Mardi Gras Detox

Mardi Gras 2015 sure has been a fun run! We hope you paraded your heart out and ate way too much king cake! Now that the good times are rollin’ to an end we are ready to get back on track! Here are some detox tips to recharge and reenergize you:

Start your day with:

• Hot water and lemon to hydrate and speed your metabolism
• Vitamin C which contains a compound that drives away toxins (goji berries and oranges are also great sources of vitamin c)
• Oats (fiber rich)
• OR yogurt (puts the good bacteria back in your stomach)

Add mix of any of the following to your diet:

• kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, artichokes, avocado, beets
• cinnamon, cayenne, garlic, turmeric
• grapefruit, pineapple, apple

These detoxifying, super foods and fiber rich foods will help to cleanse your kidney and liver.

Drink this:

• PLENTY of water
• Green tea

Avoid this:

simple carbs, sugar, alcohol, fried or processed food, preservatives

In addition:

Exercise-Sweat it all out!

And catch up on your sleep! 

Simple Shepherds Pie

I created a healthy twist on one of my favorite comfort foods, Shepherd's Pie. This is a quick and simple recipe, and it is great for when you need some warm comfort food! 

Ingredients:

1 bag frozen cauliflower

1 pack lean ground turkey

1/2 diced onion

1 tsp. minced garlic 

2 zucchinis 

olive oil 

Directions: 

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Heat one frozen bag of cauliflower in the microwave (follow directions on bag) 

Mash the cauliflower in a food processor. (option: add milk for a smoother consistency) 

Ground Turkey

Pour some olive oil in a pan and cook the onions until they start to become translucent

add the minced garlic and then the ground turkey 

Drain grease when cooked 

Zucchini 

I made thick zucchini noodles to top off my pie mimicking a crust, but zucchini cylinders would work as well and save time!

I cook my zucchini on the stove with a dash of salt and pepper.

All that is left to do is put it all together! I put cauliflower mash first followed by ground turkey then zucchini. Add your favorite seasonings, and it's ready to go! 

What's in your Coffee?

Coffee may be your morning ritual, your emergency wake up call, or your occasional treat. If you do start your day with a cup of Joe, make sure you are doing it right. Loading your coffee with sugar and creamer can cause a sugar high and a mid day crash.

I am all about starting the day off right. In my opinion the morning sets the tone for your attitude and healthy choices during the day. It is certainly never too late for a turnaround, but starting the morning off with a healthy step forward sets up the rest of the day nicely. If you would like to cut the morning sugar there are many, many ways to make tasty healthy coffee.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

Pumpkin Spice Coffee:

Coffee + Almond milk + 1 Pumpkin Spice tea bag

Spiced Coffee:

Coffee + Soy milk  + Cinnamon & Nutmeg

Coconut Coffee:

Coffee + Coconut milk + Coconut oil

Also, I recently invested in an electric milk frother. It is AMAZING! I can create my own Starbucks style healthy recipes in my own kitchen. It really is a treat I look forward to every morning (& guilt free)! 

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do! 

Shrimp Pizza with Eggplant Crust

I am loving this pizza with a twist! Eggplant crusted pizza is a great option to satisfy the Italian cravings. This recipe is super easy to make and perfectly filling. Adding the shrimp on top for protein makes this a delicious, well-balanced meal. 

Ingredients  

Olive oil

1 eggplant

1/2 Pound Shrimp

1 pinch minced garlic

1/2 jar of marinara sauce (I used Rao's--It is a great all natural option) 

1 cup part skim shredded mozzarella 

*** (this made enough for three people) 

Directions 

Set oven to 375 degrees

Slice the eggplant into cylinders 

Drizzle with olive oil 

Place eggplant in the oven for 25-30 minutes (the eggplant should be golden brown)

While the eggplant is cooking heat the marinara sauce on the stove and stir in as much or as little cheese as you would like 

Cook the shrimp in a skillet with olive oil and a pinch of minced garlic. 

Take eggplant out of oven and apply a generous amount of the marinara/cheese sauce to each cylinder 

Place cooked shrimp on top of "mini pizzas"

and Enjoy!! 

Season without Salt

Although sodium is a nutrient that we need in our diets, the average person is consuming way beyond the necessary amount. There are plenty of ways to create flavorful dishes without covering them in salt. If you start to use less salt you may even start to appreciate the real taste of your food. The replacement-seasoning options below will hardly seem like a sacrifice, and in addition to great flavor they can provide added health benefits and weight loss.  

