Easy Clean Eating Hot Chocolate Recipe

There are few things that I love more than hot chocolate in a cute mug on a rainy day while watching a movie curled up in a blanket! :)  That is true bliss to me!

The other night I was craving hot chocolate, but traditional store bought packets are not clean or 21 Day Fix approved! Since I'm following the 21 Day Fix nutrition guide right now I knew that I had to find an approved recipe or set my craving aside for a treat. 

Luckily, after searching a bit for something that sounded tasty I came up with an easy, 21 Day Fix approved recipe! 

Peppermint (or Regular!) Hot Chocolate  - 21 Day Fix Approved!

Ingredients

  ·      1 cup, plus 1-2 tablespoons milk of choice (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk!)

·      2 rounded teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

·      1-2 packets stevia, depending on your desired sweetness 

·      ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

·      ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

·      cinnamon, optional

Instructions

1.   Place milk in a small pot over medium low heat.

2.   Meanwhile, place cocoa powder, stevia and extra tablespoon of almond milk in a small bowl. Whisk until a paste/thick mixture forms and powder is absorbed. Add additional tablespoon of almond milk, if needed.

3.   Whisk cocoa mixture into milk mixture. Heat till hot but not boiling.

4.   Pour into a mug and sprinkle with cinnamon, if using.

5.   Serve and enjoy once the drink is cool enough to safely drink

Notes

Container count: 1 yellow! Everything else is a free 21 Day Fix flavor addition! 

If you're feeling like a splurge add a little bit of whipped cream to the top! This is a must have for me - and I don't feel like a little bit hurts anything ;)

The directions above are for a stovetop preparation, but you can just as easily make this in the microwave.

The above recipe will yield you a peppermint hot chocolate!  To enjoy hot chocolate without the peppermint simply skip the peppermint extract! 

To make a different flavor variation - such as caramel or raspberry - simply replace the peppermint extract with your extract of choice! 

And voila - there you have clean eating, 21 Day Fix approved hot chocolate! 

I would love to have you join me in my next 21 Day Fix accountability health and fitness group!  If you're interested in joining us, losing weight, creating new healthy lifestyle habits and toning from head to toe, please fill out the form below! I absolutely love this plan because it allows for things like this hot chocolate recipe - a simple pleasure that I simply can't live without in the winter! 

Are you a hot chocolate drinker?  Share below what your favorite variety is! Regular, peppermint, caramel, raspberry...the list goes on and on!!   

Thanks for stopping by!  

xoxo,

Corina

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Salsa Chicken

It's Taco Tuesday!!  It seems only appropriate to share an absolute favorite recipe in our house that is inspired by a tasty Mexican dish my mother-in-law makes on special occasions!

This is my recipe for Salsa Chicken! 

Salsa Chicken was one of the first recipes I ever made when I ventured into the world of clean eating.  I absolutely love it - it's so simple, versatile and filling!  And what matters the most is that my husband loves it and could eat it literally every day!! 

Here's the recipe & be sure to check out the video for a tutorial! 

Salsa Chicken

Ingredients: 

• 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
• 12 ounce jar of Salsa
• 8/10 ounce can Tomato Paste/crushed tomatoes/tomato sauce
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder

Directions:

• Place all ingredients in crock pot - layer chicken, seasonings, tomato paste and salsa
• Plece lid on crock pot
• Cook on High 2.5 - 3 hours (depending on how much chicken you use!); Low 4-5.5 hours
• When fully cooked, take two forks or a fork and pair of tongs and shred either on plate or in crock pot
• Serve as tacos, over rice, with a side of corn, beans and rice, tostadas or however you please!
• Add a green salad to get your serving of veggies in!

There you have it!!  Set it and forget it - my kind of meal! ;)  

Pssst - don't tell my hubby how easy this is to make!  He's pretty impressed with this meal! ;)

Be sure to watch the video for a full how-to!  

Are you going to add Salsa Chicken to your menu this week?  Share and tag me @ririluvsabs on IG & cmadfitness on Facebook!

Until next time!

xoxo,

Corina

Follow me here:

IG: @ririluvsabs

Facebook: facebook.com/cmadfitness

My Fitness Story

've been so nervous to actually share  this but here it is---MY fitness story! 

                                                         

Growing up I was always an active kid but once I got into college I stopped pretty much all activity.  I was pretty content with myself and my life.  I didn't think I had to workout, or eat healthy (I honestly didn't even know HOW to eat healthy) & so I didn't!  I binged on junk food and ice cream.  Although I didn't ever drink much I did love food at parties bars and clubs and would take full advantage whenever possible.  I was in college full time, studying a career that I absolutely loved, falling more and more in love with the guy who would become my husband, and pretty active in my church. I was HAPPY!! Why did I need to worry about what I ate?! So I didn't.  I just kept buying bigger clothes.  And wearing more sweatshirts.  

