Here's a remake of a popular party appetizer. This version is 21 Day Fix approved and gluten-free.

Ingredients

1/2 c low fat ricotta cheese
1/4 c plain fat-free Greek yogurt
1/2 cup frozen, thawed chopped spinach, squeezed dry in a kitchen towel
1/2 cup chopped artichoke hearts in water, drained
2 Tbs grated pecorino-romano or parmesan cheese
4 Tbs shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
salt, pepper and garlic powder, to taste

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, Greek yogurt, spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, Romano cheese and 2 tablespoons of the shredded mozzarella. Season with salt, black pepper and garlic powder to taste.

Put in a small oven-safe baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes or until heated through and the cheese on top has melted.

Serve with gluten-free pita chips, tortilla chips or vegetables like bell pepper slices

Like it or not, we all go a little overboard once in a while. Get back on track with us on November 30 by refreshing your body and making this the healthiest Holiday season ever! 

Healthy Holiday Challenge
Begins Monday, November 30
Limited Enrollment

To join Email brendalajay@gmail.comUse "Refresh" in the subject

Brenda

Don't Gobble 'til You Wobble! Stay on Track this Holiday Season without Counting a Single Calorie!

Have the healthiest Holiday ever! Follow #FixYourHoliday for healthy holiday tips, recipes, humor and more!

It's that time of the year when most of us tend to fall off the diet wagon. I'll admit it... I'm guilty of it too. Allowing yourself to indulge and enjoy holiday meals with friends and family is expected. Giving yourself the license to do it every day for a month is asking for trouble. So here's a simple way to enjoy all the foods you love this holiday season and avoid holiday weight gain.

Diets shouldn't be difficult. You shouldn't have to pull your calculator out every time you sit down to eat. One of the more difficult parts of starting any new diet or nutrition program is figuring out portion control. The color-coded 21 Day Fix containers were created to help solve this problem and make portion control easy and intuitive and get you away from the hassle of calorie counting. If it fits and it’s on the approved food list, you can eat it!

How the 21 Day Fix Containers Work

There are six colors corresponding to six different types of foods:

The green container is for vegetables. These can be cooked or raw, sliced or chopped. Some examples include lettuces, kale, squash, peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Go ahead and really squish the lettuce into there to create a voluminous salad!

The purple container is for fruits. Berries can easily fit into this container as can grapes and cherries, but you’ll want to cut larger fruits like watermelon, or fruits with pits, like peaches.

The red container is for protein. Fill it with chicken breast, yogurt, eggs, tofu, or shellfish. For some of the other protein, consult the food list in your guide.

The yellow container is for more caloric carbs, as well as starches. This is where you’ll fit in foods like rice, beans, sweet potatoes, and whole-grain pasta into your diet. For foods that don’t easily fit into your container such as waffles and tortillas, the portion amounts are in your 21 Day Fix guide.

The blue container is for healthy fats. Mashed avocado, nuts, cheese, and hummus are just a few of the things you can put in this container.

The orange container is for seeds and dressings. It is the smallest and is used for calorie-dense foods like seeds, olives, coconut, and 21 Day Fix-approved dressings.

There is also a teaspoon measurement included in the 21 Day Fix program, and this is for oils and butters, such as olive oil and peanut butter. A teaspoon is not provided with the containers, so you’ll need to use your own. (And who doesn’t have a teaspoon in their kitchen?)

How To Use Them

Now that you know what goes in the containers, it’s time to use them. Although you don’t have to count your calories each day, you should use the Target Calorie Guide from the 21 Day Fix Meal Planning Guide to figure out approximately how many calories you need in a day. Once you do, take a look at the Container Chart that will let you how many containers of each color you should eat each day for your calorie range. If you want to get technical you’ll notice that the plan is roughly 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat.

Although the guide contains recommendations for how much of one type of food can fit into a container, you can mix and match foods of the same category to fill a single container. For example, if you don’t want to use a whole green container for spinach, then you can fill one half full of spinach and the other half full of carrots, and it will still equal one green container.

As convenient and transportable as the containers are, you don’t have to eat out of them. You can measure out the portions in the containers and then empty the container out onto a plate or into a bowl.

Why the 21 Day Fix Container System Works

You don’t have to count calories. You only count containers. And it’s a lot easier to keep track of three green containers than x number of calories.

It’s definitely enough food. Often when people begin this program, they find that they’re full even before they’ve finished all their container portions for the day. That’s because healthy food has more volume than junk food. If you find you find this is the case for you, only eat what you can, but make sure to eat a little from all the containers instead of just filling up on your favorite kind and avoiding what you like the least.

It’s practical. Portion control is about moderation and being aware of what you’re eating. The containers help you do this. After you’ve completed your first 21 days, you’ll have a good idea of how many fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats you should be eating every day and you may not have to rely on the container to measure your meals.

Need some ideas on how to use yours containers? Visit my 21 Day Fix Recipes board on Pinterest or find and friend me on Facebook @ www.Facebook.com/brenda.l.ajay

Ready to give the 21 Day FIX program a try but not sure where to start? 

