Black Bean Corn Salsa - 21 Day Fix approved!

We had a potluck at work today and last night I was trying to figure out what to bring. On one hand I wanted to stay on track with my 21 Day Fix Containers and on the other hand I wanted something everyone would love. I decided to make my Black Bean Corn Salsa. This is ALWAYS a crowd pleaser! I usually go home with an empty Tupperware and several requests for the recipe! So here it is:

Ingredients:

• 4 roma tomatoes diced
• 1 large red bell pepper diced
• 1 large green bell pepper diced
• 1-2 jalapenos minced
• 1 large onion diced
• 4-5 cloves of garlic minced
• Fresh Cilantro minced – to your preference (I like lots)
• 1-2 cans of corn drained
• 1-2 cans of black beans – drained and rinsed well
• 1 lime squeezed over top (bottled lime juice is fine too 1-2 Tbsp)
• 1 tsp salt (optional - I usually use a pinch of pink Himalayan rock salt)

Instructions:

Mix well and let chill in fridge over night

Other Ideas:

• I have found that this makes great omelets
• It goes great with a taco bar
• It’s a great addition to Tortilla soup – (1-2 cans cream of chicken, 2-3 chicken breast shredded,  4 cups of water – throw everything into crockpot, let cook on high 4hrs)
• Make ahead of time and take camping. This is a great healthy snack with tortilla chips. It is a great addition to walking taco. If you are looking for camping recipes see my post on Camping Recipes.

3 Day Refresh

3 Day Refresh

Exciting News!!!
Have you fallen off track? Ever heard the saying, “Your abs are made in the kitchen”? Well, it really should be, “Your body’s made in the kitchen” because the way you look and feel (even if you exercise regularly) has soooooooo much to do with what you eat and drink.

Even if you’re pretty strict with your diet, there are times when you go a little overboard on the weekends, a holiday, or while on vacation and your nutrition gets off track. And no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get your body back to feeling “normal.”

Or it could be that you’re doing everything right with your nutrition but your body has hit a plateau and the scale refuses to budge. Then again, maybe, just maybe, you’ve always struggled with food and could never figure out a nutrition plan that has enabled you to reach your goals.

So to help you overcome those frustrations, there is the 3-Day Refresh.

What’s the 3-Day Refresh?

The 3 day refresh is is an inexpensive, healthy alternative to super calorie restrictive, nutrient depleting cleanses. This is the gateway program to health, weight loss and smart living. It's designed to give you fast, clean, and efficient weight loss results.  You can quickly drop a few pounds, break a bad habit, and get back on track!  It's 3 shakes a day, a fiber drink, plenty of water, fresh fruits, veggies, and healthy fats so that you keep your energy and  your metabolism going.  It is not a juice or fasting diet but a healthy tool that is going to give your body Nutrition vs Starvation. 

The healthier alternative to liquid fasts.

If you’ve ever done a juice fast, or an all-liquid cleanse that’s high in sugars and low in protein, you may have felt weak and sluggish. That’s because liquid fasts can tax your organs and crater your metabolism. But not the 3-Day Refresh. Instead of leaving you depleted from fasting, after 3 short days you’ll feel energized, lighter, and REFRESHED!

Beachbody even conducted a few test groups to make sure this program really works. And here’s what people had to say:

Make sure that I am your assigned coach and you have contacted me to reserve your copy of the workouts. MAKE ME YOUR COACH

ALSO, as a COACH you can receive 25% off your 3 Day Refresh Purchase as well.  So make sure to ask me about the preferred customer discount.

OR you can purchase here: 

**BEST VALUE** THE 3-DAY REFRESH COMPLETE KIT *CHALLENGE PACK*~ CLICK HERE To order your Challenge Pack, which includes the entire 3 Day Refresh Kit, along with a month supply of Shakeology, your choice of Flavors, and FREE SHIPPING! *If you've ever wanted to try Shakeology, this is the perfect opportunity for you! For only $10 more than the regular price of Shakeology, you can get the entire 3 Day Refresh Kit with it! I've NEVER seen such a great deal on a Challenge Pack!***

THE 3-DAY REFRESH COMPLETE KIT
includes 3 packets of Shakeology^®—your choice of 6 flavors (we recommend Chocolate Vegan or Tropical Strawberry Vegan because plant-based proteins are often easier for the body to digest), 6 packets of Vanilla Fresh (high-protein shake), 3 packets of Fiber Sweep (digestive health drink), and 1 Program Guide with helpful info, a large selection of easy-to-prepare meals, and a list of fresh fruits and vegetables to snack on throughout the day. CLICK HERE

Cilantro Lime Chicken + Cauliflower Rice

Makes 4 bowls/servings
Ingredients:

• 2 Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless (about 1 lb)
• 2 Tbsp avocado oil, or olive oil, divided
• sea salt and pepper, to taste 
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• sea salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cups cauliflower “rice” (click the link for a great recipe for this)
• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained 
• ¼ cup green onion, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add chicken to the pan, season with salt and pepper and cook over medium heat for 5-8 minutes on each side.
3. When the chicken is nicely browned and fully cooked, pour the lime juice over and sprinkle with cilantro. Set aside.
4. Heat remaining oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
5. Add riced cauliflower, paprika, salt and pepper and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Then, add in black beans and green onions.
6. Stir fry for an additional 2 minutes.
7. To assemble the bowls, divide cauliflower rice, chicken, and tomatoes equally into each bowl.
8. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro and enjoy!
9. This recipe will stay good in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Other Ideas:

1. Grill your chicken (weather permitting)
2. Garnish with Avocado
3. Grill Zucchini on the side
4. Serve in corn tortillas
5. Need some fruit, pineapple may pair well

Does Lemon Water Work for Weight Loss?

