If you don't love pizza then we probably can't be friends. But lets face it, pizza is probably not the best choice when it comes to meal preps & plans.  This is why I want you to try a pizza that is high in protein (to put that gym workout into good use & create more muscle) while taking out the excess carbs & sugars, yes sugar, that is in usual white pizza dough.  
Ingredients: (based on 2 pizzas/people)

• 3 10oz cans of canned chicken
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
• Part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
• Tomato sauce (check the label!! some have way too much sugar.  If you have extra time, make your own tomato sauce)
• Toppings of your choice (load up some veggies!)... I usually go with onions, mushrooms, green/yellow/red peppers, and turkey pepperoni

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Drain the canned chicken (I usually pour into a pasta colander to drain)
   
3. Spray olive oil on baking tray and spread chicken out evenly. Sprinkle some seasoning of choice (I use pepper, garlic powder, and paprika). 
   
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes to dry chicken out
   
5. Take chicken out of oven and change temperature to 500 degrees. Place chicken in a mixing bowl and combine with eggs & 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
   
6. Spray olive oil on baking sheet (you may need 2) and divide up mixture between the baking sheets.  Use spatula (or hands) to mush pizza into an even flat circle.  Try not to leave dough to thick or too thin.  
7. Pinch edges of circles to form a crust.
8. Bake for 10-12 min at 500 degrees.  Crust should feel firm when you remove from oven.
9. Remove crust and put tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings on top and bake for another 6-10 minutes at 500 degrees. 
10. Remove pizza and allow to cool for at least 4-5 minutes before cutting.  ENJOY!

If you didn't know by now, desserts are my downfall. I'm one of those people that have the mentality of "there's always, ALWAYS, room for dessert."  SO, I am always trying to find ways to make some sweet treats that will satisfy my cravings while still giving my body some actual nutrition that is not just crap.  

Try these healthy muffins and enjoy!
​Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 2-3 ripe bananas
• 1 cup of oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cashew or almond milk
• 2.5-3 tablespoons of cinnamon
• pinch of baking soda
• optional garnish- sugar free chocolate chips, sliced almonds (or any nut you like) 

Recipe:

1. ​Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Blend together all ingredients except garnish
3. Line a muffin tin with paper bake cups OR spray empty tin with vegetable oil
4. Divide blended batter into cups
5. Garnish with toppings
6. Bake for 18-22 min 

A Healthier Twist on a All Time Favorite Combo

​ZUCCHINI GRILLED CHEESE​
​​Ingredients:

• 3-4 Large Zucchini Grated
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 Cup of Dice Green Onion or Yellow Onion (I usually mix both onions together)
• 1/4 Cup of Corn Starch, Flour or Coconut Flour
• Black Pepper
• Vegetable Oil
• Cheese of Your Choice
• Ham/ Turkey (optional)
  

​^^This usually makes about 3-4 sandwiches.  They are smaller than normal grilled cheese so I usually eat 1.5 sandwiches.

​Recipe:​

1. ​​Grate Zucchini using a normal cheese grater
2. Squeeze out excess moisture from zucchini with clean kitchen towel or pat dry with paper towels
3. Combine grated zucchini with egg, parmesan cheese, onions, corn starch/ flour and pepper for taste.
4. On medium heat, pour/ spray a coat of vegetable oil so that it covers the entire bottom of pan.  Allow for oil & pan to heat up for 2 minutes. 
5. Scoop out about 1/4 cup of zucchini mixture & shape into a square using a spatula.  You should be able to fit 2 "squares" in the pan at a time.
6. Cook until one side is golden and firm (5-8 minutes) then flip and cook until other side is golden & firm (another 4-7 minutes). This part can be tricky--don't flip the square too soon because then it will fall apart (like it did on my first try). The first batch you make will take a little longer since the pan is still heating up.  Allow it to fully cook--it won't burn.
7. Place cheese (and meat) on both squares while still in pan and then, using spatula, flip one square on top of the other to form sandwich.
8. Serve immediately and Enjoy!!

TOMATO BISQUE

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 diced yellow onion
  
• 2-3 tablespoons of minced garlic
  
• Ground Pepper
  
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
  
• 5 large basil leaves OR 1/4 cup basil paste
  
• 2 28oz cans of diced tomatoes
  
• 2 cups chicken broth OR vegetable broth
  
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  

Recipe:

1. ​​Place olive oil in large pot and turn to medium/high heat
2. Add diced onion & minced garlic to pot and let sit for about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally
   
3. Place contents of pot into blender and add diced tomatoes, pepper, basil and broth.  Blend on high for 2-3 minutes.
   
4. Transfer contents back to pot and cook on medium/high heat for 12 minutes.
   
5. Remove from heat and stir in Greek yogurt
   

​

Burger night does not have to be given up when you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, but it also doesn't have to be super greasy & fatty either! It also can be a quick & easy treat meal if you use my favorite kitchen appliance--the crockpot. Here is how I do my double decker burger nights at home--

INGREDIENTS:
​- 1 pound (1 pack with 4 burgers) of lean turkey burger patties
​-cheese of your choice (I usually go with cheddar, manchego, or gouda)
​-burger buns (whole wheat is the best option but picture is with white)
​-toppings of your choice, I usually go with all or some of the following:

• ​sliced tomatoes
• sliced avocado
• pickles
• ketchup
• mustard

RECIPE:

1. ​​Season turkey patties as you would like and place in crockpot (do not overlap)
2. Cook on low for 3.5-4 hours or high for 6.5-7 hours (NO OIL USED= less fat & grease!)
3. Toast buns and place 2 patties, toppings, and cheese and DONE! Double decker cheeseburger done the cleaner & healthier way!

