Taco Tuesday

Our whole family absolutely loves Mexican food, but the kids in particular love Taco Tuesday! It's easy for me because I just set out a bunch of different toppings and let the kids go after it. The only part I was never a fan of was the mystery packet of taco seasoning I used to purchase from the grocery store. I dutifully purchased the low sodium variety, but when I flipped the packet over to take a peek at the ingredients I wasn't very happy to find many things I couldn't pronounce and even better "spice blend" or some other such generic grouping that could hide a multitude of yucky things.

I decided there had to be a way to achieve the same flavor without all the additives and decided to do a little digging. I came across a recipe that looked pretty promising and decided to give it a go. The kids absolutely devoured their dinner, and my husband and I were super pleased with the taco meat. I haven't purchased a single packet of the store bought stuff since discovering this little gem! It's really very easy and is equally delicious on beef or turkey. I've made a couple changes to the original recipe based on our preferences, so here's my adaptation. 

Clean Eating Taco Meat

Serves 4-5

21 Day Fix: 1 Red

What you'll need:

1 Tbsp Chili Powder

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp Onion Powder

1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

1/4 tsp Dried Oregano

1/2 tsp Paprika

1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin

3/4 tsp Sea Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1-1.25 lb package Lean Ground Turkey or Beef

Combine all spices in a bowl, stir to combine.  

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the meat, and cook until lightly browned. Sprinkle the seasoning over the top and stir to combine. That's it! It's that easy! 

This is the perfect amount to replace one packet of the store bought stuff. I just mix it together when I need it, but you could easily make a bunch and store it in an airtight container to keep on hand. If you do that, you'll need about 2 Tbsp per pound of meat. Keep in mind that you can also easily adjust the heat of this recipe by decreasing the chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper. 

Serve along with any toppings you like. Our family really likes shredded romaine, homemade refried beans (another post for another day),  fresh guacamole, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa, and plain greek yogurt in place of sour cream. The fam eats them in tortillas, but I prefer mine as a nice big salad. 

I hope you enjoy your next Clean Eating Taco Tuesday as much as we do!

**original recipe source Food Renegade**

Make a YEAR-END Resolution!

You guys!! Thanksgiving is TOMORROW. Christmas is 30 DAYS AWAY. I know, it's crazy right?! My life is crazy busy this time of year, as is everyone else, but in that craziness I find 30 minutes a day to commit to my health and fitness. I do this for myself because it makes me an all around better achiever during the day. I have more to give if I get in just those 30 minutes for myself. I'm a better Mom, a better Wife, a better Housekeeper, a better Friend, you get my drift. The energy and positivity I gain from my own health spills over into EVERY aspect of my life. If someone told you, you could be better all day just by sacrificing 30 minutes of your time, would you do it? I think most people would gladly say yes, and exchange 30 minutes for a better overall day. So what are you waiting for?!!

I am running one last Accountability group this year. This group will be featuring the fool proof 21 Day Fix nutrition plan and clean eating. You can do the full program with the workouts, or you can do another workout program like I am. I'll be doing the 21 Day Fix NUTRITION plan, but completing the 2nd month of Insanity:Max 30. It's kicking off on November 30th, and will run right up to the week of Christmas. Think about that... You could still lose up to 15 POUNDS by the time Christmas gets here! Better yet, you can still enjoy yourself (in moderation) this Holiday Season AND see progress!

It's easy to say, "I'm going to make a New Years Resolution. Starting January 1, I will turn over a new leaf and really commit to getting myself in shape." WHY WAIT? Let's start now. Let's make a YEAR-END Resolution! Let's make some progress today instead of waiting for someday!