There is NOTHING better a hearty, healthy home cooked chili, on a crisp fall or winter day.  Agree?

This recipe has been in my family for years and has yet to be messed with, other than swapping out the meat between ground beef or ground turkey.  Too each their own, but regardless, so simple to make and is even better on Day 2.

Get a big ol’ pot out and get ready for some salvating glands as you cook it:

Serves roughly 6-8 people or 4 with LOTS of leftovers (again, DELICIOUS on day 2 and cold).

2 packages of lean (grass fed) ground beef or turkey 

1 medium onion

1 1/2 package of mushrooms

2-3 cloves of garlic

2 150z cans of kidney beans (low sodium)

1 large can of stewed tomatoes

1 Family Size of Tomato Soup (not the pre-made kind)

1 tbsp of chili powder

1 tbsp of crushed red pepper (or more if you like it spicy)

Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the meat, onions and garlic in a large sauce pan, over medium heat.  Add mushrooms once meat starts to brown.  Add one can of kidney beans with juice and one can of drained kidney beans.  Stir well.  Add can of tomatoes, tomato soup and stir well. Finally, add chili powder, crushed red pepper and salt/pepper.  Stir ocassionally and let simmer for approximatey 45 minutes to an hour to allow all flavors to marinade.

Serve with sour cream (or greek yogurt), fresh chopped green onions and shredded cheese.

Enjoy!!

Your partner in health & fitness.

As I’ve always known, Shakeology is a great product and have a far better respect for it, after listening to Carl’s wife, Isabelle, co-creator of Shakeology, speak to the integrity behind the product and it’s birth.

Shakeology continues to evolve, and as it does, more and more lives will be impacted from it’s great many health benefits.  I am just touched by some of the stories I’ve read and heard, first hand, from people that have experienced a change in their total wellness.

Well, to top that, Carl and his buddies wanted to seek feedback from a population of experts, that many of turn to when our health takes a turn for the worst – our Doctors.  Here is a great video that shares THEIR personal experience with Shakeology and how they feel it’s a stand up product and recommend it to their patients – and NO, they are not being paid to endorse it, strictly voluntary.

Want further validation, take the ingredients list to YOUR doctor and have them see it for themselves.  Or, better yet, walk into your next appointment with a sample, so they can experience it first hand, and give you their honest impression.  I can help you with those sample packets.

But, trusting the 30-day bottom of the bag guarantee, maybe you just experience it yourself.  If you’d like to get on board and try out Shakeology, send me an email: taryn@choose2befit.com or visit: http://shake4wellness.com and check it out for yourself.

Your partner in health & fitness.

I must give credit, where credit is due.

I got the bulk of this recipe from my new favorite magazine – Oxygen Magazine - from their Collection Issue: Glutes.  I did switch it up slightly, so I’ll pat myself on the back for a job well done. ((pat pat))

Ok, with much anticipation, here is the most delicious and HEALTHY recipe for those that love French Toast, like me, but don’t want the added fat and calories from how it’s usually made.

Makes 1 serving – Ready in 10 Minutes

½ cup of liquid egg whites

1 tbsp of skim milk

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

¼ tsp of vanilla extract

½ tbsp of coconut oil (for non-stick purposes only)

2 slices of whole grain/whole wheat bread

Fresh Berries

Optional Additions:

2 tbsp of Fage 0% Plain Yogurt

1 tbsp Agave Nectar

Sprinkle of walnuts

1. Whisk together the liquid egg whites, skim milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract.  Over medium heat, place non-stick skillet with coconut oil to warm.
2. Dip bread into mixture and place in skilley for 2 to 4 minutes on each side, or until slightly brown.
3. Top with berries, non-fat Fage Plain Yogurt, walnuts and Agave Nectar (last 3 ingredients are optional).

Serve and INDULGE with no guilt!

Your partner in health & fitness!

Well if you are here, you’ve likely heard me rave about Shakeology and the health benefits associated with it, right??  Chances are, you are pretty sure it will work for you and is good stuff, but you may be that “try-before-you-buy” type.  Sound on par?

Good news!  I’ve created a Shakeology Sample Pack trial offer that will allow you that chance to give it a test run and see if it’s right for you!

Want to see why I love Shakeology?  Check out the level of research that went into creating the ‘healthiest meal of the day’:

Shakeology® – The Breakthrough

Why you need Shakeology® – NOW!

