My #1 Mom Hack for a Healthy Dinner

A massive headache took me out yesterday, and I was in no shape to make dinner or prepare anything…so take out it was!

As a Certified Nutritionist eating healthy is my thing, I love it, it makes me feel good, and keeps me healthy and energized so I can keep up with B…so I wasn’t about to sacrifice all of that just for a night of take out.

Luckily, a few months ago I discovered Crisp & Green which offers healthy salad bowls, warm bowls and smoothies! Literally all of my favorite things and makes life so much easier for me.

What can I say it has quickly become my #1 mom hack.

So last night we ran over to Crisp & Green to pick up an easy and healthy dinner!

My husband loves the fiesta bowl and I made my own bowl last night. We were able to have dinner with B, stay on track with our goals and bonus no dishes! I think this may need to be a weekly thing…

If you’ve tried Crisp & Green comment below and let me know what your favorite bowl is!?!

Tuscan Kale and Shrimp Wrap

My tuscan kale and shrimp wrap may sound fancy, but it’s easier than you may think!

Turns out it is possible to have a decedent lunch as a new mom.

This lunch literally look me 5 minutes to make, and I will definitely be adding this into my lunch rotation.

Ingredients:

Organic tuscan kale (2 cups/ 2 handfuls)

Wild caught shrimp (already cooked, deveined, and no shell) - serving size approx. 8 large shrimp, 16 small/medium shrimp

Avocado oil

Mayo / Vegan mayo / Olive oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Quinoa wrap

Low sodium chicken broth

Directions:

Thaw shrimp in a bowl of room temp water.

Wash and trim kale, cook in a small pot on medium/low heat with 1 ounce of low sodium chicken broth and a dash of avocado oil.

Cook kale for approximately 3-4 minutes until it begins to wilt, then turn off the stove and remove it from heat.

Drain the water from your shrimp - be sure they are all thawed.

Place shrimp in a bowl and add 1 tsp of mayo / vegan mayo / olive oil (your choice!) to the shrimp. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste, and mix together.

Add kale to wrap and top with shrimp, and enjoy!

It’s really that simple.

On days that I’m covered in spit up, breastmilk…and let’s be honest who knows what else lunches like this bring me back to life and make me feel like an adult again.

This tuscan kale and shrimp wrap is loaded with fiber, protein, Vitamin A, Folate, ALA and Omega-3 fatty acids. It is sure to power you up and help you get through the afternoon!

Hope you enjoy!

3 of My Favorite Holiday Recipes

Sharing 3 of my favorite holiday recipes with you today!

Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Lemon Brussels Sprouts with. Bacon and Sage

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Enjoy!! Happy Holidays! xxx

How to Make my Avocado Egg Sandwich

This has been my Husband’s go-to breakfast of late! It’s so yummy and such a great blend of healthy fat, fiber & protein I had to share the recipe with all of you!

We prefer to eat this sandwich open face, and it actually tricks the mind into thinking we’re eating more than we really are! The fiber and healthy fats from the avocado, along with the protein from the eggs will keep you fueled for a busy day ahead!

Avocado Egg Sandwich

Ingredients:

2 Slices of Ezekiel Bread (or bread of your choice)

1 Ripe Avocado

3 Eggs

1/2 Lemon

Manitoba Hemp Hearts

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Toast your bread, wash and prep avocado.

Using a spoon take the ripe insides out of the avocado shell (removing the seed) and place half on each piece of toast. Mash avocado on toast with a fork, then squeeze a bit of lemon on the avocado for brightness!

On medium-low heat cook 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites, until cook through. Stir often so eggs become fluffy and well scrambled.

Add scrambled eggs to avocado, half on each slice of toast.

Sprinkle hep hearts of top of your eggs, and add salt & pepper to taste if desired.

Enjoy!

Dessert for breakfast, sign me up!

Ever since my son was born I’ve been sharing my oatmeal bowls on social media and you all have been loving them {turns out oatmeal is incredible for keeping your breastmilk supply up}!

I get countless messages about the type of oats I use {One Degree Organics is my favorite} and what I put in my oats to create a balanced breakfast bowl.

