Dirty Dozen 2019

Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) comes out with a list of the dirtiest fruits and vegetables (dirty dozen). These are the fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other harmful toxins. The EWG also releases a list of the clean fifteen each year, which are the cleanest fruits and vegetables. It is recommended that you buy the dirty dozen organic whenever possible, the clean fifteen may be purchased conventional.

Dirty Dozen

1. Strawberries

2. Spinach

3. Kale

4. Nectarines

5. Apples

6. Grapes

7. Peaches

8. Cherries

9. Pears

10. Tomatoes

11. Celery

12. Potatoes

Clean Fifteen

1. Avocados

2. Sweet Corn

3. Pineapples

4. Sweet Peas Frozen

5. Onions

6. Papayas

7. Eggplants

8. Asparagus

9. Kiwis

10. Cabbage

11. Cauliflower

12. Cantaloupe

13. Broccoli

14. Mushrooms

15. Honeydew Melon

Edgewater Beach Hotel

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of being guests of the Edgewater Beach Hotel for a wellness weekend. The Edgewater Beach Hotel is a quaint hotel located in Naples Florida directly on the gulf, and only has 125 rooms making it very private.

Honestly this was one of the most luxurious trips we had taken in a year! Best part - it was only a 5 minute drive from our house, a relaxing stay-cation, no need to fly anywhere or deal with traffic… just unplug and relax!

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a valet and our luggage was delivered right to our room. After we checked in, we were handed a cold glass of champagne and given a brief tour of the hotel. From the hotel lobby, you look straight into the main restaurant, which has an open concept, and out over the pools and the gulf of Mexico! Before we even made it to our room, I knew I was going to love this place.

The Edgewater Beach Hotel is the only all-suite hotel in Naples, Florida. Our room was stunning! We had a wrap around patio, with a view of the pools and the beach. Each room has a kitchen, dining area, living room, and full bedroom set up making this the ideal spot for families and week long stays.

After settling in we decided to check out the pools…yes there are two! Between the pools, there is a beach bar where you can order food and drinks for the pool area or the beach. At the end of the pool just before the sand begins there is a fire pit, both my husband and I looked at each other knowing we would venture down here later in the day. The Edgewater Beach Hotel has an expansive beach area, with options for lounge chairs, day beds, and even a full VIP set up.

One of our favorite parts of the hotel was how private it was, with only 125 rooms it really limits how many guests they have each day.

We enjoyed our first dinner at Coast, the main restaurant at the Edgewater Beach Hotel. The cocktails were unique and the staff was well versed on the wine list. I had the scallops and my husband had the grouper, the presentation was beautiful. The Chef came out to check on us and introduce himself. I was comforted knowing that the staff and the chef were very aware of my food allergies, and adjusted each of my dishes accordingly. During dinner, we watched the sunset over the pools, feeling the vacation vibes begin to set in.

The next morning the hotel had arranged bicycles for us to ride into Old Naples, were we enjoyed local coffee. The bike ride through Old Naples was beautiful, and offered us a fresh and new perspective to our town. After the ride, we picked up our beach brunch picnic basket and went down to the beach. To our surprise and delight the Edgewater Beach Hotel set up a VIP beach set up for us. (When staying at the Edgewater the VIP beach set up is a must!) We leisurely enjoyed our brunch while watching dolphins play.This was one of my favorite parts of the entire weekend. After breakfast we lounged beachside for hours, truly understanding the meaning of a wellness weekend. We were able to unplug, unwind, and relax! (much needed for two ambitious professionals) We attempted to paddle board after lunch, however due to the waves we did not have much luck … next time!

After the most relaxing day beachside, we freshened up for dinner at Coast. We tasted a variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts each better than the last. The food (all gluten free and diary free for me) was surprisingly amazing! I am often disappointed when dining out because the gluten free and diary free options are so limited and often tasteless … not here. The scallops were my favorite.

Saturday we participated in the Paradise Wellness Weekend, at the Edgewater Beach Hotel. We started our morning with beach yoga, two of my favorite things, and then enjoyed a mind and body workshop with the Spread Happy duo followed by a cooking demo from the Chef. We learned how simple the green smoothie and cauliflower quinoa cakes are to make - blog post with the full recipe coming soon!

I honestly did not know much about the Edgewater Beach Hotel prior to my stay, but I can say I was blown away. This high end luxury hotel is a wellness destination and one of my favorite spots to date. I loved how private the hotel was, how many activities and fitness options they offered, but my favorite was the wellness. As a health and wellness professional, I provide wellness to my clients daily, but sometimes forget to put myself at the top of my to-do list. This weekend allowed me time to restore and rejuvenate myself.

Another one of my favorite parts about the hotel was their Be Well menu in their Coast restaurant. Edgewater Beach Hotel became a Blue Zones approved partner in 2018 and since then added several Be Well (and Blue Zone approved) items to their menu.

