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Chicken Avocado Taco Recipe

Occasionally I have these moment where ideas just come to me and I go with it. They have been happening less and less frequently as of late but the other night (okay a few months ago…I forgot to hit the publish button) I had one. And may I just say oh my yum! I hadn’t been shopping for groceries in longer than I would like to admit. But I did have a reason. I was going to be traveling the following day and I hate wasting, either food or money. Soooo why buy groceries when they will just spoil. 

Working folks….you know how it is when you come home from a busy/crazy/awesome day at work and cooking is the last thing on your mind.  Add to that that I had an insane amount of things to do in preparation for my trip. Insert automatic reflect to look for an easy meal. This, as most of us know can be a bad idea.

Thankfully at that moment in time I didn’t have a slew of unhealthy items in my house, so whipping something healthy and light up was pretty simple. Here it is, I give you….Chicken Avocado Tacos.

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Chicken Avocado Tacos
Serves 2
Easiest taco recipe you will find. They're delicious, filling with less then ten fresh ingredients.
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Prep Time
10 min
Total Time
10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Total Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 large avocado
  2. 1/2 cup chicken breast
  3. 1/2 sliced jalapeno
  4. 1/2-1 cup red cabbage sliced
  5. 1 tbsp diced onion
  6. Fresh lime juice
  7. Pinch of garlic salt
  8. Tortillas (I use La Tortilla Factory corn tortillas, they're a perfect mix of corn & wheat)
  9. Salsa
Instructions
  1. Chop the cooked chicken breast up into bite sized pieces and put in a medium bowl
  2. Dice the avocado and onions and put into the bowl with the chicken
  3. Add a pinch of garlic salt and as much lime juice as you want, mix together
  4. Slice the cabbage to desired thickness
  5. Place a spoonful of the avocado mixture into a warm tortilla, top with jalapeno, cabbage and salsa
  6. Serve with black beans
Shanamama https://www.shanamama.com/wp/
 I hope you enjoy these super simple healthy bites as much as I did.

 

  • www.med-hero.net

    I like tacos with different fillings. This recipe is very easy and I'm sure these tacos are very tasty. The combination of chicken and avocado is a winning one.

  • Basic Health Program

    These are so tasty! Thank you for your amazing recipes.

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100 Days of Real Food Cookbook

I received a copy of Lisa’s new book 100 Days of Real Food in order to facilitate this review

Last year I switched to a cleaner and leaner way of eating. To say it was easy would be a bit of a lie. It wasn’t the easiest thing in the world for me because living in Oklahoma clean eating isn’t not very popular. Fattening, greasy huge portioned food, that’s what’s popular out here. I have always been a huge salad lover so increasing my intake on those wasn’t an issue but eliminating almost all dairy was not fun. In additional to cutting out dairy I also gave up sugar, red meat (which I wasn’t a big fan of anyways) and after a while I started steering myself towards a vegetarian diet. The hardest part for me was finding recipes that were 1) healthy 2) looked good 3) kid friendly. You can laugh now, I am. This is seriously not easy to find.

So I do what every normal person does when in search of something….scour the internet. One site I came across was 100 Days of Real Food. Hello instant love. Not only is the site gorgeous but guess what it’s a real person behind it! Lisa Leake is wife, mom to two of the cutest little girls ever and she creates some amazing, good, real recipes including one of my all time favorites (I’ll get to in a minute). On top of having a hugely popular website Lisa found the time to write a recipe book. Now it’s not just your normal recipe book. In addition to her recipes she also goes in to great detail about what real food really is, tips on shopping for real food, how to implement changing your eating habits to switch to real foods and she even includes budgeting tips! I really love that the recipes included are not out of this world recipes that no one can make because they call for ingredients that you have to special order and are to out there for kids to even try. They’re recipes we all grew up with and love and family friendly. Like homemade chicken noodle soup, carrot cake with whipped cream-cheese frosting (oh my yum), pulled pork, ribs and sooooo much more.

Leake family at farmers market

One of my favorite foods to eat is anything Italian. Even just the basic pasta and sauce? You can’t really go wrong there. I swear in my past life I must have been an Italian. The only thing I don’t do is sausage, other then that I will devour it all. And when I say devour I mean seriously DE-VOUR. There’s something about that type of food that is comforting, filling, satisfying and just plain delicious. 

Enter Eggplant Parmesan….I’ll wait as you salivate over this for a minute.

