For those days when you feel a little “backed up” and need some help going to the bathroom, this delicious green smoothie is a great way to support your digestion and get you some good bowel movements!
Due to popular demand, today I’m sharing one of my new favorite breakfast recipes (that's become my Sunday “go-to” braekfast): my super heatlhy, nutritious, filling and DELICIOUS overnight oats. I’m also sharing my grain-free “no oats” version (perfect for a detox day!).
Both the overnight oats and the overnight "no oats" are low-glycemic, packed with fiber, healthy fats and protein, and don't cause glucose spikes like many other breakfasts do (especially those based on oats). They're also dairy free, gluten free and have NO added sugar of any kind.
I make slightly different versions but today I’m sharing my favorite go-to chocolate version.
Check out my blog for the recipes (in both English and Spanish). Enjoy!!
As a huge lover of coconut (including coconut milk, coconut yogurt, coconut water, coconut oil, pure coconut meat, coconut flour and more!) today I’m sharing some BENEFITS OF COCONUTS and a few of my favorite super healthy and delicious detox-friendly COCONUT-BASED RECIPES.
By popular demand, and as a follow-up to my Beginners Smoothie Guide, today I'm sharing my go-to favorite green smoothie recipe that I make for myself almost every morning.
All my green smoothies are PACKED with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, fiber, vegan protein and deliciousness. They make a filling and delicious breakfast that will keep your blood sugar stable, rev up your metabolism, and serve as a great tool for weight loss.
Read more for my delicious EVERYDAY GREEN CHIA SMOOTHIE BOWL recipe (+ 2 more of my favorite smoothie bowl recipes).
By now you probably know of my obsession with: smoothie bowls, sweet potato, dark chocolate/cacao and superfoods in general. So it’s probably no surprise that this recipe, which combines all of the above, is one of my favorites (that I make at least once a week).
See my delicious, vegan, protein and superfood-packed CACAO SMOOTHIE BOWL recipe below.
Green smoothies can be the ideal breakfast when prepared right.
One of the most common mistakes is adding way too much fruit , which can actually reverse many of the benefits of your smoothie. Too much fruit can spike your blood sugar, then lead to a blood sugar low two hours later, not to mention it will make your smoothie a calorie (and carb) bomb. So the key lies in keeping your smoothie LOW-GLYCEMIC while still making it delicious and filling.
HOW? There is one ingredient that I find can be a game changer to make your smoothie nice and thick and creamy without having to add all that fructose. And when you add a vanilla or chocolate flavored vegan protein powder, you won’t miss that banana at all!
This amazing Matcha Latte recipe has a ton of health benefits, including:
helps detoxify your body
boosts your metabolism
enhances weight loss and fat burning
promotes hormonal balance
good for gut health
give you an energy boost (without the jitters)
it’s filling and delicious!
I make it with dairy-free almond milk (I use my homemade almond milk) though you can also use oat milk, cashew milk or coconut milk; all three work great. It’s free of refined sugar, yet still has a slight sweetness, and has an amazingly delicious creamy texture. I also add collagen that’s amazing for your gut, hair, skin and nails (and adds a bit of protein) and MCT oil (that helps you burn fat). What’s not to love?
A healthy, balanced diet will not only help you LOOK better and FEEL more confident (important for sex drive), but also delivers key nutrients to keep your libido high.
In the past Valentine Days, I’ve shared a red beet smoothie, as well as healthy chocolate recipes. This Valentines, I’m giving you a recipe to BOOST YOUR LIBIDO (for both you and your partner)!
Starting your day with a healthy breakfast helps to stabilize you, as you face the day ahead. When your blood sugar is balanced after a balanced and nutritious breakfast, you’ll feel more focused and energized. It also helps to rev up your metabolism to more effectively burn off fat and calories throughout your day. A healthy breakfast isn’t just about being low in calories; a well-balanced breakfast will provide protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats in order to give you lasting energy without spiking up your blood sugar.
Here are 4 COMMON "HEALTHY" BREAKFASTS that may be spiking your blood sugar and contributing to an afternoon energy slump, lack of concentration and more, and EASY WAYS TO FIX THEM in order for them to help you reach your health goals.
Luckily for me, I naturally love spicy foods, and I’ve found that a lot of the spices/ herbs/ condiments that I love most are also awesome for my digestion. One of these miracle digestive spices is GINGER.
Ginger is a widely used condiment, that’s part of the same family as turmeric and cardamom, all of which are great for our health. And like turmeric (which most of you know is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent if you read my blogs), Ginger also anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to to tons of other benefits (beyond digestion!).
Read below for 5 BENEFITS OF GINGER (as well as recipes and tips on how I use ginger in my daily diet).
Most of you by now know that I’m a green-smoothie fanatic, and its always my favorite breakfast. But once in a while I like to venture and create different breakfasts, for me and now my husband (as well as my clients).
Earlier this month I shared with you my Sweet Potato Toast recipes. Continuing with this breakfast theme, today I want to share a small collection of my favorite simple and healthy breakfasts for you to try – with something for everyone. And I bet some of these may just become YOUR new favorite breakfast recipes.
I’m constantly being asked for new healthy breakfast recipes, as not everyone loves green smoothies (or they get bored of them), and same goes for oatmeal. So I’m always checking out new health trends and experimenting new recipes. Today I’m excited to share with you a healthy, fiber-, protein- and antioxidant-filled breakfast that I love and highly recommend: the SWEET POTATO TOAST.
I know it may sound weird – “toast” with no toast – but let me tell you, it’s not only becoming a huge trend, it’s actually something that I have been suggesting as a gluten-free alternative to my clients for a while, and have had huge success with. I think it’s mostly because it actually works really well, it’s easy, versatile and DELICIOUS. The sweet potato adds a slightly sweet flavor but without overpowering the flavor of your toppings. Plus, it doesn’t have any inflammatory properties like regular bread (as it’s naturally gluten free), and it’s grain-free / Paleo-friendly.
