Budget-Friendly Guide to Healthier Eating🤸‍♀️🍎🥑🛒!

For one of her final projects UGA Senior, Sydney Hood, was interested in finding out the most effective, budget-friendly way to approach grocery shopping. To write her article, she decided to sit down with Caroline and talk about how wise spending and healthy eating go hand in hand! They came up with some tips and tricks for making a trip to the grocery much easier and way less stressful:

"This story is a personal interest of mine as a college student who struggles with budgeting money and eating healthy. With the stress of school, extracurriculars, and other work-related activities, it can be easy for me to completely disregard healthy eating habits and take the easy way out with a quick Chick-Fil-A run. As an avid runner, I know that nutrition should be at the top of my list. Through this project I definitely learned that it is in fact possible to eat healthy without completely cleaning the bank and I hope others who read this are inspired to take the first step toward a lifelong healthy journey as I am."

- Sydney Hood

10 Expert Tips for Grocery Shopping on a Budget:

    1.    Set your weekly budget & revisit it monthly. If possible take our cash for groceries

    2.    Shop for nonperishable items online (protein bars, shakes) Amazon can have free shipping, and you can do price comparisons. 

    3.    Plan your meals. Planning ahead, and making meals At home can save! Meal prep and cook extra. Plan your menu then make a shopping list.

    4.    Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season. Less expensive and have more vitamin  and mineral 

    5.    Buy meat and grains in bulk.  (Sams & Costco are great cost-effective options). Choose organic when possible and choose wild fish if available.

    6.    Limit your purchase of ready-prepared foods. Shop generic.

    7.    Clip coupons with caution. Coupons can actually make you buy more expensive items you do not need. 

    8.    Get creative with leftovers! 

    9.    Stay away from prepackaged snacks (most expensive and typically not calories friendly).

    10.    Learn the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen. The Clean Fifteen are items that you do not have to purchase organic. The Dirty Dozen when possible as they are more likely to have been sprayed with pesticides and chemicals.

Transform Your Nutrition:

Download our free TransFIVE No Sugar Challenge today to jump start your nutrition plan this week.

Click Here for Nutrition Plan

Directions:

1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, discarding the skin. Break off each lettuce leaf individually. Peel and shred the carrots.

2. First, mix the peanut or almond butter with olive oil, hot sauce, and honey for the two sauces. Then make the other sauce simply by adding pepper flakes and sesame seeds to the soy sauce.

3. There’s no actual cooking in this recipe and people assemble their own wraps… all you do is set it all out in bowls and on plates.

4. Everyone assembles their own! Take a leaf, put a little of what you want in the middle, finish with a little of each sauce, wrap, and munch… it’s finger food!

Summer is fast approaching and we are so excited! We know that with school being out, schedules can change a lot. We want to hear from YOU about what you'd like to see this summer-- days and times that work best for you and any special requests!

Let us know your input by emailing transfitathens@gmail.com! We will be closed Memorial Day weekend and have a modified schedule the week before as many people are traveling.

Ingredients:

• One Earthfare Rotisseries Chicken

• Two Boston Bibb Lettuce heads

• 4 Carrots

• 1/2 cup toasted almond slivers

• 3 scallions sliced thinly

• 1/2 cup Cilantro chopped

• 1/4 cup of mint chopped

• 1/3 cup crunchy peanut or almond butter

• few splashes of olive oil hot sauce to taste

• dash of honey

• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

• sprinkles of red pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds

TransFit Weekly Schedule

Email transfitathens@gmail.com to schedule a 1-on-1!

Let's keep the fire going this month! Be sure to check out our weekly schedule below to find the session that works best for you. If none of these sessions work for you, we would LOVE to meet with you 1-1 wherever you are (time or place)!

Congratulations to the UGA Class of 2022! We are proud of you for all of your hard work and determination. We wish you luck in your future endeavors and are praying for you always!

COMMIT to Your Nutrition- FREE Back to School Meal Plan!

Hey, sweet friends!

What an awesome start to August this week in the studio! We are so excited you are COMMITTING to your whole body health this August! Let's reset, recharge, and stay focused to make August our best month, yet!

A lot of you have young ones starting back to school over the next couple weeks, and just like you all, we are ready to get back into our routine of healthy lunches and dinners! Sometimes, though, the thought of planning out meals might seem overwhelming to you. That’s why we’re going to help you jump back into this school year one step ahead! We want to serve you, amazing friend! 

