My 5 Grocery Shopping Tips

Hey guys!
 I wanted to share with you a few of my tips to save on, not only the grocery bill, but to avoid too much junk being in the house! I steer clear of temptation by just not buying junk food, it's just that simple. I am far from perfect and I know that if it's around I will eat it until it's gone, so I just save myself and only treat myself when I want to. This process is what has helped me achieve and maintain balance, everyone is different and you need to find what will work for you! On to my TIPS!

  1. Shop the parameter! All of your fresh whole foods are around the parameter of the store; meat, dairy, produce, fish, etc. Typically anything boxed or canned is processed. That isn't to say that I don't purchase canned or packaged food; quinoa comes in a package! But, I try to stick to fresh foods. 2. Buy Produce at the Local Market! Not only can you support the local farmers but you get your food directly from the source and can often times speak to the people who plant the seeds and harvest the bounty themselves. I always ask if it's locally grown, there are a lot of vendors (at my market, anyways) who ship in from Florida and California. Be sure to get there early, the fresh stuff goes first!

3. Meal Plan! This one is HUGE for me! I lay out exactly what I'm going to make for dinner and have for lunch for the week. I usually eat around the same things for breakfast and snacks so those are just standard on my grocery list, but I pick 2 or 3 recipes with a few of the same key ingredients and plan out the week. Then I make my grocery list and hit the store.

4. Make a List! This goes right along with "don't shop when you're hungry"; making a list keeps me on track and typically I only end up with one or two extra things that I saw and want to try. My grocery store (Wegmans, which is the best!) also has an app. The app stores the foods I typically buy with my member card information and also has all of the aisle and department information. It sorts my list accordingly to help my shopping trip! If your local grocery has an app, I highly suggest using it!

  5. The Less Ingredients the Better! The more ingredients you can pronounce, the better! Try to avoid packaged food with a paragraph of ingredients you cannot say or have ever heard of! I hope this helps streamline your shopping experience! Please comment below if there is something you'd like me to touch on.

 XO, Nina

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{FITNESS FRIDAY} Leg Strength

Image source here

You may be thinking if I'm running I'm toning my legs.  Although that is the case it's also important to strengthen those muscles.  Some of the most common injuries that runners suffer from are caused by weak Glutes (that's your bum) and Quads (those are your thighs).   

This week we continue to focus on that 5K program and cross training to improve your running.  The above interval workout is a great start to strengthening those legs.  Some other options are to do weighted squats and deadlifts. 

The above video will help you if you've never done a proper squat before.   

Keep in mind, you don't have to do these weighted.  They are just as impactful if you do them with your body weight only or you can even hold a medicine ball to your chest.  

This guy is deadlifting a ton; you can easily do these with just a bar at your gym, hand weights at home, or even by bringing your hands in and grabbing a kettle bell or medicine ball.  Just be sure your back and leg form is good.  Use a mirror if you don't have a buddy! 

Give 2 miles a go this week.  Keeping with the 2 runs a week your first run should be 1-1.5 and the second 1.5-2.  

TGIF!! Enjoy your weekend!

{FITNESS FRIDAY} Goals and Stir-Fry

image source

Happy Friday Friends!! 

Today I'd like to talk about goals (again, I know).  Are you setting reasonable goals or lofty ones?

What's the difference? Let me explain... 

A lofty goal is... 

"I'm going to lose 10 lbs in 2 weeks for vacation"

A reasonable goal is... 

"I'm going to eat really clean for the next two weeks so that I can enjoy myself on vacation"

See the difference there?  Don't get me wrong, wanting to lose 10lbs (if needed) is definitely a great goal, just be careful of why you're setting the goal and the time frame in which you are giving yourself to achieve it.  If you don't make your goal do you think you'll set another? Probably not. 

I try to set 5 goals a week/every two weeks for my healthy lifestyle.  It's all about balance, right? So, I try to make 2 of those goals absolutely attainable.   When you set yourself up for failure it's difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.   

Alright you guys this isn't really a "recipe" it's just something I whip up from time to time when I'm feeling like a little Chinese food.  Typically I use chicken, but I've so had it with chicken lately that I used stew beef.   It actually worked out pretty well as the beef is super porous making it easy to flavor.  