I have always been a big breakfast fan, and honestly I could eat breakfast any meal of the day!

Regardless of what I have for breakfast I always make sure it has a solid balance of healthy fats, protein and fiber to keep me fueled up for the day ahead {new mom life is non-stop}. I drink my greens as part of my morning routine, so I don’t worry about having any veggies with my breakfast.

• Side note… did you know that fiber helps to offset the total carbohydrates in a dish? Say there are 40 grams of carbs and 20 grams of fiber per serving, you will end up with only 20 net carbs! Pretty neat, huh!

Okay, let’s dive into my current favorite oatmeal bowl {I actually just finished it as I’m writing this}.

Blueberry Protein Oatmeal Bowl

Ingredients:

One Degree Sprouted Quinoa Hemp Instant Oatmeal

Malk Almond Milk

Organic Blueberries (frozen is okay too!)

Organic Almond Butter

Vital Protein Collagen

Directions:

Bring 1/2 cup of almond milk to a boil on the stove, add approximately 1/3 cup of oats and stir.

Turn heat off and add 2 scoops of Vital Proteins Collagen, stir everything together.

Cover and let it sit for 2 minutes.

Add blueberries to the oat mixture and stir, let everything sit together for an additional minute.

Pour into a bowl and add a scoop of almond butter!

Enjoy!

This breakfast bowl is packed with 30 grams of protein to help fuel the day ahead!

I hope you'll forgive me...

Hi friends! It feels so good to connect with you again in this format. I’ve truly missed writing and the connection to my Lean and Green Body® family!

As I sat down to write this I noticed that it’s my first blog post since April 6?!? This has been the longest I have ever gone between blogs…ever!

I started my blog just over seven years ago, and it has been such a fun way to build a community, share recipes, wellness tips and so much more. There has been a ton of change and incredible pivots on my end (hello, baby Bodhi!) and I can’t wait to share it all with you!

Since it’s been a minute…more like 5 months… I thought it would be best to use this first blog post and update you on my life lately!

When I was pregnant with Bodhi I imagined sharing my postpartum journey in a real and raw way, and slowly transitioning that as he grew and sharing our mother son journey. While this is still my intention, and I will be sharing some fun things with Bodhi soon; becoming a Mother changed me. I have been incredibly open about so many parts of my life (painful and joyous) and this transition into Motherhood has been somewhat unexpected. I have wanted to keep many parts of my new Mama journey offline and private, not because they are bad - quite the opposite in fact. The past (nearly) 6 months have been so good and incredibly life changing that I have wanted to soak in every second and be as present of a mother and wife as I could be.

Stepping into my motherhood journey has been a beautiful (and let’s be real exhausting) time. It has transformed me in ways that I didn’t even realize were possible, and has opened up parts of me that I thought had been closed for good.

Bodhi has brought new meaning to my life and has allowed me to view my life, and my work, in a whole new way. I only have so much time and energy each day, and I have been very intentional about how I spend those currencies.

Bodhi is a Sanskrit name meaning enlightenment or awakening; and his birth has truly has been a time of awakening for me.

I hope you’ll forgive me for not been as present with all of you online (it’s been terrible for my SEO and engagement rate) but I have needed these past few months to just be.

Stepping into my new role has been a big transition for me, even though I have waited for this moment my entire life, there is only so much you can understand until you’re actually in it. Moving from full time entrepreneur, founder and boss to full time mama and part time boss babe has been huge.

I have welcomed these changes and done my best to find some sort of balance with it all…but does balance really exists??

Thank you for giving me space to adjust, grow and learn. I am ready to rejoin this community, and I can not thank you enough for sticking around - grateful doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel.

There is so much I want to share with you this Fall, from mom-life, recipes (for baby too!), wellness and self care hacks and tips, and so much more!

I also have some fun collaborations and new brands I have discovered over the past few months that I can’t wait to share!.

Comment below and let me know what you want to see!

My 4 biggest pregnancy cravings...