TransFit Nutrition Consultant, Katie Woodall & Dietitian Kaeti Shurling are sharing a full week's meal plan with you (on the TRANSFORM section of the website or click HERE), so your meals and workouts are already planned out for you and your family! Wahoo! A week’s worth of family-friendly meals with recipes are laid out for you to help make this transition back to school a smooth one! We’re even giving you a shopping list so you can breeze your way through the grocery aisles!

A new school year is a great time to get your kids to try some new healthy foods! But let’s not get crazy — remember we have to ease them into it, right? Let’s be real. Most kids could eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every single day (or is that just mine?) Give yourself and your kiddos some grace but set a goal to some new healthier recipes this month.  We are here to help any way you need to get your family back on track.

In addition to our meal plan, we want to provide 5 packing items that you should include in your child's lunch for school! These five items allow you to ensure that your child is getting in their nutrition needs for the day! 

1. Protein. 

The protein doesn’t have to come from meat! Sure you can roll up a couple slices of deli meat, like roast beef, turkey, chicken or ham, but try a variety of protein sources — like a cheese stick (or shredded cheese as my child prefers!), yogurt (just look for low-sugar kinds and resist any artificial sweeteners). You can use different nuts or nut butter (great for dipping, too), beans, hummus or hard-boiled eggs.

2. Whole grains.

Buy whole grains when you can, like whole wheat bread or pasta. Substitute two slices of bread with a whole grain wrap. Add in some whole grain crackers for dipping. You can also try the 1/2 and 1/2 trick for a while to help transition your kids to whole wheat!

3. Colorful fruits and vegetables.

This is a great way to add in fiber and antioxidants. Whole pieces of fruit are great — apples, bananas, oranges, or get creative with the mini fruit kabobs using grapes and berries. Slice up veggies, like a bright red bell pepper or celery. Along with carrots, these vegetables are great for dipping so include a container with a yogurt-based Ranch dressing, fresh salsa, hummus or even guacamole!

4. Sweet and salty snacks. 

Mix up a healthy trail mix, or include raw nuts, dried fruits or pretzels. You can freeze tubes of yogurt for a cool treat. Enlist your child’s help over the weekend to prepare homemade energy balls or granola bars for their lunches, too.

5. Hydration.

Pack a mini-bottled water or an organic low-fat milk. When you can, avoid fruit juices. Stick to whole fruit options in their lunchbox to avoid any added sugars.

Use this lunchbox prep time as a chance to connect with your children! Take time to ask them about school or their friendships. Encourage them, and of course, use this opportunity to talk about why we choose healthy, nutritious foods!

And remember, you’re setting an example for your family! These little ones are watching you — taking a little extra time to prepare for the week can be a way of showing your family that you’re honoring your body with healthy foods at lunchtime, too!

Reflect on our verse for this month: Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Just like your workouts, commit to planning healthy lunches and dinner for your family. We believe in YOU! If you would like to meet with our Nutrition Consultants or Registered Dietitian to help you with a plan for feeling your best please email us!

In addition, our middle school (5-8th grade sessions and our 4th grade sessions) will begin THIS Wednesday! We hope that your school year will be off to a great start! We are praying for each of you as the school year begins! 

Love & Blessings, 

Team TransFit

5 Tips You Need to Spring Clean Your Week!

Sweet friends, 

We were thinking about all the people who have been inquiring the past few months about wanting to make a change in their life--a new refreshing change toward a healthy lifestyle! Like all of you who were spring cleaning your closets this past week; now is the time to spring clean your lifestyle!! Just making a few small changes can help you feel more organized, refreshed, and focused on your health. We have 5 tips that you can do this week to reset your body, mind, and spirit!

5 tips that help you revive your healthy lifestyle!

Tip 1: Start on Sundays or Mondays

Sit down with your newspaper, see what is in season and fresh and plan your weekly menu. Get the kids involved ask each family member what they would like to eat (within reason) and plan accordingly. We use a dry erase board and write out breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. The children love helping decide what is for dinner and it helps them to learn about food groups and what you need to make a balanced meal. Meal prep is essential! Here is a FREE meal plan! Click HERE! 

Tip 2: Pre-cook Protein for the week on the day purchased

Buy chicken, pork, and other meets and try cooking them all the day purchased. Bake or Grill 4-8 chicken breasts with little seasonings then throughout the week you can chop and put in a salad, a tortilla, or make chicken salad. The easy step of pre-cooking protein will help you to eat more at home for meals and not feel so rushed in the evenings.

Tip 3: Wash & Cut veggies and fruit for half of the week and store in grab-n-go containers or plastic bags for easy access.  Make a veggie tray for the week and try to keep in the fridge and bring out for the family as afternoon snack or appetizer before dinner.

