Crockpot Beef and Barley Soup

Anyone try Macros over Paleo in the last week?? I started counting my macros just so see where I am in grams. I also chatted with Mara, my sister, who is working with athlete Nicole Capurso and following her "Honor Your Nutrition" plan... all about flexible dieting. So here is where I am on average (and I don't change much on days I train): Total Cal- 1600-1700, Fat- 55-60g, Protein- 125-130g, Carbs- 150-160g. Give it a try! I feel leaner, stronger, and it's so much easier to eat less restricted, but still clean while working on my sun gains with Annie. 

In the other part of my world... Charlie... It stared as a coincidence, but every year at the zoo now we take a picture next to an elephant statue. The elephants at the Detroit Zoo were moved to a better place because they were stressed years ago, but the statue next to where their exhibit was remains. After I noticed my pictures lined up from when she was one and when she was two years old, we purposely take one with the elephant like a growth chart. We go to the zoo all the time, it's where she really started walking a lot, so I hope the elephant remains so we can continue this until she is 18. 

An elephant is her favorite animal and she carries her "Ellie" everywhere with us. :) Please stay this innocent forever child. 

Crockpot Beef and Barley Soup

- 2lbs+ Stew Beef, cut into 1" pieces if they are too big
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 14.5-oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
- 1 Cup Tomato Sauce (or marinara)
- 1 Small Onion, chopped
- 2 Carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 Garlic Clove, minced
- 4 Cups Beef Broth
- 2 Cups Water
- 3/4 Cup Pearl Barley (NOT quick cooking)
- 2 tsp Dried Parsley (2 Tbsp Fresh)
- 2 tsp Dried Basil (2 Tbsp Fresh)
- Fresh Cracked Pepper

1. Brown the beef. In a large skillet or cast-iron skillet, over medium-high or high heat, add the oil and beef. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Turn the beef so it browns on all sides. This should be a quick process, you don't to "cook" the beef. :)
2. Add the beef and the rest of the ingredients to a large slow cooker. Cook on low 9-10 hours or high 5-6 hours. Taste for seasoning and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 8.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 257
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8 g	12 %
Saturated Fat 3 g	13 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 50 mg	17 %
Sodium 744 mg	31 %
Potassium 434 mg	12 %
Total Carbohydrate 24 g	8 %
Dietary Fiber 5 g	21 %
Sugars 5 g
Protein 21 g	43 %
Vitamin A	57 %
Vitamin C	17 %
Calcium	5 %
Iron	15 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.