I’ve heard about pregnancy cravings my entire life, and most of the time they are strange out of the box type cravings that only a pregnant woman would understand. IYKYK

I thought it would be fun to share my top pregnancy cravings with all of you! As a Certified Holistic Nutritionist I try to always been very aware of what I eat and how it fuels my body and my energetics; that being said pregnancy is a whole new game and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The first trimester I had more food aversions than food cravings. I have never been a big meat lover, which is odd because growing up family ate a ton of meat. This pregnancy, especially the first trimester, meat was such a trigger for me. In fact, I had to go upstairs while my husband cooked chicken because the smell made me so sick.

I didn’t really start to notice my cravings until I was well into my 2nd trimester. My biggest cravings have been… green juice (like 1-2 per day!), fresh cold fruit (blueberries, strawberries, apples, raspberries, blackberries…all of it), peanut butter (turns out you can put peanut butter on almost everything!), and coffee.

I was pleasantly surprised when I realized my body was naturally craving green juice and fresh fruit…what can I say baby is very on brand! lol These were both already a part of my diet, but the amount I am consuming of both have gone up tremendously. (and for those of you who think fruit is bad for you and your blood sugar…mine is the lowest it’s ever been…like ever.)

I feel like peanut butter is every pregnant woman’s craving. The amount that I have gone through this pregnancy is…well it’s a lot, let’s leave it there! I have been using peanut butter as a protein and a healthy fat for smoothies, oatmeal bowls, and so much more.

My last, and definitely my most surprising craving has been coffee. I was never a big coffee drinker, and pre-pregnancy only really drank it if I went out or on the weekends with my husband. Coffee has never been my thing…until now. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I “can’t have it” / need to limit my caffeine that makes me want it or just the taste itself. I’m leaning towards the latter. I don’t crave it for the energy boost, but for the actual coffee taste. After talking to my Doctor’s and doing some research myself, I learned that my coffee craving is actually due to my anemia. Apparently when you are anemic you often crave coffee and the bitter flavor. This is why I will forever consider myself a student, always learning something new!

My take on pregnancy cravings is very similar to my take on cravings in general. I do not believe in restricting, especially because it can become a very unhealthy habit quickly. Instead I feel it is okay to give into your cravings, occasionally, and in healthy moderation. Sitting down with a box of cookies every night is not healthy moderation, but allowing yourself to have 1 small cookie a day or a few days a week is totally fine. When we restrict and forbid certain foods it can quickly become an issue, especially mentally, and frequently leads to binging on that food. Listen to your body, and see what it’s really asking for. For example, my body isn’t really asking for coffee it’s asking for more iron and heme, so that’s what I give it.

I’d love to know what your biggest pregnancy crave is or was?!? Comment below and let me know!

Photo By Jontel Chere

How to make my protein hot cocoa

There is something about cool winter months that has me craving a warm cup of cocoa. It’s cozy, sweet and very comforting. Growing up in Connecticut I remember many days sledding or skiing during the winter months and always running inside afterwards for some cocoa. It was always the best way to end the day!

However, the hot cocoa from my childhood is packed with artificial ingredients and loads of sugar. I knew this wasn’t an option for me (especially now that I’m pregnant) so I had to create one of my own!

This hot cocoa is high in protein, high in fiber, low in sugar and loaded with nutrients…and in my opinion tastes even creamier than the one from my childhood.

Lean and Green Body® Approved Hot Cocoa Recipe

Ingredients:

Coconut Cloud Hot Cocoa Mix

Oatly Oat Milk

Garden of Life Chocolate Raw Meal

Directions:

Steam one cup of oatly oat milk, then add 1 scoop of Garden of Life Raw Meal - shake or blend together.

Add 1 scoop of Coconut Cloud Hot Cocoa mix, and enjoy!

The Coconut Cloud Cocoa mix is a great product, and is vegan, gluten free and contains MCT oil. I like to mix it with the Garden of Life Raw Meal to add protein, fiber and essential nutrients to the cocoa. Even though the cocoa mix is relatively low in sugar, by adding protein and fiber to the drink you are assisting your body in the absorption of the sugar and helping to prevent a big sugar crash after your cocoa.

This combo also makes the drink super creamy! It has been my drink of choice the past few weeks.

Hope you enjoy!

