Clean Eating Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

I'm attempting a clean eating regimen.  To be honest, I hate fad diets.  I hate the idea of giving up something that is so much of my daily routine, especially sweets.  So, I decided on a clean eating meal plan because it didn't seem like I had to "give up" all that much but rather choose foods differently.  So I'm gonna call it a conscious eating plan rather than a diet and this is DAY 1. 

Breakfast - Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie
Snack 1 - 1/2 cup cottage cheese w/ 1/2 cup frozen fruit & 1 tbsp unsalted sunflower seeds
                1 banana
Lunch - undetermined
Snack 2 - 15 red grapes 
                 2 Laughing Cow light Swiss cheese wedges
Dinner - Arugula Pesto Chicken
              Med. baked sweet potato 
              1 cup chopped broccoli, steamed 

This meal plan is adapted from Clean Eating Magazine.

So, this post is all about my breakfast smoothie.  Here are the F&E ingredients: 1 cup frozen raspberries, 1/2 cup non fat plain greek yogurt, 1 tsp 100% pure vanilla, 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk, and 4 tbsp chocolate protein powder.

First, I pureed the frozen raspberries in my small food processor.

Then, I added the pureed raspberries to my blender with the remaining ingredients.

then blend blend blend

This makes 2 servings so serve one now and save one for tomorrow OR treat your significant other to the other serving (which is what I did).

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

original recipe from Clean Eating Magazine

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients 

• 1 cup frozen raspberries, puréed
• ½ cup non fat plain greek yogurt
• 1 tsp 100% pure vanilla
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
• 4 tbsp chocolate protein powder

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend to desired consistency.

Click here for printable recipe.

Watermelon & Goat Cheese Salad

Happy Monday! This is my first April post and we actually have April showers here in Las Vegas. This weekend Cody & I met some good friends for dinner at Angelo Sosa's (of Top Chef fame) Poppy Den.  We tried many of the small plates and were impressed with every dish.  One dish that left me wanting more was their Watermelon Salad which was served with goat cheese and candied wassabi.  It was fresh and delicious and I was craving it the next day so I whipped up a copy cat.  I happened to be near a Trader Joe's this weekend so I purchased my ingredients from their small market! I love Trader Joe's but unfortunately there isn't one near my home, so shopping there regularly isn't really an option.

Here are my Trader Joe's ingredients:
Sliced Watermelon Spears, Goat Cheese, and cinnamon almonds (because candied wassabi wasn't available)

I cut 3 spears into cubes, placed in a shallow dish, crumbled approx. 1 1/2 - 2 tbsp goat cheese, and finely chopped 3 almonds on top. You could stop there and the salad is delish! BUT I reduced a couple tbsps of balsamic vinegar and drizzled over the top.  Fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, or thyme would also pair up nicely with this salad. 

Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad

2 servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups of cubed watermelon
• 3 - 4 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
• 6 candied almonds, finely chopped
• Balsamic vinegar or fresh herbs, optional

Directions

Place cubed watermelon in small dish and top with goat cheese, almonds and other optional ingredients.

Click here for printable recipe.