Shortcut Eggplant Parm2Eggplant Parmesan has to be my all time favorite Italian dish. Going out to eat can be very costly and while I do enjoy eggplant parm in a restaurant it doesn’t always agree with my stomach since cutting back on dairy. Two years ago I wouldn’t have had a problem, I would have drooled at the amount of cheese they throw in between the eggplant and I would have added more cheese once it was put in front of me. Cheese, as delicious as it is, isn’t always wonderful in large quantities. And that’s one of the things I love about Lisa’s recipe from her new cookbook 100 Days of Real Food. The eggplant Parmesan has just the right amount of mozzarella on it. Just enough to give the flavor but not enough to drown the flavor of the eggplant or make you regret eating this meal.

 And because Lisa is so awesome I get to share a sneak peak of her book here with you and since I am raving on and on about her Eggplant Parmesan dish what else would I share.

Shortcut Eggplant Parm Recipe

If you are food lover like me but want to go the cleaner, healthier real food route I highly recommend checking out Lisa’s book 100 Days of Real Food. At Amazon it’s under $20. It’s a great investment in getting yourself and your family started on a healthier life style.

 

  • Brayden Tenison

    I really liked your current post regarding the 100 days real food. I wanted to know about the some new grilling food. Will you share with us?

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Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Muffin Recipe

There’s one thing I have been trying to steer clear of for a while now and that is sweets. More specifically chocolate. It used to be something I craved, now (thankfully) I can barely eat it but that doesn’t stop me from treating my babies with a small sweet bite every once in a while. And, as an added benefit these muffins aren’t totally horrible for you, possibly even healthy! I said healthy in the same breath sentence as chocolate…crazy right! Let me introduce you to this wonderful concoction I like to call Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Muffins.

Muffins3

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
Serves 18
Naturally sweet banana muffins with a hint of chocolate goodness, yum.
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Ingredients
  1. 3 Cups Oatmeal
  2. 1 Teaspoon Honey
  3. 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  4. 4 Bananas mashed
  5. 1 Cup Silk Pure Coconut Milk
  6. 2 Eggs
  7. 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  8. 26 pieces of See's Candy Milk Chocolate Drops (freeze them and smash with a meat mallet)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  2. Mix together all of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips) together in a large bowl
  3. Prepare the muffin pans by spraying the pan or using liners with with non-stick spray
  4. Stir the chocolate chips into the batter
  5. Divide batter into each muffin cup
  6. Bake the muffins for 20-30 minutes (when the edges turn slightly brown they are done)
Shanamama https://www.shanamama.com/wp/

These tasty little bites are perfect fresh out of the oven. The chocolate still being warm and slightly melted….heaven. You can also freeze them for snack time later or devour a handful late at night, not that I’ve done that or anything.

 

 

 

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Fight Toxins with Seventh Generation #FightToxins

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Seventh Generation.
Did you know that we are exposed to over 300 toxins before we are even born!?! Three hundred! I had no idea, not only is that insane but it’s downright scary. I’ll be honest here, before I became a mom using non toxic products wasn’t even on my radar. I was naive in thinking if it didn’t involve those smelly harsh chemicals then it wouldn’t really work. Looking back I am not sure how I could have ever assumed such nonsense, and it’s alarming to think others may be uninformed as I once was. One of the first things I did was open my cleaning cabinet and go through  everything I was currently using and looked for alternative methods to clean my home with.
NYTIMES_SeventhGen copyI am sure many of you have heard of Seventh Generation right? If not here is a little background on this wonderful company.
Seventh Generation

We believe our products are healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home–and for the community and environment outside of it. As a pioneer in corporate responsibility, we want our products to make a difference—from their development through to their production, purchase, use, and disposal. We are always evaluating how to reduce their environmental impact, increase performance and safety, and create a more sustainable supply chain. We believe it is our responsibility to set a course for a more mindful way of doing business, where companies act as partners with other stakeholders to create a brighter future for the whole planet.

With the help of Seventh Generation and The Toxin Freedom Fighters, we are bringing awareness to congress on April 30, 2014 to make changes to the The Toxic Substances  Control Act (TSCA). The TSCA was originally passed in 1976, had has not been updated since that time. Under the TSCA tens of thousands of possibly harmful chemicals continue to be used in every day products without proper testing or disclosure by the company producing these products.  What The Toxin Freedom Fighters are trying to do is bring awareness and change to this act so that reform can happen, testing can be done on all these unknown chemicals so that we can protect the health of our families as well as to the environment.

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Why is chemical reform imperative?