For years, celebrities, wellness bloggers, and health coaches have touted the benefits of lemon water. They claim it kick starts your metabolism and triggers weight loss — especially if you sip a warm glass of it first thing in the morning.

But do the claims hold water? Does a simple glass of water with a little squeezed citrus actually possess magic slimming properties? Or is it just a different way to enjoy regular old water?

We reached out to Amy Gorin, M.S., R.D.N. about this lemon water hype and asked her give us it to us straight. “Lemon water on its own is not a quick fix that magically boosts your metabolism or helps you lose weight,” she says. “But it does make water more palatable, and some preliminary research suggests that drinking water before a meal may help with weight loss.”

Lemon Water Helps You Feel Full

In the study Gorin mentioned, 84 obese adults were asked to either drink two cups of plain water before their main meals every day for three months, or to imagine the feeling of being full. Those who drank water before their meals lost about 2.6 pounds more than those who didn’t.

This suggests that drinking water (lemon-flavored or not) before a meal may be an easy way to feel fuller and possibly prevent you from eating more than you should.

Lemon water is also a far better choice than many other beverages out there. And, if used to replace sugary coffee concoctions, sodas, and energy drinks in your diet, lemon water can indirectly help you cut calories and shed pounds.

Lemon Water Helps You Stay Hydrated

The benefits of hydration go well beyond avoiding a dry mouth and headache. Dehydration can impact your fitness performance, your ability to focus, and more. “Staying properly hydrated is important for keeping your bodily functions running smoothly,” says Gorin. “These functions include temperature regulation, joint lubrication, keeping the eyes and mouth moist, and helping to prevent constipation.”

To keep things ahem, moving, and your body operating at its best, your goal should be to drink half your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water each day. If you start your day with a glass of lemon water, that’s one glass down! You’ll also get a small dose of vitamin C first thing.

The Best Time to Drink Lemon Water

Downing a glass of lemon water right after you wake up is ideal — it re-hydrates you after sleep, and may help assist your body in its natural process of flushing toxins. Also, proper hydration is necessary for good digestion. It’s a great way to feel more alert in the groggy morning hours.

The only downside? Due to its high acidity, lemon juice may damage the enamel on your teeth. Of course, you’re not drinking pure lemon juice when you sip lemon water, but the concentration of lemon in your water can be higher if you keep the sliced lemon submerged in the water rather than just squeezing the juice into your cup. To offset possible damage to your tooth enamel, follow these simple precautions: Drink your lemon water with a straw so it doesn’t come into direct contact with your teeth (coffee lovers, take note!), rinse your mouth afterward with a gulp of plain water, and wait for at least 30 minutes after you finish drinking to brush your teeth since harsh toothpastes and vigorous brushing can wear away at already thin enamel.

How to Make Lemon Water

There’s no wrong way to make lemon water. You can add a slice of lemon or a the juice of several squirts of half of a lemon. You can strain the seeds or ignore them — the choice is yours.

But for those who appreciate clear instructions, here’s a basic recipe you can modify as you like: Squeeze a quarter wedge of fresh raw lemon into 8 to 12 ounces of lukewarm or room-temperature water (for easy sipping), stir, and voilà! Your lemony beverage awaits or you can add 1 drop of Lemon Essential Oil to your cup.

Feel free to dilute your lemon juice with more water if it’s too sour, or add the juice of half a lemon if you like it extra tart.

What Other Healthy Low-Calorie Beverages Exist?

If you’re determined to guzzle only lemon water all day long (RIP, caramel latte), but you become bored with the flavor (or lack thereof), there are other easy, healthy, low-cal alternatives.

If you like bubbles, swap soda for seltzer water. And ditch sugary, sweet tea in favor of unsweetened hibiscus or peppermint tea. “You get a good amount of flavor without adding any sugar or honey to your drink,” says Gorin.

When all else fails, jazz up a glass of good old-fashioned H2O with whatever makes your taste buds happy: orange slices, cucumber, strawberries, watermelon, basil, lime, jalapeño — the options are endless. Consult your Beachbody nutrition plan booklet or digitally on Beachbody On Demand for additional creative ways to spruce up your water.

And if you’re still in love with the idea of lemon water, go for it. It isn’t the powerful weight-loss elixir the world wishes it could be, but it is an easy, refreshing way to stay hydrated and get a little kick of vitamin C. After all, no one wants scurvy.