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THREE NUTRITION TIPS AND FIVE MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPES FOR THANKSGIVING 2022
Eating in social settings can bring some anxiety, but it really should be all about drawing from the habits you have built while tracking your food for a while rather than throwing “rules” out the window and eating whatever you want. So, how do you approach something like a Thanksgiving dinner with some semblance of balance and mindfulness?
MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPE: BUTTERNUT SQUASH PASTA BOWL
Fall is my favorite season and part of that is making yummy, hearty meals that warm you up and bring together the flavors of the season. This pasta bowl uses seasonal butternut squash and is packed with other veggies (coming in at nearly 20g of fiber!) as well as protein. It’s an easy plant-based recipe that you can prep for the whole week or share with the whole family.
ONLINE NUTRITION COACHING: THE MAKING OF A GOOD CLIENT + COACH RELATIONSHIP
In today’s post, I’m talking all about the client + coach relationship and how to really get the most out of your work with a coach. Whether you work with one of our coaches or have worked with any sort of coach in the past or are thinking about working with a coach, understanding how you can bring your best to the table can make or break your success in reaching your goals.
MACRO-FRIENDLY MEAL PREP: BREAKFAST VEGGIE FRITTATA BAKE
This easy veggie breakfast frittata has become a staple in our house because it’s easy to make ahead of time for simple weekly meal prep. You can make it once and eat it through the full week. It is easy to cook, macro-friendly, reheats well, and can also be a really yummy filling for a breakfast burrito.
Macro Friendly Meal Ideas Using Pantry Staples & Convenience Foods
If you’re new to tracking your macros, the idea of creating meals or planning a day that hits your macros can feel incredibly overwhelming. Many of our clients are parents, professionals and really busy individuals who don’t have a ton of time to spend on food but have health or weight loss goals and we believe that you can absolutely do both!
Quick Lunch Recipe: Air Fryer Pizza Quesadilla
I attempt to make as much as humanly possible with my air-fryer now, and what could be better than a combo of two favorite meals?! Please welcome: The Pizza Quesadilla. It’s easy to whip up in a flash and very easy to track, whether you use MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, or don’t track your macros at all.
Let Batch Prep Change Your Life: Make Meal Prep You'll Actually Eat
Meal prep is one of those things that we know can benefit us by cutting down on time in the kitchen and brainpower trying to constantly decide what to eat, but is also exhausting and often ends with tons of uneaten meals. This is where batch prep comes to the rescue, especially when planning meals for your whole family.
Plant-Based Buddha Bowl Recipe: High Fiber Meal Prep
Whether you’re a plant-based eater or not, this tempeh, beet, and hummus buddha bowl is packed with tons of veggies, fiber, and important vitamins and minerals. It has a great mix of flavors (sweet, spicy and citrusy!) along with 25g of plant-based protein! It’s a great meal to make ahead of time and reheat throughout the week. We also share options for modifying macros depending on your needs!
Eating Habits vs. Weight Loss: Coaching My Dad Towards Better Health
I’ve been my dad’s nutrition coach for a little over two years now and while working with ALL of my clients is rewarding, working with my dad has been especially rewarding in its own way. And while you may think I’m here to boast about how I’ve helped my dad lose a bunch of weight and finally get back to his high school football weight and body composition, I’m actually here to tell you that he hasn’t changed much physically and hasn’t really lost any weight at all.
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Balanced Meals: The Macro-Friendly Formula
If you’re new to tracking your macros, the idea of creating meals or planning a day that hits your macros can feel incredibly overwhelming. You may think you need to create complex recipes, weigh every part, and spend an hour of your day just doing math or playing macro tetris, but that’s not the case.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchilada Bake: Meal Prep Recipe
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo (or just your love of macro-friendly Mexican inspired food) with this great enchilada bake! It is gluten free, vegetarian, plant-based, and can be adjusted to meet any specific dietary needs you have. Give it a try and let us know if you like it!
High Protein Plant-Based Peanut Noodle Bowl Recipe
As the seasons change, our bodies often crave fresh ingredients and lighter meals. When you’re prepping for a busy week, it can be tough to not lean on convenience, but there are easy ways to still get in plenty of whole foods and protein from plant-based sources without spending a ton of time doing so. This easy healthy vegan peanut noodle bowl packs a punch of plant-based protein, is full of fresh veggies and is an easy meal to prep for the whole week!
