks right there on your wrist so just by pressing a button a few times I can see the time, how many steps I’ve taken, how many miles I’ve traveled, how many flights of stairs I’ve climbed, etc.
Easy to use. It only took me about 10 minutes to set it up once I received it. You can view your stats on the computer, on the Force itself, or you can download the app for your phone.
Wireless synching. It wirelessly syncs to your computer and smartphone using bluetooth, so you don’t have to plug it in except to charge it.
Long battery life. I’ve been using it for 5 days and still have half battery life.
Alarms. You can set silent alarms and it will buzz and vibrate when they go off. I have one set every hour during the workday to remind me to get up and move more throughout the day. You can set them to repeat on certain days, so I have mine set M-F but not on the weekends. Another option would be to use this as your morning alarm so you don’t bother anyone else with a loud alarm clock!
Sleep tracker. Sometimes I forget to use this one, but I do think it’s interesting. It tracks how often you wake up during the night and how many times you’re restless. Neat to see.
Motivation. For me, just simply wearing a pedometer motivates me to move more. This came at the perfect time since I’ve found myself sitting way more than I should lately.

Other features:

Calorie burn tracker – I personally don’t pay attention to this feature. The only time I would really want to know how many calories I’ve burned is during a workout and I think a heart rate monitor is a more accurate way to get that information. However, I do think it’s a good reminder that our bodies do burn a crazy number of calories every day just while doing everyday things like breathing, walking, LIVING…so it’s important to fuel your body properly and not starve yourself! (That’s my inner RD coming out!)
Food & Drink intake tracker. You can log your intake and exercise, journal how you’re feeling, track your weight, etc.
Connect with friends. If you know other people with a Fitbit, you can become friends and encourage each other!
Synch with other apps– You can synch your Fitbit to other apps you use like My Fitness Pal, Lose It, Spark People, Map My Run and more!

So now let’s get a visual shall we?

Here’s what it looks like on my wrist. The display only lights up when you press the button, otherwise it’s solid black:

photo (72)

Here’s what you see on your dashboard when you log in on the computer:

fitbit3

fitbit2

If you want to see more details about certain things, like sleep, you can find that info (yes, I know I need to get more sleep):

fitbit5

Some nights I sleep straight through, some nights I wake up more often:

fitbit6

If you are tracking your food, you can input that info via your computer or phone:

fitbit4

I don’t use this feature, but it looks similar to other food tracking apps:

fitbit7

The app on your phone is also super easy to use and shows you all the same data as the computer dashboard. I’m still using all the default exercise goals but you can customize your daily goals for steps, miles, calories, active minutes and floors climbed.

photo (65)

Overall, I love the Fitbit Force. I had trouble coming up with any downsides, but here are a few minor ones: :

It’s not ugly, but it’s also not super stylish. This doesn’t matter to me, but it might bother some people. So far it only comes in black and blue.
It’s pretty thin…but it could always be a little bit thinner.
It’s water-resistant, so I wear it to workout but take it off before showering. It would be awesome if it were waterproof.
There are some downsides of a wrist-based tracker vs. a clipon as far as counting steps during activities where you don’t move your arms a lot, etc…Fitbit does a good job of answering these FAQs here. Overall, I feel like the Fitbit Force is fairly accurate. I use it with the understanding that it’s not going to be 100% perfect…but it does a good job of giving me a idea of how much i’m moving throughout the day and encouraging me to move more than I do when I’m not wearing it! *Remember you can also measure your stride length and update that in the settings to make your tracker more accurate for you.

Other tidbits:

I am right-handed, but I wear the Fitbit on my right (dominant) hand instead of my non-dominant hand like most people. Fitbit takes this into consideration and makes it very clear that if you do this, you should update your settings so it knows that.
I love the adjustable sizing. When I’m working out, I just move it one notch looser so I can slide it up a little higher on my forearm and that way I can still wear my wrist wraps at crossfit.
Fitbit keeps things fun by giving you badges when you hit certain milestones, allowing you to challenge your friends and sending you alerts for extra motivation!

fitbit8

So, now that I’m done raving about my new gadget, how would you guys like one of your own?!

Enter the rafflecopter giveaway below for a chance to win a Fitbit Force! *US Residents only, Giveaway ends 12/23/13 at 11:59pm EST.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

*I was sent the Fitbit Force free of charge. All thoughts & opinions are 100% my own.*

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

December 17, 2013 by Lindsay 32 Comments

Hi Friends!

