I met Andrea in the 4th grade (I'm not even kidding) and we've been really good friends ever since. Like, REALLY good friends. I think we get along so well because we have super similar personalities. Whenever I want to admit that I've listened to a Tim McGraw song 16 times or that I had an emotional breakdown over a Hallmark commercial or a failed recipe attempt, she is who I text. She can giggle with me or tell me my feelings are totally valid (even if they totally aren't).
Lately, she's been really helpful with motivating me to get healthy. We used to go to Taco Bell at midnight and have sleepovers where the only foods consumed were Cheetos and cupcakes, so she understands how hard it is to turn your eating habits around. In a recent post, she was wearing a hot little Althleta ensemble and shared few tips for being healthier. In return for her motivating blog post, I wanted to share some of my favorite healthy recipes that are both easy and inexpensive to make.
Kale Chips
I make sure to season these little guys pretty well so I don't feel like I'm just stuffing my face with crispy green things. I like salt, pepper and a little cayenne pepper for heat. They actually remind me of popcorn, but I feel really good about eating them.
Green Spinach Smoothie
Smoothies are such a good way to get fruits in your diet. I always add spinach to any smoothie I make because I would never eat spinach otherwise. Play around with the fruits until you get a combo you are happy with!
Weeknight Stir Fry
A simple stir fry is my favorite way to eat a ton of veggies. You can make this with our without meat and I usually use any leftover meats or veggies I have in my fridge to make it super quick and cheap. I like to eat mine with brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
These are tasty little babies! I use Panko bread crumbs to give them a crunchy outside without having to fry them or use any type of oil or butter. You certainly could brush them with a little butter before baking to give them a golden color, but they taste great even without.
Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
This has become a breakfast staple. I get a mix of fruit, oatmeal and yogurt in one glass. I've since switched to only using Greek yogurt because of the protein and it still tastes great.
So here's to having motivational friends and to swapping a couple healthy options into our daily routines!
A huge thanks to Andrea for letting me share these recipes on her fantastic blog. I fully accept that I will never rock a fur coat and 6-inch heels like she can, but I can whip up a mean fruit smoothie that even she would consume.
Courtney of Mac + Molly is my petite fiesty bestie who knows how much of a nut I am and still claims me as a friend. I've been friends with her for 20 years and that's crazy because I don't think of myself as being old enough to have a friend that long, but she's the best and makes the most delicious meals and has the cutest pup. Check out her blog and visit her Facebook page too!