Shakeology can help you:

• Lose weight
• Reduce cravings
• Increase energy and stamina
• Promote healthy digestion and regularity
• Lower cholesterol¹

Tastes delicious, too.

How Shakeology works

• Ingredients derived from whole-food sources deliver the daily vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your body needs to curb cravings, allowing it to shed stored fat.
• More than 20 different antioxidants and phytonutrients help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke.
• Fiber, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes help your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently and promote better absorption of nutrients.*

What’s in Shakeology?

• Protein and essential amino acids help build muscles and reduce food cravings.

• Prebiotics and digestive enzymes aid in improving digestion, regularity, and nutrient absorption.

• Antioxidants and phytonutrients help counteract free radical damage that can lead to degenerative diseases.

• A daily dose of vitamins and minerals provides your body what it needs to function for optimal health.

The Healthiest Meal of the Day – Even the Doctor’s Agree!

You are hooked now, right??  So what’s next??  First things first, so we can be sure we stay connected.

***  If you already have a Beachbody account then you already have an assigned Coach!  Before clicking on the BUY NOW option below, be sure to check with your assigned Coach to see if they will offer up samples to you!  I do this exclusively for my own Customers and any new Customers (or newly switched Customers).

If you’ve never heard from them, switching coaches is relatively common and super easy. Just send an email to coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and request a change in Coach to me, Taryn Perry (and be sure to include  my Coach ID No. 11120).  If you CC that email to me at taryn@choose2befit..com, I can then follow up  with Coach Relations.

Don’t have an account? You can create a FREE one here: Free SuperGym Membership Account.

Ok, now that we got that settled, let’s move on.

NEW 4 PACK TRIAL*!

NOW ONLY: $19.99

What you get in the 4-Pack Trial:

• 2 packets each of Chocolate and Greenberry,
• A pamphlet on the health benefits
• 30-day recipe Calendar
• My personal contact information, if you ever have questions or concerns.

Want to immediately reap the amazing health benefits of Shakeology, skip the trial pack and know you have 30-days to give a full supply a try.  If you don’t like the flavor, you can sent it back for the other or a full refund!  Pretty sweet eh??

Choose how to purchase Shakeology:

• Click HERE or visit: www.shake4wellness.com
• The Shakeology Convenience Pack contains 24 single-serving packets you can take anywhere, or
• Choose the 30-day supply in a bag to keep in your kitchen.
• Regardless, be sure to choose home direct auto-shipping and receive free shipping for life PLUS:

2 FREE Workout DVDs in your first shipment†

Now, what do you choose?

Your partner in health & fitness.

It’s likely to no one’s surprise how many of us are aware of all the harmful attributes related to regular sugar intake. It has been a proven fact, over and over again, that sugar increases your insulin and leptin levels and decreases receptor sensitivity for both of these vital hormones.

To be put simply, sugar is an anti-nutrient. Throughout its journey of being processed from its original form, cane sugar, it’s stripped of all the fiber, nutrients, enzymes and any vitamins, thus leaving just empty calories.

Sugar is in most processed foods, which makes it very hard to avoid. The easiest way to get around this is a) don’t buy or eat processed food and b) READ THE LABELS. Sugar has many names and comes in various forms. Here are a few to look out for:

• High Fructose Corn Syrup (the worst!!)
• Fructose
• Lactose
• Sucrose
• Organic Sugar
• Dextrose
• Glucose
• Maltose

As a result, sugar compromises so many natural attributes our bodies inhibit to lead a functional and healthy lifestyle. There are 100’s of negative side affects to regular sugar intake, but here a just a few highlights I want to point out:

1. Sugar can compromise your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease.

2. It feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum,        pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach.

3. Sugar contributes to obesity.

4. Sugar causes food allergies.

5. It can impair the structure of your DNA.

6. It can cause depression.

7. It is an addictive substance – much like drugs, alcohol or nicotine.

8. It can lead to gum disease.

9. Sugar can interfere with your absorption of protein.

10. Sugar can cause a decrease in your insulin sensitivity thereby causing an abnormally high insulin levels and eventually diabetes.

Read more about the 76 Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health on Dr. Mercola’s website.

The moral of the story is find a fitness regime that works for your lifestyle and personality AND couple that with proper nutrition. It’s a recipe for INCREDIBLE RESULTS.