Additionally, I’m a huge fan because of the added nutritional benefits. Firstly, its high in antioxidants, like beta-carotene that your body converts into Vitamin A, which is essential to strengthen your hair, nails, skin, vision, and immune system. It’s extremely high in fiber, and a great food to help stabilize your hormones. Additionally, it has vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, vitamin D and iron. And most importantly, all versions of my Sweet Potato Toast that I’m sharing with you today are high in protein and healthy fats, so my combos help to rev up your metabolism first thing in the day, and keep you full for hours. So, in my book, it’s an ideal breakfast for almost anyone, including those looking to lose weight.
Here is my basic Sweet Potato Toast recipe with 4 amazing metabolism-boosting versions:
You’ve maybe heard by now that cutting out dairy (or at least cutting back on milk and cheese in particular) has a lot of benefits.
I personally saw a huge improvement in my digestion when I cut out dairy (and gluten) from my diet. Now I may enjoy it in small amounts from time to time, but for the most part, I stick to non-dairy alternatives when I need some dairy, which is mostly for my tea/coffee or breakfasts (oats, smoothies or chia puddings).
Almond milk (like other nut and seed milks) provides a healthier alternative to regular milk - it’s lower in calories, fat and sugar, plus rich in fiber and B vitamins. Almond milk is also a lower glycemic option to rice milk, and doesn’t have any hormone disrupting properties like soy milk (which is also usually derived from GMO soy beans).
The problem is that the store-bought nut milk versions are prepared with preservatives to extend the shelf life, and often have added sugars, as well as other ingredients like carrageenan to alter the consistency.
For that reason, I had been wanting to make homemade nutmilk for a long time. I had heard it was easy, creamy and delicious, so finally gave it a try.
I find that so many people are making an effort to eat healthier meals, but still have a hard time achieving their health goals. And when I look at their food journals, I see it...it’s in their snacks!
I KNOW it’s hard when we’re always on the go. We get hungry when we’re at work or on the road, and the only things we can easily grab are processed, packaged options (filled with sodium, sugar and/or artificial ingredients). And unfortunately, they add up, and make it difficult (if not impossible!) for us to stay healthy and slim.
Making the effort to be prepared and keep healthy snacks on hand will make a HUGE difference in your health.
For a boost of sustained energy (and to support a healthy weight), your snacks should be small, high in protein and fiber, and relatively low in sugar and carbs.
Here are 10 EASY, HEALTHY SNACKS that are filled with BALANCED nutrition to give you the energy you need without packing on the pounds.
Turmeric is a yellowish-orange colored spice, most commonly used in Indian curries, and is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting agents on the planet!
It has been used as a medicinal herb in India for years, and recently has been discovered worldwide for its medicinal properties. Studies have shown the benefits of Turmeric to be just as effective (and MORE effective in some cases) than Ibuprofen, Advil, and many prescription medications.
Here are some the proven benefits of curcumin, the most active ingredient in Turmeric:
- Help lower inflammation. (This is HUGE because low-grade chronic inflammation has been linked to many common diseases, from heart conditions to Alzheimer’s and cancer)
- Controls blood sugar spikes and insulin resistance
- Helps regulate high cholesterol
- Boosts immunity and the antioxidant capacity of our body
- Helps manage Arthritis symptoms (and generally, works as a pain reliever!)
- Can lower the risk of heart disease
- Has anti-cancer properties, helping to prevent the growth of cancer cells
- Can improve many skin conditions like Eczema, and more!
It's amazing, and a little goes a long way. Plus, it's so easy to incorporate into your diet. Here are some of my favorite ways to use turmeric:
I’m lucky enough to have my dad with me this Sunday for Father’s Day, so I've decided to make a special brunch for him. It’s a win-win because he loves my healthy cooking, and I’ll be able to enjoy brunch with my dad while staying healthy, avoiding the heavy meals that I KNOW we would splurge on if we went out for brunch.
So as I prepare my Father’s Day brunch menu with some of my favorite healthy substitutions, I wanted to share my recipes with you. I know they will come in handy, whether it’s for this Father’s Day or for a fun Sunday brunch with friends... which are especially popular in the summer! You can enjoy some mimosas if you wish, but by keeping the food menu healthy (and based on home-cooked food) you’ll be saving yourself a lot of calories, belly-aches, and money!
Here is my HEALTHY BRUNCH MENU – all free of gluten, dairy, added sugars, and filled with nutrition (with options for vegan and non-gluten-free).
I think most of you know of my love-affair with avocados. I could eat them with every meal - they’re so delicious, versatile, and good for you. But what I never knew until recently is that the seed/pit of the avocado has a ton of health benefits as well.
Here are some of the known benefits of the Avocado Seed:
- Helps ease digestive issues - avocado seeds are primarily known for their amazing ability to alleviate GI tract issues, ranging from gastric ulcers to constipation.
- Full of antioxidants with anti-cancer properties – it’s estimated that 70% of the antioxidants in avocados are actually found in the seed! The seed contains phenolic compounds and flavonols, which help prevent/reduce tumor growth.
- Fights inflammation - the high level of antioxidants (including catechins and procyandins) act as anti-inflammatory agents, reducing swelling/stiffness of joints, as well as improving blood circulation.
- Boosts immunity – avocado seeds help reduce free radicals and prevent against bacterial and fungal infections.
- Lowers cholesterol - avocados and their seeds are very rich in soluble fiber, which binds to excess fat and cholesterol, also improving heart function.
- Helps fight cravings and burn fat – the high levels of soluble fat keeps you full and balances your blood sugar levels, which helps avoid that mid-afternoon sugar craving.
How do you eat the seed?
It’s actually fairly simple!
In last week's blog, I discussed optimal foods to eat before working out - but what about after?
Post-workout you need some healthy protein and a small amount of complex carbs to help your body restore energy, repair any micro-tears in your tissues after exercise, build muscle and increase your metabolism. Certain minerals and micro-nutrients such as potassium and fiber (found in bananas, avocados and coconut for ex.) are also hugely beneficial!
If you exercise after work, a snack might be unnecessary, but aim to have dinner within 30-45 minutes of working out, and don't forget your protein! If you want a light dinner (which I highly recommend if you're working out late), that can be as easy as adding some hemp seeds to your vegetable soup, or a very small serving of lentils or tuna to your green salad.
