ELENA MCCOWN
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Living Life Balanced Blog

Dry Branch Wetland Trail

7/25/2019

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Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland is a natural area that was created to remove pollutants from stormwater and to help reduce flooding. Luckily, we also get to benefit from the beauty of the small park as well! It is more of a place to take a peaceful nature walk vs getting in any intense exercise but it is still a great place to visit and get moving! The entire path is a little under a half mile (.4 mile) and has a 36 ft ascent.

The park is right on the corner of the Moores Lane/Franklin Road intersection. If you are looking at the Canterfield of Franklin (a senior community) from Moores Lane, the entrance to the park is to the right of the building and parking lot. You can enter 7015 Moores Ln, Brentwood, TN 37027 in your GPS to take you close (but not exactly there). I have attached a picture of what the entrance looks like right now. It looks like you shouldn't drive there but you can! There is a tiny paved entrance that immediately turns into a large grass area where you can park.

Right by the entrance you will see a bridge with the 1st sign with information on the park. The trail has information on the wetland posted all around so you can learn what is around you and how it all works on your walk! You will walk on the grass trail, proceed down to the pier to read more about the ecosystem around you and pass over a few bridges before returning to the parking area. Be on the lookout for unique plants, insects and animals! I noticed a bee stand on the other side of the Gateway Community Church entrance (
The first time I went to this park I actually couldn't figure out where the real entrance was so I ended up parking at this church) and saw a few bucks, bunnies and a lot of birds and bugs. 

If you are looking for a peaceful trail to walk and enjoy nature - come and see what Dry Branch Wetland has to offer!


Find more paths, trails and places to hike/run/walk in Williamson County, TN here! â€‹
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Entrance from Moores Lane
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Parking Area
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Info Sign
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail Pier
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail Pier
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail Info Sign
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Bees and Deer (Opposite the Trail)
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail Entrance from Gateway Community Church
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail Info Sign
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail Bridge
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail Bridge
Dry Branch Wetland Trail: Parks, Paths and Trail around Williamson County, TN highlighted by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Dry Branch Wetland Trail
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Baked Chicken with Rice and Broccoli

7/25/2019

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This is another of our go-to recipes when we don't feel like planning or thinking about what to eat. We normally have frozen chicken and rice on hand so those weeks where we don't want to put in much effort, we can still make a basic, healthy meal. This is a great recipe for a beginner cook or just for those busy nights!
Baked Chicken with Rice and Broccoli: Gluten-free and dairy-free recipes and meal plans by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Servings: 4
Prep/Total Time: 35

Ingredients:
  • 16 oz chicken breasts
  • ½ Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 4 servings instant brown rice – no salt added, prepared according to directions
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp garlic, minced
  • Dash of salt and pepper

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
  3. Arrange chicken breasts in dish and rub oil on each piece and then season with the garlic, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
  4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until they reach 165F and are no longer pink inside.
  5. At the same time, prepare the broccoli by placing foil on a baking sheet and tossing broccoli with oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook along with the chicken, or for about 20 minutes and edges are crispy.
  6. Season the rice with a dash of salt, pepper and 1 Tbsp oil.
  7. Serve chicken next to the rice and broccoli.

​​If you like this recipe, download the Prepear app for more of my recipes (plus thousands of others), meal planning, grocery list creating AND grocery ordering from Walmart!
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California Chicken Sandwich

7/25/2019

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When it comes to lunch recipes I like to keep it pretty simple. I don't want to spend a ton of time prepping for the week. What I tend to do most often is plan my lunch for the week and have it overlap with what I am making for dinner on Sunday. That way, I don't have to cook a bunch of different recipes on Sunday...I want to enjoy my weekends doing fun things and that normally doesn't involve cooking all day. While that can be fun on certain occasions, I just don't want to put too much time into it for a normal work week and I know you probably don't either. So for this chicken sandwich I ended up making something with chicken for dinner on Sunday and made an additional 12 servings of just the chicken for the week for Josh and I. I kept the flavors pretty basic and simple so we could switch it up in different recipes if we wanted - baked potato with veggies and chicken, chicken fajita/burrito/rice bowl, chicken salad, a chopped salad, chicken with rice and broccoli, etc. But normally we just keep it simple and stick with sandwiches. This sandwich is great paired with some chips and fruit to make it a complete meal! We end up leaving 1-2 days worth of chicken in the fridge and then freeze the rest. We take the chicken out of the freezer a day or so ahead of time so it can thaw and be ready to heat up again quick before we eat it. 
California Chicken Sandwich: Gluten-free and dairy-free recipes and meal plans by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Servings: 6
Prep/Total Time: 35

Ingredients:
  • 24 oz chicken breasts
  • 3/4 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 12 slices gluten-free bread
  • 6 large lettuce leaves
  • 3 small tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • 6 tsp mustard
  • 6 servings baked/pop chips
  • 3 cups blueberries 

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Rub chicken with the olive oil on all sides and place on the baking sheet.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the spices together and rub all over the chicken.
  4. Bake for 25-30 minutes (depending on the thickness of your chicken).
  5. Remove from oven, let cool and slice chicken diagonally into thin slices.
  6. Divide the chicken, lettuce, tomato, avocado and mustard between the 6 sandwiches.
  7. Serve with 1 serving of chips and 1/2 cup of blueberries.

