by Christina | Aug 30, 2016 | Wellness
Yesterday was a great Sunday.
Last week was rough for me, so I needed to get my mind off things. I needed to relax, do something different, and surround myself with positive energy.
I have also been freaking out about the fact that it’s almost September, because that means school is right around the corner. I’m running out of time to work on my massive summertime to-do list, and it’s nowhere near being completed. Struggles.
I decided that a day in Malibu with my friends was just what I needed. I’ve actually never been to Malibu before, which most people are shocked to hear. Hanging out in Malibu is super basic, so it seems like something I would have done by now. NOPE. I’ve been slacking.
Yesterday was the perfect day to knock a few things off the to-do list – visit Malibu, hang out at the pier, go to Sunlife Organics, and eat at Malibu Farm. BAM. All while spending quality time with friends, which was honestly the main thing I needed. Might as well eat yummy things at the same time, right?
Let’s start off with Sunlife Organics. I’ve been lusting over smoothie and acai bowl pics from Sunlife for what seems like a century, so I’ve been dying to go. There are a few locations, but we went to the one closest to Malibu Farm. We got there right before it got super crowded, which was a plus, but the line was still long. It was so adorable inside. There was a refrigerated section with healthy grab-and-go food, including some BOMB desserts. I had my eye on the carrot cake and coconut cream pie, but I had to stay focused. Just mentioning this in case you want to get some food-food (not a smoothie) while you’re there.
Decor was on point, as expected. There’s a huge purple crystal near the front door, which I was all about. GOOD VIBES, MAN. They also sold other health food shop essentials – nuts, powders, MCT oil, vitamins and supplements, nut butters, chocolate bars, fancy skincare, yummy candles, etc.
I especially loved how the entire cooking area was open and visible. There’s something extra exciting about a restaurant where you can watch your food being made. Also, I just feel better when there are no behind-the-counter secrets. I know no one is hijacking my smoothie with inflammatory oils or gluten.
The menu was honestly very overwhelming, in the best way possible. I wanted it all. All of the acai bowls looked DELICIOUS, but my friends and I got smoothies. Acai bowls are pretty rough on my stomach, TBH, so I wanted to make sure I’d be able to handle my lunch without major stomach pains. I loved watching them make the bowls, though. Acai bowls are so pretty. There’s something about toppings…I’m planning on going back soon to try an acai bowl, though, don’t you worry.
I was deciding between Wolverine, The Alchemist, and the Vanilla Protein Shake. I secretly wanted the Million Dollar or Billion Dollar smoothie, but I wasn’t fully mentally prepared. They look INSANE. We’re talking a TON of superfood ingredients all swirled together. It’s intense. I ended up going with the Vanilla Protein Shake, and it was BOMB. Like, vanilla on crack. I’ve never had a vanilla shake like that before, and it was SO THICK, which I’m obsessed with. The thicker the better.
My friends got Fountain of Youth, Black Gold, and the Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake. Everyone was very satisfied, to say the least. Fountain of Youth tasted like fruity fabulousness, of course. I also tried the Peanut Butter Chocolate shake, and it literally tasted like a liquid Reeces Pieces cup. NOM.
After Sunlife, we shopped for a bit and then made our way over to the pier. After taking an obnoxious amount of photos, it was time for lunch at Malibu Farm Pier Cafe.
JUST TO CLARIFY – Malibu Farm Restaurant is the restaurant that you see right when you get to the pier. It’s a tad fancier, a bit more expensive, and is the kind of place where you get seated and served. The menu is slightly different from Malibu Farm Pier Cafe, which is at the end of the pier. At the pier cafe, you line up, order at the counter, take a number, find a seat, and they bring you your food. It’s more casual and a little bit cheaper, but both are pretty expensive. Malibu Farm Restaurant is more of a lunch/dinner kinda place and Malibu Farm Pier Cafe is more of a breakfast/lunch kinda place.
The ambiance of both restaurants is on point. Beachy, trendy, classic Malibu. The views are gorgeous. There’s nothing like dining with a view of the sparkling blue water in front of you and the sound of the waves crashing against the beach. At the Pier Cafe, you might be able to snag a spot on the rooftop, which offers an even more incredible view. You can see for miles out into the ocean – it feels endless, and it’s beyond gorgeous.
Both restaurants are very popular, which means they’re very busy. If you want to eat at the Restaurant, make reservations. If you’re eating at the Pier Cafe, try and have someone else order for you while you look for a table. There’s not enough seating for how many people are there, so it can take awhile to find seating. We split up and found a table pretty quickly, but we got lucky.
