Category Archives: Paleo

Seven Easy Zucchini Recipes to Put On Repeat All Summer

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Does my life need yet another zucchini recipe? YES! Yes, in fact, it does! Even though this squash cultivates joke after joke in the summer about its seemingly inexhaustible, high-volume production (lock the door and turn off the porch lights), I personally can’t get enough of this good-for-me and versatile staple of the season.

Fun & Interesting Facts About Zucchini:

  • What’s to love about zucchini? Here are some reasons to add more zucchini to your life (along with a few fun facts).
  • A medium zucchini (about 200g) has just 33 calories, 6g carbs (2 of which are dietary fiber), 0g fat and 2g protein which make it a good choice for low-carb, keto and diabetic diets.
  • Zucchini is a culinary chameleon. It’s mild flavor allows it to take on the flavor profile of the dish it’s cook in.
  • Zucchini is actually a fruit, botanically speaking. That is harvested while immature from the flowering part of a zucchini plant.
  • In addition to being a great source of dietary fiber, zucchini is also rich in potassium and vitamin C.
  • The world’s largest zucchini was 69.5” long and weight 65 pounds!
  • But bigger isn’t better when it comes to zucchini squash. Zucchini experts say the best-tasting ones are small- to medium-sized. And, the darker the skin, the richer the zucchini is in nutrients.
Gluten Free Salmon Zucchini Quinoa Burgers

Grilled Salmon Zucchini Quinoa Burgers are totally off the hook with fresh flavor and will make a splash at your next backyard cookout, pool party or seaside soiree. Plus, they are a sneaky way to add a little veggie to the meal, thanks to grated zucchini – and we all know zucchini is prolific this time of year.  GET RECIPE

tuna avocado zucchini boats

Mushroom Pizza-stuffed Zucchini Boats are an easy, cheesy, vegetarian meal with a lower-carb profile. Plenty of protein to make this a balanced meal thanks to a satisfying cottage cheese filling. Feel free to customize the toppings if you don’t love mushrooms. GET RECIPE

Chipotle-Lime Code with Summer Veggie Saute is a delicious fish dinner you can make up in a single skillet, no sweat! Fresh and flavorful with a southwestern-inspired medley of veggies that includes corn and zucchini. Also a fast fix  – in only 10 minutes you’ll be feasting.  GET RECIPE:

Zoodles Marinara with Stuffed Mushrooms for meal prep

Zoodles Marinara with Three-Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms is an easy zucchini noodle for your low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian dinners and meal preps. So simple with steamed, spiralized zoodles and the bottled marinara of your choice (I like a no-sugar added sauce) – and the cheesy stuffed mushrooms on top make this zucchini pasta next level. GET RECIPE

12 Minute Zoodle Noodle Toss

12-Minute Zoodle AND Noodle Toss is for those who want both their veggies and their pasta! It’s a great compromise and the secret ingredient is salty preserved lemons which make this dish so vibrant and tasty. A perfect pairing for the chicken, seafood or meat paring of your choice! GET RECIPE

Green Glow Zucchini Salad with Lemon Gremolata Dressing is a yummy summer dish that is Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-free and super easy to make.

Green Glow Chilled Zucchini Salad with Lemon Gremolata Dressing is more than just another “zoodle” recipe, this salad made of spiralized zucchini also boast loads of other green goodness – like edamame beans, avocados, pistachios, and more. Plus, the lemon gremolata dressing adds lot of citrusy zing! GET RECIPE

Making Pork Verde Zucchini Enchiladas with Hatch Green Chile Pulled Pork

Pork Verde Zucchini Enchiladas are missing just one thing – tortillas! But who needs tortillas anyway, when ribbon-cut strips of zucchini can substitute quite nicely! Creamy and cheesy, this low-carb enchiladas and filled with delicious morsels of shredded pork and mildly spicy green chiles. GET RECIPE

Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries

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Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries! Pre-race carb loading (or every day munching) at it’s finest – all the good stuff, so easy! Based on a single-serve recipe on page 215 my Cooking for One for Dummies cookbook that can be ordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your other fine book retailer online or in person.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!

Baked or air-fryer sweet potato fries are one of my go-to side dishes the night before a big workout or race. Those healthy carbs from the sweet potato and honey give me energy and the prep method doesn’t make me feel heavy and gross with added oils I don’t need.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!
Ridiculously simple ingredients: sweet potato, olive oil, honey, salt, and granola!