Our Top High-Fiber Foods and Snacks for Digestive Health
Adequate fiber is generally a sign that you are getting the micronutrients you need through whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables. In today’s post, we’re talking all about the importance of fiber, not only for health reasons, but also the benefit fiber brings when creating meals that help you work toward your fat loss goals, your performance goals, and your body composition goals.
Vegan Alfredo Pasta: A Plant-Based, Macro-Friendly Valentine's Dinner Recipe
When you’re tracking macros, working towards your weight loss goals or trying to improve your overall health, it can sometimes feel like you have to avoid eating foods you love or eliminate more indulgent foods. Having those foods is an important part of having a positive relationship with your food, as is enjoying a holiday meal or a date night that feels decadent. So, we created this delicious three-course meal in honor of Valentine’s Day so that you can enjoy a big meal without the “guilt.”
Delicious Cookie Dough Bites: A High-Protein, Macro-Friendly Snack
Sweets are a whole mood in our house and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t have something sweet somewhere in my day. When you’re tracking macros or being mindful of your caloric intake, it can sometimes feel like you have to stay away from sweets or foods that you enjoy, but we feel the opposite!
Spicy Mexican Casserole: A Low-Calorie, Macro-Friendly Dinner
Last week was our annual KLN Coach’s Retreat and it was amazing. We all met in Oaxaca, Mexico, (where Kate and Kenny live) and spent five days together as a team for the first time ever! This month’s recipe just had to be inspired by our recent trip and is an attempt to bring some of the flavors of Oaxaca to you in an easy to make, macro-friendly recipe that you can add to your meal prep rotation.
Hearty Plant-Based Protein Veggie Burgers: A Macro-Friendly Recipe
Gearing up for the last weekend of the summer, burgers are always on the menu but this year, we’re opting for homemade veggie burgers. This week, we’re sharing this recipe for macro-friendly veggie burgers that are packed with plant-based protein.
Frozen Yogurt Smoothie Pops: A Macro-Friendly Summer Recipe
Ice cream and sweet cold treats are some of my favorites when it comes to dessert, especially in the heat of the summer. When tracking your macros, it can sometimes be tough to work in a “healthy” sweet treat or dessert, which is why we created these low-calorie high protein frozen yogurt smoothie popsicles.
8 REASONS TO CHOOSE MACROSFIRST AS YOUR MACRO TRACKING APP
Choosing the right tracking app can make or break your nutrition goals, and MacrosFirst stands out for all the right reasons. Let's jump into why MacrosFirst is superior to popular options like MyFitnessPal (MFP) and Cronometer and why it best fits your tracking needs.
HIGH FIBER MEAL PREP RECIPE: HONEY MUSTARD DENSE BEAN SALAD (WITH MACROS!)
If you’ve been on the internet recently you may have seen the popular trend of “dense bean salads.” In an online space where there are lots of questionable trends circulating, this is one that I can wholeheartedly get behind! The idea behind a “dense bean salad” is that it’s a recipe packed with ingredients that get better day by day as the ingredients marinate longer. This dense bean salad I’m sharing today is no exception. It’s flavorful, high in protein (with plant-based options available to boost protein without animal products!), high in fiber, and incredibly customizable.
WHAT PEOPLE GET WRONG ABOUT MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS
There will always be periods of time, whether it’s weeks, months, or years, where you may not be able to maintain your leanest or fittest point, and that’s normal. But if you take time to build foundational skills and habits, you can keep that maintenance range in a place that feels good to you. And you can always return to some of those more time-intensive skills and practices when capacity allows.
SOBER CURIOUS FOR THE HOLIDAYS: HOW ALCOHOL IMPACTS OUR MACROS, BODY COMPOSITION, AND OVERALL PROGRESS
The holiday season often conjures images of festive gatherings, joyous celebrations, and, inevitably, alcohol. For many, these moments include a glass of wine, a cocktail, or a beer to toast the occasion. However, an increasing number of people are becoming "sober curious," re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol. This movement isn't about outright abstinence but about mindfulness and understanding how alcohol impacts our bodies, especially concerning health and fitness goals. Let's explore how alcohol affects our health, particularly in the realms of fat loss, sleep, and overall wellness.