Stay cozy friends. xxx

• this blog post contains affiliate links, if you purchase from these link I will make a small commission off the purchase. Thank you for helping to support my small business.

• this blog post is in a no way affiliate with or sponsored by the above companies.

How to choose the right prenatal vitamin

Choosing the right prenatal vitamin can be overwhelming! With so many options, how do you know which one is best for you and your baby?

My first recommendation would be to meet with your Doctor or Naturopathic Physician and get a full blood panel done, this will show you were you are deficient, or borderline, and this will tell you where you really need to focus.

I would also recommend not only checking your folate, but checking to see if you carry the MTHFR gene. The MTHFR gene, also called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is responsible for processing amino acids and is very involved in the creation, absorption and utilization of Vitamin B9 (folate). Folate is essential for your baby’s development, so if you do carry the MTHFR gene don’t panic, your Doctor will most likely put you on a prescription folate, like Metanx which conatins L-methylfolate, methylcobalamin and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. This would be something you would need to take in addition to your prenatal vitamin.

When selecting your prenatal vitamin I would highly recommend researching the company first, unfortunately not all supplement companies are created equal. Since supplements are still not regulated by the FDA the percentage of vitamins and minerals actually in the supplement can vary. I do extensive research on all supplement companies I personally take, give to my family and recommend to my clients. As always I encourage you do to your own research and see what you feel comfortable with.

My favorite brand of prenatal vitamins is Pure Encapsulations. I actually take a few of their products, and really trust this brand. I have been taking this prenatal since before I was actually pregnant to prepare my body.

I would recommend starting your prenatal vitamin about 6 months before you actually plan on conceiving. This is also a good time to get your blood work done, and ensure that you are aware of all underlying conditions.

I have talked about this many times, but I was very sick from week 10-16 and could not take this prenatal vitamin, so I had to make a switch to a gummy vitamin. In truth, gummy vitamins are not my favorite especially as a Certified Nutritionist but I was desperate to get some vitamins in my system. During these 6 weeks I took the Olly Prenatal Vitamin, and actually liked it quite a bit. These type of vitamins are much easier on the stomach and do not tend to cause as much nausea.

A few other brands worth checking out would be Thorne and Garden of Life.

A few things to look at when selecting your prenatal vitamin:

• serving size - how many pills will you need to take daily?

• how large are the pills? Are the reasonable for first trimester?

• avoid herbs in your prenatal (many will cause uterine contractions and miscarriage)

• read the nutrition label and compare it to your blood work - will this work for you specifically?

Your prenatal should include folic acid and iron, in addition to a few other important vitamins: Vitamin A, B-Vitamins, Vitamin-C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Zinc, Calcium and Iodine. The dose of each of these vitamins and minerals will vary depending on your specific needs.

Remember that the Standard American Diet does not obtain enough of these vitamins from diet alone, which is why a supplement is essential.

How to have more energy without caffeine

This has been one of my most requested blog posts, so I’m going to share my secrets with you today!

I gave up caffeine in June, and the months leading up to that breakup I drank very little caffeine. This was a huge deal for me because previously when I was all about the hustle and grind, serving other people and not taking care myself, I was drinking a ton of caffeine! It was legit fueling my day. I would have multiple cups of tea every day and a few coffees or espresso shots per week. I couldn’t get through the day without my caffeine.

Now looking back I realize that I was using caffeine to cover up my extreme fatigue from over working myself and prioritizing the needs of my clients and my work over myself. Fortunately, I realized this early in 2021 and had some massive changes personally and professionally.

So how do I do it all without caffeine now?!?

I focus on flooding my body with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and the enzymes it needs.

I focus on getting good quality sleep - this is a non-negotiable for me.

I hydrate - my goal is 100 oz of pure clean water every day!

I swear by the Lean and Green Body® morning routine.

I eat a ton of greens. GREENS = ENERGY

If I need a pick me up I drink a lemon water, go for a walk outside, stretch, put on some fun music, or have a dance party!

