Southwestern Scramble Bowl Breakfast Flatbread Pizza

Made with just 4 ingredients, this Southwestern Scramble Bowl Breakfast Flatbread Pizza is the answer to your early morning HOT pizza cravings. It is loaded with all of your favorite breakfast items like eggs, cheese, and veggies and comes together in just 10 minutes! 

Southwestern Scramble Bowl Breakfast Flatbread Pizza

In the style of keeping things honest around here, we love pizza for all meals of the day, especially breakfast. It reminds us of growing up and eating leftover, cold pizza for breakfast when we were kids. Luckily, our taste buds have matured, and they now crave something a little more elegant, but just as easy.

That is where our Southwestern Scramble Bowl Breakfast Flatbread Pizza comes into play. Made with only four ingredients, our Southwestern Scramble Breakfast Bowl, flatbread, sauce, and cheese, this breakfast recipe is easier than ordering a pizza.

This recipe feels a little more special than takeout, too. It has all the flavors of a homemade meal thanks to our scramble bowl, without all of the fuss. We kept it simple with just our bowl, sauce and cheese, but feel free to add extra veggies, if desired.

Another fun alternative is swapping the marinara sauce for salsa and using cheddar cheese. The flavors marry so well with the southwestern scramble bowl.

Grilled Pizza? Yes, please!

This pizza is cooked in the oven, but if it’s summer where you are, then grilling this flatbread pizza would be a tasty option as well. Our kids love to make their pizza, so we have created “build your own” pizza bars outside with a combination of sauces, cheeses, and breakfast bowls. It’s a fun activity and keeps the mess out of the house.

 

Southwestern Scramble Bowl Breakfast Flatbread Pizza Ingredients: 

1 Good Food Made Simple Southwestern Veggie Scramble Bowl

1 single serve flatbread pizza crust of choice

1/4 cup marinara sauce

1/4 cup shredded cheese

Southwestern Scramble Bowl Breakfast Flatbread Pizza

Made with just 4 ingredients, this Southwestern Scramble Bowl Breakfast Flatbread Pizza is the answer to your early morning HOT pizza cravings. It is loaded with all of your favorite breakfast items like eggs, cheese, and veggies and comes together in just 10 minutes! 
Course Breakfast
Keyword Southwestern Veggie Bowl
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 box Southwestern Veggie Scramble Bowl heated for 2 minutes
  • 1 single serve flatbread pizza crust of choice
  • 1/4 cup marinara sauce salsa would work great too!
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheese of choice*

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F
  • Layer the flatbread pizza with marinara sauce (or salsa), the scramble bowl, and shredded cheese.
  • Bake for 5- 7 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Add baby arugula to garnish. Slice and serve.

Notes

*we used mozzarella with the marinara sauce and a Mexican cheese blend with the salsa version.
 
This recipe is courtesy of our Instagram friend, Veronica Clean Eating.
 
 

15 Easy Ways To Elevate Your Frozen Meals

Yes, we are big fans of popping a meal into the microwave when you need something fast. I mean, we wouldn’t be in business if we weren’t, right? But sometimes you want something just a little bit more, let’s say, ‘homemade.’ There is no need to make something completely from scratch when you can go the “semi-homemade” route instead. You know, by combining your favorite frozen meal with a few other ingredients and giving it a little bit of flare.

We put together these 15 recipes to elevate your frozen meal into something easy and fun! Oh, and let’s not forget delicious. Your friends and family won’t believe that these recipes started from frozen.

Egg White Patties

Egg White Patty Breakfast Sandwiches

Egg White Patty & Guacamole Breakfast Bagel

You wouldn’t believe that this high protein breakfast bagel could be made in less than 3 minutes! Plus, egg (whites) and avocado. Pretty much a breakfast requirement, right?

Egg White Patty & Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches

Egg White Patty & Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches

Life is always better when bacon is involved. This breakfast sandwich made with whole grain bread, spinach, cheese, egg white patties and bacon comes together in less than 10 minutes. That’s less time than it takes to order at your local coffee shop.

Egg White Patty B.L.T Salad

Egg White Patty BLT Salad

We told you life was better with bacon! Skip the bread and add in some fresh greens for a low carb meal made with your favorite BLT ingredients like egg white patties in 5 minutes flat!

Low Carb Egg White Patty Breakfast Tacos

Low Carb Egg White Patty Breakfast Tacos

Tacos for breakfast? We think so. The best part? No taco shells are needed. Our high-protein egg white patties do just the trip helping you scoop that bacon, avocado, and salsa straight to your mouth.

Breakfast Scramble Bowls

Breakfast Turkey Sausage Scramble Bowl Potato Boats

Sail away, sail away….with these turkey breakfast potato boats. Use your leftover potatoes and fill them with our high-protein breakfast scramble bowl for a smooth sailing morning.

Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Breakfast Pizza

Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Breakfast Pizza

Just when you thought pizza wasn’t meant for breakfast. In swoops, this recipe made with your favorite store-bought crust and our bacon Egg Scramble bowl.

Open Faced Southwestern Veggie Bowl Omelette

Open Faced Southwestern Veggie Bowl Omelette

Your Sunday brunch guests will definitely be impressed! Who knew that topping your simple egg omelet with our flavorful Southwestern Veggie Scramble bowl could result in such a simple, yet fancy meal!

Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Skillet Breakfast Nachos

Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Breakfast Nachos

This is nacho average breakfast! Grab your favorite tortilla chips and toss them in a skillet and finish them off with our Bacon Egg Scramble bowl, avocado, salsa, cheese, and cilantro!

Entree Meals

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza

It may not be as fun as pizza for breakfast, but it still beats Friday night takeout any day! A simple pizza crust topped with our Chicken Black Bean Bowl not only has more protein and fiber than your local pizzeria pizza but is cheaper, too!

Steak Black Bean Bowl Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Steak & Black Bean Bowl Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are the perfect vessel for everything, don’t you think? Meal prep a few extra sweet potatoes on Sunday and then fill them with our Steak Black Bean bowl for a hearty, satisfying and fiber-rich meal that is ready in less than 5 minutes.

Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese Sliders

buffalo style chicken mac & cheese sliders

You know when your friends call you last minute to bring something to the weekend BBQ or football party? This is your solution. A few slider rolls, our Buffalo Chicken Style Mac & Cheese and bacon. Enough said.

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Sheet Pan Nachos

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Sheet Pan Nachos

Don’t we all have those nights when we just want to eat nachos and watch Netflix? Easy solution? Top your favorite tortillas with our Chicken Black Bean Bowl, cheese, guacamole and you are set for movie night!

Pancake Puffs

Pancake Puff Ice Cream Sundae Bowls

Pancake Puff Ice Cream Sundae Bowls

Is it breakfast or is it dessert? Either way, sweetening up your pancake puffs with a few toppings is sure to please any crowd! Or go all out and have a “build your own” pancake puff ice cream sundae bar! We bet everyone will love it.

Waffles

Dark Chocolate Waffle Dippers

Dark Chocolate Waffle Dippers

Studies show that if you start your day with chocolate you have a tendency to weigh less. That is reason enough for us to dip our waffles into some heart-healthy dark chocolate and enjoy!

Oatmeal

8 Fun Ways To Eat Oatmeal

They say “Variety is the spice of life”, right? And they also say, “Eat The Rainbow.” So, we figure why not knock out 2 birds with one stone and meal prep our organic oatmeal 8 different ways.

Reliable Fuel for When You’re in a Hurry

While you don’t need to wait for the New Year to establish resolutions for yourself, January normally ushers in a wave of motivation and a “go get ‘em” attitude for many. Whether you’re planning to tackle a big project at work for a promotion, build a healthier habit of physical activity a few times per week, or resolving to be more active in your community, many of these activities cause life to become a bit busier. Yet, that shouldn’t mean that nutrition and healthy fueling go by the wayside!

So, to help you ensure that good nutrition is still a part of your efforts to create and conquer a new goal, we’re sharing some tips for reliable fuel to eat when life gets a little hurried.

Breakfast

It’s oftentimes cited as the meal most difficult to squeeze into a busy morning, but the benefits of breakfast are many! With a little pre-planning you can be out the door quickly, but with a properly nourished body.

  •  Overnight Oats: an excellent gab-and-go option that can be made the night before for a day of mobile fuel. Oats provide soluble fiber to fill you up and sustain your energy levels throughout those important early morning meetings. Get creative with the toppings- add some nuts for protein, fresh fruit for essential vitamins and minerals, and something fun, like shredded coconut!
  • Breakfast Burritos: a one-handed way to spice up your morning. Eggs are amazingly versatile and can be cooked in a microwave to save major time. While the eggs are being cooked, simply layer a tortilla with some pre-chopped pico de gallo and a slice of cheese, then spoon on the eggs, wrap, and go! Or if even more strapped for time, microwave a Sriracha Scramble while you’re packing your bags for the office.
  • Frozen to Hot Oatmeal: if bringing your breakfast from home isn’t an option, is there a way you can fit it in at work? If your office has a freezer, the Organic Unsweetened Steel Cut Oatmeal can be reheated at work in a mere 3 minutes. With a jar of nut butter at your desk to add a spoonful of plant-protein, this breakfast practically makes itself.

Lunch

Lunch is one of those meals that is either the biggest meal of a person’s day or it can get skipped all together; however, one that’s too large can leave you feeling sluggish, whereas not eating anything could turn you into a ravenous fridge-raider later that night. Try finding a balance with these easy lunch options that can fit in between the day’s tasks.

Snack Plate: toss some odds and ends into a lunch box and call it a midday meal. A few snack items from each food group can make up a nutritious lunch in no time at all. Try whole grain crackers, some slices of cheese, a piece of fruit, and an easy vegetable like baby carrots or pre-sliced bell pepper strips.

Dinner Again: stash some food from last night’s dinner in a container for your next day’s lunch. The mindset of “cook once, eat twice” is ideal for when on a time crunch. These leftovers could be anything from a soup that needs to be quickly reheated at work, to a salad of left over roasted veggies, quinoa, and chickpeas that can be eaten cold in between juggling kids and activities.

Heated Up Healthy: when you don’t have time to pack lunch, but would prefer to not turn to fast food, grab a healthy frozen option that only takes minutes in a microwave. A Chicken Black Bean Bowl could be your answer to good nutrition in a hurry!

Dinner

The end of the day undoubtedly brings more chaos- wrapping up work, picking up kids, and walking the dog- so dinner needs to be fast and painless. To make that happen, let others do the work for you!

Sheet Pan Meals: grab a large sheet pan and let your oven do the rest of the work. Toss your favorite vegetables in olive oil, lay them alongside some seasoned chicken breasts, and bake for 20-30 minutes. While it’s cooking, go help your kids with homework, and come back to a fully cooked, fuss-free dinner.

Slow Cooker: dinner could be ready and waiting for you with the help of a crock-pot. Dump in the ingredients for your favorite soup or chili in the morning, let it simmer all day, and walk into dinner already taken care of.

Halfway to Dinner: pick up something like a rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked salmon filets from the deli counter to get half of the dinner figured out. Using a pre-cooked protein saves time and let’s you focus on other, equally easy, dinner tasks such as putting together a green salad and cooking up brown rice.

Snacks

Let’s say all of your planning for quick and easy meals didn’t go, well, to plan. Snacks on the go can be an answer to reliable fuel if chosen wisely.

Energy Bites: making up a batch of portable energy bites over the weekend could save you on a particularly busy day. Typically made with dates, nuts, and extras like hemp seeds, coconut flakes, or chocolate chips, these bites can be calorie dense and packed with healthy fats and protein to satisfy a midday hunger pang.

Roasted Chickpeas: a portable option that’s plant based. Protein snacks are great to sustain hunger and energy levels, but so many are perishable (think cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese). Roasted chickpea snacks are now sold pre-packaged, are a great crunchy snack option, and come in a variety of exciting flavors.

Fruit and a Friend: toss an apple or banana into your bag or desk drawer, but don’t forget its protein friend! Some dry roasted almonds, pistachios, or a squeezable peanut butter packet are great additions to a crunchy fruit snack

Article Courtesy of: Casey Seiden MS, RD,CDE 

Pre and Post Workout Nutrition For Optimal Health

As the New Year rolls in there is one thing that is sure to happen: the gym gets SO much busier! As a year-round gym-goer myself, rather than seeing the extra foot traffic and machine usage as a nuisance I see it in a positive light. I love that so many people are thinking about their physical health and making time for a sweat session! 

Whether you’re adding a new fitness routine in as part of your New Year’s resolution or if you’re continuing your usual routine it’s important to make sure your nutrition is being considered, too.  Making sure you are adequately fueling your body will help you to achieve your fitness goals in a healthy and safe way. Here are three key nutrition tips to fuel your active lifestyle!

  1. Pre-Workout Fuel: Before working out it is important to give your body the energy to actually do the workout. This is best done by focusing on giving your body carbohydrates, while also adding in little protein. The carbohydrates are most important for giving you energy and the protein will allow your muscles to begin repairing. You might try toast and peanut butter, cereal and milk, oatmeal, or a yogurt cup.
  2. PostWorkout Fuel: Just as it’s important to give your body proper nutrition before you workout, it’s just as important to give it the energy it needs to recover. Your muscles need protein to help them repair, and when they’re given adequate nutrition after exercise they will repair even stronger than they were! Our muscles also deplete their energy stores during exercise, which will need to be replaced. After a workout make sure to focus on consuming protein to really help those muscles repair while adding in some carbohydrates to restore your energy. Some great options are chocolate milk, greek yogurt and granola, a burrito, or a turkey sandwich.
  3. Hydration: Giving yourself enough water is something that is often forgotten. However, it’s so important when you’re physically active! Water is needed for our bodies to produce sweat, which helps to keep us cool and prevent overheating during workouts. Not consuming enough water can also lead to muscle fatigue and cramping, not ideal during a workout! It’s a good idea to keep a water bottle on you to sip on before, during and after exercise.

Now, you may also be wondering what the best strategy is for nutrition in order to reach your fitness goals. There are so many out there like calorie counting, macro counting, sticking to a paleo diet, etc. So, what should you do? My advice, and personal experience is none of the above. I highly recommend adapting an intuitive eating approach to nutrition.

When you stick to strict food rules, such as “X” number of calories a day, only allowing yourself so much of each macro, or avoiding food groups you can set you up for developing a disordered eating pattern, and possibly lead to an eating disorder. As someone who has personally recovered from a  6 -year struggle with an eating disorder, it has become my passion to help others avoid this.

What is intuitive eating? To put it simply, intuitive eating is normal eating. It’s about learning to understand which foods make your body feel it’s best, in turn allowing it to function optimally and help you achieve your fitness goals. Intuitive eating is not a diet, it is a sustainable way of eating. This last part is key. Intuitive eating is NOT a diet.  Research has consistently shown that 95% of diets don’t work and that the end result is usually MORE weight gain! Additionally, diets cause stress, anxiety, and frustration. And I don’t know about you, but that is not something I need more of in my life! I’m guessing you don’t either.

So, with intuitive eating, you may be thinking you’ll simply eat cookies and cake all the time. Well, this isn’t exactly true. At first, you may consume higher amounts of these foods, which is necessary for your body to realize that these foods are not restricted, they are not bad, and they can have them whenever they want. Once your body realizes this there is less of a desire for these foods because they’re no longer seen as “off limits”, which only makes us want them even more. Additionally, you’ll begin to realize which foods fuel your body optimally, such as a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and, for many, dairy. By learning to eat intuitively you’ll also find your “set point weight”. This is the weight that your body wants to be and can maintain effortlessly, without thought.

After learning to become an intuitive eater I can personally say that I am in the best shape of my life. By learning to listen to my body I have been able to gain more muscle and strength that I ever was able to when I followed food rules and restrictions. No two bodies are the same and no one can possible know what your body needs besides YOU. That is why it is so important to become in-tune with your body and learn to listen to what it is telling you it needs. Our bodies are pretty smart about what they need, but we have to listen to them in order to get that information.

Another benefit from becoming an intuitive eater is the mental space you’ll gain. Counting calories or macros or constantly thinking about what foods you can and cannot eat takes SO much energy! When you become and intuitive eater you will spend less time thinking about food and spend more time and energy living! For instance, when you’re in your fitness class or lifting weights you can focus on the workout you are doing rather than being consumed with food thoughts. This will actually allow you to have a better workout since you’ll be able to focus on the here-and-now!

So, as we start the New Year, and likely new fitness routines, let’s focus on fueling our body optimally without food rules and restrictions! You’ll find yourself much more healthy and happy!

Article courtesy of: Colleen Christensen, R.D.

Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Stuffed Peppers

This delicious baked Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Stuffed Peppers recipe is perfect for a fast, healthy and low carb breakfast option. Serve them for breakfast mid-week or at a large weekend brunch. 

Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Stuffed Peppers

What is better than a breakfast that is not only healthy and delicious but also looks gorgeous? Not much, in our opinion. That’s why these easy to make Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Stuffed Peppers should absolutely be on your “must make” list.

This recipe is a fun way to take your traditional dinner stuffed pepper recipe and make it breakfast friendly. It’s also a creative alternative to your everyday omelet. Crisp bell peppers are stuffed with the delicious combination of eggs, bacon, diced potatoes, and white cheddar cheese. It is the perfect blend of satisfying flavors and textures.

We used our Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl in this recipe, but if you aren’t a fan of bacon, then our Turkey Sausage Scramble Bowl would be just as delicious. If you are a vegetarian or looking to cut back on your meat, then give our Southwestern Veggie Scramble Bowl a try in this easy stuffed pepper recipe. Like the Scramble bowls, the type of cheese you use can be anything you like!

That’s the beauty of recipes like these stuffed peppers; they are 100% customizable to your liking.

Like most baked egg recipes these stuffed peppers travel well, making them an excellent option for meal prep, too. The extra melted cheese on top helps to keep everything nicely tucked inside the fresh peppers. You will love the ease and versatility of this recipe so much; we guarantee that you will be coming back to make this recipe over and over again.

Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Stuffed Peppers Ingredients:

9 mini bell peppers, sliced in half and de-seeded

1-2 Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowls

1/3 cup shredded white cheddar cheese

sliced jalapenos, optional

Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Stuffed Peppers

This delicious baked Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl Stuffed Peppers recipe is perfect for a fast, healthy and low carb breakfast option.
Course Breakfast
Keyword Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowl
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 9 mini bell peppers sliced in half and de-seeded
  • 1-2 Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowls
  • 1/3 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
  • jalapenos sliced, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place your peppers, cut side up on the parchment.
  • Cook your Uncured Bacon & Egg Scramble Bowls acording to package directions.
  • Ebenly divide the cooked scramble bowls between the mini peppers.
  • Sprinkle the peppers with shredded cheese.
  • Bake for about 10 minutes or until the peppers are cooked to your liking and the cheese is melted.
  • Serve with slices jalapenos, if desired.

Lemon Chicken Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

This Lemon Chicken Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms recipe is a quick, easy, and healthy meal option for busy nights. With just 3 ingredients, you can have this flavorful dish on the table in less than 15 minutes. 

Lemon Chicken Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms are the perfect vessel for almost anything. They are generally large and once the stem is removed, have the ideal “cup-like” center to hold your favorite fillings.

In this case, we used our Lemon Chicken Bowl as the filling. It has the perfect blend of shredded chicken, lemon peel pasta, organic olives, and kale, plus freshly shaved parmesan cheese.

Mushrooms are one of those veggies that are not always a fan favorite, but they are packed full of so many nutrients including B vitamins, selenium, and potassium. They are also a rich source of fiber and plant-based protein.

When you combine your already wholesome Lemon Chicken Bowl with nutrient dense portobello mushrooms, you end up with one healthy and delicious recipe!

Besides being made with only three ingredients (four if you count your herbs), this recipe is done on a sheet pan which means there is hardly any cleanup! If you line your pan, you will be able to serve your mushrooms, toss out the paper and eat. Not a single dish will need to be washed. Doesn’t that sound like magic to your ears after a long day?

Serve them alone or pair them with a side salad for a complete meal. We recommend eating these right away. Since mushrooms have a high water property, if they are left for the next day, they might end up a little too soggy.

If you think this sounds a little too complicated, but you still want the health benefits of the mushrooms, slice them up and add them to your Lemon Chicken Bowl halfway through cooking. By the time your bowl is done cooking you will have one elevated veggie meal!

Lemon Chicken Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms Ingredients:

4 large portobello mushroom caps, cleaned

1 box Lemon Chicken

1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

fresh herbs, if desired

 

Lemon Chicken Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

This Lemon Chicken Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms recipe is a quick, easy, and healthy meal option for busy nights. With just 3 ingredients, you can have this flavorful dish on the table in less than 15 minutes. 
Course Main Dish
Keyword Lemon Chicken Entree Meal
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 large portobello mushroom caps cleaned
  • 1 box Lemon Chicken
  • 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Cook Lemon Chicken according to package directions.
  • Place mushroom caps on a lined baking sheet.
  • Evenly divide the lemon chicken between the 4 mushroom caps.
  • Top off with shredded cheese.
  • Bake in the oven until cheese is melted and mushrooms are fork tender. About 10 minutes.
  • Serve with fresh herbs, if desired.

Cozy Self-Care Rituals to Try During the Holidays

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — yet it also might be one of the most stressful. The holidays are usually jam-packed with stuff — ranging from lots of food and family time to holiday parties, evening events, gift giving, and trips to visit loved ones.

When you jam a lot of good into a month or so, it begins to take a toll on your mental and physical health. Whether you love or loathe the holidays, you’re going to undoubtedly feel tired, stressed, and most likely in need for some solo chill time.

It’s important to take care of yourself so you can stay energized and joyful as we head towards the new year! Rather than simply describing a few typical self-care tips, here are some especially comfy ones you can do to feel extra cozy and cared-for this holiday season.

