Turkey Chili

With Winter finally upon us (booooo!), it always feels good to have warm hearty food in my belly! One of my favorite winter meals is CHILI! YUM! Chili is practically a staple in my household. When I decided to learn a healthier lifestyle, something obviously had to be done with chili. Now, I am definitely not a cook, but I can make chili. :) My fiancé is also an A-MAZE-ING cook! So anyone can do this recipe! Then do what we do. Make a huge amount and freeze some up for those days you don't feel like cooking or are in a hurry!

Total Time: 35 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: 25 min.
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 tsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium yellow (or orange) bell pepper, chopped
1 lb. raw 93% lean ground turkey
1 (28-oz.) can chopped tomatoes
2 cans (15-oz. each) kidney beans, rinsed, drained
1 tsp. chili powder
½ tsp. sea salt
Crushed red peppers (to taste; optional)
12 Italian parsley sprigs, chopped
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion and bell peppers; cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft.
3. Add turkey; cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until turkey is browned
4. Add tomatoes, beans, chili powder, salt, and red peppers; cook, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Divide chili into 6 serving bowls and garnish with parsley if desired.

What To Eat Before A Workout

What should I eat before I workout? That is a question on many people's minds! It seems reasonable that you would want to eat to get energy before you workout right? That makes sense, but you need to be careful about what you eat before working out.
Eating and working out do not go hand in hand because it can interrupt the digestion and/or make you not want to work out. That does not mean you can not eat or that you have to fast for 12 hours before! You simply need to allow your body enough time to digest the food!
If you eat a healthy balanced meal, wait about 3 hours. If you eat a light meal with some heavy carbs, wait 2 hours. If you eat a carb rich snack, wait an hour. Any less than an hour before your workout, keep your snack under 100 calories and healthy! This can be liquid fuel like juice or easily digested carbs like half a banana.
‪#‎food‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎preworkout‬ ‪#‎fuel‬ ‪#‎bodyfuel‬ ‪#‎digestion

Building Rage

Harsh words. Incoherent babble.
The door slams so hard, I hear the
windows rattle.

Red fire boils. Bubbles burst.
Rage explodes. That familiar
darkness inside begins to thirst.

Shattered glass rains all around.
I feel the pop before it hits the ground.

Holes in walls open up.
Control is slipping, tripping.
My mind erupts.

A screeching siren is piercing the air.
Fingers rake my scalp as I realize it's me,
but I just don't care.

Douse it all, light the flame.
Watch it burn, feel it creep up.
I'll take the blame.

Scorching flesh, rancid air in streams.
I shut my eyes for the last time, as a smile
slides onto my face and I meet my dreams.

written by Christine Jackson 12-19-2015

Meals For Kiddos!

Christmas Break is upon us! That means kids running rampant for the next couple weeks! Normally, our little ones or teens are eating at school.. SO now what?! Fret not! I have some tasty items for you to try out!
Pancake Bites: Mix together instant pancake mix and fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Add flavoring (fruit, cinnamon, nuts etc) on top. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes!
Mason Jar Oatmeal: Mix a serving of oatmeal and flavoring they like (fruit, maple, nuts, etc). Make several j...ars ahead of time to save time. Just add water and microwave!

Premake Lunches: Put together many different items to create yummy meals that are like a lunchable! Make sure there is a meat/protein, a carb, a dairy, a fruit, and a veggie. (examples: tortilla, chicken strip, lettuce & tomato, shred cheese, and a banana OR crackers, slices turkey, sliced cheese, baby carrots, and an apple).
Mason Jar Veggie Dips: Put their fav dipping sauce in the bottom of a mason jar and stick celery sticks, carrot sticks, etc in with them!
Peanut Butter Banana Rollups: Take a tortilla, spread peanut butter on it and then wrap it around a banana.
**A Few Extra Tips!**
1. Use Cupcake toppers instead of toothpicks for sandwiches. They aren't as sharp.
2. Apples can be used for sandwiches instead of bread.
3. Younger kids like cuteness! So maybe cut their sandwiches into hearts or make faces with the food! Cookie cutters work wonders!
4. Simple is ok too. Fresh, easy to grab fruits and veggies, yogurts, string cheese, hard boiled eggs etc.
5. Use tortillas for lots of stuff. Wraps, sandwiches, tacos etc.
6. Make sure you have pretzels, crackers, almonds, pita chips & hummus on hand.
Alright! I hope these tips help make your Christmas Break easier! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Check out my facebook page for more tips!

