Organizing kids lunches!

With so much to do during the week, the dreaded 9pm thought of 'I forgot to make the kids lunches' is something that I don't have to think about if I am prepared. Here's how I avoid it all week by taking a few extra minutes on Sunday.

Lots of questions about what I pack for them.  The first 2 days is usually PBnJ or PB sandwiches, I have one daughter who doesn't do jelly.  The other 2 days are turkey/ham roll ups, no bread!  And, they buy lunch on Fridays.  The fruit mix has a little lime juice sprinkled on for freshness.  The other spot is for chips, pretzels, or something snacky!  I even found mini colored forks at PUBLIX!  The girls get so excited for these little things!

They fit in my kids Pottery Barn Kids lunch bags.  

And, the containers stack so nicely and fit in my garage refrigerator. So I just pull them the morning of school and Voila!!

TURKEY CHILI - 21 day FIX extreme approved!

Here is the count per serving (1cup)!

1/2 Green

1 Red

1/2 Yellow

anything else you add will need to count also (:

So, I decided to try the Turkey Chili in the new 21 Day Fix Extreme Nutrition Guide and let me say, it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!  The whole family loved it, even the kids, all 3!

Turkey Chili

(makes 8 servings, 1 cup each)

1tsp olive oil

1 1/2 lbs of raw lean ground turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 Tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

2 (15 ounce) cans of black beans - drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can of all-natural diced tomatoes, no sugar added

Top with cilantro if you wish

1.  Heat Oil in large Saucepan over medium-high heat.

2.  Add turkey, onion, pepper, and garlic; cook, 

stirring occasionally, for 5-8 minutes, or until turkey is no longer pink.

3.  Add cumin, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper; cook, stirring CONSTANTLY for 1 minute.  

4.  Add beans(drained and rinsed) and tomatoes(with liquid).  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low; gently boil, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until thickened.

5.  Serve warm, sprinkled with cilantro and other diced veggies if you wish.  You can serve with Rice chips for a YELLOW container, or use cucumbers or celery for more GREEN!!! I even topped mine with a Tbsp of Plain Greek Yogurt! YUMMY!!!!

Even the 1 year old loved it!!

My 21day FIX infomercial TV debut!!

21 DAY FIX - How to get started and organized!

Preparing for the 21-Day Fix

In any workout program, planning ahead is a critical point of success.  Here are some things you can do before the 21-Day Fix begins to ensure that you stick to the program and get the results you want.

MEAL PLANNING Checklist for 21-Day Fix

• Figure out your calorie level (page 4 of the 21-Day Fix Eating Plan book)
• Think of things you can cook ahead of time to either freezer, containerize, or eat later.
• Create your menu plan based on healthy foods you enjoy.  Check previous posts on this blog for ideas!
• Create your shopping list
• Containerize!  I love the square stacking containers you can use to prepare multiple meals at once.  Be sure you know the 21day FIX containers and measurements in case your containers are in the dishwasher or you lose one.
• Get your 21-Day Fix snacks ready.  Corresponding colored baggies can be found at Target and Walmart.
• Having a hard time finding things at the grocery store?  You can always search online.  Amazon had PB2!!!
• First, you need to figure out what column you belong in.  It's a simple calculation found on page 4 in the book.  Then you can look at the chart to see which column to follow and how many containers you can eat EACH DAY.  You don't have to EAT OUT OF THEM, just use them to measure.  

TRACKING RESULTS for 21-Day Fix

• BEFORE AND AFTER MEASUREMENTS – check out this video on how to do this correctly 
• YOU MUCH MEASURE, inches are so much more important than pounds
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wv_lvpcgjM

• Take your before/after photos (Did you know you’re eligible for a FREE t-shirt when you submit your before and after photos?  Free21DayFixTshirt.com)

ORGANIZE!

• Print out your 21-Day Fix Tally Sheets from the Beachbody website here and put them in your 21-Day Fix binder (just any 3-ring binder or folder)
• You can even print labels for your containers so you remember what to put in each one and how many servings are allotted per day.  I used a Brother label maker to do mine.
• I also LOVE the apps for your phone to help you keep track on the go.
• Or, use corresponding colored Sticky Notes to keep track of the servings of each color that you consume each day.
• Also, be sure to budget your time.   You may want to designate one day a week to FOOD PREP!  I do this on Sundays!
• Here are some 21 Day Fix Food Cards that you can print, laminate and keep in the kitchen for easy reference:

I created these cards to help me stay organized thoughout the day.  Laminated to keep protected! Email me at lori.miggins@gmail.com and I can send them to you to print out!

I even labeled my containers to help me out in the beginning!

I like to make a large quantity of spices ahead of time to use throughout the 21 day challenge! 

Here is a VEGAN shopping list!!!

Join MY next 21day FIX challenge group by sending me a message to lori.miggins@gmail.com!  But do it quickly to reserve your spot!!

Food prep - 21 day fix!

Sunday has become my food prep day. Just a few of the things that I like to prepare. 

