Showing posts with label pa" le* o. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pa" le* o. Show all posts

Saturday, March 29, 2014

eight must haves for your daily diet~

By incorporating each of these, you will begin to glow from the inside out.  Rock on, my friends!
Leafy Greens
High in B vitamins, minerals, and beta-carotene, greens are the number one food you can eat regularly to help improve your health. A good way to get greens into your diet are Green Smoothies – GREENS MAKE YOU CLEAN! Pack your blender full of your favorite greens and watch as your body magically begins to clean itself out. Here is my go to recipe: Favorite Green Smoothie

Coconut Oil
Definitely my favorite oil to cook with and add to green smoothies. Coconut oil is a unique saturated fat because it is chalked full of medium-chained fatty acids which are easy for the body to convert into fuel. Remember “saturated” just means the oil is typically solid at room temperature. Saturated oils are the ONLY oils safe to cook with. 

Eggs (Protein)
To me, eggs are the perfect food. They contain everything needed to sustain life – protein, antioxidants, minerals, and B vitamins – including Choline, which is a rock star! Choline is essential for the liver and gallbladder to emulsify fats. Choline also helps aid brain function in adults by maintaining the structure of brain cell membranes and acts as a precursor to neurotransmitters. If you are looking for foods that bust your sugar cravings, eggs are a no-brainer. I eat mine every morning cooked in coconut oil along side some avocado.

Avocados (Fat)
Avocados are a great source of healthy vegetable fat. It is rare to find fatty vegetables and fruits in nature, which makes avocados a real delicacy! Put together with eggs for a match made in heaven.

The Greek translation of FAT is LOVE! 
Fermented Foods
A good place to start? Kombucha! Kombucha is a carbonated probiotic drink full of enzymes, minerals, and essential vitamins. However, the nutritive qualities are not the only thing to brag about. This drink is great for your digestive system, helping you break down food and re-populate your gut with healthy flora. After the fermentation process, where the good bacteria turns sugar into nutrients, there is some residual sugar left over which makes this drink a semi-sweet treat. (*Note: Get started brewing kombucha at home! Purchase your starter kit HERE.)

Chicken Bone Broth
Delicious, digestible, and familiar; it’s also nutrient-rich.  Bone broth assists with digestion, allergies, immune & brain health, contributes to glowing skin & hair, promotes healthy connective tissue, and is extremely soothing if you are sick.

I buy my bone broth from my local farmer, but you can learn how to make your own bone broth at home here: Easy Crock Pot Chicken Bone Broth
Fish Oil
The Omega-3s in fish oil are extremely important in our daily diet because of the anti-inflammatory effect they have on the body which assists with joint health and skin conditions.  Fish oils have earned their reputation as “brain food” because some people eat fish to help with depression, psychosis, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease, and other thinking disorders.

Cod Liver Oil is my go-to oil that I take each and every day. Traditionally, this was THE health food in Grandma’s cupboard. The naturally occurring Vitamins A and D, Co Q 10, DHA, and EPA support brain function and development, and the natural balan

ce of Vitamins D and F help with cell metabolism, your immune system, hormone levels and regulation of cholesterol.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a slightly more complex carbohydrate than regular potatoes with a far greater nutrient profile. This means they break down slower and don’t cause the blood sugar spike that you have to worry about with white potatoes and other simple starches. I love them because you can make them sweet, savory, salty, WHATEVER! Delish. Carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes ~ packed with beta-carotene and other phytonutrients. After completely removing all forms of bread & gluten from my diet, I rely on squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes when I am craving a “hearty” meal.

Happy Eating!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

veggie bowls

I love this combo because it has a ton of different colors, textures, and flavors. 
You can get all sorts of creative with this “template” – using different veggies, spices, dressings, and adding beans/meat to the mix for more protein.
Here’s what you’ll need for this particular bowl.
8-12 oz butternut squash, cubed
6-7 oz shredded red cabbage
1 –2  cups broccoli and/or spinach
1 ripe avocado
cooking spray
salt
pepper
cinnamon
butter, coconut oil,
 or a dressing of your choice additional seasoning(s) of your choice
1. butternut squash
Start with this because it takes the longest. I bought my squash pre-cubed because…well, those things are just a beast to cut. Toss cubes with salt and cinnamon (amount to your liking), and place on a greased baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes (tossing it 20 minutes in).
Sweet potatoes would be a great sub for butternut squash too.
2. red cabbage
As with the squash, I buy this pre-shredded to make life easier. I love cooking shredded red cabbage until it’s soft and almost pasta-like. I cook mine in a stovetop pan with some cooking spray or canola oil, and season simply with salt and pepper. I cook it on medium heat (tossing frequently) just until it reaches the consistency I like, which is between 15-20 minutes. To speed up the cooking process, add some water to the pan and cover it for steaming effect.
3. spinach and/or broccoli
This is where I get lazy. I always have frozen spinach and broccoli on hand, so I just throw a bunch in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. When it’s done I add a little bit of butter, pepper, and garlic salt. Hey, lazy greens are better than no greens!
4. avocado
And now the easy part. Add sliced/cubed avocado. After these pretty pictures I mashed the avocado up into the cabbage and greens as a “dressing” of sorts.
**********
What are your favorite vegetables? 
Do you ever make veggie bowls like this?
source: girlmeetslife

Thursday, February 13, 2014

shrimp stir-fry and some winter love

Ingredients - we used shrimp instead of chicken 






  1. Bring rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender, and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
  2. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, and corn starch in a small bowl; stir until smooth. Mix ginger, garlic, and red pepper into sauce; coat chicken with marinade and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir bell pepper, water chestnuts, broccoli, carrots, and onion until just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove vegetables from skillet and keep warm.
  4. Remove chicken from marinade, reserving liquid. Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chicken until slightly pink on the inside, about 2 minutes per side; return vegetables and reserved marinade to skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until chicken is longer pink in the middle and vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve over rice.
 source for recipe: allrecipes - stir-fry


some baby's breath around the nest - a favorite of mine. 
- so many celebrities are switching to rodan + fields - trust me, it's life-changing and they're clinically proven to be around 90% effective - I am in love! Please message me for details- anytime! 
it's still snowing in charlotte
and is so beautiful.
photo credit: blair richardson
for more on cute packaging and salads in a jar 

Sunday, January 26, 2014

veggie love

Here are my 5 tips for making vegetables tasty (and not hate eating them).
1. roast them.
Roasting vegetables is hands down my favorite way to cook them. 
Here’s a great guide to roasting vegetables:
My favorite roasted vegetable is definitely butternut squash with a bit of salt and cinnamon. It gets all caramelized and sweet!
2. add avocado.
I love adding avocado to just about everything. It adds great flavor, a buttery texture, and healthy fats. I actually prefer avocado over salad dressing – if you use a really ripe avocado you can mash it up into a “guacamole dressing” of sorts.
3. add butter.
Butter seems to have gotten a really bad rep, but I’m a huge fan of it. First of all, just a little bit of butter goes a LONG way and can add incredible flavor to vegetables. Secondly, I fall in the camp that believes saturated fat is not bad for you. Not to mention that fat helps your body absorb nutrients, and you want to get the most out of those veggies, right?
4. “pizza-fied.”
One of my favorite ways to enjoy vegetables is to PIZZAFY them. Simply add:
* marinara sauce
* Italian seasoning
* parmesan cheese

This works especially well with steamed greens, roasted broccoli, brussels sprouts, and spaghetti squash. Obviously this is no replacement for real pizza, but it’s still delicious!

5. in soup.
Most soups already have vegetables in them, but I like to take it up a notch by adding my favorite greens (spinach or kale) in the mix. I actually prefer chunky over thin/watery soup, so extra vegetables help bulk it up while adding nutrients at the same time.
**********
What’s your favorite way to eat vegetables?

courtesy of girlmeetslife.com 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

breakfast ideas?

i am looking for healthy and convenient breakfast ideas
… 
please let me know if you have any great recipes
{enter links below in the comment section}

great breakfast cookbook ideas

Sunday, January 5, 2014

weekly meal plan - january 6-12

as mentioned on simply love yesterday-

one of my goals for the new year is to cook (healthy) food more 
with some treats as well 
but to really focus on this

so here is my plan for week one
i am hoping to update you on here with recipes and outcomes 
my hope is to focus on the cooking part on sundays 
i really want to prepare in advance!

