Plan Your Meals Ahead for Stay Healthy Success

Hi Everyone!

Planning your meals ahead is a big part of success in your Stay Healthy nutrition program. The weekends are BIG COOK days for me and my hubby. We get out the crock pots, fill them full of 8-12 servings of steel cut oats, brown rice, and boneless skinless chicken breasts. Then we separate the meals out into individual containers to grab & go throughout the week. This process has become a part of our FUN together time as well. Creating in the kitchen is a passion and I will be sharing all my ideas, recipes and MORE with you. Let's start with a few plan ahead meal ideas though, reduce our stress, keep us out of snacks that are NO NOs when it comes to health....toss the chips, crackers, cookies, & anything that is processed and sits waiting for you in your kitchen cabinets...TOSS TOSS TOSS!!! Replace with foods that you will need to cook, but if you start planning ahead...it will become a Stay Healthy Habit! Check out our steel cut Crock Pot oats, brown rice, and boneless/skinless chicken breasts.....fabulous complex carbohydrates/fiber and lean proteins.

CROCK POT STEEL CUT OATS

BROWN RICE

BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS

Me after my modified workout, No Fluff, No Makeup, 46 years young, & maintained through Stay Healthy Nutrition & Exercise!!!!

Stay Healthy!!!

Darla Leal, LCPT

Stay Healthy Turkey Tostada...So Simple and So Good!!!

Stay Healthy Turkey Tostada

Hi Readers!!!!

I demonstrated the Stay Healthy Tostada with a live video in an earlier blog. I hope you were able to watch and see how simple and fun this meal is to make. I guarantee that this will become one of your new favorites and the fabulous thing about this tasty treat is that you can truly make it your own by adding the healthy toppings you enjoy. So let's go and get busy in the kitchen....

Stay Healthy Turkey Tostada

1/2 lb ground lean turkey tostada
1 can fat free refried beans or whole pinto beans

1 jar of your favorite salsa

Crushed red pepper

1 jar jalapenos (your heat preference)

Taco seasoning

1 small bag shredded cabbage

1 avocado, diced

1 small sweet onion, diced

1 tomato, diced

Fat Free Sour Cream

Flat Out Wrap (whole grain)

Heat skillet and spray with Pam or nonstick spray, add some of the diced onions and cook until translucent. Add turkey meat to the onion and crushed red pepper to your taste preference. Mix the meat, onion, and pepper with a fork. Add the taco seasoning mix to spice preference, and 1/4 cup salsa. Continue to cook the turkey meat with the added ingredients until done. In a separate pan, heat beans on low adding a small amount of taco seasoning or salsa to taste.

Heat griddle and place 2 Flat Out Wraps cooking until brown and crispy (careful not to overcook as they will break on you).

Toppings:

Shredded Cabbage

Diced Tomatoes

Diced Sweet Onion or Red Onion (your preference)

Diced Avocados

Fat Free Sour Cream

Putting it Together:

Spread a layer of beans onto the crispy Flat Out Wrap, add a bit of turkey meat, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, onion, avocado, jalapenos and sour cream. You are ready to enjoy a healthy meal that is so good for you and tastes sooooo good as well.

Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT

http://www.stayhealthyfitness.com/

Stay Healthy Published Recipes in Natural Muscle Magazine......Happy 14th Anniversary!!!

Hi Readers!!!

You have seen them on my Blog.....now see them in Natural Muscle Magazine!!!! Enjoy four fabulous Stay Healthy Recipes all in one Blog Post and as featured in Natural Muscle:) The November issue marks the 14th anniversary of Natural Muscle Magazine and I celebrate being part of such a wonderful publication and for all there support in helping me spread the Stay Healthy Lifestyle!!!!

Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT

http://www.stayhealthyfitness.com/

Stay Healthy Fish Tacos...Make in 20...no kidding

YOU CAN MAKE THIS IN 20 MINUTES!!!!

