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

Spiced Pumpkin Latte Made with My Beauty Tea

Lately I have been obsessed with having a cup of tea with my afternoon snack, even though the weather has been super warm out here in Los Angeles! I always like to change it up, but one of my absolute teas have been this Spiced Pumpkin Latte made with My Beauty Tea's Pumpkin Spice blend!

I don't support "detox" teas in any way, and I am totally against all of these popular "quick-fixes", but I do love 100% natural herbal teas, since they are the perfect healthy, almost no calorie drink that I can sweeten up and prepare any way I like! I have to say that My Beauty Tea is definitely one of the best- they have fruity blends that I like to enjoy iced with some lemon and stevia, as well as more savory blends such as sugar chai and nuts for coco that I like to enjoy with some cinnamon, honey, and steamed almond milk! This Spiced Pumpkin Latte is made with My Beauty Tea's "Pumpkin Spice" blend, and it is absolutely delicious and everything you'd want in a pumpkin latte :)

You can find their teas on www.mybeautytea.com and receive 10% off using the code "RACHKATZ" at checkout

Spiced Pumpkin Latte

• 1 tsp pumpkin spice tea blend
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup foamed almond milk
• pinch cinnamon
• 1 packet stevia

Let the tea & hot water sit for about 3 minutes, pour over strainer and into a cup, mix in stevia, cinnamon, and almond milk and serve hot or over ice!

Enjoy lovelies

xxx

Rachel

My Daily Morning Routine

I truly believe that waking up with a relaxing, humbling, and healthy morning routine is what keeps me sane and helps me achieve my goals and stay focused throughout the day! Here's how I start my mornings:

1. Make a huge glass of hot water with lemon

2. Go upstairs to my room, lay on my yoga mat, and stretch/practice some yoga poses. When I have extra time, I do a core workout as well.

3.Meditate for at least ten minutes

4.Take a daily probiotic, fish oil supplement, and vitamin C

5. Make myself a big, nourishing breakfast (usually a smoothie bowl, banana ice cream, oatmeal, coconut yogurt, homemade granola, or some GF toast with peanut butter and fruit). Take 20-30 minutes to sit and enjoy my breakfast and relax before I start my busy day!

How do you like to start your mornings? Comment below!

xxx
Rachel

Why I Don't Believe in Labeling Your Diet

I am NOT a vegan

In fact, if someone were to ask me what type of diet I follow, I would say that i'm a "flexatarian".

Yes, the majority of my diet IS plant based. I eat a vegan diet 95% of the time, and the majority of the recipes I create are plant-based, but I also have frozen yogurt on the weekends and have fresh-caught fish 1-2 times a week. I try to stay away from cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy based products, but once in a while I will have an apple pie a la mode at one of my favorite restaurants or have some alfredo pasta on special occasions like my birthday. I hardly ever crave cheese, but if I do, I allow myself to enjoy some raw goat cheese from my local co-op. I also hardly ever have eggs, but if I go to a restaurant and there is a baked good with some eggs in it, I will eat it. ONCE in a while (like maybe once every 6 months) if I get an intense craving for eggs, I will have some. And if an amazing recipe calls for some eggs, I will make it. I haven't had chicken for over 4 years, but when I had an intense craving for some about 5 months ago, I bought some organic, free-range, hormone free chicken breast from my local co-op, grilled it, and had some(I never did again since then).

Basically, what I'm trying to say  is that my diet is mostly plant-based, but I don't like to label myself and call myself a vegan, because then I will NEVER be able to have a piece of cheese or a bite of frozen yogurt ever again. I hardly ever crave non-plant based foods, and feel much better without them, but the idea of never being able to have a certain food again is sad to me. Not only that, but it can be extremely harmful to your health.

I mentioned before that I suffered in the past with disordered eating, and I know from experience that limiting yourself to a certain way of eating can cause anxieties surrounding food and later on lead to an eating disorder. When you limit yourself from ever having a certain food ever again, you end up feeling extremely guilty when you have an intense craving for it and want to eat it. Not only that, but by denying yourself, you end up wanting that food even MORE than if you were to allow yourself to eat it. I find that when I allow myself to eat whatever I please, I end up making healthier choices than if I were to restrict myself from ever eating something.

I completely understand the ethical reasons behind being a vegan, and even more so the health reasons, and I am not against being a vegan at all; for me personally, however, labeling myself to any diet can be very harmful, and being a vegan just doesn't work for my body. I was a complete vegan for about three months, until all of a sudden I experienced an insane amount of low energy for over a week. I had intense cravings for chicken (which I didn't eat for 3 years before that) and I was feeling extremely low. No matter how much I ate or what I did, nothing seemed to help. Now I know that this is a cleansing effect and usually goes away after 3 weeks, but since I've suffered with disordered eating, depression, and anxiety in the past, I couldn't afford to wait that long, so I had a piece of chicken. Of course I contemplated doing so for days and asked everyone I knew what I should do. I kept hoping my cravings would go away and that my energy levels would go up, but at the end of the day I had to do what was best for my body. I decided to listen to my body, purchased the highest quality chicken breast I could find, had my mom cook it with some avo oil and spices, and guess what? The world didn't end after I had one piece of chicken. I actually felt much better, and since then, have never craved it again or had the desire to eat it.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is very simple- listen to YOUR body. With every meal, make the decision to eat what you know is best for YOUR body. Don't follow someone else's diet or try to eat exactly like someone else, because we all have different bodies and belief systems, I choose to eat a mostly plant-based diet because I believe that it is the healthiest and greatest way to eat. It makes me feel the best, both mentally and physically, and keeps me buzzing and energized for hours on end. My body constantly CRAVES all natural plant-based foods. I also love eating plant-based for ethical reasons, and when I do eat animal products, I make sure to purchase organic, free-range, cage free, wild-caught, etc. from a direct source (like my local co-op or farmers market). I choose to treat myself and eat other things occasionally, because without that freedom I would go crazy! My body also functions better when I eat a piece fresh-caught fish 1-2 times a week. For me, it is all about balance.

