Chicken-Cauli-Rice Stuffed Bell Peps + PWO grocery shopping

 awesome workout early this morniiiiing!  finally. after monday's sugar slump (my sister's baby shower was the day before lol) i feel SO much better.  i was determined to flip this week around cause it sure didn't start off too great physically and my motivation was shot. anyway, my cuz Diane told me she would come try my Lifetime classes and by golly she came!! not everybody is ready for HIIT at 5:30am but she totally was and kept her word!  we did some cardio together after this morning's weight class and i'm so glad she enjoyed herself and the club.

every time i wear this shirt sent to me by my good friend @babyfatboss somebody reads it then looks at me and asks, 'right now????' hahaha! no. not yet.

don't shop for groceries when you're hungry!!! i am good for that and  i'll never learn cause my Sprouts is in the same lot as my gym.

#itsawrap

recent purchases from Sprouts Farmers Market i cannot wait to use at breakfast tomorrow:

yep, you read that right. got my fingers crossed on this one!

making the switch to dairy-free creamer as of today.  this was the only size they had and i need a half-gallon carton or larger for sure.  i've been downing at least one cup of 1/2 caff in the mornings for a while now.

so we are now on week 5 of small group already, my goodness!  i have truly been blessed by meeting with these women to discuss the Word each week and will definitely be open to hosting a small group again in the future. we feasted on these lean ground Chicken-Cauli-Rice Stuffed Bell Peps that you have GOT to try. and when ya do, tag me on Instagram and let me know so i can see!

 i know green bell peppers are the cheapest to buy but i LOVE the taste of, well, all the other colors. ha. especially red! and we know that red bell peps are a collagen boosting food great for helping us moms snap back after pregnancy and for keeping our skin looking great in general.

i used 'riced' cauliflower instead of brown rice so these are chock-full of veggies! do the following:

1. if raw, wash large cauli head thoroughly and break up into small florets (if frozen, let thaw first then break into florets)
2. add to food processor and pulse until a rice-like consistency is obtained
3. in a clean cup towel, add riced cauli and squeeze as tightly as you can to get ALL the moisture out
4. in a wok coated with no stick cooking spray over med-high heat, add cauli and sprinkle a little garlic and onion powder over it. that's optional though.  stir constantly for about 5-6 minutes or until slightly crispy/cooked.

Chicken-Cauli-Rice Stuffed Bell Peps

the stuff:

• 1 lb extra lean ground chicken
• 1/2 cup red kidney beans
• 1 ear fresh sweet corn (or 1/2 cup frozen sweet corn)
• 1/2 large green bell pep, diced
• 1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes w/ garlic
• 10 oz 'riced' cauliflower (see steps above)
• 1 1/4 cup shredded cheese of your choice (optional to put on top only)
• 2 tsp sweet smokey paprika (reg paprika will be fine too)
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3 tsp parsley flakes
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup cilantro (just grab a small bunch and chop it up)
• 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms of your choice
• sea salt & cracked black pepper to taste
• 5 red bell peppers (discard the seeds but don't you dare throw away those tops after you cut them off! dice them up and eat them later)

do this: 

1. preheat your oven to 350 degrees and coat a baking pan large enough to hold all 5 peppers at once with no stick cooking spray
2. coat a large skillet with no-stick cooking spray and set it to med-high heat
3. add garlic, onion, and green bell pepper and saute until translucent (2-3 min)
4. add lean ground chicken breast and continue to break it up with your spoon into smaller bits as it cooks
5. once cooked through, add kidney beans, corn, cilantro, tomatoes, and mushrooms, and stir until combined
6. add cumin, paprika, chili powder, red pepper flakes and 2 tsp of the parsley flakes
7. add the cauli-rice and 1 cup of shredded cheese and blend once more and taste!
8. add salt & pepper to your liking and taste again
9. cut the bottoms flat across the peppers and situate them in your pan (see pic below)
10. stuff peppers with your chicken mixture and fill them to the brim
11. add about 3/4 cup of chicken or vegetable broth to the baking pan and bake for 30 minutes covered with foil
12. remove pan from oven and top peps with remaining cheese; put back in for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts
13. top with remaining tsp of parsley flakes to make it pretty ;)

yummerrrrrrs. enjoy!

