Chicken Tortilla Soup

Mmmm. This has become one of my favorite recipes. We have it at least twice a month. And there are always leftovers, which are even better.

Let me start by saying that this isn't your typical, Mexican Spicy Tortilla soup. I don't do spicy well, so I tweaked it to work for me! I also tweaked the already pretty healthy recipe to be 21 Day Fix approved.

Ingredients:

2-3 Bell Peppers(any color), diced
1 Onion, diced
2 Tomatoes, diced
Garlic, minced
Olive Oil
Chicken Broth(or Vegetable Broth will work too)
1 Rotisserie Chicken, shredded (You can cook your own, but seriously, this is easy and it tastes so good!)
Taco Seasoning(Make your own from the 21 Day Fix Book)
1ish Cup of Organic Corn
Salt & Pepper to taste


Optional:
Corn Tortillas
Advocado
Black Beans
Shredded Cheese
Cilantro


Directions:

1. In large pot heat up Olive oil and garlic for about 1 minute.
2. Add in Onion and Bell Pepper. Heat until soft, 2-3 minutes. (21 Day fix- measure out in your Green containers and add 5 green containers worth.)
3. Add in tomatoes. Heat for 1-2 more minutes. (21 Day fix- Measure out 2 green containers.)
4. Add in frozen corn. (21 day fix- use 2 yellows)
5. Add in broth until pot is about 2/3 full. If I run out of broth, I sometimes add a little extra water.
6. Heat until simmering, then add the Taco Seasoning, salt & pepper to taste.
7. Add in Chicken (21 day fix, 7 red containers)
8. Cook until heated throughout.
9. Enjoy!

For Tortilla Strips:

Take Corn tortillas, spray lightly with butter or coconut oil. Use a pizza cutter to cut into small strips. Spread them out on a pan and cook them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

If using the 21 Day Fix containers, you used 7 Green, 2 yellows, and 7 red. Divide the soup into 7 separate servings. Each serving will be 1 Green, 1 Red, and barely 1/2 yellow. Add tortilla strips on top to account for a full yellow. Also, add Avocado or cheese accordingly.

**Steve likes beans in his soup, I do not, but you could also measure this out with a yellow container and add.

3 Day Quick Fix + First try at Meal Prep!

Steve and I started the 21 Day Fix on Monday, April 30. I absolutely LOVE the workouts. The fact that they are only 30 minutes makes it SO doable and I give me all knowing that I can just get it done and out of the way. The eating plan is so easy and straight forward. I am in the lowest bracket and there is still a LOT of food for me to eat.

With that being said, I'm going to be honest here. Last weekend I failed. I cheated on the plan and didn't eat so well. Sunday comes around and I could feel it. While I still felt the muscle I have gained from the workouts, I felt bloated from eating a bunch of junk food. Easter candy still lingered in my house and it was just WAY too tempting. So Steve and I decided together to do the optional "3 Day Quick Fix" from the 21 Day Fix to get back on track. We leave for Guam in less than a week and I want to feel confident putting on that bikini. We decided to start it on Monday instead of the few days leading up to the trip.

We meal planned from the guide we were given and headed to the grocery store to stock up. We decided to go ahead and cook everything on Sunday so that we had no excuses. All we had to do was Heat & Eat. This was my first go at Meal Prep and I think we did quite well. The idea of eating the exact same thing every day isn't very appetizing to be, but considering it was only 3 days, I decided that would be the easiest thing to do. Here is what we did:

Meal 1: 7:30AM  - 4 Egg Whites(1 red) with 1 Yellow container of Steel Cut Oats + 1 tsp Coconut oil. I cook the Egg whites in the morning. Steve boiled his ahead of time. We cooked the Oatmeal ahead of time also. I add the 1 tsp Coconut oil to my oats along with 1/2 pack of Stevia. I can't forgot my two cups of coffee! I use 1/2 pack of Stevia with 1 tsp of Almond Milk in each cup.

Meal 2: 10:00 AM - Shakeology + Almond Milk. I count this as my 1 Red and 1 Yellow. Per Autumn's directions, I normally don't count the almond milk during the day, but decided to just for the 3 day quick fix.



Meal 3: 12:30 PM - Cod + Broccoli (1 Red, 1 Green, 1 tsp) We cooked the Cod in the oven with seasoning and lemon juice. Then poured 1 tsp of Coconut oil on top. Broccoli was steamed and seasoned with Italian seasoning. This is probably my least favorite meal of the day because it is pretty bland, but I'm glad I get it over with early and after my ShakeO when I am not as hungry.

