Many of my favorite healthy and tasty recipes are inspired by my clients. I love it when they take our nutrition coaching ideas into the kitchen and dream up new, fun ways to eat clean. This one is a winner from my rock star client Geoff. In addition to having the best animated Elmo gifs he also has the best reinvention of this classic comfort food that I call "Me Pretty" Mac & Cheese.
Read MoreThis has been a year in the making and I'm stoked to launch my first e-book: JJ's Guide to Eating Clean and Getting Lean. In this guide, I’ll provide you with a framework and tools for eating to your body composition goals that will still allow you to enjoy your life. My coaching methods have helped hundreds of clients reduce their body fat, get strong and become healthier and more energetic. Ditch the diets and learn a practical and effective way to approach eating for safe, long-term results. On sale now for $4.99. www.JJ-Fit.com/guide.
Read MoreThis is a new twist on my old curry chicken salad recipe and it's a favorite of mine and several of my clients. It's easy to prep for the entire week and is a great way to get in protein and healthy fat. I used walnuts and grapes in this version but you can also use almonds and apples. It's great on its own, as a topper to a salad or in a wrap as shown here. At 300 calories it packs 40g of protein and only 7 carbs per serving. Give it a try; you won't be disappointed.
Read MoreMy amazing client Sarah is a vegetarian meal prep all star! And she gets extra credit for this roasted eggplant, beet and cauliflower salad with spinach, almonds and Greek yogurt. The veggies can be roasted in a big batch and kept for the week and the salad can easily be tossed together at the office. This is a great way to get in your fibrous veggies and also a great way for vegetarians (and carnivores!) to get in ample protein (thanks to the Greek yogurt) and healthy fats (thanks to the almonds and olive oil). This recipe yields enough for 5-7 servings. Om nom nom!
Read MoreThese little bastards are LITERALLY my favorite food right now and are a variation on my protein pancake recipe. Pancakes are delicious and are great for a special occasion, but for a normal week they are a lot of work. So my genius partner turned them into muffins and makes them every Sunday so we have them for the week ahead. They are great pre/post workout snacks or perfect at night as a healthy dessert treat.
Read MoreI've known the beautiful and talented Diana Cardenas for years as the chicest member of the Equinox early morning crew. It takes a special kind of dedication to get up and train at 5am and to do so with a positive attitude of gratitude. Balancing a career in fashion, a fitness regime and a personal life can be challenging. So when I stumbled upon her food blog The Health Snob I was truly impressed. Her recipes are healthy, practical and mouthwatering. She was kind enough to share some of her favorites with me and some wisdom from her personal journey. Check out our interview and be sure to follow @thehealthsnob on Instagram.
Read MoreThese mini egg white muffins are the perfect meal prep hack if you struggle getting a healthy, balanced breakfast with ample protein. A quick and easy batch of these will keep all week in your fridge and are easy to take with you to the gym or office. Pop them in a microwave for 30 seconds or just eat them cold like I do. Each muffin only has about 70 calories with only 2 carbs and 10g of protein. These include peppers, spinach, mushrooms and chives but you can add any veggies or meat (grilled chicken, turkey bacon) you like. Om nom nom.
Read MoreIt's no secret that I don't enjoy spending hours in the kitchen on fancy, complicated meals. Whenever possible I opt for simple, fast and easy. However, every once and a while I like to go the extra mile and do something a little special, particularly if I'm cooking dinner for others. So if you're looking to up your ground turkey game beyond meatloaf and turkey sauté check out these amazing (and still healthy!) turkey and quinoa stuffed peppers topped with mozzarella and basil.
Read MoreBreakfast tends to be an afterthought for a lot of folks and heavy on carbs and low in protein and healthy fats. Bagels, bars and greasy breakfast burritos are convenient, but they aren't necessarily what you need to fuel your day and reach your fitness goals. So consider doing a couple of minutes of meal prep and set yourself up for success with three of my favorite healthy, tasty and easy breakfasts that you can eat at home or take on the go.
Read MoreThink fitness trainers only eat grilled chicken and steamed broccoli? The truth might surprise you. Fit pros subscribe to lots of different healthy eating philosophies. But above all, trainers are focused on results. The one thing they all agree on? When it comes to weight loss and muscle gain, working out is only part of the equation. If you want to shape up, you need to step in the kitchen. Straight from the gym, studio, and blacktop, here’s what five top trainers like to eat after a tough sweat session. Thanks to my friends at the Fitbit Blog for including me in this great piece.
Read MoreIt's no secret. The men of my household take meal prep seriously. And my partner Peter is the captain of our good ship Tasty Noms. Clients are always asking for quick, easy and healthy recipes that won't break the bank. And just last week a fellow massage student pal of mine looked longingly over her peanut butter sandwich at my salmon, sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli and asked "how do you do it?!" Based on the popularity of my recent turkey meat loaf recipe I thought I'd share one of my favorites from Chef Peter: turkey sauté with tomato sauce and veggies.
Read MoreWhen people see me pull homemade salmon with jasmine rice and stir fried vegetables out of my lululemon lunch bag in the middle of a busy weekday they think 1. I must be fancy AF and/or 2. I must spend hours each night meal-prepping instead of binge watching Broad City. Neither are true. Here is a simple and awesome game plan for prepping up to four salmon fillets in about 20 minutes and bonus, it won't stink up your house.
Read MoreMeatloaf has a bad reputation. Granted, the name "meatloaf" is kind of funky. But in my house, meatloaf is a weekly favorite. It's high in lean protein, low in saturated fat and very easy to make. It's perfect for dinners at home or lunches on the go. It lasts for several days in the fridge and can also be frozen. And it's f*cking delicious. Heat this up at work and your coworkers will drool over your shoulder while asking what smells so good. You'll be like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, But with meat. Settle down there, vegetarians. Sub the meat for tofu and the recipe still totally works.
Read MoreI didn't set out to dis Chipotle with this post. I have tons of family, friends and clients who love Chipotle. And yes, I agree, it's a "better" option than a lot of fast food places. But the calories, carbs, saturated fat and sodium can quickly add up at Chipotle even when you customize your own burrito bowl there. So I offer you this "homemade" alternative which takes less than five minutes from start to finish to throw together (including the two minutes it takes to microwave) and has fewer calories, less fat, fewer carbs, WAY less sodium and more protein than Chipotle.
Read MoreAllison Tibbs of Allison Tibbs Fitness is my meal time motivational guru goddess. No one can inspire by example better than Allison. She is Madonna, Oprah and the Dalai Lama all rolled up into one fierce package. If you don't follow her on Facebook and Instagram you should. She shares free recipes, videos and resources many of which have inspired some of my favorite meal prep staples and healthy treats. I'm so thankful that she once again is sharing a handful of recipes from her most recent 5 Day Clean Eating Challenge with us here.
Read MoreIt's no secret in my house and among my friends and clients that I have a sweet tooth. I love dessert. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. I eat clean and track my macros. I do cardio. I lift heavy. And mother f*cker at the end of the day I want a cookie. And sometimes I go for it hard. When we work hard sometimes we deserve to play hard. But when we're really trying to watch our sugar intake, keep calories down and steer clear of processed foods, there are healthy alternatives to the SUGAR MONSTER that can scratch your itch without ruining your gains (or loses). Here are 22 of my favorite healthy/healthier treats.
Read MoreOne of my awesome clients Jason gave me a challenge last week. He wanted a quick (30 minutes or less) meal he can make at home with ingredients he can pick up at practically any grocery store (not just Whole Foods) that will fit his macros. Normally he meal preps and is open to the occasional food delivery service but wanted something he could make himself and hopefully have left overs. Challenge accepted! Try this low carb, high protein and healthy fat spin on a comfort food favorite.
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