I got the Vegan Chop Salad without beets and garbanzo beans, and I added salmon, obvi. You know I’m obsessed with salmon… The salad had kale, romaine, avocado, and butternut squash. The salmon was cooked perfectly and was super flavorful. It was warm and soft on the inside but crispy on the outside. Yummmmm!
Nina got the Vegan Chop Salad with no subs – kale, romaine, beets, butternut squash, avo, and garbanzo beans.
My other two friends both got the Chicken, Ricotta, and Bacon Burgers. One got gluten-free bread, and the other got a regular bun. YES, Malibu Farm has gluten-free bread! Just ask. We were confused when the burgers came out because we couldn’t see any ricotta or bacon, so my friends thought they got jipped. Forgetting bacon is a big deal! When we asked the waiter, he explained that the ricotta and bacon are actually inside the patty. So the patty is a fancy medley of chicken, ricotta, and bacon all mashed together. Tricky. Their burgers came with an arugula salad and some broccoli mashed potatoes. How genius is that?! BROCCOLI MIXED WITH MASHED POTATOES. I die.
The meal was sooo delicious, and I was happy as a clam. I was with amazing people, eating the best food, and overlooking a breathtaking view. The moment was as big as the ocean. It was exactly what I needed to reset, recenter, and appreciate everything I have. It was a good Sunday.
I would highly highly recommend both Sunlife Organics and Malibu Farm if you haven’t been yet! I cannot wait to go back. Also, do you have any favorite spots in Malibu that you think I should visit next? Let me know! XO
by Christina | Aug 27, 2016 | Wellness
HAPPY FRIDAY, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! This week I’m featuring another one of my favorite health and wellness bloggers, Rachel Katz! Rachel is the creator of The Full Life by Rachel, a blog dedicated to helping people live their happiest and healthiest lives. On her blog you’ll find DELISH healthy recipes, life advice, wellness hacks, fitness tips, and more. I first stumbled across Rachel through Instagram, and she immediately caught my attention. Her caption was raw, real, and relatable. I went straight to her blog, eager for more. I quickly realized how much we had in common, and I was hooked.
What I love most in this world is REALNESS, and Rachel is as real as they come. She’s one of the most open and honest bloggers I know, and her willingness to discuss topics other people have a hard time talking about is one of the things about her that inspires me the most. Not only that, but I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the messages she shares with her readers. Rachel truly promotes a life of balance, not perfection, and gives realistic tips on how to do just that. LOVE IT. If you’re all about keepin’ it real and becoming the healthiest, happiest version of yourself, you’re about to fall in love with this multi-talented blogger babe. Ready for more?
Tell me a bit about yourself so my readers can get to know you!
Hi! My name is Rachel Katz and I’m a fourth year nutritional science student at Cal State LA. I work as a social media manager for an ad-tech startup in Santa Monica. I’m also a health & wellness blogger and social media influencer. I have a huge passion for creating healthy treats in my kitchen and for sharing my love of health and wellness with the world. When I’m not eating, cooking, snapping pics or blogging, you can find me at the gym, reading, studying, or at the farmer’s market. The most important things in my life are family, my boyfriend, friends, and making a difference in people’s lives.
Let’s talk about your blog! What inspired you and how did you get started?
When I was in high school up until about two years ago, I struggled with disordered eating, anxiety, depression, and OCD. In order to heal myself from all of this, I started learning about how healthy food, exercise, and meditation could be used to change not only my body, but my mental health. It amazed me how much I was able to overcome just from changing my lifestyle, and I was determined to share this with others who I knew were struggling with the same thing I went through!
What’s your “food philosophy”?
My food philosophy is simple – ditch the fad diets and just eat a balanced diet filled with healthy sources of protein, fats, and carbs. I truly believe that everyone has different nutritional needs and that what works for one person won’t always work for someone else. It’s so important to listen to our bodies when it comes to what we eat, and sometimes this means experimenting a little! I personally feel my best when I eat a mostly plant-based diet that also includes high quality sources of animal proteins such as organic chicken breast, free-range/organic eggs, wild-caught fish, and organic sheep’s milk yogurt. I also need to eat a bunch of healthy fats to feel my best, such as avocado, coconut, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. I try to avoid gluten and stick to whole grains most of the time, and I try to avoid sugar as much as possible. With that being said, I do believe in the 80/20 approach which means eating healthy 80% of the time and unhealthy the other 20%. I am completely against deprivation or sticking to a strict diet – life is too short and should always be enjoyed to the fullest!
What’s your exercise routine like now?
