Herb & Seed Crackers

I used to be a huge fan of Mary’s Gone Crackers, until I came to realize that I could easily make my own with a blend of seeds of my choice. Delicious, nutritious, gluten-free, soy-free, and so simple to make. What more do you need? These herb seed crackers are the perfect make ahead snack to have for the week (although they might not last longer than 2 days). Enjoy them with a spread of avocado, hummus, nut butter, or pair them with a salad for a quick lunch.

Ingredients

1 cup ground flax seeds/flax meal

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup raw sesame seeds

3 Tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary

Pinch of sea salt

Pinch of black pepper, optional

2 cups water

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and combine well. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, until thickened but still pliable.
3. Divide mixture into two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Spread evenly into a thin layer, about 1/4 inch thick. Bake for 30 minutes. Flip over and bake for another 20-25 minutes, until browned. Let cool and break into pieces. You may also score them before putting in the oven if you want perfect shaped crackers.
4. Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

Note: You can use any fresh herb or blend that you like. My favorite is rosemary. 

What herb will you add to your crackers? Be creative and share with me what you come up with.

Chia Pudding [Video]

If you know me, you know I love my chia pudding. It's a very easy and tasty energy boost. Chia seeds are packed with fiber, omega-3, calcium, protein, and antioxidants. Chia pudding is a great snack and breakfast option. It only takes 15-20 minutes to prepare and can also be made the night before.

Visit my post on 12 Reasons to Love Chia Seeds to learn more about the great health benefits of chia seeds.

Ingredients

Basic Recipe

3 Tablespoons chia seeds

1 cup almond milk, or milk of choice (recipe for almond milk here)

A few pinches of ground cinnamon

Additional Ingredients for Chocolate Flavor

1/2 Tablespoon raw cacao powder

1/2 Tablespoon coconut sugar, raw honey, or grade B maple syrup

Procedure

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and whisk for about 30 seconds. Let sit for 15-20 minutes until it reaches desired consistency. Add desired toppings or enjoy as is.

Serves 1

My Post-Holiday Thoughts and Tips to Get Back on Track

This is the first time I write a blog post with more of "my thoughts" than nutrition advice. I figured it was time to switch it up a bit. I'm in the mood. It's the week after Thanksgiving and some of us are feeling stressed, low on energy, and in need of a detox. Is this you? I believe that a balance is key for a healthy lifestyle. I believe in the 80/20 approach, which consists of eating healthy 80% of the time and being able to indulge 20% of the time. I don't believe in depriving ourselves from the things we love. Everything should be done and consumed in moderation. I personally used to have a hard time reaching that healthy balance. Once I gave in to the foods that I don't normally eat (refined sugar, wheat, dairy, alcohol), I found it hard to stop. Sugar is like a drug, it leaves you wanting more and more, and turns into a vicious cycle. The more we eat it, the more we crave it.

So how do we handle it? It takes time to get there, but it is possible. First of all, we have to learn to be okay with indulging and not punishing ourselves afterwards. It's about building a positive relationship with food and not a negative one. Second, we shouldn't be afraid of foods we love, but rather be mindful when we are eating them and know that they are only a treat and not an every day thing. If we believe that our body can handle it, then we won't stress about it. If we stress about the food we are eating, our body will not digest it well and cause inflammation and other symptoms. The more mindful we are when we eat, the better relationship we build with food. Don't let guilt dominate your eating experience and learn to enjoy every bite. Chew your food. It's so important to listen to our bodies and learn how food affects us to be able to eliminate the foods that don't make us feel good or don't provide us with energy. Throughout the years (yes, it takes time), I have learned to only enjoy foods that make me happy. Over indulging does not make me happy. In fact, I get in a bad mood when I eat a lot of sugar and not enough whole foods (vegetables, fruits, seeds, etc.).

My boyfriend and I took a road trip this holiday weekend and we could not believe how limited our food options were on the road. Dried apricots is all we walked away with at the gas station when we were feeling hungry. Good thing I had some raw coconut treats with us because there was literally nothing there that was going to give us sustained energy. We got smart on the way back and picked up food at Sprouts. We bought ingredients to make hummus & vegetable sandwiches on black rice bread (gluten-free), and a few bananas with almond butter.

It often seems to others that I am "too strict" on myself, when really I enjoy eating how I eat and the lifestyle I live. My body and mind have learned to not crave those foods I used to run to when I was feeling stressed or emotional. Those foods that are associated with "living a little." Based on how I feel with the foods I eat and how happy I am, I have never lived better. I do indulge every once in a while, but I never let myself fall into the trap of wanting more. I now know that my body can handle it without gaining weight or losing track completely, but only if I am mindful that it is just a treat and don't associate it with any negative thoughts.