Giving your body adequate fuel & nutrition before and after every workout is key for staying energized, building lean muscle, burning calories and losing weight, and for promoting a healthy recovery of your tissues.
Pre-workout, you want to focus on getting healthy complex carbs (such as veggies, fruits and whole grains) and healthy fats (such as nuts, seeds and avocado). When we eat carbs, our bodies store them in the muscles as glycogen, and as we exercise, we begin to deplete this glycogen – particularly in the first hour. Our bodies also metabolize fats and protein for energy, particularly in longer workouts, so including a little bit of vegetarian fat and/or protein is recommended. However, it’s important to make your pre-workout meal very light so it doesn’t weigh you down, and eat it at least 30-45 mins before starting your exercise.
WHAT IF YOU'RE WORKING OUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING - SHOULD YOU STILL EAT? Unless it's just a light exercise like walking or gentle yoga, then yes, ideally you should eat something small. Working out while hungry can place stress on your body, activating your sympathetic nervous system, and can even make you lose muscle mass as your body will draw protein from your muscles for fuel. Just a small portion of 1 of my suggested pre-workout meals can do the trick.
Dark Chocolate has awesome HEALTH BENEFITS, as it contains polyphenols - a powerful antioxidant (like that found in green tea, berries and red wine) that helps defend against free radicals and diseases like heart disease, cancer and chronic inflammation. Dark chocolate is also high in minerals (including copper, iron & magnesium), has anti-inflammatory properties, can improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, and is even good for your mood!
BUT because large amounts of SUGAR is most definitely harmful (for everyone!), I make sure to enjoy chocolate without all the sugar (nor milk nor additives) that comes in regular commercial chocolate. I buy organic 70%+ dark chocolate, or I make my own desserts using raw cacao.
My “go-to” is a chocolate chia pudding (email me for this recipe!), but for special occasions, I like playing with different recipes, ones that are maybe a bit sweeter and delicious for just about anyone!
Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I got inspired to try new chocolate recipes. I’m not someone that tends to make a big deal about this holiday, but I love It as an excuse to indulge in some rich chocolate (and some roses are much appreciated as well!).
After some experimenting, I found 2 recipes that I love (without being too sweet), and think you will, too!
Starting your day right with a healthy breakfast is one of the most important pillars to a healthy diet and to sustainable weight loss.
I know that most of us need a bit of carbs in our breakfast, and that’s totally fine as long as we make them HEALTHY carbs, and cut out the white starches and sugars. Even wheat bread can be inflammatory and quickly add on additional, unnecessary calories.
Here are my favorite breakfast swaps to make your breakfast healthier, lighter and more nutrient dense. Not only that, these breakfast swaps will help boost your metabolism and aid in weight loss.
I have to admit that one of my favorite things about the Halloween/ Thanksgiving/ Christmas holiday season is the FOOD. And I know I'm not the only one!
However, it can be difficult to stay healthy especially with the abundance of desserts that are constantly served and so hard to resist!
The key is to allow yourself to indulge a bit, while finding ways to stay as healthy as possible. And to stay on that healthy path, I always suggest dedicating some effort to planning ahead.
I personally like to cook a lot during this season, and come up with healthier versions of the traditional heavier holiday meals.
I challenge you to make this holiday season your healthiest yet, by finding the holiday foods you love and making healthier versions of them. It's fun and easier than you may think!
Today I want to share my healthy version of one of my favorite holiday desserts - Pumpkin Pie.
Do you have any digestive issues? Cholesterol concerns? Heart concerns? Are you catching a cold? Want to build more muscle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should be eating chia seeds!
Chia seeds are packed with Omega-3’s, fiber, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, antioxidants - that help lower cholesterol, reduce risk of heart disease, build muscle, and improve bowel movements.
They’re also packed with phytonutrients that boost the immune system, support bone-building health, and improve hair, skin and nails.
Lastly, because of the high protein and fiber content in each small serving, chia seeds will suppress your appetite by making you feel full, therefore a great tool for weight-loss!
And in my opinion, the KEY to making the introduction of chia seeds into your diet a GREAT one, is learning how to make Chia Pudding. With these 3 recipes that I will share with you, you’ll see how simple yet delicious chia pudding can be. Enjoy for breakfast, or a smaller portion for dessert or snack.
Most of you know that my favorite breakfast is a green smoothie, but its important to switch it up a bit. What's important to keep in mind is that you need a good dose of protein, healthy fats and fiber in each meal, especially in the morning. This helps keep you full, it keeps your blood sugar stable, and of course, it supports proper digestion.
While I have found that a "super-food" protein smoothie is my go-to solution, I often crave something warm and more hearty. On those days, I usually go for a warm bowl of oatmeal. However, as I started paying closer attention to my body and how it feels after different meals, I came to realize that my beloved oatmeal usually didn't keep me full long enough, and I was often feeling tired two hours after my breakfast. Why? Because while plain oatmeal has some fiber and protein, it's just not enough on it's own, and if you add sugar or honey (as I did) without adding more fiber or healthy fats, it can cause a spike in your blood sugar. So I started playing around with my oatmeal to make it a better, more wholesome (and more delicious!) breakfast.
Here is one example that I came up with recently, and absolutely love! It's a gluten-free, protein- and fiber-rich, multi-seed, and delicious oatmeal recipe: Quinoa, Millet & Chia Oatmeal.
By popular demand and as a follow-up to my Beginners Smoothie Guide from last month, today I'm sharing some easy and super healthy smoothie recipes that I make almost every morning. These smoothies make a filling and delicious breakfast that will keep your blood sugar stable, rev up your metabolism, and serve as a great tool for weight loss. Plus, they're quick to make and easy to take on the go!
While I don’t particularly like the excessive marketing around Valentines Day, it is nice to share the spirit of LOVE, and to get in the mood with a nice red dress or lipstick. Another idea is starting your Valentines Day with a nice healthy red smoothie. I've recently tried adding beets to my smoothies, and it tastes amazing, giving the smoothie a nice added sweetness. And apart from giving off a nice red color and sweet flavor, beets are surprisingly nutritious!