Edgewater Beach Hotel has become one of the top wellness resorts in Southwest Florida with the infusion of the Be Well menu, a high end gym, aromatherapy towelettes, and weekly yoga classes. Staying at the hotel and don’t want to miss your workouts - no problem, the Edgewater can have a personal trainer or yoga instructor available to you during your stay.

Everyone at the Edgewater Beach Hotel was exceptional and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was everything we wanted. There were a few team members who stood out that we would like to thank for making our trip so wonderful. Louise, Wendy and Herry were our favorite servers and made every meal special. Special thank you to Laura, McKenzie, Dan and Alice.

This is a sponsored post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tuna Avocado Endive Cups

This has to be one of my simplest - and tastiest - recipes to date!

I love eating simple, real food, and creating recipes that fit my busy life.

I grew up loving tuna sandwiches, and wanted to recreate the recipe with a healthy spin.

I posted a picture of this dish weeks ago and got dozens of requests for the recipe, so here it is!!

Hope you love it!

Ingredients

• Endive

• 1 can albacore tuna (in water)

• Avocado Mayo (I love Primal Kitchen)

• 1 ripe avocado

• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Wash and separate endive leaves

2. Open tuna can, drain all the water

3. Wash avocado, scoop out the inside of the avocado and place in a bowl

4. Add tuna to the avocado, mix in 1 tsp of avocado mayo - season with salt & pepper to taste

5. Add mixture to the inside of endive cups

6. Enjoy!!

Candida

Candida has become a popular topic in today’s wellness groups. But what is it really? How do we get it … and most importantly how do we get rid of it??

Candida is a fungal infection that occurs when the healthy bacteria levels in the body are disrupted. This can occur from a variety of factors leading to an imbalance of healthy bacteria and bad bacteria in the gut.

A few factors that can lead to Candida overgrowth …

• high refined carbohydrate diet

• high sugar diet

• antibiotics

• high alcohol consumption

• weakened immune system

• oral birth control

• diabetes

• high stress levels

Candida symptoms can often go unrecognized initially because they look similar to many other conditions.

A few signs that you may have candida …

• recurring urinary tract infections

• fatigue

• digestive issues

• sinus infections

• fungal infections on skin and nails

• joint pain

Work with your doctor to determine if you have candida.

So, you have candida … how do you get rid of it??

First, no sugar! Sugar will feed the candida and make the infection worse.

Eliminate all refined sugars, carbohydrates and dairy products from your diet. These foods will encourage candida and bad bacteria in your gut to grow. I would suggest eliminating these from your diet permanently (or at least 80% of the time), but that is up to you!

If you have a suppressed immune system those foods will continue to promote the infection in your body.

There are several foods that have been proven to increase good bacteria growth in your gut, and begin to eliminate the growth of candida.

• Probiotics

• Garlic

• Coconut Oil

• Aloe Vera

• Curcumin

• Kombucha

• Pomegranate

Still have questions about candida? Leave your question below or reach out to our holistic nutrition specialist at jennifer@leanandgreenbody.com

The Local

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of being guests at The Local here in Naples.

The restaurant is cozy, intimate, and very inviting. The staff, owner and Chef Jeff Mitchell went out of their way to ensure that we had a wonderful experience.

The mission at The Local is to produce high quality meals by sourcing all their food products from “local ranchers, farmers, sea mongers and artisans with integrity, favor and soul.” YES! This is definitely a mission I can stand behind. This means that the menu changes according to the produce and products that were delivered.

As a small business owner, I love supporting other local small businesses. And as a gluten free, dairy free, nutritionist, I am always on the look out for the best (allergen friendly) places to dine out … and I can tell you this is a new favorite! The Local has so many gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options available. The staff and Chef Jeff are also very accommodating and aware of food allergies, and will help to advise you on which choices would be best (ie: no cross contamination).

Let’s talk about the meal … to date our absolute favorite meal in Florida …

My husband and I started with the house-made ricotta cheese caprese salad (homemade ricotta!!) and the vegan Korean lettuce cups. Theses were definitely two of our favorite items of the evenings, and a must for our next visit!

We then shared the shrimp, mango and avocado salad … my three favorite things! Clearly this was a winner, and a super healthy option! This salad is packed with protein, healthy fats, and greens!!

Next we shared the shrimp zucchini pasta with a coconut cream sauce, pretty much made my gluten free dairy free dreams come true! The spices and the shrimp were delicious. The amount of flavor developed in this dish was so delectable, that it kept me going back for more.

My husband tried the mushroom lovers pizza (gluten free crusts are available) … this is the most popular pizza at The Local, and my husband loved it! His favorite part was the house-made sourdough crust.

I finished with the keto steak, with kale and roasted cauliflower as my sides. I rarely eat red meat, my body simply does not crave meat, but I have to say this steak was the best I have ever had! (not paid to say that, it honestly was the best!!)

What I love most about this restaurant is that they try to get everything from local and organic sources. They can actually tell you where your steak came from and where the kale was grown. I’m obsessed!!