That said, of course I did indulge a bit this past Thanksgiving and I don't regret it one bit. I came back from my trip refreshed and ready to take on a new month. I decided the best way to start was with a detox, so my mom and I started a 6 day detox yesterday. We want to have more energy, lose the bloating/inflammation, clear our skin, and get rid of cravings.

Here are simple tips you can do also to get back on track:

1. Drink Water. I can't stress how important water is to cleanse the body. Headaches, bloating, cravings, and low energy are all often signs of dehydration.
2. Eat More Greens. The more greens we eat, the less we cravings we have. Vegetables provide the vitamins and minerals we need daily and reduce inflammation. Are you craving sugar? Eat greens. Are you low on energy? Eat greens.
3. Eat a Balanced Breakfast. If your breakfast consists of mostly sugar (breads, pastries, fruit), you will crave sugar the rest of the day. Start your day with a breakfast packed with protein and healthy fats and you'll have more energy for longer.
4. Walk it Out. Walking is one of the best ways to relieve stress. Take a long walk in the morning for the best start to your day or take 10-20 minute walk breaks throughout the day to reduce overall stress in your life. The more we stress, the harder it is to manage weight regardless of how clean our diet is.
5. Eat Mindfully. Always ask yourself before you eat: "Will this nourish me and give me energy?." If the answer is no, then make changes. Be mindful of what you eat and how you feel during and after. Enjoy every bite and remember that you are the only one that can control what goes into your body.

Massaging Raw Kale [Video]

I know what you're wondering. What the heck does massaging kale mean and why would I want to do that?

Kale is a very powerful leafy green because it's packed with nutrients. But raw kale is tough, fibrous, and very bitter, making it hard to digest. It is recommended to lightly steam, sauté, or massage kale before eating it in order for its fibers to bind better with acids in the digestive tract. The more digestible kale is, the better its nutrients are absorbed. Massaging kale is just a simple way to aid digestion and make it less bitter without having to cook it. Once you've massaged kale, you can use it to make a salad or side dish.

Health benefits of kale:

• Lowers cholesterol
• Anti-inflammatory
• Lowers cancer risk
• Detoxifies the body
• High in antioxidants
• High in vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C
• High in manganese, fiber, copper, calcium, iron, potassium, and tryptophan

How to massage raw kale:

1. Place chopped raw kale in a bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and lemon juice and massage with both hands for 2-5 minutes, until wilted and dark green.

Any variety of kale works. You can also get creative and dress it up with other ingredients such as tahini, extra virgin olive oil, avocado, or nut butter.

Source: whfoods.com

Spicy Avocado Soup

I've been playing with my new Vitamix way too much. It's been weeks of soups, puddings, and smoothies. I have made variations of avocado soup before, but this one is my favorite so far. This is a perfect summer soup, creamy and refreshing. It's very easy to make and you don't need any fancy equipment. Any type of blender will do.

Ingredients

2 avocados

2 garlic cloves

2 green onions

1 cucumber, peeled

1 teaspoon tamari (can omit)

3/4 cup water or vegetable broth

1/2 cup fresh parsley or cilantro

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon coriander

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

juice of 1/2 lemon

pinch of sea salt

pinch of black pepper

Procedure

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust flavor to your liking. Serve and garnish with cayenne pepper or fresh herbs.

Serves 4

What is Clean Eating?

You've probably already seen or heard the term 'clean eating' or 'eating clean.' But what does it mean? What is so great about it? I'd like to clarify what it means for those of you who are wondering and what it's benefits are. Clean eating is not a specific diet, it's a lifestyle choice.

First of all, there are many different definitions of clean eating, depending on what meal regimen one follows and recommends (paleo, raw, vegan, vegetarian, etc). For example, a vegan might say that a clean eating regimen is one that omits all animal products, someone that only eats a raw food diet might say that clean eating is an all raw-food diet, and so forth. I don't believe that one is better than the other, it is just a matter of finding what works for you.

My definition of  'clean eating' is to eliminate all refined and processed foods from your diet. Foods like white sugar, white rice, bleached flour, white flour, and enriched flour all are foods that have been refined in some way. When refined, their nutrients are removed resulting in ingredients that only provide empty calories (calories with no nutritional value) with a blood sugar spike.

A clean eating regimen consists of whole, unrefined foods in their most natural state. These foods are:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Pasture-raised eggs and poultry
• Grass-fed meats
• Full-fat dairy products

Be sure to read labels when buying things in a package. Just because the box says "whole grain" or " natural" doesn't mean they really are. Read ingredients closely and choose grains that don't have additives. You'd be surprised what's in that box of "whole grain" cereal you love so much, not a whole lot of nutrition. Chicken that is labeled "all natural" is interesting to me. Shouldn't chicken be natural? Sadly it's almost always not the case; instead they are fed antibiotics and hormones. Labels are misleading and most of the time not true.

