The Best Shakshuka!

Posted on December 9, 2021 by - Health Blog

Easy, Healthy, & Delicious Shakshuka! 

Did the last recipe I posted leave you wanting some more new ways to spice up your meals? Check out this delicious and healthy vegetarian breakfast recipe. It’s the best Shakshuka! Thanks Jeanine Donofrio over at @LoveandLemons for providing. It’s made with a bold, harissa-spiced tomato sauce. Packed with flavor without packing on pounds, this shakshuka recipe is a simple, satisfying breakfast, brunch, or weeknight dinner. Don’t be afraid to give it a try. Keeping variety in your meals is important to prevent boredom and will aid in keeping you on track with your health and fitness goals.
 
 
 
PREP TIME: 10 mins. COOK TIME: 25 mins.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons harissa paste*, see note
  • 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
  • 3 to 5 eggs
  • ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • Microgreens for garnish, optional
  • Toasted bread, for serving

Creamy Avocado Smoothie

Posted on December 6, 2021 by - Health Blog

My New Favorite!

Finding time to prepare a healthy meal, especially when you’re on the go in the morning, can be challenging. Instead of spending the extra cash and waiting in line at your local coffee shop, opt for something healthier like this new vegan friendly Creamy Avocado Smoothie recipe (Thanks toJeanine Donofrio over at @LoveandLemons for providing). It tastes so yummy! We had these the other day. It was super easy to make we only needed a few things,  it took only 5 minutes to make, and the best part about it is that it packs a powerful healthy punch.  

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup cubed frozen pineapple
  • 2 cups packed fresh spinach, or 1 cup frozen spinach
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup light coconut milk, canned or from a carton
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus 1/2 teaspoon zest
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 8 ice cubes
  • 2 scoops vanilla protein powder*, optional (need a recommendation, ask us!)

Why We Defeat Ourselves

Posted on December 2, 2021 by - Health Blog

“All forms of self-defeating behavior are unseen and unconscious, which is why their existence is denied.”—Vernon Howard

Self-Defeating Behaviors

Why do we defeat ourselves? Self-defeating behavior occurs when we fail to learn the lessons that life tries to teach us. It represents a victory of impulse over awareness, immediate gratification over lasting satisfaction, and relief over resolution. Most of you don’t know this, but self-defeating behavior is a coping mechanism—a delusional attempt to make ourselves feel better. Think about it, what do we do when faced with crisis, threat or a potentially upsetting situation? We try to protect ourselves! Right? We grasp for things that reduce tension or keep us from getting hurt. 

In regard to self-defeating behaviors, the action itself seems logical and expedient at the time, and it might actually succeed in bringing about short-term relief. But self-defeating behaviors invariably come back to haunt us and then we curse ourselves for being stupid, foolish or weak. Does that ring a bell? Some of you are reading this and saying out loud, “YES! That’s it. How the hell do I stop doing that?”

Nutritional Breakdown

Posted on November 21, 2021 by - Health Blog

Today want to take a moment to talk about Nutritional Breakdown. Nutrition is essential to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Let me repeat that, ESSENTIAL. It is imperative you understand nutrition and its effects on our bodies. Here’s the challenge…The word nutrition gets tossed around all the time like a wet towel, but what does it mean? What actually makes up nutrition? There are FIVE key elements to understand when it comes to nutrition.

  1. Calories
  2. Macronutrients
  3. Supplements
  4. Food Composition
  5. Nutrition Timing

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - Health Blog

Check out this yummy vegan friendly strawberry banana smoothie recipe by Jeanine Donofrio over at @LoveAndLemons for providing. It tastes so yummy! We had these the other day. Nice thing is that we only needed a handful of things needed to prepare it! This refreshing strawberry banana smoothie recipe comes together in seconds in the blender. Perfect for hot summer afternoons or as a healthy breakfast.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

PREP TIME: 5 mins. 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 cup raspberries
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 1 cup almond milk, or oat milk 
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups ice
  • Handful of mint or basil, optional