by Christina | Sep 23, 2016 | Wellness
The fact that some people are still afraid of eating fat completely baffles me. Have you been on the Internet at all in the past 10 years? It’s 2016. Not 1985. I don’t want to be too harsh here, but this issue seriously irks me. If you still believe that a low-fat diet is healthy, then you desperately need to get your facts straight ASAP. For the sake of your own health. I BEG YOU.
There are many many many books written by people much smarter than me about this topic, so if you’re interested in detailed information, definitely check those out. They’ll point you directly to all of the research and relevant scientific studies. They’ll also give a much more in-depth, well-rounded argument than I’m about to. Some of my favorites are Grain Brain, Always Hungry?, Eat Fat, Get Thin, and Perfect Health Diet. If you’re not interested in reading a book, then I will give you the simplified version right here.
Before we get into it, let’s be clear – I’m talking about healthy fats. Avocados, wild caught fish, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, egg yolks, and other healthy fats are essential in our diets. When I’m talking about fats in this post, I am definitely not referring to the unhealthy fats in processed junk food. We’re not talking about canola oil, soybean oil, Dreyer’s ice cream, or Chips Ahoy! cookies.
As previously stated, fat is essential in our diets. ESSENTIAL. Why? Fats are used to form the cell membranes of the cells in our bodies. ALL OF THE CELLS. That’s kinda a big deal. Did you know that at least 60% of your brain is made up of fats? If you’re smart, you probably want to protect and nourish your brain. It’s pretty important. Do you think it’s a good idea to deprive your brain of the nutrient it’s mostly comprised of?! Probably not.
Fats also help to regulate hormones, provide an efficient source of energy for our bodies, and support healthy immune function by controlling inflammation. If you want your body to actually absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E, and K), then you need to have fats in your diet. Additionally, your body needs healthy fat in order to fully access protein sources to build muscle. Fats also slow food absorption, which helps to control blood sugar spikes and give us a constant source of energy.
Yes, it’s true that fat contains more calories per gram than carbohydrates or protein. However, that means that fat is more satiating than carbohydrates or protein. In the end, this helps curb your appetite, and the calorie difference doesn’t matter. Brain-imaging studies have shown that eating more fat actually turns off your brain’s hunger signals. For that reason, high-fat diets can actually be key in helping you lose weight.
More than that, it’s not as simple as calories in versus calories out. Our bodies and our metabolisms are more complicated than that. Not all calories are the same. Think about it – do you really think 100 calories of an avocado affects your body in the same way as 100 calories of a cookie?
Eating sugar spikes your insulin levels. Insulin is the fat-storing hormone. It tells all the fuel in your blood to go to your fat cells, which leads to fat storage, and then your brain tells you that you’re still hungry. When you exercise too much and excessively reduce your calories in order to lose weight, your body interprets that as, “I’m starving! I don’t have enough fuel! Enter starvation mode!” That slows down your metabolism and makes you even hungrier than before. When your body thinks it’s starving, it wants to immediately save any calories it gets as fat.
High-fat diets are correlated with a higher metabolism, which makes sense. High-fat diets don’t spike your blood sugar, but lots of carbs will. In studies where people eat the same amount of calories but those calories are either coming mostly from fats or from carbs, participants who were on high-fat diets burned more calories each day, had better cholesterol levels, and had balanced insulin levels compared to participants eating less fat.
Let’s talk about low-fat foods, a.k.a “diet” foods. In low-fat foods, the healthy fat is usually replaced with sugar, and THAT is what is going to make you fat! And really hungry. That’s why full-fat yogurt, milk, or anything else is always a better choice than the low-fat version, and it’s also why you should be paying attention to ingredients instead of calories. The sugar in low-fat products will spike your insulin levels and tell your body to save those calories as fat on your body. Fat, on the other hand, will not spike your blood sugar levels. It will satiate you, give you a nice, constant source of energy throughout the day, and will balance your blood sugar levels.
If you still don’t believe me after hearing the scientific explanation, I highly encourage you to look at photos of people who live high-fat lifestyles. They’re not fat. Am I fat?! I honestly feel like the more fat I eat, the harder it is for me to gain weight.
Healthy fats do not clog your arteries. They do not raise your cholesterol levels. They actually LOWER them. Eating healthy fats will improve your energy levels, make your hair shiny, improve your skin, help your brain function better, help you gain muscle, make your bones stronger…need I go on?