​SIDES:
​​I always switch up my sides but I usually like to get a side salad in with either:

• ​baked sweet potato fries (homemade) or store bought (see picture below)
• baked or fried plantains
• balsamic tomato & mozzarella salad

​

I don't know anyone who doesn't take comfort in a warm bowl of some mac & cheese but let's face it, Krafts mac&cheese is NOT going to help you reach your goals. Buuutttt, I'm not asking you give up your cheesy treat-- just change it up a little bit with this homemade option that is healthier and yes, more delicious!  This bowl of mac is made with REAL low-fat cheese, NO extra sodium, NO preservatives, and a more than a serving of your veggies for the day.  So go ahead, enjoy your treat--guilt free! Thanks mom for the recipe :)

INGREDIENTS:
​​(Based on 1.5 box of elbow noodles... I usually make 2-2.5 boxes at a time so I have extra for some meal prep and leftovers)

• ​​2 cups Unsweetened Almond or Cashew milk
• 3 tablespoons of light "I can't believe its not butter" or light Olivio (both found in butter section)
• 1 bag of broccoli florets
• 1 fresh tomato, diced or 1 can of diced tomatoes (I usually chop a fresh tomato unless I'm short on time)
• 1.5 boxes of whole wheat elbow noodles
• 1 block of light or reduced fat yellow cheddar cheese (although you won't be using the entire block for the recipe)
• 1 block of light or reduced fact white cheddar
• Bread Crumbs

​RECIPE:

1. ​​Boil elbows as instructed on box
2. Steam broccoli
3. Chop broccoli & tomatoes into small pieces
4. Chop 3/4 of both blocks of cheese into small cubes (so it is easier to melt)
5. On medium heat- mix milk, butter choice, and cheese chunks until all cheese is melted and mixed
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
7. Mix elbows, tomatoes, broccoli, and cheese mix together and transfer to baking pan
8. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top and bake for 22 minutes

​I like to serve mine with some grilled chicken or grilled turkey so that I also get a good source of lean protein.  I recommend doing the same so that you have a balanced meal.

This is the perfect meal to make when you are staying in on a weekend night and watching movies (or if you just are craving nachos)! Making your own tortilla chips is a much healthier option than a bag of Tostitos because it has significantly less oil, sodium, and preservatives. And, I think they taste even better too :)

INGREDIENTS: (feel free to add or subtract any ingredients, have fun with it!)

• ​1-1.5 lbs of ground chicken or ground turkey
• 1 can of fiesta corn
• 1 can of black beans
• Frozen mixed peppers (if short on time) or 1-3 peppers of your choice diced
• 1 bag of whole wheat tortillas
• 1 bag of low-fat or skim shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tomato
• guacamole, salsa, or original Greek yogurt (a great sub for sour cream) for dipping

RECIPE:

1. ​​In crockpot- add ground meat of choice with seasoning, 1/2-1 can of black beans, 1/2-1 can of corn & some frozen or fresh mixed peppers
2. Cook on high for 3-3.5 hours or low for 6-6.5 hours

AFTER CROCKPOT IS DONE--

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees & layer a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray oil (you may need more than 1 baking sheet)
2. ​Lay 4-6 tortillas on top of one another and cut into triangles/wedges (you should cut it so that it makes 4-6 triangles)
3. Peel apart tortillas from one another and place on baking sheet (try not to place wedges on top of each other)
4. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until golden and firm to touch
5. Dice tomatoes into small squares
6. In some sort of baking dish- place one layer of chips, add some of crockpot mix on top (you don't want to overdo it so that you won't be able to pick up the chip easily or make it soggy), sprinkle some diced tomatoes, add mozzarella cheese, REPEAT layers (I usually have 3 layers)
7. Bake in oven for 5-6 min (or until cheese melts)

​

​

One of my boot campers (who happens to be my co-worker & friend) brought a little sample of this to work for me to try and I loved it! I use my crockpot almost everyday so I am always looking for new, yummy, and easy recipes to try.  Taste this one for yourself!

INGREDIENTS:

• ​1.5 pounds of chicken breast
• 1/2 stick of light butter
  
• 6 pepperoncinis
  
• 1/2 envelope of Au Jus Gravy Mix
  
• 1/2 envelope of Ranch dressing mix

​RECIPE:

• ​​Dump everything in crockpot (you can melt butter before putting it in if you wish)
• Cook on high for 3-3.5 hours or low for 6-6.5 hours
  
• Stir & shred chicken using large spook
  
• Enjoy! (told you it was so easy)
  

One of my online boot campers, Julie, came up with this amazing recipe.  After trying it for the first time, I was hooked.  Not only does it taste amazing, but it makes enough to meal prep out some lunches for a few days as well :) Try it out for yourself!

​
​INGREDIENTS:

• ​​1.5-2lbs of ground chicken
• 2 cups of bread crumbs
• 1/4-1/2 cup of parsley & minced garlic mixed together
• 1 tablespoon red chili flakes (although I don't add these in mine)
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups of 100% natural parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

RECIPE:

1. ​Preheat oven to 400 degrees​​
2. ​Grease standard size muffin tin or baking sheet
3. Mix all ingredients in large bowl with hands
4. ​Form balls using your hands and place in muffin tin or on baking sheet
5. ​Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown
6. ​Place the meatballs in sauce of your choice or serve as is​​​​​​​​​​