Turkey Meatballs

So this week for dinner, we wanted something high in protein but low in calories and fat.  Easier than you think... you don't have to have a bland tasting meal to achieve these results.    

So, we came up with these delicious turkey meatballs-  Packed with protein, veggies, and great taste!  The best part is the bell peppers in these meatballs. It gives them a roasted pepper taste plus cuts down on calories!



Turkey Meatballs

1 lb lean ground turkey
1/4 cup bell peppers, finely chopped in a food processor (We like the red, yellow, and orange)
2 eggs
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic
1 tablespoon italian seasoning 
salt and pepper, to taste


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.  (We like to lightly spray our foil with nonstick cooking spray just to ensure nothing sticks.)

In a bowl, combine turkey, bell peppers, eggs, bread crumbs, garlic, italian seasoning, and salt & pepper until everything comes together.

Form the meatballs by rolling into ball shapes.  

Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 20-30 minutes depending on big you made your meatballs.  Flip them halfway through.  They should brown on both sides. 

We paired ours with our favorite whole grain pasta!

Look at that packed protein!

*One serving= 4 meatballs if you make 20 meatballs.  (the smaller you make them the more you get!:)



Let us know if you tried our meatballs!  Do you have any high protein, low calorie dinner ideas?

XOXO,
J&L

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Today we have a recipe for you that will make you super happy!  Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins!  We have re-created the pumpkin muffin and given it an extreme makeover for your healthy satisfaction.     

Instead of chocolate chips we actually used carob chips.. feel free to use the chocolate chips but carob chips are naturally sweetened and low in fat, making it a better choice.  Then, instead of regular milk we used almond milk.  The benefits to using almond milk is it gives these muffins more flavor and it's better for you.  Also, if you know someone who cannot have dairy, this is the perfect option.  The last thing we changed up in these muffins, is the flour.  Instead of all-purpose or pastry flour we opted for spelt flour.  If you have never heard of spelt flour before, well, you're in the right place!  This flour has more nutrients (than regular flour), more fiber, and is a whole grain.  

These pumpkin muffins are perfect for breakfast to jump start your morning or great as a "better option snack".  

Pumpkin "Chocolate Chip" Muffins*

3 cups Spelt flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups sugar (white or brown)

pinch of salt

1 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice

2 eggs

1 1/2 sticks of butter, melted and cooled

1 1/2 cups of Almond milk

1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin

1/2 to 1 cup of Carob chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift together all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and spices) in a bowl.  

Make a well with the dry ingredients, in the middle of the bowl.  Pour the eggs, butter, and milk in the middle.  Stir just until combined.

Fold in the pumpkin and carob chips.  

Pour into muffin tins and bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool completely.

*If you do not like the substitutions we used, just use the same amount of the substitution as the regular item. 

Try these muffins and let us know what you think.  Do you have any healthy muffin recipes?

XOXO,

J&L

Pinktober

Today, we are pretty in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness! As we've mentioned on our Facebook, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; the time to be healthy, educated, and involved!

There are so many ways to be involved with the fight to end cancer and awareness is crucial. We still have more than two weeks left of October, so sign up for a 5k, event, or fundraiser. If your local area's race has already come and gone (like ours!), then get your friends, family, co-workers, office building, etc. to have a Pink Out Day! Get everyone to wear the best pinks and raise awareness for just one day. You can even have everyone donate one dollar to a foundation to wear your pink for a day*. It's a fun way to get involved and support those all over who have been affected.

get involved!

show some support with pink treats! 

Jackie in her pink at work!

big or small, save them all! <3

Today we will be celebrating our Pink Day! Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for Pink Friday posts! :) Share with us your pink gear and ways you're getting involved!

*Some of our favorite foundations:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Save the Ta-Tas Foundation

XOXO,

L&J

Fall Workout Gear

If you're like us, you are welcoming the change of seasons with open arms! We've mentioned before we are obsessed with fall foods, the weather, and of course the clothes! Living in sunny Florida make us very much appreciate the cooler temperatures and low humidity.That is why we embrace this season!

we couldn't agree more!

There are so many great reasons to love this season for health and fitness purposes. One, the weather is perfect for an outdoor run, yoga outside, or a brisk morning walk. Two, the fall offers an abundance of seasonal healthy and nutritious produce (hello pears, squash, pumpkins, pomegranates!) And three, amazing trends for new clothes and of course workout gear!