Tip 4: Make snack baskets for your children and for you!

The premise of the snack basket is that everyone is not rummaging through the pantry multiple times a day.  Pre-make snacks a the beginning of the week in portion controlled bags and the snacks will be ready for active families! Snack baskets for adults are also ideal as a post-workout snack or afternoon pick-me-up!

Step 5: Make an appointment for exercise

Your doctor, hair, and other appointments are important and your health should be top on your list. Make an appointment with yourself, a friend, or a trainer to exercise 5 times a week. YOU are worth it! Put it on the calendar and stick with that time consistently! Don't forget our new HIIT class is tomorrow and Thursday at 9:30 AM! This is a great way to revive your cardio workout! 

We are so proud of you and your goals to get healthy! You will start to see that when you make these healthy decisions, your family and friends will, too! You are an inspiration. If you would like to meet with our Registered Dietitian or Nutrition Consultants, you can purchase a session on our website HERE or app HERE! If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. Let us know how we can help you live transformed! 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Let's Finish March Strong! Revive Your Body With The 5 Day No Sugar Challenge!

Happy Saturday! 

We had an amazing week in the studio and look forward to finishing March strong with you! Today, refocus your mind on those goals you set at the beginning of the month. We can finish March stronger than we started! 

We hope that you have been exercising daily for our Maximize your Motivation in March challenge! Bring in your calendars at the end of the week, to be entered for a month of free sessions! Today, we want to challenge you to take our Spring TransFive challenge. What better time to start, than the last 5 days of March?  YES, YOU CAN! 

Our TransFive challenge is a five-day SUGAR elimination challenge. We will send you our Spring eBook that is filled with a 5-day meal plan, recipes, tips, and daily scripture to help you conquer the challenge! As you accept this challenge keep these tips in mind: 

• Avoid simple carbohydrates, like processed bread, cereals.
• Avoid added sugars in foods, artificially sweetened desserts, and candy.
• Consume ALL your meals prior to 7:00 P.M. Then, brush your teeth for the night and avoid any food until the next morning when you eat breakfast.
• Drink a minimum of 80 ounces of water DAILY.
• Try to eat fewer fruits and MORE veggies!
• Exercise each day for a minimum 30 minutes- one option would be to alternate your strength training and cardiovascular exercise.
• Find an accountability partner for the 5 days.
• Beleive in yourself - we believe in you! 

Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad

• 6 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 avocado, diced (or you can double this to 2 avocados!)
• 4 ounces crumbled gorgonzola or goat cheese
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• Half a small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
• Strawberry Vinaigrette (recipe below)

Strawberry Vinaigrette 

• 1/2 pound fresh strawberries
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

To prepare the strawberry vinaigrette, place all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth. Toss all salad ingredients together with your desired amount of dressing until combined. Serve immediately.

Thank you to all the sweet ladies who came out to support our Night of Hope event! We enjoyed getting to sparkle, fellowship, and celebrate with each of you! Hope 139's website has officially launched! Click HERE to go to the website!

Through the Hope 139 website, you can learn more and make donations! If you have any questions, please email shelley@transfitathens.com. It is an honor getting to see how the Lord is moving within our community of TransFit ladies to lift up and encourage women who are less fortunate!  THANK YOU! 

ACCEPT the challenge!  5 Days will revive your body, mind, and spirit!  You are strong and you can complete these FIVE DAYS! We believe in YOU!

We look forward to encouraging you this week! Book sessions today so you have the days and times that are best for you and to help keep you accountable for reaching your goals!

Download our app, TransFit to book sessions and find recipes, inspiration, and workouts! Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat @transfitathens, to keep up with what is happening in the studio, enter in for great giveaways, and find new recipes or workouts to try! If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Top 5 Super Foods For Your Heart! ❤️

Happy Wednesday! 

It has been another incredible week in the studio! Thank you for bringing your heart and soul into every hour! We can continue to celebrate the love we have for our bodies through movement and change our perspective to view exercise as worship! That is how we can live transformed!  While exercise is a way to honor your body, eating nutritious, healing, and nourishing foods is another way to live transformed.  Exercise and nutrition are a vital piece to keep your hearts healthy! We want to share five superfoods for your heart and a fun, new recipe to try! 

1. Hemp Hearts. Hemp hearts are the "heart" of a shelled hemp seed. They are rich in protein and have a high balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, and enzymes. They have been shown to decrease blood pressure, as well as lower the risks of colon and prostate cancer. Also, they can relieve indigestion because they have no known allergens.  Sprinkle hemp hearts on your salad, yogurt, or smoothie. 