To finish off our dinner, we shared a gluten free carrot cake cupcake!! Dying, it was so rich … my husband could not believe it was gluten free.

Yes, this is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own (with my husband’s help, he’s my number 1 taste tester!) and I would never advocate for a business that I did not fully support.

This restaurant experience was amazing!!

The Local is a must for your next date night, girls lunch out, or even happy hour!

Year in Review

Wow. What an incredible year it has been!

Honestly, 2018 has been the biggest year professionally of my life.

When I look back at this past year, I am amazed by all of my accomplishments and everything I have built for Lean and Green Body®.

I am happy to say that this is only the beginning of Lean and Green Body® … we are just getting started!

Since August 2018, I have had the privilege of being featured in the following publications: Naples Daily News (online video and front page of the paper), Gulfshore Life Magazine, Naples Herald, and Naples Illustrated (coming January 2019).

Here are a few of the big points and events of 2018 …

January - Grand opening of 5th Ave Studio

January - I published my first book- Revitalize and Renew

January - First event for Revitalize and Renew at Revival Yoga

February - Revitalize & Renew book launch

February - Revitalize & Renew book launch party

April - Lean and Green Body® at an Ebella event with Dr. Perlmuter

July - Made the decision to close 5th Ave Studio … only to go BIGGER!!

August - Started a partnership with Momentum Brewery for monthly yoga classes

September - I won Top 40 under 40 for all of Southwest Florida!!

October - Hosted a Yoga and Wellness event for the David Lawrence Center

October - Started teaching weekly yoga classes at my own public studio space … for only $10/class … making yoga more accessible to everyone

October - Became a Certified Fitness Nutritionist through ISSA … love continuing my education and staying current on new wellness ideas for my clients.

November - Lean and Green Body® became an approved Blue Zones Project partner

December - I was asked to sit on the board of the Red Cross.

December - MALK Organics asked me to become a national partner, and work with them as a nutritionist. I am so excited for this partnership, because together we will be able to educate the public on a national level.

December - Mindful Movement Studio powered by Lean and Green Body® … pre-sale started December 17 and beta launch is January 1!

This year has been incredible! Through Lean and Green Body®, I have been able to host over 20+ events for our Southwest Florida community.

Thank you to all of you, who have supported me through this momentous year of growth.

In 2019 Lean and Green Body® will officially be a national brand!! I am so excited and ready for this expansion, and to educate the greater community on the importance of wellness and a healthy lifestyle.

Happy New Year!!

Love and Light,

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups of creamy organic peanut butter or almond butter

• 2 cups organic coconut sugar

• 2 cage free eggs

• 1 bag of dark chocolate kisses

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix all ingredients together, and create 1 inch cookie dough balls from ingredients

3. Place the cookie dough on a greased cookie sheet

4. Bake cookies for 8 minutes

5. Take cookies out and add dark chocolate kisses to each cookie, the trick is to twist the chocolate as you press it into the cookie

6. Place back in the oven for an additional minute

7. Take out of the oven and place on a cooling rack.

8. Enjoy!

Holiday Cocktail Guide

Happy Holidays!!!

The holiday vibe is in full swing! Office parties, family parties, and holiday get-togethers with friends … there seems to be a never ending reason to celebrate this time of year (and I love it!).

The trick to navigating these cocktail parties is to choose wisely.

Many of the themed holiday drinks are packed with sugar and will most definitely give you a terrible hangover the next day.

Here are two of my favorite holiday cocktails … and a few tips to prevent the holiday hangover.

Vodka Soda

• 2 oz Tito’s Vodka (or vodka of your choice)

• 4 oz + of soda water

• Squeeze 1/2 lemon or lime

• Option to add a splash of pure cranberry juice for the holidays!

This cocktail contains 100 calories or less!

French Martini

• 2 oz Tito’s Vodka (or vodka of your choice)

• 1/2 oz raspberry liqueur

• 1 oz pineapple juice

• Shake ingredients together with ice. Strain into cold martini glass, and garnish with fresh raspberries.

Less than 200 calories … and less than 4 grams of sugar!

To prevent the holiday hangover, make sure that you are hydrated BEFORE you go out.

When you are out remember to drink 8 oz of water (1 cup) in between each cocktail.

Cocktails are very dehydrating and this will keep your body hydrated, and keep you going.

Eat before you drink, choose a healthy, balanced meal (protein, fat & fiber) before going out. This will help you to make better choices later in the evening.
Final tip … enjoy! The holidays come around once a year, enjoy them … in moderation.

* Always drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

Roasted Carrots Recipe

Another Fall favorite!

This roasted carrot recipe is perfect for the holidays, and a sure favorite by everyone at your table.

Roasted Carrots

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of whole carrots (approximately 6 whole carrots)

• Grapeseed or Avocado Oil

• Sea Salt and pepper to taste

• Garlic powder and crushed red pepper optional.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

2. Wash carrots, and slice into 2 inch pieces.

3. Spray baking sheet with cooking oil (our favorite is coconut oil or avocado oil spray)

4. Place carrots onto baking sheet, coat with oil (grapeseed or avocado oil) and season to taste.

5. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until tender.

