Thoughts & Tips for Natural Birth: Part Two

Hey friends,

Last time, I wrote an introduction post with my personal thoughts on Natural Birth.
If you missed it, feel free to read part one HERE.

Today, I'm sharing with you part two, tips from my own personal experience.

Again..
I do NOT have all the answers.
I'm a first time mom, & therefore, NO expert.

However.
I BELIEVE in our bodies.
Because I know who made them.

I know what worked for me.
And I know what I plan to do the next time.
Because babies are like pringles & it's hard to just have one :)

So here you go..
& feel free to share if you think it'll help a mama to be!

_________________________________________
{in no particular order}

1. Make sure you TRUST your provider..

Not just "feeling comfortable" with them, but truly trusting that they understand & respect your plan & goals.

This might mean seeing SEVERAL people within a practice - and that's A-OK!

This is a special LIFE moment that you will want to feel supported & understood in.

Ask questions.

Trust your gut (as always).

Find your PERSON.

I will tell you from my own experience, that I saw an OB for almost the entire first half of my pregnancy with Raegan. He had helped me at the end of my miscarriage previously, so I definitely had a certain level of trust established with him. However, when I asked him some "interview" type questions regarding his C-section rate, his beliefs/philosophy on natural birth & a few other things - I left KNOWING that I needed to find someone who would without a doubt be my advocate. He wasn't bad by any means, but he wasn't my person.

That's when I started seeing midwives.

I found my favorite, whom I chose to see for nearly all of my remaining appointments.

I made an effort though to meet the other two midwives in the practice, incase one of them happened to be working overnight the day I gave birth.

Low & behold..

My midwife of choice was coming off her overnight shift from the previous evening the day my water broke at my appointment with her (THAT sure was an exciting & eventful day - start reading my birth story HERE).

Another midwife who I fortunately had already met & shared my birth plan with checked on me & "caught" Raegan.

I would have loved to see my primary provider, BUT everything ended up being totally fine - because I was familiar with her, she knew where I stood AND I had... a birth plan!

That brings me to #2..

2. Have a birth plan!!

Does that sound daunting to write out?

Good news!

It's not at all!

I actually used a template I found online {check it out HERE}.

It helped me stay on track & keep things very streamlined + organized.

Here's the deal.

You might catch some kick back if you mention this plan to others.

I know I sure did when I posted about mine on social media.

I didn't even share the details, because it's not really anyone's business.

Just the mention of it seemed to rouse opinions, for whatever reason.

I think some people have a hard time with the concept of planning something like birth.

But why the heck WOULDN'T you?

I mean gosh, we plan our meals & daily schedule.

Yeah, things change & we adjust.

Why don't we view birth the same way?

I digress..

Here's what people need to understand.

A birth plan doesn't just have your ideal "scenario A," documented.

It also doesn't mean you're naive or living in a dream world.

Although, YES, focus on what you hope for!

A birth plan means you have focused goals & personal wishes.

Which is AWESOME sauce.

A birth plan DOES also include "scenarios B & C."

For things that COULD arise - like an emergency C section, interventions, if the baby has any major issues, complications during afterbirth & so on.

Make multiple copies of your birth plan & be sure your partner {or doula/birth coach} is very familiar with it - they will more than likely have to be your voice at some point during the process while you're LAZER focused on the "task" at hand or totally engulfed in that precious new arrival.

If this seems like overkill, I promise you that it's not.

Finally, share one of those five copies upon your arrival with the staff members!

You can even have it sitting out in your room.

Unfortunately, some of the hospital staff may be annoyed as well with your birth plan or how prepared/knowledgable you are for your experience. I'm not sure exactly WHY this is the case, but it really DOES happen.

No fear. There's always something you can DO.

We buttered our nursing team up a bit - a team that was actually WONDERFUL!

I planned a goodie bag of items a couple of weeks before my due date. I got everything ready & the things I couldn't have sitting out, went on my "go list" of things to grab before we left the hospital.

