healthy

Fresh and Affordable Activewear

Walking around the city I notice more and more people are wearing activewear as everyday wear. And why shouldn’t they? It’s not only cute, it’s comfortable and so practical for running around town.

With the active trend growing, more and more retailers (like Forever 21, H&M and Old Navy) are jumping on the active bandwagon and offering some really cute and affordable options!

The activewear selection is bigger (and cuter!) than ever before. Lately I’ve been loving the abstract printed pieces, like the leggings and sports bra below. Active is one area where the print can never be too loud and the color can never be too bright! Even your yoga mat can have an inspirational message! Check out my favorites below and get shopping!! 🙂

Fresh and Affordable Activewear

H&M Yoga Top ($18) / H&M Waist Pack ($13) / H&M Patterned Sports Bra ($10) / H&M Combo Lock ($6) / H&M Two-Tone Yoga Jacket ($40) / Old Navy Zip Pullover ($25) / New Balance Leopard High Rollers ($70) / Forever 21 Yoga Mat ($10) / S’well Water Bottle ($35) / Forever 21 Woven Back Tank ($10) / Forever 21 Printed Leggings ($20) / Old Navy Printed Compression Leggings ($30) / Under Armour ColdGear Leggings ($36)

Homemade Tortilla Chips and Corn Salsa

Homemade Tortilla Chips and Corn Salsa 2

Today I’m sharing my homemade corn salsa recipe. It all came about a few years ago when I came home from the grocery store with corn tortilla chips, but no salsa! After staring blankly into the pantry hoping some would appear, I finally grabbed corn, black beans and a red bell pepper. And Voila! My husband’s favorite salsa was born! He’s not a big tomato fan, so he loves that it’s tomato-free. If I’m not careful, he will eat the whole batch in one sitting!

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

You will need:

• 1 red bell pepper

• 1 can corn (low sodium)

• 1 can black beans

• ¼ cup of pickled Jalapeños

• 2 T hot sauce

• 1 T olive oil

• cilantro for garnish

Homemade Tortilla Chips and Corn Salsa 4

1- Use a large saucepan to sauté the diced red bell pepper in the olive oil and hot sauce

2- Pour sliced jalapeños and some of the juice into the peppers while they finish sautéing

3- Add the corn and rinsed black beans to the peppers and simmer for at least 10 minutes

4- Serve hot or cold

(Disclaimer– I do love spicy foods, so feel free to use less hot sauce/jalapeños if you are looking for a milder salsa!)

What I love most about this salsa is it’s easy. I almost always have all the ingredients on hand and it’s a huge hit at gatherings. It’s quick, cheap and healthy, what’s not to love?

And what pairs better with homemade salsa than homemade tortilla chips? They are a healthy alternative to the store bought brands and a fraction of the cost. Check out the recipe below, once you try them you will never go back!

Baked Tortilla Chips

You will need:

• corn tortillas

• salt

• optional- cayenne pepper

1- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

2- Cut the corn tortillas into quarters (I use a pizza cutter)

3- Place them evenly on a baking sheet

4- Season lightly with salt (optional- sprinkle cayenne pepper to add some heat!)

5- Bake for about 10 minutes or until edges start to brown

Homemade Tortilla Chips and Corn Salsa 3

Tory Burch + Fitbit

Walking around San Francisco these days it’s hard to spot a wrist that doesn’t have a fitness tracker on it. A fitness tracker was one of the few things that were actually on my birthday wish list this year, but I have had trouble deciding which brand I want. I think there are pros and cons to all the models out there, but one of the biggest deciding factors for me is the aesthetic and versatility of the band.

I prefer the look of Jawbone’s slimmer, subtler design, but unfortunately I am not a huge fan of the color options the newest UP24 models come in. Fitbit Flex on the other hand, comes in a wide range of colors, including a trendy mint option, but would I really want to wear this mint fitbit when I’m dressing up for a date night with my husband or giving a presentation at work? That’s where fitbit’s collaboration with Tory Burch comes in!