I love weight-training and HIIT. I usually go to the gym 3-4 times a week to lift weights/strength-train and I do about 30 minutes to an hour of cardio 3 times a week, either at the gym or outdoors. I love doing HIIT on the treadmill, climbing the stair master, hiking, swimming, and long power walks in my neighborhood.
What’s your favorite quick and easy, go-to meal?
I love cooking some scrambled eggs in coconut oil and serving them with some kale, mushrooms, onions and Brussels sprouts sautéed in coconut oil, salt, pepper, and garlic! I top it all with some sliced avocado and organic ketchup.
What’s one health trend you wish people didn’t follow?
I wish people removed the word “diet” from their vocabularies! “Diets” never work in the long run – finding a healthy food and fitness routine that works for you and developing a healthy lifestyle always works!
Is there a beauty or health tip that you swear by?
Having a healthy morning routine has seriously changed my life! It gets me off to an awesome start and helps me stay grounded and focused. I always wake up, brush my teeth, prepare some warm lemon water, sit in my bed, meditate and pray, write for five minutes in my gratitude journal, take my daily vitamins (Omega 3’s, women’s multivitamin, magnesium, a spoonful of black seed oil, and probiotics) and then make a nourishing breakfast. If I have school early in the morning I take my breakfast with me and if not I sit down and eat peacefully in my dining room. If you stick to a healthy morning routine, you will most likely stay healthy throughout the rest of the day.
3 foods you can’t live without?
I absolutely can’t live without dates, avocados, and cashew butter!
What’s your favorite restaurant?!
My favorite lunch places are SweetGreen, Greenleaf, Tender Greens, and Joan’s on Third.
My favorite dinner places are The Cheesecake Factory, Gracias Madre, Hummus Bar, Cecconi’s West Hollywood, and Houston’s. My go-to at The Cheesecake Factory is the grilled salmon with sweet potato fries and steamed broccoli – SO good!
What are some of your other favorite blogs to read/ Instagram accounts to follow?
My absolute favorite Instagram account/blog to follow is JSHealth/JessicaSepel.com. She is such an inspiration to me and I love what she stands for! I also love NutritionStripped, SamiBloom, and FitBrittNutrition!
I know you’ve had an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise in the past, but you’ve come so far on your health journey and have completely transformed that relationship. Is there anything specific that you do to maintain that relationship now and not fall back into old thought patterns or habits?
I’ve come such a long way from just a few years ago and I never want to go back to the person I used to be! With that being said, nobody is perfect and I always have to work on myself to make sure I don’t fall back into my old thought patterns and habits. I am constantly aware of my thoughts, and whenever thoughts like “I am too fat” or “maybe I should go on a diet” or “I wish I looked like her” come up, I catch them and change them instantly. I am always working on changing my negative thoughts to positive thoughts.
You’ve got a lot going on – you’re a student, you’re working, you’re blogging, you’re active, you’re a queen in the kitchen… How do you keep up with everything and fit it all in? Any tips for when people feel overwhelmed?
Honestly, I constantly feel like I have too much on my plate and hardly ever have time to rest, but for the most part I love it! I dedicate every day of my life to going after my dreams, and it feels great to know that I’m not sitting around wasting time. With that being said, there are days when I feel totally overwhelmed and feel like I just can’t do anything anymore. Whenever I feel like this I just take some me time. It doesn’t matter how many things I have to get done, I can’t get any of them done properly if I’m overly stressed and anxious, and my health always comes first. So for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and take some time to think, breathe, and relax. It’s okay to lock yourself in your room and watch your favorite T.V. show for a few hours. It’s okay to skip your workout once in a while to catch up on other tasks. It’s okay to say “no” sometimes to certain projects. Always put your health first and you’ll realize that when you are your healthiest and happiest, you will be able to accomplish everything without feeling overwhelmed by it all!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start living a healthier lifestyle but has no idea where to begin?
Start small! Pick one small goal like “I’ll go to the gym twice this week” or “I’ll quit sugar for one week,” and once you tackle that goal, make another one. Soon all of these tasks will become habits, and you’ll be healthy without even realizing it!
What are some goals you currently have for the future?
I have a ton of goals for the future but one of my current goals would be to continue growing my following on social media and on my blog so I can help as many people as possible! I also can’t wait to finish school so I can open up my own practice and counsel people in nutrition. Overall, however, my main goal is to keep learning, growing, inspiring, and becoming a better person each and every day for myself and for those around me.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned on your path to health and wellness?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned on my path to health and wellness is that it’s never helpful or healthy to compare yourself to others. We all have different journeys, different bodies, and different experiences, and we should always focus on becoming the best version of ourselves rather than another version of someone else.
