Pesto Tilapia

For the last 2 weeks I’ve been feeling fantastic…and of course, food has everything to do with it. Food always has everything to do with it. You know the saying “you are what you eat”? Well, I think its 100% accurate; not only physically, but mentally as well. If you eat right not only do you look better, but you also feel better; better in terms of digestion, sleep, energy and health-wise. So why am I feeling this good, you may ask? Let me tell you, these last weeks I’ve been cutting down sugars (honey, unsweetened chocolate chips, fruits, etc.) and trying not to consume solids past 9pm. My reasons are plenty.Sugars bloat me up, make me feel tired (the sugar low after the sugar high) and give me cravings. Eating past 9pm brings me (believe it or not) nightmares and a lot of tossing and turning at night. Not good. Plus, when I eat late, I feel so full that it’s uncomfortable for me to even lie down.I needed to put an end to all of that, and so I did. Don’t you love how there are always solutions to problems, and it all boils down to choices? Choosing to be healthier, to feel better, to have more energy, to have a stronger immune system…it’s all up to us! In order to be able to maintain these two changes I’ve made, it’s been crucial for me to set myself up for success. These are a few of the things I do to help me out:

• Eating every 2-3 hours. This is important because if I wait longer to eat, I’ll start craving anything (including what is readily available, like a smoothie at the mall if I’m out shopping).
• Planning ahead. If I know I’ll be out and about I’ll pack a little lunch and take it along with me.
• Designating a cooking day. That way you don’t find yourself ‘foodless’ when its time for your next meal, but instead have plenty of foods to choose from.
• Switching up my veggies and protein. I do this to avoid boredom (“variety is the spice of life”, another great saying I agree with).
• Finding better substitutes for things I usually crave. Examples: If I want Nutella I’ll use sunbutter, which still gives provides me with that same creamy consistency and serves as a nice smooth spread. If I crave a treat, I’ll prepare myself a nice guacamole bowl and accompany it with yummy sweet potato chips.
• Drinking lots of water. Sometimes we think we want food, because we crave something, but in reality it’s just our body letting us know we need to hydrate it. Remember to constantly give your body H2O!
• Keeping physical activity to a minimum as night approaches. I am trying to slow down and take it easy after 7pm, this way my body knows to chill out and uses less energy. When less energy is used, the body burns fewer calories and it doesn’t feel the need to replenish lost calories with more food.

The following recipe is one I came up with to keep protein exciting. We all know how bland tilapia can be, so I added a few magic ingredients and made it shine. So long boredom, welcome good-tasting Pesto Tilapia!!

Get the full recipe here!