Tory Burch for fitbit

Tory Burch for fitbit

As I mentioned in my Ringly post, I love the idea of wearable technology being fashionable and blending with my everyday wardrobe. And I’m happy to say that Tory Burch is here to fill that void in fitness trackers! You no longer have to where the huge rubber band on your wrist to see how many steps you’ve taken or calories you’ve burned. Tory Burch has created two fun printed options, but also a gold hinged bracelet and a pendant necklace that are much more sophisticated than anything else on the market right now. Check out the different designs below.

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT SILICONE PRINTED BRACELET $38

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT SILICONE PRINTED BRACELET $38

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT SILICONE PRINTED BRACELET $38

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT SILICONE PRINTED BRACELET $38

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT METAL HINGED BRACELET $195

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT METAL HINGED BRACELET $195

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT FRET PENDANT NECKLACE $175

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT FRET PENDANT NECKLACE $175

Seems awesome right? So here’s the catch… none on these styles actually come with the fitbit tracker. The idea is you buy a fitbit flex separately ($99.95) and then purchase these as accessories from Tory Burch. The two printed silicon options are a reasonable $38 each. The gold-hinged bracelet and pendant are more expensive at $195 and $175, respectively. The idea with the gold options would be to have a fitbit flex that you could work out and sweat in and then pop your tracker into these nicer accessories when you are dressing up. It’s a great option for us who want to camouflage our fitbits.

I think it’s fabulous Tory Burch and fitbit have teamed up to bring us this flexible, fashionable fix for wearable technology. Interested? This line is available for pre-order now on toryburch.com. My only question is when will other brands jump on board?

Turkey Burger Lettuce Wraps

Nothing feels more summer than a backyard barbecue. I love being outside, playing yard games and grilling out with friends. But what usually comes with a barbecue is unhealthy foods- like burgers, ribs and hotdogs. Don’t freak out! I’m not suggesting to get rid of burgers, (I love burgers as much as the next girl) I’m just offering a healthy alternative- Turkey Burger Lettuce Wraps!

turkey burger lettuce wraps glamourita.com

With some easy substitutions, burgers become a healthy option you can feel good about eating. Just look how fresh and delicious they look!

First, you need to make your “bun”. To help keep these burgers healthy we ditched the bread. We love veggies, so swapping out the bun for a lettuce wrap was a no-brainer! These large romaine hearts work great for this. Make sure to cut up several leaves and layer them to give you the added crunch and to hold the burger together.

turkey burger lettuce wraps glamourita.com

Next calorie-saving substitution- choose turkey over beef burgers. They are much leaner and still taste great! We love the Jennie-O turkey patties. These patties are already molded, you just have to throw them on the grill!

Now you have a bun and a burger, time to add your toppings. Get creative! We stayed classic for this one with pepperjack, ketchup, mustard and pickles. But other great options include a slice of turkey bacon, barbecue sauce, tortilla strips, etc.

turkey burger lettuce wraps glamourita.com

We finished this meal with a side of fresh strawberries. Although chips are an easy side for a burger, fresh fruit is a much better option. You save calories and get WAY more nutrients. And summer is a great time to take advantage of all the delicious fruits that are in season.

With all the calories I saved on swapping out an ordinary burger for this turkey burger lettuce wrap, I think I earned myself a beer!

Now this is my ideal summer meal:

turkey burger lettuce wraps glamourita.com

Breakfast Tostada

Ever find yourself holding the refrigerator door open, staring at the food on the shelves, racking your brain for quick, healthy meal? Why not try, Breakfast Tostadas?

glamourita breakfast tostada

My husband travels a lot for work and I am often left preparing dinner for one. This week I found myself tired of my usual go-to dishes. I wanted something quick, healthy and able to be made with ingredients found in my kitchen. That’s how I came up with this yummy breakfast tostada! These ingredients are staples in our kitchen, making this a gourmet, easy meal to throw together at a moments notice.