Instead of covering up my body’s needs, I tune into them now. I am more in touch with my body than ever. Part of this is due to pregnancy, but part is due to massive healing I have done this year. I took inventory of where I was (mind, body and soul) and looked at where I wanted to be…I identified what was holding me back from living my best life, and made the necessary changes.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a warm cup of tea or coffee, especially on these cool mornings, but if you are looking to cut down on your caffeine intake or eliminate it completely I would recommend following my list above. Instead of focusing on what you are taking away (caffeine) focus on what you are adding (nutrients, water, greens, etc).

If you’ve cut out caffeine or are looking to I’d love to hear from you! Comment below and let me know what your experience has been!

Two Reasons to Add Hemp Hearts to Your Diet Today!

One of my favorite ways to sneak a little extra protein and fiber into my salads are with hemp hearts.

These tiny little seeds are full of protein, fiber, and omega-3’s.

One serving of hemp hearts has approximately 10 grams of protein, and 12 grams of omega-3 fatty acids! That’s incredible! These little seeds pack a big punch.

I am currently loving Manitoba hemp hearts, they are available in my Amazon Store for only $7! This is a steal. Click HERE to check them out.

I love these because they are easy to travel with and I frequently bring them with me on the go.

Have you tried them yet? Comment below and let me know your thoughts!

Photo By Jontel Chere

4 Ways to Eat a Better Breakfast

Many of us unknowingly are eating dessert for breakfast, and it’s ruining our day. The spike in glucose from our high sugar breakfast gives us the energy kick we need to arrive at work, only to quickly drop before our 10a meeting.

Here are 4 ways to eat a better breakfast!

Cut out the sugar. Did you know that 4 grams of sugar equal 1 teaspoon of sugar! That’s a lot. The worst part is the average yogurt contains upwards of 15+ grams of sugar, that’s over 3 teaspoons of sugar to start the day. Cereals are just as bad ranging from 4 grams (for the “healthier” cereal) to 16+ grams of sugar per 1 cup.

Start your day with protein, healthy fat & fiber. Starting your day with a smoothie or protein bowl packed with nutrients, vitamins, minerals and enzymes will give your body (and your brain) the fuel it needs to get you through the morning.

Sit down and eat. Many of us are often so rushed in the mornings, we either eat a few bites of breakfast standing at the counter or we eat in our cars on the way to work. Sorry, but this is a big no go. They may seem convenient, but they are terrible for your digestive system and will ultimately wreck havoc on your GI tract within a few hours. Wake up a few minutes earlier, sit down and eat a relaxed breakfast… your belly with thank you!

Limit your beverages. Limit your beverages to 8 oz of room temperature water, tea or coffee (ideally water!) when you are eating. Sometimes we drink so much right before we eat or during our meal that we interfere with our digestion. Our bodies are incredible machines and our digestion is a prime example of us…when we treat it well. Limiting your beverages to 8 oz or less and warm beverages during meals will aid in better digestion. No one wants to go to work with gas, bloating, or a belly ache.

Instead of relying on your coffee to get you through to lunch - rely on your breakfast. Learn how to fuel your body, and watch the brain fog and fatigue fad away!

I feel like I could dive so much deeper into this topic, comment below and let me know if you are interested and what questions you have! xx

6 Benefits of Adding Vegan Days to Your Diet

The vegan or vegetarian lifestyle may not be for you, but adding just 1 or 2 vegan or vegetarian days in to your diet per week can have a tremendous impact on your health!

I recently posted a blog with an update on how I’ve changed my diet this past year, and how I am feeling eating mostly vegan. Check it out HERE

Here are 6 ways adding vegan or vegetarian days into your diet can boost your health:

Better digestion! Animal protein is really tough for our bodies to digestion, breakdown, assimilate and eliminate; so when we take it out of the equation we often experience better and easier digestion.

More energy! Like I mentioned above animal protein is really tough for our bodies to breakdown, it takes a lot of our energy away from our personality, our work, our endurance to breakdown and digest meat; so when we take it out of the equation even for a day or two, we experience more energy and vitality.

More nutrients. Vegan and vegetarian diets are typically much more nutrient dense, and tend to be higher in fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate and Vitamin A, C, E, and K.

