My Favorite Way to Unwin(e)d with FitVine

This post is sponsored by FitVine, however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

If you know me, you know that I love my #WineWednesdays and at-home (or virtual) happy hours with friends! There's nothing better than a nice glass of wine with dinner to help me unwind at the end of the day or a couple of glasses shared over a cheese and fruit board with my girlfriends. That's where my go-to, FitVine, comes in. FitVine makes a variety of ten different delicious wines that are all perfect for those who are active, have dietary restrictions, or are just looking for a better way to fit wine into their life, so basically everyone!

All FitVine wines have less sugars, carbs, and calories than traditional wines. They're also all keto, paleo, and vegan friendly as well as gluten-free and non-GMO. So what does that mean for taste and ABV? Absolutely nothing! They all have a full-bodied, delicious flavor and the alcohol content you'd expect from standard wine. A few other great things I love about FitVine are that their wines have no flavor additives and fewer tannins. It honestly doesn't get any better than FitVine in my opinion!

One of my favorite blends is FitVine's Pinot Noir which has just 0.03g of sugar, 3.7g of carbs, and a 13.9% ABV per 5 oz glass. It's super smooth and well balanced with hints of black cherries and honey, and it's the perfect compliment to your favorite cheese board or at-home happy hour! I picked it up right from my local Walmart, but you can find it at Publix, and Whole Foods as well, or you can find a store near you here.

I'm also a huge fan of FitVine's Cabernet Sauvignon. It has just 0.06g of sugar, 3.9g of carbs, and a 14.1% ABV per 5 oz glass. I picked it up at my local Whole Foods when I was grabbing all of the ingredients for this flavor-packed one-pan dinner, and it couldn't have paired better!

One-Pan Baked Salmon, Potatoes, and Mushrooms Recipe:
(Serves 2)
1. Pour yourself a glass of FitVine Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy while you prep and cook your dinner.
2. Quarter 8-10 baby potatoes, toss them with avocado oil, sea salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme, and bake on a baking sheet in a preheated 425 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.
3. Season two salmon fillets with seafood seasoning or the seasonings of your choosing (sea salt and pepper work perfectly fine).
4. Slice 8-10 Baby Bella mushrooms, and toss them with avocado oil, sea salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme as well.
5. Add the salmon fillets and mushrooms to the same baking sheet, and continue to cook for an additional 10-12 minutes until the fish is cooked through.
6. Serve with your favorite fresh greens, tomatoes, and/or other veggies and a nice glass of FitVine Cabernet Sauvignon, and enjoy! That Cabernet-mushroom combo is perfection, trust me!

You truly can't go wrong with any of FitVine's wines. Some of my other favorites are their Sauvignon Blanc and Rose, and I love to make a nice, light mimosa with their Prosecco. There's really a FitVine wine for everyone! I usually pick mine up at my local Whole Foods or Walmart, and they're also available at Publix. You can use this store locator to find the closest retailer near you. Let me know which wine you try first and which is your favorite in the comments below!

Keeping It Consistent with Mighty Spark

This post is sponsored by Mighty Spark, however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

There are many misconceptions when it comes to healthy eating - it’s too time consuming, the food is bland, recipes are difficult to follow, you can’t eat anything, the list goes on and on. It really doesn’t have to be so hard! Healthy eating doesn’t need to be all or nothing. It’s not about extremes; it’s about sustainability. To combat these misconceptions, I wanted to share a few of the things that have worked for me when it comes to trying to live a consistent, healthy lifestyle.

1.  I enjoy veggies with (almost) every meal.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I love to get my veggies in! Whether it’s enjoying a salad for lunch, having a veggie-packed omelet, or making veggie noodle “pasta”, I try to make vegetables a key part of most of my meals. That’s not to say I don’t eat meals without them, but generally, they’re a staple throughout the day. It's important to note that the keyword here is *enjoy* because I don't just get my veggies in, I make sure to pick ones that I genuinely like. I never force myself to eat something because I feel like I "should" but rather because it's what I want and am craving. One delicious way I like to get those veggies in is with these Bruschetta Chicken Meatballs over Shaved Asparagus!

Recipe (Serves 5-6):

In a large bowl, mix together 1 lb Mighty Spark Bruschetta Ground Chicken Blend, ½ of a tomato, chopped, 8 chopped fresh basil leaves, and 3 chopped garlic cloves. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 12 minutes. Flip the meatballs and cook for an additional 12 minutes.

In the meantime, using a peeler, shave 3 bundles of asparagus (or thinly slice with a knife). Heat up 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add in one small container of halved cherry tomatoes, the shaved asparagus, and 4 cloves of chopped garlic. Sauté for about 5-8 minutes until the asparagus softens. Add in ¼ cup of shredded parmesan and the juice of ¼ lemon. Cook for an additional minute until the cheese melts. Serve and top with the chicken bruschetta meatballs.