i would love for you to join me weekly… 

challenge for week one of my 14 week challenge:
 eat a minimum of two fruits or vegetables {organic} with every meal 

Breakfasts:
eggs
organic bacon
berries 
smoothies 

Lunches:
leftovers 
&/or
salads with cubed grilled chicken 
{with avocado/olive oil for dressing}
celery or apples with sun butter
tuna on a lettuce wrap with red onion 
veggie chips
carrots
peaches

Dinners:
greek salads --> two 
orange sesame chicken with broccoli 
paleo meatloaf {mr. monaco makes the best!}

Desserts/Snacks:
frozen grapes
some kind of flourless chocolate dessert {maybe Trader Joe's flourless chocolate cake}
paleo friendly cookies :)
natural almonds
berries 

what are you eating this week?

have a great week you all 

<3 


source: practical paleo 
{love this site!! go visit her for amazing ideas}

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

merry christmas eve


happy little things.

with some paleo christmas ideas...

handmade ornament

simple and cute. 


snowflakes

feeling like a south-of-the-border flair for Christmas…


tamale bowl.

recipe

Grain-free Mexican wedding cookies.


recipe

this is what's on my Christmas list: make-up. I like it; it's fun.


enough of me.

What's on your mind?

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

get to know paleo


Home Page | Get to Know PaleoWelcome to the world as it was before corn fields, grain mills, industrialized dairy farms, high-fructose corn syrup, McDonald’s and Starbucks.  You have to fend for yourself. Hunt animals, gather your ruffage and prepare your food. What would you eat?  The answer to that may surprise you: LOTS of delicious food!!
It’s important to keep in mind that modern primal eaters are not attempting to re-enact history. *Note that I can’t speak for all of us, but I can say with confidence that I have not yet witnessed a man wearing a loincloth, holding a spear coming out of a CrossFit gym in recent memory. Though I would have no objection to this if it were say, Jason Statham or Bradley Cooper, but I digress… Electronic appliances are welcome, as is modern refrigeration, stainless steel cookware and a well-stocked spice cabinet. And heck, if you can make a muffin out of ground up almonds and dried dates, why not!? The cave has improved a bit over the years, let’s take advantage of that.
The main idea with Paleo is to give your body the fuel it needs to function at its best. This is not a crash diet. This is a lifestyle of getting rid of processed foods, confronting your dependency on hormone-laden protein and dairy, and preserving your dear sweet pancreas.  Believe me, you have no idea how good you can feel until you eliminate harmful grains and refined/processed sweeteners. It’s time to start eating the feeds that make you thrive!
Head over to Kitchen Essentials to get the skinny on all the goodies and gadgets Paleo cooks depend on to prep tasty meals with ease! Navigate by clicking through the three categories at the top right section of the page to find: 
Essentials For The Kitchen
From kitchen gadgets to small appliances, I’ve organized the tools and equipment that are frequently used in Paleo food preparation.
On The Shelf: Cooking, Health & Going PaleoA collection of the best books for recipes, health information and guides for defining and transitioning to Paleo.
The Paleo PantryThe products that we now use in place of the health-compromising foods found in traditional American fare. You definitely want to check this out!
Helping people make a smooth transition to Paleo is one of my favorite things. With that in mind, I’ve prepared a small series of handouts for you to access at any time. These downloads are full of practical and economical ideas based on common questions and requests I’ve received here and on my Facebook page.
In the process of transitioning to Paleo and want to know how to convert your kitchen? Download The Kitchen Converter!
Busy and finding it difficult to churn out fast weeknight dinners? (Silly question, I know…) Download 5 Weeknight Paleo Dinners.
Finding something quick on-the-go can be tricky. Want to know what I grab when I need a snack in a hurry or away from home? Download 7 Paleo Snack Saviors!
While everyone knows that a typical Paleo diet consists of a fair amount of red meat, pork, poultry, fish and eggs, don’t forget that our ancestors weren’t just hunters… they were gatherers too.  And they gathered a LOT of vegetables.  Make your great-great-great-great…grandparents proud and ensure you get plenty of veggies in your daily diet.
In fact, here’s my challenge to you. Each week pick one vegetable you’ve never (or rarely) prepared and seek out a new recipe.   
Stay tuned on here for lots of great recipes- coming soon
courtesy of popularpaleo.com