What I Ate in Israel

"Kopipi salad" at Frame Restaurant in Tel Aviv (http://www.frame-sushibar.co.il/)

Israel holds a very special place in my heart; not only is it my favorite country, but it is like my second home.

When I think of Israel, I automatically think of five things- my family, warmth, nightlife, heat, and most importantly, good food.  I grew up with an Israeli mother and an Israeli family, where food was always a big part of our lives. Lucky for me, though, the food I grew up eating and learned to cook was always very healthy and consisted of salads, vegetables, whole grains, spices, olive oil, tahini, hummus, and fresh fish.

What I love most about the Israeli culture is their philosophy on food; food is a huge part of their lives and it's what brings family and friends together. Most people eat home cooked meals most of the time, and go out to eat only occasionally. It is super super easy to find healthy restaurants and healthy options at restaurants, and the cooked food at restaurants doesn't feel as heavy or oily as the food here in America. Israeli's love to eat, but they aren't as heavy or unhealthy as the people here in the U.S.- in fact, you almost never see anyone obese walking on the streets! From my personal observations, I believe that the reason for this is that they aren't obsessed with "diets" and don't stress out about the food they eat; to them, eating is enjoyable and a blessing, not something to stress over! They eat a balanced diet that is naturally low in sugar, low in fried foods, high in healthy fats and carbs, and filled with veggies and fruits.

When I go to Israel, all I do is eat, so I thought I'd share with you all some of the delicious and healthy foods I ate!

Papaya salad, crispy sweet potato salad, and vegan noodles at Kampai in Tel Aviv (http://www.rol.co.il/sites/kampai/)

Coconut Water on the Streets of Jerusalem

Happy Hour at Hotel Yam in Tel Aviv (http://www.atlas.co.il/)

Salmon, Salads and Tahini- Homemade Shabbat (Friday Night) Dinner

Simple Veggie salad and Tahini at Machneyuda Restaurant in Jerusalem (http://www.machneyuda.co.il/en)

Breakfast Buffet at Arthur Hotel in Jerusalem (http://www.atlas.co.il/)

Fresh Juice, Fruit, and Halva at Machane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem (http://www.machne.co.il/en/)

Fresh Fruit Juice at the Farmer's Market in the Port of Tel Aviv

Salad with quinoa, chia seeds, beets, carrots, tomatoes, oats, lentils, and other goodies over hummus and tahini at Cafe Louse in Haifa (http://www.cafelouise.co.il/warehouse/userUploadFiles/file/58-1028_Menu_CafeLouise_Zohoraim_Erev_Eng.pdf)

Homemade Pitaya and Banana Smoothie topped with Mango, Hempseeds, and Walnuts

Green Smoothie on the Streets of Jerusalem

If you are a health freak like me, you will have no problem finding healthy restaurants or healthy food to eat while traveling in Israel! I hope that if any of you travel to Israel soon, you will visit some of the places I ate at above:)

xxx

Rachel

What I've Learned About Health From My Month-Long Trip to Israel

I know that for most people, going on a vacation is either an excuse to completely abandon their workout and eating routine, or the cause of their constant anxiety about how to still stick to their normal routine. After experiencing both of these over the years, I now know that going on vacation shouldn't mean either!

I just came back from a month-long trip to Israel feeling happier and healthier than ever, and I thought i'd share everything I learned about being happy and healthy while on vacation with you all.