{Yes, I was MEGA organized. I'll post another time about how I prepped!}

I brought some superfood packets they could shake up in water for a quick meal.

I had healthy homemade muffins in the freezer that Nate grabbed on our way out the door.

We came locked & loaded with two big bags of dove chocolates.

& we had about 6 starbucks gift cards sitting in our room to give to our nurses - we had two per day during our stay.

Maybe it's a little shameless bribery.

Or maybe it's a token of true appreciation.

Actually, it's both.

Whatever it is..

It works!

But girl.

The moral of this LONGGGGG tip is:

Have a birth plan.

No explanation needed for the naysayers.

This is YOUR experience.

Be prepared - for the best & "worst" case scenarios.

The birth of your baby is kindddddddd of a big deal.

3. Get familiar with your body & the process.

Being familiar with the physiological part of birth & knowing exactly what is going to happen or has to happen for that baby to come out, means fewer surprises {and therefore, fewer reasons to be anxious} during the process.

Knowledge is power.
And if you do your due diligence, you will know the mountain ahead of you.
And you will be prepared to conquer it.

My GOSH was this helpful..

I understood what my body was doing in the weeks leading up to giving birth - my hips loosening, seeing my mucous plug, etc.

Nate & I understood the stages of labor.
I actually had him read some with me & he took his own notes so he knew what to expect + how to help me (he was my birthing coach, BTW).

We both FULLY understood the birth process & what needed to happen afterwards.

Gal, you have MONTHS to prepare for that baby coming.
Don't just let the time pass & twiddle your thumbs at the end.
Empower yourself with knowledge.
I PROMISE you'll be so glad you did!!

4. Exude true CONFIDENCE.

You better be confident..

In the woman you are.
In the important role you play.
In the task you are fully equipped to accomplish.

CONSTANTLY remind yourself..

Your body was created to do this.
It is SO natural - don't for a second doubt your abilities.

Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time.
Before hospitals. Before modern prenatal care. Before lamaze classes.
Women were giving birth. Like bosses.
You're in great company.

God fearfully & wonderfully made you to be a child-bearing machine.

Take some time to read birth stories to get yourself excited!!

I personally LOVED that the first 100+ pages of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth was full of natural birth stories.
Not just picture-perfect stories, but REAL LIFE stories where midwives helped support mommas & GUIDE babies into the world.

5. Stay active!!

Most women don't realize that 30 minutes of daily activity is actually RECOMMENDED for expectant mothers!!

This activity can range anywhere from taking a walk to doing crossfit every day.

Let me explain this a bit.

What you did BEFORE you got pregnant - you can maintain, unless your provider recommends otherwise.

So.

If you were lightly or rarely active before, then how about 30 minutes of walking 5x a week.
If you were taking gym classes regularly, several days a week - don't stop.
If you were religiously crushing weights or cross fit - go for it, girl.

The heart rate rule that I'm sure you've all heard/read at one time or another is mostly out the window nowadays. Just make sure you BREATHE freely, can talk while you're exercise (usually a good indicator that your body isn't too stressed) & stay VERY hydrated. If you feel like you need to rest - rest. Be intuitive!

Once you're into your second & third trimesters, you will likely need to begin modifying various movements to be sure you are staying balanced & not overworking your core.

Questions?

Google it!
A WEALTH of information & resources are available!

& always feel free to chat with your physician.
But DON'T be scared to stay active.

I was finishing a bootcamp style program when we FIRST conceived Raegan.
Then, I did a kickboxing program the whole rest of my first trimester.
I'm not sure if anyone would ACTUALLY recommend that, BUT I felt very comfortable because I was purposefully VERY active before getting pregnancy.

(EQUALLY as important, but a whole other post..

Take those prenatal vitamins & eat healthy, ladies.
Pregnancy is NOT an excuse to indulge constantly.
There seems to be confusion in the extra calories needed.
You aren't eating for two humans, you really only need a few hundred extra daily calories!
And those extra calories don't need to be from cheeseburgers on the daily.

