First Lunch on the Go: Total Success!

My first opportunity to show off my skills in successfully packing the cooler came at lunch time.  In a matter of minutes, I whipped up a delicious, perfectly paired, lunch for two.  Not as fast as Jimmy Johns but it was definitely WAY tastier and healthier! 

Here's what I did:

• 2 Chicken Breasts (clean & loved) - seasoned with ground pepper, sea salt (just a dash), a poultry blend and onion flakes.  I pulled out some aluminum foil, added just a touch of olive oil to the bottom and maybe an 1/4 cup of water, put the chicken on top and made a pouch with the foil. Once ready, I walked it out the grill - which the Mr. had already graciously fired up.  This took about four minutes to complete...

I then grabbed from my handy cooler the following:

• Leftover Brown Rice, Quinoa, Chia Seed Mix - plus black beans and sweet corn thrown in
• 2 Handfuls of Green Beans 
• 3 Handfuls of Fresh Spinach

I took more foil, lightly coated the bottom with olive oil, and put the leftover grain concoction on top.  On top of those I put the handfuls of green beans, and on top of those the handfuls of spinach.  I made the same pouch with the foil and walked it out to the grill. 

Let everything cook for 15 minutes or so...and tah dah!

Open your mind to simple options...and you'll be amazed with how creative simplicity can truly be!

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
Mrs. Skinny Fat

Eating Clean Over the Holiday Weekend - It Can Be Done!

It's the Friday before the Labor Day weekend, which in my world means planning menus,  making lists, gathering goodies, and finally packing it up all!  I am well aware that it's 10x  easier to simply pack your clothes, hop in the car, and hit the road for your weekend adventure.  Trust me, my husband reminds me this all the time! However, us clean eaters need to be able to select our meals from a healthy menu five to six times a day - I promise that you will not find what you need at the convenience store along the way! So while I endure moments of complaints from you know, the Mr. in all of this...typically along the lines of "You really have to bring all of this?!?" - at the end of the day I come out to be a hero as when hunger cries, I always have a wealth of goodies to choose from.  Okay, "hero" may be a bit extreme...luxury of being the writer in all this!

My List

My "To Pack" items are broken down into six basic categories including lean proteins, starchy complex carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, herbs & spices, and lastly, misc. & kitchen gadgets.  
 
Note:  For my Michigan friends, I have ** all of those items that I have picked up locally.

1.  Lean Proteins 

• Super Fresh, Salmon Fillets - caught just last weekend off Lake Michigan**
• Chicken Breasts - Raised with Love**
• Eggs (will need to attempt to pick these up along the way, then once reach destination will boil some for a healthy, go to snack)
• Hummus (also a healthy fat)
• Black Beans (also a starchy complex carb)
• Protein Power

2.  Starchy Complex Carbohydrates

• Red Skin Potatoes**
• Bananas
• Leftover Brown Rice, Quinoa (also a protein) & Chia Seed (also a healthy fat) Mix
• Oatmeal (both dry & pre-made)
• Carrots**
• Green Beans**
• Sweet Corn**
• Organic Tortilla Chips (blend of yellow & white corn)

3.  Complex Carbohydrates from Fruits & Vegetables

• Watermelon**
• Muskmelon**
• Pears**
• Apples**
• Blueberries**
• Pineapple
• Lemons
• Limes
• Spinach
• Tomatoes**
• Onions (Red & Yellow)**
• Scallions**
• Zucchini**
• Peppers (Red, Yellow, Green & Jalapenos)**
• Mushrooms

4.  Healthy Fats

• Avacados
• Raw Cashews
• Natural Peanut Butter
• Olive Oil

5.  Herbs & Spices

• 1 Bunch of Cilantro
• Garlic (also a complex carb)
• Handful of spices including, red pepper flakes, all-purpose, pepper, sea salt, parsley, onion flakes, cinnamon, dill, poultry blend, and a seafood blend.

6.  Misc. & Kitchen Stuff

• Green Tea
• Unsweetened Soy Milk
• Plain Greek Yogurt (also great source of protein)
• 2 Whole Food Bars
• Supplements (active multi, bone strength, and omegas 3, 6 & 9)
• Magic Bullet
• Grill Baskets (Pamperedchef style!)
• Water Bottles (2)
• Wine (1 White & 2 Reds - all from Traverse City, Michigan)
• Wine Glasses (when you splurge, do it right!)

Pulling it all together...Love seeing all the colors!

My favorite whole food bar "EcoTrek Fitness Whole Food Bar" -
made locally and designed by my personal trainer, Cari Draft.

One cooler complete! Filled to the brim just the way I like it!

And...getting closer! So many fresh goodies ready for a weekend adventure!

Don't let a long weekend impact your eating gains!  If you plan and pack, you'll be able to avoid those "lurking around every corner" temptations.  Stick to your menu and try and treat a Saturday no different from your Monday routine. Your body will reward you for doing so!  

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
Mrs. Skinny Fat

P.S.  Don't forget the running shoes!  

Brown Rice, Quinoa & Chia Seed Mix

I love the combination of cooking together brown rice and quinoa. To me, it makes the perfect textured mix!  It's so simple too - especially, if you have a rice cooker.  Recently, I have also been adding Chia Seeds to the mixture...so good and all so good for you! 

Using the "cup" that came with the rice cooker - here's the basics of how I pull everything together:

1 Cup of Brown Rice
1 Cup of Quinoa

Mix together and wash grains well before use by placing them in a fine mesh sieve and rinsing under running water until the water runs clear.   For further guidance and reasoning for washing your grains, please check out this helpful article.

Once rinsed, add your final ingredients:

1/4 Cup of Chia Seeds
1 Teaspoon of Olive Oil
Add Water Accordingly

Then load it up with spices!   Fresh garlic, ground pepper, dash of sea salt, parsley, and onion flakes...whatever your heart desires! 

Give it a good mix.  Turn the switch to "Cook" and you're good to go! Typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes...I check on it periodically to see if any additional water is needed.

This combination is the perfect foundation for any meal - best of all it makes for great leftovers (lots of flexibility to change it up if you wish!)

 Handy kitchen appliance -  "Rice Cooker" is used weekly in my household.
I bought this one years ago at Walgreens (of all places) for less than $10. 
Mine also came with the steamer top - making it easy to throw in some veggies while the rice (or combination of) is cooking.

I keep all of my favorite spices easily accessible (front & center) in the kitchen. 
Simply Organic is one of my favorite brands. 

I typically buy my rice in bulk - like with everything I always aim for quality. This one in particular is a gourmet blend of CalMati Brown Rice, Wild Rice, Sweet Brown Rice, Heirloom Red Rice.  I believe I picked this up at Costco.

Quinoa is amazing for you! I purchased this from the local health food store. 

Chia Seeds are my new favorite thing! Again, picked these up from the health food store. A little goes a long way with these powerful bad boys!

Once the rice is cooked, I will often add a splash of Bragg's Liquid Aminos.  It's a soy sauce alternative - taste the same yet is made from soybeans and purified water. 

Eating clean isn't meant to be difficult, in fact it's quite the opposite.  Once you get the staples down...everything else just falls into place! 

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,

Mrs. Skinny Fat