Recipe – Page 6 – Amanda Bella

Fitness, Food, Money, Recipe, Uncategorized

Fruits & Veggies Made Easy

Just yesterday I embarked on a three 3 week effort to get in great shape before Memorial Day weekend. I’m trying to increase my physical activity, and get myself on a strict, fruits/veggies/protein only diet (bye bye carbs :(). One day down, and I’m feeling great!

I have no problem eating healthy, I just don’t like how it always seems to be so inconvenient to do so. Whenever I feel a healthy streak coming on, I get ambitious and buy a ton of fruits & veggies- but many times they end up going bad because I’m too lazy to cut them up or wash them when I’m in the mood to snack- and in turn I end up eating junk food #fail.

I recently discovered a way to avoid that problem, so I spent Sunday afternoon doing just so…

I picked up celery, carrots, watermelon, and grapes (not pictured) for the week…

I pre-washed, cut and bagged everything!

Oh my gosh, is it difficult to cut up a watermelon!

Now my fridge is stocked with fruits and veggies, ready at my fingertips. It makes healthy snacking at home much easier, and packing a healthy lunch simpler as well. I’m ultimately saving money since nothing goes to waste, I’m filling up on healthy foods, and not feeling as guilty about snacking since I’m avoiding more tempting, junk food options.

I wish I were this ambitious about healthy eating all of the time, but you never know- maybe it’ll become routine and stick. Here’s to hoping!

Happy snacking. 😉

May 8, 2012 | 5 Comments

Food, Recipe

One of the yummiest desserts I’ve ever tried…

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen me tweet that my office building had a pot luck lunch this afternoon. We love doing this once a month or so. This time around, we tried to all bring something healthy. Unfortunately, the office downstairs didn’t get the memo, and one of the women made the most incredibly, sinful desserts I have ever tasted.

She brought these amazing home made oatmeal/apple cheesecake bites; I asked her for the recipe and she gave me a quick step by step of how she created this masterpiece….

Mix a batch of oatmeal cookie batter

Lay it in the bottom of a baking tray

Mix together 2 packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, some cinnamon, and powdered sugar

Lay mixture over oatmeal cookie batter

Thinly slice apples (or pears, peaches…any fruit) and sautee in butter/cinnamon for a few minutes until soft

Lay apple sizes on top of cream cheese

Refrigerate & slice

I totally ignored my effort to eat healthy during the week by having one of these this afternoon, but it was so worth it; and I learned a great new recipe!

Do you have any easy dessert recipes to share?

January 20, 2012 | 4 Comments

Fitness, Food, Recipe, Uncategorized

Quick & Healthy Dinner

I needed to whip up a quick dinner the other night, but wanted something simple and fairly healthy. I pulled ingredients from my fridge and pantry and made a primavera-esque dish that was actually really good!

I gathered as many veggies as I could find- broccoli, carrots, onions, and mushrooms.

I sliced my onion and immediately put it into the frying pan with some olive oil to caramelize. After the onion slices started loosing their shape I added the rest of the veggies, a tad more olive oil and some salt and pepper to season.

While the vegetables were on the stove, I cooked and drain some wheat spaghetti in a separate pot…

Wheat pasta takes just a bit longer to cook.

Once the veggies were done, I mixed them into the pasta and added a bit more olive oil to substitute as a sauce.

Sprinkle with grated parmesan, salt and pepper to taste

That’s it!

The dish was actually pretty filling and I had plenty of leftovers to bring for lunch the next day.

I love to cook, but not so much on weeknights. I’m always looking for simple and healthy dinner recipes- please feel free share your favorites below!

January 18, 2012 | 3 Comments

Fitness, Food, Recipe

Eating Healthy Isn’t That Hard…

So I am on week two of healthy eating, and surprisingly it has been going SO well! The healthier food choices tied in with a little exercise already has me seeing results- and resisting temptation. My energy level has been so high, my body is feeling amazing, and getting into my pants is not as difficult as it was a couple of weeks ago.

I’ve found that eating a small breakfast in the morning, packing a ton of healthy snacks to eat throughout the day, and having a portion controlled dinner has been the best route for me.

In the morning I have been having either an english muffin, a hard boiled egg or a small bowl of Special K with strawberries.

IMAG1728 — English muffin with margarine and grape jelly.

IMAG1729 — Hard boiled eggs. I boiled a half a dozen at the beginning of the week, and kept them in the fridge.

Come lunch time I am not starving- which has been a change for me. I used to count down to noon; now I find lunchtime approaching before I’m ready for it. I’ve been bringing a variety of options all week:

IMAG1724 — Peanut butter, jelly and banana on multi-grain bread. I feel like a kindergartener, because I never end up eating the crust!

IMAG1731 — I love cottage cheese-these small containers are perfect!

IMAG1824 — Cinnamon granola and raisins, clementine, apple, craisins and baby carrots

Screen shot 2012-01-10 at 10.24.36 PM — Strawberries, yogurt, banana and a few ritz crackers- (I crave carbs and salt terribly)

For drinks it’s been water. I keep a cold pitcher of lemon water in the fridge at home. 🙂

IMAG1825 — A few lemon slices make all the difference

Dinner has been salads, veggies, pork, sweet potatoes (I should have taken pictures)…I took a stab at my first stir fry last week and to my surprise- it had a stellar review! 🙂

Now, I haven’t been eating PERFECTLY every day, but I refuse to deprive myself. While visiting my family last weekend my Mom made an amazing dinner- I did my best to control how much I ate, but how do you say no to this!?

IMAG1784 — Home made mac and cheese, string beans with almonds, breaded chicken breast topped with bruschetta and gorgonzola and rice pilaf. She also made some amazing salmon, but I'm not much of a fish fan.

I am finding myself excited about my new eating habits. I can’t explain what a diet change will do to your body! My mind, energy, and esteem have been on a whole new level.

What are some of your favorite healthy meals and snacks? I’m looking for some new recipes and ideas 🙂

January 11, 2012 | 2 Comments