EASY Post Workout Weekday Meals

You may have already read our very popular article on pre and post workout meals (if not, read it here and then come back!) and know that it is very important to eat pre and post workout. The exact timing will just be trial and error with what works for your body but we suggest eating within 30 minutes after your workout.

To make it easy for you, we've gathered our favorite post workout meals that pack protein and can easily be paired with a carb source such as sweet potato, black beans, brown rice, etc. These meals are perfect no matter what exercise you have been doing from hiking to hitting the weights in the gym. The best part is these are some of our easiest recipes which mean they can be made quickly during the week even when you are very busy! We didn't include any slow cooker/Crockpot recipes but those are also great options to have available! Your post workout meal doesn't always have to be a protein shake. Try to incorporate real, whole foods after your workout next time!

When you do your grocery shopping for the week look for lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Load your cart up with fresh fruits and veggies also! And if you are looking to save money and need ideas on healthy and frugal meal ideas, check out this post.

{EASY} POST WORKOUT WEEKDAY MEALS

• Grilled Kickin' Chicken
• Zesty Grilled Chicken
• Avocado-Stuffed Turkey Burgers
• Clean Eating Power Meatballs

Speaking of workouts, what did your workouts consist of this week? We actually made it to the gym 5 days last week even though it was a pretty busy week! We overslept on Sunday so we couldn't do our planned hike but we washed the cars and did food prep and ended up with over 14,000 steps each even though we never stepped into the gym!

What is your favorite post workout meal?

Earn Your Steps - 5 Tips to Get More Steps Every Day

As you know by now, we are avid hikers and love being outside. We aren't a couple who boxes ourselves into the gym each day, we believe staying fit and healthy is so much more than that! Ever since we received our Garmin vívofit in the mail Scott hasn't taken his off and I've only removed mine for one day because I had a photo shoot. It definitely helps us stay on track with our fitness goals and brings some friendly competition into our days. We are always trying to earn as many steps as we can. Hiking is just one of the ways we earn our steps. We also like to walk as much as possible and throw a little running in there too! There is no wrong way to earn your steps...find what you love and go out there and do it!

Our Garmin vívofit has been with us many places since we received it. Other than the obvious home and gym steps, it has also been to with us on a trail run on News Years Day where we had over 10,000 steps by 2 PM!

It has also been to Table Rock State Park in SC where Scott hiked and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We only live about 2.5 hours from GSMNP but for some reason we always go somewhere else hiking. We decided to try something new so we woke up early last Saturday (around 5 AM) to make the drive. We had two hikes planned and we were able to finish both of them. We hiked 13 miles but sometimes I think it would be more accurately described as ice skating! I'm so glad we had our Ice Trekkers because most people weren't even able to make it around the ice. The night before we left we took a trip to Whole Foods Market to have our weekly "meeting" and to grab some supplies (food) for our hike. We packed spicy Thai trail mix, cashews, protein bars, and fruit.

Since we want everyone to get in as many steps as possible each day we've put together our top tips so that maybe a few of them will hit home with you and you can start racking up your own steps!

5 Tips to Get More Steps Every Day:

1. Wear a tracker like the Garmin vívofit - it's really eye-opening to see how many steps you AREN'T taking some days! Plus, when you are really close to that next big number it motivates you to get up and moving!
2. We know every one tries to show off just how strong they are when it comes to taking the groceries in...but do NOT get all the groceries in one trip! Take more steps by unloading just a few at a time.
3. Take the stairs instead of the elevator
4. Keep the things you need often out of arms reach so you actually have to stand up and walk to get them (i.e. your phone, keys, glasses, etc.)
5. Park at the end of the parking lot

How do you earn your steps? What are some tips you would add to this list to help others?

P.S. We will be doing a giveaway for a Whole Foods Market gift card and a Garmin vívofit so stay tuned for the rest of our series in the #PathToFit posts!

This post is sponsored by Whole Foods Market and Garmin. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tips to Save Money while Eating Healthy + Healthy AND Frugal Meal Ideas

We're all looking for healthy recipes but a lot of times those healthy recipes call for ingredients that you might not have all the time in your pantry. We're all about healthy meals that don't break the bank here and wanted to share some of our favorites with you and also some tips!

>>>> Ever feel like you need to detox your money? Join our detox your money challenge here!

Simple Tips on Saving Money While Eating Healthy

• Start using that dusty old spice rack to give your recipes a little more flavor. You will use this often when preparing your own healthy meals at home.
• Buy extra when an item goes on sale, especially if it is shelf stable (chicken broth, beans, etc) or can be frozen and used later (meats). We've even dedicated one of our hall closets as our "bulk" closet.
• We've had pretty good success scoring coupons by emailing the vendors that market the products that we frequently purchase. Most of the time you can reach them by going to the "Contact Us" section of their website; however, it's often as simple as signing up for their email newsletter!
• Check the front of the store where you shop for coupons. Some stores have booklets right when you walk in that are full of recipes and coupons. Browse through these before you start shopping to see if there is a coupon for something on your list.
  
  See more money saving ideas here.

Our Favorite Healthy AND Frugal Meal Ideas

Don't be fooled...eating out is very expensive. It adds up quickly although most people just pay attention to their grocery store total vs their restaurant bill. We love to buy ingredients that we can use in many different recipes and make the most cost-effective meals we can. Below we share with you some of our favorites and an approximate total for each. We think it's a small price to pay when you can control exactly what is going in your food and how it is prepared.

• Egg White Omelet with Spinach and Onions (add minced garlic, sea salt, and pepper) paired with our Sweet-Sweet Potato Cubes
  • Total Cost: $2.00-$3.00 per serving
• Protein Shake with Crock Pot Oats (Apple-Cinnamon or Cranberry Apple)
  • Total Cost: $3.25-$4.25 per serving
• Salsa Chicken with Brown Rice and Mixed Veggies
  • Total Cost: $2.00-$3.00 per serving
• Clean Eating Chicken Salad
  • Total Cost: $2.50-$3.50 per serving

How do you save money at the grocery store? Any tips we forgot to include?

Check out these additional resources:

• How to Eat Healthy on a Budget
• 6 Ways to Save Money at Restaurants