Find a healthy weight. A diet free from animal protein and animal fat can lead to weight loss, and will allow your body to naturally find it’s perfect weight. Much of this has to do with the three previous points: better digestion, more energy, and more nutrients.

Lower blood sugar levels. A vegan and vegetarian diet tends to promote lower glucose levels, better A1C numbers, and lowers ones risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Heart health and lower cholesterol. It is well documented that a vegan and vegetarian diet can help to lower cholesterol levels. After all cholesterol comes from animal products so when we eliminate or limit these our cholesterol levels naturally drop. Decreasing the amount of animal protein and animal fat will also benefit our heart, and prevent or help with clogged arteries and decreased heart function due to poor dietary choices.

I believe that some people do require more animal protein than others; but I also believe that we do not need nearly as much as many assume we do. I am here to educate you and provide you with science based facts. There are several reasons to add vegan days into your diet, and your health is just one.

Would love to know if you have any questions on adding in vegan days or if you’ve already incorporated them into your weekly routine! Comment below and let me know! xx

Photo By Jontel Chere

10 Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

I have loved drinking tea for as long as I can remember; there is something about it that is so comforting and soothing.

Green tea has been around since 2000 B.C., and has been enjoyed by cultures all over. If you have not tried it yet, you may want to after you see all the incredible benefits!

I have been drinking green tea for 20 years now, and it is definitely my beverage of choice if I am reaching for something other than water. I grew up drinking Harney & Sons Tea because they were local to my small Connecticut town, and I still enjoy this brand today. I love the idea of supporting a local (previously local for me) family owned business.

Green tea has so many health benefits I wanted to take a moment to share the top 10 with you today!

Green tea has been known to help to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

It may be able to help fight neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimers.

Green tea is packed with catechins and flavonoids to protect our body and boost our immune system.

The antioxidant, catechin, in green tea helps to boost metabolism which can lead to weight loss.

The ECGC (epigallocatechin gallate) in green tea is a polyphenol; and along with boosting your metabolism it can also hep to fight free radicals in the body which will help fight and/or prevent disease.

Helps to balance blood sugar levels, and can help to prevent and treat diabetes.

Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, and many of these actually help to fight bad breath odor and prevent plaque and bacteria in your mouth.

The polyphenols in green tea help to prevent and fight cancer.

The strong antioxidants in green tea, along with Vitamin E and Vitamin B2, help to fight acne and maintain glowing skin.

Green tea promotes blood flow and prevents menstrual cramps.

Drinking 3-4 cups of green tea per day (approximately 28 mg of caffeine per cup) maximum is said to be enough to achieve all of the above benefits.

Everyones body is different and you may want to consult a Naturopathic Physician or Certified Holistic Nutritionist before adding anything new into your routine.

How to Feed a Family of 4 for Under $10 - RECIPE!

This has been such a fun blog series to create! It start back in March as a way to make wellness accessible to all, here’s the first blog in the series. I am so passionate about nutrition and consuming organic whole real foods that I wanted to share how easy and affordable it really can be for everyone! Often times people get stuck in the mindset that organic foods will be too expensive for their family, so they don’t even bother to shop for them. However, I am here to tell you that it is possible! I am here with my second recipe for this blog series and I’m going to show you how to feed a family of 4 for under $10…here’s the kicker…everything will be organic!!

If you are interested in checking out the first recipe click HERE.

Today’s recipe is one of my favorite quinoa bowls!

This recipe is packed with omega 3 fatty acids, protein, fiber and is super nutrient dense.

Ingredients:

Organic Quinoa ($2.97)

Organic Carrots ($1.46)

Organic Kale ($2.47)

Organic Avocado ($2.00)

Total = $8.90! That’s under my $10 budget, awesome!

The best part is that there will be quinoa left over for another meal or two, since $2.97 is for a full bag of organic quinoa!

Directions:

Cook quinoa, following directions on the bag. If you already have bone broth on hand you can use this in place of water to add more flavor, collagen protein, and nutrients.

Roast the carrots following my recipe HERE

Lightly sauté the kale in a skillet with a splash of bone broth or water.

Slice and dice the avocado, each person should receive 1/4 of a large avocado or 1/2 of a small avocado.