2. Avocado is full of healthy fats and contains many vital nutrients and fibers that your body and heart need. Avocado offers nutrients so that you can have a healthy heart! 

3. Leafy Greens contain a nitrate content. This nitrate content allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently and allows for an overall better blood flow. 

Baby Spinach Salad with Blueberries and Pecans

• Fresh baby spinach leaves, rinsed and spun dry
• 1 pint fresh raspberries or strawberries, cleaned
• 1 pint fresh blueberries, cleaned
• ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1/4 cup Goat cheese, crumbled

Blueberry Vinaigrette 

• ½ cup fresh blueberries
• 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. honey
• Salt and fresh-ground black pepper
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Combine the spinach, raspberries, blueberries, pecans, and feta in a large bowl; toss. To prepare the vinaigrette, in a food processor add the blueberries, vinegar, honey, and salt and pepper to taste. Process to break down the blueberries. While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil. Taste the vinaigrette and adjust any ingredients to suit your taste. Pour the vinaigrette over the spinach salad and serve.

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4. Tomatoes have nutrients that are found to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Additionally, tomatoes have nutrients that can protect and reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. 

5. Berries are a source of micro nutrients and fiber. They support your heart through decreased activity of carbohydrate digestive enzymes and inhibit inflammatory gene expression and foam cell formation. If the cell formation and gene expression is not kept under control, it can result in heart disease and a lower, decreased heart health.  Raspberries are the highest in fiber, lowest in sugar fruit! Enjoy! 

Dark Chocolate Energy Bites for the Heart

Serves 20

• 1 cup dates, pitted
• 2 cups walnuts
• 1/3 cup cacao powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds
• 1/4 cup creamy nut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ***optional- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Pulse in food processor. Roll into balls and chill for 30 minutes. Enjoy this fudgy, sweet protein-packed snack! 

Add these foods to your meals throughout the week! We believe in YOU! We have nutrition sessions available if you would like to meet with our dietitian or registered nutritionist, to learn more about your health and nutrition. You can purchase these sessions via our app or website!

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Need New Recipes and Workouts to Transform Your Thanksgiving?

Good morning sweet friends!

What a high energy week in the studio! Thank you!  Each of you are working so hard and we know that you are excited about the Holiday Extravaganza! With the holidays approaching, you may need this weekend to relax, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked  fall meal (click the link to get some great new menu ideas).  Cherish these times, slow down, and be grateful for the relationships in your life. Family meals are can be a time when you can learn what’s going on in everyone’s lives, when you can spark up a fun conversation, and just enjoy sweet company!

If you are like me, you've already begun to think about all the dishes you will "get" to prepare, events you will be going to, and the "full" (not busy) (yet wonderful!) schedule the next few weeks hold. Amidst all of the "fullness" of the season let's stay focused on our goals and be diligent even through the holidays!  There will be times when we will have a treat that maybe we didn't plan for or a day when we will miss a workout- BUT what is important is that you do not allow that to completely take your eyes off of your goals and your progress. If you put that small slip behind you but get right back on track, you will find that you are even better than before!! Patience and perseverance will be the name of the real holiday game!! 

Give each day your best in body, mind and spirit as you seek to become healthier and follow the Lord more each and every day! 

As you prepare for Thanksgiving, here are a few GREAT tried and true recipes from our amazing friends at Fire & Flavor that you can prepare for your family and guests. These dishes are DELICIOUS and so good for your body. You will be left satisfied and not have the miserable fullness that we have all experienced! Treat your body right this Thanksgiving and IT will be thankful!! 

Check out these great recipes from our client Gena Knox and her company Fire and Flavor!

Spice Rubbed Apple Smoked Turkey

Prep Time:  30 minutes + brine time

Cook Time:  About 2 ½ hours

Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 - Fire & Flavor Turkey Perfect Herb or Apple Sage Brine Kit (with bag)
• 12-pound fresh turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 2 large aluminum roasting pans
• 12 whole carrots
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 2-3 tablespoons Fire & Flavor Turkey Rub
• Cotton string for tying
• Fire & Flavor Premium Lump charcoal
• 5 cups Fire & Flavor apple wood chips, soaked

FIRST  The day before cooking turkey, prepare brine according to package directions. Place turkey, breast side down in brining bag set inside an ice filled cooler.  Pour prepared brine and ice water over turkey.  Seal bag making sure to press out any extra air.  Brine for 12 hours or 1 hour per pound of turkey. 