My top ten tips for staying your happiest and healthiest while on vacation:

1. Don't be afraid to let go of your normal eating and workout routine, but don't completely abandon it- Eat as healthy as you can, when you can and squeeze in a thirty minute HIIT workout in your hotel room or a jog around the neighborhood when you can, but don't miss out on other fun things because you need to workout or you can't find something to eat where your friends want to go. On the other hand, a vacation is not an excuse to completely go crazy- it's all about balance and moderation! Order a salad, but have a scoop of ice cream for desert. Skip your cycling class, but make up for it with a swim in the pool or a long walk around the area. 
2. Let yourself REST, and then rest some more.. It's called a vacation for a reason! I actually always seem to lose weight when I let my body rest instead of forcing myself to workout when I feel like my body needs a break. 
3. Don't be picky- Your anxiety around food is worse for you than the actual food; it's okay to try different foods and eat things you normally wouldn't! Enjoy different ethnic foods and explore new cultures and routines.
4. Give yourself the freedom to let go of restrictions- When you let yourself eat whatever you want, whenever you want, you will usually choose the right foods most of the time and won't feel the need to eat foods that are unhealthy. You also are much less likely to binge eat since you are giving yourself the freedom to eat your favorite foods in moderation. That's why "dieting" never works- you will always crave something more when you can't have it!
5. Always remember to listen to your body- Whenever I start feeling anxious, stressed, nauseous, have absolutely no appetite, and start feeling down, I know that I've gone too many days without working out! (yes, I start getting nauseous when I don't workout for more than a few days lol) For me, working out is actually enjoyable and is an essential part of my daily life- I really feel terrible without it! It can be hard and sometimes inconvenient to workout while on vacation, but for me, it's totally necessary if I want to be able to enjoy my trip and feel my best. Same goes for eating; if I feel like I've had too many treats or too many glasses of wine, I listen to my body and give it a break. 
6. Don't be embarrassed or shy to ask for healthy substitutions at restaurants or to say no when offered unhealthy foods by family and friends- This one is SO important, since I know that most people would rather eat what is offered to them than speak up about their eating habits or likes/dislikes. One of the most important things when living a healthy lifestyle is learning to not care what others think- put yourself and your body first always!
7. Pack pills/supplements/superfood powders/food items that you know will be hard to find in another country- I took my fish oil pills, chlorella pills, vitamin D and B pills, tons of superfood powders, cacao nibs, goji berries, stevia, teas, nutritional yeast, and most importantly, my daily probiotics!
8. Don't think about work/career/school- It's called a vacation for a reason! Take the time to read, spend time with family and friends, go out dancing, lay out by the beach, or anything else that makes you happy.
9. Don't forget your positive mantras- If you tell yourself that your body can handle the change in routine, and that you won't gain weight, you will start to believe it and it will become true! 
10. Don't stress- THE most important! Don't let yourself stress out about anything- body image, food, exercise, problems with family or friends, work, or school- just enjoy your vacation.

I hope you use these tips and take them with you on your next vacation!
xxx
Rachel

Why Everything Tastes Better Than Skinny Feels

I've always HATED the quote "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels". I have nothing against anyone that is naturally skinny- if you are, than you are beautiful! I truly believe every body type is beautiful as long as it's healthy and natural.

When referring to this quote, I'm talking about the type of skinny that is forced. I'm talking about starving yourself to be skinny. I'm talking about eating disorders.

Eating disorders are NO joke. Believe me I know, because I've had one personally. Recovering from one is no joke either, and as a matter of fact, I am still recovering daily.

There is NOTHING fun about skipping meals and obsessing over every little thing you eat. There is NOTHING fun about not being able to enjoy your favorite foods or torturing yourself for having one piece of chocolate. There is NOTHING fun about missing dinner outings with your family or friends because you simply refuse to eat or you know there will be nothing "healthy" enough on the menu. There is NOTHING fun about slowly losing your appetite, constantly feeling deprived, and  finding the act of choosing what to eat simply horrifying. And there definitely NOTHING fun about feeling lifeless, sick, miserable, hopeless, anxious, depressed, and feeling like food controls your whole life.

With that being said, "skinny" doesn't feel good at all. Your body NEEDS an abundance of all natural, healthy, nourishing foods to truly feel it's best. Not only that, but your brain runs mostly on glucose and NEEDS healthy carbs to run properly. When you deprive yourself of food, you deprive yourself of vital nutrients and energy, and you just end up feeling tired, cold, sick, weak, anxious, and pretty much empty and lifeless. It also becomes hard for you to focus, slows down your metabolism, makes you feel isolated from the rest of the world (especially your family and friends), and makes you just feel sad.

