I love Chinese food. There's just something about it that is so good tasting to me. When I saw this recipe from my favorite food blogger, I knew I had to give it a try and put my own twist on it. If you love Chinese food like I do, but want a healthier take on it. You have got to try this recipe out right now. 

It's not too spicy and not too hot, and perfectly real food. 

Here's What You'll Need:

2 skillets

Spiralizer

2 Tablespoons seasame oil

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup sliced cabbage

1 large bell pepper

1/2 chopped green onion

2 medium zucchini (spiralized) 

3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded

3 ounces cashews

Sauce:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons sesame oil

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1-2 teaspoons Sriacha (or other hot sauce)

Here's what you do:

This was our favorite recipe so far, and I hope you give it a try! I love spiralizing and creating new recipes and now that I'm on a 10 day break from school, I'm excited to try even more and share them with you all! 

What is your favorite dinner recipe? Do you have any plans for Easter? Find anything new that you've loved lately? Let me know in the comments! I am so ready for the weather to get warmer now! 

xx 

Kenzie

I don't think I'm the only one incredibly excited that it's finally March. While we haven't had that bad of a winter here in Wisconsin, I'm still really glad that it's almost spring. I haven't done a "things I love lately" post, but that's what this one is shaping up to be as I type it. 

"Excuse me, I'll have a diet pizza." 

A what? A diet pizza?

When you think of clean eating, or whatever diet resolution you have made this year, you may have thought, "Shoot I have to give up my favorite foods." While many of your favorite foods might have to be cut back, there are still some simple ways to keep enjoying them. Today it's all about the good things in life. Like pizza and quesadillas. 

If you've been a reader for awhile, then you already know that I love to bake. I also enjoy eating healthy and I've started my clean eating challenge just a few weeks ago. While my entire family seems to be a bit "Christmas-cookied-out", I've luckily still gotten the chance to bake quite a few times while being home! 

With clean eating I've discovered quite a few new foods as well as new recipes, mostly dinners as of right now. I've been trying really hard to eat things that are beneficial for my body. Whether it be having water instead of soda,having fruit instead of chips for an afternoon snack. Like many of you, I enjoy eating spaghetti, and I was really excited to learn how to make a new kind of spaghetti and meatballs that would help my body be the best it can be this new year!

Here's what you'll need!

Here's what you'll have to do!

• Cut the spaghetti squash in half and scoop out the seeds (you can save the seeds if you want to roast some for a snack later). Place facedown in a microwave-safe dish, add 2 tablespoons water and microwave uncovered about 10-15 minutes (I did 14 minutes)
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
  Scrape squash flesh with fork into skillet and cook, stir occasionally until moisture is evaporated and squash has begun to brown. 
• Stir in 1/4 cup parsley, remove from heat, cover and let stand
• Combine 1/4 cup parsley, 1/4 cup parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning, onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper into medium bowl. Mix together. 
• Create meatballs by using about 2 tablespoons meat and roll in mixture, setting in skillet. I put in 3 before turning down the heat until I had added the rest, then brought the heat back up again.
  Once meatballs are browned: push to side of pan add garlic and cook about 1 minute, add tomatos, crushed red pepper and 3/4 teaspoon italian seasoning and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir to coat over the meatballs. 
• Serve over squash, sprinkling with parmesan or whatever cheese or topping you'd like! 

I made this dish for my mom and I one night, and we both really enjoyed it! I had never made anything with spaghetti squash before, and it turned out delicious! You can always play around with what you put into your seasoning if you'd like! I hope you get a chance to try this dish, and if you do make sure to comment below! I would love to hear from you! 

xx Kenzie

It took some research, and an open mind to search the web and find the perfect recipe for my second clean eating dinner, my first baking experience that wasn't a dessert.
I put this Spinach filled dish as one of the first in this new lifestyle, and it was quick, easy, and delicious!

While there are many New Years resolutions that have been made by us all, eating healthier is one of the most popular ones. I will admit that I am not a health expert, or a nutritionist. I am solely doing this for myself, and to share recipes as I discover them with all of you guys! That's why I have started this series! You can find it in the health bits section of my "Bits of Life" tab!
As I swap those leftover Christmas treats for veggies and fruits, a lot of people might be asking Why?
A simple answer would be: I feel like I was constantly shoveling food into my face for the past 3 weeks, and now I want to cleanse my body. Maybe there are a few more answers that can be explored.

Why are you changing the way you eat? 
Personally, to feel better. I was eating bags of trail mix in less than 7 days. I'm talking big bags. As well as cookies and chocolates by the handful in short amounts of time and I felt awful. My face would break out with how much processed foods and sugars I was taking in. I want to stop feeling disgusting when I wake up and as superficial as it may sound...I reallly want to love myself when I wake up.

How are you changing the way you eat? 
I'm cutting out processed sugars and foods and switching over to natural sugars like fruits and veggies. No more reeses peanut butter cups and pizza for me.

What does clean eating mean? 
Clean eating means no processed foods, things that aren't from nature. The only processed food I'll be putting into my body is processed by the sun

While these three questions might even be ones you hear, here's one that I've heard already.

Why are you dieting? You don't need to go on a diet. 
It's not really a diet, more of a lifestyle change. I want to have more energy that lasts throughout the day as opposed to being tired at one in the afternoon. I don't have the metabolism of a skinny 8 year old anymore, I have to help my body be in shape nobody else is going to do it for me.

Another question you or someone you know, might have about changing to a new diet plan is how. 

How are you going to change your eating?
Firstly, by researching. Being on the internet seems natural to me and why not use it to help me sift out what foods I should and should not eat. Here are some tips I've read so far!

1.  Clear your kitchen: This will help you not eat those processed foods. I know, I have to go to my dorm room and clear that out. Here's hoping my neighbors will be happy with free food. 
2. Plan: So far this is the most fun, at least for me, having a meal plan throughout the week is a good idea to know what you need to get at the grocery store for the week coming up.

While eating clean or healthier may not be for everyone, I hope that you can still enjoy some of the recipes that I've got coming up for you! I've even discovered some sweeter clean-eating treats as well that I really want to try out! Have you done clean eating before or are you doing it now?