Why not join my next online 21 Day FIX support group. It's a fun way to get acquainted with the program, make new friends and get some great recipes and meal ideas. The group is free with the purchase of a 21 Day FIX or 21 Day FIX Extreme Challenge Pack. Joining is easy, just fill out this form to tell me a little more about why you're ready for Th FIX!

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Brenda

What in the world is Shakeology & why would I ever drink it?

How We Find the Ingredients in Shakeology

by Darin Olien for Beachbody

OK, how did the more than 70 ingredients end up in Shakeology? I started with some questions. I asked myself, “What do most bodies require in this day and age?” “What is not being delivered in food today (and even good, organic food)?” “What are the gaps in nutrition that need to be filled for the majority of people?”

But the first question was, “Why do we even need a shake with that much nutrition anyway? What’s wrong with the food we eat anyway?”

The fact is, these days, our food is lacking nutrients. The nutrient density of our food has continued to plummet as the value of money has trumped the value of quality. It is insane, but true!

The facts are well documented. Pushing farm production has depleted soils. Crops of non-nutritive foods have replaced nutrition-dense foods. And pesticides and genetic modification are wreaking havoc with the chemical and genetic markers that have evolved over the centuries. That means we’re putting more food into the pipeline that has less of what we need and more of what we don’t need. On a biological level, our bodies hardly recognize the food we are swallowing.

Ask yourself . . . how do you expect your body to live tirelessly, vibrantly, with the power to defend itself from disease if what is being fed into it is like putting dirty gas in the tank of a Ferrari? What a waste of a beautiful sports car!

If we want our health to improve, we need to be aware so we can choose differently, and in this case, we chose to create something to fulfill the deep desire of everybody’s need to be fed more nutrition. So we started by filling in those gaps, giving the body what it really wants and requires!

The result is 70-plus ingredients, feeding the body the equivalent of a supercharged multivitamin and protein-rich health smoothie. As important as the ingredients are, what drove their inclusion was the body’s need for these vital ingredients, the cornerstones of Shakeology’s creation:

1. Whole foods.

So many supplements on the market are just fragmentations of the complete matrix of real food. Think of it like taking the most popular scene from a 2-hour movie and calling THAT the movie. It’s incomplete without the character development, plot, and nuance that make it a holistic experience. The same goes with food. On a biological level, your body needs the whole “movie” to get the complete benefit of the vitamin or mineral that is the star. You just cannot replace or re-engineer the incredible balance and creation of whole foods. So we selected high-quality, potent foods, herbs, grasses, and ingredients, and then processed them minimally to preserve the integrity, phytochemicals, natural vitamins, minerals, alkaloids, phytosterols, etc. This was a huge aspect of Shakeology getting the whole, deliverable nutrition in bioavailable ways.

2. Vitamins and minerals.

We included quality nutrition from potent and varying whole food sources (“nutrition, right off the vine” as I like to call it). And then we backed that up by adding in a well-balanced vitamin and mineral profile since whole foods fluctuate from crop to crop.

3. Enzymes

Enzymes are critical for optimal health. But since enzymes flood the food only in the last days of ripening before harvest, enzyme supplementation is critical for the majority of people. Even if you eat all raw foods, the enzymes are still low. And cooked food has zero active enzymes. Why enzymes? They have been called “The Fountain of Life!” They are behind every single process in the body! Yes, everything requires enzymes! The labor force of the body that digests, absorbs, allows for signals to be sent, creates new blood cells, etc., is all governed by enzymes. You would be shocked at how starved your body has been for enzyme support. That’s why the addition of these vital forces to Shakeology was so critical!

4. Prebiotics and Probiotics

We’ve all heard about foods with additive probiotics, like yogurts for instance. Did you know that your body can actually manifest its own probiotics if you feed it prebiotics? With the way people eat today they have created a thriving environment for unhealthy bacteria in the body. That has created all sorts of debilitating breakdowns of the body: candida, fibromyalgia, even the foundation for mental and emotional fatigue . . . and on and on. The prebiotics of the amazing yacon root (which I will get into in future posts) is food for the “healthy” bacteria, and in turn creates an environment for healthy probiotics to flourish. By getting our internal “ecosystem” in balance, you have the potential for a vibrant, thriving body and life! It’s complex, and even difficult to fathom an ecosystem inside your own body, but it cannot be underestimated. You need prebiotics to help you foster probiotics!

5. MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

MSM is a naturally occurring sulfur compound found in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, milk, fish, and grains. But within hours of harvest, MSM changes and is virtually gone. That’s why it is very difficult to get MSM naturally, because where ancient man ate what he picked almost instantly, today it is picked, processed, packaged, and palleted for months before it hits the table. MSM is long gone. But why is it important? MSM is critical to the connective tissue and the fluidity (or space) between cells! MSM gives them “room to breathe.” When the body becomes very rigid, tight, painful, and stiff, oftentimes MSM is at very low quantities in the body. Since we are not eating our own foods immediately after harvesting, we MUST supplement this vital component, or the body has a hard time staying healthy and flexible on a cellular level, which translates throughout the body on a
biomechanical level as well.