A filling nutritious breakfast is key to starting off your day right. And it's the best time of the day to squeeze in a good serving of greens, and most of the minerals and vitamins we need for the day.
So I love making smoothies with clean, nutrient-rich ingredients, that give me a good amount of morning energy (I no longer need coffee!), but that also taste amazing. Also, smoothies are so quick and easy to prepare- I throw the ingredients into my nutribullet, blend, and it's ready to go!
Here is an example of one of my favorites, which has raw cacao to satisfy my chocolate craving, without spiking my blood sugar as most other processed breakfasts would.
I recently shared 10 tips that helped me recover after birthing my children, and now I want to delve a little deeper into the FOODS that have helped me during this “4th trimester” to nourish myself, heal, promote healthy digestion, and keep up my energy (despite sleepless nights).
I promise that what you eat makes all the difference in your recovery! A healthy nourishing postartum diet is important to:
Replenish nutrients depleted during pregnancy
Support a successful and speedy recovery from birth
Create a healthy supply of (and good quality) breastmilk
Support hormonal balance
Here are the key HEALING FOODS that I was eating daily in my first 40 days postpartum (and continue to enjoy almost daily during my “4th trimester”), and 4 of my go-to recovery RECIPES.
I’m a huge dessert addict, but in order to stay healthy, not spike my blood sugar, and not gain weight, I make sure my desserts are mostly homemade and always: nutrient-dense, packed with superfoods, protein, healthy fats and low in sugar (NO added sugars for me!).
These balls are also a great source of FIBER (primarily soluble fiber) which helps to:
promote a healthy digestion and good, regular poop
lower cholesterol
slow absorption of carbs (supporitng healthy blood sugar) and increase satiety
support hormonal balanced hormone
And they’re SO delicious! Check out the recipe - in both English and Spanish!
I’m a HUGE fan of granola, but the reality is that most granolas are NOT healthy. Most are packed with sugar and consist primarily of oats, making them very high in carbs and lacking in protein and healthy fats - so they’re very likely to create a big spike in your blood sugar.
For this reason, I like to make my own, using a few tweaks to make it lower carb and super nutritious.
Today I’m sharing a delicious and super healthy granola recipe that is supportive of stable blood sugar, and an excellent option for a sweet breakfast or snack, given its high level of protein and fiber. I add tons of “superfoods”, including pure cacao to make it a chocolate treat. Check out my recipe below!
These no-bake treats take minutes to throw together, are filled with good-for-you ingredients, and make for the perfect quick snack or healthy dessert that are satisfying and won’t spike your blood sugar.
These energy balls are the perfect healthy dessert or snack for anyone, especially new moms. They contain anti-inflammatory healthy fats along with tons of fiber and cinnamon which can help control blood sugar and cravings, promote healthy digestion AND can help with postpartum weight loss. Lastly, these bites help promote milk supply and healthy lactation. Not to mention - they’re so good they’re borderline addictive!
Dates are packed with nutrition and provide lots of fiber and energy, plus are naturally very sweet, making them ideal for making healthy desserts.
Also, they’re said to be amazing for preparing your cervix for a natural birth, so with that “excuse” in mind, I’ve been making lots of easy, delicious date recipes to have in my last weeks of pregnancy.
Today I’m sharing 3 of my favorite date recipes– all of which are super nutritious, vegan, gluten-free, no added sugar and raw (no baking required!) - and don’t spike your blood sugar (as they’re packed with extra fiber, protein and healthy fats!).
Carob brownie energy balls
Almond & Peanut chocolate butter fudge
Balance with Mariana’s basic energy balls
Cacao is one of my favorite superfoods that's comforting, delicious, great for hormonal balance, and packed with antioxidants, magnesium and fiber.
Today I’m sharing my amazing (and super healthy) VEGAN CHOCOLATE MOUSSE recipe - which is a family and client favorite. It’s delicious, creamy, super nutritious, and my latest version is adaptable so that its detox-friendly and keto-friendly.
READ MORE for my new (date-free) yummy chocolate mousse recipe in both English and Spanish. Honestly, you’ll love it and so will your body!
Right now that we’re all spending more time at home, we need home activities that are fun, healthy and easy. Even better, something that can be done with the kids. And baking banana bread fits that description perfectly.
My Banana Bread is:
gluten-free (optional grain-free, too)
dairy-free (optional vegan, too)
no processed sugar
moist, flavorful and perfectly sweet
super easy and kid friendly (can be done with just 1 bowl)
Focusing on gut health can help prevent (even help eliminate) many diseases at their root, and is part of the foundation for a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. To support your gut, it’s key to add PROBIOTICS to our diet, via fermented foods and/or supplements.
One easy and delicious way to get your probiotics is with yogurt, BUT most traditional store-bought yogurts are highly processed, filled with sugar, and your common dairy-milk version can be irritating to the gut for many people, therefore canceling out the positive effects of the probiotics!
So instead, I suggest trying dairy-free (unsweetened) Coconut Yogurt!
Read more to learn BENEFITS of Coconut Yogurt, easy ways to use it, and a delicious recipe that you’ll LOVE!
Did you know that Hemp Seeds are one of nature's most perfect and nutritious foods?
These tiny seeds have a concentrated balance of proteins, essential fats, vitamins and enzymes, combined with almost no sugar, sodium, starches nor saturated fats. They’re super easy to digest and contain about 13 grams of protein in just 3 tablespoons. Plus, like most other seeds, they can be used almost anywhere – from sprinkling on your smoothies/salads/soups to a key ingredient in many yummy plant-based recipes. And personally, I LOVE them!
READ MORE to learn nutritional benefits of hemp seeds, and 4 delicious recipes of mine using hemp seeds.
Dark Chocolate has awesome HEALTH BENEFITS, as it contains polyphenols - a powerful antioxidant (like that found in green tea, berries and red wine) that helps defend against free radicals and diseases like heart disease, cancer and chronic inflammation. Dark chocolate is also high in minerals (including copper, iron & magnesium), has anti-inflammatory properties, can improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, and is even good for your mood!
BUT because large amounts of SUGAR is most definitely harmful (for everyone!), I make sure to enjoy chocolate without all the sugar (nor milk nor additives) that comes in regular commercial chocolate. I buy organic 70%+ dark chocolate, or I make my own desserts using raw cacao.
My “go-to” is a chocolate chia pudding (email me for this recipe!), but for special occasions, I like playing with different recipes, ones that are maybe a bit sweeter and delicious for just about anyone!
Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I got inspired to try new chocolate recipes. I’m not someone that tends to make a big deal about this holiday, but I love It as an excuse to indulge in some rich chocolate (and some roses are much appreciated as well!).
After some experimenting, I found 2 recipes that I love (without being too sweet), and think you will, too!
When you’re looking for a comforting meal that is filling but healthy, this is the perfect recipe. This hearty meal - a healthy twist on Shephards Pie (paleo and keto friendly) - is perfect for any lunch or dinner when you need a solid, filling meal, and also perfect for Sunday night meal prep!
Happy Holidays! Here are two of my new “holiday friendly” recipes - both stuffed veggies with creamy mixtures. One is a vegan appetizer (stuffed mushrooms) and the other is more of an entree using animal protein (stuffed squash). Both recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, but delicious and balanced - containing tons of fiber, healthy fats and protein.
Today I’m sharing a SUPER EASY, HEALTHY and FILLING breakfast that I love and highly recommend to anyone. It’s my extra-nutritious take on an egg toast (and a different option to the popular avocado toast). This recipe contains a slice of seed bread, vegan cheese, kale and eggs.
I recently shared 10 tips that helped me recover after birthing my children, and now I want to delve a little deeper into the FOODS that have helped me during this “4th trimester” to nourish myself, heal, promote healthy digestion, and keep up my energy (despite sleepless nights).
I promise that what you eat makes all the difference in your recovery! A healthy nourishing postartum diet is important to:
Replenish nutrients depleted during pregnancy
Support a successful and speedy recovery from birth
Create a healthy supply of (and good quality) breastmilk
Support hormonal balance
Here are the key HEALING FOODS that I was eating daily in my first 40 days postpartum (and continue to enjoy almost daily during my “4th trimester”), and 4 of my go-to recovery RECIPES.
Today I’m sharing an entire 3-part menu (including four healthy recipes), which is perfect for a family lunch or dinner, or for hosting a few friends or another couple.
This menu is PACKED with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber, making it great for your digestion, for longevity, immunity, and for hormonal balance. It’s also very balanced in protein, healthy fats and healthy low-glycemic carbs, making it ideal for keeping blood sugar stable.
Menu (all gluten-free and dairy-free):
Kale, Fennel & Avocado Salad
Quinoa Bell Pepper Salad
Roasted Salmon with a Pumpkin & Hemp Seed Pesto
Watch the video to learn how to make these recipes easily, and get tons of cooking/prep tips! And check out my recipes below. Enjoy!
One of the main ways I like to enjoy red meat is making homemade burgers.
Burgers can actually be very healthy, as long as you choose lean, grass-fed beef, make them at home, and use healthier alternatives to serve your burgers (vs. standard bread and french fries!).
I alternate making burgers with healthier, more nutrient-dense and lower-carb alternatives for bread, including:
grilled eggplant “bread”
roasted large portobello mushroom “bread”
roasted sweet potato “bread”
large plantain “tostones” as bread (air fried vs. deep fried)
Also, I ALWAYS serve my burgers with salad and/or extra veggies, and use organic ketchup with no sugar added, mayo with avocado oil (with NO highly processed vegetable oils!), and organic mustard.
Here is my go-to burger recipe, with 4 different replacements for bread (Note: the plantain “bread” is the least healthy / most carbs, so it’s the one I make more for my husband!)
Today I’m sharing one of my new favorite SUPER HEALTHY recipes (recipe in both ENGLISH and SPANISH) that is great to make for the entire family (and perfect for large gatherings). It’s suitable for anyone following a paleo or keto lifestyle (and is acceptable for most detox plans). It's a gluten-free, dairy-free, super nutritious lasagna with layers of zucchini, vegan cheese and turkey-tomato sauce. Try it and let me know what you think!
One of my main goals in life is to show you and everyone that HEALTHY EATING CAN BE (AND SHOULD BE) DELICIOUS). So i’m making it a goal to share more of my awesome, nutritious and super yummy (yet easy) recipes for you to enjoy.
Today I’m sharing my Meatballs and Veggie Noodles recipe - which is allowed on most detoxes (like my signature 10 day detox) and is both PALEO and KETO “approved”. (I always share this recipe in my Summer & Fall 10 day detox and my clients LOVE it, and for my Winter version where we omit nightshades, I offer it with a vegan cashew cream instead of tomato sauce).
Today I’m sharing my newest recipe - a result of playing around with my organic dark leafy greens, attempting to find the best added sweet flavors to neutralize the slight bitterness of the greens, and I came up with this amazingly flavorful, nutritious dish.
Kale and Sweet Potato are two of my favorite SUPERFOODS, and they pair perfectly together.
This recipe is:
Extremely healthy and gut-friendly, packed with fiber and wide variety of nutrients
Vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free
Ideal to prevent cravings as it contains all the different flavors to satisfy your palate
Comforting, warming, and filling (even without the optional protein addition)
Super easy to make – can be done in 3o minutes and all in one pot
Great for meal prep lunches and dinners; leftovers taste even better (keeps well in fridge for 3 days, tops 4)
Check out my recipe and give it a shot!
A macro bowl (aka buddha bowl) is my daily go-to dinner, which I make using leftovers (or things I “batch cooked” earlier including grains/beans/veggies), some fresh greens, seeds and/or avocado, a healthy sauce, and I’m good to go.
I love these bowls because they are BALANCED, EASY TO MAKE, ADJUSTABLE/VARIABLE, FILLING and usually, totally Instagram worthy.
While there are tons of variations, I wanted to offer an easy GUIDE to help you make your own macro bowl for a quick, easy, healthy meal. Plus, I’ll share one of my favorite go-to recipes.
