Living Happy Living Strong

  Hey! Do you ever crave some sweet chocolate? That's totally normal. There can be different reasons why these cravings are hitting, and you should probably learn some new ways to turn the corner and avoid them.     As usual, I am NOT going to tell you to "never eat things that you don't need or that don't provide you with any nutrients." But, sometimes we have goals set and we want to know how to curb those sugar-loaded foods.

When we binge eat, we feel as if we have no control over the amounts of food we are consuming.  Sometimes we make it easier for ourselves to binge foods by making them very accessible. If you were to be watching TV, and you decided you wanted some ice-cream, you have a decision to make in your head. 'Should I take the tub of ice-cream and eat up until a certain point?' Or should I portion out the  amount of ice-cream I want in a bowl and put the rest back in the freezer?' When you decide to take the whole tub of ice-cream, you are making it available to eat more than you really wanted in the first place. Ice-cream isn't the healthiest thing so you should probably portion the amount that you feel is right to treat your body. This is called PORTION CONTROL, and it applies to both healthy and less-healthy foods. It will not make you feel good if you eat TOO much of anything, that's why we should eat "everything in moderation". Portion control helps with this

This is officially my favorite pasta to make. It is super yummy and very hearty. GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY/LACTOSE-FREE, and VEGETARIAN. It is also free of all the foods and ingredients that can disturb your stomach or digestive system with bloating and inflammation. Chickpea Rotini Pasta Recipe Yield: 2 servings     Cook time: 15 minutes    NO PREP!!!    Health Rate: A * = Optional Ingredients: - 2 cups spinach - 2 tomatoes - chickpea pasta - dried basil (to taste) - garlic powder (to taste) - water  - *red pepper flakes - dried oregano (to taste) - oregano powder (to taste) - salt and pepper (to taste) - *drizzle of EVOO How to get the perfect pasta from these ingredients: 1. Thinly slice the tomatoes and lay them evenly across a skillet (on medium heat) with basil, garlic powder, dried oregano, oregano powder, salt, and pepper.  2. Meanwhile, the tomatoes are cooking, boil the pasta in water until soft and tender. 3. Add the spinach to your skillet with tomatoes and slightly mash for a sau

Summer is here! I am so excited to share these super-hydrating foods and refreshments to enjoy! Water is SUPER important, but sometimes it's fun to spice it up! I will also include some recipes for some summer refreshers.

Every morning, I take a cup/glass of lemon water.  Here's the recipe...

Who loves acai as much as I do?! Here's my recipe that will give you the healthiest and yummiest version of the fruit! I bet you already know what acai bowls are from social media (probably because they are so pretty!), but did you know that there are many health benefits to them? When you buy acai berries from the grocery store, they are typically juiced and frozen into packs. You can find my personal favorite ones  here . Studies show that these berries contain more antioxidants than cranberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries! You can definitely find tons of studies throughout the web, but I will simplify them here.  Here are the top 5 health benefits of Acai... 1. Acai reduces high cholesterol  According to  theculturetrip.com , "acai contains  two essential fatty acids known as omega-6 and omega-9." These fatty acids are proven to maintain AND reduce cholesterol levels.  2. Improves immune system  Acai contains certain compounds, including the  polyphe

Happy Memorial Day! Days like these tend to leave us craving for those celebration treats, but here I am to straighten you out! Just kidding. Of course, it's alright to treat yourself and it's never ok to deprive yourself of those yummy foods, but there can always be alternatives! So let's get to it. Today, I am giving you a mouth-watering smoothie that you won't even recognize is healthy! Red, White, and Blue Protein Smoothie Ingredients: - 6 strawberries (frozen) - 1 banana (frozen and sliced) - 3 tbs chia seeds - 2 tbs hemp seeds - 6oz or 3/4 cup milk (plant-based or dairy) - 1/2 cup blueberries (frozen) - 3 Medjool dates (pitted) - 1 scoop protein powder (i used vanilla so there would be no effect on the color) - 1/2 cup spinach           My Protein Powder - organic food dye (OPTIONAL) Tools: - Blender - Measuring cups - Bowls (for prepping) Steps: 1. Prep your ingredients. Starting with the WHITE layer, pour i