Life
/ April 2017

One Successful New Years Goal + A Recipe

It has been awhile since I shared a quick, easy, super time saving recipe with you guys! After last nights meal I knew it was time to break the silence and share something new, wholesome and delicious. I also wanted to share Kris’ brilliant idea that has helped us (at least) double the amount of veggies we have been eating this year. Eating more veggies is super important to us so I am excited to share this method that has been working great for us!

Kris and I both have different diet struggles. This new year we both decided we wanted to change and start eating more veggies and less unhealthy stuff. Kris came up with the idea of eating a salad while you make your main meal. I always start cooking when I’m hungry. It is hard to make healthy choices when you are starving. BUT if you eat while you prepare the main meal, portion control becomes WAY easier and you might even make healthier ingredient choices while you cook. This idea of eating salad while you cook has become one of our very few successful new years goals!

This sounds harder than it is. All you have to do is buy the washed and ready salad greens and a variety of toppings to make a yummy salad in under a minute. Go light on the toppings and then you won’t feel guilty including some less healthy ones, like bacon bits. I keep on hand a variety of nuts, croutons, raisins, parmesan, wasabi almonds, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes and blueberries. All I do is pour the lettuce into a big mixing bowl sometime before lunch and add 2-3 toppings. I then can quickly enjoy salad throughout the day, especially as I prepare meals. The toppings quickly satisfy unhealthy cravings, and you end up eating more veggies than you normally would!

My dinner recipe for today is pasta. Pasta and sauce have always been my go to. It is simple to prepare and so delicious. Most pasta’s don’t add a whole ton of nutritional value to your diet. That is why I was so excited when Barilla released a whole new selection of Better For You pasta’s. I haven’t tried them all yet, but there is one packed with fiber from a blend of grains, it has three times as much fiber as regular pasta. Another is made from 100% whole grain. And the last (my favorite, and the one I will be showing in my recipe) is full of protein.

It is called Barilla ProteinPLUS Pasta. The protein is derived from vegetarian sources. Egg whites, lentils and chick peas are all included in the recipe! It has a delicious taste and texture, just like regular pasta, but it gives you a little extra goodness with each bite. Kris and I avoid eating meat as part of a healthy, whole foods diet. Getting extra protein elsewhere is deotal! Beans are a great source of protein. But as a pasta lover, I was so excited to get the combo of protein and beans in this delicious penne. This pasta is super wholesome and super delicious.

So without further ado, here are the recipes I used from last nights dinner. It should all be made in under ten minutes (minus boiling the pasta time!). All the ingredients can be found at Walmart. Read below, or watch the video recipe here.

Salad ingredients:

Mixed Greens

Blueberries

Feta

Glazed Almonds

Balsamic Vinegar

Directions:

1. Put the mixed greens in a bowl.

2. Sprinkle on toppings according to desired taste.

3. Drizzle on balsamic vinegar.

Pasta Ingredients:

1/2 Box Barilla ProteinPLUS Pasta

4 Tbsp. Barilla Chunky Marinara

Pinch of Parmesan

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil.

2. Add the pasta and cook for 11 minutes.

3. Strain and pour back into the pot.

4. Add 4 tbsp. of Barilla Chunky Marinara

5. Serve on a appetizer size plates for better portion control and add a sprinkle of parmesan.

Hope you guys enjoy these super simple recipes. Just one more tips for today – if you have a hard time convincing your toddler to eat their dinner, try presenting it in a heart shaped bowl… 😂 Works with Zoey every time. Also, if you want to try this recipe but are looking for a gluten free option, Barilla has that too! Barilla Gluten Free Pasta was recently named one of Parents Magazine’s “Top 25 Allergy Free Foods”. Get $1 off Barilla products with this ibotta offer at Walmart. Check out some more Barilla recipes and pasta inspiration too!