Ask me about our preferred customer discount where you can save 25% on Shakeology and other Beachbody products.

brendalajay@gmail.com

Brenda

Brining for Sensational Grilling

from the Beachbody blog
How to brine chicken, quick chicken brine recipe—why do we need quick? Because usually when I realize I need to brine something it’s too late to make and cool the brine, and then go through the hours of brining. I always brine chickens that I intend to fry. Always. Well, almost always, sometimes, the urge comes too fast and powerfully even to do this, but normally I have at least four hours before I need to get the chicken floured and plunked into the fat. Here’s what I do when I need to brine fast .

As I write in Ratio: The Simple Codes etc., my ideal brine is 5%. That means 50 grams of salt in a liter of water, 1 ounce of salt for every 20 ounces of water, or for those poor souls without a scale, 2 tablespoons Morton’s coarse kosher salt for every 2.5 cups water.  It’s powerful enough to work, but not so powerful that you will make the meat too salty if it stays too long in the brine. (It’s also the perfect ratio for making naturally sour pickles!)

But.  If you want to brine more quickly, make a stronger brine.  I double it to a 10% salt solution, 100 grams salt per 1000 grams/milliliters water (gosh I love metric).  But there’s still a time issue: if you want to add aromatics and ensure you dissolve the salt, you’ve got to heat the brine (and water takes forever to cool; can’t wait that long).

So: When that powerful, powerful urge to have fried chicken strikes at midday, I make a 10% brine but use only half the water.  I bring this, along with herbs and garlic and lemon to a simmer, let it steep for 10 minutes, then add the rest of the water as ice (another handy use for a scale, weighing frozen water).  By the time the ice is dissolved, minutes, the brine is cool.  I throw it all in a plastic bag and leave it at room temp for 2 to 3 hours, remove it, rinse it, and let it rest for another hour or so, to give the heavy salt concentration on the exterior time to penetrate and equalize.

And there it is. Ta. Da!  Quick-brined chicken.

Lemon-Herb Brine for 1 Chicken, whole or cut into pieces

15 ounces water (or 1/2 liter)
3 ounces salt (or 100 grams)
fresh herbs (I used sage above)
4 cloves garlic
1 small onion sliced
1 lemon halved
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons black peppercorns, cracked beneath a saute pan
15 ounces ice (500 grams ice), or 15 ounces of ice water
1 chicken (3 to 4 pounds)
Combine all of the above except the ice and chicken in a small pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and remove from the heat and let sit for ten minutes.
Put the ice  (or ice water) in a bowl or large measuring cup.  Pour the herb brine over the ice.  Stir till the ice is dissolved.
Put the chicken in a plastic bag, pour the brine in, seal the bag, and let sit at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours.
Remove the chicken from the bag, discarding the brine.  Pat it dry and let it sit out for another hour before using (or you can refrigerate it till needed).  Great for roasting, but especially fine for frying.

Follow Brenda's board Clean Eating on Pinterest.

These recipes are great but are you ready for more?
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Brenda

A busy moms answer to healthy delicious meals

If you follow my blog, then you know how much I love 21 Day Fix. I know, I've said it before, it is not a diet...it's a lifestyle, and it can totally transform your body and your health. Celebrity trainer, Autumn Calabrese, developed the 21 Day Fix program and the sequel 21 Day Fix Extreme and since the release of the popular programs, "Fixers" everywhere have been asking for more. Search Pinterest and you'll find pin after pin, board after board, dedicated to food favorites that comply with the ever popular colorful container portion control system designed by Autumn. Well, she's back and she's dishing out 101 of her best recipes to success in an all new 21 Day Fix companion cookbook, Fixate.

The demand for the book has been off the charts. "People have been asking about it for so long," she says. It will finally be available next week!

Fixate will teach you how to make healthy, delicious meals that fit into your busy lifestyle. And every recipe includes container equivalents to use with 21 Day Fix, as well as nutritional information you can use with any Beachbody fitness program.

PERSONAL PASSION

I really feel inspired by Autumn more than any other Beachbody trainer. Maybe it's because we're both Italian and we both grew up in the restaurant business. But I fully understand her devotion to eating whole, natural foods. That's why I was so inspired by the fact that she reached into her family history for inspiration. "My family was in the restaurant business, so I basically grew up in the kitchen," she explains. "I was able to take my family's recipes and make them healthier."

"We took our time, tested the recipes and I love every single one of them," she says with pride. "It's not fancy cooking; there's a variety of everyday go-to recipes and special recipes for special occasions."

How many recipes are in the book, you ask? Try 101. Some were creations of a chef very close to Autumn's heart: her brother. "That makes it even more sentimental for me," she says.

Each of the recipes comes complete with detailed instructions, mouthwatering photos, nutritional information and container equivalents. What's more, Autumn has added icons to each recipe that will let readers know if they are paleo, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian.

"This book is for everybody," says Autumn. "You don't have to be graduates of 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix EXTREME. You also don't have to be a chef or great in the kitchen. It's for anyone who wants to make healthier versions of the foods they love."

