The 250 Calorie Burrito!

Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Spicy

Most days I'm lucky to be able to make a proper lunch, let alone sit down and eat it. So for me, convenience is key. The problem is, convenient usually equals unhealthy. The other day my husband and I went to Trader Joe's and picked up some easy lunch items.

Here is what I used to create my spicy, flavorful, 250 calorie gluten-free burrito--

Here's how I made it happen:

1 Brown Rice Tortilla
2 T Spicy Black Bean Dip
Approx. 1/4 C Shredded Cheese
2 Handfuls Torn Lettuce
2 T Medium Salsa
Mix 1 T Roasted Corn in to Salsa (you'll thank me for this smoky addition)

First add beans and cheese to the tortilla and heat until cheese is melted. I also warmed up the corn a little so I wouldn't bite in to cornsicles. Top with lettuce and salsa.

What I wish I had:

1/4 Avocado, Diced and Tossed in Lime Juice
1/2 T Plain Yogurt (I use that instead of sour cream)

In minutes I had a delicious lunch complete with whole grains, fiber, vegetables and metabolism-boosting spice that didn't leave me feeling guilty.

If you don't want, or like spicy beans (the TJ dip is kind of intense), my darling friend Cossette has an easy, tasty black bean dip recipe:

1 Can (Drained) Low-Sodium Black Beans in to Blender
1 Handful Cilantro, Torn, Add to Beans
1 T Plain Yogurt

Blend until desired consistency.

Any time I can make healthy food simple, I'm happy--so this lunch left me ecstatic!

Enjoy!

Superfood Smoothie

Vegan, Raw, Gluten-Free, Light

Cold and flu season is still upon us, which means VITAMINS, VITAMINS, VITAMINS! Few things are better than antioxidants, or superfoods, to help boost immunity; and dark fruits (strawberries, cherries, blueberries, etc) are full of them, and smoothies are a great way to get the nutrients you need on the go. This dark fruit smoothie is like health in a glass. For those who are unfamiliar with what antioxidants are, here's a quick rundown: they are vitamins and minerals (C, E, Beta-carotene, zinc, etc) which, when consumed in moderation, help repair damage to your cells.

While dealing with a cold I made this marvelous vitamin bomb:

Not only did it have what I needed to help me recover, it tasted like dessert...bonus!

Toss these lovlies in to your blender and let it go until smooth:

1/2 C Dark Cherries
1/2 C Blueberries
1/3 C Raspberries
3 Large Strawberries
1/2 Banana
1 T Flax
1/4 C Raw Almonds
1/2 C Natural, Nothing Added, Coconut Water
1 C Fresh Orange Juice

Serves 4

On top of the loads of antioxidants these ingredients provide, you get omega-3's from the flax, potassium and B6 from the banana, calcium from the orange juice, protein and monounsaturated fat (great for weight loss) from almonds, and natural electrolytes from the coconut water. Many of these fruits are full of seeds--which, I know, can be unpleasant-- but give you extra fiber (also helpful for weight loss). How great is that?!

My two year-old was getting impatient, she wanted more smoothie. This is one of her favorites.

I can't guarantee it, but you will probably feel like this when you're done.

In other news, I have signed up for my first 5k! Never did I ever think this is something I would do. Hooray for personal progress!

Pin It

Guilt-Free BLT

Gluten-free, Lightened up

In my mind, any sandwich involving bacon is a good one. However, on this weight loss journey I have had to leave some things behind (or save them for cheat days). I found that turkey bacon, while not the same, is an acceptable alternative to the real deal.

Here's what we made the other night to satisfy our bacon craving--

This meal is simple, and superdelicious. Here's how you make it happen:

2 Slices Turkey Bacon (we use Oscar Meyer), per person
1 Roma Tomato, Sliced
Gluten-Free Buns (this time we used Udi's BBQ buns), 1 per person
Spring Greens, 1 handful per sandwich
1/2 T Olive Oil Cracked Pepper Mayo, per sandwich

When frying the bacon, I dusted it with cracked pepper. It adds extra flavor, which the turkey bacon usually needs. To assemble, I toasted the buns, and lightly spread the olive oil mayo on each half. I tore the bacon strips in half, and added to the bottom bun. Top it off with a a few slices of tomato, a handful of spring greens and cover with the top of the bun. I'm not sure it could be easier.

Looks tasty, doesn't it?

We served it with sweet potato fries tossed in chipotle chili powder and garlic powder. I gave myself half a serving as the GF buns aren't exactly low-cal.

With the fries, this meal is 448 calories. Without, it's 278. Perfect for those days when you want big flavor in little time, but don't want to get fast food.

Pin It