NEXT  Remove turkey from brine, pat dry, but do not rinse.  Allow turkey to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before smoking.   Prepare charcoal grill for indirect heat (if using a Big Green Egg use deflector plate) and heat to 325°F. Double stack aluminum trays and line with carrots.  Place turkey on top of carrots and brush with oil; rub with Turkey Rub making sure to coat all sides.  Tie turkey legs together with cotton string and tuck wing tips under. 

LAST  Add 2 cups of wood chips to charcoal and place turkey over indirect heat.  Close lid and cook for 1 hour.  Add additional wood chips and, if necessary, more coals to keep grill heated to 325°F.  Close lid and continue cooking turkey until meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast registers 165°F (cooking time is usually about 12 minutes per pound of turkey).  Carefully remove turkey and pan from grill and let rest for 30 minutes before carving. 

You can brine your turkey a day or two in advance.  Place brined turkey on rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered) for up to 24 hours before cooking.   

Wheatberry Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cherries, and Pecans

This salad is delicious served warm or room temperature and leftovers are perfect over a salad.  If you want to make ahead, toss bacon, pecans and sprouts just before serving. 

Prep Time:  20 minutes

Cook Time:  1 hour
Yields:  8 servings

Salad:

• 4 cups water
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 2½ cups wheat berries
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2½ tablespoons olive oil
• 2½ tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/3 cup dried cherries
• 1/3 cup toasted pecan halves, roughly chopped
• 3 strips bacon, crumbled

Sprouts:

• 1¼ pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Fire & Flavor Chicken Rub

FIRST  In a large stock pot, bring water and stock to boil.  Add salt and wheat berries, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 45 minutes or until berries are tender, but still have a bite.  While berries are cooking, combine lemon juice and olive oil and set aside.  Drain berries, toss with half of dressing; set aide. 

NEXT  Preheat oven to 425°F.  Halve or quarter Brussels Sprouts, depending on their size.  Spread in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet coated with oil.  Drizzle sprouts with oil and sprinkle with Chicken Rub.  Toss and spread in an even layer, cut sides down.  Roast for about 20 minutes, until edges are brown and crispy, tossing half way through.  Remove from oven and combine with wheat berries. 

LAST  Toss wheat berries with cherries, pecans, bacon, and remaining dressing.  Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Serve room temperature or warm!

Roasted Delicata Squash and Arugula Salad

We love this fall harvest salad with almost any meal.  Delicata squash is easy to slice and roast and adds a slightly sweet, but hearty element to any salad.

Prep Time:  15 minutes
Cook Time:  30 minutes
Yields:  6 servings

• 3 medium delicate squash (about 3 pounds)
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 8 cups baby arugula
• 3 ounce fresh goat cheese, crumbled
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup toasted pecan halves

Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons sherry or red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ¼ cup olive oil

FIRST  Preheat oven to 425°F.  Cut squash into ½-inch slices and scoop seeds out with a spoon.  Coat two rimmed backing sheets with a little olive oil.  Toss squash with brown sugar and oil and spread in a single layer on baking sheets.  Roast for 25-30 minutes, until both sides are golden brown, flipping until half way through.

NEXT  While squash are roasting prepare dressing.  Whisk vinegar, mustard, honey, and oil; season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

LAST  Toss arugula with enough dressing to coat.  Arrange in a large, shallow bowl or platter and top with squash rings, cheese, pomegranate seeds, and pecans.  Serve immediately.

In addition to these excellent recipes, check out some of our favorite at home workouts! You can find workouts and workout videos on our website HERE and videos on YouTube HERE! We hope that you will check them out and use them during the holidays! 

Continue to honor your body this weekend by putting in-season, nutrient-dense vegetables on your dinner plate! We would love to have you sweat and get those muscles toned before the game, join us 8 AM on Saturday morning! You can find more recipes, workouts, and inspiration on our TransFit app! 

Next week we will be open Monday, Tuesday, and for two sessions on Wednesday! We will be CLOSED Thursday and Friday, but open for session on Saturday morning!

Wednesday will be the LAST day to weigh in for Holiday Extravaganza! The pot is HUGE this year but our hope is everyone will get their money back in January! We have amazing prizes for the top 20 biggest losers! 

 Check out our new SPECIAL LIMITED -TIME Transformational Holiday Bundle with three of our favorite eBooks. Check out how you can transform in body, mind, and spirit over the holidays HERE! 

We look forward to seeing you in the studio! 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit