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Sarah Coleman: Eat, drink and dance that butt off

Sarah Coleman/For the Steamboat Today
Sarah Coleman brings years of personal health and fitness knowledge to the table as Explore's health and fitness contributor.
Joel Reichenberger

— Its time to eat, drink and get a little jiggy with it! I want to take this week to give you some awesome recipes for your friends and family plus a little wine pairing and easy listening to help create the perfect dining experience.

Feeling thoughtful? Go ahead and make two meals and gift one to a friend. There is plenty to go around and share. All of these recipes are naturally gluten-free, Paleo, dairy-free and super healthy yet really, really, really tasty! How is this possible you ask? Simply follow the recipes below, start cooking and crank the tunes.

Hot and Bothered: Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Shrimp



Sauté 1 cup each diced carrots, celery and red onion.

Add in three cans of fire-roasted tomatoes.



Stir in one can of coconut milk and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add in 2 cups of chopped basil plus black pepper, salt and crushed red pepper to taste.

Let cool and blend until desired thickness. Top with fresh basil and grilled shrimp.

For shrimp: Toss 1 pound of shrimp in olive oil with blackening seasoning, cayenne and smoked paprika. Grill over medium heat. Want to get fancy? Skewer it up and place over soup. Plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day.

Wine pairing: Naia, a bright, zesty, crisp Verdejo white wine that goes great with the kick from the tomatoes and shrimp.

Tunes to dance to while cooking (I mean you do need to get a little exercise before you grub): “We Didn’t Start the Fire” Pandora station. Do it and cool down with your white wine!

Sweet and Salty: Chicken Fingers with Sweet Potato Fries

Buy pre-cut chicken strips and dredge in egg wash first and a mixture of almond flour and unsweetened coconut flakes second. Place in a hot pan of olive oil and cook until done.

Meanwhile, cook sliced wedges of peeled sweet potato in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes or until crispy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

For fun dipping sauces, create your own honey mustard with Dijon and maple syrup or try a zesty “ketchup” with tomato paste and Sriracha.

Beer pairing: Try a naturally gluten-free cider like the local Colorado Glider Cider Pearsnickety. Holy moly, it is like beer, chicken fingers and fries all in one healthy package.

For the tunes: Zac Brown for your “Chicken Fried.”

Quick and Easy: Sausage and Peppers

Buy two packages of apple chicken sausages. Hey now, those are already cooked!

Then slice up a bag of mini peppers, two jalapeños and some mushrooms. Sauté or throw in a grill basket. Add in some Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until mushrooms are done.

Serve over quinoa or a bed of spinach. Top with salsa or tomatoes. Basil is nice too. In fact, pine nuts are a tasty add-in as well.

Speaking of add-ins, try some Rudy Zin by Rudy Von Strasser, a rich and robust wine ready for grilled meat.

Get your dance on: How about a little hip hop? Plug in the old rap and burn a few calories.

All of these libations are available at Ski Haus Liquor. Plus after your feeding frenzy, don’t forget to get a good workout in. Even the healthiest meals require a sweat the next day.

And remember, eat as many fruits and veggies as possible…“Last night I had a salad for dinner. It was a fruit salad. It had grapes. Lots of grapes. It was all grapes. It was wine.”

Happy eating my friends!

Sarah Coleman brings years of personal health and fitness knowledge to the table. Currently training, coaching and managing at Steamboat CrossFit in beautiful Steamboat Springs, she provides flawless technique and a positive attitude. Taking fitness to new levels, she uses the outdoor environment, your living room or work space, as well as the gym to influence and push her clientele. Funky knee socks and outrageous colors make Sarah unique, which transfers into her training and brings a smile to everyone’s face.


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