Having easy pre-made healthy options for a quick dinner (such as pre-cooked frozen healthy foods that I can heat up in a minute and serve with a salad) are key for me to stay healthy. Especially now, during these new stay-at-home times when we’re limiting our supermarket runs, batch-cooking and freezing healthy staples IS A LIFESAVER.
So i wanted to share one of the recipes that i commonly make in big batches and freeze. This recipe is:
Dairy-free
Gluten-free
Oil-free
Soy-free
Packed with fiber, protein, B-vitamins, iron and more
Super flavorful
EASY TO MAKE and freezes well
Check out my blog for my recipe - both in english and spanish.
If you’re trying to stay healthy this summer (maybe you’ve even committed to doing a detox, or are trying to do a low-carb eating plan like Keto or Paleo, or just cut back on gluten and refined sugar), then making your own compliant dishes is the easiest way to enjoy eating with friends while having food you can eat!
Plus, it’s a great opportunity to have fun in the kitchen, and impress your friends!
So I’ve put together some of my favorite “summer picnic” recipes, which are mostly detox-friendly, or adaptable, and free of processed sugar, gluten, grains and dairy. At the same time, they are crowd pleasers!
Chicken Zucchini Burgers
Kale & Avocado Pancakes
Simple Holiday Salad (great for ALL holidays and large meals!)
Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad
Sweet Potato Tater-Tots
Two-minute Guacamole
Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Brownies
Did you know that Hemp Seeds are one of nature's most perfect and nutritious foods?
These tiny seeds have a concentrated balance of proteins, essential fats, vitamins and enzymes, combined with almost no sugar, sodium, starches nor saturated fats. They’re super easy to digest and contain about 13 grams of protein in just 3 tablespoons. Plus, like most other seeds, they can be used almost anywhere – from sprinkling on your smoothies/salads/soups to a key ingredient in many yummy plant-based recipes. And personally, I LOVE them!
READ MORE to learn nutritional benefits of hemp seeds, and 4 delicious recipes of mine using hemp seeds.
Most everyone knows about the delicious superfood quinoa and its awesome health benefits. BUT if you’re getting bored of only using quinoa and occasionally rice, maybe it’s time you start exploring other delicious, nutritious, and naturally gluten-free grains. (And in fact, quinoa and all of these that I’m about to list, are technically NOT grains, but SEEDS that are high in protein and fiber. I call them “grain-like seeds”. Which is in part why they're easier on the gut!) Examples include:
- Buckwheat
- Sorghum
- Millet
- Amaranth
- Teff
Today I want to focus on BUCKWHEAT as its one of my favorites. I started eating it for its hormone-balancing properties, and now I eat it because I love it!
Here is why you should be adding buckwheat to your diet (and 4 delicious recipes!):
Do you come home tired from work without energy to cook (nor digest) a big meal? Do you crave a light, simple meal, yet comforting and soothing?
Maybe you’re still a bit stressed form work and your belly feels a bit bloated, so you know that you need something easy to digest.
This happens to me constantly. And while a sandwich or bowl of cereal is what I would do in the past, I now know that all that gluten and sugar at night is the WORST thing for my belly. So about a year ago, on one of these tired work days, I came home to go though my pantry and fridge to see what easy and belly-friendly meal I could make, and that’s when I first came up with my Easy Vegetable Chickpea Curry. And now, its become one of my go-to meals for these days.
On top of being simple and delicious, it’s awesome for your digestion. This dish is filled with all the different types of fiber to help you poop beautifully (yep I said it!) and the curry spices help you digest the food – which is especially important at dinner time.
And most importantly, this dish can be done in just half an hour (or even less).
Eating seasonal foods is one of the best things you can do for your health. Seasonal produce is picked when it’s ripe (so plants get extra sun-time), and it generally has more antioxidants, more color and more flavor!
Where I am now, it's mid-summer, and I’m blessed to have a ton of fresh, locally-grown summer vegetables to enjoy. I encourage you to visit your local farmers market and stock up on seasonal produce; not only are you doing your body a favor, you’re supporting local farmers as well (and not paying the cost of transportation that you pay for out-of-season, non-local produce)!
Some of my favorite summer veggies include: arugula, avocados, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, corn and green beans. Cucumber is another refreshing, healthy summer veggie. While I admit it isn't my favorite, I have found a recipe that I LOVE with cucumbers (and I bet you will, too!), which I will share with you today!
Macro Bowls are my favorite go-to lunch recipes. They're simple, easily customizeable, healthy yet filling enough to keep you energized throughout your afternoon.
Macro bowls are the definition of BALANCED meals; they’re called macro bowls because they include all major macro-nutrients: carbs, protein and fat. They usually consist of a base of whole grains, raw and/or cooked veggies, a protein of your choice and a healthy fat. The best thing is that you can really be creative with them and design to your liking.
There are so many varieties, but I’ll run you through the basic steps so that you can start making your favorite version.
Giving your body adequate fuel & nutrition before and after every workout is key for staying energized, building lean muscle, burning calories and losing weight, and for promoting a healthy recovery of your tissues.
Pre-workout, you want to focus on getting healthy complex carbs (such as veggies, fruits and whole grains) and healthy fats (such as nuts, seeds and avocado). When we eat carbs, our bodies store them in the muscles as glycogen, and as we exercise, we begin to deplete this glycogen – particularly in the first hour. Our bodies also metabolize fats and protein for energy, particularly in longer workouts, so including a little bit of vegetarian fat and/or protein is recommended. However, it’s important to make your pre-workout meal very light so it doesn’t weigh you down, and eat it at least 30-45 mins before starting your exercise.
WHAT IF YOU'RE WORKING OUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING - SHOULD YOU STILL EAT? Unless it's just a light exercise like walking or gentle yoga, then yes, ideally you should eat something small. Working out while hungry can place stress on your body, activating your sympathetic nervous system, and can even make you lose muscle mass as your body will draw protein from your muscles for fuel. Just a small portion of 1 of my suggested pre-workout meals can do the trick.