Eating fat not only improves your health but also makes your food taste amazing. Let’s be real, low-fat meals are not very tasty. Throw some coconut milk in your smoothie – it’ll make it creamier. Toss some nut butter on your oatmeal and your sweet potatoes. It tastes like dessert. EAT THE YOLKS – they’re delicious, and they contain a ton of important nutrients. Load up on the coconut oil – it’s a fat burner. How about cooking your food in ghee? There’s nothing like warm, buttery veggies. And what about meat? I promise you that a chicken thigh is way more satisfying than a chicken breast. A nice piece of grass-fed steak…NOM. SALMON?! It’s bomb. Fat means FLAVOR.
What I’m trying to get at is… DON’T FEAR FAT. If you’re afraid of fat, you’re way behind on the times. And you’re missing out on eating delicious food, boosting your metabolism, and reaping all of the other benefits of including a good amount of fat in your diet. It might seem too good to be true, but it really is that simple. You can eat fat. And you will thrive.
by Christina | Sep 22, 2016 | Wellness
Have you ever found a place you love so much that you don’t want to tell anyone else about it? My heart is POUNDING as I write this, because I’m about to reveal my favorite dessert shop on the planet. I want to keep it my little secret so I can have it all to myself, but I know that’s selfish. This place deserves all the love in the world, so I have to share it.
I discovered Yoga-urt last April while perusing Instagram, and I was immediately intrigued. Gluten-free, vegan soft serve that actually looked thick and creamy? It seemed too good to be true. I’ve tried a ton of vegan ice cream/fro-yo/soft serve in my life, but it’s difficult to find something that truly compares in texture to real soft serve.
As soon as I had my first bite of Yoga-urt, I was hooked. This is the best soft serve / ice cream-ish dessert I’ve ever had. It really is thick, creamy, flavorful, smooth, and heavenly. I don’t really know what else to say besides…YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE! Yoga-urt has quickly become my place. And it’s not just because it tastes so divine.
First of all, let’s talk location. The shop is located on a cute little street in Glendale, far from busy L.A. life. Thank goodness because otherwise it would constantly be PACKED. My favorite part of the shop is the backdoor patio. I love to sit on the back patio amidst the plants, hanging fairy lights, and adorable little fountain. It’s very inviting, calming, and romantic. The perfect nighttime getaway.
As you know, I’m very picky about ingredients. Very high standards. Not only is Yoga-urt gluten-free and vegan, it’s also soy-free and kosher. It’s made from scratch right there on site from an almond cashew base, and they even add four probiotic strains to the mix! So basically you’re supporting your digestive and immune health while eating dessert. Does it get any better than that? The ingredients used to make the soft serve are organic and natural – no artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives. Even the bowls, spoons, and napkins are 100% biodegradable. Impressed yet?
Aaaand one of the other highlights of Yoga-urt? They have gluten-free & vegan cones, made right in the shop! And these cones…they’re the real deal. I’ve never liked ice cream cones before, but the cones from Yoga-urt have changed my opinion forever. None of that cardboard-tasting gluten-free cone business.
They rotate different flavors throughout the month and always have six flavors at a time. All of the flavors are amazing. They’re always swirling different combinations, and they constantly update their Instagram account with the daily flavors and swirls. You can also grab a pint of your favorite flavor if you want to treat yourself at home!
So what are the flavors?! Chocolate Bliss, Vanilla Harmony, Strawberry Serenity, Salted Caramel Zen, Peanut Butter Prana, Tantric Tart, Green Tea Tranquility, Calming Coconut Chai, Ganesha’s Sweet Greens, and the anniversary flavor… Radiant Golden Rose! I’m obsessed with all of them, but my personal favorites are Salted Caramel Zen and Strawberry Serenity. I also LOVE Ganesha’s Sweet Greens, which has no added sugar!
Another main reason I adore Yoga-urt is because they have a killer toppings bar. They have strawberries, bananas, blueberries, mango, shredded coconut, dark chocolate chips, shredded chocolate, cacao nibs, graham crackers, vegan gummy bears, dried mulberries, waffle cone chips, ginger turmeric granola, sprinkles, mochi, sliced almonds, and (my personal favorite) CHARLIE’S BROWNIE BITES. They also have strawberry, chocolate, and caramel sauces that are made right there in-house. The best part is that pretty much everything is gluten-free and vegan, so I can easily go crazy with the toppings.
They also have a few other fabulous things on the menu, including a BANANA SPLIT. The banana split is made up of three Yoga-urt flavors of your choice and topped with chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, sliced almonds, and coco whip. (In between two huge banana slices, of course.) Not trying to be dramatic, but this banana split changed my life. I think it might be the best thing I’ve ever had….