According to Autumn, "Everyone will use the book differently. For some, it will become their "go-to" cookbook they use every single day. Others may use it when they're going to a special event like a barbeque or party."

And in addition to all the amazing recipes, Autumn has also included a detailed checklist for her absolute must-have kitchen and pantry staples, as well as the basic utensils and tools that every cook needs.

Inside Fixate you'll find a section for every possible meal you can imagine: simple breakfasts, on-the-go lunches, sit down dinners, soups, salads, as well as healthy snacks like kale chips and protein bars.

Autumn insisted that all the "on-the-go" lunch recipes be easy and fast for working moms. "I based all of the lunches off leftovers from dinner and even breakfast," she reveals. "I turned them into delicious, easy-to-make lunch recipes." Autumn adds, "I also included a few of my favorite Shakeology recipes—even some Fix-approved skinny cocktails."

And then there's the desserts. "I have a big sweet tooth so I was really pleased with them," she says. "I especially love the brownies (made with chick peas), peanut butter cookies and cake recipes, and the desserts are all gluten-free so absolutely everyone can enjoy them."

As you know, Beachbody extended the promotional pricing of the 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme challenge packs through the end of July. And in celebration of Fixate, I've decided to give a FREE copy of Fixate to everyone who purchases a Beachbody Challenge pack before July 15! 

A challenge pack includes a Beachbody fitness program, a 1 month supply of Shakeology, nutrition guide, free personal coaching, a 30 day trial of Beachbody Club membership including Beachbody on demand and any accessory items that may be required for the program. In addition, you will be invited to join our online fitness and accountability groups, an amazing system of support that helps you to stay accountable and reach your goals.

What do you think? Are you ready to FIX this?!!

Fill out this application for more information or email me:

brendalajay@gmail.com

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Follow Brenda's board 21 Day Fix Recipes on Pinterest.

Brenda

Shhh...Are you a closet dieter?

Most people have tried to change their eating habits at some point in their lives. Even though almost everyone I know has tried a diet or two, studies show that as high as 66 percent of dieters do it secretly.

There are a few reasons why we become closet dieters.

Fear of failure:

We're afraid of being shamed if we don't reach our goal. This is especially true if we have a lot of weight to lose. We want instant results. When the weight doesn't come off fast enough, it feels like we've failed.

Fear of being judged:

Most people choose not  to tell their friends and family about their diet change because there is added pressure to succeed. On the other hand, there's the anxiety we get when we're made fun of for eating good food. Like somehow eating healthy is a bad thing!

Fear of letting other people down:

How many times have you been pressured to lose weight, and get in shape by your friends and loved ones? Making a commitment to improving your diet and health is very personal and it's not easy to do. When people around you point fingers it's sometimes because they underestimate how much of a challenge it is. You only let people down when you give up. Instead, rise to the challenge and set an example for everyone around you. Sooner or later, they'll see that you're serious and you'll gain their respect.

It's time to come out of the closet and here's why:

1. Diet and Exercise needs a support system. And the more weight you have to lose, the more important it is to have that positive influence to keep you going. That's why our online challenge groups are so important. 24/7 free coaching support plus encouragement from you peers is a formula for success.
2. We need to feel "accountable". When you find the courage to state your intentions out loud you are making a huge leap in the right direction. When you go public with your health and fitness goals you will feel more confident about reaching them. Suddenly you are setting an example and that's empowering. 
3. No diet and exercise program is perfect. We will fail occasionally. The point is that we pick ourselves up and start again. Sometimes your failures can speak louder than your successes. You're not letting anyone down when you fall, instead you are motivating them when you keep getting back up. So even if you have some setbacks, just continuing with your journey and not giving up proves that you are strong and determined. Others will applaud you for that.
4. Remember to focus on your reason why. You won't let anyone down if they know how important your health and fitness journey is to you. You should never feel self-conscious of making healthier choices. Your decision to get healthy is an unselfish one. 

Teamwork makes the dream work!

Want to learn more about how I can help you on your health and fitness journey? Complete the application below so we can get to work creating a customized plan that will work for you!

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21 Day FIX Berry Parfait

This is one SWEET way to eat!!!

21 Day FIX Berry Parfait

Ingredients:

1 PURPLE Fresh mixed berries
1 RED Low fat ricotta cheese
1 TB honey
dash of cinnamon

Mix ricotta, honey and cinnamon together and top with fresh berries.
Enjoy!

You don't have to torture yourself to lose weight - and you certainly don't have to sacrifice eating delicious treats like this! 21 Day FIX is one AWESOME recipe for losing weight and getting fit.

• Can you handle 21 days of delicious, whole, fresh food?  Yeah, you can even have cheese, chocolate and wine.

• Can you squeeze in 30 minutes of really simple exercise?

• Can you replace 1 meal each day with Shakeology? With flavors like chocolate peanut butter cup, pina colada, snickers, salted caramel and chocolate covered strawberry...I think you can!

• Can you commit for 21 days to a private online group with free 24/7 coaching support and encouragement from other "FIXER" friends.

I believe you can!
It's just 21 days...Ready to give it a try?