Put your quinoa bowls together using the 4 ingredients above! Portions will vary depending on the individual needs and personal requirements (to learn more about this schedule a 1:1 Nutrition appointment with me HERE

I created this recipe for my husband and I the other night, and we just loved it! Here is a picture of my bowl

If you are enjoying this blog series, and would like me to share more recipes with you please let me know by commenting below!

Making Organic Food Accessible for All!

The conversation about organic food and the price of eating organic has been a hot topic (again) lately. Many people feel that organic food is “unattainable” for everyone, and many people feel that it is too expensive for their family. This is a conversation that I am so passionate about, so this blog series is my attempt to help educate and teach you why organic food is so important and how you can in fact afford it.

Organic food is essential for a healthy body. Conventional food (non-organic) is loaded with pesticides, herbicides, and toxins…and has bene proven to cause disease and illness in the body. You can not wash off these toxins, and ultimately you end up ingesting them. Once ingested it is very difficult for your body to fully eliminate them…often times they get stored in your liver or kidneys along with heavy metals and other toxins. Eating organic is much cheaper than cancer, heart disease, and the variety of other illnesses linked to these pesticides, herbicides and toxins.

It' is not essential that you eat everything organic. The Environmental Working Group releases a list each year of the Dirty Dozen - the foods you should absolutely buy organic - and a list of the Clean Fifteen - the foods you do not have to buy organic, but can if you choose to.

I understand that at some stores organic food is ridiculously priced…$2 for one lemon is crazy!! This is price gouging and is a clear example of companies trying to take advantage of consumers, it drives me crazy. For years Whole Foods was known as “whole paycheck” to some due to their high prices.

I have had a love affair with Whole Foods since 2011, and it is still one of my favorite places to shop. When Whole Foods and Amazon merged I noticed a huge drop in prices, especially if you are an Amazon Prime member. I actually find better deals on organic foods at Whole Foods than I do Publix (equal to a Shop Right, Krogers, Stop n Shop etc), it’s amazing! You would think the “conventional” grocery store would have the cheapest prices, but that is not always the case. It’s important to know where to shop and how to shop. My husband and I love going to the local farmers markets as well to buy organic produce and support local farmers.

I always create a list before going grocery shopping, this keeps me on task and avoids too many unintentional purchases. We shop at three different grocery stores monthly to get everything we need, our weekly go-to’s are Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

I consider being in the know and grocery shopping part of my job! It helps me to create fun new recipes for all of you, keep my family healthy by practicing what I preach, and find sales for my clients. Truth be told I love grocery shopping! The pandemic ruined that a bit for me, but I have hope that someday we will find our way back to “normal life”. For now I mask up and try to go at off hours to avoid large crowds.

In an effort to provide more free content, and make organic healing food available to more people I am going to be publishing a few recipes on how to feed a family of 4 on a budget…all organic! I understand that the pandemic has hit people really hard financially, and I want to show you that you can still eat healthy (and organic) and stay on budget. Our health is our greatest wealth, and is so vitally important. I hear so many stories about people eating fast food because it is cheap and easy…there is nothing cheap and easy about disease and illness, and it’s my job to help you prevent that.

First recipe comes next week! Stay tuned!

Photo by Jontel Chere

#liveyogachat with Karmen - interview!

This week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Karmen Morales for her series #liveyogachats. Karmen and I used to teach together in Naples, FL before life took her back to Texas. She is an incredible teacher and dear friend, check her out HERE.

In our #liveyogachat we discuss everything from yoga, nutrition, self care, disordered eating, and so much more! I hope you enjoy!!

#liveyogachats interview

Lean and Green Body® Pancakes!!

One of my goals for 2021 is to bake more. I have some serious food allergies and it makes it tough to enjoy foods that I once did. So it is my goal to make these foods from scratch - leave out all food allergens - and put my own Lean and Green Body® spin on it!

Over the weekend I made Lean and Green Body® Pancakes!

The pancakes are free from gluten, dairy, soy, tapioca, eggs, gums and fillers…they only contain a few simple ingredients!