​​If you like this recipe, download the Prepear app for more of my recipes (plus thousands of others), meal planning, grocery list creating AND grocery ordering from Walmart!
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Mediterranean Fish Parcels

7/24/2019

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While I do enjoy cooking, I don't want to spend my whole night making dinner and I especially don't want to spend the rest of the night cleaning up and doing dishes. I try to create recipes that are not only healthy and delicious - but quick to make and easy to clean up! That is how this recipe was born. I love fish and try to eat it a few times a week. Honestly, I don't like touching and preparing raw meat or fish and it is something Josh does a lot of the time while I do the sides. BUT when I do make the full meal, I try to do it in a way where I don't have to handle it that much so I tend to bake a lot of my proteins. This meal is so easy because while you are cooking the fish and veggies in the oven, the quinoa is cooking on the stove. In about 20 minutes, you have a fancy looking, fresh meal!
Mediterranean Fish Parcels: Gluten-free and dairy-free recipes by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Servings: 4
Prep/Total Time: 20

Ingredients:
  • 8 cups spinach
  • 4 4 oz mahi mahi fillets (or your favorite white fish like halibut or cod)
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 16 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 4 Tbsp white wine
  • Dash of salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 4 servings quinoa, cooked according to package directions.

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. Cut 4 large squares of parchment paper.​
  3. Place spinach and a fish fillet in the center of each piece of parchment. Arrange a lemon slice on top of each fillet and evenly divide the tomatoes, olives and garlic among the parcels.
  4. Drizzle with olive oil and white wine. Sprinkle with a dash of salt, pepper and the basil. 
  5. Wrap each parcel by rolling the top and sides together like a tootsie roll wrapper with no gaps.
  6. Place parcels on a baking sheet and cook for 10-15 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
  7. Add quinoa to each plate and top with parcel ingredients. Drizzle with remaining parcel liquid.

If you like this recipe, download the Prepear app for more of my recipes (plus thousands of others), meal planning, grocery list creating AND grocery ordering from Walmart!
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

7/18/2019

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You can never have enough snack recipes or ideas! My clients are always asking for help in the snack department so I decided to whip these up as inspiration. While they are definitely a healthier option than most store bought granola bars, they are still more useful as an alternative to sweets and are perfect in moderation as a sweet snack :) They are easy to make and taste delicious! While they are soft, they are hearty and can still be a tad bit crumbly. I try not to be too obsessive about all of the ingredients in store bought items because let's face it, not everything is perfect and I just don't have the time to research every little ingredient and worry about it. There are still certain things I try to limit (but I don't obsess over it if I can't find something without it) - like anything with soy and natural flavors. Of course there are a ton of other things I could name BUT unfortunately these 2 things seems to show up in a lot of the "healthy" foods/drinks I see in the grocery stores. So if I can't seem to find the things I want, I make them myself (or I just buy them in moderation). Depending on the type of oats and chocolate chips you use (like the ones I mention below), these bars are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. I hope you enjoy these little sweet snacks!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan. Recipe by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Servings: 12
Prep/Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes 

Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter (I used this one from Costco)
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 cups quick oats (I used gluten-free sprouted quick oats from Sprouts, but you can use any kind)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used these from Target)

Directions:
  1. Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a pan over medium heat, mix together the peanut butter, maple syrup and coconut oil until it starts to simmer.
  3. Remove from heat and add in the oats, cinnamon and salt. Mix until well blended.
  4. Place in the fridge for about 15 minutes to cool (so it doesn't melt the chocolate chips).
  5. Remove from the fridge and mix in the chocolate chips. 
  6. Dump mixture into prepared pan and press down using the back of a spoon until level.
  7. Place in fridge for at least an hour before removing and cutting into 12 bars.
  8. I like to store these in the fridge in a large container or little baggies for 3-4 days. If I want them to last longer I will put them in the freezer in individual baggies and remove about 30 minutes or so prior to eating.

If you like this recipe, download the Prepear app for more of my recipes (plus thousands of others), meal planning, grocery list creating AND grocery ordering from Walmart!
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    Elena McCown, LLC Health Coach in Franklin, TN

    About Me

    I am a food loving, activity seeking health coach who resides in Franklin, TN with my husband and two sweet dogs (Lola & Penny).
    ​

    Allergies

    I believe everyone should eat balanced and not cut food groups if you don't medically need to. All foods can fit in a healthy diet. Unfortunately, I have to avoid gluten and also limit myself with dairy, so my goal is to provide healthy, gluten-free/dairy-free recipes so EVERYONE can enjoy all foods, even if you do have to cut out certain food groups. My recipes are encouraged for everyone to eat, not just for those with sensitivities/allergies! Most of my recipes can be easily converted by using real dairy and whole-wheat in place of my allergy-free substitutes. 

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Elena McCown, LLC Health Coach in Franklin, TN
  • Home
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    • Prepear App
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