https://www.facebook.com/JacksonChristineN/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel


‪#‎tips‬ ‪#‎meals‬ ‪#‎mealprep‬ ‪#‎healthy‬ ‪#‎christmas‬ ‪#‎break‬ ‪#‎christmasbreak‬ ‪#‎kids‬ ‪#‎children‬ ‪#‎school‬ ‪#‎tasty‬
‪#‎snacks

‬

Lettuce, Tomato, and Beef Wrap

Ingredients•1 lettuce leaf
•1/4 tomato, medium
•2 tablespoons sour cream, reduced fat
•1 teaspoon horseradish sauce
•1 low carb whole wheat tortilla, 6"...
•4 1/2 ounces roast beef, lean, deli-style
•1/4 teaspoon oregano, dried
•4 fluid ounces orange juice

Preparation
•Wash and chop lettuce and tomato.
•Mix sour cream and horseradish; spread over tortilla.
•Top prepared tortilla with chopped lettuce and tomato. Top with beef and oregano.
•Fold two opposite sides of tortilla in towards the center, and roll up from one of the remaining ends.
•Enjoy wrap with a small glass of orange juice.

Nutrition Facts

Calories	330
Calories from Fat	80
Total Fat	9 g
Saturated Fat	4 g
Cholesterol	60 mg
Sodium	1,210 mg
Total Carbohydrate	33 g
Dietary Fiber	9 g
Sugars	11 g
Protein	28 g
Calcium	6%
Vitamin A	50%
Vitamin C	120%
Iron	15%

NO EXCUSES 5!

NO EXCUSES 5:
I'M TOO OLD TO WORKOUT!
Ridiculous! So often people tell the elderly they need to slow down and rest when they get older. That is all wrong! When you stop being active, your muscles and bones weaken! Exercise can actually help stave off muscle loss and prevent falls.
...

•Lew Hollander became the second 80-year-old to complete the Ford Ironman World Championship (2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon).
• At 93 years old, Tao Porchon-Lynch is a winning ballroom dance competitor and teaches at least 12 yoga classes a week.
• At 98 years old, Sensei Keiko Fukuda became one out of only 16 people in all of history to earn a 10th degree black belt.

There are even workouts that are a bit easier for people with injuries or elderly. One of those is Tai Cheng. Another great workout that has a modifier to follow if the workout is too hard is the 21 Day Fix!
So, I think it is very fair to say that most people are not too old to workout. Obviously talk to your doctor for safety and health purposes, but don't completely write off the possibility of health and fitness because you think you are too old!

‪#‎tooold‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎noexcuses‬ ‪#‎healthy‬ ‪#‎itsalifestyle

NO EXCUSES 4!

NO EXCUSES 4:
I am having a bad day. I am not in the mood to workout!
Did you know working out actually puts you in a better mood? Not only does it allow you to relieve some stress and anger, but you can also feel euphoric afterwards! Your body releases endorphins while working out that reduces pain and also gives your brain positive feelings. Another thing, exercise can increase your self esteem which can also put you in a better mood! When i workout, i feel stronger and more confident, and I feel like I am flying!
So if you need to relieve stress, pull out a punching bag or do some P90X! If you want to feel strong and confident, do some yoga or dance around with Cize!
‪#‎imnotinthemood‬ ‪#‎workout‬ ‪#‎badmood‬ ‪#‎noexcuses‬ ‪#‎happythoughts