Talk to the butcher at the grocery store, ask questions, and read the ingredient list. Try buying products that have 5 or less ingredients. And make sure they are ingredients that you can pronounce and that are unrefined. Visit my post on reading labels for more information.

Benefits of a clean eating lifestyle:

• Weight loss/fat loss
• Increased energy
• Better skin and hair
• Better health
• Increased mental focus
• Better sleep
• Better mood
• Decreased cravings and sugar addiction

As you can see, eating clean is a great thing. It seems to have become more and more popular these days, when in reality, it has been around for a long time and just now people are starting to realize how important it is to make this lifestyle choice in order to be healthy and happy.

How to transition to a clean eating life:

• Eat whole fruits and vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats,  and whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, amaranth)
• Drink at least 8 cups of water each day
• Eat 5-6 times a day to reduce cravings and keep blood sugar regulated - include protein in every meal
• Avoid all processed and unrefined foods (sugar, candy, pastries, white flour, white rice, bread, cereals, packaged goods, etc.)
• Avoid beverages that are packed with sugar (soda, juice, Gatorade, energy drinks, sweetened tea, coffee drinks)
• Avoid trans fats

Clean eating is the lifestyle choice I made and what I preach every single day. I have never been happier and felt more comfortable in my skin. If you are just transitioning to a clean eating lifestyle, take it slow and make small changes every day. It takes time, but don't give up. Know that your body will love you for it and you won't regret the health benefits from it.

Trust the process.

Balsamic-Ginger Glazed Carrots and Chard

Summer is one of my favorite seasons. I love going to the farmers market and being surrounded by all the wonderful colors of fruits and vegetables.

Have you seen those beautiful rainbow carrots yet? And the amazing varieties of cucumber? What about the juicy peaches and plums?

I can spend hours at the market just admiring (and tasting), but mostly, I go to get influenced to create new and delicious recipes. This week, I chose to make something different with carrots.

Carrots are available year round, but they have the most nutrients, freshness, and flavor when they are in season (fall and summer). They are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin K, fiber, and antioxidants (vitamin C and beta-carotene). They are anti-inflammatory, a good source of complex carbohydrates, and help cleanse the liver.

Ingredients

1-2 Tablespoons unrefined sesame oil (enough to coat the bottom of the pan)

1 bunch rainbow carrots, washed and cut into 2-inch pieces

4 large leaves red chard, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1-inch ginger root, minced

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

juice of 1/2 lemon

sea salt

Procedure

1. Cut off the large end of carrots. Cut carrots in half long wise, then cut into 2-inch pieces with a diagonal cut.
2. Heat sesame oil in a large pan. Add carrots and a generous pinch of sea salt and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic, ginger, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice and cook for another 5 minutes or until carrots are tender.
4. Add chard and sauté for another few minutes until chard wilts. Serve.

Note: You can garnish with chopped herbs and/or seeds.

Why Drink Lemon Water?

Lemon water has great powers. Ever since I learned how great it is, I've made it a habit to start my day off with a cup of warm lemon water before I have my breakfast. It's a great way to gently wake up the organs and help their natural detox cycle. It's also great to just drink throughout the day. Simply squeeze a lemon into a cup of water (hot or cold) and enjoy.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of lemon water:

• Helps with weight loss - Lemons speed up metabolism.
• Helps flush out toxins from the body - Detox.
• Cleanses the digestive system.
• Alkalizes the body - When our body is under an acidic state, it develops sickness and disease, so it's important to try to balance it with alkalizing foods.
• Improves immunity - High in Vitamin C.
• Works as a natural diuretic.
• Acts as a liver tonic.
• Improves skin tone and quality - The acidity of lemons helps treat acne.
• Relieves nausea.
• Relieves constipation.

12 Reasons to Love Chia Seeds

Superfood: Chia Seeds Chia seeds are very small seeds full of nutrition and health benefits. They don't have much flavor so they're easy to incorporate into meals and often help enhance the flavor of other foods.

12 Reasons to Love Chia Seeds:

1. Excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids -anti-inflammatory
2. High in protein
3. Provide energy -improve memory and mood
4. High in fiber
5. Keep you full longer -resulting in eating less which can lead to weight loss
6. High in antioxidants
7. Balance blood sugar
8. High in calcium -3x more calcium than milk
9. High in iron - 3x more iron than spinach
10. Help rid the liver of toxins -great for detox and cleansing
11. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure
12. Improve skin, nail, and hair health

Only 1 teaspoon of chia seeds a day is enough to give you benefits.

When soaked in liquid for a few minutes, chia seeds form a gel. You can eat the gel or you can eat the seeds raw. Add them to yogurt, water, smoothies, salads, baked goods, or make pudding.