Now, if you're having terrible morning sickness & can only eat baked potatoes for a few weeks - then do what you gotta do to get something in your belly, gal. Otherwise, don't you dare just let it all go. You deserve better.. and so does that sweet baby inside of you. Go for 80/20 - have your whacky treats/cravings here & there, but try and stay disciplined 6 days a week! If you need tips, email lindseykollar@yahoo.com)

6. Begin stretching diligently.

(like a month before your due date at least)

I had a list of a few stretches I did every night, the month leading up to my due date, before bed & right before I practiced my breathing. Nate actually stretched WITH me to ensure that I did it. I know, He's the BEST.

These stretches helped certain things looses up & made me more flexible for birth!

Do them.

7. Practice breathing.

For reals.
Like this might be in the top two tips.

Set an alarm each night to practice your breathing techniques.
Then use a timer on your phone, close your eyes & focus.

Anddddd if your spouse is your partner/coach, they need to practice with you!

I used these techniques the ENTIRE time I was in labor!!

My midwife & nurse actually told Nate during the couple of hours before birth, that I had some of the most control they had ever seen.

Methodic breathing made ALL the difference, helping me working WITH my body.

8. Visualize your birth.

Calm down.

Although a foreign concept to most, this isn't weird at all.

Some of the most SUCCESSFUL people in the world make visualization & affirmations a part of their daily routine.

Because what you TRULY believe/focus on/think about does often impact your reality.

Just close you eyes & try for a moment.

Picture your labor.

Picture the birth of your precious baby.

{my momma hormones are making me almost cry just thinking about this again}

Here was a short example of mine:

I see a strong woman embracing labor - breathing WITH each contraction - opening & stretching freely as the baby moves down - pushing intuitively - staying focused & confident. Bringing a HEALTHY & aware baby into the world.

Being empowered & elated.

Accomplishing the greatest task of my life.

9. Have a coach.

Whether it be your significant other or a hired doula - get yourself a coach!

A coach is "simply" an individual PREPARED & knowledgable, who will support you & be your advocate.

You better trust them too, just as much as your provider.
Because they are going to go through more of your labor with you than your OB or midwife!

When considering your significant other as a coach or interviewing doulas, remember what you will want & need..

Someone who will stick with you when it's hard - who will remain focused & calm - who will remind you of the prize ahead - who will empower you!

Shout out to my husband, Nate, who was ALL of these things and more.
We planned for MONTHS to have a doula.
But as we entered the third trimester, we discussed doing it just the two of us.
We prepared together & Nate took his role very seriously.
He was AMAZING & I wouldn't have wanted it any other way!!
Love you, sweetie.

I'm going to beat a dead horse here.
Make sure your designated coach is aware of your birth plan & personal goals!
If you're saying "I know, I know." Good!

If you choose your significant to be your coach, be sure they do some reading/research.
Dog ear pages as you read, for them to check out later!

It's important for them to have a grasp on what's going on, rather than just trusting the information you may have shared.

To prepare for our experience, Nate read bits about what was going to happen to my body + the stages of labor (so he knew what to expect & what to tell me was coming up next) from each of the books I read myself.

Another way we were ready that's worth mentioning..

At the suggestion of our wonderful midwife, we had a code word that we created the day my water broke for the CHANCE that I changed my mind about medication or anything else during birth & wanted to deviate from my birth plan.

Nate & my midwife knew I could ONLY use that word when I was not in the middle of a contraction - so I wouldn't be compromising my goals for temporal discomfort or fatigue.

We didn't choose this word actually until AFTER my water broke, because we both knew the chances of using it were slim since we were both so determined.

BUT, we still had one, since you just never know & we were committed to being prepared!

10. Have liquids {& food} available.

During stage two, since I took the "express route" & basically skipped stage one, of labor at home, I ate a little watermelon for energy & a little sugar.

During stage three, the hardest part, I didn't want food at all.

So I drank a decent amount of water for hydration & apple juice for energy & sugar!

Shout out to my mom who made all of my beverage runs. Love you, momma!

My midwife had actually recommended clean snacks like Larabars & plain fruit or popsicles, which we had packed just in case.