Just popping in with a new recipe to share! These are a twist on my Sweet Potato Banana Bites that I make pretty much every week. Lately I’ve been adding fresh cranberries to them. YUM! Anyways, one of our sponsors for Elf4Health is The Almond Board of California and they’re sending our winners a huge almonds prize pack- which includes almond flour! I was lucky enough to receive this package as well, and since I’ve never actually used almond flour, I’ve been trying to decide what to make first!

I decided to make a spin-off of my sweet potato bites and try my hand at a full-sized muffin.

A non-traditional, gluten-free blueberry muffin that's not overly sweet but still packed with flavor!

Here’s how you make them:

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

A naturally sweetend, gluten-free muffin that makes a great pre-workout snack!

Author: Lindsay L
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6-7 1x
Category: muffin

Ingredients

Scale

¼ cup mashed banana
⅓ cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons oil
½ cup almond meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Combine banana, sweet potato, eggs and oil in a small bowl and mix well.
Add almond meal, baking powder and cinnamon and stir until just combined.
Stir in blueberries.
Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Aren’t they pretty?!

A non-traditional, gluten-free blueberry muffin that's not overly sweet but still packed with flavor!

These are not meant to replicate the traditional, overly sweet jumbo coffeehouse muffins….so if that’s what you’re looking for, this recipe is not for you. In fact, these aren’t very sweet at all, which I like…but if you want to make them sweeter, you may want to try adding a little bit of sweetener of your choice- maybe 1/4 cup honey? I haven’t tried them with added sweetener so I can’t tell you how well that will work.

A non-traditional, gluten-free blueberry muffin that's not overly sweet but still packed with flavor!

These guys are quickly becoming my favorite pre-workout snack!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Peanut Butter Cookies with Fresh Cranberries

December 11, 2013 by Lindsay 27 Comments

Fresh cranberries aren’t just for sauce! These Cranberry Peanut Butter Cookies strike the perfect balance of tart and sweet!

**Post and photos updated 12/8/15*

Hi Friends!

Let’s talk cookies, shall we? This was my second year participating in The Great Food Blogger’s Cookie Swap. The idea is simple. You sign up, donate a few dollars to charity, mail out a dozen cookies to three different people and get three dozen cookies in the mail. Although this year was a bit of a bust on the return end for me – I only got cookies from one person instead of three- I still had fun baking and sending mine out!

I was having a tough time coming up with a totally new cookie to try, but after much deliberation, I decided to do something a little crazy! I used FRESH cranberries…in cookies. Cranberry peanut butter cookies. And guess what? They’re delish!

Here’s how you make them:

Peanut Butter Cookies with Fresh Cranberries

Print Recipe

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No reviews

A fun twist on traditional peanut butter cookies. Using fresh cranberries adds a pop of tartness to contrast with the sweetness of the peanut butter and chocolate chips

Author: Author: Lindsay L
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Yield: 22-24 cookies 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1/3 cup white chocolate chips

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Mix melted butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and egg until well combined. Stir flour, baking soda and spices and stir until just mixed. Add in fresh cranberries and white chocolate chips and stir gently.
Drop onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, flattening with a fork at 6 minutes.
Let cool 10 minutes before removing from baking sheet.

Notes

I updated this recipe in 2015 – here were the original ingredients if you want them: 1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
13/4 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Aren’t they just so pretty and festive?!

I revisited this recipe in 2015 and made a few tweaks and they turned out even better than I remember! To see the original recipe, please see the notes section of the recipe above.

These Cranberry Peanut Butter Cookies would make a great addition to your holiday baking list! And then i’d highly recommend you use the leftover cranberries to make a batch of my favorite Fresh Cranberry Sauce! Good on so many things!

[Tweet “Yum! These PB Cookies with Fresh Cranberries from @leangrnbeanblog are tart and sweet!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Cheesy Mexican Chicken Skillet

December 10, 2013 by Lindsay 9 Comments

Hi Friends!

Just popping in to let you know I’m guest posting over at Nut Butter Runner today!

This Cheesy Mexican Skillet is packed with veggies and lean protein making it a great weeknight dinner option!

I’m sharing an easy recipe for a quick lunch or dinner that I whipped up during our “Eat the Rainbow” day of our Elf4Health challenge!

This Cheesy Mexican Skillet is packed with veggies and lean protein making it a great weeknight dinner option!

If you have a minute, pop on over to Morganne’s blog and get the recipe for this Cheesy Mexican Chicken Skillet!