On the other hand, you know what does feel amazing? Being HEALTHY. To me, healthy means letting food heal you, rather than letting it control you. Healthy means eating enough of the proper nutrients to help you glow from the inside out. Healthy means exercising to feel stronger everyday, not over-exercising to lose as much weight as possible. Healthy means learning to deal with our internal issues and making a promise to ourselves to heal rather than running away from our problems and using food and exercise to do so. Healthy means smiling, laughing, and being grateful and happy rather than always being sad. Healthy means enjoying our favorite treats and foods without feeling guilty about doing so. Healthy means taking the time for ourselves to meditate, write in our journal, enjoy a warm bath, take a yoga class, or spend time in nature to reconnect with our truest and best self and feel in harmony with our spirit and the world around us. Healthy means cherishing the time we spend with our family and friends. Healthy means learning to love ourselves for who we are and the body we were blessed with, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to others. Healthy means doing whatever it is that makes us truly happy.

So next time, when you catch yourself saying "I want to be skinny", change it to "I want to be healthy and feel my best", because everything tastes better than skinny feels, but nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!

xxx
Rachel

Lemony Coconut Protein Balls

I don't like using the word "never" when it comes to food, but for some products the word "never" is necessary. One of the things I would NEVER eat anymore is store bought "protein bars". They are usually just filled with artificial ingredients, tons of sugar, sometimes too much protein (which can be a bad thing), and usually unnecessary dairy products. Plus, they usually don't even taste that great! So I decided to make my own protein balls this weekend, and they came out too perfect that I simply had to share them will you all. They are the perfect on the go snack or the perfect topping to a smoothie bowl- yum!

Lemony Coconut Protein Balls

• 3/4 cup raw cashews
• 1/3 cup macadamia nuts
• 2 tbsps shredded coconut
• 2 scoops french vanilla protein powder of choice (I use vegaone, which is completely plant based)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tsps lemon juice
• 1 tsp shredded lemon peel
• 1-2 tbsp stevia

Blend all ingredients together in blender or food processor, mold into little balls and enjoy! Makes about 6-8 balls

xxx

Rachel

Carrot and Sweet Potato Mash

This dish is the perfect alternative to mashed potatoes! It's creamy, sweet, easy to make, and not to mention, is an awesome source of complex carbs, vitamin C, beta-carotene (vitamin A), manganese, vitamin B6, and biotin. If you're not a fan of eating carrots raw, this is the perfect way to get the amazing benefits of carrots without compromising on taste. This is also a perfect healthy dish to feed to your little ones:) Hope you love it!

Carrot and Sweet Potato Mash

• 1 1/2 sweet potatoes
• 3 large carrots
• 1 tsp melted coconut oil
• 1/4 cup roasted pistachios
• salt & pepper to taste

Boil the sweet potatoes and carrots until soft, pulse in a blender until smooth and creamy, mix in salt, pepper and coconut oil and top with roasted pistachios. Yes, it really is that simple!

xxx

Rachel

Pina Colada Smoothie Bowl

 I don't know about you, but I've always loved a good pina colada in the summer time. Now that it's getting close to summer, I am always craving smoothie bowls in the morning rather than something warm like oatmeal or toast. I am also craving more tropical and refreshing smoothies rather than more dense and rich ones!

