Tag Archives: nutrition

Mixed Berry Energizer Smoothie

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Smoothies are amazing to start your day with, as they provide many beneficial nutrients all in one glass! Fruit is ideal early in the day since it provides vitamins, minerals and fibre, so incorporating a variety of fruit and other healthy ingredients, makes for a delicious and wholesome beverage.

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In the morning it’s great to eat food that is going to give you fuel for the rest of your day. One special ingredient I like to throw into my morning or even for afternoon smoothies, for that extra kick, is maca root powder. This special powder is a superfood that is derived from Peru and grown in very high altitudes. It’s nutritionally dense, as it is rich in B vitamins and is a vegetarian source of vitamin B-12. It’s high in various phytonutrients, minerals, enzymes and amino acids as well. One particular benefit of maca root, is that it helps to balance out and regulate our hormones by stimulating our hormonal glands such as the pituitary gland. This powerful superfood is an excellent energizer, boosts immune system, stamina and endurance, which definitely helps to fight off fatigue. Basically, there are a profusion of health benefits by consuming maca root powder regularly, so that’s why it’s so important to incorporate maca root into your daily food regimen. Maca powder tastes somewhat nutty, so it’s great in smoothies, cereals and in raw energy bars. It’s best not to cook the powder to ensure the preservation of all the amazing nutritional content!

Matcha green tea is another gem that I love to add to smoothies. Matcha is actually the leaves of green tea ground up, so you are able to ingest the entire leaf. The leaves contain an array of nutrients including an immense amount of antioxidants that is unparalleled in comparison with regular green tea. This potent green powder is an antioxidant powerhouse, which is known to be 14 times the amount of most berries, especially blueberries, and it has 10 times the antioxidants of a glass of green tea. One special property of matcha that I want to share, is that it contains a high amount of a rare amino acid, called L-Theanine. This has been used as a supplement to promote calmness and a state of well-being, while providing alertness. Matcha has a strong taste, some like myself don’t mind it, but for those of you that dislike this vegetal, green tea taste, its best disguised in smoothies.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup mixed berries (I used frozen)
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 3 – 4 ice cubes
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon maca root powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon matcha green tea

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until desired consistency. I like to blend until every seed is pulverized, leaving you with a smooth and frosty smoothie.

A smoothie a day will help you maintain and achieve optimal health and longevity!

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Smashed Bean and Avocado Salad

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So this picture doesn’t give this recipe justice of how delicious it is, but this a great tuna salad substitute for vegetarians. It packs a lot of flavour and protein, perfect for a healthy and filling lunch.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup red kidney beans
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 small carrot, shredded and finely chopped
  • 1/4 onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon plain yogurt (optional)
  • Goat cheese (optional)
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste.

Directions.

In a small bowl slightly mash beans and avocado. Next add the rest of the ingredients, except the goat cheese. Mix well. Spread on a slice of toast or bagel and garnish with some goat cheese. Enjoy.

This can be enjoyed alone or as a dip, and it would even make a perfect spread in a wrap.

Light and Creamy Potato Salad

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It’s the first week of May already?! I have no idea where the time has gone, but I’m so excited for finally some nice, warm weather. It has been much anticipated, since our winter here in Ontario felt so long and dragged out. So we decided to celebrate this beautiful, sunny day with a BBQ, our first BBQ of the year. I thought what better side dish than potato salad at a BBQ? However, the traditional potato salad that is usually drowned in mayonnaise, is not exactly what I was thinking. A healthier, lighter version is ideal, but that definitely doesn’t mean a lack of taste. This potato salad is actually so delicious and fresh that it makes a great side dish at any BBQ and is much lower in fat and calories. The special ingredient… Greek yogurt! Everyone needs a bit of probiotics in their diet, so yogurt is a very beneficial part of this dressing, not to mention it’s incredibly creamy and makes a perfect base for any potato salad.

Light and Creamy Potato Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 sprig of celery, finely sliced
  • 1 teaspoon chives, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried mint (or herb of choice)
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • Freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste

Directions:

In a small bowl combine all ingredients and mix well. Add dressing to potatoes, mix well until evenly coated, and store in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill before serving.

(Makes dressing for only about 2-3 servings)

The ingredients all complement each other well, as the Dijon mustard and cayenne pepper add the right amount of heat, the celery gives the salad some bite, and the mint adds a very subtle freshness. I also love the flavour that fresh lemon juice adds to the yogurt. Enjoy.

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Guilt-Free Chocolate Truffles

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20130427-185107.jpgTraditionally, chocolate truffles are filled with a ganache-type centre, made with heavy cream or butter, but these bite-sized treats are made differently and are pretty much guilt-free. These delicious and creamy truffles are made with melted chocolate and three special ingredients, which include yogurt, almond butter, and hemp seeds. These healthful ingredients help to set these truffles aside from the traditional and more fattening variation. They taste amazing and are the perfect little treat!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup pain yogurt (preferably Greek)
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions:

Melt chocolate chips using a double boiler. Mix in almond butter and hemp seeds. Fold in yogurt until evenly incorporated. Refrigerate mixture for 15 minutes to firm up. Form truffles using 1 teaspoon of the mixture. Roll truffles in cocoa powder and freeze for 15 minutes or until ready to serve.

Hello Again…

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I realized I haven’t posted for well over a month now, so I apologize for the absence of new content, but I can attribute that to a good reason. I’m inclined to share that I have been studying holistic nutrition with the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and that has surely consumed most of my free time. You know you’re passionate about something when you are entirely consumed with what you’re reading that it doesn’t even feel like school. I find myself completely absorbed in the material that is natural health. During my first few lessons I already learned so much about vitamins, minerals, supplements, toxins, water, and natural remedies (just to name a few). So I’m excited to share some of this information on my website to help educate others. Reading about nutrients and how exactly they are needed by our bodies is incredibly illuminating. We only have one body, so it’s imperative that we take care of it to the fullest of our ability.

20130331-125856.jpg“Staying Healthy with Nutrition,” one of the books in the above picture, teaches the fundamentals of nutrition and how various vitamins and minerals from food play a vital role in maintaining health. It’s important to use nutrition as a means of staying healthy and preventing future illnesses or conditions from developing. Preventative nutrition is key to living a long and healthy life. I am excited to learn and understand how our body functions and what it needs in order to heal.