I was inspired to add honey and coarse sea salt to my fries after eating a similar dish at a steak house years ago before a 50 miles race!!! So yummy, and I know helped me make it through many of those miles in the first half.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!
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Adding granola was just an “ah-ha” moment, when I was curious about adding a little extra texture and crunch. A box of salty-sweet granola made with oats, ancient grains, pecans and cinnamon was sitting out, so I sprinkled some on and it was like magic. You can use any granola you want, I just happed to have THIS ONE on hand.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!

BTW, I used a Crinkle Cut Potato Tool, but you can also just use a knife!

Sometimes I’m the only one in the family who wants a sweet potato for one, so I came up with this single-serve sweet potato fry recipe.  With 368 Calories, 11g fat, 64g carb, 8g fiber, 5g protein, it’s pretty generous sized and can be split with a friend if not as hungry as I usually am!!

Looking for more impressive yet easy sweet potato recipes? Try my Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions! Delicious!

Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
5 from 1 vote
Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!
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Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries for Air Fryer (or Oven)
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
17 mins
 

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) tomake the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Keyword: granola, honey, sweet potato
Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 10 ounce sweet potato approx
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon Himalayan Sea salt
  • 2 tablespoon salty-sweet granola of choice
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F or Air fryer to 360F.

  2. Wash, dry and cut sweet potato into 1/3” thick fry-sized pieces. Place wedges in pile on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil; toss to coat. Spread out in even layer on pan or transfer to Air fryer basket.

  3. Bake for 25 min in oven or 12 min in air fryer, flipping half way. Will be done when turning crispy brown around edges and soft in center.

  4. Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!

Recipe Notes

Nine Easy Breakfasts & Sweet Treats Made with Protein Powder

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Today’s post is short (on time) and sweet (to your taste buds)! Lot’s of quick-to-make breakfast, dessert and sweet snack ideas made with my most favorite EVER, protein powder – Clean Lean Protein from Nuzest.

Think outside the shaker bottle when it comes to protein powder. Not just for smoothies, it's also very versatile as a baking ingredient – waffles, pancakes, cupcakes, cookies post-workout snacks and more. Here are some of my favorite protein powder recipes from thefitfork.com

I’m I big stickler on getting enough protein throughout the day. For my activity level and healthy aging, I personally aim for 1 gram protein per pound bodyweight – that’s about 120g protein per day for me. An easy way to help me meet the goal is using a quality protein powder, and Clean Lean Protein from Nuzest has been a favorite I’ve used for years. And, YES, I do have a 15% discount code to share: FITFORK

Clean Lean Protein from Nuzest is plant-based and suitable for vegan, vegetarian, Paleo and many other dietary eating patterns. I eat all the foods, including meat, but I find that a plant-based protein powder is easier on my digestive system than other powders. Nuzest protein powder is the best of the best in terms of quality, macros, taste and texture (IMO) – and it comes in many flavors to suit your preference – or even unflavored.

It’s easy to use protein powder in smoothies or a shaker bottle with almond milk. But baking with protein powder is also very easy and smart – in fact, I use it in almost all my protein powder dessert and breakfast creations like protein waffles and pancakes; protein cakes, cupcakes and muffins; post-workout protein bites, bars and snacks; and more. Here are some of my favorite easy protein powder recipes from thefitfork.com

Think outside the shaker bottle when it comes to protein powder. Not just for smoothies, it's also very versatile as a baking ingredient – waffles, pancakes, cupcakes, cookies post-workout snacks and more. Here are some of my favorite protein powder recipes from thefitfork.com
Links in order Left to Right, Top to Bottom

Sugar-free Strawberry Protein Cupcakes / Cakelettes

Giant Peanut Butter Protein Cookie for One

No-bake Protein Brownies with Real Strawberry “Sprinkles”

Protein Cottage Cheese Waffles Gluten-Free  

Giant Strawberries & Cream Protein Cookie for One

No-bake Coffee Protein Brownie Bites

Low-carb Cinnamon Protein Waffles Gluten-Free

Strawberry Protein Puppy Chow (Human Snack)

Apple-Pecan Whole Grain Breakfast Bake with Protein Powder

10-Minute Pomegranate Korean BBQ Beef

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This post is sponsored by Kevin’s Natural Foods as part of a blogger recipe challenge.

Hmmm, how to save dinner on the craziest of pre-holiday prep days?! I had so much shopping, wrapping, decorating, and last-minute elf-ing around that “what’s for dinner” was the last thing on my mind. Plus, I was just plain tuckered out.

But the quick and easy meal pouches from Kevin’s Natural Foods were the fit foundation for some last-minute refueling and feasting! I used the Korean Beef BBQ to make a holiday-inspired meal — 10-Minute Pomegranate Korean Beef BBQ. 