Hi Readers.....Ok let me just share that this recipe is OH so simple good. So....grab your can of albacore tuna in water and favorite can of beans....and meet me in the kitchen:)

Ingredients:

1 can albacore tuna in water (drained)

1 15 oz can of beans of your choice (black, pinto, veggie refries for example) drain off water

Your favorite Salsa

1 package of taco seasoning (will use this to taste)

Crushed Red Pepper (also use this to taste)

1 Jar of sliced jalapeno peppers (the juice is wonderful to add to the fish)

1 Red pepper, chopped

1 Green pepper, chopped

1 Red onion, chopped (some will be cooked with peppers, and save a bit for fresh topping)

1 Avocado (sliced and quartered for fresh topping)

1 Small Bag shredded cabbage (another fab fresh topping)

Fat Free Sour Cream (optional, but I love it on mine)

La Tortilla Factory Hand Made Style Corn Tortillas (Chipotle Flavor is the Bomb!)

Heat a large skillet and spray with PAM. Chop the peppers and onion and add to the skillet. Sprinkle a little taco seasoning over the vegies, cook and fork stir until the peppers look a bit roasted and onions release juices. I am a taster at this point...so go right ahead and check the flavor and see if it is to your liking. Pour the pepper/onion mixture into a bowl and cover with a foil to keep warm. In the same heated pan, you will be splitting the pan in 1/2...tuna on one side and beans on the other (multi tasking here). Add your drained tuna on one side and begin forking apart. Add the beans on the other side. If they mix a bit...no big deal...all is good in the kitchen. Pour a bit of salsa over the tuna and sprinkle with a bit of taco seasoning mix and crushed red pepper, add a bit of jalapeno juice from the jar, and combine all the flavors. Again, taste test to see if the fish is to your liking...I like mine spicy...but everyone is different. On the bean side, add a bit of salsa to the beans and keep stirring to heat through. I sometimes add a bit of the taco seasoning mix to the beans as well. Once everything is heated through...we are ready to build. Heat a griddle prepared with PAM to warm the tortillas. Have ready your sliced avocado, remaining onion, bag of shredded red cabbage, fat free sour cream, and jalapenos (optional). Remove heated tortillas from the griddle and start building this healthy taco....fish and beans first, add cooked pepper and onions, a dab of fat free sour cream (optional), fresh chopped onion, jalapenos, shredded red cabbage and avocado. This will be messy good!!!! Have a fork on standby to not miss what drops on your plate. Let me know how you like these....this is absolutely one of my favorite meals and no kidding, I make it in 20 minutes. Less if you make it with a friend:)

Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla:)

Stay Healthy Omega Bran Muffins

Hi Readers....Check These Out!!!!

I have created a MUST BAKE for you and they are absolutely delicious, moist, and contain the very important nutrients we should all be consuming on a daily basis. These power packed tasty treats house the fabulous Omega 3 fatty acids proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure just to name a couple of the many health benefits. Did you know you should include 25-38 grams of fiber daily??? The protein is an added boost. This muffin has it all....I guarantee you will enjoy starting your day with this healthy and tasty meal....I must admit...I sometimes have 2 per day...one for breakfast and a fabulous afternoon treat:)...they are THAT GOOD!!! Pass along to friends and family.....you will be glad you did:)

Stay Healthy Omega Bran Muffins

1 cup Old Fashioned Oats (grind or blend to flour consistency)

1/2 cup vanilla whey protein

3/4 cup flax meal

3/4 cup oat bran

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt (optional...I leave it out)

2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cup shredded carrot (wash 1 large carrot, leave skin on, and grate to shredded)

2 medium apples (peeled and grate to shredded)

1 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup light vanilla soy milk (yes you can use regular n/f or skim milk)

2 eggs beaten

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin pans with a nonstick cook spray or use paper liners. This recipe does not require a mixer....simple and delicious!!!

Mix together the ground oatmeal, protein powder, flax meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, set aside. Mix grated carrot and apples into the dry mixture with a spoon until well combined. The mixture will be very thick moist. Stir in walnuts. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, vanilla and milk together. Pour this mix over the prepared ingredients, and stir until well combined. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full (sometimes I take it all the way to the top). Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. I find that darker pans cook faster and the product will be done at the 15 minute timer. This recipe yields 12 power packed muffins!!!

Enjoy and Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla;)

A Fistful of Blueberry Pancakes

YOU CAN MAKE THIS!!!!

Good Morning Readers!

This morning I am powering up the pancake recipe by adding 2 fistfuls of blueberries. As you know I am on a mission to show that eating healthy is easy and fun....

Before we begin, did you know that the blueberry is the #1 most powerful antioxidant? What does that mean for you and me.....by incorporating blueberries into our daily nutrition plan, we are protecting our bodies from a multitude of health issues to include heart disease and cancer, and in addition slowing the aging process...now who does not want that? So let's get cooking.....

Have ready your griddle, spray with PAM, heat on low, otherwise your pancakes will cook too fast on the outside and be gooey on the inside, and a bowl. Nothing fancy....my tools here are a bowl, a fork, and a stirring spoon for mixing.

You Will Need:

1 very (turning brown) ripe banana

1 whole egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup old fashion rolled oats

1 scoop whey vanilla protein

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tbsp flax meal

1/2 tbsp wheat germ

1/2 tbsp oat bran

Vanilla soy milk (yes you can use n/f milk instead)

2 Large fistfuls of blueberries

1 Handful of blueberries to sprinkle on top

In your bowl, smash ripe banana with your fork until it stirs well and juices release, add your whole egg and fork stir into banana until well combined, add 1/2 tsp vanilla and stir again. Put the oats in your electric blender and grind until flour consistency and add to the wet ingredients in the bowl, add your vanilla protein powder, the flax meal, wheat germ, and oat bran, and stir well. The mix will be thick at this point. Add just enough soy milk to make the mixture pourable (careful not to make runny), so add a bit, stir and check. I like my mixture a bit "thick pourable". Now add the 2 fistfuls of blueberries and gently stir into the mixture. Pour 2 equal amounts of batter onto your prepared griddle, cook on one side a few minutes, (check for color by gently lifting an edge), if to your liking, flip over and cook the rest of the way. This recipe makes two large pancakes. Place one pancake on your plate and sprinkle with a few blueberries. I sometimes drizzle a little honey across the top. I eat one and save one for the next morning so I do not have to cook. Really, this only takes about 10 minutes to throw together....you will be done before your tea or coffee is done brewing. Also, a time saver since you have an extra that you can have tomorrow, or for a snack later.

Let me know what you think of this Power Pumped Blueberry Version???

Stay Healthy!!!
Darla:)

Stay Healthy Oat Protein Cookies...YUMMMMM

Why Buy Them When You Can Bake Them!!!!

In today's economy where health bars/cookies can be anywhere from .88 cents to over $3.00, it is so worth a little bit of time to save sooooo much money. Even at .88 cents, your investment in the health bar/cookie is almost $20.00 per month if consumed daily. Also, being creative in the kitchen is so much fun, a fabulous stress relief, and you can involve your family and friends in the adventure. There is nothing better than a sample of a fresh cookie right from the oven...I think we can all agree on that. A fabulous note...you are in control of what you are consuming and even understand what you are eating. No lengthy food labels where words that seem to not exist in Websters ever venture into self baked healthy goods. The fats and sugars have been greatly reduced in this recipe, as well as any empty calorie white product ingredients. Guilt free enjoyment awaits the first batch out of the oven:) and the perfect power snack that you can carry with you on the go, giving no excuse to not fuel that body!!! Now let's get started.....

Stay Healthy Oat Protein Cookies

Created by Darla Benfield

6 Tbsp "Real" butter @ room temp (no margarine...fake chemicals)

2/3 cup vanilla fat free yogurt

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 whole egg

1 Tbsp Pure Vanilla Extract

2 1/2 cups ground old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup vanilla whey protein powder (I have not tried this with a soy product)

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

2 large handfuls of Craisins (dried cranberries)

1 large handful flaked coconut

1 12 oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips (you may choose to use 1/2 bag)

Preset oven temperature to 300 degrees. Have ready a cookie sheet and line with parchment paper. If no paper, then spray the cookie sheet with PAM. I personally like easy clean up by tossing the paper when I am done.

Dry Ingredients:

Place oats in your blender, and grind until flour consistency and until you reach 2 1/2 cups in a separate mixing bowl. Add the 1 cup of vanilla protein powder, and 1 1/2 tsp baking soda.

Wet Ingredients:

Place soft butter in your mixer bowl, along with vanilla yogurt and cream together. Add the brown sugar and continue to blend until creamy. Add the egg, and continue to mix thoroughly. Add the pure vanilla extract, and continue to cream together.

Together:
Time to add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Slow the mixer down, and slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until thoroughly combined. Now, add 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, mix; add the coconut and mix; add the Craisins and mix; and lastly add the chocolate chips and mix slowly. You should have a wonderful cookie dough ready for baking at this point.

I use a large tablespoon to make large cookies. This recipe will create 20 large cookies or approx 80 tsp size.

Scoop a large tablespoon of the dough onto your prepared cookies sheet and continue this process until the sheet is full. Place in your pre-heated oven and bake between 15-18 minutes. Be careful not to overcook these, as they will be dry. There should be a slight give to touch the top of the cookie in the oven and only very little browning. They will continue to cook on the sheet when you remove them from the oven. Transfer to a cooling rack and repeat the baking process until all the dough is used. Don't forget to lick the bowl:)

Enjoy and Stay Healthy!!!
Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT

Do not Stress About the Food!!!!

Hi Everyone

Are you thinking.....eating healthy is too hard? I say....keep is simple and do not stress. I see people getting so caught up in calorie counts, weighing food, percentages of proteins, carbs and fats that the new healthy food choices become an overwhelming chore. Have you heard of the saying.....throw out the scale.....well....apply it to the food....throw out the scales and calculators. Look at it this way....if you are eating pastries, white breads, and high sugar empty calorie cereals for meal 1 or breakfast....simply switch it out for a healthy choice such as oatmeal and while you are at it....throw in some blueberries. Sound easy.....now enjoy how the meal tastes. Often times eating healthy needs to start with just that.....EATING HEALTHY. OK....moving on to meal 2.....this would be a snack between breakfast and lunch.....resist those donuts sitting out in the office break room....and bring out that Clif bar you brought today. Again, take your time eating and enjoy the flavors. Meal 3......the friends want to go to their favorite pizza restaurant......well....you can opt to go and select the salad bar and throw in some egg whites, load up on the vegies and mixed greens...ALL DRESSINGS ON THE SIDE.....try to avoid the creamy stuff.....dip your fork in the dressing and enjoy the colorful mixture of greens, vegies, beans, proteins, that managed to make it on your fork. Meal 4.....another snack between lunch and dinner......I love to mix Non Fat Knudsen cottage cheese with a light and creamy Yoplait yogurt and throw in a few raw almonds....YUMMO. Meal 5......this is usually dinner.....load up on your favorite vegies and a grilled boneless/skinless chicken breast seasoned with spice. If you are a night owl.....you will feel hungry about 2 1/2 hours after meal 5.....I love to have rice cakes on hand with a smear of peanut butter....this does the trick. I also have vanilla whey protein powder on hand and will sometimes mix that in some vanilla silk light soy milk.

So....you see....eating healthy is just switching out unhealthy choices for healthy choices and the above is just a sample of the many wonderful choices you can make. Normal hunger is every 2 1/2 hours and eating small meals throughout the day keeps your metabolism turned on, your blood sugar stable, and eliminates the urge to grab that unhealthy choice because you are hungry. Eating this way should keep you feeling satisfied and NEVER hungry. Eating is WONDERFUL and incorporating healthy food choices and ENJOYING them will set you up to adapting a healthy nutrition lifestyle and you WILL SEE A CHANGE in your overall health. So....I challenge you to start today....begin with switching out the unhealthy choices for the healthy ones.....no calculators and no food scales. If you want to write down what you eat for time sake in order not to go over 2 1/2 hours....that is all I would worry about. If you want to include a protein, carb, fat column per meal.....simply put check marks next to those nutrients for your info that they were included with each meal. That is it though.....do not make this a overwhelming task.....and remember to ENJOY getting healthy!!!!

Stay Healthy!!!!
Darla:)
http://fitness-4-you.com