Vegetable Soup

I love soup as a meal. Some people, my husband included, prefer it as an appetizer. But, paired with a slice of homemade bread or a yummy salad, soup is a go-to for me. It is an easy way for me to get a power-packed dose of hearty veggies. I often make a batch on a Monday and then make it my lunch for entire week. So yummy! My Vegetable Soup recipe is adapted from America's Test Kitchen's Family Cookbook.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, minced

2 ribs celery, chopped fine or sliced

4-5 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

salt

1- 32 oz veggie broth plus 1 cup of water. 

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (DON'T drain)

1 can of great northern beans, drained and rinsed (Kidney beans or another white bean would work) 

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

pepper

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-low heat until shimmering. Stir in the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and 3/4 tsp salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very soft, about 20 minutes. This process is called "sweating" and will draw out the natural sweetness of the veggies and enriches the flavor of the broth.
2. Stir in the broth, beans, and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook about 10 minutes.
3. Off the heat, add the peas. Let the soup stand for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

IBOTTA!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mentioned in my Grocery Shopping post that I hate couponing. I did do couponing for awhile, but I found two things: It took too much time and often the coupons didn't really reflect the things that I needed to purchase. I love Sam's because they give me instant rebates on items I already love to buy. Today, I received $3 back on my Dawn detergent today and $3.50 off of my frozen salmon filets too! So awesome because those things were on my list and I didn't have to coupon.
Aldi doesn't even accept coupons. Guys I purchased 66 items today at Aldi, including 4 gallons of milk, Smores' fixins, Fresh Fruit and Veggies all for $130!!!!!!!!!!

I may dislike couponing, but I LOVE IBOTTA!!!!!!!!! It is an app for your phone that you get instant rebates for your purchases. Before I shop, I just check real quick to see if anything on my list is on IBOTTA that day. Sometimes I see something I've been wanting to get and will put it on the list if I see a rebate. After you shop, you scan the bar codes on the items you purchased and then take a picture of your receipt on your phone. Submit and you get your credit on your IBOTTA account within a day. I save mine and once I get $50, I cash it in at my Paypal account so I can use it. Recently, I used it to get myself a few new clothes at one of my favorite online boutiques www.apartmenteighteen.com

Seriously, y'all should check it out. They even do more than groceries! And, if you're like me and don't drink alcohol, you can turn off those notifications (there were A LOT of rebates on alcohol crowding up my feed, haha).

Honey Lemon Chicken Skewers and Mediterranean Farro Salad

There's something about using the grill that turns regular food into spectacular food. The children love to eat things that have been grilled. Putting it on a skewer makes it even more fun! This meal was a huge hit. The children weren't as excited about the Farro Salad, but I LOVED it and it make a great lunch the next day. 

Honey Lemon Chicken Skewers, Mediterranean Farro Salad, Roasted Veggie of Choice

BE SURE TO SOAK SKEWERS (12) IN WATER FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THREADING CHICKEN ON

HONEY LEMON CHICKEN

For the marinade:

6 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (divided in half)

1 Tbsp chopped garlic

1 tsp Himalayan or kosher salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 pounds chicken breasts cut into small-medium pieces

1/2 cup raw honey

1 Tbsp hot sauce

In a large bowl, combine 3 Tbsp of the lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 3 Tbsp lemon juice, honey, and hot sauce.

Prepare the grill for direct and indirect cooking over medium heat.

Thread about 8 pieces of chicken on each bamboo skewer.

Brush the cooking grates clean. Cook the skewered chicken over direct medium heat for 3-4 minutes, turning once. Then move the chicken to indirect heat and cook until the meat is no longer pink, 15-20 minutes, basting with the honey mixture once or twice during the last 10 minutes of grilling time. Keep the lid closed as much as possible during grilled. Remove from the grill and brush once more with the glaze.