This morning I decided to try making a refreshing pina colada smoothie bowl, and I am so glad I did! It turned out absolutely delicious and I licked my bowl clean. It also kept me full for hours and I was buzzing with energy all morning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Pina Colada Smoothie Bowl

• 1 banana
• 1/4 cup coconut water
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 1-2 tbsp vanilla protein powder of choice (I use vegasport)
• pinch of cinnamon
• a little bit of crushed ice 

Suggested toppings: cashews, pumpkin seeds, mulberries and fresh coconut

xxx
Rachel

Minty Chocolate Chip Smoothie Bowl

Mint Chip has always been my favorite ice cream flavor, and ever since transitioning into a healthier lifestyle, I've been trying to make a healthy alternative to my old time favorite desert. I've tried to make mint chip smoothies COUNTLESS times using all natural ingredients, but every time I've found myself spitting it out in the sink from disgust! Truthfully, I almost gave up on making the perfect mint chip smoothie, until one day my boyfriend asked me to and I decided to give it one last shot.

And let me just say...I AM SO GLAD I DID! This smoothie is now on my go-to list for breakfast, and is absolutely fabulous. It's perfectly creamy and sweet with just a hint of refreshing mint that isn't too overbearing (you can adjust this if you like it extra minty). I really hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Mint Chip Smoothie 

• 1 1/2 large bananas
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1/2 packet stevia
• 1/4 cup rice milk (or any non-dairy milk)
• about 5 fresh mint leaves (I recommend adding them in one by one until you achieve the perfect flavor)
• about two handfuls crushed ice 

Recommended toppings: dark chocolate chips, carob chips, fresh berries, granola

Enjoy lovelies

xxx

Rachel

Easy Peasy Pumpkin Granola

As a health freak and current Dietetics student, I would never buy a bag of granola at the store or order it at a restaurant- it's usually filled with tons of sugar, fat, and unnecessary ingredients. I do LOVE granola though, and I still get to enjoy it by making healthier and tastier versions at home once a week.

This Pumpkin Granola literally takes me less than five minutes to whip up, and is SO simple to make. It's refined sugar free, vegan, gluten free, nutritious and delicious- a MUST in my opinion:)

Enjoy lovelies xxx

Easy Peasy Pumpkin Granola

• 1 cup gluten free oats
• 1 tbsp hemp seeds
• 2 tbsps pumpkin seeds
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 2-3 tbsps maple
• few sprinkles cinnamon
• touch of himalayan salt
• 1 tbsp melted coconut oil

Mix together ingredients in a bowl, pour over a baking dish and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes (350 degrees F). Take out, let cool for about 10 minutes, break into clusters and enjoy!

Banana-Berry Cashew Smoothie Bowl

As you all probably know by now, I am obsessed with smoothie bowls and have one almost every morning for breakfast. I always add at least one super food to my smoothie bowls, and Sunfood is my favorite/most trusted brand. They carry almost every superfood you can imagine, and they are all 100% raw and organic. They also carry raw, organic nuts, which I used to make this yummy Banana-Berry Cashew smoothie bowl!

You can now receive 10% ANY purchase of Sunfood products by using this link  http://www.sunfood.com/?mw_aref=02637c6a06d748ba7a5d770def3077e4 or using the code LHTSUM29 at checkout!

I never promote products I do not support or use daily myself, and I promise you their products won't disappoint! This smoothie bowl is also a must so I suggest you purchase some maca powder & raw organic whole cashews first in order to make it :)

Banana-Berry Cashew Smoothie Bowl

• 1 banana
• handful fresh strawberries
• 1/2 tbsp maca powder
• tsp vanilla
• a touch of crushed ice
• a touch of almond milk
• sprinkle of cinnamon

Toppings

• handful raw organic cashews
• 1/2 sliced banana
• 1-3 sliced strawberries
• tsp hemp seeds
• a few blueberries
• 2 chopped dates
• 1 tbsp cashew butter

Blend smoothie ingredients together, top with all the toppings and enjoy!

xxx

Rachel

Pomegranate and Arugula Salad

I am totally obsessed with pomegranates at the moment; I love putting them in salads, smoothie bowls, or on top of coconut yogurt and fresh fruit! Lately, I've been experimenting with tons of different salad combinations that include pomegranate seeds, since they give every salad an interesting, refreshing kick. This salad is by far my favorite combo, and it is the perfect dinner side-dish or meal which I hope you all will enjoy!

Pomegranate and Arugula Salad

• 2 cups arugula
• 1/2-1 sliced avocado
• 3 chopped celery sticks
• 1/4-1/3 cups pomegranate seeds
• 1 handful fresh mint leaves
• himalayan salt, black pepper, fresh lemon or lime juice, and 1 tbsp olive oil to taste
• optional/additional topping ideas: fresh grilled salmon, handful walnuts, tbsp hemp seeds, roasted cauliflower, baked yam, feta cheese

xxx

Rachel

Decadent Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

It is actually funny to me when people say "healthy eating is boring" or "I could never be vegan, I'd starve" or "eating healthy is too hard"; Honestly, what other lifestyle allows you to eat ice cream sundaes for breakfast every single morning? What other lifestyle lets you eat in abundance without feeling guilty or sick?

This morning I was craving a big, rich, decadent, chocolate smoothie bowl, so that's exactly what I had without even thinking twice! I tried a new recipe that came out SO delicious, I just had to share it with all of you.

Go ahead and have this chocolate sundae for breakfast every single day if you want to- you have my permission! xxx

Decadent Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

• 2 1/2 frozen (or non frozen) bananas
• touch of almond milk (a few tbsps)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsps cacao powder
• 1 tsp carob powder
• 1/2 tsp maca powder
• 1 packet stevia (about a tsp-tbsp)
• crushed ice (if bananas are non frozen)

Suggested Toppings: raw date granola, berries, shredded coconut, and a heaping tbsp of raw almond butter!

 

Enjoy loves,

xxx

Rachel

Decadent Chocolate & Sunflower Butter Bars

I thought I'd make a Passover friendly and Easter perfect healthy desert to share with you all, so I whipped this up in the kitchen yesterday. It's the perfect snack or desert to enjoy on Passover, Easter, or any time of the year! Most importantly, it's raw, vegan, refined sugar free, gluten free, all natural, guilt free, amazingly delicious and only takes about 10 minutes to make- enjoy!

Decadent Chocolate and Sunflower Butter Bars

First layer

• 1 cup gluten free oats
• 6-7 medjool dates
• 2 tbsps shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp date syrup
• 1 tbsp sunflower seeds

Second layer

• 2 tbsps coconut oil
• 4 tsps cacao
• 1-2 tbsps maple syrup
• about 1/4 cup water

Third layer

• 3 heaping tbsps sunflower butter 
• 1 tbsp shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp sunflower seeds

Directions

First, cover a 6x6 baking dish with baking paper. For the first layer, blend gluten free oats and dates. Add in the rest of the ingredients, mix, and lay out on the baking dish using your hands to mush down and even out perfectly. Then for the chocolate layer, heat up coconut oil in a pan. Add in cacao and maple syrup, keep stirring, and slowly add in water until you reach desired consistency. You can also use almond milk instead of water if you want it to taste more like milk chocolate rather than dark, Layer chocolate spread evenly over the oat and date base. Then, spread sunflower butter over chocolate layer. You can either do this right away and let the two layers blend together like I did, or you can freeze the first two layers for about 15 minutes until the chocolate hardens and then spread with sunflower butter. Top everything with shredded coconut and sunflower seeds, freeze for about thirty minutes, cut into squares, and enjoy!

xxx

Rachel

My Experience with Kayla Itsines' BBG

I'm on week 6 of Kayla's Bikini Body Guide, and I  thought I'd share with you all my experience with it so far!

When I first started, I was amazed by how hard it was for me to get through the first two weeks- To be honest, I felt like throwing up after each session, as I'm not used to fast-paced, intense workouts (I usually weight train and do light cardio). As the weeks went on, I became in love with each session and would push myself to the limit every time. I loved the feeling afterwards- it made me feel like I could accomplish anything!

