Clean Oatmeal Blueberry Cookies!

Picture this: It’s Friday night, you’ve chosen to stay at home instead of spoiling all your accomplishments during the week with booze and fried foods, BUT you still have a sweet tooth. Insert CLEAN treats!

If you’re anything like me, you’re already thinking about dessert before you’ve even started dinner! This weekend I needed something sweet to satisfy my cravings, but I wanted to keep it CLEAN so I stayed in line with my goal of eating clean, unprocessed foods.

So I took to the kitchen (and Pinterest!) to find something that was clean and made from ingredients I enjoyed and had in the kitchen.

Knowing that I could eat 10 cookies in 2 minutes, I knew I needed to start there! Instead one of my favorite fruits – blueberries – and I’m sold! And then, like magic, my oven popped out some Clean Oatmeal Blueberry Cookies!

(I swear there wasn’t a hair on my cookie even though it looks like it!)

Ingredients:

• - 1 cup quick rolled oats
• - ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• - 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
• - ½ tsp. ground cinnamon (use a tad more if you lovvvvve cinnamon!)
• - 1/8 tsp. sea salt
• - 2 tbsp. coconut oil (melt first)
• - 1 whole egg at room temperature
• - 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• - ½ cup all-natural honey
• - ¼ cup dried blueberries

Preparation:

1. Use a medium bowl to whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the honey to the wet ingredients until fully mixed together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir together. Fold in the blueberries. Put the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Drop the cookie dough into 15 rounded scoops on the baking sheet.
4. Bake at 325°F for 13-15 minutes.
5. Cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

It’s ALL About That Fresh Summer Salad!

I’ve never been a salad person. In fact, I’m still not a salad person. Ok, what the heck IS a salad person? In my definition, a salad person is one who constantly eats salad only, in hopes that they will lose all the weight they’ve gained and want to lose! While salads ARE super delicious, I personally need MORE! However, whenever summer time rolls around, there’s nothing better than fresh greens and color to make a bowl full of wonderfulness! Salads can be quick & easy to pack any day of the week or as a light dinner. My go-to, simple salad contains the following:

Ingredients:

- 4 romaine lettuce leaves, cut into small pieces

- ¼ yellow bell pepper, diced

- ¼ orange bell pepper, diced

- ½ tomato, diced

- ½ cup cucumber, chopped

- 1 stalk green onion, chopped

- 1 tbsp. light feta cheese, chopped

Top with your favourite protein - I usually 2 hard-boiled eggs or 4oz. chicken breast - and your favourite dressing. VOILA!

Life & lunch MADE!

5 Tips on Surviving a Bachelorette Party!

This summer has been CRAZY busy. When I say crazy, I mean plans EVERY WEEKEND. Ain’t nobody got time for that! I’m at that age where everyone is getting married and having babies which means showers, parties and lots of weddings! And what do you know, I have a bachelorette party this weekend! I’ve also struggled with having GREAT weekdays and then the weekend hits, and we’re back at square 1 on Monday morning. OUCH! Why put in all the work if I’m just going to ruin it come Saturday? Unacceptable! So I’ve devised a little to-do list of all the DO’s before hitting up your parties on the weekend!

1. Know your party plans

Ask the bridal party (or bride if she knows) what the plans are for the night/weekend. You want to be able to pre-plan YOUR night. Are you going out for dinner? Scope out the restaurant’s menu for healthy options and plan your meal ahead of time. Are you spending the weekend at a beachhouse? Ask what meals are being served or pack your own so you are getting in all the nutrition your body needs for a big weekend. Know what you’re doing so you can plan to stay on track no matter what you do.

2. Get in solid meals before the party starts

Chances are you may be indulging some drinks, so you want to have a well-balanced meal beforehand. Protein & carbs are my go-to before a night out. It fills me up and satisfies me for the day meaning I won’t feel the need to indulge in a ton of shots and post-bar crappy foods!

3. Drink your water too!

If you’ve decided you just can’t bachelorette without a drink or two (or 10!) just make sure your drinking ALSO includes water. I’m not talking about a glass before bed, I’m talking a glass in between drinks. Yes, the bar DOES serve water too! Drinking water will help to flush your body. Maybe you won’t feel the buzz as much as you’d like but you’re less likely to experience AS MUCH bloat, and you’ll definitely feel better than all the other ladies in the morning!

4. DANCE!

It’s pretty well guaranteed there’s going to be a TON of dancing at a bachelorette party… and if there isn’t, why are you going!? Just kidding… sort of. Did you know you can burn anywhere from 200 to 500 calories in an hour of dancing? Obviously this is dependent on the type of dance you’re doing, but HELLO, it’s still burning calories! Don’t be a silly sally and watch all the other gals have fun. GET UP AND DANCE!

5. Eat a solid meal the morning after

So you had a great night, AWESOME! Good for you, lady! Except you’re hung over and life hurts. Not fun. If you chose the alcohol route, make sure you’re getting a meal filled with protein and fruits for breakfast. Cook up some eggs in coconut oil and have with a side of toast and fruit. DON’T add in the greasy hashbrowns! Contrary to what most people believe, a large, fatty meal just irritates an already upset stomach, so opt for the healthy eats instead!   ** Ok so I have just one more tip, and I saved the BEST for last… HAVE FUN! Bachelorette parties only happen once (hopefully!) so live it up, but be responsible and love YOURSELF by taking care of the progress you’ve made in the only body you get!