I normally have a cup of Green tea with 1/2 pack of Stevia at some point in the afternoon.

Meal 4: 3:00 PM - Grilled Chicken with sautéed Bell Peppers and Onions. (1 Red, 1 Green, 1 tsp). This is my favorite. We don't have a grill in Korea, so we just sautéed ours on the pan with coconut oil and added some southwest seasoning. Same goes for the veggies.

Meal 5: 5:00 PM - Cod with Green Beans. (1 Red, 1 Green, 1 tsp) Cod was cooked the same as above. Green Beans were sautéed in the pan with coconut oil and Italian seasoning.

Meal 6: 7:00 PM - 93% Lean Ground Beef with Bell Peppers and Onion. (1 Red, 1 Green, 1 tsp) The plan called for lean ground turkey, but due to an Embargo, our Commissary doesn't have ANY turkey, so we went with the leanest beef we could find at Costco. It is Australian Grass Fed Beef. The Bell Peppers and Onions were cooked the same as above. We didn't have enough for Wednesday's dinner, so I will either get more at the store or replace them with Roasted Okra.

[ I don't have a picture for this one, because it's my favorite and I've gobbled it down both nights without taking a picture. I'll try for one tomorrow night! ]

I usually have 1 cup of Chamomile tea every night before bed. It helps me relax and keeps me from snacking after dinner.

Wow. Just typing ALL that makes me realize HOW much food it is. It's just ALL healthy food that my body will store the nutrients and burn the rest. I can't wait to see how I feel after these 3 days!

I will keep telling myself... it's only 3 days!

How I'm doing with Eating Clean

Eating clean isn't easy, but it's also not hard when you have the right motivation.

We've all heard the saying that abs are made in the Kitchen. You can work out all you want, but you're not going to see those real results until you kick the junk food!

I decided when I first started my PiYo program that I wanted to do it right this time. I don't want this to be just another diet. I want this to be my life. I decided that I would follow the "clean eating" schedule MY way. There are times I won't be perfect and I know that. The more I am okay with that, the more likely I will be okay with eating a splurge, enjoying it, and then moving on. So far it has really worked for me, considering I'm down 5 lbs in 2 weeks. If I know I am going to splurge for a certain event, I try my best to eat as clean as possible before and after the event. I still enjoy a glass of wine on the weekends, but I might eat a veggie for a snack instead of a fruit to account for the sugar in the wine. We might go out with a few friends and get a beer, but I'll order a salad instead of eating unhealthy too. It's all about balancing a lifestyle that works for you.

I would also like to add that now that my body is use to healthy and wholesome foods, I can really feel it when I eat the processed stuff. My body responds differently now, making me not want it as much. However, I don't think I'll ever give up wine completely ;-)

So as an example, here is what a normal day of clean eating looks like for me.

Breakfast: Omelet made with 1 egg, 2 egg whites, spinach sautéed in Coconut Oil and Garlic.
                 1 Piece of Rudi's Organic Whole Wheat Bread with Flax Seed
                 2 Cups of coffee with 1 Stevia each and a small amount of Almond Milk

Morning Snack: Smoothie made with Greek Yogurt, Almond Milk, and Fruit. I can't wait to replace this with my Shakeology soon!

Lunch: Sautéed 1/2 Chicken Breast on a Salad with a small amount of pecans, bleu cheese, apple chips, and this Organic Raspberry White Wine Vinaigrette dressing I've found that I'm obsessed with.

OR I will Sauté some Chicken with a side of Broccoli or Bell Peppers. Starry is easy and works too!

Afternoon Snack: 1 Cup of Green Tea with either 1/2 Stevia or Honey
10 baby carrots, 1 cup of Strawberries, and a string cheese. Weight Watchers String Cheese is my favorite.

Dinner: This changes nightly, but I usually cook a lean meat, a veggie side, and 1 starch side. My favorite is Chicken cooked in Mrs. Dash Italian Seasoning, Sautéed Green Beans, and Roasted Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes. I also love Tilapia cooked in Coconut oil, garlic, and lemon juice. Below is the tilapia, sautéed carrots and bell peppers, and roasted potatoes.

Evening: I've been trying really hard not to snack in the evenings, but I do usually have either 1 cup of Chamomile tea or 1 cup of decaf coffee. This helps keep the sweet tooth at bay.


It may seem a little boring, but I've found meals that I love and I've made them in my own healthy way. I'm more likely to love my salad if I add a few small toppings proportioned correctly. I encourage you to find some easy healthy meals that you love and add them to your weekly routine. I'd love some new ideas too! Feel free to leave a comment!