Rosemary Lemon Chicken Recipe

One of my favorite fall meals! Perfect for chilly fall days, holidays, and even Sunday football.

This also happens to be one of my easiest recipes to date.

Rosemary Lemon Chicken

Cook Time: approximately 6 hours

Ingredients:

• 1 small whole chicken

• 2 lemons, sliced

• 1 large onion, diced

• 16 oz chicken broth, or bone broth

• 1 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 6 springs of fresh rosemary, remove rosemary from stems

Directions:

1. Wash chicken and place in crock pot.

2. Wash and slice lemons.

3. Wash and dice onion.

4. Wash rosemary and remove leaves from stem.

5. Pour chicken broth into crock pot, add onion, sea salt and pepper.

6. Top with lemons and rosemary… add some inside of chicken for added flavor!

7. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for approximately 6 hours, or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

8. Enjoy!

Blue Zones Recap

It’s official!! Lean and Green Body® is a Blue Zones Project® partner!

The ribbon cutting was on Saturday, November 3rd at 8th Ave South in Naples. We were honored to have the official Blue Zone’s team there to celebrate our new partnership. Lean and Green Body® is excited to be a partner and support the mission of the Blue Zones Project®.

The ribbon cutting was followed by a 60 minute vinyasa yoga class over looking the beach … the sound of the waves soothed our souls during savasana.

Delicious Raw and Epiphany Bakery both showed their support with post yoga treats!

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So what is the Blue Zones Project®???

According to healthways.com “A Blue Zones Community® is an area in which citizens, schools, employers, restaurants, grocery stores, and community leaders have come together to optimize residents’ longevity and well-being. Blue Zones Project® by Healthways takes a systematic, environmental approach to identifying and creating policies and programs that support community transformation. “.

Blue Zones is working to create healthier communities, helping us to live longer better lives, one partnership at a time.

Blue Zones Project® believes in the Power 9®…

1. Down Shift

2. Purpose

3. Plant Slant

4. Wine @ Five

5. Family First

6. 80% Rule

7. Move Naturally

8. Right Tribe

9. Belong

Down Shift: reverse disease by finding a stress relieving strategy that works for you.

Purpose: wake up with purpose each day to add up to 7 years to your life.

Plant Slant: put less meat & more plants on your plate.

Wine @ Five: enjoy a glass of wine with good friend each day.

Family First: invest time with your family & add up to 6 years to your life.

80% Rule: eat mindfully & stop when 80% full.

Move Naturally: find ways to move more! You’ll burn calories without having to think about it.

Right Tribe: surround yourself with people who support positive behaviors.

Belong: belong to a faith-based community & attend services 4 times er month to add 4-14 years to our lifespan.

the power 9® info is taken from the Blue Zones Project® handout

For more information on the Blue Zones Project® or to become a partner email bluezonesprojectswfl@sharecare.com or call (239) 624-2312

Sports Drinks

One of the biggest questions I get asked by clients is how to rehydrate during and after a workout.

Clients often jump to high sugar electrolyte drinks like Gatorade and Powerade to replenish. Although these drinks do contain electrolytes, the bad properties out weight the good. These sports drinks are pumped full of sugar and chemicals, and do more harm than good. These sports drinks will increase the blood sugar and cause a spike in insulin, which will give you a boost of energy but will ultimately lead to a big crash. Long term these drinks can lead to weight gain, and possibly type 2 diabetes due to the high sugar content and the high fructose corn syrup.

The sugar in these drinks cause you to crave more. So you end up drinking more than you initially expected. You take one sip, and it’s so good you want more! Sugar is a drug, and can create similar responses in the brain to cocaine. Crazy?!? Is this how you want to hydrate your body??

I recently had a client reach out to me looking to find ways to rehydrate during and after her golf game. The Florida heats is excruciating this time year, and golf is such a long sport that it is key to hydrate properly on the course and after the game too.

Water is simply the best way to hydrate! If you drink enough water (minimum 64 oz, but most people need up to 100 oz per day) during the day, simply adding a few more cups of plain water during and after your workout is enough. For extreme athletes, those who play professional sports, marathon runners, triathletes, or anyone with an electrolyte imbalance should consider a hydration supplement.

My favorite way to hydrate, in addition to plain water, are NUUN tablets. They provide electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and are very low in sugar and they have very few ingredients. This is not a sponsored post, I just really love this product! Gatorade and Powerade, among other sports drinks, have made a big name for themselves as the top sports drinks. They have campaigns on how beneficial they are during and after your workouts and games. The one thing these companies do not discuss are there ingredients. These sports drinks, all varieties, are loaded with sugar!! They started with high fructose corn syrup, which has now been linked to cause diabetes, obesity and other major health problems. Some varieties of these beverages have switched to artificial sweeteners, so the sugar content on the food label may appear lower or even zero… but this is not true. Artificial sweeteners are actually worse for you than regular sugar!! It makes me so upset that companies find it okay to put these ingredients in their products. Artificial sweeteners have been linked to diabetes, obesity, brain tumors, and several other health conditions. These sweeteners are not just in sports drinks, they are actually in several common beverages you can find in any grocery store. It is so important to read the food labels on everything you consume. You are what you eat. The cleaner and more pure the better.