Fill out this form for more information:

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Brenda

55 Healthy Snacks Under 150 Calories

Eating healthy doesn’t need to be complicated or boring! Here are 55 easy-to-prepare snacks, each under 150 calories, that will keep your taste buds happy. Check out our eating clean recipe page for even more great ideas!

1. Mini tostada

Spread ¼ cup of nonfat refried beans on a small tortilla. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and a sprinkle of your favorite cheese.

2. Frozen grapes

Freeze 1 cup of grapes and enjoy them as if they’re sorbet.

3. Greek yogurt with honey

Mix one teaspoon of honey into half a cup of plain, nonfat Greek yogurt.

4. Cinnamon apple

Sprinkle an apple with cinnamon for a treat that tastes more decadent than it is.

5. Strawberries and chocolate

Dip 4 or 5 (depending on their size) strawberries into 2 squares of melted dark chocolate.

6. Almost apple pie

Try 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce with a hint of cinnamon.

7. Jicama

Chop one and a half cups of jicama and add a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of salt for a tangy, refreshing treat.

8. Café Au Lait

Enjoy 8 ounces of skim milk with a shot of espresso.

9. Carrots with hummus

Crunch on 9 or 10 baby carrots with a side of 2 tablespoons of hummus.

10. Nuts

A handful of 25 pistachios, 14 almonds, or 16 peanuts makes for a nice “good” fat and protein snack.

11. Eggs with guacamole

Hard boil an egg and replace the yolk with 2 tablespoons of guacamole for a protein-packed snack.

12. Edamame

Boil or steam one-half cup of unshelled edamame with a pinch of salt for a fiber-rich snack.

13. Bitter chocolate

Enjoy 1 large block or 3 small squares of dark chocolate.

14. Mediterranean tomato

Dice one medium tomato and top with 2 tablespoons feta cheese and a pinch of salt.

15. Kale Chips

Make your own kale chips for a fraction of the price with this recipe

16. Bell peppers with balsamic vinegar

Drizzle 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar on top of 2 cups of sliced bell peppers.

17. Eggs with spinach

Scramble 3 egg whites with one-half cup of raw spinach and 1 Tbsp. of feta cheese.

18. Corn with garlic

Coat one-half of an ear of corn with a 1 tsp. of olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove. Grill until tender.

19. Santa Fe black beans

Combine one-quarter cup black beans, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and 1 Tbsp. of nonfat Greek yogurt for a hearty snack.

20. Chocolate banana

Dip one-half of a banana into 2 squares of melted dark chocolate.

21. Caprese

Top one ounce of mozzarella cheese with half a cup of cherry tomatoes and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar.

22. Tuna salad

Mix together 2 ounces of water-packed tuna with 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard.

23. Sweet potato

Enjoy one small baked sweet potato plain or with a pinch of salt.

24. Popcorn

Munch on 2 cups of air popped popcorn.

25. Olives

For a salty snack, enjoy 9 kalamata olives.

26. Greek watermelon

Top 1 cup of watermelon with 2 tablespoons of crumbled feta.

27. Peanut butter

Even on its own, peanut (or almond) butter makes for a treat full of good fats.

28. Cottage cheese and melon

Combine three-quarters of a cup of melon with one-quarter cup of nonfat cottage cheese for a sweet dessert.

29. Strawberry and spinach salad

For a savory and sweet salad, mix together 1 cup of baby spinach with one-half cup of sliced strawberries. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.

30. Shakeology

Mix one-half serving of your favorite flavor of Shakeology with water.

31. Spiced cottage cheese

Mix ¾ cup nonfat cottage cheese with a pinch of chili powder and a pinch of curry powder. Top with chopped scallions if desired.

32. Shrimp cocktail

Dip eight medium-sized cooked, peeled shrimp in 2 Tbsp. all-natural cocktail sauce.

33. Crisp bread and lox

Top a Wasa whole-grain cracker with 1 ounce of salmon lox, two slices of cucumber, and a pinch of crushed black pepper.

34. Ham-wrapped asparagus

Wrap three slices of lean, nitrate free deli ham around three cooked asparagus spears.

35. Mediterranean rice cake

Spread 1 Tbsp. of hummus on a whole grain rice cake. Top with two cucumber slices.

36. Carrot salad

Mix two grated carrots with one Tbsp. of raisins, one tsp. of raw sunflower seeds, and 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar.

37. Black bean salad

For a snack with protein and fiber, mix ¼ cup drained black beans, one chopped tomato, half a green bell pepper chopped, and a pinch of chili powder.

38. Roasted red pepper Wasa cracker

Spread 2 Tbsp. hummus on a whole-grain Wasa cracker. Top with one jarred roasted red pepper, sliced.

39. Avocado cracker

Mash ¼ avocado with a squeeze of lime. Spread on a Wasa cracker and top with a pinch of espelette pepper or smoked paprika.

40. Pistachios and cranberries

Combine 16 shelled pistachios with ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries.

41. Veggies and ranch dip

Enjoy ranch dressing without the guilt! Dip 10 baby carrots and 8 cherry tomatoes into 2 Tbsp. of our homemade healthier ranch dip.