Stir Fry Ingredients:

Stew Beef

Package of fresh "Stir Fry" veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, shitaki mushrooms, pea pods) 

Almond butter or peanut butter

Hoisin Sauce

Low Sodium Soy Sauce

Beef Broth (or chicken, if you're using that instead of le beef)

salt & pepper

paprika seasoning

garlic powder

I start with a package of stew beef.  My local grocery store (Wegmans! God love it) has this prepackaged for approximately $6-$8.    I pulled out the pieces and cut most of them in half or thirds to be sure they were small enough to cook in a small amount of time.  

In a mixing bowl toss the beef pieces with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder (as much as you desire)

brown all sides of the beef in a pan on the stove top.  I use sunflower oil for all my cooking.  The beef will also create it's own juices.  

While that's browning start your veggies in a separate frying pan in sunflower oil.  As they're getting brighter with color start adding in your Aisan sauce mixings. 

(I use almond butter in lieu of peanut butter) A tablespoon and a half of almond butter, add this right to the center of the pan. 

Now add a tablespoon of hoisin sauce and about two teaspoons of soy sauce.  Add a cup of beef broth and mix until everything is "melted down" and mixed thoroughly.  Your veggies will finish cooking/steaming in the sauce. 

Add in your browned beef and let it finish cooking.

Mashed Sweet Potato Ingredients:

1 sweet potato or yam

2 tbspn of clarified butter 

1/4 cup of coconut milk

I microwave the sweet potato for 8 - 10 minutes depending on size. 

Once done, cut down the center and scoop out the middle into a mixing bowl

add in your clarified butter and coconut milk and mix together.  

Season to taste

Paleo No Bake Cookies

No-bakes are the favorites out of a lot of my friends.  They are so easy and yummy - so, I thought this they were easy enough to turn into Paleo friendly snack. 

 These snacks are too good to be true!  

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Honey

1 1/2 tbsp Cocoa (I use 100% Cacao unsweetened) 

1/3 cup Coconut Oil

1/3 cup Almond Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

2 cups Dried Unsweetened Coconut

Directions:

Put honey, cocoa, and coconut oil in bowl or saucepan and bring to boil either on stove or in microwave

Immediately remove from the heat once it's boiling.

Stir in the almond butter and vanilla until it's fully incorporated

Stir in coconut

Scoop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet covered in parchment, wax paper, or tin foil

Refrigerate to set. 

Enjoy! 

I hear GFC is going away! Be sure you're following along on Bloglovin for your dose of Fashion Fitness and Irish Dance

Weekend Workout & Workout Wear

It usually starts in January.  The resolutions for bikini bodies.  But, if you aren't already working THE TIME IS NOW!  If you follow along you know that I usually post a workout on Saturdays.   But obtaining the ideal body health means treating your body like a temple from the inside out.  What I mean is, what you eat.   Losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is 75-80% diet before exercise.  You absolutely can max out your results by working out 4-6 times a week, however if you're eating pizza and beer every night for dinner you will likely maintain your current weight or gain more.  

What I like to do to kickstart my metabolism and healthy eating is a good ole cleanse.  I typically do a 30 day strict Paleo, but my sister Sara likes to do an Advocare cleanse.   Advocare is a supplement program that promotes health and wellness from the inside out.  Their cleanse is a 10 day cycle where you eat mostly vegetables and meat and supplement in your vitamins, caffeine {from their Spark product, no coffee! :( }, and meal replacement shakes.  If you feel you need more guidance to kick start your healthy lifestyle visit Advocare!

Now that I've blabbed on... on to the workout this week!
Let's start with a good cardio burn!

Warm up with:
1 min Jog in Place
1 min Jumping Jacks
2 min Straight Leg Kicks

3, 2, 1...GO!
1 min Push Ups {if you need to modify, that is OK!}
30 sec Plank Hold
1 min Burpee {to modify, step your feet out one at a time instead of jumping out at the bottom}
2 min Side Lunge, alternating
30 sec Side to Side Hops {be sure feet are together}
2 min Squats
1 min Hip Lifts*
1 min Opposite Arm to Leg Extension*
30 sec Cross Back Lunge*
30 sec Side to Side Hops
30 sec Push Ups
30 sec Alternating Lunges
1 min Reverse Crunches
30 sec Squat Jumps

...And repeat. 