This Cheesy Mexican Skillet is packed with veggies and lean protein making it a great weeknight dinner option!

What’s your favorite way to eat the rainbow?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Elf4Health Sponsor Shoutout

December 7, 2013 by Lindsay 5 Comments

Hi Friends!

As you know, our Elf4Health Challenge has been going strong for the past 2 weeks now. We’re getting ready to send out the matches for round 2 tomorrow and we couldn’t be more excited. Our 1,000+ elves are ROCKING all of the challenges!

As you might imagine, Elle & I put a lot of work into making this challenge the best it can be. We’re lucky enough to have found some great sponsors that help make that possible. Today we want to introduce you to our Gold Level sponsors. They’re a huge part of Elf4Health and more importantly, they’re all companies that we as RDs & health living bloggers respect, support and believe in 100%.

So, we wanted to take some time to tell you a little bit more about them! Here they are, in no particular order:

Naturebox

Naturebox is a subscription snack company. Healthy snacks delivered directly to your door for just $19.95.

From their website:

naturebox

If you want to see some of their past boxes to get a better idea of what to expect, you can check them out here. And remember that all ingredients and snacks are free of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners.

naturebox1

Wouldn’t this be a fun gift to give a foodie friend or family member?!

Naturebox is generously giving our Elf4Health winners a 3 month subscription, but they also have something special for ALL 1,000+ elves participating! If you’re a first time subscriber, you can get 50% off your first box using the code “ELF4HEALTH”. Not valid on gift subscriptions and may not be combined with any other offers.

You can follow Naturebox on Facebook, Twitter, oInstagram & Pinterest

—————-

Mizuno Running

Mizuno is probably best known in the athletic world for their shoes, which are fabulous! I spent many years playing volleyball in Mizunos and loved every pair. If you’re a runner, you should definitely know about Mizuno. Their website even has a special section to help you find the perfect shoe for your foot.

They also have an awesome movement called the Mezamashii Project. It’s a great community and Mizuno is incredibly supportive of the people who wear their shoes. They’re constantly giving away gear, shoes, even trips for people to test out and they love hearing about your #brilliantrun experiences via social media.

In addition to shoes, they also sell apparel that rocks, like this Breath Thermo 1/2 Zip. It’s super lightweight but still keeps you warm AND it has thumbholes:

mizuno-running-womens-breath-thermo-1-2-zip-f-pri-421163-981C

and these Breath Thermo Fleece Gloves:

mizuno-running-breath-thermo-fleece-glove-f-pri-490143-9090

You guys, I’m gonna be honest. I scoffed at these gloves when I first tried them on. They’re so lightweight I thought there was no way they would keep my hands warm…but I’m happy to report that we had some fairly cold days here in Columbus and these kept my hands TOASTY warm when I was out walking the dogs!

Mizuno is generously providing our Elf4Health winners with the top and gloves pictured above, as well as a pair of the brand new, soon to be released Wave Inspire 10’s!

You can follow Mizuno on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.

—————

The Almond Board of California

The Almond Board of California is another fabulous organization you should know about. Their website is jam packed with information about this wonderful nut. You can learn about how almonds get from the orchard to your table

OrchardToTableR2

or read about why almonds are so good for your health.

almond

They also have TONS of amazing recipes on their website:

almond1

Be sure to check out their brand new “Crunch On” ad campaign. I love it! And they’re having a little sale in their store right now.

almondtin

If you know people who could use a perfect portion almond tin – holds 23 almonds, the recommended daily serving- check it out and order some as stocking stuffers!

The Almond Board of California is generously providing our Elf4Health winners with 5 pounds of raw almonds, 1 pound of sliced almonds, 1 pound of almond butter, 3 pounds of almond flour, an almond cookbook and a calendar!

You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

————–

Manitoba Harvest

Manitoba Harvest is one of the leading sellers of hemp foods and are committed to producing high quality products!

hemp1

Did you know that hemp is a nutritional powerhouse?!

hemp2

Manitoba Harvest sells:

Hemp Hearts (raw, shelled hemp seeds) – which are great sprinkled on oatmeal, salads and yogurt
Hemp Protein Powder – 5 varieties of easy-to-digest plant protein
Hemp Oil – a great source of balanced omegas

Not sure what to do with your hemp products, check out their Recipe Page for tons of great ideas!

Manitoba Harvest is generously providing our Elf4Health winners with a big bag of Hemp Hearts!

You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.

