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