When you are in the mood for a chocolate treat that can fit in with a healthy diet look no further than these raw brownies. Perfect for a post These bars are the perfect substitute for an energy bar or other sweet tweet and they are full of healthy good for you ingredients.
Dates are…
(Source: scalingback)
Juicing 2.0
after a summer hiatus it’s time to get back on the fitness and health regimen.
there isn’t much of a better way to jump-start my detox and reboot than juicing. when i ‘juiced’ last april-may for 30 days i lost a significant amount of excess weight (that i have also been able to keep off!) and restored my skin and hair to model status. I’ve also never experienced such great energy levels and prosperous sleep (which i have struggled with since teenage years).
so here’s to getting the jump start to health because feeling great and being healthy pays off in so many more ways than traditional restrictive dieting.
i’ll most likely lay low the first couple days as my energy may be lower and i’ll experience some caffeine, sugar and dairy withdraws (sad face, but for the best!) and then i will cycle in more exercise at my gym.
let’s see how this one goes…no set time plan for juice 2.0, just until i feel ready to get back into a plant-based, micronutrient diet.
if you have any questions about juicing or the process ask away!
health, happiness and fitness to all!
Aww Nuts!
Nuts and seeds are concentrated sources of protein, fats, B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, magnesium and other minerals. Some of them contain omega 3 fatty acids and as such can help to improve the balance of cholesterol and the blood lipid profile and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Some people have difficulty digesting nuts and seeds and in this case, soaking them overnight initiates the sprouting process and improves digestibility.
They are best consumed in limited amounts if weight loss is desired or if digestive difficulties are present, however in these situations the nuts and seeds rich in omega 3 fatty acids (flaxseed, walnut, chia and pumpkin seed) may be beneficial as these fats can actually improve metabolism.
Almonds are very high in minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron and are the only nut that is alkaline forming in the body. According to Ayurvedic medicine, almonds nourish the vital energy of the body.
Almonds are also thought to contain a compound that is anti-carcinogenic and for this purpose it is recommended that six almonds are consumed daily.
Brazil nuts are rich in the sulfur containing amino acids and selenium. Selenium has an important function as an antioxidant and is involved in immunity.
Flaxseeds are the richest source of omega 3 fatty acids and thus help to improve immunity and reduce high cholesterol. When taken in the form of flaxseed meal they effectively prevent constipation and are a source of lignans – compounds that have antitumour and antioxidant properties. Flaxseeds also help to balance estrogen levels.
Hazelnuts are very rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, folic acid and vitamin E. Hazelnuts act as a general tonic and strengthen the stomach.
Macadamia nuts are very high in fat and can contribute to weight gain if consumed in excess. However in moderation they can help to improve the balance of cholesterol due to their abundance of monounsaturated fats. They are also very low in carbohydrates and as such are suitable for low carb diets.
Pistachio nuts are considered a tonic for the whole body in Ayurvedic medicine. They purify the blood, lubricate the intestines and can be used for constipation.
Pumpkin seeds are known for their effects against intestinal parasites especially roundworm and tapeworm. Their high zinc content may explain the value pumpkin seeds for the treatment of impotence and prostate enlargement.
Pumpkin seeds are also a valuable source of omega 3 fatty acids.
Sesame seeds are very high in calcium and are a good source of magnesium, niacin, vitamins A and E, protein and unsaturated fats. In the form of tahini (sesame seed paste) they provide the richest and most bioavailable source of calcium.
Sunflower seeds are high in protein, unsaturated fats, phosphorus, calcium, iron, fluorine, iodine, potassium, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, and vitamin E and are one of the rare plant sources of vitamin D.
Walnuts are high in protein, iron and contain omega 3 fatty acids. They can reduce inflammation and pain, lubricate the lungs and intestines, and nourish the brain and adrenal glands.
we love lush. it’s a great spot to get cosmetics & apothecary goods to treat yourself and especially after an intense work-out or before a sexy date… and most happens to be vegetarian or vegan and all is not tested on animals!
massage bars + solid perfumes + flying fox shower gel/ shampoo is what i rock.
(via milhkey)
on May 14th Hannah and I began our juicing journey.