2. I choose the foods I’m craving and that will keep me feeling satisfied.

Just like with my choice in veggies, I try to listen to my body and what it’s craving in terms of anything I eat. If I’m not feeling a food, I won’t force myself to eat it, and if I’m craving something, I will have it. I also generally try to pick foods that will fill me up and keep my feeling that way. Lean protein and healthy fats are key. I love Mighty Spark Chicken Snack Sticks, avocado, or mixed nuts as an easy snack when I’m feeling hungry between meals

3.  I keep it simple.

I love cooking most of my meals at home. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely go out to eat (multiple times a week in fact), but I like to cook the majority of my meals at home so that I really know what I’m eating. When cooking, I try not to over-complicate it. I like quick and easy meals that don’t skimp on flavor. Usually these will include lots of seasoned veggies, protein, healthy fat, and complex carbs. One of my favorite go-to easy meals is throwing a Mighty Spark Queso Fresco & Jalapeno Turkey Burger on the stovetop or grill and cooking it up with some side veggies and baked sweet potato fries.

Overall, living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s all about finding what works for you! Keep it simple, listen to your body, and stick to it! Consistency is key.

Annie’s and Cascadian Farms at Walmart

This post is sponsored by Walmart, however, all ideas and opinions are my own.

Life can be pretty hectic. Between work, school, friends, kids, etc., we could all use a little help in terms of having enough time, especially when it comes to making smart breakfast choices. That’s where Walmart comes in. I’ve been making stops at my local Walmart to pick up some of my must-have items like fruits and veggies, plus they also carry better for you, organic options like Annie’s and Cascadian Farm.

On my most recent Walmart haul, I picked up Annie’s Cocoa Bunnies and Cascadian Farm Oat and Honey cereals. They’re both certified USDA Organic and absolutely delicious! I enjoyed my Cascadian Farm Oat and Honey with some fresh fruit and unsweetened almond milk before heading out the door. I think we can all agree, nothing beats a 5 minute breakfast!  I also love that this granola is non-GMO with no artificial colors or flavors.

I love my Annie’s Cocoa Bunnies with some milk as well, but I decided to mix things up a bit with these super easy chocolate peanut butter cereal bars. They only require one additional ingredient and will be a recipe that the entire family will love!

You just mix together 2 cups of the Cocoa Bunnies with 1 cup of natural, smooth peanut butter, spread the mixture in a parchment-lined 8x8 baking dish, and freeze for 45 minutes to an hour. Once hardened, remove the mixture, cut it into bars, and enjoy! You can also store them in the freezer until you’re ready to eat them. They make for a great snack or on-the-go, better for you breakfast option, and the kids will love them! Who doesn’t love peanut butter and chocolate?

Make sure to head to your local Walmart to pick up your Annie’s and Cascadian Farm products along with your other essentials like fruits and veggies. They make breakfast so much easier without compromising quality by using great, organic ingredients. Whether you choose to enjoy them with milk and fresh fruit or give the protein-packed cereal bars a try, you really can’t go wrong!

9 Fun and Delicious Guacamole Recipes You Need to Try ASAP

Today is a very, very important day. It's National Guacamole day! Yup, that's right, my favorite dip does in fact have its own holiday, and it's pretty well deserved if I do say so myself. There are few things better than that mashed avocado, and I'm pretty sure guac tastes good on everything! It's the perfect way to add some taste (and healthy fats) to your favorite dish or just eat straight up with chips or veggies to hold yourself over while you're cooking a main course.

I, unfortunately, did not get around to eating this delicious avocado creation today, but I definitely wish I did. And you will too once you get a look at these AMAZING twists on the classic from some of the lovely ladies of the Bloggers Gonna Blog Community. I bet you now know what you're going to be adding to your Taco Tuesday meals tomorrow...

1)

Photo by Thyme & Toast

Mediterranean Chickpea Guacamole by Thyme & Toast

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Photo by Eat the Gains

Spicy Pineapple Jicama Guacamole by Eat the Gains

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Photo by Little Bits Of

Asian Guacamole by Little Bits Of

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Photo by Ex Sloth

Strawberry Balsamic Guacamole by Ex Sloth

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Photo by Sweat and Glow

Low-fat Avocado Dip by Sweat and Glow

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Photo by Apollo & Luna

Garlic Roasted Carrots & Guacamole by Apollo and Luna

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Photo by A Whisk and Two Wands

Pumpkin Taco Bowls with Apple Guacamole by A Whisk and Two Wands

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Photo by The Lean Green Bean

Black Bean Guacamole by The Lean Green Bean

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Photo by Sprint 2 the Table

Guacamole Hummus by Sprint 2 the Table

Taste of Whole Foods Market - Graduation Party

Another weekend means another Whole Foods Market event! This week's theme is graduation parties, and Whole Foods Market Princeton has some seriously delicious ideas! I had the chance to make the heirloom tomatoes with sherry vinaigrette and the shrimp and tortellini with olive bruschetta pasta salad. Both dishes have minimal ingredients and are super simple to throw together. Plus they're both SO tasty and perfect for a grad party or really any spring/summer party you have coming up! The tomatoes are so fresh and light, and the pasta salad really packs a flavor with only three simple ingredients.

You can get the full recipes for both of these dishes and all of the ingredients this Saturday 5/14/16 from 12-4 PM when you stop by Whole Foods Market Princeton. Plus you can taste test them yourself! Trust me, you will not be disappointed!