These healthy veggie burger sliders are made with nutritious ingredients like quinoa, baby spinach, carrot and red onion. They make for a great party appetizer that you can feel good about eating! Did any of you watch the College National Championship between Alabama and Clemson's talented football teams? Chances are that you were just as surprised as I was - along with all of the betting sites - at the way Clemson kicked Alabama's butt. That's why I love football: You never know what's going to happen! My football coaching dad had a player at his high school that went on to play really well at Bama. He left as a junior last year and got drafted to the Dolphins (where he's been playing great), so I couldn't help but think how perfect it was that he left after Bama won the ... [Read More]
healthy recipes
20 Droolworthy Avocado Recipes
If I had to name just one type of produce that I've become obsessed with in adulthood, it's probably avocado. When I moved to California, I quickly found out that avocado is readily available year-round here. We have a steady supply of avocados coming in from Mexico all the time, and then in spring and summer, local California growers offer an abundance of avocados everywhere from regular food stores to local farmers markets and little stands at the most random places on the side of the road. Growing up, I don't remember there being avocado around in my kitchen really at all, and my mom told me a couple of years ago that she had always shied away from them because she heard they were fattening. So, I convinced her that avocados are awesome, delicious, and not all that caloric if ... [Read More]
Blueberry Granola, Berry & Coconut Yogurt Parfaits {vegan + gf}
Happy Friday! What do all of my fellow American readers have planned for the 4th of July weekend? It kind of feels strange for it to fall on a Tuesday this year, and I don't have anything too exciting planned. Besides working on some freelance recipe development & blog stuff, I'm hoping to spend some time outdoors to enjoy the weather - I'm thinking perhaps some time at the beach, a bike ride with the hubby, and soaking up the sun in my backyard poolside. Oh, and my hubby will undoubtedly force me to watch episodes of the HBO John Adams series. It happens every year & he's been putting it on TV late-night all week (much to my dismay!). Naturally, I'm sure that my holiday weekend will include some good eats. Today's recipe is an ode to America: red, white & blue yogurt parfait ... [Read More]
The Best of 2016: Favorite Recipes, Workouts, Adventures & More
Happy New Year! I hope that 2017 is off to a great start for you. I'm back in California after a week and a half on the east coast for holiday vacation, and ready to see what wonderful things this year has in store for me. Since I love to reflect on the positives of the year at the start of a new one, today we're looking back at my 2016 favorites! Recipes. When I think about favorite recipe posts, what pops into my mind are the recipes that I shared with loved ones, made numerous times and couldn't get enough of! My top 5 recipes of 2016 that were popular on the blog are... Mini Pretzel Twists with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce. I had a thing for soft pretzels in 2016! Mediterranean Feta & Lemon Hummus Dip. After creating this dip for a health coaching event, I ... [Read More]
Italian Spaghetti Squash Casserole {gf}
Hi friends! How was your weekend? Highlights of my days off were visiting Temecula wine country with my cousin on Saturday, who visited for the afternoon to spend some time with me... ...and watching the NY Giants beat the Philadelphia Eagles (good for this Giants fan, and much to the dismay of my Eagles' fan husband) + practicing some yoga on the beach on Sunday. And I'm feeling very antsy about tomorrow's election. During this election season, I thought I'd do a post about where each candidate stands when it comes to women's + health issues, but it became so glaringly obvious to me which one should become president and which one is idiotic beyond belief, I decided there was little need to write that type of post. It probably isn't hard to guess which side I'm on in this ... [Read More]
Cinnamon Chai Banana Protein Shake {vegan, gf}
Being such an active person, one thing I'm constantly paying attention to is my nutrition. Food is the fuel that gives me energy for all of the hikes & bike rides I go on, strength training and yoga sessions I power through, daily long walks with my dog, and the list goes on & on! Plant-based diets tend to be carb-heavy, and while eating complex carbohydrates is a very necessary part of fueling my healthy lifestyle, one thing I focus on is eating enough protein. Otherwise, I could just easily eat a big bowl of fruit for breakfast, a pb & banana sandwich for lunch, an apple and granola bar for snacks, and rice & veggies for dinner. Is that a healthy day of eating? Sure, but that doesn't give me enough protein to properly refuel my muscles with all of the working out that I ... [Read More]