MAKING MACRO-TRACKING BUDGET FRIENDLY
With grocery prices rising, getting high-quality food (especially protein!) can be challenging. In this blog post, I’m breaking down some great budget-friendly grocery options by macronutrients that is perfect for those tracking macros and looking to eat well without breaking the bank.
HAVING A COACH THROUGH “MAINTENANCE MODE”: INSURANCE FOR LONG TERM NUTRITIONAL SUCCESS
A maintenance phase is arguably the most important season of our nutrition since it’s where we can best focus on the habits that help us find harmony with our physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Without the prioritization of changing our bodies, the other aspects of our lives that we value can better be at the forefront. However, that doesn’t mean that body composition can’t remain in the periphery. The foundational habits that we develop before or alongside a focused fat loss phase, with the goal of long-term physical change, continuously support small aesthetic changes over time.
Q&A: HORMONAL HEALTH, SUPPLEMENT SAFETY, AND SET POINT WEIGHT THEORY
The large majority of individuals probably don’t need to worry about their hormonal health. If you are struggling with your hormonal health, that is absolutely an indicator to see an endocrinologist - not a trainer, nutritionist, or wellness influencer! What supports our hormonal health most are the basics that support our overall health: exercising sensibly, giving ourselves time to recover, managing stress levels, eating a balanced and high quality diet and not chronically dieting. Hormonal health is incredibly important, so this is not about minimizing that importants; rather, it’s a reminder that the “boring stuff” is often what we overlook when it should be our first priority.
MACRO FRIENDLY DESSERT: SALTED CARAMEL APPLE YOGURT BARK
Tracking your macros doesn’t have to be restrictive and in fact, we pride ourselves on coaching our clients on ways to be more flexible with their food choices. We feel it’s important to include foods that you love and that means dessert and sweet treats! This peanut butter salted caramel apple yogurt bark is the perfect sweet treat for this season (or any season, really!) It’s super easy to make and for 22g of protein per serving, it can actually play a role in helping you nail your protein goals!
EMBRACE FLEXIBILITY AND ENJOY SOME PIZZA: TIPS FOR MACRO-FRIENDLY PIZZA NIGHT
When I start working with a client, they typically believe that they can't enjoy pizza AND eat “healthy” at the same time. Their experience tells them that pizza is a “bad” food, it’s a cheat meal, and it will definitely make them gain body fat. But often, that’s a fear of food and diet culture talking. By embracing a flexible approach to eating and incorporating some macro-friendly strategies, pizza can be part of a balanced approach to nutrition. Grab a slice, and let’s dig in!
TRACKING MACROS VS. COUNTING CALORIES: WHICH APPROACH SHOULD YOU TAKE WHEN WORKING TOWARDS YOUR FAT LOSS, PERFORMANCE, AND HEALTH GOALS?
At its core, counting calories is about ensuring you consume a specific number of calories each day. It's a straightforward approach focusing solely on energy intake versus energy expenditure. While this can be effective for weight management, it doesn't address the quality or composition of the food you're eating. Tracking macros, on the other hand, involves breaking down your calorie intake into three key nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Each of these macronutrients plays a unique role in your body. By paying attention to the specific amounts of each, you can optimize not only your overall caloric intake but also support your body's functional needs.
CHANGE TAKES TIME: WHY WORK WITH A NUTRITION COACH FOR 6 MONTHS?
At KLN, we require a six-month commitment from our clients, and there's a good reason for it. When you first join us, we take the time to get to know YOU – your habits, history, and what makes your daily life tick. This isn't something we can rush through-- it takes TIME! Time need to see how you live, how you interact with food, and how different factors affect your eating patterns. Getting to know you as an individual - your lifestyle, your needs, and what keeps you motivated - is crucial for providing the absolute best guidance and support from your coach.
3 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR MEALS MORE FILLING: MACRO-FRIENDLY TIPS FOR SATIETY
If you’re in a calorie deficit and working towards fat loss goals, a main goal should be minimizing any feelings of restriction or hunger so you can maximize adherence to your deficit. This is why we, as coaches, take a strong stance against aggressive and unsustainable deficits. If our hunger is through the roof each day, it’s not very likely that we’ll be able to adhere to that calorie deficit for long. Luckily, there are tools that can help us minimize hunger and, luckily, those same tools also keep us well-fueled and promote our overall health as well.