Ground turkey, grilled chicken on my George Foreman grill, baked turkey bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cooked sweet potatoes, mini egg muffins ( recipe in a previous post), and I like to pack breakfast for my husband to bring to work (2 egg muffins, 4 strips of bacon and half sweet potato). 

Fail to plan and plan to fail. Prepping makes it easier to succeed.

21 day fix approved: Peanut butter and strawberry oatmeal!

A simple recipe from the 21 day fix extreme nutrition plan. Simply add a teaspoon of natural peanut butter to your steel cut oatmeal.  Top with strawberries or fruit of your choice. Delicious.

Taco lettuce wraps

Didn't have time to cook tonight. Good thing I had prepped ground turkey. Made these with some chopped peppers, tomatoes, and even mushrooms (after the pic was taken!)

Tuna stuffed peppers - 21 day FIX approved!

My husband and I were craving Tuna!  So I made some Tuna stuffed Peppers!  So simple and 21 day fix approved!

Peppers

2 cans of tuna

tomatoes

plain greek yogurt

chopped celery

sprinkle of garlic powder

cheese

Hollow out the peppers!  Mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. 

Fill the peppers!

Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes!

Serve with asparagus on the side if you want!

2 greens (with the asparagus), 1 red (tuna and yogurt), 1/2 blue.............So YUMMY!!!

It's a lifestyle now!

So, I love the 21 day fix!  It's my life now.  I'm officially addicted.  Why?  Because the nutrition plan is so easy to follow.  The exercises are fun and quick.  Effective use of time.  I can't believe I used to go to the gym for over an hour at a time.  Nope, not anymore!  

Vanilla Latte Shakeology!!! Yummy!

 I decided to half my Shakeology today so I could have a tasty treat this afternoon. What a fabulous decision that was. Here's my recipe:

* One cup of chilled coffee

* One half scoop of vanilla Shakeology

* Ice

* 1 tsp coconut oil

Blend! Sprinkle with cinnamon if you wish. Drink! Enjoy!  CHEERS!

Transformation Thursday!

This is the transformation of one of my challengers.  Notice her height.  And, notice that she only lost 4 pounds, but look at her INCHES!!! This is why it is so important to measure yourself and not worry so much about the scale! Amazing results!!!  Way to go!

Coconut Coffee - 21 day fix approved!

The first thing you learn on the 21 day fix is to say no to coffee creamer!!! 

This is my solution for that!

coffee, 1 teaspoon of extra virgin coconut oil, splash of vanilla unsweetened almond milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, half packet of stevia!

Stuffed zucchini - 21day FIX

Dinner!  

Zucchini stuffed with chopped zucchini, green onions, plain Greek yogurt, quinoa, lean ground turkey and Mediterranean seasoning from the book. Topped with cheese And a side salad with dressing from the book!

2💚 green   

1💛yellow   

1/2💙blue    

1 ❤️red

10 minute Fix for Abs - LOVE IT!

Best 10 minutes ever!  Quick and effective!  Flies by!

The 21 day Fix and Shakeology

21 days could change your life! Join me in my next challenge group and this could be you!

Vegan 21 day fix, no problem!

The RED CONTAINER!!!   How do I fill it?  Here are some excellent ways to get protein when you are vegan and doing the 21 day fix.

Besides the other protein choices that you are used to having like: yogurt, tofu, tempeh,veggie burgers, and fish if you allow that.

21day FIX - Stuffed peppers

STUFFED PEPPERS!!!  21 day FIX APPROVED!!!

First, I recommend cutting the bottom of the peppers, so that they stand up straight and you don't have to fight with them falling over.  

**Little trick, put the bottom back in the pepper!!**

So they look like this:

Next measure out all of your ingredients.  1/2 green of diced peppers, tomatoes, onions.  1 red of ground turkey, 1 yellow of quinoa, and 1 tsp of Southwestern Seasoning Mix from the Eating Plan Book.  (you can use any of the approved seasonings from the book - I like the mexican kick)

Then mix all of the containers together.

Then, spoon into the prepared peppers, and use the left over to serve on the side.  I doubled the measurements from above to make all of this.   So each pepper with a few tablespoons of the extra on the side is approximately 1 red, 1 1/2 green (counting the actual pepper its in) and 1 yellow.  

Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

I will be eating the large pepper with some of the extra on the side.  

And, my husband will be eating the other two of them.

If you have a blue left for the day, you can always use that to mix in some cheese!

I CAN NOT WAIT!!!

Shakeology NO BAKE cookies!

I CAN NOT WAIT TO TRY THESE!!! And paired with WINE and 21day FIX approved!  Amazing!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter (I used low-sodium, creamy)

1 Cup Raw Honey

1 Cup Chocolate Shakeology (If you don’t want them to be super chocolatey you could do 1/2 chocolate & 1/2 vanilla or even try all vanilla)

1/2 Quick Oats

Directions:

Mix peanut butter, honey, Shakeology, & quick oats in a bowl until combined. Roll batter into aprox 1 inch balls and flatten between palms into cookie shape, leaving cookies aprox. a cm thick. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving (I left them in the fridge over-night.)