My favorite side for a breakfast tostada is hash browns, but since I had a heavy lunch I swapped the potatoes for fruit! And if you know me, you know my sweet tooth. I cannot end a meal without dessert! My favorite dessert these days is frozen Chobani bites. All you have to do is store your yogurts in the freezer instead of your fridge and you have a frozen treat! Once frozen, the Chobani bites are the perfect amount and only 100 calories! Today I chose to go with the Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Chunks flavor, yum!

glamourita breakfast tostada

BREAKFAST TOSTADA

Ingredients:

1 corn tortilla

1 egg

black beans

corn salsa- I love Trader Joe’s Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa!

1 piece turkey bacon

fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions:

1- Preheat oven to 450 degrees (I used my toaster oven) and bake corn tortilla until golden brown

2- Cook turkey bacon in skillet and chop into small strips

3- Heat a couple tablespoons of black beans until warm and mash with fork

4- Cook one egg, I prefer mine over medium. EGG TIP- Want to cook the perfect over easy or over medium egg? Stop the flipping! Crack an egg on a frying pan over medium heat and season. Immediately cover with lid. This will help cook the white of the egg without having to flip the egg and risk breaking the yoke!

5- Once the egg is cooked to your liking, spread your mashed black beans on your tortilla and top with the egg

6- Now add your corn salsa, bacon strips and cilantro and dig in!

Fresh Fruit Fajitas

Do you like mexican food? How about fruit?

My husband and I love them both and we thought we would try something different by combining them into one delicious dish! We are always trying new recipes and ideas in the kitchen and we love to pair up unexpected flavors. That’s how we came up with our latest creation, the fresh fruit fajita!

glamourita fresh fruit fajitas

First, we started with our fresh produce from the farmer’s market. Didn’t we snag some amazing looking fruits and veggies?

Next, julienne the bell peppers and dice the jalapenos. Sauté the cut veggies in olive oil and hot sauce (I suggest leaving out the hot sauce if you are sensitive to spicy foods)

glamourita fresh fruit fajitas

While you vegetables are sautéing, cut cooked rosemary chicken into bite sized pieces.

glamourita fresh fruit fajitas

After heating your tortillas, add chicken pieces and top with sautéed peppers and cut stone fruit.

glamourita fresh fruit fajitas

Don’t these look awesome? We served our fajitas with farro. We mixed the cooked farro with corn, black beans and halved grape tomatoes, a quick easy side!

glamourita fresh fruit fajitas

Now you have a complete, healthy meal to serve for dinner!

glamourita fresh fruit fajitas

 

 


 

FRESH FRUIT FAJITAS

Ingredients:
1 lb of chicken
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
2 red jalapeños, diced
1 yellow peach, julienned
1 nectarine, julienned
grape tomatoes as topping, diced
8 corn tortillas
½ Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
½ Tbsp of hot sauce
rosemary and black pepper for rub

 

Instructions:

  1. Season chicken with rosemary and black pepper and cook on medium-high heat.
  2. Heat extra virgin olive oil on medium heat and add cut bell peppers, jalapeños and hot sauce. Sauté for 6-8 minutes, or until vegetable start to soften.
  3. While vegetables are sautéing, cut cooked chicken into bite sized pieces.
  4. Heat corn tortillas for a couple minutes in toaster over or on hot skillet to warm.
  5. Now you are ready to assemble your fajitas! Start with your warm tortillas and add chicken. Top with peppers, sliced stone fruits and tomatoes.
  6. Serve with your favorite side and Enjoy!

Summer Fruit Salad

Glamourita's Summer Salad

TGIF! This Friday I’m hoping to get my weekend off to a FRESH start and I thought I would share one of my go-to fresh-to-death dinners with you. This salad is great anytime, especially in the summer when you are looking for a quick, light meal. And as an added bonus, since these are ingredients we snack on often, my husband and I usually have some combination of them in the fridge.

The key to a good salad is keeping it interesting. It’s easy to find reasons to pass up the healthy salad option for dinner, so don’t make it any harder on yourself by making it boring or too labor intensive. Check out my list below of must-haves for a great salad.