Drink lots of water and be sure you cool down by walking around for a few minutes and stretching your muscles.

Shop this look:

*Means a new move, checkout the Workout How To page! 

Disclosure

 This post is not sponsored by Advocare and and all opinions expressed are my own.

Weekend Workout & Workout Wear

I really hope the weather is cooperating for all of you!  If so, get outside - take a hike! But, do this workout first.  A hike in the crisp spring air is the perfect "cool" down.

Warm up with 30 seconds of each:
High Knees
Jumping Jacks
Jump Rope (sub jumping jacks if you don't have a rope)
High Knees (yep, again!)

Circuit 1:
1 min Plank Hold
30 sec Plank Jack
1 min Push Ups
30 sec Mt Climbers
1 min sit up

Circuit 2:
1 min Alternating Front Lunges
30 sec Squat Jumps
1 min Pike Push Ups
30 sec V Sit Ups
1 min Alternating Side Lunges

Circuit 3:
1 min Wall Sit
30 sec bicycle
1 min Dips
30 sec Russian Twists
1 min Donkey Kicks**

Cool down by stretching each muscle group for 10-30 seconds each.  Drink LOTS of water and eat clean!

Shop this workout look:

**New Move - check out my workout how to page for instructions! 

Weekend Workout & Workout Wear

Saturday is the best for a great AM workout.  It's an amazing recharge and refuel for your weekend, especially if you have a stressful job or life like me!

I've changed up the routine a bit.  Keep an eye out while you're doing this workout, there are snippets of 30 second intervals worked into 1 minute intervals.  Gotta keep ya on your toes, right!?

Warm Up:
30 Seconds Each of: Jumping Jacks, straight leg kicks, forward arm circles.

Do each circuit 2 times.  You can repeat them immediately, or go through the whole workout twice.  

Circuit 1:
1 min Push Ups
30 seconds V-Sit Ups
1 min Squats
30 seconds Russian Twists
1 min Chair Dips (If you don't have a chair you can do these in "table" position)

Circuit 2:
1 min Burpees
30 seconds Bicycles
1 min Plank Jacks
30 seconds Plank Hold
1 min Froggers

Circuit 3:
1 min Inch Worm
30 seconds Mountain Climbers
1 min Clock Lunges
30 seconds Squat Jumps
1 min Plank with Leg Lift

Drink lots of water!!

Shop this look:

Weekend Workout & Workout Wear

Here is this weeks weekend HIIT workout with two (an expensive and a less expensive) gym outfit ideas.  Enjoy!

Warm up:
Jumping Jacks
Straight Leg Kicks

Each movement is done for 30 seconds.  Do each circuit two times. 

Circuit 1:
Push Up to Frogger
Pop Out Squat
Bicycle
Regular Sit Ups

Circuit 2:
Bear Crawl
Side Plank Hops
Walking Lunges
Mt. Climber

Circuit 3:
Ski Jumps
Push to Balance
Toe Touches
Dips

Cool down by stretching and drink plenty of water!! 
Need help!? Check out my Workout How To page! 

Shop these gym looks!

Paleo Eats: Zuc Pizzas

I'm always trying new things that fall under the paleo umbrella.  Last night I threw together these zucchini pizzas, they're very simple and quite yummy! 

Ingredients:

1 Zucchini

1 Cup of Tomato Sauce

1/2 cup of Crumbled Feta Cheese

2 strips of bacon

Crushed Red Pepper - optional

Greased my cookie sheet.

Cut the zucchini into round slices.

Aligned on cookie sheet and put a 1/2 tbsp of tomato sauce on each round.

Then I put a little feta cheese on each one.

I sprinkled the crushed red pepper over the rounds and then I cut the "raw" strips of bacon into little slices and placed 1-2 on each.

Baked for 15-20 mins on 350, or until the bacon is cooked to desired texture.

Yum!  I sautéed some shrimp to go along with it!

Enjoy! 