More Flavor; Less Salt:

• Vinegars (aid in curbing hunger)
  • Balsamic vinegar (my go-to salad dressing)
  • Apple cider vinegar (as seen in the Thai Cauliflower Soup)
  • Fruit infused vinegars (great for cooking meats)
• Citrus (full of vitamin c)
  • Lemon juice or zest (Great on fish)
  • Lime  juice or zest (Great with Mexican dishes)
  • Orange juice or zest (I often use in salad dressing) 
• Peppers (metabolism booster) 
  • Jalapenos (if you want to spice things up) 
  • Bell peppers
  • Onions
• Herbs and Spices (calorie burners with anti aging properties such as reducing inflammation)
  • Mint 
  • Basil
  • Rosemary (Great addition to a chicken dish)  
  • Cilantro (Great with Mexican dishes)
  • Black Pepper
  • Oregano
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Turmeric (used as a main seasoning in Indian foods such as curry)
  • Cayenne pepper (for those of you that like an extra kick)

An additional way to cut down sodium is to replace canned vegetables with fresh or frozen veggies. Canned food often contains a high level of sodium. Soups, salad dressings, and soy sauce can also be high in sodium. There are often options that offer less sodium OR you can create your own healthy alternative using the seasonings listed above. 

Cold fighting foods

Does this crazy weather have you sniffling? I’ve got some recipes to help you beat that cold. With these immunity-boosting foods you will be as good as new in no time!

Green Goodness Juice

Ingredients:

1 large cup spinach

1 cup fresh grapefruit juice

1 green apple

½ inch piece peeled fresh ginger

1 celery stalk

Ice (optional)

This nutrient rich juice will kick your immune system into high gear.

It is filled with Vitamin A and C for antioxidants along with many other nutritional perks.

Coco Clementine Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 Cup fresh Orange Juice

½ Cup Coconut Milk

2  Clementines

1 teaspoon of Ginger (raw root ginger or dried) 

¼ cup lemon juice

1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds

1 Tablespoon coconut oil  

The orange juice and clementines will provide all of the vitamin C you need to fight off the cold. Ginger aids in digestion and will help move the cold out of your body. Also, Chia seeds aid in hydration and energy.

Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound chicken breast

1 frozen bag onion, bell pepper, celery combo

2 Carrots peeled and diced  

1 granny smith Apples peeled and chopped

2 teaspoons Cider vinegar

2 garlic cloves thinly chopped  

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2 teaspoons fresh Rosemary chopped

1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped

4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth

(optional salt and pepper)

In addition to being good for the heart and soul, this chicken soup has some valuable nutrients. Garlic is a great additive for getting rid of that cold due to its infection fighting properties. 

Your Liver

Sweet and spicy tea

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 black tea bag

1 teaspoon honey

Pinch cayenne pepper

Hot drinks help relieve nasal congestion and soothe a sore throat. The black tea contains an amino acid that helps booth immunity, and cayenne pepper gives you relief from that heavy head by breaking up mucus and helping to clear the respiratory passage.

Orange you glad its bedtime tea

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 chamomile tea bag

1 teaspoon honey

1 large lemon wedge

1 large orange wedge

2 cloves

In addition to the soothing that you get from tea the orange and chamomile provide cold fighting antioxidants. Also, cloves help to loosen mucus. 

Body like Beyonce

I don't usually blog with news updates, but I’m too impressed not to share this! Beyoncé and her trainer Marco Borges have just launched a 22-day (Yonce approved) entirely plant based meal delivery service. Why 22 days you ask? It takes 21 days to break a habit. Also, who knew Beyonce was vegan?!

So why am I so pumped about this? This is amazing simply because of the message it sends to the world. When super celebrities like Beyoncé realize and publicize the importance of properly nourishing the body the message reaches an extremely widespread audience. It is amazing to see someone that is a huge role model for millions promoting healthy living. It is not simply about the delivery service; it is more about getting the message across that it is so important to take care of your body. Also, by creating the plan for exactly 22 days it reminds everyone that these changes and habits do not just happen over night. You really have to work to change your ways. Even Queen Bey doesn’t get her body for nothing!

To read more check out:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242545

Here’s to a happy healthy week, and working for the body like Beyonce!