Today we have a WINNING recipe for you so that you can be FIT FOR DUTY in your nutrition and FIT FOR LIFE!

Today’s WINNING recipe to meet Coach JC’s 10 WINNING Habits is Slow Cooker Italian Turkey Meatballs. Where are my veggies? Where is my lean protein?

Ingredients:

For the Meatballs:

1 medium zucchini (7 ounces), shredded
1 1/4 pounds 93/7 lean ground turkey
1/4 cup seasoned whole-wheat bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Ground black pepper, to taste

For the Sauce:

1 teaspoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, smashed slightly
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano
1 bay leaf
Black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Directions:

For the meatballs: Using paper towels, squeeze all the excess water from the zucchini. Put the zucchini in a large bowl, and add the turkey, bread crumbs, Romano, parsley, garlic, egg, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Gently form 24 meatballs (about 1 1/4 ounces each). Set aside.

For the sauce: In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker and add the tomatoes, Romano, bay leaf and pepper to taste.

Slowly drop the meatballs into the sauce so they are all in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours, until meatballs are tender and cooked through. To serve, discard the bay leaf and garnish with basil.

You can eat over whole wheat pasta or better zucchini noodles (zoodles)!

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THE FIT FIRST RESPONDER FAMILY