42. Frozen nutty banana

Roll half a peeled banana in one Tbsp. chopped peanuts, pressing so that nuts stick to the banana. Freeze. Enjoy!

43. Baked Apple Chips 

Bake your own apple chips and you can enjoy them with much less sugar. Here’s the recipe.

44. Cheese and cracker

Top one Wasa cracker with slices of 1 piece of string cheese

45. Italian cucumbers

Cut up 2 cucumbers and enjoy them with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar

46. Seaweed snacks

1 package of roasted seaweed snacks from Trader Joe’s or your local supermarket.

47. Crunch + spice

Cut up 4 celery stalks and enjoy them with ¼ cup salsa.

48. After school snack

Cut up 4 celery stalks and dip them in 1 tbsp. almond butter.

49. Cheesy popcorn

Sprinkle 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast over 2 cups air popped popcorn.

50. Turkey tartine

Top one slice whole grain bread with 2 slices deli turkey and 1 tsp. mustard.

51. PB + J

Top one Wasa cracker with 2 tsp. nut butter and 3 sliced strawberries.

52. Monkey snack

Cut up one half of a banana and dip it in 2 tsp. nut butter and then 1 tbsp. granola.

53. Easy avocado

Mash up one half of an avocado and mix it with 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar.

54. Japanese avocado

Mash up one half of an avocado and combine with with ¼ tsp. soy sauce, ¼ tsp. sesame seeds, and a drizzle of rice wine vinegar.

55. Chips and salsa

Try these corn tortilla chips with 2 tbsp. fresh salsa.

Overwhelmed by all this clean eating stuff?

Hey, I can help!

Want to learn more about how I can help you on your health and fitness journey? Complete the application below so we can get to work creating a customized plan that will work for you!

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Brenda

Going Gluten Free

Take a deep breath, going gluten free isn't the end of the world. 

Who should cut gluten from their diet and why?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It is responsible for helping foods to keep their shape and to bind ingredients together. When people with Celiac Disease eat gluten, their body has an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body. For these folks, products containing gluten are a real threat and must be eliminated from their diet.

If you're like me and suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain or other autoimmune disease, the same immune response triggered by gluten can cause a build up of inflammation in your body and can cause your condition and pain to become worse. Not all people with autoimmune condition are sensitive to gluten, but if you suspect that your symptoms become worse after you eat a lot of bread, pasta and grains, you may also benefit from eliminating gluten.

Don't panic!

Going gluten free doesn't have to be complicated. Many people avoind going gluten free because they feel it's too restrictive, inconvenient or expensive. In fact, it's just the opposite. A gluten free diet is really a whole foods, clean diet. In America, 70% of our diet comes from processed, packaged and fast food - gluten containing foods. If you eliminate these things you will easily cut most of the gluten from your diet. Shop instead for fresh fruits and vegetables; gluten free whole grains like whole grain rice and quinoa; and plain, unprocessed meats, chicken, fish and eggs. If you cut the processed foods off your grocery list, you will cut much of the cost. So a gluten free diet doesn't have to be expensive. Here's the catch - you will have to prepare most of your meals. So if you don't like to cook, this can be an obstacle. But surf the net and Pinterest and you'll find plenty of quick and easy recipes and meal ideas to make gluten free living a snap.

Will you really feel better?

YES! If you follow a clean gluten free diet, and eliminate processed foods, it is possible to lose weight and gain energy. You may also notice that you don't suffer from "brain fog" anymore and joint pain and skin conditions may improve. Everyone benefits from a clean diet!

Watch out for products labeled gluten free

Don't fall into the trap of filling up your pantry with a bunch of packaged foods that are labeled gluten free. They're okay for an occasional snack, but the problem is that gluten free product are higher in calories, sugars and fats than their gluten containing counterparts. So overindulge and you can pack on the pounds very quickly!

Tips:

• Make sure to get your grains. Choose beans, vegetables and gluten free whole grains.

• Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Think fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, chicken, dairy, cheese and eggs.

• Read the label. Look for whole grain gluten free products and watch out for hidden sources of gluten in many canned, packaged and bottled products.

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Join my team and get FREE 1:1 coaching plus exclusive access to members only recipes, Facebook groups, clean eating tips and fitness advice.

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Brenda

Get your Fix this Summer & Get Fit for Life!

I'm really excited about this month's 21 Day Fix challenge group. Summer is the perfect season to cut back on calories and try out a new fitness program. Most people are under the impression that you can lose weight simply by working out like crazy or spending hours at the gym. But the truth is that weight loss is really 70% nutrition and 30% fitness. That means that in order to lose weight and keep it off for good, you need to place a priority on the food that you eat. Your diet is the fuel that energizes you all day long. Eat crap and you'll feel like crap! Fuel you engine a little at a time throughout the day with fresh, clean food and you'll look and feel energized all day long.

Another benefit of eating healthy is that it's giving your metabolism a boost. So you don't need to beat yourself up with hours of exercise. As long as you're eating well and you're careful not to overload with calories, all you really need is 30 minutes a day. That's it! So the beauty of the 21 Day Fix program is that it gives you a road map to follow. You simply follow a schedule that includes meal plans, recipes, portion control, and simple fitness. Follow the plan and you will see results that last.

I repeat the 21 Day Fix challenge group each month with a different theme. So mark your calendar - June 21 we'll be turning up the heat with some awesome grilling and pool side recipes that will make your meal planning a snap! Once you complete your first challenge group you're welcome to keep coming back to repeat the challenge as many times as you like until you reach your goal.

Still wondering if the 21 Day Fix is the right fit for you? 

21 Day Fix is a nutrition and fitness program that makes losing weight so simple, anyone can do it. Easy-to-follow portion control and 30-minute workouts take the guesswork out of losing weight to help you see results fast—up to 15 pounds in just 21 days! Whether you want to lose a few pounds before your next vacation or jump-start a bigger weight-loss goal, 21 Day Fix is the program for you. It’s simple, it’s fast, and it works. If you’re ready to get serious, 21 Day Fix can help you lose the weight. Why is 21 Day Fix effective? Because it’s so simple! You don’t have to count calories, points, or log your food into diet software. With 21 Day Fix, everything is laid out for you. All you have to do is use the specially designed portion-control containers and do one 30-minute workout per day. Commit to it for 21 days, and you’re going to love your results. What makes 21 Day Fix unique? It’s the only fitness and nutrition program that combines portion-control containers and world-class workouts. By placing equal emphasis on fitness and healthy portion control, 21 Day Fix can help anyone lose weight—and keep it off—in a way that’s simple and sustainable. Whether you want to lose 10 pounds or 100 pounds, you can do it with this program.


Autumn Calabrese is your personal trainer 

and a celebrity fitness trainer, busy mom, and national-level bikini competitor. She came up with the idea of a portion-control container system after watching a client eat an entire 1,300-calorie salad in one sitting because it was “healthy.” Autumn realized that supersized portions were hurting her clients’ weight-loss success because they were eating too much without knowing it. So she developed portion-control containers to help people see how simple it is to eat the right amounts and lose weight easily. And as a single mother, Autumn understands how hard it can be to fit exercise and healthy eating into a jam-packed schedule. So she created short but effective workouts that take only 30 minutes a day, along with a simple eating plan that doesn’t require you to spend hours in the kitchen.

Who Should do the 21 Day Fix?

Want to lose a little weight before a big event or vacation?

21 Day Fix can help you lose weight fast. If you commit to this program, you’ll look and feel amazing in time for your big event.

Do you need a flexible eating plan?

21 Day Fix does not require you to follow specific recipes or buy strange ingredients. You can keep

eating the foods you love, and you can still cook for the family—just use the containers to portion out

your servings.

Are you a fitness rookie?

The program is so simple, any fitness level can follow it. All the workouts have a modifier who shows easier moves, so you don’t feel intimidated.

Frustrated? Have you tried and failed at other weight loss programs?

21 Day Fix was designed to make weight loss simple. You’ll never have to count calories, carbs, or points. Just follow the simple Eating Plan, and you’ll see results

Is your goal to lose a lot of weight?

21 Day Fix can help you see dramatic results in just 21 days, which will motivate you to keep going.

You can repeat the program as many times as you want until you reach your goal.

Is your busy lifestyle preventing you from fitness?

21 Day Fix takes out the guesswork so you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen or the gym. Just follow the Eating Plan and do one 30-minute workout per day. That’s it.

Are you ready for change but just don't know where to start?

21 Day Fix shows you exactly what to do in order to lose weight. You’ll learn how to incorporate your favorite foods into a healthy, sustainable lifestyle that you actually enjoy.

So what do you get with the 21 Day Fix program?

• 7 Color coded portion control containers plus Shakeology shaker cup No more guessing about how much you should eat. Fill up the containers with your choice of food — if it fits, you can eat it!
• 6 Workouts plus 1 bonus workout on 2 DVDs. These boot-camp style workouts burn calories and can reshape your body in just 30 minutes a day.
• 21 Day Fix Start Here Guide. Start seeing results right away. This quick start guide and workout calendar shows you how simple losing weight can be. 
• 21 Day Fix Eating Plan. This simple plan guides you step-by-step and makes portion control so easy, you can lose weight without counting calories.
• 3-Day Quick Fix. Autumn’s secret weapon for losing weight fast before a big event. Do it during the last 3 days of 21 Day Fix for mind-blowing results.

If this sounds like something you're ready to try then we need to chat…. like NOW! My next group kicks off soon! Email me at brendalajay@gmail.com or fill out this form to request information. What do you have to lose?

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Brenda

How to get started with fitness without breaking a sweat

If you haven’t exercised or tried to eat clean in a while (or ever!), Day 1 of a 30, 60, or 90-day fitness and nutrition program can feel intimidating.

It doesn’t have to be. Here are several small things you can do to get started. With these simple tips, you can begin to prepare your body and mind for a healthier lifestyle before you even break a sweat or eat your first green vegetable. Though you could snack on some snap peas while reading this article…

Figure Out How Many Calories You Should Eat

Knowing is half the battle, right? Use this simple method to determine approximately how many calories you should try to eat each day:

• Sedentary lifestyle (desk job): Current weight in pounds x 12 = Maintenance Caloric Needs. 
• Moderately active lifestyle (server in a restaurant and/or doing one of our entry level programs, like Power 90 or Hip Hop Abs: Current weight in pounds x 13 = Maintenance Caloric Needs.

• Highly active lifestyle (construction worker and/or doing one of our elite programs, like P90X or INSANITY): Current weight in pounds x 14 = Maintenance Caloric Needs.

From there, subtract 500 calories and that’s probably a good deficit for weight loss. (But make sure that number stays about 1,200. Anything lower can be dangerous in the long term.) Conversely, if you’re trying to gain muscle mass, add 300 calories or so—but make sure you’re also doing a solid weight lifting program like Body Beast so those calories have a place to go.

Stretch

Get those muscles ready to move. If you haven’t used them in a while, do some gentle stretching to wake them up and get familiar with the current limits of your flexibility. Knowing where you’re tight can help prevent injury. Try these stretches to improve hip and lower back flexibility so you’ll be ready to move comfortably in workouts.

Start to Move More

Even if you’re not Pushing Play yet, you can begin to make an effort to move your body more every day. Take a walk, stand (or do squats!) when you talk on the phone, take the stairs, park a little farther away from your destination, stretch during television commercials, rearrange the furniture in your living room.

Drink Water

Being dehydrated can make you sore even if you don’t exercise. Set yourself up for success, and minimize initial muscle soreness, by drinking plenty of water in the days leading up to the start of your fitness program. Get in the habit of drinking enough water every day. How do you know if you if you're getting enough water? Use this simple formula:

Your current body weight (in pounds) x 0.5 = Ounces of water to drink each day

Throw Away Junk Food

Empty your desk, cupboards, fridge, freezer, car, and secret snack stash drawer of foods and drinks you know you shouldn’t be eating. If you want to reach your fitness goal, prevent temptation by removing junk food from your house. If the packaged foods are unopened, donate them. We know you spent good money on those Ding Dongs and Doritos, but they are doing the opposite of helping you reach your health and fitness goals.

Build a Healthy Pantry

Now that you’ve eliminated the processed junk food from your home, replace it with good-for-you staples that will help you create healthy meals every day.

Set Up Your Work Out Space

This could be as easy as moving the coffee table in your living room, or as elaborate as setting up a dedicated gym in your garage or basement. You won’t need much space to exercise, but it’s a good idea to figure out where you’ll do it and make the space usable and inviting for the workouts you’ll be doing.

Plan an Outing that Involves Exercise

A great way to get into the spirit of exercise before you actually commit to a fitness program is to plan activities with friends that get you moving. Invite friends or family for a hike, go ice skating, or organize a softball or flag-football game.

Find Your Reason Why

Celebrity trainer Tony Horton says, “If you’re really caught up in the numbers on the scale, or the dress size, and what’s happening with the tape measure, chances are that does’t really motivate or inspire you. Find a new purpose. Find a new reason why. The reason why has got to be so powerful, so strong that you’re not going to quit, you’re not going to fail, and you’re going to be consistent, and show up 5-7 days a week for the rest of your life.”

Build a Support System

Getting fit doesn’t have to be something you do alone! Announce your commitment to get healthier and stronger to your friends, family, and coworkers. Start or join a Challenge Group, join a Facebook group, or recruit workout buddies and accountability partners to help you stay motivated when your resolve starts to slip or you feel tempted to make unhealthy choices.

Make Time in Your Schedule

Figure out when you’ll fit exercise into your daily schedule and begin to make adjustments to reserve that time slot every day. Will you work out in the morning? During your lunch break? In the evenings? Schedule exercise time in your calendar and commit to it as an important meeting with yourself. You wouldn’t skip a meeting with your boss just because you feel tired or grumpy, would you? No, you’d be there on time with a smile on your face and do your best to impress.

Lose a Few Pounds Before You Start Exercising

Kick-start weight loss and learn healthy eating habits with 3-Day Refresh. Find out more here.

It’s OK to Start Slowly

You don’t have to Push Play and go full speed on the first day. If you’ve been spending the last few months or years sitting on the couch, just do what you can. It’s OK to start with a few minutes of exercise and work your way up to a full workout. Five or ten minutes of exercise a day is better than no minutes. Try to add one minute each day until you can do a full workout. In his article, 5 Steps to Avoid Muscle Soreness, our fitness expert Steve Edwards said, “It’s very tempting to begin an exercise program with a lot of enthusiasm, but try your best to go at a reasonable pace. If you’ve never exercised, or it’s been a long time since you have, go much easier than you feel you are capable of on Day 1 and ramp things up at a pace that is based on how you feel. If you’re not sore, go a little harder the next day. If you’re a little sore, take it down a notch.”


If you would like to learn more about finding your fitness formula or joining one of our online challenge groups fill out this form and I will get in touch with you soon.

Did you know you can get 1:1 personal coaching for FREE Get fitness tips, motivation, recipes, meal plan and more. Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT and ask for me, Brenda Ajay, as your coach.

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Brenda