Month: September 2018

Yummy Bowl of Oats- 2 Ways!

Sometimes, I love a good old creamy comforting warm bowl of oatmeal in the mornings.  Below, I have 2 delicious recipes for you!

Vanilla-date sweetened oatmeal with fresh peaches, roasted sunflower seeds and coconut butter drizzle!

2/3 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup vanilla cashew milk (I had homemade, but you can use any store bought milk really, ex: almond/coconut/cows milk etc)
2/3 cup water
couple drop vanilla extract
1 big chopped date
dash of cinnamon
pinch sea salt

Add all of the above in a saucepan and let come to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Then scoop out into 2 bowls, top each bowl with fresh peach slices, 1 tbsp roasted sunflower seeds, drizzle with 2 tsps coconut butter* and 1 tsp maple syrup. Sprinkle more cinnamon if you like and splash some more milk if you like.

*You can easily substitute any nut/seed butter like amond/peanut/and even tahini (tahini is a bit bitter, so then you would need to increase the maple syrup a bit, but nonetheless, delicious!)

Also, this made enough for me and my 2 1/2 year old daughter.  If you need 2 servings for adults, you can increase oats and water/milk to 1 cup each!

Carrot and date oatmeal with apples and almond butter

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup coconut milk
1 ½ cup water
1 large carrot, grated
1 big date, chopped
Splash of vanilla exract
¼- ½ tsp cinnamon
Pinch sea salt

Bring all of the above to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes or so. Mix in 2 tsp of maple syrup. Then scoop out into 2 bowls and top each bowl with fresh apple slices, 1 tbsp almond butter, and some chopped pecans. Sprinkle with more cinnamon if you like!

Try these out and let me know what you think !  Usually the base for my oatmeal bowls are pretty much the same.  The toppings are everything and really, I’m in it for ALL the toppings !! 🙂

Sometimes, I mash in some banana into my oatmeal and sweeten it that way instead of dates.  and then you can just top with blueberries, walnuts and some good healthy fat like organic pastured butter/ghee, nut/seed butter, etc.   I like using spices like cinnamon, cardamom or even a little ginger because it helps with digestion !  Enjoy!

 

How to Stay Balanced with the Changing of the Seasons?

Summer to Fall edition!

Fall has officially started! Cooler weather is clearly setting in. The squirrels are super active, leaves are slowly changing color and very soon crunchy leaves will start to cover the ground, and there will be pumpkin and apple treats everywhere soon!

So, how do we transition from the high energy, warmer and longer days of summer to the more cozy, shorter and cooler days of fall?  We might still not be dressing warm enough, still adjusting to new routines and demands with school/college/work in full swing, staying up late as we’re still used to the more carefree summer schedule, still enjoying ice creams and sundaes even as the weather gets cooler etc. These things can take a toll on our health with seasonal changes, weakening our immune system (NOT great for flu season coming up!) and causing us added stress. Here are some tips to help you stay balanced with the changes that come from summer to fall.

1. Get out those cozy sweaters! Chillier weather calls for a bit of layering up or wearing some light outerwear. Some of us might already have reorganized our closets putting away summer clothes and bringing out the warmer ones . The cozy feel of sweaters can feel like warm snuggles on a cold day. Preserving our body heat in cooler weather especially in our core is an important energy saver for our bodies believe it or not. It also adds to your trendy fashion flair if that makes ya happy!

2. Start your day with a warming spiced drink- it could be infused waters/herbal teas, matcha lattes, golden turmeric milk, chia tea etc! Swap your cold juices, iced teas, sodas for warming drinks. (If you drink too many smoothies, swap some of them also!) Adding warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom etc will boost your circulation, metabolism and immunity in the colder months.

My favorite thing is to make a warm ginger and lemon tea in the morning. The way I make it actually CONVENIENT for me is by pureeing some ginger with some water in a blender/food processor (I do 2 cups chopped ginger and 2 cups water) and then freezing it in ice cube trays. Then in the morning, I boil some water, throw in one of the ginger ice cubes, squeeze some lemon juice in it and mix in a little honey.

3. Eat more seasonal foods- the harvest of fall is abundant! Reach for the squashes, root vegetables like carrots and beets, apples, pears, etc. These are nature’s comfort foods for this time of the year. Eating more warming soups, stews, breakfast porridges and roasted vegetables in cooler weather will be more nourishing for the body.

4. Go to bed earlier! -As the sun starts to set earlier, the days are getting shorter and nights, longer. Be in tune with the natural rhythms and head to bed a bit earlier getting more restorative rest. The cold forces us to slow down a bit, stay home and cozy up with our loved ones. This slowing down actually promotes optimal health and energy in the colder months.

5. Drink lots of water! – make sure you’re adequately hydrated since colder weather is drying. Dryness can lead to achy stiff joints, dry skin, constipation, headaches and weak digestion. Sipping on water throughout the day preferably room temp or slightly warm is very rehydrating. If you constantly feel dry mouth, add a pinch of Himalayan pink salt and squeeze of lime in your water.

6. Take walks outside and soak up all the fall beauty, enjoy the beautiful colors, breathe in the crisp fresh air and listen to the crunchy leaves while you’re walking. Experience with all your senses. This will just bring you into the present moment, bring you into gratitude and have a calming effect on your mood and body.

We should celebrate the good of every season. We definitely have fall-themed activities planned like apple-picking, going to the pumpkin patches, corn mazes, baking fall treats, doing nature themed arts and crafts, etc.   Also, October is my birthday month ! I hope your fall goes fantastic!