FARRO SALAD (can be made earlier in the day and refrigerated, take out about 30 minutes prior to serving)

1 Cup Farro-cooked according to package directions.

1 pound of tomatoes chopped

1/2 sweet or red onion chopped

1 TBSP dried parsley

1 garlic clove, choped

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (or 2 Tbsp cider vinegar mixed with 2 tsp sugar)

1/4 Cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, combine farro, tomatoes, onions, and parsley. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Add the vinaigrette to the salad and toss again. Serve at room temperature.

ROASTED VEGGIES

Drizzle veggies with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and oregano and roast in the oven at 425 for about 20 minutes.

Shakeology--What's the Big Deal?

You guys the Internet, as always, has a plethora of information about meal replacement shakes. Some is accurate, some is not. I'll be honest, Shakeology is the only meal replacement shake I have used. I am not a doctor, but I am a real person and I can speak to how it makes me feel.
It is honestly my secret weapon. Here's why.

Number One:
The biggest difference I have noticed is the increase in energy I have experienced. Prior to drinking Shakeology, if I dared to sit on the couch during my children's afternoon television time, about 90% of the time I would FALL ASLEEP! When you have five children ages 8 and under, this is not only dangerous, it puts you way behind schedule. I no longer have those 
2 PM slumps. I can be productive throughout my day and not just for a fraction of it.

Number Two:
I have all but eliminated my sugar and junk food cravings. Guys, I am not joking when I tell you I was baking three or four times a week. I am not exaggerating when I tell you I would save half the cookie dough and freeze it so that I could sneak bites throughout the day and/or as a reward for not falling apart at the end of the day. It was really so bad! Shakeology tastes like a milkshake to me. For those of you who want to add water, shake and drink, you might be disappointed in the taste and texture. I have found that taking an extra 5 minutes to pull out your blender, add ice, unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 a banana, and a tsp of almond butter really takes the taste to another level.

Number Three:
Shakeology has done wonders for my digestive tract. Previous to drinking Shakeology, my digestion was never regular and I experienced discomfort on a daily basis. It took about a week or two for my body to adjust to all the prebiotics and probiotics found in Shakeology and now I am regular and no longer deal with discomfort, pain, or bloating. It is a beautiful thing!

Number Four:
Since Shakeology is a meal replacement, I feel full when I drink it and don't find myself reaching for unhealthy, fast food when I am in the middle of my chaotic days. I always plan to drink Shakeology at my busiest time each day. If the morning is flying by and I haven't had a chance to prepare a healthy breakfast, I grab my Shakeology and start my day off right. Most often, however, I choose to drink Shakeology as my lunch meal. Otherwise, I would eat either nothing and then binge later on junk food/sweets or I would get fast food or takeout while running errands and make poor nutrition choices. I know I can be an emotional eater, so occasionally, on days I know I have to do bedtime alone, I'll save my Shakeology for a treat after the children are in bed.

Number Five:
Shakeology is packed full of whole foods full of nutritional value. There is no added refined sugars. So, at the end of the day I FEEL good about putting these ingredients into my body. It is something small I can do on a daily basis to put my health first. I love how that makes me feel. Most nutrition shakes on the market today do not have whole foods and are full of artificial ingredients. Elite Beachbody Coach Seay Stanford who has a background in pharmaceutical sales and is a certified holistic nutrition and health coach, had a great article about this on her website. Click HERE to read it.

Number Six:
My mood improved! I began drinking Shakeology when my youngest child was just 4 months old. I don't think I realized until after I took a four month break from drinking it daily that it was making such a huge difference in this area. When I started drinking it consistently, again in April, I saw my mood improve and those panic attacks I was having every day when the big boys got home from school stopped. I have felt more in control of my life and I really believe Shakeology had something to do with that. 

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If you want to give Shakeology a try, click HERE!

Below are some testimonials from my very own challengers!

Busy Wife and Mama Morgan

"I use Shakeology because it's easy. I wasn't eating. I wasn't eating because I didn't have time... Or I was just eating spoonfuls of peanut butter. (Shakeology) increased my milk supply (while nursing), and I wouldn't say it's the most amaxing thing I've had, but I've come to really enjoy it."

Jessie, Mom of 4, including a newborn

"I've been drinking Shakeology for a little more than a month. I'll admit that at first I was a little bit skeptical about the price for a "protein powder", but it has been SO much more than that for me! Since I've started drinking it, my moods have improved. Before starting Shakeology, I was teetering on the brink of postpartum depression, and struggled everyday with anxiety which led me to be impatient with my kids, which then led me to feel bad about myself. Since starting it, I can honestly say that I feel like a new person. Not everyday is perfect, but I really like who I am when I drink my Shakeology! Another benefit that I have noticed is that it helps me stay away from problem foods that would cause me to gain weight and feel lethargic and grumpy. I am terrible snacker, and once I start with the junk food, it can be difficult to stop. I keep craving more and more junk because I'm consuming empty calories instead of satisfying my body's need for vitamins, minerals, and protein. Shakeology is an easy way to give my body what it needs so that I can put an end to those junk food cravings. Lastly, I enjoy Shakeology because it tastes good! I've tried several different protein powders, and I can honestly say that this is the best tasting one I've tried. I look forward to drinking it everyday, which keeps me excited to work towards my health, weight loss, and self improvement goals."


Finally, a side by side comparison chart of Shakeology and other Meal Replacements on the Market.

http://www.shakeology.chttp://www.shakeology.com/en_US/?sn=fitkrausehausom/en_US/?sn=fitkrausehaus

Eating Healthy on a Budget

I have a family of 7! That is a lot of people to feed. We also have a very strict food budget ($750 a month for food and other household items, i.e. cleaning supplies, paper goods, personal care items, etc). I hear a lot of people complaining that it is impossible to eat healthy foods because they are so expensive. Now, I might agree that it is too expensive to eat all Organic foods. But I do not agree that it is too expensive to eat healthy foods. 

Below are my four favorite strategies for eating healthy on a budget. It won't be easy, but it is possible. If you begin to implement these things, over time, you will get there. Plus, I rarely coupon! I hate it because it just takes too much time! Time is a precious commodity around here.

Number One: Change where you shop! I LOVE Publix. Who doesn't?! There is always someone nearby to help you. They give your children free cookies and bananas. They walk you to your car and load your groceries. The only thing they don't do is drive home with you and help you unload your groceries. However, Publix is expensive. Unless you only purchase BoGo's and other sale items each week, you will not save money there. You can do that, but I want to eat what I want to eat when I want to eat it, not when it's on sale. Occasionally they have something I just can't pass up (like BoGo shrimp), but for the most part shopping there weekly will drain your food budget very quickly.

Over the last few years, I have been shopping primarily at Aldi, Wal-mart, and Sam's Club (got a premier membership on Living Social for $45 plus a $20 GC, so $25!). Wal-mart is the only store I will clip coupons for because you don't need them at Aldi and Sam's Club. I do run to Publix for delicious deli and bakery offerings and when I run out of milk, but my weekly shopping takes place elsewhere.

Full load leaving Sam's Club! Tip: It is far from my house so I bring a cooler and store my frozen/refrigerated items in there so I can hit up more than one store. I love buying meat at Sam's Club. They have a great selection of fresh and frozen items for a fraction of the cost of the local supermarkets. 

Gratuitous ALDI shot! I really do LOVE it here even if I have to bag my own groceries with my own bags, get my buggy with a quarter and return it on my own, and can hardly find anyone to help me out. The number on that receipt at the end makes it all worth it! I often buy two weeks of groceries at a time and rarely is that bill over $150!

Number Two: Stick to fruits and veggies that are in Season! Not only do they taste better, but they are cheaper. Trying to buy peaches in winter will cost you triple the price in summer. You can find them in local markets because they are flown in from South America and that makes them cost more! Wait! Believe me, the taste alone is worth it! Aldi has helped me to master this. They rarely carry out of season fruits and veggies. I LOVE Aldi! Have I mentioned that?