I don’t know about you, but I love entertaining and wish I could do it more often. Why don't I? Because it’s time consuming and so much work! I host dinner parties sometimes with the help of someone (say for ex., my wonderful boyfriend who cooks up an awesome churrasco) which makes it so much fun, but it’s once in a blue moon.
But having friends over should be easy and fun. Plus, if I'm hosting, I know that I can keep it on the healthy side - a huge plus. So what becomes my solution? I invite people over for some wine and a few appetizers. And while it’s much easier to just buy some pre-made hummus and pita chips, it's more special (and healthy!) to make a dish or two of my own.
Everyone loves pasta, but sadly, it's not so good for our bodies. While a small portion of pasta is OK to have on occasion, it's one of those foods that unfortunately should be eliminated from your regular diet if you're aiming for sustained weight loss.
Why? Because pasta is made from wheat flour that scores very high in the glycemic-index, meaning it causes a spike in blood sugar and insulin levels, which ultimately leads to weigh gain. Also, wheat flour contains gluten, and it’s now well known that many people do better with no or limited amounts of gluten in their diet, myself being one of them. Gluten causes inflammation in the gut, which can lead to a whole host of more serious issues.
Therefore, I’ve discovered other pasta-like options that are not only gluten-free, but also higher in nutrition.
Here are some amazing and healthy alternatives to your regular wheat flour pasta, all of which are gluten-free:
- brown rice pasta
- quinoa pasta
- buckwheat pasta
- bean pasta (including black bean, adzuki or mung bean & edamame spaghetti)
- shirataki noodles
- zucchini noodles (a.k.a. zoodles)
- spaghetti squash - my favorite!
In my experience, the best way to lose weight and get the body you want is by making small step-by-step improvements in your diet. Super strict diets that require a complete overhaul of your diet are overwhelming and of course, hard to maintain.
While some effort is required, making healthier choices is easier than you may realize.
We all hate to give up our favorite not-so-healthy foods, and while there are some that are best avoiding all together, there are others that can easily be modified to make them lighter and healthier. With some easy swaps that I’m about to share with you over the next few weeks, you'll see that we can keep these foods (with a few adjustments) in our regular diet while staying healthy and not gaining weight.
Today I want to share my favorite swaps for SANDWICHES & WRAPS, as well as RICE, and I'll share 2 fabulous recipes that you can try this week!
The month of August has been non-stop traveling for me, from California, to Spain, to Nicaragua. As fun as it has been, all the traveling poses a big challenge to my healthy lifestyle. My body is very sensitive to changes in setting, time zone, air pressure, and of course, changes in routine. My body KNOWS when its not at home.
Luckily I've learned a few tricks over the past year (as traveling overseas has become a monthly occurrence) that really work well for me. I’ve made it my mission to find ways to have my body adjust as much as possible, and avoid the bloating and fatigue that often comes with these long flights.
It all starts with the flight itself, which is always one of the most challenging things for me. For starters, I’m someone who has a big appetite, and cannot go more than a few hours without eating. And, similar to many of you I'm sure, I have a hard time sleeping more than two consecutive hours on a flight. So if it’s an overnight flight, I’m tired, restless, and my body naturally craves food. Therefore, I would usually end up eating eat plane food (even though the food isn’t great, and of course, it’s highly processed!) just because I was bored and couldn’t sleep. And since the meals are quite small, I would eat almost everything, including the sugar-loaded dessert.
So what have I done to improve my long flights and disruptive travels?
First and most importantly, I’ve come up with a go-to recipe for healthy food that I can take with me on the flight, through security with no problem, and that tastes delicious even at room temperature. It’s my Sweet Vegetable Bake. I make a large batch, and take that with me, together with some raw nuts and fruit, and I’m set for the entire plane ride. This way I fill up on healthy homemade food, and can avoid the airplane food filled with chemicals and preservatives, and most importantly, I am able to resist the unnecessary desserts.
Today is the last day of my 10 Day Summer Detox, during which I have taken the time to experiment with a lot of gluten-free and dairy-free recipes. I've had so much fun, and come up with so many new recipes that I can't wait to share with you!
One simple recipe that I found myself using a lot during the detox was my Pumpkin & Hemp Seed Pesto.
I literally add it to almost anything, but my favorite is to use it as a spread/sauce over grilled fish. I also like to mix it in with some plain cooked quinoa, to make a delicious twist on my regular quinoa side-dish. You can throw it on top of some brown rice pasta as well, with an extra drizzle of olive oil and maybe some cherry tomatoes, for an amazing gluten-free pasta dish. This sauce is so versatile, yummy and most importantly, detox-friendly!
One of the key things I try to teach my clients is that healthy cooking doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be a chore. And you don't need to be a chef. But like everything, it gets easier with practice.
So I'm going to start sharing with you some healthy and easy recipes. Here is an easy weeknight salad dish that I love:
Today I’m sharing an entire 3-part menu (including four healthy recipes), which is perfect for a family lunch or dinner, or for hosting a few friends or another couple.
This menu is PACKED with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber, making it great for your digestion, for longevity, immunity, and for hormonal balance. It’s also very balanced in protein, healthy fats and healthy low-glycemic carbs, making it ideal for keeping blood sugar stable.
Menu (all gluten-free and dairy-free):
Kale, Fennel & Avocado Salad
Quinoa Bell Pepper Salad
Roasted Salmon with a Pumpkin & Hemp Seed Pesto
Watch the video to learn how to make these recipes easily, and get tons of cooking/prep tips! And check out my recipes below. Enjoy!
Salads are amazing for our health, but salads can lack appeal and get boring. Or worse, they can be unhealthy if you’re not careful! The key lies in using a delicious, healthy, HOMEMADE salad dressing! So I'm sharing 3 of my favorite go-to salad dressings (dairy free, gluten free, preservative free, refined sugar free, and made only with good quality ingredients) that can make any salad delicious, satisfying and healthy.
