Recipe: Skinny Mexican Tortilla Pizza

For a flavor-packed Mexican-inspired pizza, try this recipe! If you’ve ever had Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza, you know how addicting they can be… and how scary they can be for your waistline. We invented our own Mexican pizzas for all that great taste but WAY less calories and fat. Even the kids will be on board with this pizza-tastic recipe!

Recipe: Skinny Mexican Tortilla Pizza

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 25-30 minutes

Yield: 5 servings

Serving size: 1 pizza

Ingredients

For the sauce:
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat white flour
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 cups Pacific® Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth
For the pizza:
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1½ teaspoon cumin
• 1½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1½ teaspoon chili powder
• black pepper, to taste
• 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1 (15-ounce) can reduced sodium black beans, drained + rinsed
• 5 La Tortilla Factory® Low Carb, High Fiber Whole Wheat Tortillas, Original Size
• 5 tablespoons Sargento® Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese
• 1 Roma tomato, diced
• 10 Early California® Large Black Ripe Olives, sliced
• 5 tablespoons shredded Iceberg lettuce
• 1 small jalapeño, sliced

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F and make the sauce: Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir for 1 minute. Add the spices and tomato paste and stir for an additional minute.
2. Whisk in the chicken broth and continue whisking until the sauce is smooth with no lumps.
3. Allow to cook, stirring frequently for 8 minutes.
4. Take the saucepan off the heat and set 10 tablespoons aside. Store remaining sauce in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid, like a mason jar.
5. Place the tortillas on 2 baking sheets and lightly spray them with nonstick cooking spray, and bake for 4-6 minutes to get slightly crispy.
6. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onions and beef together, breaking the beef up as it cooks and it it no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes.
7. Stir the 10 tablespoons of set-aside sauce into the ground beef mixture.
8. Add 1 teaspoon each of cumin, garlic powder and chili powder, black pepper to taste, and green chiles and stir together.
9. In a medium microwave-safe mixing bowl, microwave the beans for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Use a fork to mash the beans together with the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon cumin.
10. Evenly spread the bean mash onto the slightly crisp tortillas (about 3 tablespoons on each tortilla). Then evenly spread the beef mixture (about ¼ cup on each tortilla) on top of that.
11. Top each pizza 1 tablespoon of cheese.
12. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tortilla has finished crisping.
13. Garnish each pizza evenly with the tomatoes, olives, and shredded lettuce

Nutrition Information

Per Serving: (1 pizza)

Calories: 322

Calories from fat: 109

Fat: 12g

Saturated Fat: 4g

Cholesterol: 53mg

Sodium: 699mg

Carbohydrates: 38g

Fiber: 12g

Sugar: 4g

Protein: 29g

WWP+: 9

SmartPoints: 9

http://www.skinnymom.com/recipe-skinny-mexican-tortilla-pizza/

Healthy Morning Routines to Start Your Day Off Right

Do these things in the morning for a productive day.

Don’t let waking up be one of the most dreaded parts of your day. When you wake up you should feel great, ready to conquor the day ahead. It’s important to get yourself in a morning routine, one that will help you manage your time, and leave you feeling calm, relaxed, productive, and in a clear state of mind.  

Just adding a few things such as, working out in the morning, eating breakfast, meditation, setting an alarm and drinking lemon water will drastically change your negative mornings. Doing these things will have you ready to take on the day ahead with a positive mindset.

Here are some Healthy Morning Routines to Start Your Day Off Right…

Morning Workout

Eliminate your excuses, get your workout done in the morning! Why wait all day long for that dreaded after work workout? Workout in the morning to feel good throughout the day, and give your metabolism a boost! Walk into work with your skin glowing, have a more productive day, and after work... Just go home and relax.

Eat Breakfast

Breakfast is known as the most important meal of the day.Starting your day off with a healthy breakfast will give you the drive you need for your day ahead. Eating breakfast is proven to improve concentration, give you energy, help with weight loss and boost your metabolism.  According to Health.com these are the best foods to eat for breakfast- Oatmeal, Greek Yogurt, Grapefruit, Bananas, Eggs, Blueberries, Strawberries and Cereal.

Meditate

Do you easily get stressed out in the morning? Try meditation. Adding meditation to your morning routine will help you start your day in a calm and relaxed state of mind. Some forms of meditation include, Reflective Meditation (analytical meditation), Mindfulness Meditation, Heart-Centered Meditation and Creative Meditation.

Set an Alarm

Instead of waking up and rushing around, to run out of the door, just set an alarm! Get in the routine of setting an alarm before you go to bed, to wake you up the following morning. This will help you manage your time more efficiently, and plan your mornings from the time you alarm clock goes off to the time you are walking out the door. Get in the routine of setting your alarm clock and you will never be rushing out the door again! That is…unless you hit SNOOZE!

Drink Warm Lemon Water

Get in the routine of drinking warm lemon water every morning. Lemon water helps your body eliminate waste products while aiding in the body’s digestive system.Drinking lemon water also helps balance your pH levels, cures the common cold, benefits your skin, and helps reduce pain and inflammation in your joints.

http://www.theactivetimes.com/fitness/your-first-time/healthy-morning-routines-start-your-day-right

Healthy Winter Recipes to Get You Through the Holidays

Pork Chops with Apples and Ginger

Ingredients:

1  teaspoon ground coriander

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon black pepper

2  teaspoons olive oil

4  (5-ounce) lean center-cut boneless pork loin chops, trimmed

1  large shallot, finely chopped

1  tablespoon grated peeled 
fresh ginger

2  apples, cored and cut into ½-inch pieces

1⁄3 cup chicken broth

2  tablespoons whole-grain 
 mustard

2  tablespoons chopped fresh 
flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

1. Stir together ¼ teaspoon of coriander, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of cumin, and pepper in cup. Rub spice mixture onto both sides of pork.
2. Heat oil in large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook, turning once, until instant-read thermometer inserted into sides of chops registers 145°F, 5–6 minutes. Transfer to plate.
3. Spray same skillet with olive oil non-stick spray. Add shallot and ginger; reduce heat and cook, stirring constantly, until shallot softens, 1–2 minutes. Add apples and remaining ¾ teaspoon coriander, remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon of cumin. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in broth and scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan. Cover and cook until apples are tender, about 3 minutes. Return pork and any accumulated juices to skillet and cook until heated through, 1–2 minutes. Stir in mustard. Sprinkle 
with parsley and serve.

Per serving (1 pork chop with ½ cup apple mixture): 289 Cal, 11 g Total Fat, 3 g Sat Fat, 
656 mg Sod, 16 g Total Carb, 10 g Sugar, 3 g Fib, 30 g Prot. SmartPoints value: 5

Pro Tip:

Serve the pork chops with heat-and-serve brown rice available in plastic pouches near the dry rice in supermarkets (1⁄3 cup cooked brown rice will increase the per-serving SmartPoints by 2).

http://www.zulily.com/blog/home-kitchen/healthy-winter-recipes-to-get-you-through-the-holidays/

No More Colds! Add This Ingredient to Your Smoothie.

We know it's not always easy to eat a healthy breakfast on a tight schedule. But starting your day with nutritious food can help save you time in the long run. (Fewer sick days! More energy!)

Julie Montagu, yoga teacher, author of the best-selling cookbook Superfoods, and cast member on Bravo TV's Ladies of London, has your solution: smoothies. They're super quick but also give you a quick burst of nutrients, she says.

In this video, Julie shows you how to make her favorite banana, blueberry, and ginger smoothie. This recipe is loaded with antioxidants via blueberries, and can also help protect against colds and reduce nausea (we're looking at you, soon-to-be mamas) thanks to a healthy hit of ginger.

 http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drink/smoothie/ginger-smoothie-recipe/

Jillian Michaels: Total Body Strength Workout.

Jillian Michaels Total Body Strength Workout is a short series of dynamic exercises that are designed to burn fat and target both the upper and lower body simultaneously. Sculpt muscle and develop definition in the arms, legs, buns, shoulders, chest, back, and abs. Grab a set of hand weights and join America's Toughest Trainer, Jillian Michaels in this effective strength training exercise that will get you ready for Summer as you tone your entire body through a combination of squats, lunges, presses, and curls. Work off the those extra Cinco De Mayo calories and look your best with this great workout that is great for all skill levels, you will love the results!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6sPQtHBj3M

The Lose 10 Pounds in 30 Days Diet: Low-Calorie Breakfast Recipes.

Yep, you can eat waffles and bagels and still lose weight! Begin your day with these healthy, low-calorie breakfasts, and then eat healthy for the rest of the day with the lunch and dinner recipes in this diet for a total of 1,500 calories a day.

 

Waffles with Blueberry Maple Syrup

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 2 whole-grain waffles
• 1 tablespoon pecans

Make It
Microwave blueberries and syrup together for 2 to 3 minutes, until berries are thawed. Toast waffles and top with warm blueberry syrup. Sprinkle with pecans.

 http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/plans/31-day/lose-10-pounds-in-30-days-diet-low-calorie-breakfast-recipes/

Jillian Michaels' Bodyshred Circuit Workout.

How This Workout Works

What You'll Need: 3- to 8-pound dumbbells, a mat (optional)
How It Works
Do Jillian's 3-2-1 interval method four days a week. Warm up for five minutes by jumping rope or running in place. Next, move on to the three circuits: Do three minutes of strength (30 seconds per move; repeat entire circuit once); then do two minutes of cardio (30 seconds per move; repeat entire circuit once); and finish with one minute of core (30 seconds per move). Do three sets total.

 http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/real-plans/celebrity/jillian-michaels-bodyshred-workout/

Working Out With An Injury.