    • 85,000 synthetic chemicals have been introduced on to the market since the Toxic Substances Control Act was passed in 1976, the EPA has only required testing on less than 10% of those.
    • Some of these chemicals are found in toys and other children’s products, cleaning products, personal care items, furniture, electronics, food and beverage containers, building materials, fabrics, the interior of vehicles, building materials, and fabrics.
    • Scientists have linked exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to many health risks, such as cancer, alzheimer’s, learning disabilities, asthma, birth defects, and other reproductive problems.
    • The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976, and unlike other major environmental laws, has never been updated.

What can you do to help? You can show your support by sharing and signing the Fight Toxins petition!  By signing you are showing your support behind this reform and fighting for a healthier future for our children. They only need 100 thousand signatures to bring this measure to congress. And if you feel but I am only one, that one (YOU) still counts! I hope that you will join me in support of this movement. As of the time I signed the petition it was over 81 thousand signatures, so we’re almost there!

For additional information be sure to visit the Natural Resources Defense Council website.

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Core Power #Giveaway

If you haven’t noticed, or been following me on Instagram, I’ve been busy making some significant life changes when it comes to my nutritional intake. While I love cooking and creating appealing dishes for my family, sometimes I need something  refreshing – yet filling – on the go. Especially after a vigorous workout with my new BFF, running.

Enter Core Power. Their product speaks for itself:

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“Milk is one of the best sources of protein, helping to build lean muscle and recharge the body when consumed directly after physical activity. Core Power is the real-milk based sports recovery drink and contains natural whey and casein proteins found in milk – never removed from their original liquid state. It features simple ingredients and great taste, without a chalky texture.”

5 Olympic Bottles
Some deets:

  • made from lactose-free milk and real honey
  • optimum carb-to-protein ratio for post-workout refreshment
  • helps to build lean muscle
  • uses natural sweeteners such as monk fruit juice & stevia

If you’re anything like me and love finding new foods to try you’ll love the amount of recipes the Core Power website has. It goes way beyond smoothies and shakes. Hello, muffins and pies, yum! Also one extra little tidbit that took me by surprise but I actually really love it is that Core Power is completely safe for kids! Since it’s packed with so much protein it is not suggested for children under two years of age but for those two and older it is safe for them as a form of protein. So, for those of us with really picky eaters? Core power is a nice option to have.
 
And then there is the little detail of Core Power recently being named the Official Protein Drink of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Dude, that’s PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES!
 
If that’s not good enough to convince you, how about a little giveaway? Make sure you stay in the loop in all things Core Power and follow them on ALL social media channels!

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Get Fit

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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When life gives you lemons….

Make lemonade! I never used to enjoy that saying but it’s grown on me these last few years. Not sure if it’s because I have a slight obsession with cooking with lemons or if it’s because there’s nothing like freshly squeezed lemonade. I know it’s not actually about lemonade but I have this thing about words. One random word can make me think of one of three things. Food, music or a movie. Odd I know, but we all have our idiosyncrasies right 😉

I am sure I have you all seriously confused by now and you’re wondering okay Shana, what is the point of this here post…if there is even a point. Yeah, there’s not folks. Sorry to disappoint but I am in quite the random moods right now so you’ll just have to bear with me as I randomly spout nonsense.

First order of nonsense….I am sort of in the process of going vegetarian and it’s so much fun! Okay maybe not a full-fledged vegetarian, but I said it was a process. I haven’t been a red meat eater for quite some time. Sure, I’d have a bite of steak here and there if my husband ordered it but I haven’t purchased red meat in so long I’m not sure I remember what to do anymore. But that’s neither here nor there. I still eat fish because I just can’t give up my mahi mahi, plus it’s an excellent source of protein and vitamins. I used to be very big on chicken but I’ve found this amazing tofu that works really well in salads and really that was my only concern about not eating chicken was I still had to have some source of protein in my beloved salads. The great thing about this process for me is it has brought back my love for cooking and if you follow me on Instagram I will either 1) annoy you with all my food pics or 2) make you very hungry. I’ll apologize in advance for both. Ha!

Veggie Collage

Next order of nonsense….I am in the process of getting a job and let me just say WOW does the job market suck right now. Sure I could get a job at oh you know Target probably right away but I don’t want to settle. I know I know, the whole beggars can’t be choosers thing but I am done settling. I am at a point in my life where I need to do things for myself and having a little bit of independence will be good for me. I am a little nervous about getting a full time job since the only job I’ve had full time in the last seven years has been here at home raising my family but the kids are all in school now and it’s time to start the next chapter. So wish me luck!

