"Cooking with JJ" Episode 6: Fish in a Pouch

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"Cooking with JJ" Episode 6: Fish in a Pouch

While “Fish in a Pouch” may not sound delicious, this quick, clean and tasty dish is one of my favorites. This all in one meal takes less than 10 minutes to prep and 30 minutes to cook. It’s perfect to make for one person or a big dinner party and requires almost no clean up. You can use any starches, veggies and fish you like including cod, halibut or salmon and you can also toss in shrimp or scallops. Watch the latest episode of "Cooking with JJ" to learn how to make this amazing dish.

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JJ’s Pumpkin Spice Apple Protein Muffins

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JJ’s Pumpkin Spice Apple Protein Muffins

I've been obsessed with my Blueberry Explosion Protein Muffins for years. I make them every Sunday and have two every day as a post workout treat. This week catastrophe happened. I ran out of blueberries and was too lazy to go to the store. But I did have apples so I figured, why not?! The result was a delicious reinvention of my favorite recipe. I call them JJ’s Basic B*tch Pumpkin Spice Apple Protein Muffins. Give them a shot and I hope you enjoy!

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How Can I Get More Protein?

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How Can I Get More Protein?

After reading my Guide to Eating Clean and Getting Lean and determining their caloric and macronutrient needs most of my clients' first realizations is that they need to get more protein. Whether you are "eating to your macros" or not, most of us could benefit from getting more high quality protein into our diets so I've compiled a list of my favorites that include lean meat; eggs; dairy; beans, legumes and nuts; veggies, grains and supplements that are high in protein. 

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Mama Haralabopoulos' Shrimp and Feta Bake

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Mama Haralabopoulos' Shrimp and Feta Bake

When it comes to cooking, Greek mothers have legendary skills. And my mother-in-law is an Olympian in the kitchen! When she visited for Christmas she whipped up this simple, delicious and healthy dish and it’s quickly become a favorite in my house. It’s warm and filling with less than 400 calories and only 15g carbs and 36g of protein. Serve it with a little pita and hummus or a simple green salad and enjoy!

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Q: Can You Really Hit Your Ideal Protein Goal? A: Yes! Here's How.

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Q: Can You Really Hit Your Ideal Protein Goal? A: Yes! Here's How.

Many of my nutrition and training clients find success in flexible dieting. If their goal is fat loss, the most important thing is to maintain a modest calorie deficit over time. But if maintaining or building lean muscle is also a goal, we have to make sure they are hitting their protein target. Sometimes this means aiming for ~175-200g protein in a day on a ~2,400kcal diet which can seem impossible at first. So here is a sample day for how that can be achieved that won't leave you starving and will likely leave you feeling full and satisfied. 

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Try This Sonoma Style Chicken Salad Recipe to Boost Your Protein

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Try This Sonoma Style Chicken Salad Recipe to Boost Your Protein

This is a new twist on my old curry chicken salad recipe and it's a favorite of mine and several of my clients. It's easy to prep for the entire week and is a great way to get in protein and healthy fat. I used walnuts and grapes in this version but you can also use almonds and apples. It's great on its own, as a topper to a salad or in a wrap as shown here. At 300 calories it packs 40g of protein and only 7 carbs per serving. Give it a try; you won't be disappointed.

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Banana Blueberry Explosion Protein Muffins

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Banana Blueberry Explosion Protein Muffins

These little bastards are LITERALLY my favorite food right now and are a variation on my protein pancake recipe. Pancakes are delicious and are great for a special occasion, but for a normal week they are a lot of work. So my genius partner turned them into muffins and makes them every Sunday so we have them for the week ahead. They are great pre/post workout snacks or perfect at night as a healthy dessert treat. 

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Peter's Turkey Sauté with Tomato Sauce and Veggies

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Peter's Turkey Sauté with Tomato Sauce and Veggies

It's no secret. The men of my household take meal prep seriously. And my partner Peter is the captain of our good ship Tasty Noms. Clients are always asking for quick, easy and healthy recipes that won't break the bank. And just last week a fellow massage student pal of mine looked longingly over her peanut butter sandwich at my salmon, sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli and asked "how do you do it?!" Based on the popularity of my recent turkey meat loaf recipe I thought I'd share one of my favorites from Chef Peter: turkey sauté with tomato sauce and veggies. 

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30 Minute Meal: Low Carb Chicken Caprese with Zucchini Noodles

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30 Minute Meal: Low Carb Chicken Caprese with Zucchini Noodles

One of my awesome clients Jason gave me a challenge last week. He wanted a quick (30 minutes or less) meal he can make at home with ingredients he can pick up at practically any grocery store (not just Whole Foods) that will fit his macros. Normally he meal preps and is open to the occasional food delivery service but wanted something he could make himself and hopefully have left overs. Challenge accepted! Try this low carb, high protein and healthy fat spin on a comfort food favorite.

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