Healthy Mac & Cheese Recipe

HEALTHY MAC & CHEESE RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 lb. dry whole wheat macaroni

1 tsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 medium red bell peppers, chopped

3 cups cubed butternut squash

1¾ cups low-sodium organic chicken broth

1 cup low-fat (1%) milk

2 Tbsp. low-fat (1%) plain Greek yogurt

1 cup shredded Gruyere (or Swiss) cheese

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Sea salt and ground black pepper (to taste; optional)

Nonstick cooking spray

Finely chopped fresh parsley (for garnish; optional)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.

2. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

3. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

4. Add onion and bell peppers; cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Set aside.

5. Combine squash, broth, and milk in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; gently boil for 22 to 25 minutes, or until squash is tender.

6. Place squash mixture in a blender or food processor; cover with lid and kitchen towel. Blend until smooth.

7. Combine squash mixture, macaroni, onion mixture, yogurt, and cheeses. Season with salt and pepper if desired; mix well.

8. Place macaroni mixture in a 13 x 9-inch ceramic or glass baking dish that has been coated with spray. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling.

9. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Tip: Blend small batches of hot liquids in blender or food processor since they expand during the blending process, therefore decreasing the chance of overflowing.

21 Day Fix Container Equivalents:

1/2 green

2 yellows

1 blue

A Mother's Treasure is Her Daughter.

We needed a little MOMMY/DAUGHTER time this week. Kennedy's behavior, hard work, attendance, and kindness at school deserved a special reward. And me? I just needed to fill my cup. Her smile and some alone time does it every time!!!! So we went to get our nails done at a local nail salon right behind our house!! We had such a nice time! We chatted, we laughed, and we picked out ALL of our favorite colors.

When I headed to the front to pay our bill, it suddenly hit me how doing simple treasures like this one were not possible just a few years ago. Up to our eyeballs in medical debt and scared ISH-less about our daughter's spinal condition, spending money frivolously like this was NOT in the budget. I would have felt guilty. I would have been trading out groceries or gas for the nail salon. Nail salons fell below the RED LINE.

The RED LINE?

Uh, it's this dreaded line that actually saved our financial future when there wasn't enough to go around. After completing Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (at home with borrowed CD-roms), we learned how to do a monthly budget. The only problem was, there wasn't enough coming in to pay what needed to go out. We paid our NECESSITIES first (groceries, gas, power, mortgage, diapers, formula) and then spread out what money we had left to every other debt (stupid retail credit cards with astronomically high rates, credit card bills we used to survive when I was between jobs and running around to medical appointments, and so on). Then, I drew the red line.

If there wasn't enough money to pay you, you fell below the RED LINE and I'm sorry, but you weren't getting paid. Did I feel awful about it? You bet! I felt sick about it! I lost sleep. I cried. I worried. (cue the depression and anxiety here)

But with the power of positivity (that I was thankfully born with), we pulled ourselves up by our boot straps. We stuck with the budget and little by little, we could send an extra $5 here and then when one bill was paid off, we snowballed that debt to the next debt and slowly (S-L-O-W-L-Y), the debtors below the red line began to disappear.

Fast forward several years and a lot of sacrifice has happened to make special moments like this nail salon to happen including: selling our house to pay a lower rent to free up cash flow, selling stuff (LOTS OF STUFF), getting really organized so I knew where my money always was, and some true HUSTLE! I'm so thankful to have married my passion (health, fitness, and PEOPLE) with something that I can earn an income at. It started as $30 a week and grew to $100 a week and even $500 per week at times. But it didn't just LAND in my lap. Oh no!

I worked, consistently. I worked when it was fun (people said yes, my challenge groups were full of excitement, women loved my recipes, they thanked me for my help, and so on) and I worked when it SUCKED (everyone said no, I felt like crap, I didn't have the motivation for myself let alone inspire others, and I felt like ISH about my body). But I worked. I kept going. I showed up. I showered my challengers with content and love and support.

I can't imagine my life without this gift now. It's definitely not always easy but I love it to the core and it's been a blessing to my family. Hard work pays off my friends! Don't give up. Don't give in!

***Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success. Success as a Team Beachbody Coach is dependent upon skill, hard work, and commitment.