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This 10-Minute Pomegranate Korean Beef BBQ recipe is made with a Kevin’s Natural Foods meal pouch that includes sous vide cooked beef and Bulgogi-style sauce. I put my own spin on the already delicious meal by adding a little pomegranate juice and ginger to the sauce and adding pomegranate arils, spinach, and pistachios. SO DARN EASY and it makes an easy-peasy, beautiful, flavorful and festive holiday meal (which also makes dinner any day of the year). I served this pomegranate bulgogi inspiration on rice (use a frozen rice pouch to keep it quick – I actually batch cook my rice and grains and freeze in the portions I need to save time and $$).  But, if you’re not into rice, this festive bulgogi recipe is also yummy on cauliflower rice, smashed sweet potatoes, or with veggie noodles of your choice.

Beef is 100-percent pasture-raised, grass-fed, and grass-finished and cook in sous-vide method, so it stays super tender and juicy.

Real talk: I have been eating and enjoying the chicken meals from Kevin’s for a while but have shied away from trying a beef meal kit. Why? Because I’m definitely a beef snob and was worried that the beef steak tips would be stringy and chewy, as the beef cuts in these types of convenience meals usually are.  But, color me IMPRESSED! The beef steak tips remain super tender thanks to the sous-vide cooking method that is used to prep them. Just a couple minutes in the skillet to warm up and they are still juicy and tender. The beef that Kevin’s natural foods recipes source 100-percent pasture-raised, grass-fed, and grass-finished.

In the past, I’ve picked up my meals from Kevin’s Natural Foods at my local grocery store. But now the meals can be ordered in bundled assortments from the comfort and convenience of your home online. And, actually you can order from whatever vacay adventure you may be crushing so that they are delivered straight to your door, frozen in a cooler, when you roll back from the airport or road trip. No worrying about getting to the grocery store STAT or caving into fast take-out food because you’re starving.

For convenience, use prepped pomegranate arils from a tub!

Today’s recipe used the Korean BBQ-style Beef meal pouch, but there are SO MANY varieties like and Creamy Coconut Chicken and Cilantro Lime Chicken. It’s never boring and ALWAYS easy and delicious. Plus, all meal pouches from Kevin’s are nutritionally built to be compliant with keto, paleo and gluten free diets too!

Check out the Creamy Chicken Coconut Soup (like Tom Kha Gai) recipe I came up with using their Thai-style Coconut Chicken meal kit.

Enjoy a rich, creamy, amazingly flavorful Thai-inspired Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup in just 10 minutes thanks to entree kits from Kevin's Natural Foods! Paleo, So satisfying . . plus Keto, and gluten-free!
Creamy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Find additional details about Kevin’s Natural Foods their backstory, and their amazing clean-eating focused products (entrees, sides, sauces, stir-frys and more!)  which can find a place in your diet – whether Keto, Paleo, Gluten-free . . or Mediterranean, like me!  Order online or find in a store near you.

Also check them out on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!  AND – give my 10 minute recipe for Pomegranate Korean Barbeque a try, it’s so delicious and festive!

Succulent beef tips with spinach in a slightly sweet, slightly spicy sauce inspired by Korean bulgogi. The 10 minute dish is bejeweled with pomegranate arils and pistachios! It's festive, flavorful and a fit for your clean eating meal.
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10-Miute Pomegranate Korean BBQ Beef
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Succulent beef tips with spinach in a slightly sweet, slightly spicy sauce that is bejeweled with pomegranate arils and pistachios! It's festive, flavorful and a fit for your clean eating meal.

Servings: 3 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 pouch Korean Beef BBQ from Kevin’s Natural Foods
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced or grated ginger
  • 2 tablespoons 100% pomegranate juice *hack: if using a ready-to-eat tub of arils, just drain off the juice for this use.
  • 3 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate arils
  • 3 scallions both white bulbs and greens finely sliced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped pistachios
  • 3 cups pre-cooked rice white, brown, cauliflower rice, etc
Instructions
  1. Open sous-vide pouch of beef and drain of broth from beef tips.
  2. In medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium high; add beef tips and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and add ginger, pomegranate juice, and SAUCE POUCH from meal kit, and simmer uncovered for 2 minutes, until slightly reduced.
  4. Stir in baby spinach and pomegranate arils and stir around for 30 to 60 seconds until spinach is par-wilted.
  5. Remove from heat and sprinkle with pistachios. Serve with rice or other desired side.
  6. Serves 3.

10-Miute Thai-Style Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup

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This post is sponsored by Kevin’s Natural Foods as part of a blogger recipe challenge.