7 Cozy Self-Care Rituals for the Holidays

Meditate lying down. Meditating is a hard but super rewarding habit to form. Yet no matter how seasoned of a meditator you are, it’s sometimes uncomfortable! (I’ve been there: trying to keep my back upright, my shoulders relaxed, and instead I’m thinking about my aching spine and hips.) I recently discovered that meditating while lying down allows me to focus way more on my breathing than my body. It’s also way more comfortable! So give it a whirl; lie down on a soft floor (carpet works great) and focus on counting your inhales and exhales. For some guided support, use an app like Headspace or Calm. Keep it cozy by wearing warm socks, and if you have it, turn on a diffuser that’s filled with peppermint and lavender oil to really set the mood.

Enjoy a cup of tea before bed. Tea is scientifically proven to be calming and relaxing while packing a punch when it comes to nutritional benefits. In the cold months, get into the habit of sipping on some herbal teas, which can be great for fighting colds, boosting your immune system, and improving digestion. And if you’re anything like me, you’re probably eating a bit more than you normally do during the holidays — so anything to help your stomach digest food is an A+ in my book!

Take a warm bath with essential oils. Nobody can bother you when you’re in the bathroom. Put your tub to good use and start taking more bubble baths! The warm water will soothe your body and mind, and the quiet time will allow you to disconnect from others. Leave your phone behind and take a book with you to the bath instead. For some extra calming effects, add a drop or two of eucalyptus oil. You’ll feel like you’re at a spa.

Up the ante on your sleep. Sleep is always super important, but it might be even more critical during the holidays. Stay cognizant of how many Zzz’s you’re getting a night, and try not to lose sleep no matter how packed your schedule might be. Squeezing in some afternoon naps may help, too, so if you have the flexibility to doze off for a bit during the day, take advantage of that as a way to recharge.

Try yin yoga. Yoga is always a great tool for relaxing your mind. Yin is especially a helpful way to give yourself some self-love. Yin Yoga involves variations of seated and supine poses that are typically held for 3 to 5 minutes, with the goal of accessing deeper layers of the fascia tissues. It’s both intense and extremely rejuvenating; you’ll leave the class feeling like you have a new set of muscles!

Do things by candlelight. For some reason, the flickering of a candle adds a mood to the room that’s both calming and soothing. Decorate your home with candles throughout the house, and use them when you’re reading at night, while you’re taking said bubble bath, or when you’re having a romantic dinner with friends or loved ones. Dim the lights and break out the wicks — the atmosphere it creates will most certainly make your spirits soar.

Eat well with room for indulgence. Food is often the main attraction during the holidays. And while nobody can argue that holiday cookies aren’t delicious, the number of sweets and salts we eat can become stressful. Rather than worrying about an uptick in your cookie consumption, give yourself a healthy bout of room for indulging, while focusing on eating healthy whenever possible. You can eat that extra slice of pie, and then perhaps make yourself a healthful veggie omelet the next morning. Maybe skip the second glass of wine and instead make a cup of hot tea to enjoy before bed.

At the end of the day, the holidays are all about balance: balancing social stuff with solo-time, eating both salads and sweets, and checking in with yourself to see if you’re taking on too much. Hopefully, these self-care suggestions can help you feel a little bit more ease and allow you to enjoy all the fun and love that encompasses this time of the year.

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza

Easily whip up this Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza for a fast weeknight meal or a healthy alternative to your weekend take-out!

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza

Are we the only ones who struggle with a family torn between Mexican food and pizza on Friday nights? It can be hard to satisfy everyone without breaking the bank. Luckily, we have just the solution you need with this Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza recipe.

This Mexican twist on pizza is not only easy to put together but is guaranteed to satisfy everyone’s craving: Mexican or authentic pizza. We used a pre-made pizza crust in this recipe, but feel free to make your own if you feel like you want to make this taste 100% homemade.

On top of the crispy crust is our hearty and satisfying Chicken Black Bean Bowl. This bowl has tender chicken, fiber-rich black beans, salsa, queso fresco, and cheddar cheese. Let’s not forget the cilantro lime rice, too! Ya, this is pretty much a burrito bowl on top of a pizza. But, who could be mad about that?

This Mexican pizza recipe takes less time to make than it does to order from the local pizzeria. And it’s healthier, too. There are no secret sauces or extra oils used in this recipe. We finished it off with a ranch sauce (sounds weird, but trust us, it worked), but that is optional. A drizzle of queso would be another tasty option.

This recipe is perfect for lunch, dinner, or even appetizers. Slice this into mini handheld bites and all of your guests at your next party will be begging you for the recipe.