If you need help reading food labels, check out this article and video interview here.

The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

Image via @runningyogimama

by Dr. Jennifer Gray, DPT, CHC, RYT-200

What do you think of when you hear the word “vegan?” If you are anything like me, I immediately pictured a tree-hugging, granola-chomping yogi or a crazed PETA advocate screaming “Meat is Murder.” Although I am a yoga instructor, neither of these pictures really seemed to fit me or my lifestyle. However, I found myself signing up for “Veganuary” earlier this year after watching a slew of very disturbing documentaries on Netflix (cue me sobbing on the couch to my husband watching Food, Inc). I pledged to be vegan for the 30 days of January. Now, I don’t love labels (hence the earlier connotation of the word vegan), so I now refer to myself as a whole-foods, plant-based eater. Yes, that’s right... it stuck. Not only did I lose the last 10 stubborn pregnancy pounds that I had been holding onto, but I have never felt better in my life. I have more energy during my long days at the hospital or playing with my 2 young children, and I recover so much faster in between my workouts and training. I even shaved 20 minutes off my half marathon time and completed my first triathalon!

Image via @runningyogimama

Plant based diets have been known to decrease obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart attacks, strokes, and some types of cancer. The reason for this decrease is in large part due to phytochemicals, which are power substances found in plants. Plants are also rich in antioxidants and provide a wide variety of vitamins and nutrients. Minerals are actually derived from the earth and make their way into food from plants themselves. The only way animals (including humans) get these minerals into their body is from eating plants. Plants are also our only source of fiber in the human diet. Fiber is essential for healthy digestion, acting as a bulking agent and keeping the smooth muscle of the digestion tract strong, as well as for detoxification, as it binds to waste and excess hormones to be released by the liver. Fiber can also slow the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

I whole heartedly believe that I am the healthiest I have ever been eating this way, and I’m on a mission to help others feel like this too. Spoiler alert...you don’t have to give up meat altogether or start eating tofu! There are easy ways to just start implementing more whole foods and plants into your diets regularly, without giving up the foods you know and love.

Remove junk food, make list before next run to grocery store in Collier, Lee

Article by Ashley Collins, Naples Daily News

Originally published on naplesnews.com. Republished with permission.

Grocery shopping can be a stressful experience — the large selection of produce overwhelming, the cookie aisle too tempting to resist, and a bored toddler difficult to please.

Sometimes it's just easier for busy parents to grab any items off the shelves and call it a day before running to a Little League baseball game or piano recital.

As more and more grocery stores sprout in Southwest Florida, each offering more fresh, healthy products than ever before, the average consumer is often left feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what is best for their family. That's where Jennifer Khosla comes in.

"Instead of just eating whatever, it's better to fuel your body, and I think people are becoming more understanding of that now," said the Naples-based holistic nutrition specialist. It's just a matter of taking the time and making the effort, Khosla added.

In 2015, the 32-year-old founded Lean and Green Body, a health and wellness program, offering services such as yoga classes, nutrition sessions, personal training and grocery shopping.

The latter involves Khosla creating a diet plan and shopping list with her clients, and then accompanying them to a local store. There, she helps clients shop for the right foods and avoid the bad ones.

As the number of grocery stores multiplies in Collier and Lee counties, the first step for a shopper, Khosla said, is determining which store fits their needs — budget and diet wise.

Southwest Florida has no shortage of popular options like Publix, Walmart and Target, as well as niche grocers like Aldi, Lucky's Market, Whole Foods Market, The Fresh Market, Trader Joe's, Wynn's Market and Food & Thought.

And a growing list of stores opening soon, including the first Whole Foods in Fort Myers, and Oakes Farms Seed to Table grocery store in North Naples.

You've got a cart, now what?

We met up with Khosla on a recent weekday at one of Naples' many grocery stores, Whole Foods in Mercato, to find out how families can make the most of their trip and leave the store with plenty of healthy items for the week.

A shopping list is essential to stay on track and avoid overspending, Khosla said.

Our list was full of healthy, lean items like vegetables, fruits, quinoa and salmon. We started our journey at the produce section. Khosla recommends shoppers begin with produce and work their way around the perimeter of the store, where they'll find the seafood and dairy sections.

"When shopping for your family, consider everyone in your household and think about what meals you want to make for the week, and what you'll need to make your kids' school lunches," Khosla said.

A good tip to remember:Avoid shopping on an empty stomach.

"Often times you buy way more than you need. And when you're hungry, usually you don't pick the healthiest items, but the stuff you're craving at the time," she said.

