Happy Healthy Meals with Risa Auger

OHHHHHH it’s sooooo summery in my kitchen (slash in my life) still! You too? Or is that just So. Cal? OH my.

This week I’m counting the days to see my dad in person (it’s been since January), I feel like my body is craving a little comfort in anticipation. So, a little bit of warm goodness is about to happen.

Monday will be a crockpot night, I’m  adding a little prosciutto to a chowder. Might serve it cold though. Depends on how the day goes. I love that this version is a little lighter - it uses half and half instead of heavy cream.

Tuesday - pizza night, gluten free style with some meatballs on the side. Top how you want to. Consider buying frozen meatballs to speed up dinner.

We could live on Mexican food in my house. And, sometimes I crave chips so that means I have to choose between them and taco shells. This week, I’m choosing chips with enchiladas as squash instead of tortillas.

Sometimes you gotta give into cravings - pasta has been calling - surround it in some fresh goodness to offset the heavy feeling it can bring on.

I heart artichokes sooooo much. And, I love this idea of EBTB seasoning on chicken. Such a great alternate than how I usually use it, on toast or celery.

SUGGESTED MEALS.

Zucchini corn chowder / grilled prosciutto

Eggplant pizza / turkey meatballs

Lime cucumber salad / chicken + squash enchiladas

Spinach salad / lemon + fresh pea pasta + salmon

Artichoke salad / everything bagel chicken

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

Recipes for these meals at:

pinterest.com/risaauger

FREE facebook group:

Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

Get healthy(er) with me:

risaauger.com/shop.html

Thanks a million for being part of my circle of healthy eaters! I love knowing I’m helping you all find and love things for you and your fam that are not only healthy leaning, they are super delicious too.

This week, I'm trying to keep in mind that it’s AUGUST! How did that happen???? Check out th graphic below for an overview of what’s in season here in the states. Try incorporating these things into your meals.

I have to say I am excited that squash is back — and so is Swiss chard!

SUGGESTED MEALS. 

Green salad / shrimp (zoodle) pasta

Butternut squash salad / Pickle grilled chicken

Eggplant Shakushula / garlic naan

Hot honey chicken bowl (sub cauliflower rice)

Swiss chard slaw / salmon burger

Recipes for these meals at:

https://pin.it/2rb8SfT

FREE facebook group:

Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

Get healthy(er) with me:

risaauger.com/shop.html

There are about two weeks out of the year when I totally wish we had A/C. We are smack dab in the middle of those two weeks! So. You know I’m doing low-prep, stove top and the grill only for meals right now. On this new HHM Pod, I chatted all about this summer-tactic meal plan:

Fennel apple slaw / healthy hot dogs

Grilled corn salad / spicy shrimp skewers

Watermelon salad / balsamic chicken

Italian stuffed bell peppers / baked potatoes

Green salad / grilled thin crust pepperoni pizza

(Recipes at https://www.pinterest.com/risauger/meals-0726-073021/)

Connect with me:

FREE facebook group: Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

Get healthy(er) with me: risaauger.com/shop.html

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

If you know me, you know I eat at least one meal in a bowl. My morning smoothie- bowl. My lunch salad - bowl. Side of soup or saucy beans for dinner - bowl!

On this podcast episode, I share some thoughts on the following meal plan, eating out of bowls, and you know... just random stuff. I hope it gives you insight into creating balanced, yummy meals according to your preferences and needs.

Moroccan chickpea bowl

One pot enchiladas / add kale!

Green salad / steak skewers / baked beans

Firecracker chicken bowl / sub w cauliflower rice

Stuffed mushrooms / broccoli / pork tenderloin

Connect with me:

FREE facebook group: Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

Get healthy(er) with me: risaauger.com/shop.html

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

I make a plan. I buy for the plan. But. It doesn’t always go to the plan. And that’s totally ok! Life happens. Thank GOD for refrigerators and freezers!

On the podcast this week, I share the plan I want to follow. I hope it gives you insight to creating balanced, yummy meals according to your preferences and needs. Funny how keeping things simple still involves a bit of planning… but, it’s totally worth it!

Meal plan of the week: 

Moroccan chickpea bowl

One pot enchiladas / add kale!

