3 RECIPES FOR GETTING LEAN AND MEAN

If you can't handle another Tupperware lunch of chicken and rice, then we can help you out. Here are three delicious recipes that will support your summer shred goals!

Sometimes we feel like it's time to cut the fat. Unless you have god-like genetics, you're going to have to cut calories.

Don't run away yet. Cutting diets don't have to be dry, bland, or boring. You may not be able to enjoy the tasty treats you allow yourself during a bulk, but there are more than enough ways to spice up your lower-carb and lower-fat meals.

Here are three of my favorite recipes for getting lean and mean!

1

 MEXICAN FRITTATA

If you've never had frittata, your life is about to get a lot better. It's kind of like a cross between an omelet and a quiche. It comes out in the shape of a pie, and you can slice it like a pie, but there's no crust—just eggs, egg whites, veggies, and maybe a little cheese if your macros allow. It's one of the perfect cutting foods for a low-carb diet!

While the name frittata is Italian, this version has a Mexican twist. Most dieters avoid Mexican food altogether since so many restaurant dishes contain chips, tortillas, tons of oil, and lots and lots of cheese. But, with this recipe, you can enjoy your favorite Mexican flavors without screwing up your diet.

Ingredients

• 4 Whole Eggs
• 1 8-oz. carton of Liquid Egg Whites
• 1 Green Bell Pepper, sliced
• 1/2 White Onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 Tomato, diced
• Cumin, Oregano, Salt, Chili Powder to taste (you can also just use a packet of Taco Seasoning)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Heat a large, non-stick, oven-safe saute pan on high.
3. Saute bell pepper and onion in olive oil until soft. Gradually add spices.
4. Remove from heat.
5. In a separate bowl, mix eggs and egg whites and then pour on top of pepper and onion mixture.
6. Sprinkle diced tomatoes.
7. Put pan into preheated oven.
8. Cook for 10-12 minutes.
9. If your diet allows for some extra fats, you can top the frittata with some guacamole, jack cheese, or both. You can also top with your favorite hot sauce or salsa.

NUTRITION FACTS
Recipe Makes: 2 servings

Amount per serving

Calories 302

Total Fat16.3g

Total Carbs14g

Protein26.5g

2

 GINGER BASIL CHICKEN AND RICE

This easy recipe is perfect for a post-workout meal. Chicken and rice is one of the most common bodybuilding diet meals, but most guys make it boring and bland as hell. Fortunately, just a few additions can make it into a meal that tastes almost like a delicious restaurant stir-fry, just without all the oil, cornstarch, and sugar.

Ingredients

• 8 oz. Chicken Breast, thinly sliced (or more if you're cooking in bulk)
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 Carrot, thinly sliced
• 1 cup Broccoli, broken into small florets
• 1 tbsp Canola Oil
• 2 cloves minced Garlic
• 1 tbsp grated Ginger or Ginger Paste
• 5 large Basil Leaves, chopped
• Soy Sauce, to taste
• Cooked White Rice, amount dependent on carbohydrate and calorie needs

Directions

1. Cook peppers, carrots, and broccoli in olive oil until desired doneness.
2. Once veggies are cooked, add chicken breast slices, and cook until chicken is just about done.
3. Add garlic, ginger, and soy sauce.
4. Remove from heat and mix in chopped basil leaves.
5. Mix with white rice.
6. If desired, add honey, cilantro, green onions, and lime juice.

NUTRITION FACTS

Amount per serving

Calories 487

Total Fat17.1g

Total Carbs24.1g

Protein59.2g

3

 PUMPKIN PROTEIN "ICE CREAM"

This last recipe is a low-cal, filling treat for those of you with a sweet tooth. It's not really ice cream, but the taste and texture are certainly close enough! Plus, the addition of pumpkin adds lots of volume without too many extra calories—a perfect trick for the dieting, hungry bodybuilder.

One difference between this "ice cream" and regular homemade ice cream is that you donot want to let it firm up in the freezer. Since it hardly has any sugar or fat —just a lot of water content—it will end up more like an ice block than ice cream. Eat it right out of the ice cream maker like soft serve.

Ingredients

• 1 can Pumpkin
• 16 oz Greek Yogurt
• Your favorite Sweetener
• Cinnamon and Nutmeg to taste
• 1 cup Almond Milk or Skim Milk
• Salt to taste

Directions

1. Blend pumpkin, yogurt, milk, sweetener, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
2. Pour into ice cream maker and churn until frozen.
3. Enjoy!

NUTRITION FACTS
Recipe makes: 2 servings

Amount per serving

Calories 308

Total Fat12g

Total Carbs27g

Protein23g