Khosla practices the healthy life she preaches.

She lives in Naples with her husband who adopted her healthy lifestyle. She does meal prep most weeks and tries her best to limit sugar and carbs. Zucchini pasta anyone?

Khosla studied nutrition and athletic training at Springfield College in Massachusetts, where she went on to do her graduate work in dietetics. She started her career as a hospital dietitian, but quickly realized her passion for holistic nutrition, a career move that took her to California and New York before she settled down in her hometown of Naples.

"When I found out about holistic nutrition, I was like, 'This is amazing.' You can actually heal your body naturally without drugs or prescriptions," said Khosla, who's also a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer.

She's currently working on becoming a board certified holistic nutritionist and recently published her own wellness book: "Revitalize & Renew: 7 days to a healthier you."

Try to avoid or limit these items

The inner aisles are often the trickiest when it comes to finding the healthiest options, Khosla said.

It's no secret packaged products like cereal and microwavable mac n' cheese can sit on shelves for weeks to months before expiring.

"Usually that means they have a lot of chemicals and preservatives," Khosla said. Which can make it tougher for our bodies to process and digest, she added.

And many of these items contain high levels of sugar. Even something as healthy as yogurt can hold more than a dozen grams in a single individual container.

"And depending how much it has, it's going to offset all the benefits the yogurt does have," Khosla said.

Which is why, she added, shoppers should get accustomed to reading nutrition facts labels before making the purchase. But more on that later.

Say yes to these



Shoppers should stock their carts with plenty of veggies, fruits, wild seafood, dairy products, and packaged items like dried beans and quinoa, Khosla said.

"You want to buy food that will expire quickly like vegetables and fruits. Those are the types of foods you want to be consuming the most," she said.

While fresh items expire faster — and may lead to more shopping trips — it's worth it in the end, Khosla said. Setting time once a week to prepare meals for the week ahead can ensure these foods don't go to waste.

And parents can even add any leftover greens to their kids' desserts or breakfast smoothies.

"You can chop up some spinach and put it into brownie batter or add a handful of greens into the blender to make peanut butter chocolate smoothies," she said.

Like with any diet, moderation is key.

Khosla said she doesn't suggest people eat clean 100 percent of the time. That could lead to binge eating junk food.

She does however recommend they follow the 80/20 diet. That means 80 percent of the food they consume should be healthy items like veggies, fruits, whole grains and fish. And the 20 percent is for the foods they crave, like pizza or chocolate.

To shop organic or not?

While organic produce has less pesticides, it's often more expensive than regular products. However, Khosla does recommend shoppers opt for organic dairy products, or find alternatives like almond or cashew milk, and choose organic on specific fruits and vegetables considered part of the dirty dozen.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the following fruits and vegetables have the most pesticide residue:

• Strawberries

• Spinach

• Nectarines

• Apples

• Grapes

• Peaches

• Cherries

• Pears

• Tomatoes

• Celery

• Potatoes

• Sweet bell peppers (That includes hot peppers)

Last but not least: Read the nutrition facts label

"It's really important to understand what you are putting in your body," Khosla said.

Sometimes an item advertises itself as a nutritional snack, but one look at the nutrition facts label could say otherwise.

Khosla advises shoppers compare products based on the amount of calories per serving, sugar, fiber and protein listed on the label.

Fat-free doesn’t necessarily mean it's calorie-free, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some lower fat food items may have just as many calories as the full-fat version.

"It's not about becoming obsessed with the number, but really become aware and educated," Khosla said.

She recommends shoppers also read the ingredients section before purchasing any item.

"You want to limit packaged products to 10 ingredients or less. If you can't understand an ingredient or pronounce it, it's probably a chemical," Khosla said.

"Our bodies aren't going to be able to break down chemicals as easily and digest them as effectively as we do whole foods."

My Favorite Post-Run Smoothie

Marathon training has been an experience of trial and error.

I've had to learn some lessons the hard way (wear longer socks to reduce blisters; avoid the area of the neighborhood with the bear; drink electrolytes before, during, and after the run; funny podcasts will lighten up the hard miles). One of my favorite moments of training happened just last week, when someone pulled over and asked if I was okay because I looked like I was going to "pass out." I laughed out loud. I guess 12 miles looked as painful as it felt that day. It was hot and I woke up late to run. Since then, I start my especially long runs before the sun rises.

Other lessons weren't as hard to learn. My post-run smoothie fell into this category. It came to me during a distance run. My body craved something sweet and hydrating. I needed fuel to recover well and build up what was broken down during exercise. I made it a priority to include spinach to add iron and vitamins to the mix. I wasn't sure how this would taste at first, but the result was incredible. It's exactly what I need after running a long distance in the Florida heat. This smoothie is creamy, light, and delicious. I love to drink it while foam rolling and static stretching.