Tell me one of your favorite recipes you’d like to share!
These are my famous Raw Vegan & Gluten Free Espresso Brownies!
Raw Vegan and Gluten Free Espresso Brownies
- 15 medjool dates with 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup pistachios
- 1/2 cup almonds or walnuts (I use walnuts since I’m allergic to almonds, but almonds are preferred!)
- 2 tsps cacao powder
- 2 tsps cacao nibs
- 2 tsps maple syrup
- 1 tsp melted coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of himalayan salt
- pinch of espresso powder (can put more, just depends on how strong you like it!)
Raw chocolate Sauce
- 1 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 2 tbsps cacao powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- touch of water
Instructions
First, blend medjool dates with water (I use a food processor). Then add in nuts and blend everything together (I like when it’s a little chunky so I don’t blend for too long, but if you prefer smooth/fudgy brownies than blend until the chunks are gone!). Pour into a large bowl and and add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix thoroughly (using your hands is the most efficient way to do this!) Pour mixture into a baking dish, pat down with hands, and freeze for about twenty minutes. In the meantime, prepare the chocolate sauce by warming up all of the ingredients in a pan for about two minutes. You can add more ingredients as you go along – just keep tasting the chocolate sauce until you achieve the perfect taste and consistency. Let the sauce cool and pour over the brownies. Freeze again for another 20 minutes, cut into brownie pieces, and keep the brownies in the fridge for a healthy dessert that can be served warm with ice cream or just eaten as a snack!
A huge thanks to Rachel for letting me interview her! Be sure to head on over to The Full Life for more yummy recipes, fitness advice, and healthy living tips! XO
by Christina | Aug 25, 2016 | Wellness
Recently I have gotten quite a few questions on both the blog and the podcast about how I find the time to cook, what I like to make, what my routine is like, and so on. I have a ton of tips and tricks about cooking efficiently and effectively, so I’m going to break things up into different parts and hit each one separately. I started off with some kitchen accessories I’m obsessed with, and now I’m going to talk about my actual cooking routine.
Yes, I have a cooking routine! I do pretty much the same thing every week. My cooking routine is very basic and simple. I don’t have the time or energy to be cooking fancy meals all day every day. Sometimes I put more effort into cooking, obviously, but that’s not the norm. I’m in college. I work. I have other shit to do. I’m all about efficiency, and of course deliciousness. I also prefer to eat as many meals as I can at home because A) it’s cheaper and B) I like to know exactly what’s going in/on my food. If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, knowing exactly what you’re putting into your mouth is key. It’s also especially important if you have a lot of food intolerances like me.
This is my version of “meal prep.” I don’t do traditional meal prep. By traditional meal prep, I mean cooking everything on Sunday and portioning it out into tupperware so that my exact meals are planned out and ready to go for the entire week. I don’t have time to do that on Sundays, and I also like to be able to eat whatever food combinations I’m in the mood for as the week goes on. My version of meal prep is much more lax than “traditional” meal prep.
When I post recipes to the blog, they’re not normally the meals I eat on a regular basis. My daily meals are basically all a variation of one meal. They’re nothing fancy. When I have the time, of course I like to make something a bit more complicated or something that requires more ingredients. But during an average week I don’t have time for that. The pics in this post are samples of some of the food I cooked and meals I ate from last week so you can get an idea of what it looks like.
In my opinion, the key is to buy and cook in bulk. I go to the grocery store once a week to buy everything I need – lots of vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, nuts, oils, etc. I usually grocery shop on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday – just whenever I run out of food.
After the fridge is stocked, I do one of two routines, depending on my schedule for the week.
My first routine is what I do when I have most nights of the week free, so it’s what I stick with most often during summer. For cooking routine #1, I spend the first 2 days of the week cooking almost everything I bought, and then the rest of the week I just reheat the food I already made.
For each meal of day 1, I pick whatever food I want to eat for that meal and I cook ALL OF IT. At the next meal, I pick foods I haven’t cooked yet and I cook all of those. After about 2 days of meals, everything has been cooked, and the leftovers are in foil or tupperware for the rest of the week. During the rest of the week, I just mix and match the foods I’ve cooked and heat them up in the microwave. Everyone has time to throw food on a plate and put it in the microwave for a few minutes. BAM. Done.
For example, one night I made cauliflower, broccoli, butternut squash, asparagus, and ground bison. The next night I made brussel sprouts, cauliflower, salmon, and spaghetti squash. For another meal, I made asparagus, eggplant, cauliflower, and salmon. And for another, I made broccoli, zucchini, and ground turkey.