—————

We hope that you’ll check out these amazing companies and we sincerely thank them for helping to make the Elf4Health Challenge so awesome!

–Lindsay–

Disclaimer- I received all of the products pictured above and was compensated for my time. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Cranberry Cheddar Salmon Sliders

December 6, 2013 by Lindsay 17 Comments

Hi Friends!

I’ve got the perfect holiday part appetizer for you! When my friends at the American Dairy Association Mideast asked me to create a recipe for their Big Holiday Potluck, I jumped at the chance. Specifically, that asked me to create something that could be enjoyed by those who are lactose intolerant.

I decided to use aged cheddar cheese in my recipe because it’s very lactose friendly. Did you know that aged cheddar cheese is can actually be considered lactose free because it has very low or non-measurable amounts of lactose? In the cheese making process, after the whey (where most of the lactose is) is separated out from the curd, natural aging breaks down the remaining lactose, allowing aged cheeses like cheddar to be considered lactose-free or extremely low lactose.

Like I mentioned earlier this week, I’ve been obsessed with my Fresh Cranberry Sauce and hubby has been obsessed with sliders, so I’ve had those on the brain. Sliders are perfect appetizer food in my opinion, so I combined my cheddar cheese with my cranberry sauce and chose to go a bit of a non-traditional route and use salmon as the protein in my sliders!

Here’s how you make them:

Cranberry Cheddar Salmon Sliders

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

The perfect appetizer for your next get-together. Easy to make and full of flavor!

Author: Author: Lindsay L

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound salmon fillets, cooked and flaked
1 egg
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup
cranberry sauce
1 cup aged cheddar cheese, grated
black pepper, to taste
extra cranberry sauce & avocado, to garnish

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Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
Shape into small patties.
Place on a well-greased baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 18 minutes, flipping once.

It turned out to be a surprisingly delicious combo. I also made the executive decision to skip the buns and top with extra cranberry sauce and avocado. Bonus- they’re red and green- so festive and perfect for your next holiday party!

So here’s the best part about this Big Holiday Potluck with the ADA Mideast. They’re teaming up with Feeding America!

Dairy farmers are committed to the health and wellness of Americans, with an emphasis on child health, which includes addressing hunger and helping ensure every American has access to nutrient-rich foods. Today more than 50 million people in America are food insecure. Of these, nearly 17 million (one in five) are children.

The American Dairy Association Mideast has partnered with 12 food bloggers from throughout the country to prepare a “Big Holiday Potluck,” and ADA Mideast will donate $1 to Feeding America for every “like,” comment or share each of the bloggers’ 12 recipes receive on its Facebook page between Dec. 6 and 13. Feeding America can provide nine meals for each dollar donated.

If have a moment, I’d love for you to visit the ADA Mideast Facebook page and “like”, comment on or share my Cranberry Cheddar Salmon Sliders to help raise some money for Feeding America!

**While you’re at it, check out the other recipes from the other bloggers participating in the potluck and hit “like” on some of those as well if they sound good to you!**

Thank you!!!!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

This post was sponsored by ADA Mideast. I was compensated for my time. All thoughts, opinions and the recipe are my own.

Bookmarked: Blogging Tips

December 5, 2013 by Lindsay 46 Comments

Hi Friends!

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts, but this weekend I finally had time to go through and organize the millions of things I have bookmarked on my computer. I discovered that over the past few years I’ve bookmarked a TON of websites/articles/blog posts etc that are full of helpful blogging tips!

Looking to improve your blogging? Here's a post full of great links and resources to improve all aspects of blogging!

So, I put together a roundup for you and tried to organize them at least somewhat into categories! Some of these might even help you non-bloggers 🙂

technical

How to Clear Your Brower’s Cache
Google Search Tricks
Beginner’s Guide to Google Analytics
Beginners Guide to SEO
5 Quick SEO Fixes You Should Quit Ignoring
Headlines vs. Page Titles
How To Submit A Google Site Map For Your Blog
How To Change Post Colors in WP Admin Panel
Learn To Code
Ranking WP Plugins
How To Claim Google Authorship
10 SEO Tips For Food Bloggers
HTML Decoded

brands

Best Blogger Media Kits
Targeting The Right Company For Your Sponsorship Pitch
How To Make Money From Your Blog Without Selling Out
Advertising 101
The Bloggy Guide To Monetizing Your Blog
Using No Follow Links
How To Find Blogging Jobs
11 Ways To Make Money With Sponsored Posts
How To Create Contracts