Ingredients:

• 1 banana

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 2 tsp all natural peanut butter

• 1 big handful of spinach

• 1 scoop Garden of Life Vanilla protein powder

• 1 tsp chia seeds

• 3-5 ice cubes

• (For extra carbs, you can add 1/4 cup rolled oats)

Directions:

1. Blend and enjoy!

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Looking to Lose Those Last Few Pounds?

You’ve tried everything, but still have the last 5, 10 or even 20 pounds to lose?

Here are some tips on what to eat to achieve your ideal weight.

When we talk about losing weight, I always want to make sure that we are discussing it in a healthy manner, no crash diets, no diet pills, none of the craziness. Weight loss is more about what you are adding versus what you are restricting. Weight loss and a healthy diet really comes down to how are you fueling your body. Are you setting yourself up for success or destruction?

How you start your day is crucial. Its sets the tone for the entire day. Eating healthy in the morning has proven to aid in making healthier decisions as the day progresses.

Always start your day with my morning routine.

Starting your day with warm water and lemon, Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar and greens really set the tone for the day.

Once your morning routine is complete you may finally have your coffee or tea … let’s try and kick that sugar habit once and for all. Either enjoying your beverage black or with a simple milk. What do I mean by simple? Limited ingredients…pure and preferably organic.

I love breakfast because it starts my day off right. Do you want to have waffles or a frozen breakfast sandwich and crash an hour later? Nope. My days are way too busy to deal with any mid-morning crashes. I need sustained energy to get me through until at least noon. Can you relate?

My favorite breakfast smoothies are packed with nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, and loads of energy boosting ingredients.

When making your smoothie it is important to focus on these three areas: protein, healthy fat and fiber. Check out my blog on “What to Focus On When Making Your Smoothie” for a deeper explanation as to why these three are so crucial in your morning smoothie.

Having a healthy breakfast will set you up for success for the rest of the day.

When lunchtime comes try to remember to fuel your body. It may be tempting to go out with your co-workers and indulge, but think about how that will feel around 2pm when you are downright dragging and watching the seconds tick by on your clock.

Food is fuel.

Lunch is a time to refuel your body. Consider having greens or a large serving of vegetables, protein and fiber. These three together will keep you going - and keep your energy consistent - through the afternoon. Limit the number of traditional carbohydrates at lunch - avoid if possible. Having a big bowl of pasta or a turkey sandwich on white bread will ultimately lead to a sleepy and sluggish afternoon.

To really boost your weight loss add an extra shot of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar (mixed with water) before lunch. Always drink prior to meals for optimum benefit.

Keep the format for your dinner similar to your lunch, keeping in mind protein, greens and fiber.

Always choosing to look at food as fuel.

Water is a key component for weight loss. It not only rehydrates our cells but also aids in elimination by flushing toxins out of our bodies.

When you are trying to lose weight, it is important to eat regular meals, and not to skip meals hoping to boost your weight loss. Skipping meals will ultimately lead to binging and over eating later in the day.

Move. Weight loss is very much connected to what we eat, and how we choose to fuel our bodies. However, it always comes down to calories in vs. calories out. Make sure that you move every day, walk at least 10,000 steps per day, and get active.

For more ways on how to get active in your community check out our online schedule of classes and events here.

Change

The key to a successful business is change, evolving and adjusting to the needs of our clients and community.

We officially closed the doors to our 5th Ave S studio this summer. 

It was a bittersweet moment for me, one that I chose to keep off of social media. I have not announced this news publicly until now. 

I chose to close the doors on our 5th Ave S studio because it not longer fit with my vision of the business. Lean and Green Body® is ever changing, evolving and growing. It is my job as the leader and visionary to follow and keep up with these changes. Our 5th Ave S studio was simply too small for our needs, we out grew this studio much quicker than anticipated. (Which is good news!!) 

My goal is to teach more group yoga classes through Lean and Green Body®. To offer my yoga teachings as a gift to my community, for rates that are accessible to all. I have already begun offering weekly yoga classes throughout Collier County, for a full list of classes visit our schedule.  We also have a full list of events and workshops through December 2018 on The website.

We have several big and exciting changes coming and I can not wait to share them all with you in much more detail! 

Upcoming Classes

Click here to sign up!

Click here to sign up!

Spa Water

Have you ever gone to the spa and seen the beautiful glass jug filled with mint, cucumbers, and various other fruits? It not only looks beautiful, but I swear it tastes better than any water I’ve ever had! 

So I decided to make it myself, a little D-I-Y project.

I hosted a girls night at my house last week, and decided this would be the perfect addition. I used a glass water dispenser we received as a wedding gift, thank you Sherry! 

I filled the dispenser 3/4 of the way with cold water.

We sliced our clean cucumber very thin, and added them to the water. 

We then bruised the clean mint leaves to extract more flavor, and added them to the water as well. 

* Remember to always wash your vegetables and herbs before using them. 

Wait approximately 30 minutes for the flavors to meld together, and then enjoy!

The water tasted amazing! I think I might make this weekly.