Q: what seasonal item have you ever just HAD to try?

le

LA road trip - Destiny Christian Center Health Fair

so i got a chance to do my first live cooking demo this past weekend at a health fair held at the Destiny Christian Center in LaPlace, Louisiana :shock: :)

 the day before though, Chiso and i had the pleasure of meeting a fit foodie le supporter in HEB while i was picking up a few last-minute things for our road trip.  i so thought i was being reprimanded for going back to the grape sample bowl too many times, but nope, it was Tiara, a fit mom of two doing some shopping with her mom and just introducing herself!  she asked about getting started with grocery shopping and well, i will cover ALL that and more in my (hopefully) next post. nice meeting you lady.

k, back to the trip.

we hit the road at 3 somethin' AM, homemade egg white & bacon bowls to-go (2 slices sara lee 45 cals & delightful bread for me, 1 whole wheat tortilla for him) in tow.

oh what fuuuuuun it is to ride with my hub-by to LA. HEY!

by the grace of God we made it right on time,

and started setting up immediately.  i made the Mo-Rockin' Chicken and Cold Cucumber & Tomato salad w/ Dill from my ebook, and also whipped up some of my oatmeal banana pancakes.

i spoke to the attendees about healthier ingredients (swaps) when cooking at home, shared a starter grocery list, grocery shopping tips, and concluded with a little Q & A.

then i added Sonny to the presentation so he could give everyone the run down on our personalized health and fitness company, 6 Pack USA!

Food Network ain't ready for me!!!!!! i ain't read for them either though :lol: . those cooking show hosts make it look CRAZY easy. cooking & talking (and making sense) in front of people or a camera is no easy task, but it will just take practice, practice, and  mo' practice for me.

grateful for this fun learning experience. friends and family keep asking me if i was nervous up there- heck yeah.  however,

so don't let fear block your blessings.  if God brings you to it, HE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH IT.

my line sister Santrice so kindly had my e-book printed and binded in color just for my trip and i thank her SINCERELY!!!! i brought them with me to be auctioned off during the raffles at the health fair, and here i am with Kimber, a sweet, helpful woman who gave me SO much great feedback on how to improve and grow after my presentation.  she blessed me greatly and whaddaya know, her name was pulled to win my e-book!

i'd like to give BIG thanks to my girl Dami for hooking me up with the ladies over the Destiny Christian Center Health Fair, Kassidy and Brittany, in the first place! they both did a fantastic job of catering to the vendors and putting on a successful community event.

thanks for reading!

 to contact me about speaking at your health and wellness event, email me! le@fitfoodiele.com

for 6 Pack USA inquiries, email me at: leah.egwuatu@6packusa.com

le

my 1st guest post!

i have been so blessed by my fitness journey thus far and i find great pleasure in showing LOVE right on back to others any way i can.  so, i present to you,  Melanie Bowen, fit foodie le's first guest poster!

you are making history, lady!  Melanie believes exercise can be a conduit for the healing of many different diseases (including cancer) by giving back energy levels, reducing stress, creating better blood flow, elevating fitness and mood levels, and encouraging a more positive outlook on life.  i could not agree more with her as exercise and fitness has always played so much more than just a physical role in my life.  read up!

*****

How Fitness Benefits the Cancer Patient

When a person is diagnosed with any critical disease such as cancer, including mesothelioma, the tendency is to relax, rest and just take the exhaustion brought on by the illness. Patients may believe that by sleeping and simply taking treatment prescribed by the doctor, that is the best they can do. What those diagnosed with cancer do not always realize, are the steps they can take outside of traditional treatment to better themselves and their prognosis. One thing modern research has shown is a strong connection between health and fitness.

Most know that for humans to be healthy they need to have adequate exercise and a good diet. Once cancer has diagnosed, somehow this knowledge become subjugated by concerns about treatment and life itself. While exercise and striving for fitness will not cure a critical disease, a fitness program, along with other treatments, helps the body fight the illness.

Even moderate exercise decreases the risk of getting cancer. After a diagnosis, exercise provides any number of positive benefits. According to the National Cancer Institute and many other studies, exercise increases the quality of life for those fighting cancer.

Exercise helps keep the body toned and the blood circulating more freely. This strengthens blood vessels and nerves, which can be damaged during certain treatments. Lying around only brings on depression and a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. Exercise gets a person up and moving and feeling alive. Attitude means a lot during cancer treatment and helps predict who will survive and who will succumb. Exercise and fitness elevates mood, which encourages a more positive outlook on life, possibilities and treatment.

Fitness promotes health in those fighting cancerby keeping weight at an optimum level, reducing the possibility of developing either diabetes or high blood pressure, and by helping to maintain the strength and flexibility of bones and joints.

Some cancers cause weight loss and loss of muscle mass. Exercise helps keep muscles strong and flexible. This, in turn, means the cancer patient can be more active and self-reliant. The more those with cancer can do for themselves the better they feel about themselves and the more self-confident they will feel.

Of course, any fitness program needs to be geared to the abilities and health situation of each individual. Those newly diagnosed and those in remission may be able to follow more difficult regimens than someone who is weak from the disease and treatment. Exercise should be tailored to strengthen weaknesses, allowing the body a better chance to fight the cancer. So, talk to your doctor and get started on a program today!