Oh before I forget, I just heard of a great promotion running right now that I couldn’t not share with you all. All models AND colors of the Koss Fit Series line are on sale for a limited time for under twenty dollars at your local Walgreens! I shared my experience with Koss Earbuds a little bit ago; I have some serious love for these little earbuds. Heck at $19.99, you can get one for each member of your family! Each pair comes with three different ear cushion sizes which is perfect for those of us with small ears and/or for children. Seriously, go and yours today. 

 

There you have it, the little bit of nonsense going on in my life. Okay so it’s not all really nonsense but would you have rather I called it rambling? Yeah that may have made a bit more sense. Oh well, I never said I did things the correct way. Hope your weekend is as fabulous as you are!

 

*Disclosure: I received compensation as part of a FitFluential campaign to share the awesome Koss earbuds deal, but sans compensation I still would have given a shout out because they are really a great line and this is a steal of a deal.*

 

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Keep your morning routine up with Designer Whey

I received samples of Designer Whey products in order to facilitate this review through the Fit Fluential Ambassadors Program. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely mine 

Over the last few years I’ve come to realize that while I may be happy with my life in general, there are aspects of it that I would like to change. More specifically, my body or really my body image. I try to live a healthy lifestyle. I am not a fan of junk food. I used to have a major sweet tooth but I’ve thankfully gotten that under control. I love vegetables and eating salads and I’ve started exercising again which is all wonderful BUT there’s that one thing that I’ve always struggled with…..breakfast. It’s never been my thing. Even in high school I avoided eating breakfast at all costs. I don’t like the feeling of starting my day feeling bloated and that’s typically how I feel after eating early in the morning. Unfortunately this one small thing has held me back in my weight loss journey.

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I know you’ve heard of Whey Protein Powders but did you know that they are not just for the hardcore exercise fanatics…but us regular Joe’s starting out in our journey too and they help in weight loss as well? I know seems like that is not possible especially since really all we see in store shelves is body builder images next to any type of protein powder. It’s why I avoided them for so many years but I am so glad I was corrected in my thinking.

Whey is superior to all other forms of protein, boasting the perfect amino acid profile for muscle building, strength, and recovery. Based on its biological value (BV), the measure of a particular protein’s effect on nitrogen balance, as well as its protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS), a measure of how well a particular protein supplies the nine essential amino acids, whey protein scored higher than meat and eggs!

Whey protein also empties from the stomach and is absorbed into the bloodstream faster than other proteins, which results in speedier muscle recovery. As such, it is the preferred choice for post-workout nutrition when the body is in a catabolic state.

– See more at: http://designerwhey.com/about-us/whey-benefits/#sthash.oZvx4wmc.dpuf

One way I have been incorporating Whey into my diet is through smoothies. Who doesn’t love smoothies right! And they seriously couldn’t be any easier to make. My two favorite versions right now….with yogurt and without. You will need four or five ingredients depending on which version you make. Combine all ingredients and blend until you reach the desired consistency.

For the non yogurt version you will need:

Fruit (fresh or frozen)

One whole Banana

Approximately 6-8 ice cubes

One scoop of Luscious Strawberry Protein Powder by Designer Whey

Designer Whey

For the yogurt version you will need:

Fruit (fresh or frozen)

Half a Banana

Approximately 3-5 ice cubes

One 6oz. S’mari Strawberry Yogurt

One scoop of Luscious Strawberry Protein Powder by Designer Whey

Another product I love from Designer Whey is their Protein Bars. With three young kids we tend to be on the go a lot of and there are more days then not that I suddenly realize it’s two o’clock and I haven’t eaten. I’ve been keeping at least one bar in purse for days like these. Not only are they amazingly good…OMG like seriously I enjoy these more then I do a candy bar, but I am not left hungry or wanting more. I am completely satisfied and ready to resume my activities of the day.

 

Right now you can enter to win FREE Smári Organics Iceland Yogurt! Here’s what you need to do:

1.) Click here to download & print the viking hat! http://bit.ly/VikingSelfie

2.) Take a pic wearing said Viking hat

3.) Post it on their wall & share!

Side note….if the promotion ends prior to you visiting their site you can still get a $1 off coupon AND a Free Iceland Photo EBook by visiting Designer Wheys Facebook page!

 

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    I almost never create remarks, but I read a lot of
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    Whey – Shanamama. I do have 2 questions for you if you do not mind.
    Could it be just me or do some of the remarks
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    😛 And, if you are writing at other social sites, I’d like to follow everything fresh you have to post.
    Would you post a list of every one of your social pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?

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Organicgirl Mahi Mahi Shiitake Salad

I love everything about salads. I love picking out the ingredients that will go into them, creating new twists on a classic, and discovering new flavors that will work together. I truly just enjoy the whole process of preparing them…and of course eating them.