As always, I’m the biggest skeptic when it comes to new products, a growing fascination with any one thing, whether it be fashion, fitness or social groups. So, of course, although I’m probably Beachbody’s #1 fan at this point, I held a little hesitation towards their newest product; Shakeology® – The Healthiest Meal of the Day®.

I mean, how can one measly shake be chalked full the proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutritents, prebiotics and digestive enzymes, one needs per day to be healthy? I don’t think I even knew what ½ of those terms really meant, let alone consumed them on a regular basis. Aren’t we suppose to get that from “real” food? Of course we are, but like many, it’s rare that I can stomach enough of the nutritional value in one day to achieve this (10 some cups of raw food), let alone find the time and expense to prepare it. But, I know it’s an essential part of eating and living healthy.

So as a Beachbody® Coach, I knew that this looming product dubbed to be the “healthiest meal of the day” was moments from being launched. What was all the buzz about?? We were about to find out at the 2^nd Annual Dream Extreme Beachbody® Coaches Summit (check out the gallery photos). They basically laid out the red carpet for the launch of this product, and rightly so. After experiencing it for my very first time, I could see the reason behind Carl Daikeler’s, CEO to Beachbody®, excitement. He, and many others, had worked DAMN hard on concocting the perfect ingredients to allow for this to be, truly, the healthiest meal of the day.

Carl has many things in common with us Coaches, the first obvious one being that we are all passionate about fitness and helping others get healthy, and, second, that most of us care not to eat our vegetables, let alone the amount required to get a fraction of what Shakeology® offers, for our daily nutritional value. After many long hours and trips to various countries to capture the finest ingredients, he was finally ready to allow his trusted front line, sample it before it was released to the rest of the Team Beachbody® community and general public.

It was phenomenal. There are two flavors to Shakeology: Greenberry and Chocolate. Both are packed with a punch that will instantly give you the gratification of a full meal and immediate spike in natural energy. Many of us turn to coffee to get our energy, buy by starting the day off with a blended shake, has given me enough energy to keep up with my two busy kids.

Ok, much hype and edification to Shakeology®, so here’s the scoop on it:

How does it work??

A daily shake helps your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently while allowing for better absorption of the essential nutrients you need. A proprietary blend of digestive enzymes and prebiotics helps your body progressively eliminate the toxins that build up over time from eating today’s highly processed foods.

At the same time, whole-food ingredients deliver the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to curb cravings, allowing your body to shed stored fat while the more than 20 different antioxidants and phytonutrients help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke.

What is in it?

More than 70 different ingredients chosen from around the world for their potency and bioavailability (the ability to deliver the nutrients your body needs). Here are the key nutrient groups that these ingredients deliver:*

• Protein and Essential Amino Acids to help build long, lean muscles and reduce food cravings
• Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes, which aid in improving digestion, regularity, and nutrient absorption
• Antioxidants and Phytonutrients to help counteract free radical damage that can lead to degenerative diseases
• Vitamins and Minerals your body needs to function for optimal health

TESTIMONIALS (Independent Study 90-day study, where participants replaced one meal a day with Shakeology®)*

Here’s what they said:

• “I felt full and didn’t struggle with hunger.”
• “I felt a better sustained energy throughout the day.”
• “I have tons of energy. I feel so healthy!”
• “I replaced all my vitamin supplements. I felt healthy and energized.”
• “I have more energy, less cravings, more endurance, and feel more youthful.”
• “I have tried a lot of protein shakes and meal-replacement-type drinks, and Shakeology is the best tasting of them all. I mix it with a bit of soy milk and ice, and it tastes like an ice cream shake!”

*Results may vary.

Source: Shakeology®

So, still always a skeptic, I did my homework and have been really pleased with the results I’ve experienced from replacing my breakfast with either the Greenberry or Chocolate flavor Shakeology®. My husband and I have them both, and as he’s more partial to Chocoloate, I love them both! Throw in a ½ a banana and scoop of peanut butter, and tastes more like a guilty pleasure! Check out all the recipes other customers and coaches have share: Shakeology® Recipes. I’ve personally recognized more energy, endurance for my marathon training, faster nail and hair growth, reduced cravings and more clarity in my days.

See for yourself what all the hype is about. Visit www.shakeology.com to read the testimonials and science behind this breakthrough meal replacement. Also, feel free to email me or check it out on my website: www.choose2befit.com.

Taryn Perry

taryn@choose2befit.com