Throughout the week, I chose different combinations (or sometimes the same combination) of the foods I already cooked to build my meals. If you’re someone who always wants a lot of variety, then you might not like this. Buuuut if you’re like me and don’t really care if many of your meals are similar, then this is definitely the most efficient way to do things.
This is usually what my fridge looks like after the second day of the week! I’ve cooked mostly everything, and it’s all in tupperware and foil, ready to be reheated.
My second routine happens when I have less time at the beginning of the week. The day after buying all of my food, I do the same thing I do in routine 1. Instead of continuing this on day 2, I’ll reheat the food I made on day 1 to eat on day 2. So basically I eat the same meals the first 2-3 days of the week. Then when I run out of the food I made on day 1, which is usually about halfway through the week, I do the same thing again to finish off my week. So for routine #2, there are two smaller rounds of “big cooking” during the week vs. the one large round of “big cooking” in routine #1.
These are the foods I ate during this particular week, but you can use this kind of routine for whatever foods YOU enjoy! If you don’t like salmon, don’t make it. If you don’t like brussel sprouts or broccoli, make something else. You get the idea. The important thing is cooking in bulk.
Okay, now what about the actual cooking? Everyone who says cooking is too time consuming is WRONG. You don’t have to do anything fancy. My favorite way to cook food is to roast it in the oven. Not only do roasted veggies taste AMAZING, but roasting food in the oven is very efficient. Just toss your food with some oil, salt, pepper, and/or any other seasonings you like, put it on a baking sheet lined with foil, and pop it in the oven. It takes less than five minutes to get everything in the oven, and then you can leave and do something else while everything cooks. Just set a timer to make sure nothing lights on fire! Cooking your food on foil also saves cleanup time. Whatever food is leftover is already in foil! You can literally just curl up the edges and close the foil, and the baking sheet won’t be dirty.
If I have room in the oven, I’ll put my fish, turkey, meat, etc. in there too. However, I normally cook my proteins on the stove because my oven is usually filled with vegetables, and cooking on the stove is also pretty fast. It takes less than 10 minutes, and you definitely don’t have to stare at your food while it cooks. Put it on the stove, check back in a few minutes, stir it around or flip it over, leave it for a few more minutes, and then come back. It’ll be done before you know it.
I also looove to use my Crock-Pot to cook in bulk. I’ll use it to make a ton of soup in the winter, and in the summer I use it to cook a ton of protein and veggies. You can toss a bunch of chicken inside with some oil, salt, and pepper, come back in a few hours, and you’ve got enough protein to last you a week. I do this with chicken, turkey, salmon, bison, etc. The same thing applies to veggies – chop ’em up, throw them in the Crock-Pot with the seasonings of your choice, and come back in a few hours. All you have to do is put the leftovers in tupperware and you’re all set for the week! If you make too much, you can always freeze any leftovers so that you always have something in the freezer to thaw and heat up. This week I cooked two spaghetti squashes in my Crock-Pot, which was more than enough to last me a week. I swear, the Crock-Pot is the ideal cooking method for the lazy college student.
For salads, I cut everything up at the beginning of the week and put it into plastic bags so I can just grab the food and toss it into my bowl when I need it. For example, last week I bought celery, cucumbers, and purple cabbage, so on Monday I cut everything up and then put it into plastic bags. For the rest of the week, all I had to do was grab the pre-cut veggies out of the bags and throw it in my salad. I usually put veggies that I roasted the night before along with whatever protein source I previously made into a bowl, heat it up in the microwave, toss in my lettuce, dressing, and non-cooked veggies, and mix it all together to make my salads throughout the week.
Again, the key is BULK. I will never understand why some people only cook enough for one meal at a time. If you’re already going to cook, you might as well cook A LOT OF IT. If you’re worried about your food going bad, you can always cook it and freeze it. I do that all the time, especially with big batches of fish or chicken. That way I always have something ready to eat if I’m in a pinch. You can also freeze smoothies! When I make smoothie bowls, a lot of times I’ll double or triple the portions and then freeze the leftovers so I have a smoothie ready for another day. Freezing smoothies also makes them a lot thicker when you’re ready to eat them, and I looooove a thick smoothie!
And that’s my cooking routine! As you can see, it’s pretty simple. And it’s not time consuming at all. I throw a shit ton of food in the oven at the beginning of the week so that I have enough food to last me the whole week. Then I mix and match things to create my meals. I’m basically the queen of leftovers. No, my meals are not fancy shmancy or complicated. They’re fast and easy, but they’re also very delicious and very healthy.
