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What I’ve Been Up To Lately

September 15, 2015 by Melissa

I'm always shocked at how quickly time goes. I mean, it feels like it was just yesterday I packed up my things in West Virginia and moved to Florida, but here we are, just hitting over our year & a half mark. Sometimes, it nice to just pause and reflect on what's going on with you right now. As a whole, I think we tend to always be thinking in the future; "I have to study now so that I can get into a good school. I need to go to a good school and obtain a degree so that I can provide for a family I do not have yet.." And so on and so on. I'm not saying preparing for the future is a bad thing, I'm simply stating that it's nice…

What I Ate on Wednesday; vol. 1

August 29, 2015 by Melissa

One question I'm frequently asked is what I eat on a typical day-to-day basis. Sure, recipes are great, but many people want to know the more simple meals I munch on throughout the day. One series I began is my Instagram Round Up (catch up on series 1 & series 2!) but I thought if I did a simple "What I Ate on Wednesday" series, that would help to see what I ate from start to finish that day to give you some ideas. So, lets get to it! Breakfast: Breakfasts are simple and quick for me! I stick with a few different options (oatmeal, fruit, smoothies, cottage cheese, or eggs) This past Wednesday, I ate 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese, 1 medium sliced up apple, and drizzled it with some local honey…

Skinny Classic Chili

August 25, 2015 by Melissa

I'm one of those people that believes soup & winter foods can be eaten at any point of the year. Especially when it is something as tasty & comforting as chili. Chili brings me right back to when I was a student at West Virginia and my roommates and I would make a big batch and eat on it throughout the week. [We would flip between classic chili & this equally tasty Zesty Fiesta Soup!] WVU still brings up so many feelings of nostalgia for me that the best way to help with the homesick feeling is to bring back tastes of home. Of course, the fact that chili is ridiculously tasty helps a lot, too. Classic chili isn't that bad for you, but I like to keep challenging myself to find ways to…

Nourishing Detox Veggie Soup

August 12, 2015 by Melissa

"What-I-Ate-as-a-Pescetarian-on-the-Whole30"

I'm not sure about you, but after the weekend, my body craves nourishing, detoxing foods. As part of a healthy life balance, I tend to stick with homemade, healthy foods throughout the week. Once the weekend arrives, while I still try to maintain some sort of level of healthiness, I go out to eat, order things I typically wouldn't, and am just generally carefree. Sunday is my day of meal prep, as well. Last Sunday, I took a look in my fridge and noticed I had a lot of produce that was on the verge of going bad if I didn't use it up. One of my favorite things to do with ripe produce is to make soups! I wanted something that was going to be low fat, low in calories, high in healthy…

Instagram Round Up! vol. 1

July 27, 2015 by Melissa

I realize not alllll of you have Instagram [although I'm extremely obsessed with it and don't understand how not everyone can not be ;) ], so I thought I'd share with you all some of my simple go-to's I typically reserve for my Insta! I have a bit of an obsession with oatmeal. Umm, do you recall this chocolate peanut butter cup or this chocolate covered strawberry recipe??? (drooool). My staple breakfast is most likely oats. This is a cup of plain old fashioned oats cooked in water. After they're cooked, I mix in 1 packet of Truvia, a dash of ground cinnamon, and topped with berries! Making a big ol' batch of spa water and keeping it in the fridge is an easy way I stay hydrated throughout the week! Here we have 4…

Sweet & Spicy Italian Chicken Stuffed Squash

July 22, 2015 by Melissa

Have you ever had one of those nights where you just have no idea what to make for dinner so you just stare helplessly in the fridge? That was me last night, but something amazing came out of it! I really love making stuffed foods. Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers? Yes! Cheesecake Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies? Why not! For one, they're generally healthier. By adding the filling to peppers, tomatoes, or squash, you omit the complex carb element. Not to mention the various veggies add a pop of flavor- these Sweet & Spicy Italian Chicken Stuffed Squashes really hit the spot. What you'll need: 6 medium yellow squash 1 cup white onion 1 medium tomato 1/2 de-seeded jalapeno 2 large handfuls of spinach 4 hot Italian chicken sausage burgers (or 1 lb of your choice of…

Light Cheesy Shrimp Pasta – 21 Day Fix Approved

July 5, 2015 by Melissa

I'm a week into the 21 day fix! So far, it's going pretty well. The workouts are tough but 30 minutes is definitely manageable. The thing I miss the most is knowing I am *able to* say yes to things (does that make any sense?!) I'm used to going to happy hour & having a glass of wine or two, going to dinner and ordering what I felt at the moment, or joining in on a BBQ and not needing to pack my own separate grilling necessities. That being said, I understand that 21 days is not forever- it's actually under a month. I'm feeling better, being more aware of what's going into my body is eye opening, and I'm already down 4 pounds [sayyy whaaaat!] PLUS, recipes like this Light Cheesy Shrimp Pasta…

Raspberry Ginger White Balsamic Chicken

June 10, 2015 by Melissa

Let's get honest with each other for a moment, nobody has time to cook crazy meals during the week while working or going to school full time. [Unless you're some super human, like Julia Childs or Blair Waldorf (..I think she's queen of all she does)]. That's where my love for one-panned meals comes in. [You guys remember this Baked Hummus Crusted Chicken, right?] A local winery in St. Augustine sells different flavors of white & regular balsamic vinegars. I snagged this tasty raspberry ginger flavor the last time I made a trip. (You can find a similar Blackberry Ginger Balsamic here!) Flavored balsamic vinegars are a great low-cal substitute for classic dressings and sauces. Not only are they healthier, but they're very versicle! You can pair this with a cheese & bread…

- Category: Lunch -

What I’ve Been Up To Lately

Read more

What I Ate on Wednesday; vol. 1

Read more

Skinny Classic Chili

Read more

Nourishing Detox Veggie Soup

Read more

Instagram Round Up! vol. 1

Read more

Sweet & Spicy Italian Chicken Stuffed Squash

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Light Cheesy Shrimp Pasta – 21 Day Fix Approved

Read more

Raspberry Ginger White Balsamic Chicken

Read more