Q: You need to give up booze to have abs / lose weight / see results. A: FALSE. Yes, abs are made in the kitchen. But I've found an amazing way to BALANCE what I'm eating during the week so that I can fully enjoy myself on the weekends. And that's why I decided to create the NUTRITION & NIGHTLIFE CHALLENGE. Summer is one of the hardest times to say "no" to cocktails; happy hours, weddings, vacations, the beach....all of these are more fun when you add in some booze. So I'm creating a custom challenge for those who like to drink, but still want to feel comfortable in their bathing suits. We start up on August 1: - 4 Week Meal Plan -- Weekday Warrior and YOLO weekend guide - Workouts

When there’s nothing to eat and you don’t want to spend a lot of time or energy cooking, a stuffed baked potato is an easy, filling, and affordable option that will please the whole family. Just bake (or microwave) a potato and fill it with your favorite healthy toppings (like steamed veggies, salsa, and plain Greek yogurt). The flavor options are endless! f you already have baked sweet potatoes and leftover chicken ready, you can put this dinner together in less than 10 minutes. For a complete meal, serve each baked sweet potato with a green salad or vegetables like broccoli, asparagus or Brussels sprouts that can be roasted on the same baking sheet as the potatoes or steamed in a separate

Make it ahead of time, store it in the fridge and voila, you’ve got a cold, revitalizing superfood-packed meal that’s easy to make. This green gazpacho with cucumber is a great starter to a summer meal. Garnish it with microgreens, sliced radish and, my absolute favorite, pine nuts (they’re like tiny, earthy bursts of butter), and dig in with a spoon. Or, plunge a hunk of your favorite bread into it. Total Time: 25 min. Prep Time: 25 min. Cooking Time: None Yield: 4 servings, about 1¼ cups each Ingredients 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil ½ cup water 2 Tbsp. white balsamic vinegar ½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt) ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (

A “birthday cake” that only takes 15 minutes to make and doesn’t require any actual baking? Yes, please! They’re incredibly easy to make — all you have to do is place seven ingredients into a food processor, blend them together, and you’re basically done. There’s no oven time required, so if you’re one of those raw cookie dough eaters (or just looking for a healthy gluten free snack), then this is definitely the dessert for you. (Psst – the sprinkles are just for decoration.) These energy balls are the perfect pick-me-up for that afternoon slump or when you’re feeling a little peckish. Make a big batch and you’ve got a healthy snack stash to take on the road or to the gym. Prep time: 15 mins

Poke (pronounced poe-kay) is a popular Hawaiian dish that is taking the mainland by storm. Poke shops and food trucks are popping up all over and if they haven’t reached your city yet, don’t worry, they will. In the meantime, you can make it at home! Since you don’t cook it, it’s a refreshing choice on those hot summer days. Since poke is made from raw fish, buy your fish the day you plan to eat it, and keep it chilled at all times. Make sure to ask the person behind the fish counter for the freshest sushi grade fish they have that day. To make this salmon poke, start by whisking together the dressing made from soy sauce, sesame oil, green onions, and crushed red pepper. The pepper flakes ca

This Southwestern Rice Salad with Black Beans is a trimmed down, fiber-filled version of a Tex-Mex rice bowl — we held the guac, sour cream and shredded cheddar to bring the dish under 200 calories, but if you have calories to spare, add ¼ avocado on top. But it’s far from bland. Instead of using salt and fat to flavor, we went with the verdant, fresh flavors of green onion and cilantro, added a medium-spicy kick from fresh jalapenos and chili powder, and acidic brightness from white wine vinegar. Total Time: 1 hr. 10 min. Prep Time: 10 min. Cooking Time: None Yield: 8 servings, about 1 cup each 21 Day Fix portions: 1.5Y, 1/2 tsp Ingredients: 2 cups cooked brown rice (or other cooked who

Halibut is an easy (and delicious) way to get protein and key vitamins and minerals in your diet with very little fat. If you love fish that doesn’t taste “fishy,” then you need to add this Pistachio-Crusted Halibut to your recipe repertoire. Halibut is a firm whitefish that goes with pretty much anything, and it’s equally delicious when baked, broiled, poached, or grilled. Total Time: 20 min. Prep Time: 10 min. Cooking Time: 10 min. Makes 4 servings 21 Day Fix portions: 1R, 1/2 B/O Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. finely grated lemon peel 1 dash sea salt Ground black pepper (to taste; optional) 4 (4-oz.) raw halibut fillets ¼ cup raw, unsalted pistachios, finely chopped 1