Tip: Local roadside stands can put your local supermarkets to shame! Got all this fruit at a local vendor one week for $15 (2 lbs grapes, 1 pint strawberries, 1 cantaloupe, 2 mangoes, 5 peaches, 4 apricots, and 2 avocados) 

Number Three: If possible, make it at home! Some of you may tell me you aren't cooks. My sister told me this very thing about five years ago. And today you will find that she makes the best baked goods you've ever eaten. She wanted to learn and so she did! You can do it too. America's Test Kitchen and The Homemade Pantry are two of my favorite cookbooks. Both books offer you the recipe and tips and tricks that will teach you how to really cook! Making it at home eliminates preservatives, improves taste, and decreases cost!

Double Batch of Homemade Granola: Perfect as a snack on its own or with milk or in a yogurt parfait.

Pizza night! Making your own pizza is so delicious and so much healthier. No additives and fresher ingredients

Number Three: Prepare, prepare, prepare! You must meal plan in order for this to work. It takes time and is really hard in the beginning. But once you get into a rhythm and discover the foods your family will actually eat, it will become a lot easier. I plan breakfast, lunch and dinners. I do not work outside the home, which makes this easier to do. However, it is possible to work outside the home and do this. You'll just need to add more preparation and maybe implement a system where you spend Sundays (or Saturdays) meal prepping for the week, utilizing freezer meals, and keeping it simple. There are tons of sites out there that require minimal membership fees and they will match weekly ads to meal plans they create or provide step-by-step meal plans with shopping lists, etc.

I sit down a couple days before shopping day and take inventory of my pantry and freezers. Then I plan out our meals for one to two weeks at a time and make my shopping list. Don't veer from the list! My kids have heard me say, "It's not on the list!" way too many times.

Watermelon, cucumber, and mint salsa, Kale and quinoa blend, and Shrimp kebabs (Total cost: $25 or $3.57 per person!)
Next time I need to make more, but still a great value at about $5 per person)

Pinto beans and Southwestern Grilled Chicken with fresh tomato and onion salsa (Total cost: $10 or $1.43 per person!) 

Number Four: Grow a garden. This is my first year gardening, but it was so nice to have fresh veggies right in the backyard. I have a lot to learn and I hope to increase my crop next season and harvest even more. I have a large yard so I cleared a plot of land. My father in law has had enormous success growing tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in pots on his porch. Even small spaces can yield yummy results. I planted from seeds, which was more work, but cost a lot less than purchasing plants that needed to be transplanted. Trees can also help you out. We planted pecan trees and peach trees. I'm hoping we'll see them fruit in the next few years.

Cucumbers from our garden with red wine vinegar, salt and pepper

Be patient and make one small change to start. As that becomes comfortable, add another change. You will get there! I promise!

Cheat Meals

Cheat Meals!!!!! They are bound to happen. In our household, we say "Bake Big or Go Diet!" If you aren't going to cheat with an amazing homemade cheesecake or buttery shrimp and grits, don't do it. The crappy Halloween candy and Fast Food are NOT worth it. The other night we had one of my favorite cheat meals. It has healthy components, but that butter pushes it into the cheat category.
Here is a delicious recipe for Shrimp and Grits!!!!!!!!!!

Cook Grits according to package directions. I always use a whisk instead of a spoon to stir them. Helps with the clumps, especially if you are cooking a lot of grits. Once cooked, add salt, pepper and butter. Shredded cheddar cheese can also be stirred in to take it up a notch.

For the Shrimp:
Peel and devein 2 lbs of shrimp
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Place shrimp in a single layer in a large cast iron skillet or other oven safe pan.
Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the shrimp.
Mix 2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce, 3/4 tsp paprika, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1.5 tsp garlic powder and pour of shrimp.
Cut 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter into pea size pieces and sprinkle over top.
Cook for 8 minutes and serve immediately.

Serve with your favorite veggies and/or fruit.