Life is too short to be so hard on yourself, especially when it comes to food. When you give yourself the power to eat whatever you please, you will actually start to eat better than ever before. Don't let food control your life- control what you eat and your body will thank you.

xxx
Rachel

Honey Turmeric Latte

Ever since I've learned about the benefits of turmeric, I literally sprinkle it on EVERYTHING! I sprinkle it on my salads, grains, potatoes, soups, roasted veggies, beans, tempeh, tofu, guacamole...seriously almost everything.



First of all, turmeric helps with inflammation and is a natural anti-inflammatory- this is perfect for people who train and lift weights, since it helps reduce the inflammation of muscles after a workout. It's also perfect for someone who has a sore throat or a tummy ache-I always drink this turmeric latte when I have either one!



Turmeric also has antioxidant effects and can help protect against several types of cancers. As if that wasn't enough, it also helps naturally treat skin problems and can help you achieve that natural "glow". It has a very mild flavor, which is why it can be sprinkled on almost everything- pretty amazing if you ask me!



Since not everyone wants to sprinkle turmeric on almost all of their meals, I thought I'd share with you all one of my favorite recipes- my turmeric latte. This is the perfect coffee or tea replacement and can be enjoyed at any time of the day- it's my favorite way to reap the benefits of turmeric, and I hope you all enjoy it too!

Honey Turmeric Latte

• 1 heaping tbsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp honey (can add in some stevia or more honey if needed)
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 3/4 cup warm foamed almond milk (or any non-dairy milk)
• sprinkle (or few) of cinnamon

First mix the turmeric with hot water until it blends in perfectly. Then, top with milk and stir in the honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon and stir some more- enjoy!

Let me know what you think in the comments below,

xxx

Rachel

Why You Should Be Meditating

If you're like me before I started meditating, you're probably thinking "Who has time to sit down for 10-60 minutes a day just breathing when there are so many things to get done and so many other more important things to do?" or "Meditating looks so strange...I don't get it".

Well, you're right. Meditating does look pretty strange at first and probably makes no sense to someone who's never done it before. It is the most simple thing in the world, yet everyone who does it says it's the greatest thing in the world; how is that possible?

Well, it IS the most simple thing in the world, yet it is one of the greatest things in the world for your health, which is why, in my opinion, it is simply magical.

I'm not going to bore you with all the facts or research done to prove how beneficial meditating is to your mental and physical well-being (you can look that up for yourself if interested), but I will share with you a personal experience instead.

I mentioned previously that I've dealt with anxiety and OCD, and still currently deal with a more mild form of both, and I can honestly say that meditation (along with healthy eating, a regular workout routine, yoga, and a loving family and friends) has saved my life. When my OCD was at it's worst a few years ago, and my brain was constantly replaying terrible, terrifying thoughts, my therapist recommended that I start meditating for just 15 minutes a day. At that point, I was willing to try anything, but I never thought that just taking the time to focus on my breathing could help me at all, let alone as much as it did.

I've come a LONG way since then, but I can say that meditating has contributed tremendously to my recovery. Anyone who struggles with anxiety and OCD knows that at times it seems impossible to quiet your mind or slow your heart rate, to the point where you almost feel paralyzed, but meditation has helped me do just that. Meditating helps you calm down, focus, quiet your mind, slow down your heart rate, learn how to breathe properly, and learn how to live in the present. Most importantly though, it helps you quiet all the nonsense thoughts traveling in and out of your brain daily (mostly everyone experiences this, not just someone with OCD), and helps you realize your true thoughts, potential, feelings, and self. If meditating helped someone like me quiet my mind and let go of all my fearful thoughts, imagine what it can do for someone who's never dealt with a mental illness but is simply stressed out and always on the run-amazing right?!

Meditating is now a part of my daily routine; I meditate for about ten minutes when I wake up and ten minutes before I go to bed- no matter how tired I am or how many things I have to do. All I do is sit cross legged with my back straight, and focus on breathing in deeply and slowly and out deeply and slowly. I also repeat different mantras in my head to stay focused. This helps me stay positive, grateful, focused, and excited about this beautiful life I am able to live. Many times while meditating, I picture my dream life and tell myself that I am able to create it; this helps me stay focused on my goals every day and stay motivated to take daily steps to achieve my dream life. And when life gets too crazy, (between trying to balance school, work, homework, spending time with family and friends, preparing healthy meals, working on my blog and Instagram, and making time to train and reach my fitness goals) meditating reminds me to enjoy it all and gives me the calm I need, even if it's just for twenty minutes a day. Most importantly, it helps me control my anxiety to the point where I barely even experience anxiety anymore!

Even though meditating does take a lot of practice, and it takes a while before you see the results, it is definitely worth it in the long run. Everyone these days is so distracted by social media, television, school, work, and the stress of their daily lives that they forget to just live in the present moment and enjoy it. Whether you suffer from some sort of mental illness or not, meditation can be incredibly beneficial for you. In our world today, it is almost impossible to find someone who doesn't experience stress, fear, or terrible thoughts-and meditation can help you control all three. I recommend meditation to EVERYONE- because who doesn't want to create their dream life and be more successful, fearless, positive, focused, calm, and excited about this beautiful life we are lucky to live? The benefits of meditation are truly endless, but no matter how much I try to describe it, you won't understand it until you experience it for yourself. So go ahead and try it; tell me how you feel after a few weeks- I promise you won't regret it!

xxx
Rachel