The girls at my party were so impressed with how simple the recipe was, but how sophisticated it looked. I can’t wait to see how they create their own recipes for infused water. 

You could also do this same set up with lemon and lavender, or rosemary and mint, or raspberries. There are endless possibilities! 

Comment below with your favorite infused water.

10 Day Detox Follow Up

We did it!! My husband and I just completed our first 10 day detox together!

Our bodies have been free of gluten, dairy, alcohol and meat for 10 days!

This is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud of my husband for completing the detox with me. 

This was his first official detox, and I am impressed that he completed all 10 days. 

The verdict: we feel amazing!

We have so much energy. My productivity has been expanded ten fold. I have found this sense of clarity and the afternoon brain fog has dissipated for both of us.

My skin is glowing and clear, the whites of our eyes are crisp, and any belly bloat is gone. 

As many of you know, I love detoxing. I plan to detox at least four times a year, in addition to a 24 hour detox every month. My first published book on detoxing, Revitalize and Renew was released earlier this year, you can check it out here.

I am so passionate about detoxing because it is a time to reconnect to my roots. We can focus on food purely as fuel for our bodies. It’s a time to simplify and get back to basics, all we need is real food.

For this detox my husband and I sustained ourselves on real whole foods, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and teas. Our goal was to drink 90 oz of plain water per day, in addition to nettle leaf tea, dandelion root tea, and our daily coffee or black tea. We ate tons of raw greens, sweet potatoes, black beans, and delicious smoothies. I honestly did not feel deprived. I felt satiated. There was a connection to the food that we ate, and I enjoyed the time we spent together cooking and dining. 

Many of my clients worry that they will feel a lack of energy and become hangry during a detox… we experienced the opposite. We had loads of energy and laughed more than we have in weeks. We had fun with the detoxing process. I highly recommend detoxing with your partner, it allows you both to grow and bond together.

Moving forward, I have chosen to limit meat in my diet to maybe 1-2 days per week. I am flexible with myself and do not want to put any labels or firm restrictions on my dietary habits at this time, but right now this is my plan. Ricky on the other hand is looking forward to adding organic healthy chicken and fish back into his diet. He is someone who craves meat, and has been a good sport for the past 10 days.

Our household is already gluten free, due to my allergies, and previously we aimed to limit dairy. After completing the detox, I believe we will both eliminate dairy from our diets, it simply does not make us feel good and is really pro-inflammatory and unhealthy for our bodies.

As we begin to ease out of our detox, we will add alcohol back in sparingly. We plan to limit drinking to two days per week, taking into consideration parties and events. We have made the decision to extend the alcohol-free portion of our detox to about 14 days, and to make a regular habit of detoxing our bodies. 

We will both be more aware of how we are fueling our bodies, and more in tune with what makes us feel good. 

This detox was never about losing weight or a quick fix, it was always about tuning in and listening to our bodies. Our bodies are so smart, if we just listen they will tell us what they need.

For more information about detoxing contact Jennifer at jennifer@leanandgreenbody.com

Running Routine

I had never craved Peanut M&M’s so much in my life. I’d go to the grocery store, buy a “sharing size” bag of the candy, and eat it in about 10 minutes. I did this several times per week. It was a wonderful time, but it was also tough on my body.

This was how I spent the first three weeks training for my marathon. I felt hungry and incredibly exhausted. I didn’t pay much attention to fueling my body. 

It wasn’t until a tough 7-mile run that I decided to make a change. During this run, I reached a point where I really struggled. I felt like I was dragging more than usual — both mentally and physically. A long distance run is never easy, but this was different. For the first time, I felt like my body was trying to tell me something. 

When I got home, I did a lot of research and talked to friends who finished marathons. They had all different tips and techniques, but one topic was constantly revisited: nutrition. I realized I wasn’t fueling myself strategically. Marathon training is hard on the body, and I wasn’t making it any easier for myself by eating carelessly.

Since then, I’ve developed a morning running routine that’s more beneficial for my body. (Disclaimer: I’m not an expert in nutrition, and this is all from personal experience)

On long distance running days, I wake up 30 minutes ahead of time, eat a piece of toast, and do some dynamic stretches. I pack some mid-run food (like Gu, chews, or frozen grapes) and stick a water bottle in my mailbox. Then, I lace up my shoes and run. About one hour into the run, I’ll have a snack and drink some water.

After I finish running, I immediately rehydrate with water with Nuun dissolvable electrolytes. I also make a healthy smoothie packed with nutrients to help my body recover.

Since making these changes, my body feels balanced and restored. I ran 9 miles recently, and I couldn’t believe how much better I felt. It wasn’t easy, but it didn’t feel impossible like before. I’m amazed at how small changes can have such a dramatic effect. 

These lessons in learning to take care of myself run parallel to marathon training itself. There is a lot to learn and study, but I can’t do it all in one day. It takes time and effort. 

Persistence. Faith. Self-love. Patience. And most of all, an unwavering commitment to become a better version of myself.