1-      Greens- we prefer the crunch of freshly cut romaine

2-      Protein- chicken and turkey are my go-to lean meats

3-      Veggies/Fruit- whatever is in season, right now we are loving berries!

4-      Cheese- gorgonzola, bleu cheese and parmesan are regular acts in our kitchen

5-      Nuts – we usually go for slivered almonds or pecans

6-      Dressing- keep it light and let the ingredients shine!

Glamourita Summer Salad Ingredients

In this salad we used grilled chicken, green apples, strawberries, gorgonzola cheese, pecans and a homemade vinaigrette dressing. By choosing a stronger cheese like blue cheese or gorgonzola, a little goes a long way and you don’t find yourself piling on needless calories.

Another great tip is to ditch the croutons! There are so many other healthy ways to add crunch and texture to your salad.  I personally chose nuts, but other great options include baked corn tortillas (cut into strips), sunflower seeds or even baked quinoa clusters!

And last, but certainly not the least calories, is the dressing. This is where most people get in trouble. These days I try to stick to homemade dressings so I know exactly what ingredients are in them. Our favorite mixture includes olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic salt and pepper. Try mixing it up by using flavored balsamic vinegars; we use pineapple and strawberry balsamic vinegars all the time!

Glamourita Summer Salad

Whatever ingredient combination you choose, have fun with it. Make sure to mix it up so you don’t get bored and don’t be afraid to try whatever is in season at the market, that’s how we end up coming up with some of our favorite combinations!

I hope you enjoy my healthy salad tips, let me know your favorite ways to keep salads interesting and yummy and enjoy your weekend!

Skinny Spaghetti Squash


Skinny Spaghetti Squash- glamourita.com

Ever since my husband and I have returned from our honeymoon in Italy we cannot stop craving pasta! After a few heavy pastas back in the states, I was determined to find a healthy alternative to satisfy our cravings. My husband can be a bit picky, therefore it can’t lack flavor or texture or else it’s an immediate veto! I found this recipe below on Skinny Mom blog (recipe here) and decided to try making spaghetti squash for the first time. I decided to make a few adaptations since I rarely follow a recipe exactly.  I was pleasantly surprised how closely the texture mimics flour pasta. Also, all the added vegetables make the dish very filling and flavorful. This recipe is now my go to pasta dish and I encourage you to try it. Don’t be afraid to switch up the vegetables for your family’s favorites or what’s in season.  It’s quick, easy, healthy and delicious.

Skinny Spaghetti Squash- glamourita.com

Skinny Spaghetti Squash- glamourita.com

Skinny Spaghetti Squash- glamourita.com

Skinny Spaghetti Squash- glamourita.com


 

Skinny Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce

Ingredients:
1 lb of lean ground beef (ground turkey works great too!)
2 medium sized squashes (8 cups cooked spaghetti squash)
1 carrot peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk chopped finely
1 small zucchini chopped
1 orange bell pepper chopped
1 24 oz jar of spaghetti sauce
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
½ cup part skim mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds and membrane. Place squash cut-side up on baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake for 45 minutes.
  3. While spaghetti squash is baking, add extra virgin olive oil to large, deep sauce pan. Add carrots and celery and saute 3-4 minutes until they soften.
  4. Add lean ground beef or turkey to the vegetables. Continue to cook while breaking up meat until the meat is no longer pink. Once meat is thoroughly cooked, add the zucchini, orange bell pepper, spaghetti sauce and hot sauce (optional) to the pan. Stir until all ingredients are mixed and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
  5. When spaghetti squash is cooked, edges should be curled slightly up. Remove from the oven let cool for 5 minutes.
  6. Once cooled, begin to remove the flesh with a fork, which will come out looking like spaghetti strands.
  7. Transfer all spaghetti squash to a casserole dish and cover evenly with the meat sauce.
  8. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted.  Serve hot and Enjoy!