However, I started getting sick all the time. In fact, I've been sick three times since starting BBG and had to take a week off of training for each time I was sick. I realized that I probably wasn't doing something right- if I was taking care of my body and doing all the right things, I definitely shouldn't be getting sick all the time. Not only that, but there were also days when I was completely exhausted from my crazy schedule but still pushed myself to complete every workout. I ended up not being able to do my best and would get mad at myself after.

About two weeks ago I got so stressed out from life (school, work, homework, fights with my boyfriend, and on top of that trying to stick with my workout routine and plan out all of my meals every day) that I started to get an intense pain in my chest; every time I would breathe or cough or laugh it would hurt like crazy. I then realized that I was under way too much stress and that my body was trying to tell me to slow down- I had to do something.

Ever since then I stopped pushing myself as hard during my workouts. Don't get me wrong, I still sweat like crazy, have a tomato face by the end of my workouts, and am insanely sore after, but I don't push myself to my absolute limit. I have actually lost weight by doing this and am a lot less bloated since I am a LOT less stressed. I enjoy my workouts more, focus more on my form rather than how fast I am completing every workout, and feel much healthier.

Not only that, but instead of stressing so much over what I eat, I have been listening to my body instead. If I feel like eating less one day, I do. If I feel like I need to eat more the next day, I do. I plan each meal as I go, don't deprive myself, and listen to my bodies needs.

The moral of the story is that pushing yourself past your comfort zone is GREAT, and that constantly trying to be better than  before is GREAT, but pushing yourself to your absolute limit, to the point where you are always getting sick and stressed out, is never good. Slow progress is better than no progress- remember that!

What is your experience with BBG or any new workout routine? Would love to hear your story in the comments below!

xxx
Rachel

Grilled Onion & Brussels Sprouts Salad

If you are a fan of Brussels sprouts, this salad is definitely for you! I whipped this up in five minutes for lunch yesterday and it was SO good that I had to share it with you all...enjoy!

Grilled Onion and Brussels Sprouts Salad

• 1/2 bag of brussels sprouts/about 1-1/2 cups
• one white onion
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/4 cup garbanzo beans(cooked)
• handful crushed pecans
• handful raisins (or cranberries)
• himalayan salt, black pepper, garlic powder, turmeric, and cayenne to taste
• juice from 1/2 lemon

In a pan, grill onions with 1 tsp coconut oil. Meanwhile, steam Brussels sprouts just a tad. When Brussels sprouts are ready, chop them into little pieces and add them to your onion mixture with the rest of the coconut oil. Add in garbanzo beans and season everything with himalayan salt, black pepper, garlic powder, turmeric, and cayenne (as much as desired). After cooking for about 5-8 minutes, put in a bowl and top with lemon juice, pecans, and raisins. Enjoy!

xxx

Rachel

My Weekly Workout Routine

Trust me, I know how hard it is to find time to workout when you're schedule seems insanely hectic. I'm a full time, straight A student, I work part-time, and I still find time to spend with my family, friends, and boyfriend, cook three healthy meals a day, study, write blogs, read, meditate, relax, AND workout regularly while still feeling my best- yes, it IS possible! It's all about priorities in life, and if you put health as your number one priority, everything else will fall into place and you will find that you have more time and energy than ever before.

I wanted to give you guys an example of my weekly workout routine to show you all how I squeeze in physical activity to my hectic schedule! I am currently doing Kayla's Bikini Body guide and loving it, but I will make another post when I start doing my own workouts once again. For now, here is my usual weekly workout routine:

Monday

• 11-11:45 AM- Kayla Itsines BBG Arms & Abs and stretching

Tuesday

• 9:45-11 AM- Yoga

Wednesday

• This is my FULL day of work and school with no breaks in between, so at 6:30 AM I just do a 15-20 minute ab workout routine and some stretches

Thursday

• 10-10:45 AM- Kayla Itsines BBG Legs and Cardio and stretching

Friday

• Kayla Itsines BBG Full body workout, a short cardio workout (30-40 minutes) and stretching

Saturday

• Cardio day! Usually an hour or more. I either take long walks in my neighborhood, go on a long hike or swim. Saturday's are my chill days and the days I spend time with family/friends so I usually try to incorporate an outdoor cardio activity with my family, friends, or boyfriend instead of spending my time at the gym!