It’s the hot-weather cooking conundrum: What’s a light, refreshing meal that’s not a salad? No one wants to spend hours in the kitchen over a hot stove, and there are only so many greens you can eat before your taste buds start demanding more action. The answer: Marinated Veggies with Chicken Sausage. In this flavor-rich dish, colorful summer veggies like zucchini, squash, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and green beans soak in a tart marinade; chicken sausage adds a boost of protein. Just make sure to use an all-natural chicken sausage to avoid preservatives and keep the sodium low. Total Time: 58 min. Prep Time: 20 min. Cooking Time: 8 min. Yield: 4 servings Ingredients: 2 tsp. olive oi

Pasta is a dish that tugs at your heartstrings. My mouth waters thinking about a steaming plate of hot pasta — and let’s not forget about the freshly grated Parmesan cheese that melts on top. One of my favorite types of pasta is fettuccine alfredo. I love how the creamy garlicky sauce coats each noodle. It’s the type of dish you never get tired of, and it’s always a crowd pleaser at the dinner table. Whether the sauce is made with butter and cheese or butter, cheese and cream, it’s not exactly the lightest option out there. We figured there had to be a way to get that no-compromise flavor without all the cream and butter. And I’m happy to report: We did it! This recipe features a healthier v

The menu for next week is up --- these challengers are in for a treat :) Personally, figuring out WHAT to eat to be healthy has always been hardest for me. I'd be caught up in reading labels, going for "diet" and "low fat" foods and would be so frustrated when I wasn't seeing any results from trying to eat healthy. Then I found something that worked. No more counting calories, points or researching labels. The 21 Day Fix has changed the way I look at food and portion control, and I couldn't be happier. Eating out isn't over complicated and I don't feel bad on the weekends when I stray from the program. And now I'm happy to offer my meal plans to my challengers who are looking for help in wha

21 Day Fix Portions: 1Y, 1/2 B/O, 1 tsp Total Time: 20 min. Prep Time: 10 min. Cooking Time: 10 min. Yield: 7 servings, 2 hotcakes each Ingredients: 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats ½ cup raw cashews 1 dash Himalayan salt (or sea salt) 1 large egg 1 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted 1⅓ cups distilled water 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1¾ cup mixed berries Preparation: 1. Place oats, cashews, and salt in food processor or blender; pulse until coarsely ground. 2. Add egg, oil, water, and extract; pulse until well blended. Batter will be thick, but if it is as thick as paste add 2 to 3 additional Tbsp. of water. 3. Heat medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. 4. Spoon about ¼ cup batter into

This protein-rich chicken curry with chickpeas dish is richly spiced. For a milder (or hotter) version, adjust the amount of chili powder to your taste. Total Time: 35 min. Prep Time: 10 min. Cooking Time: 25 min. Yield: 4 servings 21 Day Fix portions: 1 1/2 Y, 1R Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 lb. raw chicken breast tenders 1 medium onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, crushed ½ tsp. mustard seed 1 tsp. ground turmeric 1 tsp. ground cumin, divided use 1 tsp. ground coriander 1 tsp. chili powder 1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed 1 (14.5-oz.) can low-sodium diced tomatoes 1 cup low-sodium organic chicken broth (or vegetable broth) Preparation: 1. Heat oil in a large skil

Beyond being a crowd pleaser, this medley of flavor and good-for-you fruits, herbs, and lean protein can also be enjoyed solo, maybe even out of a bag with a fork? Total Time: 15 min. Prep Time: 15 min. Cooking Time: None Yield: 1 serving 21 Day Fix portions: 1G, 1/2R, 1P, 1B, 1 1/2 tsp Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. 100% pineapple juice 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar 1½ tsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium Serrano chile, seeded, finely chopped ¼ tsp. chili powder ¼ tsp. ground cumin ¼ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt) ¼ tsp. ground black pepper ¼ medium mango, peeled, cubed ¼ medium avocado, cubed ½ cup cubed fresh pineapple ½ cup cubed jicama 3 oz. cooked chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into bi

This pulled chicken recipe is smothered in an adobo and chipotle-spiked barbecue sauce, and served with a refreshing cilantro slaw to add creaminess and texture. Canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be found in many grocery stores and ethnic markets, but if your store doesn’t carry them, you can add spice to the sauce with cayenne or chipotle powder, or leave it out and enjoy simple, delicious barbecue chicken. Want to add more kick? Mix a little finely chopped jalapeño to the slaw. Enjoy this chicken and slaw combo as it is, or use it to stuff corn tortillas, or make an open-faced sandwich. Total Time: 37 min. Prep Time: 15 min. Cooking Time: 22 min. Yield: 4 servings, about ¾ cup chi