Hannah juiced a total of 15 days
I juiced a total of 30 days
we’ve both followed up by continually following a nutritarian diet, with some room for a good time here and there. i mean, we live in chicago…that’s what people do best here. eat & drink.
i’ve also been on a rather strict, but very ENJOYABLE fitness regimen. Working out 5-6 days a week and rotating weight training (day 1: arms, day 2: legs, day 3:core & repeat). refusing to “live by the scale” and trigger bad old-habits i promised myself i would wait a full two months before doing my first weigh in. i just realized when i looked at the calendar, it’s only 4 days away. time to put in the extra umph and make it count.
basically where i’m going here with this is that, it’s true, we don’t have to live by the scale. i know whatever number i see, i’ll be happy because i know that i’m taking care of my body and that i didn’t race to gain weight, so to be fair, i can’t necessarily race to take it off. patience is key and winning comes to those who work hard for their goals.
eat right, work hard and appreciate the small things.
great and refreshing for a hot day. we love making Asian inspired dishes, the presentation is so beautiful and lots of color in your meal usually indicates you’re eating a healthy dish!
five-spice tofu with barley & kale
healthy proteins, greens and grains. essential & filling and great as a post work-out meal to replace lost nutrients and restore muscle.
(click photo for recipe)
DITCH DEPRESSION
A recent study published in the Nutrition Journal reports that eschewing animal products in favor of plant-based foods helps improve mood in just a few weeks. This short-term study incorporated thirty-nine omnivores. Each participant was randomly assigned to a control group consuming meat, fish and poultry daily, a group consuming fish 3-4 times per week but avoiding meat and poultry or a vegetarian group avoiding meat, fish and poultry. At the outset of the study and after two weeks of making assigned dietary transitions, participants were asked to complete a Food Frequency Questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety and Stress scales. By the conclusion of the study, mood scores remained constant for the omnivore and fish eating group but several mood scores for vegetarian participants improved significantly.1 These findings might be surprising given that people who eat fish regularly increase their intake of healthy eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) fatty acids, fats that are critical for optimal brain health. This is what makes the study’s results so surprising.
a delicious din-din
not much beats an awesome stir-fry. minding the starch intake i opted to go veggies only and boy was i surprised how much the rice didn’t even matter once i was eating it! (score.) You can also make this without using any oil! just start with some soy sauce in the pan and a splash of water and you are good to go!
1 package of shitake mushrooms
2 carrots peeled into slices and then chopped
2.5 crowns of chopped fresh broccoli
1/2 red onion
2 cloves of garlic (yes i like lots of onion and garlic)
low-sodium soy sauce
couple shakes of red pepper flakes
no-oil pineapple chili dressing (this stuff is stupid good) (optional)
put it all in a stir-fry pan, heat it up & cover. cook until broccoli is tender but not mushy. enjoy & don’t burn your mouth :)
here is a cute and fun grocery list template i made. it is more fun to spice it up. i just made a bunch of color copies of this too so i can update every week when i need to shop…and keep some on my fridge so i can keep a running list as i use things up.
also, i like shopping by food type/section that way i can stick to one area at a time and *hopefully* not forget anything.
healthy eggplant dish
sometimes you just want something warm & saucy (yeah, we said it) but mindful of your waistline but semi-indulgent.
eggplant, goat cheese & marinara bake
1 whole organic eggplant…slice thin
1 jar of organic marinara
1 4oz block of fresh goat cheese
half handful of fresh parsley…then chop finely
1-2 cloves of chopped garlic
after you cut the eggplant bake on max heat or broil until golden brown.
mix the goat cheese with the parsley and garlic
layer it all with sauce (sauce, eggplant, cheese & repeat)
bake at 350 15-20
great for a cheese splurge day but really it yields a ton so you shouldn’t really get more than about 150 cal worth of goat cheese if you eat half of the dish…not bad and that is a HUGE serving my friends!
enjoy
healthy breakfast or snack
2 fresh organic peaches
dice ‘em up
sprinkle with cinnamon
pop in the microwave for :45-1:00
cover with vanilla almond milk
so now that the serious juice only detox is completed. we’re on to great healthy foods and will be juicing some meals here and there.
so for everyone out there looking for some delicious and healthy meal options we’ll start posting some of our meals on the blog.
+ fitspo & ways to live beautifully
current lunch obsession:
1 can of organic no sodium added black beans
1/4 cup of salsa verde or regular salsa
1/2 diced fresh tomato
1-2 cups of lettuce (your choice)
squeeze of lime
filling, simple & sexy