better

How To Write An About Page
6 Creative Ways to Reuse Old Blog Posts
Customizing Your RSS Feed to Increase Page Views
HTML 101 For Bloggers
Why You Need An Email Newsletter For Your Blog
Ultimate Blog Post Editing Checklist
How To Be A Food Blogger (150+ Resources)
8 Housekeeping Tips To Make Your Blog Rock
How Do You Grow Readership For Your Blog
How To Reuse Your Content
7 Tips To Increase Your Blog Subscribers
Is Your About Page Letting Your Down
Trademarking Your Blog Name
One Activity You Should Do On Your Blog Every Day

photos

10 Tips For Better Blog Graphics
What Is Aperture?
Photography 101
Most Popular Photography Tips, Tricks & Hacks of 2011
Ultimate Social Media Sizing Cheat Sheet
Manual Photography Cheat Sheet
Create Your Own Infographics
30 Places To Submit Your Photos
Grab My Button Code Generator
5 Free Photo Editors
10 Household Items To Improve Your Food Photography
How To Remove Background Image in Powerpoint
How To Make A Rollover Image
10 Amazing Articles On Iphone Photography
How To Use Images On Your Blog
How To Create An Animated GIF

Be A Gmail Superstar- Part 1
Getting Organized In The New Year: Emails
How To Configure Multiple Email Addresses In Gmail
Creating An Automated Daily Email Program Using Mailchimp
Declutter Your Inbox Using Gmail Filters

Best Tip of Day To Post
Top 100 Twitter Tools
How To Build Your Influence On Social Media & Establish A Powerful Brand
Top 10 Secret Buffer Hacks
How To Get More Pinterest Followers
25 Quirky Social Media Tips You Probably Didn’t Know
A Bloglovin Tutorial
How Many Users Should You Follow On Twitter
How To Find The Best Content To Share On Social Media
14 Tweaks To Your Facebook Page That Make An Immediate Difference
Finding & Sharing Better Content on Social Media
How To Get More Likes & Follows On Instagram
Using Buffer For A More Powerful Social Media Presence
FB Changes You Should Know About

Happy Reading 🙂
–Lindsay–

Grateful Thanksgiving

November 28, 2013 by Lindsay 12 Comments

Hi Friends-

I hope you’re all safe and warm and enjoying this day surrounded by your family, friends and loved ones. Just popping in with a quick reminder:

photo (61)

No matter what your situation, there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for. Take a second today (and every day) to think about how lucky you are.

Here’s a few things I’m grateful for:

My husband, who loves me unconditionally & supports me endlessly in all aspects of life.
My family, who loves and supports me even though we may not see each other as often as we’d like.
My friends, who make me laugh on a daily basis and light up my life.
My pets, who make me crazy yet still manage to somehow make me love them a little more each day
My body, for being strong and healthy.
My blogging community, who form the best online support network a girl could ask for.
My life – because it’s pretty darn awesome!

Happy Thanksgiving!
–Lindsay–

Grilled Cheese With Pesto and Black Bean Spread

November 27, 2013 by Lindsay 32 Comments

Hi Friends!

Well, I must say. You guys like your grilled cheese! I posted this photo in instagram yesterday and I think it’s one of my most “liked” photos ever! So, I thought I’d pop in and share the recipe!! It would make the perfect Meatless Monday lunch for next week!

Take your grilled cheese to the next level by adding black beans and pesto! This would make the perfect meatless monday lunch!

Grilled cheese is one of my favorite things…and this is like a pumped up, super flavorful version! I can’t believe I’ve never thought of it before! You can find the original recipe over on Organic Valley’s website. I made just a few minor adjustments including using a little less oil in the pesto and leaving out the chilis.

Here’s what I did:

Grilled Cheese With Pesto and Black Bean Spread

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4 from 1 review

A simple, delicious grilled cheese sandwich that’s packed with flavor & some extra fiber!

