Bikini Ready Recipes: Saucy Paleo Meatballs + Blueberry Muffin Smoothie

In my experience, the main reason I quit a diet or healthy eating plan is that I don’t feel satisfied. Well, guess what? That’s no longer an excuse! It is possible to prepare dishes that are still light and healthy but still leave you feeling fulfilled.

This week, Kelly is sharing two hearty and healthy options that even your kids will love! Scroll down for the recipes!

Saucy Paleo Meatballs:

To cut the carbs, switch out the noodles for zucchini noodles aka zoodles. You won’t be able to tell the difference!

Ingredients: 

Makes 8 meatballs, for 2 servings

1 pound 100% grass-finished ground beef (or protein of your choice)

1 large egg

¼ cup ground flax meal

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1½ teaspoons pink Himalayan salt

1½ teaspoons onion powder

2 tablespoons fresh minced or dried parsley

1 (16-ounce) jar of your favorite marinara sauce

Grated goat’s- or sheep’s-milk Parmesan cheese or yogurt, for serving (optional)

Zucchini or squash zoodles (directions here!)

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. In a large bowl, use your hands (or a wooden spoon) to combine the beef, egg, flax meal, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, onion powder, and 1 tablespoon of the parsley. The mixture should be smooth, but don’t overmix.

3. Form the mixture into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter and place them on an ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.

4. Transfer the meatballs to a decorative oven-safe baking dish. Pour the marinara over the meatballs to cover. Bake for 5 minutes to heat and thicken the sauce.

5. Sprinkle Parmesan over the meatballs and garnish with the remaining parsley. Serve warm, with a side of pesto covered zoodles.

Blueberry Muffin Smoothie:

Skip that sugar-loaded muffin and try this sweet smoothie instead. The nut butter and blueberries pair nicely to re-create the comforting flavor of a blueberry muffin.

Ingredients: 

1 serving vanilla protein powder

1 to 2 tablespoons nut butter of choice

1 serving raw fiber powder

¼ cup frozen or fresh blueberries, plus more for garnish

2 to 3 cups unsweetened nut milk

Hemp seeds, for garnish

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients except the hemp seeds in a high-speed blender and blend to the desired consistency. If you use fresh blueberries, add a few ice cubes before blending to cool.

2. Garnish with hemp seeds and blueberries.

Stay tuned for more tips from Kelly on both my blog and Kelly’s, Be Well By Kelly. For 12 weeks, we’ll be sharing recipes and tips to help you get ready for bikini season…post-baby or not!