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza Ingredients:

1 large pizza crust of choice (serves 5-6)

2-3 Chicken Black Bean Bowls 

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

ranch dressing, as desired

 

Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza

Easily whip up this Chicken Black Bean Bowl Pizza for a fast weeknight meal or a healthy alternative to your weekend take-out!
Course Main Dish
Keyword Chicken Black Bean Bowl
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 5 slices

Ingredients

  • 1 large pizza crust of choice
  • 2-3 Good Food Made Simple Chicken Black Bean Bowls
  • 1/2 cup shredded white sharp cheddar cheese

Optional

  • ranch dressing for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Partially cook your Chicken Black Bean Bowls.
  • Place your pizza crust on a baking sheet.
  • Top the pizza crust with your Chicken Black Bean Bowls and shredded cheese.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and pizza crust edges are golden.
  • Allow to cool slightly before slicing.
  • Top with ranch, if desired.

Simple Tips for Reducing Mealtime Stress

While eating around the dinner table might be relaxing, getting the whole family there with a healthy and home-cooked meal on everyone’s plate might be quite the hassle. Especially with school and fall in full-time force, you need to bounce hectic schedules, shorter days, and most likely a picky eater or two.

We’re here to help. Mealtime, whether that’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, doesn’t need to be full of stress. If you enjoy cooking, we want you to keep it that way! Here are some tips to bring back the fun in food and ensure that the whole family is appreciative and relaxed when it’s time to dig in.

Let’s Toast to This: How to Ease Meal Time Anxiety

Set a routine.

The easiest way to make something a habit is to form a routine. While your schedule may vary day-to-day, consider how you can set a schedule for when you start cooking and who is helping out.

For example:

  • Set a time to start cooking every evening. If you’re home from work by 5:00 pm and the family doesn’t have any evening activities on Mondays and Wednesdays, use those evenings to start cooking at 5:30 pm, so everyone is happy and fed by 7:00 pm. If there are other days when the family is getting home later, you can adjust your schedule accordingly. The main thing is to stick to whatever times you create for yourself.
  • Prep in the morning. If morning meal prep is your fancy, enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and scan the internet for fun recipes you can make at night.
  • Get ahead of schedule. Sometimes, making lunches the night before is a lot easier than doing it the morning of. While this might be a harder habit to start, try to prepare lunches while everyone is (hopefully) in the kitchen helping you clean up from dinner. That way it’s one less thing to worry about the next morning.

Meal prep!

The easiest way to help stick to a routine is to prep your meals. This could look like a few different things:

  • Carve out an afternoon. A lot of people enjoy using Sunday’s as a meal prep day. You can take an afternoon to make a big batch of soup, roast a few pans of veggies, make some meatballs, and cook up quinoa or couscous. This will help to make the actual meal a lot easier during the week, and will especially assist when it comes to packing lunches for school.
  • Make a list. Instead of scanning the aisles at the grocery store, figure out what meals you want to make during the week and create a grocery list that hits on all the ingredients you’ll need. That way you’ll have just enough of everything and will be less likely to splurge on unnecessary foods and will save some money, too.
  • Freeze big batches of food. Lastly, a lot of folks enjoy making meals and freezing them. If you know you have a busy few weeks coming up, you can make things like lasagna, homemade veggie burgers, soups, and burritos, and then stick them in the freezer. These are always great to have on hand if you run into a busy evening and don’t have time to whip something up yourself.

Get a helping hand.

You should never have to go it alone. Involving your family is a way to take all the burden off of you while making cooking a fun, family activity. Here are some ways to get some extra hands in the kitchen:

  • Assign roles. A fun thing for a partner or kid to do is to assign them the “sous chef” role. This means they can do some of the chopping, prepping, blending, and mixing in the kitchen, while you focus on cooking the meal.
  • Assign days. Give different people in your family cookies responsibilities throughout the week. Make Friday night “date night,” where you and your partner take turns cooking meals for one another. If one of your kids wants to learn how to make pasta, give him or her the chance to on Wednesdays. Pancakes are always a hit, too, so assign that to someone for a lazy Sunday morning.

Consider a meal kit service.

If you love to cook but hate coming up with the meals, or simply don’t enjoy getting the ingredients, then a meal service might be a great thing to consider. They’re also fun because you get to learn how to cook things you might never have thought to make yourself. Some meal services include Blue Apron, Sun Basket, and Plated. If you want to skip the cooking and have fresh, organic meals right in your own grocery aisle, we can’t help but suggest Good Food Made Simple.

Streamline breakfast.

While breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it can also be the most hectic, especially if everyone is trying to get out the door. Don’t worry about trying to put together a gourmet meal before 7 am; instead, streamline the process. Here are some tips:

  • Make overnight oats! The night before, you can put together a batch of overnight oats that will be creamy and delicious in the morning. For one serving, grab a jar and add ½ cup of oats. Pour in one cup of milk (almond milk works great, too!), two tbsp of nuts, a tsp of cinnamon, and a quick squeeze of honey. You’ll have an instant yummy and nutritious breakfast in the morning. Or better yet, use our frozen organic oatmeal to create a fast oatmeal parfait like this!
  • Blend your breakfast. Smoothies are awesome because they’re quick to make and packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. Invest in a good blender, and add a mix of frozen fruit, almond milk, protein (whether protein powder or nut butter) and a handful of spinach. Make a big batch, blend and let everyone enjoy!

Treat yo’self to takeout.

Three meals a day, seven days a week…all that cooking adds up! It’s nearly impossible to make meals all week long, so you should allow yourself some wiggle room. Here are a few fun ideas:

  • Make Mondays a takeout night. While Sunday’s are notorious for some Chinese or pizza delivery, Monday’s are typically the most stressful night of the week. To ease some of that chaos, give yourself a break and order takeout at the beginning of the week.
  • Look for healthy options! It’s easy to succumb to fried food when ordering in, but explore some of the healthier, to-go choices in your town.
  • Rotate who chooses what meal each time. In order to give everyone a voice, each week (or however often you decide to eat-in) allow one person to choose where you’re ordering from. This lets you mix things up and is a fun way to give someone a yummy responsibility.

Making meals should be fun. Hopefully, some of these tips take the stress out of the kitchen and allow you to enjoy the process, savor the delicious and nutritious food, and ensure that the whole family is involved in mealtime prep and planning.

Buttermilk Waffle Monte Cristo

The best part of breakfast is eating it any time of the day! The combination of crispy buttermilk waffles, ham, cheese, and a sweet jam make this Buttermilk Waffle Monte Cristo recipe perfect for breakfast, lunch or even dinner. 

Buttermilk Waffle Monte Cristo

Since breakfast is always on our mind, we thought it was the perfect time to share one of our favorite remixes with you. Let us introduce you to this epic Buttermilk Waffle Monte Cristo.

If you’re not familiar with the Monte Cristo, it is traditionally made with a filling of ham, turkey, and cheese. Then it is dipped in batter and deep fried. Although we love the traditional version, they are are not our jam. (Pun intended)

Instead, we have remade the traditional recipe into something healthier with a breakfast twist thanks to our buttermilk waffles and some raspberry jam for sweetness. We removed the batter and deep frying and swapped it for baking to give the outside the same crunch as a traditional Monte Cristo.

We opted to use our Buttermilk Waffles in this recipe, but our Blueberry Waffles would be just as lovely! You could also you another flavor jam and swap the ham with turkey if that’s more appetizing.

Lastly, we listed the powdered sugar as optional, which it is. However, it is something we would highly recommend to make it feel a little bit more like the traditional version. It might make more sense to save that for serving this at Sunday brunch, but truth be told, we have prepared this and taken it to work – powdered sugar and all.

For our vegetarian friends out there, you can easily swap the ham for your favorite vegetarian meat alternative. Or, forgo it altogether and use extra cheese instead. And for a Thanksgiving twist, swap the ham for some leftover turkey and cranberry sauce! *chefs kiss*

Buttermilk Waffle Monte Cristo Ingredients:

4 buttermilk waffles 

1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese

1/4 pound thinly sliced ham

2 tbs dijon mustard

1/4 cup raspberry jam

powdered sugar, optional

Buttermilk Waffle Monte Cristo

The best part of breakfast is eating it any time of the day! The combination of crispy buttermilk waffles, ham, cheese, and a sweet jam make this Buttermilk Waffle Monte Cristo recipe perfect for breakfast, lunch or even dinner. 
Course Breakfast
Keyword Buttermilk Waffles
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 4 Buttermilk Waffles
  • 1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese
  • 1/4 pound thinly sliced ham
  • 2 tbs dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup raspberry jam or preserves

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Heat waffles according to package directions.
  • Layer 2 waffles with: jam, ham, cheese.
  • Spread 1 tbs on each of the remaining 2 waffles.
  • Top each of the ham waffles with the mustard waffles.
  • Place the waffles in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and waffles are crisp. About 10-12 minutes.
  • Finish off with powdered sugar, if desired.