Trust me - you need your strength & energy.

And if you're going natural, being able to eat & drink is a "perk" you'll want to take advantage of!

11. Labor in the position that's most comfortable.

For me, that was on my hands and knees on the floor or bed almost the entire time!!

I actually think this, combined with methodical breathing through contractions, quickened my progress & shortened labor!

For reference..
My water broke around 9:30am.
My intense labor began around 4 or 5pm.
We left for the hospital at 8:45pm.
I gave birth to my sweet Reagan at 1:51am the next morning.

I took a warm bath at the hospital for a little while (this is what I thought I'd most prefer), but it was really really intense & made me progress even more quickly than I was already.

So I got out & got back on my hands & knees. 

Everyone is different!

Be open minded.

Listen to your body.  

12. Rest.

I know that probably sounds CRAZY.

But I promise..

Rest BEFORE - in the weeks leading up to your due date.

{I know you're probably mega pregnant reading this & thinking does she REMEMBER what it was like trying to sleep being this pregnant?! Ha, yes I do. Try harder.}

And rest, if you can, during early labor to save your energy for when things get a bit "intense."

After my water broke, and after I did 45 minutes weight lifting, Nate & I went to lunch.
Boy was that fun trying not to leave puddles.. HA

Then, with a partial full belly of food, we came home & took a 30 minute nap together before my contractions (which were previously very regular braxton hicks - or so I thought) really started.

I KNOW that rest was important!

13. Control what you LISTEN to.

People.

Yikes.

People LOVE to talk about their experience.

Which is fine.

Except for when it's not.

And when you're a soon to be momma, preparing for birth.

You do NOT need to hear horror stories.

There's a time to openly share those.

But that intense season of prep right before your due date is not the time.

But people often don't have a filter.

So YOU have to filter things & control what you listen to.

Bless their hearts.

They might mean well.

But this is NOT helpful.

Take it from me - and LOTS of other women who are more versed in this field - it is WISE to begin to filter what you take in.

Because what you FOCUS on E X P A N D S.

So if someone starts to share a negative experience with you, consider saying something like "I'd love to hear more about your story sometime, but right now I'm really staying positive and trying to focus on my ideal experience for a positive mindset."

There ain't NOTHIN' wrong with that, gal.

Because mindset really does matter.

You're educated on what COULD happen.

You have a birth plan for A, B & C.

But you need to focus & visualize plan A..

Staying positive, optimistic, empowered, confident + focused!

14. Scripture!

I encourage you to have several scripture verses picked out that you can refer back to during pregnancy & then later during labor + delivery.

I personally kept {& still do keep} several of my favorites on index cards, taped to the side of my nightstand.

Verses about God's faithfulness, not being anxious or fearful & His peace.

Here are just a few of mine that you're willing to look up & use.

Philippians 4:6

Colossians 1:16,17

Psalms 29:11

Isaiah 26:3

Joshua 1:9

Nate wrote out some of BOTH our favorites on index cards that he kept with his

notes for labor.

He read a few of these to me between the final part of delivery, while I was pushing.

You could even make a play list full of praise music to keep on softly in the background!

There's nothing like being able to draw strength during such an intense time from truths & promises directly from the One who created you.

Talk about powerful!

_________________________________________

PHEW.

Is anyone still reading this?

I hope that was helpful in some way.

I could have kept typing, but I had to stop myself when I realized that my tips were growing from 5.. to 12.. & then 14.

If you want to chat more, feel free to find me on Facebook HERE & reach out!

Lastly!!

Many of you have asked what I read to prepare for our natural birth.

Books:

I LOVED "Hypnobirthing: the Monogan Method" (I didn't follow visualization process very much, BUT the breathing techniques I did to a T and there was SUCH great info about the process in that book).

Also, "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth," which I mentioned above, was also WONDERFUL!!

It had AWESOME, empowering stories for the first 100 pages that gave me loads of confidence in my body, followed by lots of good info afterwards!

As I read, I bookmarked certain chapters for my husband Nate to read.

If you reach out, I'm happy to share with you what those were.

Essentially, it was any of the chapters on what he could do to help me

& what we could both expect out of my body during the process.

Okay.

That's REALLY all for now.

If I think of several more things, maybe there will be a part three to this series!

HA

But listen, ladies..

DON'T you DARE doubt yourself or your body.

You are so incredibly capable!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful & incredible birth experience.

Please feel free to share it with me.

Blessings!

Thoughts & Tips for Natural Birth: Part One

Natural Birth.

Kind of an oxymoron if you really think about it.

The most natural act in all of nature, after sex/procreation, is childbirth.

And yet, we are raised nowadays with a new way of thinking.

A way of thinking in which a natural birth {vaginal & unmedicated} is optional & is the exception, rather than the norm.

Because of modern medicine & technology, both of which are wonderful & serve an important purpose in our world, we have been made to believe that birth is more of a medical process than a natural one.

We've accepted, usually without even realizing, that we will need the assistance of medical professionals &/or multiple interventions when the time comes.

I myself assumed this for years, after watching movies & hearing lots of stories.

The plot in each was usually the about the same.

Women got pregnant.
Their husbands were clueless & frantic.
The expectant mothers are screaming & cursing in pain.

And they are portrayed to ultimately need doctors, medicines & machines or devices to help birth their babies

Am I right?

Through early adulthood, after a few careless years of "living it up", I've begun to live more & more conscientiously.

I truly believe in caring for our bodies.

Doing so in a natural way - simply helping it thrive.

Because we have been fearfully & wonderfully created.
We are but stewards of AMAZING, strong, capable, intelligent bodies that we've been entrusted with.

Fast forward to getting pregnant the first time.
(read more about my pregnancies & journey through miscarriage HERE)

I started thinking..

"I know I was made to do this.. but..
I wonder why some women CHOOSE natural births vs births with some sort of medical interventions.. does it matter? And what do I want."

I did some.. er, LOTS of.. googling.
I consulted some trustworthy friends.
I ordered a few books.

I knew that I was interested in the pursuit of natural living - this adventure would be a continuation.

The more I read..
The more epiphanies I had.
The more I understood my body.
The more confidence I developed in myself.
The more excited I got to "train" over the next 9 months.
The more I questioned the widespread fear amongst my peers.

Was I missing something?

I mean.. we are the ONLY mammals that don't birth our babies like it's our J-O-B.

Our culture, compared to others around the world who have been less influenced by media or who have had less access to modern medicine, is the one that has taken this mindset & embraced it as normal.

Why are we fearful of something so innately natural?

Something so beautiful?

Something we were chosen to do as women?

A multitude of thoughts continually flooded my mind..

Then, it hit me.

I'm only half of this picture.

Oh gosh..

I have to talk to Nate.

And what will he think!?

The first time I brought it up to him, he was a little defensive & had some concerns.

"But women do it this way all the time."
"What if something happens."
"There's nothing wrong with medicine or doctors - shouldn't you trust the professionals?"
"You don't want one of those home water births, do you?" 

You know.. all the things you'd probably expect - he felt & shared.

I told him I understood where he was coming from.
But I asked if he would do something for me.

I asked him to watch "The Business of Being Born" together.
So we did.

It empowered me further.

And it OPENED his eyes in a big way.

It was what we both needed to decide if we would keep having this discussion.

After we watched it, his mantra became "if this is what you want, I totally understand & completely support you." He even began to embrace the idea himself!

But hang on a second..

Why did it take the internet & documentaries for both of us though to alter our mindset?

Nate & I are both God-fearing, bible believing Christians.

Didn't we know that this is what women were LITERALLY created by God to do?

Yep.
And still.
Nope.

Our culture, y'all..
Gosh, it's powerful.
How we are raised & nurtured really truly shapes us.

Simply said..

Influence is power.

And because of that influence over time.

The numbers in our country are staggering.

Our c-section rate..
often times forced on women who are TIRED & simply trusting the experts in a time of EXHAUSTION.

The number of birth related mortalities..
comparatively to other countries.

Heck, the fact that so many women, well before their due dates, schedule an induction around their own personal schedules..

I'm not trying to judge or belittle anyone - but think about how much this deviates from our natural process.

Listen to me.

I am NOT knocking situations in which things happen that are out of our control in which intervention is absolutely needed.
I'm extremely grateful it's available in case I had needed any of it when Raegan was born.

But I am saying that we seem to have forgotten how amazing our bodies are & what they are capable of - with little to no prompting or assistance.

Why doesn't this light a FIRE within us!?

I believe it all starts in the mind.

With understanding, appreciation & the removal of fear.

I spent my entire pregnancy strengthening my body & most importantly - rewiring my mind.
Continually LEARNING & working my confidence muscles.

"Natural birth" is fairly simple, in reality.

And YES, it's hard as HECK.

But it's amazing.. & so so doable.

Here's the deal though.

You've gotta WANT to do it for some other reason than "just because."

And while our bodies don't necessarily need lots of fancy prep-work, our minds DO.

So be willing to put in some time to prepare.

My experience was one I'll never forget.

I'm SO grateful to have had the opportunity..

To get pregnant.
To carry a baby to term.
To birth her without any serious complications.
To remember it.
To have experienced it so fully.
To have had a newborn so ALERT.

It was NOTHING short of amazing.
(to read my birth story, click HERE)

I've been asked from my own reading & experience to share a bit with my readers.
But before I did that, I needed to share my heart & mind with you.
You needed to know my WHY & where I was coming from.

So stay tuned TOMORROW for part two of this post - some tips, in no particular order, that I'd like to share with other mommas who are in a season of preparation.

You can do this, momma.

Believe in yourself & your body.

#MotivationMonday : My 9 Week Postpartum Progress

#MotivationMonday

It's time for a progress update & a healthy little self shout out!

Here I am, two & a half weeks into my current program, and I'm celebrating FEELING more like myself..

I'm feeling stronger, less fluffy & a bit more confident in my skin.

Here's the deal 

👇🏻
I'm not doing anything fancy or grueling.

I'm simply sticking to my commitment, doing my best & using tools that work when I do.

Would you believe I've only lost 1 pound & 2 inches between these two photos??

.. the transformation that's happening in my body now is fat loss + muscle gain.

To heck with numbers dictating our progress.

As far as I'm concerned, THIS is progress I'm proud of 🙌🏻🙌🏻

((Current customers >> SEE why I tell you to snap progress photos!?))

So what's my routine?

1. I do a 25 minute program that requires no equipment, minimal space & can be streamed anywhere.

2. I eat balanced. I don't throw in the towel on the weekends. I FILL myself up with legit, tasty food. No calorie counting. No food skimping.

3. I drink something called shakeology every.single.day. It improves my gut health, decreases cravings & is a super convenient//healthy meal

4. I use an app that allows me to track my physical progress & log my daily activity.. it even reminds me when I haven't posted my workout or shake!

That's all.
It's challenging, yet super simple.

I modify often.
I treat myself occasionally.
I have accountability.
I'm getting results the healthy way 💃🏻

I might be flexing my core in that second photo on the right, BUT I'm SO encouraged to see definition coming in & muscle mass building.. yall. I HAVE a core to flex again 💪🏻🙌🏻😭

#PostpartumMiracles

Want to know more about how you can get started too?

Email me at lindseykollar@yahoo.com or apply HERE for more info!

Zucchini Lasagna Boat Recipe

I saw a recipe recently, well it was actually just a photo with the recipe title on pinterest, for "Spaghetti Squash Lasagna" & thought I HAD to try it!

But when I went to the store to grab the ingredients, they were out of spaghetti squash. That's where the idea to roll with zucchini came from!

So I never actually read the original recipe...

Often times, I'll see a photo of something & just guess on how I can recreate it.

OR I'll read part of the recipe & decide how to make my own version.

You could say that even a quick parooze on pinterest might just inspire my entire weekly meal plan.

(I'm pretty sure I get that food-creativity from my momma!! She taught me while I was growing up to use what you've got & improvise when you can! She also taught me how to look for great sales & stretch your meals.. super valuable lessons!)

That's actually EXACTLY what happened last week.

I pulled up pinterest - saw photos of the spaghetti squash, stuffed peppers, greek salad & a kale, sweet potato, chicken crock pot recipe - jotted down a rough list & ran to the store within an hour!

Okay, so back to the "recipe."

Since I didn't measure anything, we all have to get a bit creative.

Let's all just agree up front to use our imaginations a bit so you can cater this to your taste/what's in your fridge + be willing to go with your gut to decide when it looks about "right."

Deal?

Zucchini Lasagna Boats

Ingredients:

Zucchini

(grab the largest or widest pieces you can find)

Cottage Cheese

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Egg

Seasonings

(I used Himalayan Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes & Dried Parsley)

A marinara or sauce of your choice

So how many veggies do you buy..

I would say to plan for at least one zucchini for each person.

We each had a half when we were eating it as a "side" with some grilled chicken, but could have eaten more & definitely would have if it was our primary entree.

When I made this "recipe," I was only cooking for the two of us. So keep in mind that my LOOSE directions are for two zucchinis/people.

Directions:

1. Wash the zucchini, cut in half (long ways) & scoop out the middle part to create your "boats"

When I scooped out the seeds, it still wasn't quite wide enough. So I used my knife to widen it up a bit, then followed with a spoon to clean it up.

Not going to lie, it about killed me not to have a purpose for the scooped-out pieces. If you're a SUPER creative person, maybe you can come up with some ideas. Maybe buy a little more zucchini & use the left over parts with it for zucchini bread?? I don't know.. but if you're a #FrugalFelicia too, let me know what you decide to try!

Then, I seasoned my veggies with some himalayan salt + pepper & placed in a dish.

(I sprayed my dish with a little coconut oil)

2. Create your FILLING

This is where you're going to have to eye-ball//go with your gut.

Because I'm totally spit-balling here as I estimate what I used.

First, I grabbed my cottage cheese. Let's say I used a cup & a half to two cups for the two of us. However, I had some extra filling I ended up scooping on top.

Next, I cracked one egg into the cottage cheese.

Then, I sprinkled a palm full of shredded mozzarella in.. I saved a a little for the tops too!

Finally, I seasoned the mixture with himalayan salt, pepper & dried parsley.

Stir this until it's completely mixed together.

3. Fill your boats!

Like I said, I ended up being PRETTY generous with how much I put in mine!! I definitely could have stretched it to share with a third zucchini.

4. Top with a marinara or sauce of your choice & sprinkle with a little more shredded mozzarella cheese

I personally used a DELICIOUS mushroom marina that I got one sale (BOGO at publix!). You could use anything though, depending on your tastes. Something plain, spicy, with meat, etc!

5. Bake at 350 degrees covered for 30 minutes.

Then, for uncovered for another 30 minutes OR until zucchini is fork tender & the top is golden brown!

Seriously, it's THAT easy!!

And gosh - it tastes great, is inexpensive to make, is healthy & can be tailored to your tastes!

You could totally prep several of these for extra meals during the week OR this would be an easy meal to prepare if you have several guests coming over!

I already have a few variations in mind to try with this "recipe" in the future:

1. I'd love to add some sautéed spinach and/or mushrooms to the cottage cheese mixture!

2. I'd love to try mixing in either a browned meat (turkey or grass-fed beef) OR some chopped veggies (like onion, grape tomatoes or mushrooms) into the marinara on top!

I have no doubt that this SAME concussion could easily fill yellow squash, large tomatoes, spaghetti squash, portobello mushrooms OR be a tasty topping with egg plant! You could even slice any of those veggies in a way that would allow you to make more of a traditional, layered veggie lasagna!

Be sure to let me know if you try any variations of this recipe that turn out extra tasty.

Bon Appetite!

{be sure to SHARE this recipe with your friends!}