Depending on where you live, having the right apparel for the weather change is very important! Where a tank and shorts were perfect back in August, it might be time for some things that pack in the warmth. Checkout our list of fall faves for workout gear and apparel.

Alternative Bagels

Last week at the grocery store, we discovered the impossible.  Alternative Bagels.  These bagels have almost no fat and only have 120 calories for the WHOLE bagel.  No, we're not joking.  These bagels taste just like bagels and are so delicious.  I swear you wouldn't know the difference.  Did you know the average, regular bagel can have just around 300 calories for one whole bagel?  So, finally with Alternative Bagels you can have your bagel and eat it too. (You can even top it with a little of your favorite cream cheese and not feel too guilty!)

These great bagels come in five great flavors!  Plain, Cinnamon Spice, Blueberry, Onion, and Wheat.  We discovered these bagels at Publix and you can order them online! 

Our favorite are the cinnamon spice bagels!

Pumpkin butter is a great alternative for cream cheese... almost no fat and less calories!

Let us know if you tried these awesome bagels and if you loved them as much as we do!:)

XOXO,
J&L

Five Mile Running Playlist

Now that we've rested and recovered, we are ready to hit the pavement again and log some miles! Since our playlists are in need of a fall update, especially after they've been on repeat during the Ten Miler weekend, it's time for a brand new running playlist!

After a big run or long race weekend, it can be hard to find your motivation to get back to your weekly routine. That's why this playlist has pumped up, energized music to get you excited and going!

Enjoy this 50-Minute Playlist for your next file mile run!

Healthy Coconut Shrimp

Time to get back on track with eating healthy!  Maybe you had a small getaway vacation this past weekend, maybe you had friends and family intown, or maybe you just couldn't stay on track with your goals this weekend.  But that's okay!  We are here to help you get back on track and it happens to all of us.  

This recipe for coconut shrimp is excellent as an appetizer for sharing or as an entree on top of salad.  It's also super easy and we want to thank our friends over at fitsugar.com for the great idea! 

yum!

Workout Recovery

Well Race Weekend has come and gone and we are tired! It was a jam packed weekend with lots of excitement; we can't wait for the next one!

We've talked about post workout fuel and how to prepare for races and long runs, but what is the best way to recover after that grueling workout or Tower of Terror Ten Miler?

race day!

Read on below for the best recovery tips!

Pre-Race Day Snacks

Well, we are just about at that time.  One day left before our big 10-mile run!  Check out these great tips for what to eat before a big workout!

Fueling up before and on race day is so important.  But most importantly it's what you fuel up with that will make or break for a great run.  Here we have our favorite things to eat:


1.  The night before we like to fuel up on carbs!  Yes, this is the time to indulge a little bit and enjoy yourself before you go out and kill it.  We recommend eating whole grain pasta with red sauce and some source of lean protein.  Also, if you remember our post about the delicious butternut squash ravioli... well, this is a great time to try it!

  

2. Bananas.  They are your friends!  Bananas are extremely good for you and even better to eat before race day.  We like to go crazy and really stock up on some nans.  These will help prevent muscle cramping and support muscle activity.

3. Trail Mix is also a great snack to eat hours before your race.  This provides you with an excellent source of protein and keeps your blood-sugar levels from dropping midway. 

4. Peanut butter and whole grain toast is a running winner!  This will help keep you feeling full while you are trying to finish those last couple of miles.  Peanut butter is also great for giving you the energy you need for your run.  Try an all-natural peanut butter... it has more peanuts in it, giving you more energy instead of the fillers that are just empty calories.

And don't forget... 

Check back after our run to see how we did and what we ate for some post-race snacks!  

Have some other helpful pre-race snack tips?  Comment below and let us know! 


XOXO,
J&L

Race Day Essentials

We are still counting down until our Ten Miler race at Disney World this weekend and with a week's worth of preparation, I think we are just about ready!

our race day gear ready for the big day!

We posted about importance of race week prep earlier this week, and now we want to talk about race day essentials. Having all the gear you normally train with on race day really helps you get in the mindset to run a great race. Though this is a 'fun run' and not a competitive event, it is still important to get your favorite things together to be comfortable and confident during your race.