Health + Wellness Wednesday

I going to dedicate Wednesday posts to health and wellness, I have one body and one mind and its my job to take care of it. In an effort to keep myself accountable I have decided to share it with everyone here. I am heading to Nantucket this weekend and Cancun the week after that and I want nothing more than to feel good and CONFIDENT in a bathing suit.

I invested in T25 and a Brazilian Butt video andddd a “reset” from Beach Body (which I have decided to wait until I return from my vacation due to interruptions). I am shooting to do at least 30 min of physical exercise each day and to eat as clean, unprocessed and few carbs as possible until my trip.

I tend to be a snacker so I needed to prepare healthy options to reach for rather than the easy grab and go at most places I would stop. I decided to try these no cook energy bites I saw on Gimmie Some Oven Blog!

It took me a bit to get used to the texture but I think I actually like them – and I really like the fat that I don’t feel guilty snacking on them! Do you have any healthy treats you feel guilt free when snacking on?

SweetGreen

I met Jasmina for lunch earlier this week to catch up before she travels for the next several months. She picked Sweetgreen which coincidently I was lucky enough to try after the ClassPass spin class I took at FlyWheel last week. I love they concept, they source local and organic ingredients, they use recycled packaging and the all storefronts are built with all sustainable materials.

I had the Kale Ceasar which tasted SO good … I usually have a hard time actually enjoying Kale but this was so yummy!! I also love their manifesto which is posted all over – they are so much more than a good salad place! Ill defiantly be going back!

Live the sweet life 😉

Chocolate Pudding Hybrid

I decided to get a bit creative with this mornings breakfast…I wanted to shake things up from the usual green smoothie routine… introducing the “superwoman” breakfast, Chia seed pudding! A mix of creamy, chocolaty, almond and banana goodness! Super easy and ridiculously delicious for long lasting energy and strength!

chia

Here’s a little background on the super seed that comes from the desert plant in Mexico, it dates back to the Mayan & Aztec cultures! Chia means “strength” and that exactly what it gives you! Perfect before your daily run or hike in the mountains 🙂 It has a mild nutty flavor and can easily be sprinkled on top of cereal, smoothies or even rice to give your meal an extra boost of healthy omega 3 fatty acids, protein, antioxidants, fiber and calcium. When the seeds are mixed into a liquid it gels into a tapioca-like consistency, which in theory expands in the stomach to help you eat smaller portions and ultimately shed pounds, Id say it’s an all around WINNER!

Here is my attempt at instructions:

1 Cups your choice of milk (almond, coconut, hemp, rice…)

2 Bananas (preferably with spots, Ill get to that another day…)

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

1 Tbsp. Maca powder (mood lifting, immune boosting, libido enhancing & energizing super root)

1-2 Tbsp. Cacao powder depending how chocolaty you’d like (heart healthy, protects our cells from free radical damage which helps fight the aging process, promotes good digestion, mental health, contains 4X the antioxidants than our “beloved green tea” and contains NO sugar in its natural form to name a few amazing properties!

Blend!

Fold in 1/4 cup of chia seeds to the mix… allow time for it to chillax in the fridge for at least an hour, I prepared mine the night before and served it in the AM (you get the best consistency the longer you wait… patience my friend)

To finish off this glorious dish slice up 1/2 a banana and sprinkle your favorite granola on top for added texture (I used Ezekiel granola)

Eat & enjoy your healthy power meal!

This recipe tends to make more than you can eat in one sitting, but tastes perfect as a snack for the next couple days 🙂

Hope you love it as much as I do!

Cheers to a happy/healthy life

Hippie-Hybrid

Clean eating, so what can you eat?

I recently read an article about Gewneth Paltrow and how eating clean has changed her bid, mood, skin and over all life. I mean I look st this glowing star and think whatever he is doing must work… But if you cut gluten, sugar, dairy and all things processed what in the world DO you eat?!??!? I have ordered one of her cook books so I will be sure to let you know. I mean, but look at her, she is flawless, her skin, her body, everything is perfect. I think by now I know, you cant put bad things into your body and expect to get anything good out of it.

She also said something I found to be very interesting. She doesn’t live by these strict eating regulations daily, instead this is something she does for 3-4 weeks at a time 4x per year, almost as a way to cleanse. This seems to be something I could put in the “possible” circle.

I have to include this last thought. Maybe it’s the writer but Gwen seems like such a cool gal, she joked that her friends call her for advice she thinks because she has been through so much herself – or she says “maybe it’s because I was the first to be able to afford therapy!

I love anyone who doesn’t take themselves to seriously. Have you ever tried “clean eating”?

Goodnight Moon

My ode to lavender, you bring me calmness, peace and harmony to end my day.

You are a treat for my senses, as well as my body & spirit.

Ahhh… Lavender… it’s my wonder herb!

Filled with powerful antiseptic properties to help fight bacteria, heal wounds, reduce fever & upset stomach to name a few. It’s more commonly known for its calming effect on both mind and body, helps to relax muscle spasms, anxiety and even insomnia… now that’s magical!

There is nothing like capping off you day with a relaxing bath filled with lavender essential oil & aroma-therapeutic mineral bath. Its relaxation in a tub! Tune on Nora Jones Pandora station and fill you mug with sleepytime tea or a glass of vino… whatever floats your bath 😉

I love making lavender spray for my bedroom. Its so easy! Just add part water & lavender essential oil to a spray bottle, you can find it at your local whole foods bath & body section. Once you mix, spritz all over pillows/ sheets and face. It’s the perfect bedtime cocktail.

Sleep tight,

Hippie-hybrid

Arugula salad, with shredded carrots, sliced beets and crumbled goat cheese

Arugula salad, with shredded carrots, sliced beets and crumbled goat cheese. Sprinkled with cayenne pepper and fresh squeezed lemon.

This is one of my fav salads + just had to share with all of you!

I love starting any salad with arugula, it has a great peppery taste with a crunch, not to mention its highly alkaline, loaded with detoxing components that cleanses waste from our bodies and is high in vitamin A, which protects the skin from free radical damage. How much better can this pungent green be?!

Carrots add color, crunch and the highest amount of beta-carotene to a perfect salad!

(as my Grammy always says it has to look great to taste great!)

Beets also add a beautiful color to any dish, they are extremely alkaline and high in antioxidants which we all know we cant get enough of! They are a powerful cleanser for the body plus a great source of iron (for all us non meat eaters 😉 )

I love dressing my salads with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper that adds a great zing plus a supper metabolizing booster… who dosent want that?!

Adding lemon to a salad is not only refreshing and simple, but its the perfect compliment to glowing, blemish-free skin! Lemons aid in digestion and support the liver. Not to mention a great source of vitamin c!

Finishing off this sexy salad is a crumble of goat cheese…now im not a dairy pusher by any means…but if you love a little smooth creamy finish to a meal goat cheese is the healthiest of all cheeses. So sprinkle, but go easy!

Keeping your meals simple and healthy are the keys to great digestion!

Enjoy

Hippie- hybrid

(courtney a)

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