Author: Author: Lindsay L

Ingredients

Scale

1â4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1â4 cup Organic Valley Grated Parmesan
2 cloves garlic
1 bunch fresh cilantro (or 4–5 cups loosely packed)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1â2 teaspoon salt
1â2 teaspoon black pepper
1â4 cup olive oil
1 pint black beans (drained)
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
water as needed
2 sourdough bread slices
2–4 tablespoons pesto
2–4 tablespoons black bean spread
1–2 Organic Valley American Cheese Singles
2 teaspoons Organic Valley Cultured Butter

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

In a food processor combine the pumpkin seeds, parmesan, and garlic. Process for 15 seconds. Add the cilantro, salt, pepper and lemon juice. With the processor running, slowly add the olive oil until the pesto is fully pureed.
Combine the black beans, lime juice and cumin in a bowl. Smash into a paste.
Spread pesto on the inside of one slice of bread and top with cheese. Spread black bean spread on the inside of the other slice and place bean-side down on top of the other slice. Spread butter on the outsides of the bread and grill sandwich in skillet until browned on both sides and cheese is melted. Cut and serve immediately.

This would be delicious with a bowl of hot soup on a cold day. If you’re a meat lover, try adding some grilled chicken!

Take your grilled cheese to the next level by adding black beans and pesto! This would make the perfect meatless monday lunch!

Let’s chat:
Are you a traditional grilled cheese lover or do you add extra “stuff” to yours?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Disclosure: I was sent on Organic Valley coupon to purchase the cheese used in this recipe. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

$100 Swanson Health Products Giveaway

November 26, 2013 by Lindsay 59 Comments

Hi Friends!

I’ve got an exciting giveaway for you guys today!

Swanson Health Products was one of the first companies I ever worked with wayyyyy back when I first started this blog! When they reached out to me about participating in their 30 day blogger giveaway, I immediately jumped on board. The concept was simple: they would give me a $100 coupon code to use and then I could give one away to my readers! Um, yes please!

You guys, if you haven’t checked out their website, do so immediately. They have so many products that I buy on a regular basis, as well as things I have trouble finding AND so many new-to-me products that I want to try! And their prices are great.

Take a look at what I got with my $100:

Here’s a screenshot of my order so you can see some of the prices:

swanson

Let’s talk about some of the things that I got, shall we:

grains

I jumped at the chance to order some of the seeds and grains I eat on a regular basis! I go through pumpkin, chia and sunflower seeds pretty quickly so I got big bags, plus I stocked up on quinoa and farro (two of my favs), some wild rice for my Thanksgiving stuffing and soba noodles.

new

Next I picked up some new-to-me items that have been on my to try list: Almond flour, cacao powder, mung beans (super high in protein!) and bragg liquid aminos. I also got some Annie’s ketchup. I’ve been looking for a ketchup without a bunch of crazy ingredients and this one fits the bill. Hopefully hubby likes it.

random

Finally, I got a few randoms: I just used up the last of my homemade vanilla extract so I restocked for holiday baking. Also restocked my coconut oil so I can make some more Freezer PB Cups and got some non-GMO cornstarch.

This doesn’t even scratch the surface of the selection that Swanson has! They also have lots of vitamins and supplements, cosmetics, a large selection of vegan products, etc.

Ready for your chance to $100 to do some shopping? Enter below!

Good luck!
–Lindsay–

blog

CLICK HERE to head over to Healthy Aperture and get the recipe!

Let’s chat: What’s your favorite way to make sure you get up and move throughout the day?

Wild Blueberry & Corn Salsa

Ingredients

Instructions

CLICK HERE and use the coupon code TLGB0114 for 20% of any meal plan. CLICK HERE and use the coupon code TLGB0114 for 20% off any gift certificate.

5 Nutrition Wishes

5 Kitchen Wishes

5 Fitness Wishes

5 Life Wishes

5 Love Wishes

5 Work Wishes

{Recipe Redux} Pork Lo Mein

Ingredients

Instructions

Winter Caprese Beet Noodle Pasta

Ingredients

Instructions

Let’s chat:

Have you ever used a spiralizer?

Do you like veggie noodles?

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients

Instructions

Peanut Butter Cookies with Fresh Cranberries

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

If you have a minute, pop on over to Morganne’s blog and get the recipe for this Cheesy Mexican Chicken Skillet!

Naturebox

Mizuno Running

The Almond Board of California

Manitoba Harvest

Cranberry Cheddar Salmon Sliders

Ingredients

Instructions

If have a moment, I’d love for you to visit the ADA Mideast Facebook page and “like”, comment on or share my Cranberry Cheddar Salmon Sliders to help raise some money for Feeding America!

Grilled Cheese With Pesto and Black Bean Spread

Ingredients

Instructions

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite way to make sure you get up and move throughout the day?

CLICK HERE and use the coupon code TLGB0114 for 20% of any meal plan.
CLICK HERE and use the coupon code TLGB0114 for 20% off any gift certificate.