If this helps one person out, I’ll be happy. I had no idea how to cook when I first moved into my apartment, but once I got into a routine, I realized how easy it really is. Do you have any tips for being efficient in the kitchen? Do tell!
by Christina | Aug 21, 2016 | Wellness
If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you’ll know that I went to New York for the first time in my life last summer and had an amazing time. You’ll also know that I basically planned my entire trip around food. Since returning back to L.A., OF COURSE I’ve found out about a million more restaurants in NYC that I’m desperate to try, and I’m dying to go back to knock ’em off my list. One of those restaurants? by CHLOE.
Not going to lie, I spend way too much time stalking photos of food from by CHLOE. in New York. (Let’s be real, I spend way too much time stalking food photos in general.) Imagine my excitement when I found out they were going to open a by CHLOE. right here in Los Angeles! I died.
If you’ve never heard of by CHLOE., it kinda reminds me of a diner for healthy people. Like a health freak’s burger shack, if that makes sense. Fast food for a health nut. You get the idea? The food is all vegan, plant-based, and kosher, and most of it is gluten-free. So we’re talkin’ plant-based burgers with GF buns and air-baked fries with “ketchup” that’s actually healthy. According to their website, “Our menu is free of meat, dairy and egg products and contains no saturated animal fats, cholesterol, artificial flavors, and/or preservatives.” HELL YES. If you have dietary restrictions, you’ll definitely appreciate this place. Do you know how hard it is to find gluten-free, dairy-free burgers and fries that are actually delish?
Pic of the NY location from mah girl Julia Dasen!
I finally got the chance to visit the L.A. location last weekend, and it did NOT disappoint. It’s in Silver Lake, so a bit out of the way for me, but so worth it. It’s also attached to a grocery store, 365 by Whole Foods (which is amazing, BTW). Kind of strange, but doesn’t really matter.
The restaurant is pretty small inside, but the decor is adorable. I was obsessed with the succulents everywhere and the cozy spinning chairs in the front. Most of the tables are for two people, but we snagged a larger table in the middle of the restaurant so there was plenty of room.
The selection of baked goods is fabulous. The gluten-free baked goods include chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting. The non-GF baked goods included old-fashioned chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon espresso cookies, raspberry tiramisu cupcakes, lemon poppy seed muffins, matcha blueberry muffins, chocolate cupcakes, and more. They also had some super cute coconuts that said by CHLOE. on them.
The whole menu looked amazing, but I had my eye on the Kale Caesar. I’m obsessed with caesar salad. If there’s ever a gluten-free, dairy-free caesar salad on a menu, I’m getting it. All of the salads at by CHLOE. can be made gluten-free, so YAY. Two of my friends got the Quinoa Taco salad, and both said it was utterly delicious. My Kale Caesar was BEYOND AMAZING. It was very different from any other GF/DF caesar I’ve ever had. The dressing was super thick and creamy, and it had a little kick to it. I usually hate anything spicy, but I was really into this. It was sassy. Also, the shitaake bacon was to die for and the almond parm was epic. The whole thing was just a really fabulous mixture of textures and flavors. I would definitely get it again. Actually, I’m kind of really craving another one right now.
Two of my friends got the guac burger, and both were obsessed. Julia got the air-baked french fries, too, with some good ole’ beet ketchup. I tasted the beet ketchup and was thoroughly impressed. I asked for Julia’s opinion on the french fries because I didn’t try them, and she said that both the regular and sweet potato fries are perfection. (Update — later tried the fries… They’re incredible.)
I got the gluten-free chocolate chip cookie because Julia had been hyping it up for weeks. I expected it to be really good, but I did not expect it to be this good. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. If you saw my reaction on Snapchat, you know what I mean. No words. I’m not one to obsess over a cookie, but this was by far the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever eaten in my entire life. It practically melted in my mouth, and it was the perfect texture and sweetness. Not too hard, not too soft. It tasted like warm brown sugar smothered with gooey chocolate chips. I was in heaven.
My other friend got the cinnamon espresso cookie, which was HUGE. It was bigger than her face. It was also SUPER thin. Like a sheet of paper. I couldn’t try it because GLUTEN, but she told us it reminded her of a lace cookie and that it was NOM.
The outing was very successful, and I’m dying to go back and try some more things. All of the burgers look amazing, and I especially have my eye on the Pesto Meatball Sandwich. Their brunch menu also seems extremely promising. The smoothie bowl looks bomb. Julia tried the Purple Rain smoothie in New York and told us it was super yummy, and the Green Day smoothie also looks fab. I also reallllllly want to try the kale artichoke dip next time. by CHLOE. also sells really cute dog treats and classy baseball caps if you want some swag. I don’t have a dog, so…
Updates!