Weekend Workout & Workout Wear

This week I wanted to tie in a little fashion with the workout.  I've put together two workout friendly outfits for two types of woman.   Whether you're the yoga pant, yoga top wearing kind or the loose tee and sweats type, you can still look good while working it!  When you look good you feel good, so why not put a little effort in even if you're just going to sweat out yesterday's lunch!  Get it girls!


Workout:
Warm up with 30 seconds each of these, do this 2 times through.
Jumping Jacks, High Knees, Straight Leg kicks (these are out in front of you while standing)

Each movement in the circuits are to be completed in 30 second intervals.  Each Circuit is completed 2 times.  You can either repeat each one immediately or go through 1, 2, 3 and then repeat the whole workout.

Circuit 1:
Plank Walks
Plank Jacks
Push Away Balance
Pilates Swimming

Circuit 2:
Broad Jumps
Walking Lunges
Squat Jumps
Russian Twists

Circuit 3:
Squat Hold
Tuck Jumps
Side to Side Plank Walk
Leg Lifts

Cool down by stretching and keeping your body moving for another 2-5 minutes. 

Shop these workout looks...

Top / tank / Athleta / Athleta sweatshirts and hoody / NIKE capri / Cropped pants / NIKE lightweight running shoes / NIKE purple running shoes / NIKE mesh tote bag / NIKE luggage

**Each weekly workout I build myself, if you have any questions regarding how a movement should be completed email me at ninapiccini @ gmail.com**

Drink lots of water and enjoy!

Paleo Stuffed Peppers

I am always trying to find ways to make my favorite meals growing up "paleo".  Here is how I turned the classic stuffed pepper with beef and rice into a paleo friendly meal.   I typically also make another vegetable side, a tossed salad or cauliflower rice would go well!  (Recipe for cauliflower rice coming soon!)

My Recipe will make 4 stuffed peppers halves... 

Ingredients:

2 Large Green Bell Peppers 

1 clove of garlic diced

5-10 Grape tomatoes halved

1/2 lb of ground turkey 

1/4 cup of spinach (I used packaged frozen spinach)

1/4 cup of Feta Cheese

1/4 cup of Good Seasons Italian dressing with Sunflower Oil.

1/4 cup of Almond Meal/Flower 

Tomato Sauce - use as much as desired.  I only covered mine lightly.

Slice your green peppers in half and then "gut" them.   I try to get all the seeds out (you can see I left some lonely seeds in there, whoops!)  Try to make them as "cup like" as possible.  In a typical stuffed pepper recipe you would only cut the top off, however, they are too large.  So, to keep an eye on portion size I cut the pepper in half.  

Mix together the turkey, feta cheese, tomatoes, spinach, almond meal, Italian dressing, and garlic.  Now fill your pepper cups with the meat mixture. 

Cover with tomato sauce and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes depending on your oven and the size of the peppers

Voila! A yummy and flavorful healthy dinner that's quick and easy! 

Enjoy!

Almond Banana Muffins

On the Paleo Diet it's sometimes hard to find an indulgent snack or meal to eat.  Sure, I can top anything I'd like with bacon, red hot, or dark organic chocolate...  But, nothing everything tastes like a dessert.
I found this banana bread recipe that used almond flour and tried it.  I made a few substitutions so I'll list my version of the recipe here.   It came out wonderfully!  Then, I tried to make them muffins... dare I say they came out even better?

INGREDIENTS:

1 serving of cooking spray (used olive oil, vegetable oil is not paleo)

2 cups Almond Flour (Found mine in the organic section at the grocery store)

1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup honey

2 ripe bananas (used bananas I had previously frozen, they were nice and black)

1 Cup of Ghirardelli Organic 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Spray loaf pan or muffin cups with cooking spray

2. Mix together almond flour, ground cinnamon and baking soda in a bowl. 

3. Beat two eggs in a bowl.  Mix in water, vanilla extract, honey, and mashed bananas.

4. Add Banana mixture to your dry ingredients.  Be sure there are no dry areas visible.

5. Pour into loaf pan or muffin tin.  

6. Drop chocolate chips into top of batter (they will sink to the bottom otherwise) 

**If using muffin tin, be sure to fill to just about full they do not rise like typical batter.

Loaf Bake time: 45 minutes

Muffin bake time: 25-30 minutes

Let cool, and enjoy!!