Most of us want to do our body good but the thought of giving up foods that you love can put you in a real pickle!  I LOVE brownies and I will not part with them on this journey to a better me.  With a little creativity and open mindedness, I can achieve 2 goals: eating healthier and eating brownies! 

There are so many variations of brownie recipes out there: low sugar, low carb, dairy free, black bean, and the list goes on.  First, think about what your real healthier eating goal is and then find  recipe that is right for you.  I know I am specifically interested in a low or sugar free black bean brownie recipe.  Below are a few different recipes to help you eat better without giving up the beloved brownie!

When we are trying to lose weight, it seems like what we are really trying to do is break up with sugar!  Sugar is such a big contributor to weight gain and lives in nearly everything we eat.  Weight Watchers is a great program - you can still enjoy the things you love, but you learn how to love them differently!  There are tons of tips/tricks to making your favorite "not so great" foods into much healthier options to stay within your smart points.  

My goal is to get as close to 0 points as possible with everything I make and eat so that I can have enjoy a more guilt free day on the weekend.  I have come to learn that plain non-fat greek yogurt and Stevia are a MUST for satisfying a sweet tooth. 

In my quest for sweet tooth satisfaction, I have come across the desserts below that I find to be fantastic replacements for their evil twins!  Give them a try - your waistline will thank you:)

Do you or someone you care about need to lose weight?  Bodynista offers a fantastic line of ​weight loss, health and nutrition products from Total Life Changes to get you into the body you deserve and help  you take your life back.  Shop for your new body by visiting our Total Life Changes Store Page.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Do you have a low smart point dessert that you love?  Share it!  Bodynista

The jingle of bells, decking of the halls, and food galore!  The Holidays are here and it is the feasting time of year!  It's also the time our pants get a bit tighter, our shirts a bit snugger, our digestive systems a bit slower, and you can see where the is going........  Do yourself, friends and family a favor: contribute a healthier dish for gatherings, parties, potlucks and dinners.  Below are a few recipes that put a healthy spin on some classics!

Do you or someone you care about need to lose weight?  Bodynista offers a fantastic line of ​weight loss, health and nutrition products from Total Life Changes to get you into the body you deserve and help  you take your life back.  Shop for your new body by visiting our Total Life Changes Store Page.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Are you looking for some additional healthy recipes for your Holiday gatherings?  Check out these other great recipes from Whole Foods!

It's the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and you are probably wondering why you may have overdone it yesterday... Me too!  But instead of discarding all the leftover food because it gives you flashbacks from over indulgence, repurpose those leftovers for some healthy meals!  Below are some great healthy recipes that take some Thanksgiving staples and transform them into healthy lunches and dinners.

Do you or someone you care about need to lose weight?  Bodynista offers a fantastic line of ​weight loss, health and nutrition products from Total Life Changes to get you into the body you deserve and help  you take your life back.  Shop for your new body by visiting our Total Life Changes Store Page.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​Go ahead and give a couple of these a try - I know I will!  Turkey tacos - here we come!!!!

I don't know about you, but my crock pot is my life saver most weeks.  What other device allows you to cook when your not at home?  A crock pot cooks EVERYTHING!  I have even thought about putting a small turkey in one......  but the caveat is that the food must fit inside:)  I cook mostly meats, raw beans, and soups in my crock pot, but I am loving these skinny crock pot recipes below!

​INGREDIENTS

• ⅓ cup cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pieces), cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
• **4 - 6 dried red chili peppers (to taste) found in Asian supermarkets or the International section of a large chain grocery store - see NOTE
• ⅔ cup roasted cashews (or roasted peanuts)
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped into halves

Sauce (Feel free to double the sauce if you like more sauce)

• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• ½ cup water
• 3 Tablespoons honey
• 2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon dried red pepper chili flakes

Cornstarch slurry

• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder
• 2-3 Tablespoons water (plus more as needed to thin out consistency of sauce)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large zip-top bag, toss in chicken, cornstarch, salt and black pepper. Shake until well-coated.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken about 2-3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Transfer chicken into slow cooker. (SEE NOTE FOR STOVETOP DIRECTIONS)
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, honey, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger and red pepper chili flakes and pour over chicken.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 2.5 - 4 hours or HIGH for 1.5 - 3 hours. (SEE NOTE)
5. About 30 minutes before serving, whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Stir into the slow cooker. Add the dried red chili peppers, red bell peppers, zucchini and cashews.
6. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 20-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened up. (Add more water to thin out sauce to your preferred consistency).
7. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onions and serve over rice, quinoa or zoodles, if desired.

NOTES
**If you can't find dried red chili peppers, leave out and add an additional ½ - 1 teaspoon red pepper chili flakes

**If your slow cooker runs hot, be sure to check on chicken earlier as it may cook faster than the suggested cooking times.

**FOR STOVETOP DIRECTIONS: Brown the chicken until cooked through (7-8 minutes). Then add vegetables and saute for about 3 minutes – or until tender. Add the sauce to the pan, turn to high heat and cook until the sauce bubbles and thickens up – about 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Once everything is coated and heated through, serve hot with favorite sides.

This skinny Veggie Crockpot Lasagna is packed with good-for-you veggies and super easy to make. Just put it in the crockpot and you’ve got dinner!