21 Day Fix Container Count: 

1 cookie = 1 yellow container treat (that’s how I count them, but some count 2 cookies as 1 yellow – I like to be on the conservative side though)

4oz wine = 1 yellow container treat

Now the wine-pairing part. If you use all chocolate Shakeology they have a very rich chocolate flavor with which I’d recommend pairing a Port, Sherry or Madeira. (For our wine club I grabbed a chilled, sweet raspberry/Merlot mix due to price constraints and it wasn’t great!) If you go with vanilla/chocolate mixed or all vanilla you could go lighter – maybe even a Sparkling Moscato with an all vanilla Shakeology cookie! Enjoy!

His and hers Sunday morning breakfast!

21 day fix approved his and her Sunday morning breakfast!

Keeping it simple on this Sunday morning. Egg whites with spinach for me and scrambled eggs with spinach for my husband. Both served with a side of sweet potato. Simple and effective and 21 day fix approved.

The ULTIMATE DVD Package - Extra dvds with the 21 day fix

I get a lot of challengers that ask what the ULTIMATE package is and what the extra workouts are that they refer to in the workout guide.  And I've had these 2 workouts but have never done them until today!!!  And, wow!!  They are both fantastic!  So, if you are interested in upgrading your 21day FIX to get these additional workouts, go for it!  It's called: The 21 Day Fix Ultimate DVD Package

Item #: 21DayFixUltDVD

Boost your 21 Day Fix results and get even more variety with two simple workouts that’ll help you blast off the fat as you target, tone, and firm your trouble spots.

Get ultimate toning and strengthening results with these super-efficient workouts:

1.  Flat Abs Fix
Burn off the fat and get tight, flat abs with this 30-minute workout that tones your core and helps you lose the muffin top.

2.  Barre Legs
Tone your lower body fast with this 30-minute workout designed to sculpt and define your hips, thighs, and glutes.

What I like about the Barre legs is that you DON'T NEED ANY EQUIPMENT.  So it's fantastic for travel.  And, it seems like it targets different areas of your legs that the LOWER FIX may not reach.

What I like about the FLAT ABS FIX, is that it's 30 minutes of JUST ABS!!!!  But it flies by!  So, if you like the 10 minute fix for ABS, you will love this! So check it out, maybe you'd like to add it to your library of workouts!

http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/21DayFixUltDVD?referringRepId=479452

Diamond Rank in just 20 weeks!

My AWESOME coach, Maren Crowley, created this for me yesterday, on the official day that I increased my Beachbody ranking to DIAMOND!  I"m still in disbelief that I was able to get to Diamon in just 20 weeks.  That's 4 and a half months.  And, I've recently learned that only 2% of active Beachbody coaches actually make it to Diamond.  I am humbled by all of this.  I have no words...........thank you Maren for shining the spotlight on my achievement. 

I don't think there are enough words to describe how proud I am of my friend, Lori Lowenthal Miggins. This woman started out as a challenger, became a discount coach, and has helped me grow an incredible team and business. I can't imagine getting through some tough times if it weren't for her constant support, encouragement, and positivity. To say that she has exceeded my expectations would be the understatement of the year. Lori is a complete rockstar who takes her passion for health and fitness to the NEXT level. Many people say they "don't have time" to get fit let alone run a business. Look at this woman and you will see that you CAN do it too! Lori is a mom of 3, a devoted wife, loving daughter, caring sister, plus a wonderful friend.

Holiday top 100 coaches!

I'm in utter disbelief at this. I just started as a coach in the middle of September and I cannot believe that I earned this for being one of the top 100 performing coaches out of over 300,000 coaches in the company in December! 

Baked Sweet Potato Chips - can't wait to make these beauties!

My current challengers are raving about these!  So, I am going to try them next.  Stay tuned for a report.  Hope the kids love them!

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

2 sweet potatoes, sliced thinly
1-2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt

Chipotle Lime Dip

1/3 C. Greek yogurt
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. sweet chipotle chili powder
1 Tbsp. honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice sweet potatoes with a mandolin slicer, or as thinly as possible using a super-sharp knife. The thinner the slices are, the crispier they will be. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat lightly on both sides. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Lay chips down on a baking sheet that has been covered in parchment paper. Bake 20-25 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through. Serve with Chipotle Lime Dip.

Pizza on the 21 day FIX!?!?!

We were craving pizza last night. So we created our own and made it fix approved.

Flat out wholewheat wraps 2💛 yellows each

Lean ground turkey 1 ❤️ Red

Spinach 1/2 💚 green

Tomato sauce 1/2 💜purple

Cheese 1 💙 blue

We had a salad on the side with it and made plain cheese pizzas for the kids!

Let me know what you think!

This is why I am a BEACHBODY COACH!

It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle!

You are the only one that will make it happen!