When it comes to my eating patterns, I'm definitely more of small meals & snacks kinda girl. I like to eat every 3-4 hours, and feel like my body operates best this way. If I eat a big meal, my belly feels heavy and too full, but when I eat smaller meals & snacks throughout the day, I feel great. Because of this, I always have lots of snacks around: in my purse, gym bag, car and obviously my pantry. Having healthy snacks around is the key to me not getting hangry! One of my favorite kind of snacks is energy balls. I like to whip up a batch during the weekend to have on hand throughout the week. But since I get bored easily, I like to switch up my energy bite combos & am constantly coming up with new kinds. My latest energy ball creation are these Blueberry Cashew ... [Read More]
healthy snacks
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Snack Bites {vegan + gluten free}
Earlier this week, I sent out a health coaching newsletter with tips to avoid holiday weight gain (you can subscribe via the signup form on the right sidebar! -->), and one of my guidelines is to implement an 80/20 diet balance. I've talked about this concept before, but it's the idea that 80% of your calories are from nutritious, healthy choices, and for the other 20%, you enjoy whatever indulgences you're in the mood for. I apply this to my diet not only during the holiday season but year-round, because I believe that moderation is what works in the long haul for a healthy, sustainable relationship with food... which brings me to today's recipe! We all know that December is ripe with food and drink indulgences. I adore baking Christmas cookies and drinking seasonal drinks like ... [Read More]
Chocolate Cake Batter Chia Energy Bites {vegan + gf}
Energy bites are a favorite snack in my household. I've even turned my immediate family on the east coast onto energy bites, because I'm always whipping them up when I visit as a healthy snack to have around. And as a big fan of keeping things interesting in the kitchen and in life in general, I'm always coming up with new energy bite combinations. Today I've got a new one to share: chocolate cake batter chia energy bites! Made with oats, plant-based protein powder and chia seeds, these vegan, gluten free bites pack a nutritious punch. They get their cake batter flavor thanks to the combo of cashew butter, cinnamon, vanilla and cocoa, and are sweetened with dates and maple syrup. They're the perfect little bite to hold you over until a meal or give you some quick ... [Read More]
Cherry Pistachio Energy Balls [vegan, gf]
Hi friends! Today we're talking about nuts and balls! ;-) Everyone has their go-to favorite foods that they're constantly eating, and for me, one of those categories is nuts + nut butters. I usually eat a serving of one on the daily. Healthy fats like nuts keep my belly happy & satisfied. Almond butter and peanut butter are my all-time favorites, and I was pretty into cashews & cashew butter for awhile there. Somehow I tend to forget that I like pistachios too. Recently I was about to whip up a batch of energy balls, and instead of using my go-to nuts of choice, I decided to switch it up and break open a bag of pistachios. ... [Read More]
The Healthy Habits I Practice Daily
The following post is sponsored by Dandy®. If there's something that every single health professional and enthusiast in the world can agree on, I think it's that being healthy is not a destination, it's a lifestyle. It's something you have to put in the effort for each and every day. Consistently making healthy decisions makes me feel strong, capable, and confident, and it transcends into every other area of my life. Today I wanted to share some of the healthy habits that are part of my everyday routine. They're ways of life for me that make me feel vibrant and energized, and help me to be the healthiest, happiest person I can be. Let's get to it! Stretch. Stretching is something that I not only do before and after my workouts, but also on my rest days too. I think it feels ... [Read More]
Currently Loving: My Top 5 Travel Snacks
Happy Friday! What are your plans for the official first weekend of summer? In thinking about my summer season, the next month or so is going to hopefully include lots of local SoCal fun, and then the month after that will involves lots of travel and time away from home. When I'm on-the-go traveling, especially if there are long car rides and/or long flights involved, one of the things I make sure to do is bring healthy snacks. I just don't think you can ever go wrong with bringing healthy food with you. It usually comes in handy at the times I prep for it - like at lunchtime on a plane - but I also find that it's great to have snacks on hand for random times when hunger strikes. For instance, if I'm going out to dinner later than I normally eat, a snack packed in my bag comes in ... [Read More]