Since the trip described above, I’ve been back to by Chloe. quite a few times, so I wanted to update you on what you need to get! First of all, no matter how many times I get that GF chocolate chip cookie, I’m stunned. It is hands-down the best cookie I’ve ever tasted.
They also have a yummy gluten-free, dairy-free hot chocolate! The marshmallows are vegan and GF, and the hot chocolate uses almond milk as a base. The twist, though, is that they add PEANUT BUTTER to their hot chocolate. Very creative! It’s very rich, but if you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll really enjoy it.
The wonderful employees at by Chloe. let us sample the cupcakes, so I had my friends taste the gluten-containing cupcakes for me. They were split on which cupcake was the best, but they all agreed that all of them were outta this world. That chocolate cupcake is as close to a healthy Hostess cupcake as you’re gonna get! One of my roommates was obsessed with that one, and the other was obsessed with the raspberry tiramisu. Clearly, you’ll be happy either way.
I went for the chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting, which is their only GF cupcake. To be honest I don’t usually like cupcakes, but I love this one! The frosting doesn’t taste artificial, and the cupcake isn’t too sweet. It’s thick and dense, like true cake, and it’s not sickening like most commercial cupcakes. The perfect amount of sugar. Usually, frosting is not my thing, but I adore this frosting!
Finally, ice cream! Their ice cream flavors are extremely unique, to say the least. Their two gluten-free flavors are Kale Cookies + Cream and Salted Peanut Butter with Homemade Jelly. The other vegan flavors (which aren’t gluten-free) are Raspberry + Cream, Chocolate Chocolate, and Coffee By Chloe. I went for the Kale Cookies and Cream, and it was delicious. Super creamy, like regular ice cream, and it really did taste like cookies and cream. It doesn’t taste like kale – don’t let the green throw you off. I would highly recommend it and would totally get it again. I made an ice cream sandwich with the GF chocolate chip cookie and the ice cream, and it was AMAZING. Do it.
Although I haven’t personally tried them, friends who I’ve been to the restaurant with reported on the following: the cinnamon roll is amazing, the mac and cheese and the avocado pesto pasta are rich and delicious, and the quinoa taco salad is killer. You also need to try the beet ketchup – it’s so unique and delicious, and I can attest to that. To be honest, I’ve never heard anyone say they didn’t like something from by Chloe!
I am beyond impressed with by CHLOE. Def worth the hour drive (thanks L.A. traffic), and I would highly recommend. It’s casual, cute, delicious, and a great place for everyone – whether or not you’re vegan or have other dietary restrictions. This is the kind of place I would take my friends and family who eat junk food because I know they will love it, even though it’s healthy. I’m having withdrawals from that chocolate chip cookie, BTW. Can we petition to get this on Postmates?
Anyone else been to by CHLOE.?! What’d you get?!
by Christina | Aug 12, 2016 | Wellness
Somehow the middle of August snuck up on us, and that means many of my fellow college students are heading back to school and/or moving into new apartments. One of the most difficult parts of transitioning into college life is the cooking dilemma. Recently I’ve been getting a lottttt of questions about how I find the time to cook, how I cook healthy meals, what I like to make, etc., so I’m going to start posting about exactly what I do to make my life as simple as possible in the kitchen.
I promise, it can be done.
In my opinion, one of the most important things to do is to invest in your kitchen. There are a few kitchen accessories I’ve invested in that really help simplify the cooking process, and I can’t imagine life without them. I’m all about convenience. Invest in a few key things, and thank me later.
Today I’m going to share with you the top 5 kitchen accessories that I personally use all the time and think most people would benefit from buying. I’m not talking about a microwave, pots, pans, baking sheets, or any of those obvious essentials. I’m talking about the extras. A lot of people don’t want to pay for these things because they’re “extras,” but they’ll save your life in the long run. If you can get into a routine of cooking for yourself rather than eating out for most of your meals, you will save so much money over time. LET’S DO IT.
Crock-Pot
After buying a crock-pot, MY LIFE CHANGED. The key to efficient cooking is buying and cooking food in bulk. I’m going to address that topic in-depth relatively soon, so stay tuned for more details. Crock-pots are by far the easiest way to cook in bulk because you can just toss your food in, wait a few hours, and come back to enough food for a week. For example, you can throw a bunch of chicken in your crock-pot with some spices and olive oil, head off to class, and come home to a ton of beautifully cooked protein. Sidenote: crock-pot shredded chicken is A DREAM. It’s beyond delicious.
