a few things to remember as we head into the holiday season.

November 24, 2015November 24, 2015Leave a comment

snowflakes

These tips will keep your body more balanced and your digestion strong as we head into the carb and sugar-overload that is the holiday season!

Grab some greens before you dive into your meal || Make it a habit to grab a handful of greens before each meal. Not only will you be getting more greens into your overall diet (more fiber, more enzymes, more nutrients!), you’ll also be filling up a bit before the meal so you’re likely to eat less overall.
Eat some sauerkraut! || Anything pickled will do. If you’re not into that (it took me awhile to learn to like it!), try a probiotic pill instead. The goal is to keep your gut and its flora healthy for better digestion.
Drink water throughout the day || They say you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water. Make sure you’re doing this especially throughout the holiday season! It will keep you hydrated, keep things moving, and will also make you feel a bit more full.
Start off the morning with some lemon-ginger tonic || Make a quick tea tonic each morning to kick-start your digestion. Juice some lemon and grate some ginger. Add some honey and some cayenne to taste. This helps aid your digestion and keep your blood sugar levels under control. (It’s also delicious! Pro-tip: if you drink this every day, make sure you drink with a straw to avoid the acid from the lemon eroding your teeth enamel).
Opt for a breakfast smoothie || Another great way to get more fruits and veggies into your daily routine. Make sure you choose fruit lower in sugar (blueberries are a good choice!). You can also add avocado for some healthy fats. Add in some chia or flax seeds too! This will keep you full for the morning until you’re ready to grab some lunch (greens first!).
Chew your food || We all know it’s easy to chow down on all of the delicious food at the dinner table. Make sure to take a breath and chew completely between each bite. This helps with digestion and your body will need to use less energy to digest.
Take a walk || Make sure you’re exercising during the holidays to top it all off! Take a walk, do some yoga, or join your family in a fun game of catch. Anything will do. You just want to stay moving!

I hope this helps! Do you have any routines you like to add into your day-to-day as the holidays approach? I’d love to hear your advice!!

the perfect ingredient: coconut oil.

September 1, 2015August 30, 2015Leave a comment

In most of my stove top cooking (and baking sometimes, too) I now default to coconut oil. This is a recent switch in the last 2 years or so, but I really love the added boost of flavor and the amazing benefits that coconut oil has to offer. It’s also my go-to ingredient in many of my skin care routines and home-made products.

Copy of CoconutOil_0007_Smoothie

Let’s Learn More.

Coconut oil is actually almost 92% saturated fat. Because of the fat content, it turns to a solid at room temperature.

Please don’t let the fat content deter you! This fat offers many health benefits including the following:

improves mineral absorption (which can improve the condition of your scalp, hair, & skin)
protects the liver against toxins
helps prevent kidney & gall bladder dieases
improves blood sugar levels (& can help manage diabetes)
contains antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties

Why It’s Important to Choose Organic:

Let’s talk a little about the manufacturing of coconut oil. It’s a fairly lengthy process, but to summarize for you, coconuts are collected and broken open. The flesh inside is then allowed to dry. After the flesh has dried, it is heated at low temperatures to evaporate any additional moisture. This leaves the manufacturer with oil residue.

Now, to expedite the process, many manufacturers use additional chemicals and additives to expedite drying and heating to extract the oils. If you purchase organic coconut oil, no chemicals were used during the process AND the coconut was also grown in an organic manner.

I’m not one of those people that believes organic everything is a must, but I do try to go organic when I can or when chemical absorption would be very high, like in a case like this.

Remember that we vote with our purchases. Purchase wisely!

Why you Should Choose Virgin.

I know, who knew this could be so complicated. Just like olive oil, coconut oil has different grades of oil.

Virgin coconut oil is oil that is made from fresh coconut while refined coconut oil is made from the dried meat of the coconut. The refined coconut oil is typically what you see in stores. In this process, the oil needs to be refined, deodorized, and filtered through bleached clays to remove impurities. I try to stay away from the refined stuff, although it typically has a less ‘coconut-y’ smell if you’re not really into that.

If you see extra virgin coconut oil, note that there really isn’t a process that makes the virgin coconut oil any more virgin, so this is just marketing at its finest.

Okay, This Sounds Great. What Do I really Do with it?

Here are a few of my favorite ways to use coconut oil in the kitchen:

In a stir fry or quick sauté (coconut oil is less sensitive to heat than other oils, so it’s perfect for this!)
As butter substitute in baking
To make your own raw chocolate bars
In a supercharged smoothie
In bulletproof coffee
Spread on toast

I’ll be posting a delicious cauliflower recipe that uses coconut oil tomorrow – make sure to check back!

You may have noticed from the photos boldly declaring ‘THRIVE,’ but I’m also very excited to announce that we have partnered with Thrive Market (mentioned here in our Cacao Banana Shake recipe), as they are truly a company that has values that match ours. Even better, Thrive is now offering our followers and readers a free 30 day trial membership + a free 15-oz jar of Nutiva Coconut Oil + 15% off your next purchase! Just click here to see more details!

For Free, you say?

Yes, that’s what I said! Just click here to sign up. For new Thrive members, you will receive the free coconut oil to try out and see if you like it. If you’re an existing member, you will still receive 10% off your order!

What do you use coconut oil for? I’d love to hear more below!

Exploring SF: A Morning at Heartbaker

August 6, 2015August 24, 2015Leave a comment

I went on a stroll this morning to one of my favorite cafes near my apartment. I didn’t know it was there for the longest time, and it’s definitely a little hidden gem in the city.

Heartbaker, aside from having a perfect and adorable name, has a great selection of teas (from T-We Tea, who I recently discovered, and loved, at Renegade SF!), coffees, and sweet treats in the mornings.

delicious pastry from Heartbaker (photo source: Heartbaker)

Today I had the T-We Tea ‘Chai This’ with elderflowers in the blend (delish!) and a chocolate ricotta turnover which was the perfect combo of chocolate, crispy bread, and cheese. Who wouldn’t love that?

On the weekends they have brunch and they have daily lunch and dinner options.

The ambiance is wonderful and the staff is super friendly. It’s low-key and comfortable. Perfect to meet up with friends or have a slow, quiet morning to yourself (with some people watching, my personal favorite!).