Recipes from the Health Fair

by Laura on March 10, 2010

This year’s Health Fair at South Jordan Rec Center was a blast! It was fun to get to know the patrons better, answer their questions on healthy living AND have them try my favorite healthy recipes!

I had to share these recipes with my readers as well.  These are great meals to make for the family.  Along with the meal recipes, I have also included a fabulous brownie recipe from me to you!

Turkey Enchiladas


3 lbs. lean ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 can of olives, sliced into thirds
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 24-26 oz. can of green chile enchilada sauce
5 whole wheat tortillas, cut into 2″ squares
1/2 c. grated cheese

Place ground turkey in a frying pan on medium heat.  Cook until it begins to crumble.  Add onion, garlic, olives, cumin and chili powder.  Stir together and continue to cook over medium heat until meat is browned.  Place the meat in the crock pot and stir in the enchilada sauce.  Place the tortilla squares on the top in an even layer.  Cook on low 2-3 hours.  Sprinkle cheese on top about 5 minutes before serving.  Allow cheese to melt, and enjoy!  This can also be made in a casserole pan.  Cut the tortillas in half instead of 2″ squares and layer tortillas, meat/sauce, tortillas, meat/sauce, tortillas and top with remaining sauce and cheese.  Bake on 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheeses is melted, and edges are bubbly.  You can serve these with a little bit of low fat sour cream to add a bit of a creamy texture if you like.

White Chicken Chili


1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 c. low-sodium chicken broth
2 cans of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans navy beans, rinsed and drained
3 c. cooked chicken breast, cubed or shredded
1 can of chopped green chilies
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp chipolte chili powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
4 green onions, chopped
1/4 c. grated cheese

Place all ingredients in a crock pot.  Stir.  Cook on low for 3-4 hours.  Sprinkle green onions and cheese on top just before serving.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownies


Confession of a brownie-holic:  I seriously can only make this recipe twice a year, and I have to make sure that there are going to be people at my house to eat them….or else I would.  They are not super sweet, which is my favorite part I think.   Or maybe it’s the chunks of cherries, or it could be the dark chocolate chips….Oh, just try them and see what your favorite part is!

3/4 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. organic cane sugar
3/4 c. dark cocoa
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. sea salt
1/3 c. all fruit cherry preserves
1/3 c. water
3 Tbs. butter
1 tsp. almond or cherry extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 large egg white
1/3 c. dark chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8 x 8 x 2 baking pan with baking spray.  Mix all dry ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl.  Place preserves, water and butter in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil.  Remove from heat, stir in extract and let cool slightly.  Pour into dry mixture and stir together gently.  Add egg and egg white.  Stir.  Add the chocolate chips.  Stir.  Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean.  You can choose to sprinkle these with a little bit of powdered sugar if you’d like, but I promise that they are yummy just the way they are!  :)

My recipes got a thumbs up from these two cuties at the fair!

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Nutrition Lesson #7-Water

by Laura on March 8, 2010

What is Nutrition?

It is the science that links foods to health and disease. It includes the ingestion, digestion, absorption, transportation and excretion of that food.

First there is food, and then there are nutrients. Food provides energy through calories. Nutrients are the substances obtained from the food we eat that are vital for growth and maintenance of a healthy body. There are 6 sources of these nutrients. They are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.

I am going to go over each of these on a different day on my website.  I will always link to the back posts so those of you that are new can catch up.

Six weeks ago we talked about Carbohydrates. You can read that post here.

Five weeks ago we talked about Lipids. You can read that post here.

Four weeks ago we talked about Proteins. You can read that post here.

Three weeks ago we talked about Vitamins Part 1. You can read that post here.

Two weeks ago we talked about  Vitamins Part 2. You can read that post here.

Last week we talked about Minerals. You can read that post here.

Today we are going over Water, so let’s jump in!

  • Dissolves many body compounds
  • Enables many chemical reactions to occur
  • Forms the greatest component of our bodies (50-60% of body weight)
  • Helps remove waste products
  • Helps with body temperature regulation
  • Helps form lubricant found in the knees and other joints

Women need ELEVEN cups of water per day and men need FIFTEEN! However, remember that the food you eat, especially if you are eating fruits and veggies, contains water. That being said, if a woman were to drink 9 cups per day, and a man were to drink 13, it would be fine. When exercising, we sweat to help keep us cool. In order for us to stay hydrated, we need to replace the fluid we are losing. For each 15 mins of exercise, you need to drink 8 oz. of water.

But what happens when you don’t get enough water? When your body’s water drops by 1-2%, it starts to conserve water, blood pressure falls and you feel tired. When it drops another 2% (for a total of 4%) your muscles lose their strength. At a 10-12% loss, you have decreased heat tolerance. When you lose 20%, coma and death are a result.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you are drinking too much water, you will experience blurred vision and ill health. Not to mention frequent trips to the bathroom!

Next week is our LAST Nutrition lesson where I will be going over nutrition labels and nutrition facts!

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On Fox News

March 2, 2010

The press caught wind of my story and asked me to be on their morning news yesterday!
I was on FOX 13’s morning news sharing my story of losing 167 lbs and becoming a certified personal trainer:

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Fox News Segment Visitors!

March 1, 2010

Hello to everyone visiting my site from my Fox News Segment! Glad to have you here.  I wanted to show you around my website and point out all of the features and information it contains.
You can read my complete story about my journey through losing 167 lbs and becoming a personal trainer by clicking on the About [...]

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3 Quick Fixes for Energy Boosts

February 26, 2010

Having a healthy diet, taking care of yourself physically and getting the right amount of sleep will supply you with all the energy you need. Although, sometimes you might have to deal with a kid who is having a hard night or spend long hours at work, so here are some good temporary tips for energy to get your through your [...]

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Q & A on Mineral Supplements

February 23, 2010

A website follower recently asked a question that I get asked quite a bit, so I thought I would share my response for all of you to see!
Question:
I wonder what you think about mineral supplementation. Do you think it’s necessary? Is it worth the money? Have you heard of Organa mineral drink (google it). I [...]

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Nutrition Lesson #6–Minerals

February 18, 2010

What is Nutrition?
It is the science that links foods to health and disease. It includes the ingestion, digestion, absorption, transportation and excretion of that food.
First there is food, and then there are nutrients. Food provides energy through calories. Nutrients are the substances obtained from the food we eat that are vital for growth and maintenance [...]

Read the full article →

Dinner Ideas: Two of My Favorite Salad Recipes

February 18, 2010

There is no reason for your family to groan when they hear the word “salad.”  Spice up your salads.  By serving salads for dinner, you will feel full and know that you provided your body with essential fruits and vegetables.
Italian Salad
Ingredients:
Chicken Sausages, grilled and sliced (1 per person)
Roma Tomatoes, seeded and chopped (1 per person)
Artichoke Hearts, [...]

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Smart Eating Habits for Your Family

February 11, 2010

Whether you have a toddler or a teen, here are four important things to do to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits:

Have regular family meals.
Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks.
Be a role model by eating healthy yourself.
Involve kids in the process.

An important reason why kids should be involved: It can help prepare [...]

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Fun Features and Upcoming Events

February 8, 2010

Last week I had a fun time being featured on two of Utah’s biggest blogs where my company, Transformation Training with Laura Butters, was highlighted.

The first feature was with Sassy Scoops, which is a Utah review site that helps “spread the buzz” about local Utah companies. I did a fun Nutrition/Healthy Living/Exercise class for them, and [...]

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