Nature Box + Other Healthy Food

Last year around this time I lost around 15-20 lbs. I dont consider myself fat or anything but it would be nice to tone back up. Since I moved back in August, it has been hard for me to find some kind of balance. I went from living with my mom and boyfriend to living with my dad and paying all the utilities. Since then, besides my job, my life has been different. I even started doing YouTube videos over blogging. Observing all of the conscious and sub-conscience changes is weird, actually. All of that aside, I am really trying lose weight again and tone back up!

I am a sucker for monthly subscription boxes. When I found out I could the Nature Box for $10 the first month as opposed to the normal $20, I decided to give it a shot! In the video I talk about my thoughts on it and taste all of the food.

Nature Box is kind of like Birch Box or the Glam Bag except in healthy food form. The thing that separates them {besides the fact you get food} is that you can actually pick out your snacks every month. It is nice to get some healthy snacks delivered to me. The more healthy snacks, the better in my opinion. I give the jest of it in the video, but I have a link for you guys to use in case you wanna try out the Nature Box for $10 the first month too!  Remember that you can cancel after the first month, which what I think I am going to do. It isnt because the snacks weren't tasty or unhealthy or anything like that. It's just that I have been dying to try Tera's Whey Protein Powder for over a year now and it is $20. That's where my "healthy food not from the grocery store fund" is going for April.

 

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Try out the Nature Box yourself for $10 the first month here.

Since I have had this blog for over 3 years {it sounds crazy}, I figure I could feature some of my favorite healthy blog post's here to go with the video

Breakfast Smoothies and Meal Prepping {feat the Green Banana Split Smoothie}


Love Pink Skinny Cheesecake Bites 

Skinny Fun-Fetti Cheesecake Dip


Blueberry Cheesecake Pudding Pops
 

Anti-Aging Weight Loss Beverage


I just realized that the majority of my healthy food blog post's have to do with cheesecake. I love cheesecake.

Have you guys tried the Nature Box?

Are any of you health food enthusiasts?

What is your favorite subscription box to get every month?


thanx for reading!
<3
Erica

Breakfast Smoothie Recipes + Meal Prepping

As of the past 2 years I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast because I thought it was the healthiest + best thing I could have for breakfast. Turns out it isn't! Sure oatmeal is good for you but if you really want to get your body moving and give it a bunch of energy, tone up and/or lose weight, I am going to show what I have been learning as the perfect breakfast.

If you want to know even more about this system, check out this video from Brenda of Lean Secrets. This is where I learned it and she is the professional, after all! I want to share the recipe's I have been loving for breakfast this week. 

Most people would just be happy with protein powder in their smoothie but not me! I just don't like the texture. Instead, I use Greek Yogurt as a replacement for the protein. Sometimes I would rather add FF SF Pudding {Cheesecake, Pistachio, White Chocolate}. Those have no protein. You will notice I did that in the Banana Split Smoothie. If I use Pudding instead I will have a hard boiled egg or two on the side with my smoothie. I find that it really fills me up and I don't feel hungry until like 2pm {I drink my smoothie from 10-11am}

 This is the one pictured and let me tell you it was so creamy and delicious!

What is Xantham Gum?
it is a thickener. It is found in things like Pudding. Xantham Gum is totally healthy. I think they might consider it a health food as I buy mine from the Bob's Red Mill brand, see it in healthy recipes, and find it in the health food section of my store. Chia Seeds will also thicken it up too!

So know that you know my recipe's, I encourage you to make up your own! Here's the basic makeup of a healthy creamy smoothie:

Fruit

Greens {Spinach, Kale}

Something Creamy

Protein

Liquid

Flax {or Chia Seeds}

I always get out a bunch of all of the above, along with 7 baggies and start to fill up the baggies to make smoothie baggies. Then, I just pop them in the freezer and will take one out every morning to blend up. It is so simple, healthy and delicious

I have been loving these for every morning I have to work!

smoothies are perfect on the go! I will take the smoothie bag I am using out of the freezer around 8:30, then blend it up right before I head out the door around 10. I like to let it thaw in room temp because it really helps with the smoothie blend, but while keeping that thick consistency from when it was froze.

and by the way, I was never a smoothie type of girl. Every recipe that seemed so delicious always sucked when I tried to make and never looked like anything in the picture! {wtf!?}  and I promise if you follow these basic's, you will love your smoothie! 

If it's too thin.... add chia seeds, xantham gum, chia seeds, or more yogurt/pudding/applesauce. 

 If it's too thick..... add more water or milk. 

If it's not sweet enough, agave, honey, stevia, + stevia-in-the-raw are all healthy options. 

The 2 I mentioned above were 2 of the best one's i've ever made, which is why I wanted to share. Not all come out that great! But like I mentioned, the beauty of smoothie's is that it is so easy to fix after the smoothie has been blended.

What is your favorite smoothie recipe? 

Please share in the comments below! I am always looking for new ones! 

xoxo
Erica