                    

The photo on the left was taken in February of 2012.  My family and my then boyfriend (now hubby!) and I had gone to Vegas to celebrate my brother's birthday.  Looking at the pictures from that trip I was in SHOCK.  "Who IS this girl?!? She's not happy.  Or confident.  Or comfortable in her own skin." These pictures LITERALLY never saw the light of day.  I just knew I didn't want to live my life like that anymore. 

Two months later my boyfriend proposed!!  After the initial celebrating fizzled out I realized that I didn't want to feel the way that I felt at that point on my wedding day.  I KNEW that I needed a change but I had no idea where that change would come from.

After months of little progress I was offered an opportunity to purchase the Beachbody program T25 and commit to the program with the support of a challenge group.  

I was TERRIFIED! I was out of shape and so uncertain that I would be able to keep up with the workouts.  But you know what? I STARTED.  I got up, gave it a go, gave it my all and then kept going.  I. Was. Committed.  I worked out when I was tired, sore, when I didn't feel like it, when I didn't have any energy, when I had had a bad day at work. I just did it.  And I started seeing results! 

By the time our wedding day arrived I had lost 15 pounds and inches off of my hips, waist and thighs while building muscle all over. 

When I walked down the aisle to the amazing man whom I now get to spend the rest of my life with, I felt CONFIDENT, COMFORTABLE, BEAUTIFUL and most importantly HAPPY. {my dress even ended up being a bit loose in the waist-say WHAT!!!}

I share all of this to say that the most important step that you can take is to {START}.  I started and once I did I saw that the possibilities were endless.

Although I stilll have a long way to go towards my goals as they grow and change every day, I am CHARGED up and excited for every small step and little victory.  Each day that I get my workout done, eat properly, drink enough water or get enough sleep is a victory in itself!  Celebrate the little things and shoot for the biggest dreams of your life!

                                    

So now it's your turn!! I want to help you take the first step into creating your fitness story, to help you reach your goals, and to be able to celebrate, appreciate and LOVE the body that God has gifted you with!!  If you are ready to make that step leave your email below. 

Let's {S T A R T} your journey together today!! 

xoxo,

Corina

My Yoga Lovin Mission!

I made the decision at the beginning of this year that I was going to get back into Yoga.  And so far it's been great!

                          

I'm currently practicing Yoga once a week for 30 minutes.  Why have I dedicated myself to this?  There are a few reasons!

1. A really, really good stretch!
Because I workout about 5 days a week, I know that a quick post workout stretch is NOT enoughfor my  muscles to rejuvenate and repair.

2. An Active Rest Day
Although on the days I do yoga I am not doing an intense workout, I am still pushing my body-it's just a different type of push.

3. Habit and Accountability
By making one day in my week "Yoga Day" I keep myself on schedule for my workouts.  I have something to look forward to that is a slower, more concentrated on breathing, relaxing and rejuvenating myself during the week.  I honestly look so, SO forward to Yoga Day! (Which is usually Wednesdays 😄)

4. Relaxation
Ok, honestly who doesn't need a little extra relaxation in their life?  That's what I get from yoga.  Focusing on deep breathing, clarity, peace and stretching refocuses me and allows me to relax no matter what is going on in my life.

Those are just a few reasons why I have incorporated yoga into my workouts.

So!  What are some health B E N E F I T S of Yoga?  Let me share!

“Yoga is a healing system of theory and practice. The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body,” explains Natalie Nevins, DO, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood, Calif. “As an osteopathic physician, I focus a lot of my efforts on preventive medicine and practices, and in the body’s ability to heal itself. Yoga is a great tool for staying healthy because it is based on similar principles.” 

According to Dr. Nevins, some of the health benefits of practicing Yoga include:

• Increased flexibility
• Increased muscle strength and tone
• Improved respiration, energy and vitality
• The maintenance of a balanced metabolism
• Weight reduction
• Cardio and circulatory health
• Improved athletic performance
• Protection from injury

I personally love yoga for the stretching and relaxation that I gain from it, but these benefits are definitely a G R E A T reason to start your own practice!

Some recommended Yoga DVDs and programs:
-Denise Austen "Yoga Body Burn", available online and in stores like Target and Walmart
-Jillian Michaels "Yoga Meltdown", available online and in stores like Target and Walmart
-SuperSisters 30 Minute Yoga Routine, search "Go SuperSisters" on YouTube or Facebook

So there you have it - the reasons that I have incorporated Yoga into my life and why I think you should to!

Namaste!
xoxo,
 Corina