You can do this with any kind of protein. I find myself cooking a lot of chicken, salmon, turkey, and ground beef in my crock-pot, but you can really put anything in there. And you don’t have to keep an eye on anything the way you would if you were cooking on the stove or in an oven. I mainly use it for veggies, meat, and soups. Especially homemade bone broth, which is amaaaazing for digestive health. It’s also my favorite way to cook spaghetti squash because it requires no struggle. Lemme know if you want a tutorial on that. Other fun things to make in a crock-pot: lasagna, apple crisp, chili, pulled pork…EVERYTHING.
If you have a crock-pot and don’t know what to do with it, I promise it’s super easy. Just throw in your food with some oil and seasonings of your choice, set the timer, and come back whenever the timer’s done. Easy peasy. I linked to the crock-pot that I personally own, but pretty much any version gets the job done.
Nutri-Ninja Blender System
The blender itself is the most important part of this, but this is the exact blender system I have, and I’m obsessed with it because it comes with EVERYTHING. The actual blender is huge and very powerful. It’ll blend anything you need it to. The food processor is also AMAZING. I’m really picky about food processors because a lot of them aren’t strong enough to process what I want them to. I use my food processor much more than my blender, to be honest. You can use your food processor to make cauliflower or broccoli rice, hummus or pesto, cashew cheese, diced-up veggies, or raw desserts. Let’s be real – making raw desserts is the most important function. Gotta be able to process nuts, dates, seed butters, and everything else that gets sticky. Plus, you NEED a food processor to make the best ‘NANA ICE CREAM in the world.
I also adore this blender because it comes with 3 Ninja cups, so you can make a smoothie right in the cup and drink straight from that. Less dishes means more time! I drink a green smoothie every single day, so I love having the Ninja cups. I just put my ingredients inside, blend it together, drink it up, and then clean the cup. Done. There’s really no need to dirty a whole blender and then pour it into another cup if you’re just serving yourself. I also love how there are multiple cup sizes depending on how much you want to make. Smoothies are a great on-the-go snack or quick breakfast, and this blender has saved me on so many days when I’ve been running late to school or to work.
The most important part of any blender, though, is that it’s STRONG. I’ve never had any problems with this not being able to blend what I put inside, and I’ve definitely tested the limits. I’ve used my friends’ Vitamixes multiple times before, and I honestly think my Ninja is much better. It might seem like a big investment, but it’s well worth it.
Henrietta Egg Cooker
I’m obsessed with this thing. First of all, LOOK AT HOW CUTE IT IS. IT’S A HEN. Second of all, it’s a lifesaver. You can hard-boil, soft-boil, or poach multiple eggs at once with this lil’ guy. I named mine Henny. I usually use it to hard-boil eggs because it’s so easy. You just pop ’em in their spots, add some water, and leave until you hear the bird start chirping. When it chirps, your eggs are done! Hard-boiling eggs on a stove feels like a hassle to me, but this is NO PROB. It’s a great way to expedite your morning process. You can pop your eggs in, go get ready, and then just grab ’em when they’re done a few minutes later and eat your breakfast. Eggs are so good for you – great source of protein and healthy fats. EAT THE YOLKS. Not only are they the perf breakfast, but they’re also a great snack. I also love adding hard boiled eggs to salads, BTW. So many options!
Spiralizer
You can go big and get a fancy spiralizer like this, but this small, handheld version is what I prefer, and it works perfectly. If you want to make different kinds of veggie noodles, then you’ll probably want the fancier version. I’m totally fine with my basic spirals, though. Zoodles are one of my all-time fave meals to make because they’re so quick and easy. Healthified pasta? Yes, please! You can spiralize zucchini, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, beets – basically anything with a slightly cylindrical shape. Don’t know if cylindrical is a word, but I’ll roll with it. I’m not sure why, but I swear vegetables taste MUCH better in ribbons. And they look much prettier. Spiralized meals are Insta-worthy, always.
Brita Water Pitcher
I almost didn’t include this because I feel like it’s such an obvious necessity, but then I remembered how many people I know who are “too lazy” to pick up a Brita filter. You need filtered water! Tap water has some weird stuff in there that you do NOT want in your body. Having a Brita filter was essential for me in the dorms, and it’s still essential for me in my apartment because we don’t have a fancy fridge with a filtered water system. WATER IS SO IMPORTANT, so make sure you’re not drinking 2 liters of chemicals, pesticides, and hormones every single day. Yeah, I went there.
There ya have it! My top kitchen essentials that I swear by. These are staples in my life, and they really do make a huge difference in cutting down on my cooking time and minimizing my effort in the kitchen. What are your cooking must-haves? Let me know in the comments! XO