I'm Just a Girl

I want to take a minute to talk about why I decided to become a Beachbody Coach. I think it has surprised me more than anyone that I am actually running my own business as a health and fitness coach. My lifestyle has been pretty active for most of my life, but it wasn't until I started having children that I realized how much I actually NEEDED to pay attention to how I was taking care of myself. Good genes will only take you so far.
We moved into a "stair" house almost a year ago and my youngest baby (now 14 months) is quite a large little guy. To paint a picture, he is 31 inches tall and I am 60 inches tall. A few months ago, I realized that every time I climbed the stairs my breathing was ragged and my legs were burning. I had lost a majority of my baby weight, but I was still out of shape. Beachbody workouts, Shakeology, and challenge groups had gotten me to that point. But, I wasn't being very consistent with my workouts or nutrition.
I stopped working outside of the home when my daughter (now 3) was born. I worked professionally for over a decade in the field of Social Work. My passion is helping others achieve their goals and make lifelong changes in their lives. I was so happy to stop working outside the home because I felt so torn between my role as mother and my role as therapist. It was and still is the best decision for my family. However, I have missed helping others achieve their goals. The challenge group model Beachbody encourages has definitely helped me fulfill that need in my heart.
In addition to wanting to improve my own health and help others, I wanted to earn some money. Jared and I are finally in a position financially that we can take care of our family and have a little extra left over. It is very little, but enough to hit up a restaurant from time to time. We are very blessed and have always been able to take care of our family. However, we still owe tens of thousands of dollars in student loans and we just bought a house and we want to be debt free. I wanted to find something I could do to help us achieve those goals that did not require me to go back to work or keep my children out of sports and other activities in order achieve those goals.
My friend, Amy, approached me about the coaching opportunity. I researched it for months. Watched umpteen videos on YouTube, talked with Jared, talked with other coaches and friends. It just felt right.
So, here I am going for it! In the two short months I've been a Beachbody coach, my life has been so enriched and my health and fitness goals are on track. I'm currently working to build my team and I am loving it. Some weeks are stressful because I want to do a great job and I don't want to let anyone down. I am still figuring out how to find a balance with coaching and moming and wifing. All in all, this journey is exciting and I know it is the right thing for me and our family right now. It is changing my life!

My Favorite Oatmeal

Bring  2 Cups Water and 3/4 Cup Whole Milk to a low boil. Add pinch of sea salt.

Add 1 1/2 Cups Rolled Oats and reduce heat to simmer.

Simmer about 10-15 minutes (less if you're cooking less oats) until soft. Stir often.

Add sliced fruit (berries, peaches, etc), cinnamon and/or honey to taste.  Sometimes I even add sliced almonds or chopped walnuts.

Tip:  If you want to add apples, slice them and throw them in with the oats. It makes them warm and soft.

Granola

Double batch of granola today. Perfect addition to plain Greek yogurt (mixed with a lil honey, of course) or just eat it like cereal!

For one batch:
Preheat oven to 325 and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Stir together in a large bowl
3 cups rolled oats, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, 1/2 cup sliced almonds, 1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds, 1/8 cup ground flax
On the stove, melt on low 1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil (canola or veggie will do in a pinch), 1/4 cup raw honey, 1/4 cup maple syrup
Add to oat mixture and stir well. Spread on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, stirring to rotate every 5 minutes.
Cool and add dried fruit. I was feeling fancy so I used dried cranberries today.

Fried Egg Sandwich

I often turn to "breakfast" foods for lunch. Because breakfast foods are basically the 💣.com
Fried egg over medium on top of a whole wheat sandwich thin and topped with tomatoes, avocado, Himalayan salt and pepper.

Grilled Chicken Wings

Recipe: My dad, Drew
Rub wings with salt and pepper. Place in large Ziplocs or a Tupperware marinator/tenderizer (one of my top 5 favorite kitchen items). Mix Italian dressing packets with oil, water, and vinegar according to package directions (I used two packets for this amount of wings). Pour over chicken wings, shake to coat, and place in refrigerator. Grill on low heat, turning often, for about an hour and fifteen minutes. 