Green salad / steak skewers / baked beans

Firecracker chicken bowl / sub w cauliflower rice

Stuffed mushrooms / broccoli / pork tenderloin

Check out the recipes for the week on this Pinterest board: https://pin.it/7s8Slu8

Connect with me:

FREE facebook group: Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

Get healthy(er) with me: risaauger.com/shop.html

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

Sneaking in veggies can be a fun challenge - making sure the fam does NOT know they are there! I talk about this a lot, because veggies are packed with nutrients, but not always the go-to in this house.

Like a lot of moms, I find myself saying no to seconds during meal time until the veggies on the plate are eaten. Also like a lot of moms, I am all for adding a bit of butter, cheese, or ranch dressing to veggies in an effort to get kids to eat them.

On this episode of the HHM Pod, I chat about even more options.

Join me live on Mondays on FB around 5pm Pacific to be part of the conversation AND check out past episodes on the go wherever you download pods.

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Connect with me:

FREE facebook group: Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

Get healthy(er) with me: risaauger.com/shop.html

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

I share a few reasons to lighten the amount of gluten in your meal plan. From experience, I know that a little less does a tummy good. Most of us are not technically celiacs and don’t need to ditch it completely, but here in the US, our wheat is not what it used to be even just 20.30, 50 years ago and our bodies are not happy about it.

Gluten is a sneaky ingredient and can be in items you wouldn’t expect it to be. In practice, I love subbing traditional ingredients with veggies that are naturally gluten-free. Baked eggplant for lasagna noodles, cauliflower for pizza crust, corn—not flour—tortillas, mushroom caps for buns, coconut wraps for tortillas, cabbage or zucchini for noodles, the list is long and you can keep trying until you find what you like.

Connect with me:

FREE facebook group: Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

June holds some yummy options (… I know, I say that EVERY month!) to make a variety of meals with. In California, we are blessed to be able to get many veggies and fruits year round, having this list handy allows me to focus on what’s in season.

I love all the things on this list and am especially excited about the chard and rhubarb. Both offer easy, flexible options for BIG green leaves that work really well for wraps. I sometimes find that when I use lettuces that are more crisp, they fall apart easier and I end up doing more laundry than necessary! LOL.

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FREE facebook group: Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

#eathealthy #whatsfordinner #healthyandyummy #healthyfamily

Sometimes you bake, sometimes you roast, but do you know the difference? LOL. Yeah. Me really either. I mean I watch all the cooking shows and read all the books, but sometimes all the cooking methods and their slight differences just confuse me.

Of course- I had to look into it and learn more! 

So, on the podcast this week, I chatted about these methods and the main benefits. Each method effects fruits, veggies, and animal proteins a little differently. Make sure you do a little research before picking the one that works best for you, your schedule and your goals. As you are reading through a recipe, you’ll also want to consider clean up level, if you want to heat up your kitchen, and the time it takes to cook by each method.

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THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!

With mixed feelings, over this weekend with some amazing friends, I treated myself to a brunch to commemorate my milestone birthday.

I say mixed because WOW I’m feeling the number, but in a way, I’m also so proud of how much love there is in my house, how close I am to my friends, and the deepening relationships with you all!

Here’s the thing. Brunch CAN totally be a healthy gathering - and normally it IS for me. All that laughing is good for the soul. I order mindfully and then share to keep portions under control.This weekend was not that!

On this episode of HHM, I chatted about how to make your treats just a little bit healthy. I also mention that there these tactics are not needed all the time. Practicing 80/20 is a good thing daily. When you do want to lighten things up, here are some things you can do to swap and focus on sources of nature’s sweetness instead of commercially made ones.

. Use nature’s sweet things like fruit and dates to sweeten

. Swap your flours away from traditional baking flour - almond, coconut, chickpea, oat.. etc.

. Try hiding veggies or fruit in something - think carrot and zucchini muffins!

. Try making the traditional recipe, simply cutting the sugar in half

. Cut your portions in half… in thirds…

. Skip items that are processed and come packaged from factories

I am happy to help you out on any specific item you’re wondering about. Email or message me!

Connect with me:

FREE facebook group: Facebook.com/groups/happyhealthymeals

Get healthy(er) with me: risaauger.com/shop.html

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening!