Sunday, September 29, 2013

The 'Clean' Tastes of Fall!

It's that time of year - the cool, crisp days reminiscent of playing in the leaves, football, warm soups and spicy pumpkin flavors - but the traditional recipes are sure to make your waistline grow with the change in seasons!

Try these incredible recipes that are not only delicious but CLEAN too (and your family won't even know they are healthy!)

Warm, Hearty and Healthy Chicken and Rice Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
3 large chicken breasts
1 container Pacific Foods Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth
4 cups water
2 cups chopped fresh spinach or kale
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper and 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 carrot, chopped
1 container fresh pico de gallo (try Whole Foods or Sprouts- yum!)
3-4 garlic cloves (I love garlic and sometimes use 5)
2 TBS each fresh rosemary and thyme
1/2 cup (dry) brown or wild rice
Spices to season: Bragg 24 Spice seasoning, black pepper, cumin and sea salt (use sparingly and taste periodically throughout cooking to add more if needed)

Directions:
In a large pot, sprayed with cooking spray, sautee bell peppers and onion 2 minutes until onion is clear. Add chicken and sautee 1-2 minutes until slightly browned.  Add garlic and sautee another minute.

Add carrot, spinach, pico, rice, broth, water and seasonings - stir and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour (can also cook in a crock pot on high 2-3 hours if desired).

This soup is GREAT the next day after all flavors have combined and freezes/reheats beautifully!

Makes 6 servings

Nutrition Per Serving:
Cals 176
Protein 23.1g
Carbs 16.6g
Fat 1.6g



Creamy Pumpkin Oatmeal (SO easy and quick!)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats or Instant Oats
2 TBS Canned Pumpkin (not spiced pumpkin - this has sugar added - just plain only ingredient Pumpkin)
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Spice
2 packets stevia
1/2 cup Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk

Directions:
Cover Oats with water and cook in micro on high 2 min.  Stir in pumpkin, spices and almond milk!

Want to add some protein to make your meal complete?  Try 1 scoop or Raw Protein or 5 scrambled egg whites stirred into the oatmeal - YUM!  Add some healthy fats with 2 TBS chopped nuts

Nutrition Per Bowl (oats/pumpkin/spices/Almond milk without add-ins)
Cals 175
Protein 5.8g
Carbs 30g
Fat 3.1g