Mom-bod Part 2: Beachbody changes my life in an unexpected way

After Weston was born, I was feeling a lot of different emotions. We had just moved and I felt so isolated. I'd been having babies for 7 years straight. 5 children in 7 years can wreak havoc on your body and your emotional health. I found that I was not taking any time for myself. I wasn't even eating healthy meals, which is something I really want to do and intend to do, but when the day gets away from me, it doesn't always happen. I have totally eaten cookie dough for lunch!

A friend of mine from college reached out and introduced me to Beachbody. I had heard of some of the workouts and was excited to have accountability in my efforts to shed some baby weight.  What I found was so much more than a way to lose weight. While doing Beachbody, I felt inspired, I felt confident, I felt strong, I felt like ME! It was wonderful. I loved reconnecting with my friend and meeting others who were all on their own individual journey to live their best life.  

Then, the holidays came. I got busy. I hurt my leg. I got sick. My kids got sick. I stopped sticking with my goals to be active, eat clean, and enlighten my mind. I became lethargic, cranky, and stressed out. My friend, Emily, posted her motto, "Mom is always one workout away from a good mood!" What an example Emily is to me in so many ways. She is like my "mom template" and she was right once again! I needed to take time out of every day to do something for me. 

I don't love to shop. I don't love to get my nails done. I don't have one ounce of crafting talent in me.  I have only had two haircuts in the last year. Fitness, reading, and being outside are the things that rejuvenate and inspire me. Oh, and raising chickens! We recently acquired five chicks and I am so in love with my new status as a backyard chicken farmer.

I think I've found a way to really make time every day to feel like ME. I am becoming a Beachbody Coach. I want to have more accountability and really stick to my own personal goals. I am also hopeful that I will be able to help others to create and accomplish their own fitness and healthy lifestyle goals. 

It cracks me up that I'm once again doing something that I never thought I'd do.  I have not worked outside of the home at all since Miriam was born. I have had a job since I was 15, so to not work the last three years has been kind of weird. Don't get me wrong, I DO NOT want a day job. My job as a mom is my dream and it's fulfilling and wonderful and so hard! I love the idea of being a Beachbody coach. I get to help people, which I LOVE and use a product regularly that makes me FEEL like Andrea and not just Mom. If you want to learn more or join me, please email me at fitkrausehaus@gmail.com

See my progress pics below!

I put on about 40 pounds with each of my five pregnancies. I loved watching my body grow with life, but each time I got so depressed afterwards when I just wasn't bouncing back. I should have relished those post-pregnancy moments in my 20's, because in my 30's the pounds have been even more difficult to shed.  I am happy to be fitting into pre-pregnancy clothing, but the biggest thing I lost was self-doubt and self-criticism! That, my friends, is some empowering stuff to let go of. 

My BEFORE photos taken in August 2015 (four months post-partum with baby #5)

My MIDWAY photos taken in September 2015 (CIZE 6 times a week and Shakeology every day)

My AFTER photos taken in December 2015 (PIYO 6 times a week and Shakeology every day)

Mom-Bod: The month I fell in love with Beachbody

I know I should wear my "mom-bod" like a badge of honor. This body helped me create five beautiful children. But, I just can't do it. I know I'll never be 105 pounds again, that ended in 2003.  I don't even want that.  I just want my freaking pants to fit!

A friend of mine from college, Amy, suggested I try Beachbody. She is a coach. She is an inspiration to me. She has Stage 4 Cancer (she's my age!), but that is another story and not mine to tell. So, despite how pricey it was, I decided I needed to do this for myself.  It turned out to be a great choice. I loved the accountability Amy provided me as a coach. I also loved that I made some time for just me every day for 30 days.  In addition to the emotional strength I gained, I also lost 4 pounds and 8 inches.  

Below are my before and afters. I'd say I see a difference and my pants are definitely loosening up.  I decided to go for another 60 days with Beachbody and see where I'm at by Christmas.  If my pants still don't fit, I'm just going to buy new ones.

Before

After (30 days)