Sunday

• 11 AM- 12 PM- Yoga
• Anywhere from 30 minutes-an hour of cardio at the gym or a long walk outdoors

In short, I usually incorporate two yoga sessions, three HIIT/resistance training workouts, three cardio workouts, stretch time, and meditation time every single week! When do you guys find time to workout? Comment below!

xxx

Rachel

Vegan Pad Thai Noodles with a Creamy Cashew Sauce

                                     


One of my favorite types of cuisine would have to be Thai Food- I love their noodle dishes, salads, rice dishes, veggie dishes, tofu dishes, soups, and sauces! The only problem is that most Thai Food restaurants cook with a TON of fat- I mean, that's what makes it so delicious, right?

It might be delicious, but it isn't so good for our waist line- that's why I only go out to Thai restaurants occasionally on the weekends, and it is definitely a treat for me! Since I believe there is a healthy alternative to pretty much any "unhealthy" food on the planet, I decided to create a Thai style dish that is completely healthy and guilt free while still being absolutely delicious.

Pad thai is one of my favorite Thai dishes, and this recipe is the perfect substitute to those found in my favorite Thai restaurants. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


Pad Thai Noodles (serves 3)

• 1/2 packet "Annie Chun's" Brown Rice Pad Thai noodles (I found it at Sprout's market!)
• 1/2 thinly sliced red pepper
• 2 handfuls mung bean sprouts
• 2 shredded carrots
• 1 thinly sliced celery stalk
• 1/4 purple cabbage thinly sliced
• himalayan salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsps sesame oil
• 4-5 tsps apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp coconut sugar
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• chili flakes to taste
• juice of  1/2 lime
• about 1 inch fresh ginger stalk (minced)
• 1 small packet tofu, cut into small cubes
• 1 tsp avocado oil
• himalayan salt, pepper, paprika, & turmeric to taste

Creamy Cashew Sauce

• 2 tsps cashew butter
• 4-5 tsps water
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 minced garlic clove
• about 1/2 tsp minced ginger
• 1/2 tsp agave 

First, cook noodles by following the instructions on the box- put them to the side. Put veggies in a large pan, add salt and pepper to taste, and lightly cook with some water. While the veggies cook, make the sauce for the pad thai (from ingredients 8-13). After making the sauce, cook tofu in a small pan with the rest of the ingredients. When the veggies, tofu, and sauce are ready, mix them all together in the pan and pour in the noodles. Mix and let cook for a few more minutes. When done, sprinkle with fresh cilantro, cashews, and more chili flakes if desired. Top with creamy cashew sauce and enjoy!!

xxx

Rachel

Matcha Almond Tea Latte

For some reason, I've always found it hard to make a matcha tea latte at home, since the flavor never comes out exactly how I want it to. I love going to Pete's Coffee for my Matcha fix, but it's a treat because they make it way too sweet for me, even when I get it "unsweetened".

The other day, I was rushing to school and decided to quickly make a matcha tea latte. I tried it when I got to school and I was amazed by how amazing it turned out without me even trying- it was perfect! Thank god I remembered the exact amounts of all the ingredients I used so I could not only enjoy it again (I've been drinking it almost every day since) but share it with all of you!

Matcha Almond Tea Latte

• 2 1/2 tsps pure matcha powder
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup hot & foamed almond milk
• 1 drop organic almond extract
• 1/2-3/4 packet stevia

Enjoy, but dont become too obsessed like me!

xxx

Rachel