Winter weather in Texas always keeps me guessing! Today I’m in shorts, but I’m still have a hankering for soup – and whipped up an amazing 10-Miute Thai-Style Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup starting with an entrée kit from Kevin’s Natural Foods.

Enjoy a rich, creamy, amazingly flavorful Thai-inspired Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup in just 10 minutes thanks to entree kits from Kevin's Natural Foods! Paleo, So satisfying . . plus Keto, and gluten-free!

Did I mention this soup only takes 10 minutes to make start to finish? Yup, it’s so perfect for crazy busy days (like today where I was squeezing in a run, workout, holiday shopping and working on a book deadline)! Kevin’s Natural Foods also comes to the rescue on those days when I have warm fuzzy feelings about cooking something awesome from scratch, but in the end — just can’t pull my life together!

I think of these keto, paleo and gluten-free friendly products from Kevin’s Natural Foods as “meal starters” for lack of a better term. The packets come refrigerated (you can store in freezer) and include a pre-cooked protein and delicious sauce. The proteins are cooked sou-vide style and simply need heating up in a skillet or microwave (or in my soup recipe, just chopping up cold and tossing in the pot).  They you can choose exactly how to serve it – on rice, on a sweet potato, in a wrap, or in a recipe creation – like my soup!

Check out this 30-sec video to see how easy & tasty life is with Kevin’s Natural Foods!

So, back to the soup! 10-Miute Thai-Style Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup is made with a pouch of Thai-style Coconut Chicken. It reminds me of Tom Kha Gai soup – so delicious. As you can see from the quick video, the steps are easy-peasy.

Enjoy a rich, creamy, amazingly flavorful Thai-inspired Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup in just 10 minutes thanks to entree kits from Kevin's Natural Foods! Paleo, So satisfying . . plus Keto, and gluten-free!

Just sauté mushrooms and cauliflower rice with garlic in soup pot (add other veggies if you like), chop up sous-vid chicken packet, toss chicken, broth, coconut milk and lime juice in pot, warm up, and garnish with scallions and cilantro!!!

Enjoy a rich, creamy, amazingly flavorful Thai-inspired Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup in just 10 minutes thanks to entree kits from Kevin's Natural Foods! Paleo, So satisfying . . plus Keto, and gluten-free!

These meals can be ordered online and shipped straight to your door and I’ve seen in many flavors in my local market too. I love the Korean Beef Barbeque and Cilantro Lime Chicken too – but there are so many varieties to suit any mood or taste preference.  Everything from Kevin’s can work with keto, paleo and gluten free diets too!

Learn more about Kevin’s Natural Foods, get Kevin’s Natural Foods recipes, and their amazing clean-eating focused products (entrees, sides, sauces, stir-frys and more!)  which can find a place in your diet – whether Keto, Paleo, Gluten-free . . or Mediterranean, like me!  Order online or find in a store near you.

Also check them out on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!  AND – make the 10 minute Thai soup, you won’t regret it!

Enjoy a rich, creamy, amazingly flavorful Thai-inspired Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup in just 10 minutes thanks to entree kits from Kevin's Natural Foods! Paleo, So satisfying . . plus Keto, and gluten-free!
Enjoy a rich, creamy, amazingly flavorful Thai-inspired Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup in just 10 minutes thanks to entree kits from Kevin's Natural Foods! Paleo, So satisfying . . plus Keto, and gluten-free!
Print
10-minute Thai-Style Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup
Prep Time
2 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Enjoy a rich, creamy, amazingly flavorful Thai-inspired Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup in just 10 minutes thanks to entree kits from Kevin's Natural Foods! Paleo, So satisfying . . plus Keto, and gluten-free!

Course: dinner, entree, entree soup, Soup
Cuisine: thai
Keyword: chicken, coconut, gluten free, keto, meal kit, paleo
Servings: 3 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 package Kevin’s Natural Foods Thai-style Coconut Chicken
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 cup sliced Baby Bella mushrooms
  • 1 cup cauliflower rice
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup coconut cream from can
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice about 1 lime
  • 1/3 cup chopped scallions white bulbs and greens
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
  1. Add olive oil to soup pot and bring to heat over medium-high. Add mushrooms and cauliflower rice, sauté, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes until softened; add minced garlic and sauté for 1 additional minute.
  2. Open cold sous vide bag of chicken; chop into bite sized pieces. Add to soup pot.
  3. Pour chicken broth and coconut cream into pot and bring just to a boil, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add contents of sauce pack into soup. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minutes longer.
  4. Remove from heat; squeeze in lime juice. Stir in chopped scallions and cilantro.
Recipe Notes

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