Organic Girl 1 

A salad is always better when you use bold flavors. Keeping things mild is relatively boring so if there is an option to go bold or go home…I go bold. When I received two boxes of Organicgirl greens the other day I knew immediately what type of salad I was going to make. With the bite these particular greens offer I knew it would pair perfectly with the light taste of Mahi Mahi with an Asian type of dressing.

Organicgirl vive la France contains a variety of lettuce such as mâche rosettes, baby chard, baby arugula & radicchio. It varies depending on the season but I personally love the  flavors of this mix.

Organic Girl CollageOrganicgirl 50/50! is a mix of baby spinach, baby green romaine lettuce, baby red romaine lettuce, tango, baby red oak leaf lettuce, baby green oak leaf lettuce, baby red chard, baby green chard, lolla rosa, arugula, mizuna, tatsoi, baby green leaf lettuce & baby red leaf lettuce.

I have only seen Organicgirl offered at one of the stores local to me but one is better then none right! To learn more about Organicgirl: Good Clean Greens, you can visit their site here and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. You can also search their site to find a retailer that carries their line in your stores here.

 

Organicgirl Mahi Mahi Shiitake Salad
Serves 2
A light salad that will delight the taste buds
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
20 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
20 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 Mahi Mahi Filet
  2. Olive Oil
  3. Salt & Pepper
  4. Cayenne Pepper
  5. Onions
  6. Hearts of Palm
  7. Green Onions
  8. Green Olives
  9. Purple Cabbage
  10. Carrots
  11. Organicgirl vive la France mix
  12. Organicgirl 50/50! mix
  13. Crunchy Chow Mein Noodles
  14. Shiitake Sesame Vinaigrette Dressing
  15. Lemon
Instructions
  1. Mahi Mahi only take a few minutes on each side to cook prepare your salad prior to cooking the fish.
  2. Finely chop the lettuce blends as well as the remaining ingredients that will be going into the salad (onion, olives, carrots, cabbage and hearts of palm)
  3. Divide ingredients into two salad bowls and top with the crispy noodles
  4. Season the Mahi Mahi with Salt, Pepper & a light sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper
  5. Cook the Mahi Mahi in olive oil approximately 4-5 minutes on each side
  6. When your fish is cooked through place it on top of your salad, squirt with a bit of lemon and top with the Shitake Sesame dressing.
Shanamama https://www.shanamama.com/wp/

*I received these products for free to review as part of the Mom Bloggers Club. The opinions and text are all mine*

  • Rose Powell

    Oh yummy yummy, I need to try this, I', rather boring when it comes to salads, but not anymore!!! Thanks Shana.

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Tuna Steaks with Avocado Salsa Recipe

Every once in a while you come across a recipe or photo that just makes you drool and you think….I have to have that! Last weekend I had one of those moments when Stefan Pinto who started the C Diet shared a photo of Albacore Tuna with cilantro and sweet peppers. So what is one to do when they see something they must try? Put their own spin on it of course.

Tuna Steaks with Avocado Salsa

2 Tuna Steaks
Sea Salt
Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Olive Oil
1 whole ripe avocado
Red Onion (3 tbsp chopped)
Roma tomato (3 tbsp chopped)
Spanish Olives (1-2 tbsp chopped)
Garlic (finely chopped)
Lime

Prior to cooking your fish lets prepare the avocado salsa. Finely chop your onion, tomatoes, olives and garlic. Lastly cut your avocado into small bite sized pieces. The avocado is the showcase of this salsa so  you want them a bit bigger then the rest of the ingredients. Squeeze in some lime juice next. I love lime juice so I ended up using half a lime just for the salsa. If you want to add a bit of kick to your salsa sprinkle with a little dash of cayenne pepper. Now mix it all together and let sit in the fridge until your fish is ready to serve.

Season your tuna steaks with the Sea Salt, Pepper and Cayenne Pepper.  Pour two teaspoons of Olive Oil into a small pan. Depending on how you like you Tuna cooking times will vary. If you want it a bit rare cook 2-3 minutes on each side. If you want it cooked fully then cook 4-5 minutes on each side. Once the Tuna is cooked to your liking squeeze on a little bit of lime juice.

You really don’t need to have a side dish with this meal because it is filling just as is. But if you are one of those types of people that has to have a side I would pair this with a baby greens salad. Maybe make additional avocado salsa and top it with that instead of dressing. And now I am craving a taco salad. May have to share my recipe for that next!