Most everyone knows about the delicious superfood quinoa and its awesome health benefits. BUT if you’re getting bored of only using quinoa and occasionally rice, maybe it’s time you start exploring other delicious, nutritious, and naturally gluten-free grains. (And in fact, quinoa and all of these that I’m about to list, are technically NOT grains, but SEEDS that are high in protein and fiber. I call them “grain-like seeds”. Which is in part why they're easier on the gut!) Examples include:
- Buckwheat
- Sorghum
- Millet
- Amaranth
- Teff
Today I want to focus on BUCKWHEAT as its one of my favorites. I started eating it for its hormone-balancing properties, and now I eat it because I love it!
Here is why you should be adding buckwheat to your diet (and 4 delicious recipes!):
Eating seasonal foods is one of the best things you can do for your health. Seasonal produce is picked when it’s ripe (so plants get extra sun-time), and it generally has more antioxidants, more color and more flavor!
Where I am now, it's mid-summer, and I’m blessed to have a ton of fresh, locally-grown summer vegetables to enjoy. I encourage you to visit your local farmers market and stock up on seasonal produce; not only are you doing your body a favor, you’re supporting local farmers as well (and not paying the cost of transportation that you pay for out-of-season, non-local produce)!
Some of my favorite summer veggies include: arugula, avocados, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, corn and green beans. Cucumber is another refreshing, healthy summer veggie. While I admit it isn't my favorite, I have found a recipe that I LOVE with cucumbers (and I bet you will, too!), which I will share with you today!
As a Health Coach, I place lots of emphasis on eat clean, whole foods, at least 80% of the time. This includes fresh vegetables, organic meat/poultry/fish/seafood, legumes, whole grains (such as quinoa & brown rice), nuts/seeds and fresh fruit. No processed flours or sugars. And it means avoiding things that come in a package, unless it has only 1 ingredient (ex. lentils). That includes whole wheat bread!
Additionally, I believe in eating PLENTY of vegetables every day, ideally at every meal. The more veggies and the wider variety, the better. Vegetables are nutrition powerhouses, with each different vegetable offering its own set of much-needed vitamins and minerals. I tell my clients to fill their plate half way with veggies, and always add some health protein (animal or vegetarian, so this can include lentils and quinoa, etc) and healthy fats.
Eating this way will help anyone be their healthiest self, and shed unwanted weight.
However, I often come across people who struggle to “eat clean” and eat enough veggies because they’re not salad fans. So they tend to turn to sandwiches and wraps for lunch, or meat with rice or potatoes and one cooked vegetable. As a result, their diet lacks in both quantity and variety of vegetables, and usually includes too many refined foods. Essentially, it lacks in nutrition!
For those of you out there like this, who don’t love raw green salads (or have trouble digesting them), I want to share 5 of my favorite clean, healthy and delicious meals – filled with nutritious veggies- that anyone will love, and that are easy enough to take to work.
One of the key things I try to teach my clients is that healthy cooking doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be a chore. And you don't need to be a chef. But like everything, it gets easier with practice.
So I'm going to start sharing with you some healthy and easy recipes. Here is an easy weeknight salad dish that I love:
One of the most common things I get asked is what to use for salad dressings. Most people know the numerous health benefits of eating a large, colorful bowl of raw veggies, but they also recognize that most of the salad dressings in restaurants, or worse, the pre-packaged bottles sold in supermarkets, are usually not the healthiest choices.
So what do I recommend?
Making your own dressing is always the best way to go, and doesn't have to be complicated.
One of the biggest challenges to healthy eating is finding THE TIME to cook, especially for all of us working long days. So one thing I preach is the principle of “cook once, eat twice.”
One of the easiest, healthy dinner recipes that is great for leftovers is a lentil and vegetable soup. Its nutritious, filling, and something that can be served for the whole family. Find some time in your Sunday to cook the soup (and you can multitask while it cooks!), and then you can have it once or twice more during the week, depending on how many you’re cooking for.
Lentils are filled with protein and fiber, which fill you up quickly, and have the added benefit of lowering cholesterol and balancing sugar levels. Lentils are also good sources of folate and magnesium, contributing to heart health. And lastly, as a relatively low calorie food, they are great for weight loss, especially when combined with vegetables!
So I’ll share with you a recipe that I make very often and highly suggest you try:
Two vegetables that I LOVE and frequently buy are beets and leeks. So instead of my usual - which is just sticking my veggies in the oven with coconut oil and sea salt, I decided to try making a soup with them, and wow, the result was delicious.
Beets are filled with nutrition, high in many vitamins and minerals including: the B vitamin folate (great for mommies-to-be), potassium, fiber, vitamin C, iron, among others. Beets are known for their phytonutrients, which contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties and provide liver detoxification support.
Another amazing thing about beets is their delicious sweet flavor, which I have found is also great for reducing my sugar cravings.
We all have our days when we need some comfort food, and that's OK! So I have come up with a healthy recipe that is still comforting and hearty, something that keeps my belly warm and happy on a cold or rainy day. Or for the ladies, this recipe is great for that time of the month!
My version of this is a Hearty Minestrone Soup. I've kept it vegetarian so that anyone can enjoy, but feel free to add some ground turkey or grass-fed beef if you feel you need it. I personally like to top off my soup with some sliced avocado for some added healthy fat.
Have this for lunch or dinner, although I find that a soup is the perfect meal for the evening time, as its easier to digest. And in this case, just one bowl can get you full - so you avoid over-eating at dinner time.
I’m sharing one of my favorite quick and easy healthy breakifasts for those days when you don’t have time to prep your usual breakfast.
NOTE: This recipe is amazing for both gut/digestive health and for balancing hormones (and is of course pregnancy and pospoartum friendly).
Yogurt Chia Almond Butter Berry Bowl
Ingredients (serves 1):
1 cup unsweetened vegan coconut yogurt OR plain Greek yogurt if you tolerate dairy
½ - 1 scoop unflavored (or vanilla) protein powder or collagen peptides *(see note below)
1 ½ tbsp chia seeds OR ¼ cup chia pudding *(see note below)
1 to 1½ tbsp almond butter (option to swap for another nut/seed butter)
½ cup frozen blueberries, strawberries OR cherries, microwaved for 30 seconds (can also use fresh!)
optional: 1-2 tablespoons low-glycemic granola
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a bowl and enjoy! *see blog for many tips, subsitutions, etc.