INGREDIENTS

• (2) 24 ounce jars or cans of Italian tomato sauce (see notes)
• 9 thick lasagna noodles with wavy edges (mine were called bronze cut)
• 24 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese
• 3-4 cups chopped vegetables of choice (I used kale)
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella or Provolone cheese
• Parmesan cheese for topping
• fresh parsley for topping

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce to the bottom so the noodles don’t stick.
2. Break noodles so that they fit and mostly cover the bottom. They will probably be awkward looking – not a big deal. Cover with about one third of the ricotta, veggies, sauce, cheese, and end with noodles. Repeat layers two more times for a total of three complete layers. End with a layer of noodles on top, covered with a thin layer of sauce and a little bit more shredded cheese.
3. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours. Turn the crockpot off completely and let the lasagna sit for at least one hour. This allows all the moisture to get soaked into the lasagna, and if you don’t do this it will probably be more like lasagna soup – still good, but not pretty. Depending on how long you let it sit, you can either scoop pieces out or just cut with a knife like normal lasagna.

Skinny Chicken Fajita SoupSkinny Chicken Fajita Soup Recipe – A simple zesty Mexican-style soup that is low fat, gluten free, and can be made low carb as well!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 bell peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 red onion, peeled and chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 15 ounce can black beans, drained
• 15 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 fajita seasoning packet
• 1/2 cup brown rice, optional
• Possible Garnishes: Reduced Fat Cheese, Scallions, Avocado

​INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place a large sauce 6-8 quart pot over medium heat. Add the oil, chopped bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Saute for 3-5 minutes to soften.
2. Add whole chicken breasts, black beans, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, 1 fajita seasoning packet, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. If adding rice, stir it in with an additional 2 cups of water. Bring the soup to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Use tongs to remove the cooked chicken breasts. Allow the soup to continue simmering to fully cook the rice, another 10-15 minutes. Allow the chicken to cool for a few minutes, then shred with two forks.
4. Once the rice is tender, add the shredded chicken back to the soup. Taste, and salt and pepper as needed.

NOTE: This soup has a nice light fajita flavor. If you like a more robust soup, use the fajita packet + 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1 fresh chopped jalapeno.
For a low carb option, omit the brown rice.

Who doesn't love the toasty feeling of your favorite adult beverage, especially with that cool fall weather rolling in?  It's so easy to turn to your favorite pumpkin beer or a great stout, but those can pack on the calories FAST!  I love of being outdoors, by a fire with a warming adult beverage, but I don't want to regret it the next day or be 20 pounds heavier in the Spring.  Below are some great adult beverage recipes that will help you warm up to Fall without packing on the calories! - Bodynista

FIGI APPLE

147 calories, 4 grams sugar

Tossing back this drink is as delicious as biting into a crunchy Fiji apple. TY Ku Sake Black, a premium dry sake made with only four natural ingredients, including rice, water, yeast, and koji, is offset by spiced rum and sweet apple juice. Cheers to this luscious-tasting brew that only costs you 147 calories!
Ingredients:

2 oz. TY KU Sake Black

1 oz. Captain Morgan spiced rum

1.5 oz. apple juice
Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.

​PUMPKIN MARTINI

205 calories, 4 grams sugar

Made with smooth-tasting TY KU Sake, this seasonal pumpkin martini packs a deliciously strong flavor without piling on unwelcome calories. Skip the squirt of whipped cream to cut even more!
Ingredients:

2 oz. TY KU Sake

1 oz. vanilla rum

1/2 oz. pumpkin syrup

Whipped cream

Cinnamon stick garnish
Directions:

Mix ingredients together. Top with whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon stick.

TY KU TODDY

104 calories, 3.8 grams sugar

Hot toddies are comforting cold-weather drinks that are also known to help knock out a nasty flu. The combination of light rum and soothing chamomile tea means you can drink this toddy without feeling the slightest bit guilty.
Ingredients:

1 1/2 TY KU Liqueur

1/2 oz. light rum

1 oz. chamomile tea

1/4 oz. sugar free vanilla syrup
Directions:

Stir ingredients together. Serve warm.

POMOSA

145 calories, 3 grams sugar

Drink to your health with this pomegranate-based potion. Using natural ingredients and premium grain alcohol, Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka harnesses the exotic, nourishing flavor of fresh pomegranate. Sparkling wine adds extra fizz!
Ingredients:

4 oz. sparkling wine

1 oz. Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka
Directions:

Pour chilled Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka into a flute. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a strawberry.

Do you ever get the need for something sweet, comforting, and just completely off you healthy bandwagon? It's normal, it happens even to best and most disciplined people.  Really, why take the small joys out of life?  However, now, you can have your cake and eat it too!!  This week I have eaten chocolate cake/brownie with my tea every morning and I have no guilt about it!  It's a perfectly health recipe and it gives me JOY to consume it!  I have linked the recipe below as well as a couple of other goodies I would like to try.  Now it's your turn to have your cake and eat it too!  Or you can share these healthy desserts with a friend.

Who doesn't love bread?  It's soft, lightly sweetened fluffiness wrapping around your tongue and has you wanting more!  Dramatic, maybe, but we love bread.   Unfortunately, the feelings aren't mutual (bread doesn't love us).  I am always on the search for a great bread replacement recipe.  I tried the first one yesterday and I am in LOVE with it!!  The first one is meant to replace an English Muffin, but works great as a sandwich bun.  

I have also included a loaf bread recipe and a great replacement when you need that "crunch"!

Do you or someone you care about need to lose weight?  Bodynista offers a fantastic line of ​weight loss, health and nutrition products from Total Life Changes to get you into the body you deserve and help  you take your life back.  Shop for your new body by visiting our Total Life Changes Store Page.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Summer, warmer weather, and sweaty skin are here!  While we are aiming to sun kiss our bodies, we are also drying out our skin, opening pores, and damaging our hair in the process.  But, with a few simple tips and tricks, we can enjoy the sun, weather, and still look fabulous!  AND, it doesn't need to cost a fortune!  Below are 3 fantastic DIY beauty recipes that are simple & easy to make and are perfect for use year round.  

I hope you give these recipes a try.  Do you have a beauty DIY recipe you would like to share?