Creating a healthy and purpose-driven life.
And I’m back!!! I just arrived back from conference in FL a few days ago, and it’s been kind of crazy. With everything I’ve learned at conference, my mind is doing a lot of processing and at the same time I’m putting many of the new things to action. It’s easier to keep the momentum going, than to build up the momentum!
Is anyone else obsessed with Carrot Cake? I was watching The Great British Bakeoff yesterday, and four episodes later I was watching the episode where bakers were baking without refined sugar. Baking sugar-free is tricky, especially when you have no experience in it. Several bakers attempted desperately to come up with some yummy creation using dates, honey, or another sugar-free alternatives, but many decided to bake carrot cake. Now, after watching about 3 hours of a baking show, you can imagine I was craving some serious sweets! Therefore, I’m so glad I can go back to one of my favorite smoothie recipes: The Carrot Cake Smoothie! More protein filled, less sugar, yet just enough sweetness to feel like it’s an indulgence = perfect for post-bakeshow cravings.
I eat a lot of veggies, really I do! But the one thing I can never get myself to do is to eat veggies raw. Fruit? No problem! Veggies? No chance! I don’t know if it’s the taste of uncooked vegetables or the texture, but I just prefer them stir fried in olive oil with seasoning. However I do know that there are significant nutritional benefits to munching on some carrot or celery sticks. The only way one can get me to do that though is with dips. Unfortunately due to a dairy intolerance, ranch dip is out of the question. Guacamole is great for every once in a while, but some variety is appreciated!
At certain times of the year, all I’m craving is German food. Now Germany isn’t known for their healthiest foods, in fact every time I travel to Germany I return at least 5 pounds heavier! The German diet is mainly comprised of bread, meat, potatoes, and cake. I’m not joking. And anyone who has a heritage whose diet isn’t the healthiest, feels my pain when reminiscing of the childhood times.
It’s official: Summer is here! It’s time for sunshine, popsicles, pool parties, morning runs (to avoid the heat), travel, and going to the farmer’s market. My summer is jam packed with summer classes at the college, traveling to the mountainous North Carolina, Florida and even Europe! Add in a business conference, several business events and some coaching and you have an idea of what my summer looks like!
Strawberry and Banana- a match made in heaven! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been loving that mix of flavours. Strawberry Banana Julius was the only thing I’d order from Orange Julius (I still have no idea what the other ones taste like!). And before we stopped eating dairy, I used to mix strawberry flavoured yogurt with banana flavoured yogurt. But the childhood memories don’t stop there! Kefir, fruit salad, ice cream…you name it, I ate it! At least if strawberry banana was the flavour combination…
Banana pancakes have been making the rounds for a while now for several reasons:
1) They’re almost all allergen free (except for eggs)
2) They’re extremely simple to make and require few ingredients,
and 3) They taste delicious (and are super healthy).
I’ve made a gazillion different versions of these, but since I’ve stumbled across the concept of adding dried flowers to baking I’ve become obsessed with these lemon lavender pancakes. And of course what else works well with lavender? Blueberries! So I topped it off with a warm blueberry sauce.
As Easter has come to an end, it is getting warmer and warmer, and staying that way. Summer is around the corner, and with summer come the fresh berries, tropical fruits, and many other delicious foods! To me, summer is all about eating fresh whole foods, and eating light. Kale salads, juices, smoothie bowls, and fruit salad are what my meals mainly consist of in the summer, and I love it!
Every year on Halloween, I’d always give my parents the Reese’s peanut butter cups. I didn’t understand why they were so crazy about them! Having suffered from a peanut butter allergy as a child, though not officially allergic anymore I avoid peanut butter whenever possible. I just don’t like the taste, and I swear my throat starts closing up whenever I eat it. Instead, I’m crazy about almond and cashew butter! Thank god, for other nut butters! Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to find almond butter chocolate cups. If I would find them at a local grocery store, you can believe it that I’d be buying tons of them! I have, however, seen the sunflower seed butter cups (those taste almost identical to peanut butter to me, so I avoid those as well).
Missing Florida already (even though I’m going back in June), I am craving some sunshine and tropical tastes. I’d much rather be lying underneath a palm tree at the beach, instead of preparing for the next round of snow to hit us. Sometimes I’m really not a fan of living in the DC area, emphasis on sometimes. Specifically in the winter! 😉
