Doin' Some Cookin'... Cucumber Salad with Chia Seed Strawberry Vinaigrette

As you can see my all of my recent blog posts salads have become my go to because of the endless possibilities of flavors and textures. With the weather warming up I find myself craving cooling foods.

I love salads with fruit in them. There is something refreshing about biting into a juicy strawberry with a forkful of greens. Ah-mazing!

This salad is a bed of spinach topped with crisp cucumbers, juicy strawberries, and drizzled with a chia seed strawberry vinaigrette.

The vinaigrette is liquid gold with fresh strawberries, zesty lime, and crunchy chia seeds... superfood sneak for the win!!!

Cucumber Salad with Chia Seed Strawberry Vinaigrette

Adapted From: Food Faith Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show for the Vinaigrette:

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/3 cup strawberries, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• dried cilantro, to taste

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 1 large cucumber, quartered
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 cup strawberries, quartered
• 1 tbsp fresh mint

And Action:

Add all ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small container with a lid and shake until well combined. 

Mix salad ingredients together in a bowl. Toss evenly with the vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Raspberry Chia Cream Smoothie

Move over mango smoothies, this girl has a new fave... raspberry smoothies!! I cannot get enough raspberries lately. The flavor of this smoothie is bright and refreshing. 5 ingredients, 5 minutes and you're out the door which is perfect for busy mornings for sipping on the go.

Raspberry Chia Cream Smoothie

From: Spabettie

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 12 oz raw coconut water
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/3 cup raw cashews
• 1/2 pint raspberries
• 2 tbsp chia seeds

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Tropical Chia Smoothie

It's not summertime yet but the temps here in Texas have said otherwise. These hot days have me craving the beach and pina coladas.

The only problem is that alcohol and being beach body ready isn't in the cards. Not only is it the alcohol in a pina colada but all of the added sugar that cause belly fat. Um hello, fruit alone is sweet enough. So a healthier alternative is to make a smoothie instead with unsweetened coconut milk and chia seeds to help banish that belly fat.

This smoothie is thick, creamy and ice cold which is perfect for cooling down and keeping your beach body in mind. Just a heads up, chia seeds swell in liquid the longer they sit which will make this much thicker if it's not enjoyed right away.

Tropical Chia Smoothie

From: Yummy Mummy Kitchen

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp chia seeds

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pineapple Blueberry Salad with Lemon Chia Seed Dressing

So I'm back on the wagon of healthy eating and working out since my Vegas vacation. I'm on Day 2 of the 21-Day Flat Belly Challenge. I keep getting stuck on their 20 Minute Power Plank Workout and can't hold the plank positions for longer than 3 minutes at a time.

This salad gets an extra flat belly boost from hydrating cucumbers that help flush out the digestive system. The enzymes in the pineapple ease digestion and blueberries have been proven to diminish belly fat. Avocados and almonds not only add bloat-reducing fiber but have monounsaturated fats that help to keep belly fat at bay. This salad is a flat belly dream.

To make this more of a dinner salad top with grilled chicken or salmon for a light, refreshing, and filling meal.

Pineapple Blueberry Salad with Lemon Chia Seed Dressing

Adapted From: PopSugar Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1/3 cup cucumber, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh pineapple, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 avocado, diced
• 1 tbsp sliced almonds

Stars of the Show for the Dressing:

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp chia seeds

And Action:

Place salad ingredients in a bowl. 

Whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle onto salad. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Triple Berry Oatmeal Smoothie Bowl with Almonds and Chia Seeds

I think I may have found my new favorite way to eat oatmeal. Maybe it has something to do with the raspberries (my favorite fruit at the moment) and almonds I toasted myself (crave worthy!!!). With the weather as cold as it's been a hot breakfast is just what I needed.

This oatmeal will keep you full until well after lunchtime and is the perfect way to start your day with protein, fiber, and antioxidants. An oatmeal smoothie bowl is the love child of two breakfast classics.

You can adapt this recipe to suit your tastes switching it up with different fruit, nuts, and yogurt flavors.

Triple Berry Oatmeal Smoothie Bowl with Almonds and Chia Seeds

Adapted From: Jeanette's Healthy Living

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/4 cup uncooked regular oats
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1/4 cup raspberries
• 1/4 cup blackberries
• 1 tbsp toasted slivered almonds
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1 container nonfat vanilla yogurt

And Action:

Combine the oats, almonds, and chia seeds in a bowl adding 1/2 cup of water. Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Top with the berries and a couple dollops of yogurt, stirring to combine. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cooking... Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfait

We've all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but most days I think sleep trumps that notion. I'm generally rushing through my morning getting lunches packed, putting on my face (hello! foundation and mascara), convincing Little Man that I let him sleep until the last possible minute and that we really only have 5 minutes before we have to leave, and then before we make it out the door realizing that breakfast was an afterthought and I end up at work with a grumbly tummy. Every. Damn. Day.

Worse than skipping breakfast is having something to eat that is just... meh! 

With a little planning you can give your body what it needs to start the day.

These Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfaits are made with all natural ingredients, packed full of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, magnesium, manganese, calcium, with lots of protein and prepared in an untraditional way. 

Oats and chia seeds are soaked which means more of the nutritious benefits stick around rather than breaking down when they're cooked on the stovetop. 

Although, with the weather cooling off here in Texas a cold breakfast isn't comforting like a big bowl of piping hot oatmeal. This is definitely a recipe to keep in the arsenal for those Summer mornings. Nonetheless, it's definitely worth a try no matter what the thermometer reads and the soaked oats are just a blank canvas for you to get creative with fruit toppings of your choice. 

Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfait

Adapted From: Pure Ella

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup steel cut oats
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 cup light coconut milk
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
• 1/4 cup blueberries

And Action:

The night before, in a mason jar or air tight container, mix in oats, chia seeds, and coconut milk. Seal the jar and place in the refrigerator overnight.

In the morning layer a container with the oat mix and fresh fruit. Enjoy!