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose gluten free flour

1 TBSP organic raw coconut sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup organic almond milk (or milk of choice!)

1 “Neat Egg”

3 TBSP organic vegan butter or oil

2 scoops of Vital Proteins Collagen

Splash of organic vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and let batter sit for 4 minutes

After 4 minutes, scoop batter into ceramic fry pan and begin making pancakes! You may make the pancakes as big or as small as you like. I like to add a sprinkle of cinnamon onto the raw pancakes in the pan. Cinnamon is great to help balance blood sugar levels. Flip pancakes halfway through cooking process, you will notice they will turn a golden brown when ready to flip.

In order to make these pancakes high fiber I would recommend topping them with chia seeds and hemp seeds. This will add approximately 14 grams of protein per serving!

You can then top with any pancake topping you like!

I enjoy adding fresh fruit and a drizzle or organic pure maples syrup.

You could make it super fun and add chia seed whipped cream!

I can’t wait for you to try these out at home and let me know what your think!

This was my first try and I can’t wait to begin testing out more recipes in the near future.

Benefits of Ginger!

You may have noticed that my husband and I have been taking ginger lemon shots on the daily…and I’m about to fill you in on why!!

Food truly is medicine, and ginger is a prime example of this. This root is packed full of healing properties. Here are a few of the biggies…

Improves digestion

Reduces gas and bloating

Alleviates nausea

Helps the body recover from the cold/flu faster

Strengthens immune system

Decreases inflammation

Reduces pain

Supports your heart

Helps to remove free radicals in the body

Ginger is super alkalizing and therefore helps to make the body even more alkalizing…and an undesirable place for disease and illness. Ginger has a 28,811 score on the ORAC chart which is really high. Every time you eat or juice ginger think about the nutrients, enzymes and antioxidants flooding through and healing your body.

You can slice up raw ginger and make a tea, juice the root, or even grate fresh ginger into your meal.

Each morning I juice approximately 2-3 inches of fresh organic ginger with 1-2 lemons, which makes 2 ginger lemon shots!

Have you tried a ginger lemon shot before?? This is one of my favorite ways to energize in the morning.

A natural approach to treating UTI's

Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) have become way too common in recent years. Many Doctor’s are quick to prescribe a potent antibiotic drug to wipe out the bacteria; while this may do some good initially the antibiotic is also wiping out all the good bacteria in your gut. So while they may have treated your UTI, now you have opened yourself up to a ton of other issues. What if I told you there was a “new” way…a different way. What if you could take something that your body already makes naturally, and it would kill the bacteria without harming your gut. Ready to hear more??

D.mannose is being used to naturally treat UTI’s, primary in women…and specifically women with recurrent history of UTI’s. D-mannose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) that is naturally found in our body, but can also be found in foods like cranberries, apples, oranges, peaches, broccoli and green beans. D.mannose may help stop UTI’s by preventing the bacteria (typically E.coli) from attaching itself to the urinary tract.

Multiple research studies have been completed on the effectiveness of D-Mannose and UTI’s and all show that D-mannose was as effective or more effective than the previously prescribed antibiotic -and it also helped to prevent future infections. D-Mannose can help to prevent recurrent UTI’s as well. Several studies have been conducted, specifically on women, and it has been shown to decrease the recurrence of the type of infections. Which in turn will decrease the amount of antibiotics these women will need to take - leading to better gut health. Urologists are now recommending D-Mannose to their patients for urinary tract health and prevention.

So how does it work? D-mannose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) that is released from the body and is filtered out through the kidneys and urinary tract. While in the urinary tract it will adhere to any bacteria there (specifically E.coli), preventing the bacteria from establishing colonies. It will stick to the bacteria, so the bacteria can no longer stick to each other or the urinary tract wall. The bacteria, and the D-mannose attached to the bacteria, will then make it’s way out of the body.

From my research it appears that D-Mannose is very effective at improving Urinary Tract Infections. D-mannose appears to not only treat the current infection and remove the bacteria from the urinary tract, but it also helps to prevent future infections. If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile you know that I love a good natural and holistic remedy, and am not a fan of antibiotics (unless absolutely necessary) so this is very exciting research for me!