Q: Jillian, which of your exercise DVDs do you suggest for someone with back problems? I have gained weight since my surgery in June and want to get back on track. Help please! — Lauren Mock, (via Facebook)
A: Lauren, you ask a great question. However, I would be remiss to give you any answer without suggesting you talk with your doctor first. People often ask me how to work around specific injuries. The good news is you absolutely CAN work around any injury and burn plenty of calories. They key is how you do that. Let's go over a course of action to pursue this goal safely:
1. See a physical therapist at least once. This is critical because a trainer is not aware of the details surrounding your injury, nor are they qualified to make decisions on how to rehabilitate it. I worked as an aid under the supervision of physical therapists for many years and even owned my own sports medicine facility and I would never attempt to create a fitness program for an injured individual without consulting a PT first. While I know medical appointments cost money so does furthering your injury. One consultation with a PT will go a long way. Find out what your limitations are (which exercises and activities you should never do). Find out which stretches and exercises are good for rehabbing the injury. Find out which exercises or workouts you can engage in, while healing, that will work around the injury.
2. After you have consulted a PT for guidelines, here are some general rules of thumb to work around an injury:

• If you have an injury in your lower body (knee, ankle, etc.), work your upper body by doing upper body exercises like push ups, rows, presses, flys, shadow boxing etc.
• Conversely if you have an upper body injury (shoulder, elbow, neck, etc.), work the lower body with lunges, squats, step-ups, etc., and try cardio workouts like the recumbent bike and elliptical.
• If you have a back injury, don't do anything that compresses your spine like overhead presses and don't incorporate core rotation moves unless given permission by a doctor or PT.
• If you have bad knees, hips, or back be careful with impact exercises like jumping or running. Instead try swimming, biking, rowing, etc., unless given permission by a doctor or PT.

Ultimately injuries heal. Be patient. Don't do something that will injure you further causing more down time or even possibly permanent damage. Be smart by consulting a professional and patient by working around the injury and at a lower intensity while healing, if need be. This type of attitude will still get you results but protect you in the long run!

 http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/working-out-with-an-injury.aspx

30 Day Challenge To Train Up Your Body.

Many of us include workout in their New Year or birthday resolution but the fire dies out soon and most of us end up removing exercise entirely from their designated plan. Although, there are some who take time to craft a schedule for their workout plan but never actually sweat themselves, for most of us, the main problem is that we expect results too soon.
Things go well for a couple of days, a week or even two weeks. But we feel that the prospect of an aesthetic physique looks far off and the motivation to carry on fades sooner than later. However, Puma and Refinery29 have come up with a perfect 30-day workout plan. Developed by Amanda Freeman, the founder of SLT, this 30-day challenge is a tricky but totally achievable plan to train up your body and the one that produces results that can be seen within a relatively short time.
Of course, you won’t be able to get a body like Daniel Craig within 30 odd days. But as Freeman puts, “You can see sculpting start to happen pretty quickly.” And, you can achieve all this without even going to gym or purchasing expensive equipment.
This is a workout routine you can do all by yourself at the comfort of your home and is a great way to start training the body or continue doing so. And, as it produces results not before long, you don’t have to worry often about keeping yourself motivated either.

 Schedule

The schedule you have to keep up to is the one shown in the calendar above, designed by Marry Galloway.
General rule is that you start with allocated reps and time and gradually increase it over the days. Follow each work-out day with cross-training — jog or dance class or even yoga for about 30 minutes. A weekly rest day in between to help you with your body so, 4 to 5 rest days in your one month training cycle will be good.
Below are the three exercises that comprise this challenge.

— Spoon with Triceps Dip

1. Starting Position: Stand in front of a chair with heels of your hands on the edge, fingers facing downwards. The legs should be extended straight in front.

2. Action: Pull your torso up and back while bringing your feet closer to chair by sliding at the same time. Do this until your bottom has gone past the edge of your seat. Stay in that position for some time and then slide your feet away till your bottom drops below the height of your chair.

For triceps dip, elbows are bent. Then, straighten your arms and slide your feet back to the starting position.
Well, that’s one rep. Don’t bend your knees throughout the rep. Try to keep your feet flat on the floor. Keep your shoulders relaxed.

— Curtsy Lunge and Pulse with Biceps lift

1. Starting Position: Stand with feet wider than hips width apart, weight loaded in the heel of the right foot while left toes should be pointed and resting on the ground. Arms are extended just in front and below the shoulder height; palms should face towards the sky.

2. Action: Slide the left foot slowly to your back and to the right of your right foot. Elbows are extended so that forearms become perpendicular to the floor. Then, you go into the curtsy lunge by sliding your foot back while you lift your arms up an inch at the same time. Pulse by bending your knees deeper while holding arms in place. Remain in that position for some time, then it’s time to return to your original position by straightening your legs and moving your feet and hands to your original position.

This constitutes your one rep. Don’t move too fast. Focus your weight in your standing leg.

—  Hydrant Kick

1. Starting Position: Start out with your right hand, left forearm and both knees on the ground.

2. Action: Lift your right leg off the ground while knee is slightly bent and turned out. Lift your leg to the hip-height, for a 2-second count. Once your reach there, you straighten your leg for a “kick”. Then you bend your knee in and return to your original position.

This will count as one rep. Knees must be below the hips and elbows below the shoulders. Back must be flat. Concentrate your weight on your working side.
So this challenge can be a great way to start your hard work towards fitness and health but of course, the success entirely depends on how long you keep challenging yourself.

 http://www.lifehack.org/330325/30-day-challenge-train-your-body-2