*****

'Lying around only brings on depression and a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.' so powerful and so true.  exercise produces and stimulates those awesome endorphins that helps us feel better, physically and mentally.  right on, Mel, right on.  does this apply to you or someone close to you?  spread the word on the benefits of physical activity! even better, join them and do it together!

thank you sharing your article and story with my readers, Melanie. many thanks!

le

compound movements + let's RUN!!!

how it went down eeeeearly this morning...

i double (tea) bagged it (+ water, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and stevia). i had to.  didn't get much sleep cause i've been grinding on these cook books and they WILL NOT DEFEAT ME!!!! :twisted:  i'm not yelling at you. i'm yelling at the cook books.  a little sleep deprived but the sacrifice will be worth it. it better beeeeee :lol:

let's talk about something i incorporate into pretty much all my classes at the gym:

can't get enough of compound movements and there are TONS of them. what are they?

'multi-joint movements that rely on the coordinated actions of several muscle groups to move two or more joints through a range of motion'

the featured move of this post (up ^ there) combines squats (which is honestly a compound movement by itself since it works multiple parts of the body) and over-head presses.

Squats + overhead press

• start with feet shoulder width apart, weights on either side of your body.
• perform a low squat, pushing your glutes back, weight in your heels, knees behind your toes, back flat, head up, chest up.  have a seat in that imaginary chair!
• bear all your weight on your left heel and while driving it into the floor, lift your right knee straight up towards your chest and perform your over head press simultaneously. keep your core tight, and squeeze the glute of the heel that's on the floor. hard.
• repeat on the right and make it a continuous, fluid movement by alternating your knees from left to right.

the heavier your dumbbells, the harder you work, and the more you burn!

 *tip: working upper and lower body together is one of the best ways to burn fat.*

class went well this morning, can't you tell from those disgusting sweat stains!?!?  i didn't even notice them until after i posted the pic to IG. but that's just how it goes down in my class :lol:.  if i could bottle the feeling exercise gives me....i'd sell it and retire at 30. good music gives me so much energy- i got a new cd and i know my members can tell i love it cause i keep playing it! good, loud music gives me energy through the roof!  i need all the energy i can get at 5:30am.

then i came home to these babies. NOM. i threw the recipe together, but the base of it stemmed from the banana blueberry pancakes, if you're wondering.

i subbed the banana for 1 packet of stevia, then topped them with sliced almonds, raw, unsweetened, shredded coconut, and that big vat of walden farms pancake syrup back there.

WELL, i am so excited about the response concerning the Houston Color Run THIS Sunday, March 24th!  Thank you for your emails!  if you'd still like to run, you haven't missed a thing- email me @ le@fitfoodiele.com and i'll send ya the link to join team Fit Foodies.  however...my sincere apologies for not giving enough notice.  there were several people who wanted to run with Fit Foodies but the timing was just not right.  even for a 5k, training is very important, and some of the 1st timers need more of it.  i understand completely.  also, the race rates are cheapest when you register super early, and 6 days pre-race day is pushing it, i know!  so i'm super grateful, and thankful to all who have committed to running with Fit Foodies.

WITH THAT SAID,

let's do it right this time!  remember my Conn's Green 10k post from last year??  if you'd like to get your run on with Fit Foodies for this event that is near and dear to my heart, come on then!  it's special because it starts and ends in City Centre, one of my fave Houston hangouts, and also home to the best Lifetime Fitness in the entire universe!  #ithoughtyouknew.  if you're interested, hit me up at the same email addy, and check out their site for details!

 race date is Saturday, April 27th, 2013, and as always, same rules apply: walk, run, skip- however you gotta cross that line, just FINISH!

le

Commitment Day

have you heard about this day yet?!

i KNOW you have if you're a Lifetime Athletic member :) howeverrrr,

you DON'T have to be a member to participate!!!!!

300,000+ runners

30+ cities

one 5K race

1.1.2013

COMMITMENT DAY!!!! 

'it's not a resolution....but a revolution of you.'

January 1st is headed our way and the 'new year, new me' Facebook statuses have begun :shock:.  here come last year's fitness resolutions and promises to exercise more and eat better.  mmmm hmmm, yeah, ok.

let's try a different approach this year.  how about a commitment?

a commitment to a healthy or healthier way of life for you, your kiddos, your husbands, your wives, your parents, your siblings, and your friends.  'you'll feel good, and inspire someone else to make a positive change.'

watch this -----> http://www.commitmentday.com/ <-----watch this

 my passion and fire for health and fitness relates directly to the Commitment Day message; i am THRILLED to be apart of this great event.

SO, who'll be reppin' for Houston with me!?  

and if you don't live in H-town, what city WILL you be reppin' then?

P.S. use referral code CCH0051 when you sign up so I'll know to look for you out there!