If you’re not in the mood for soft serve, Yoga-urt also serves a number of delicious smoothies. Some of my faves are Hanuman’s Chocolate, Banana, and Peanut Butter smoothie and Powerful Protein. NOM. They also serve coffee, organic teas, affogatos, and non-dairy hot chocolate (which I will definitely be having all holiday season long)!
ALSO, if you’re interested in meditation (which you should be), there are mediation classes from 7-8 P.M. every Monday night on the back patio of Yoga-urt. How cool is that?!
Another thing I love about Yoga-urt is the staff. I don’t know all of them personally, but I feel like I do. Everyone who works there is always happy, welcoming, and spreading lots of good vibes. It truly is a community. The founder, Melissa Schulman, radiates positivity and kindness. I was lucky enough to snag an interview with her to learn a little bit more about her journey with Yoga-urt…ENJOY!
What inspired you to open up Yoga-Urt?
I was fortunate to take a year off from my career after working at the same design company for 11 years. I immersed myself in everything yoga during that year including a yoga teacher training, and was at lunch with my cousin one day when he decided to tease me about being a yoga teacher. He went off on a riff about yogurt being created before yoga. I said multiple times that he was wrong, but every time, he would come back with a silly reason why he was right – and I was wrong. Forty-five minutes later, my cousin topped off his jokes by saying, “Why don’t you teach yoga and serve yogurt and call it ‘Yoga-urt’?” We laughed and then went on our merry ways.
However, I could not forget “Yoga-urt”. Something about it captivated me, and I actually started to think about what a “Yoga-urt” place could be. I started researching the yoga and yogurt industries online and became more excited and somewhat obsessed!
My goal was to create a community space for like-minded people to hang out while eating a healthy treat they could feel good about. I originally wanted it to be a yoga studio combined with an organic frozen yogurt store, and hope to have the chance to still do that one day.
As for going with an all vegan store, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to offer some vegan options that weren’t made with soy, weren’t sorbets, and tasted delicious. So as soon as I saved enough money, I hired a team to create the non-dairy product. Once created, it was so good that I decided to have Yoga-urt be all vegan.
What are the most popular flavors?
We sell the most of Chocolate Bliss and Strawberry Serenity, but all of our flavors seem to be pretty popular. I’m scared to take out Peanut Butter Prana, Salted Caramel Zen, or Ganesha’s Sweet Greens as I know many people love those flavors too. And people are already missing Radiant Golden Rose.
Can you tell me about the role that yoga has played in your life? How long have you been practicing?
Yoga has changed my life in so many amazing ways. I started practicing yoga in 2009 due to chronic neck and back pain at the urging of my chiropractor. I could barely move in the beginning. I had no idea what I was doing, but I kept going, twice a week every week. Over time, not only did yoga relieve my pain but also brought me a stronger body, increased my confidence, and introduced me to a community of like-minded people. It also really like the spiritual aspect of it and learned a lot of tools that have helped me in my Yoga-urt journey. I fell in love with yoga and it has helped me in every aspect of my life.
I know you offer weekly meditation classes on your back patio. Can you tell me a bit about your experience with meditation and how the idea to have weekly classes at the shop came to be?
Most of my meditation these days is through yoga but about 6-7 years ago, I took these same meditation classes that we offer at Yoga-urt. At the time, I was going through a very tough time at the job I had and I was struggling with how to deal with it. I learned a lot from these meditation classes because they are partly a discussion about how to deal with challenges through the Buddhist perspective. Taking the time to connect with myself and get a different perspective was very uplifting and gave me tools to deal with unpleasant situations when they came up, very similar to yoga.
You guys have an amazing wall outside of Yoga-Urt filled with notes from customers, cute artwork, and great quotes. It’s one of my favorite things about the shop itself! Whose idea was that?! How often do you guys clean it off and “restart”? Is there anything that stands out as one of your favorite things you’ve ever seen written on the wall?
I love the front entrance walls too! The quote wall and chalk wall are very personal to me and a lot of thought went into them. I always wanted to have a community chalk wall where we could inspire each other and I knew I wanted to incorporate some inspirational quotes as they helped me on my Yoga-urt journey. I didn’t want them to be corny, but I did want them to be meaningful.
I want people to be inspired when they come to Yoga-urt and know that they can do anything that they set their mind to.
As for the chalk wall, I have so many favorites that it is hard to choose, but overall, my favorite was the very first wall when we opened. People wrote such kind things in support of us and it surprised and touched me so much. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
We generally “restart” the wall once a month, but I’m letting our Anniversary one go a little longer.
What has been the most rewarding thing about opening up Yoga-Urt?
The most rewarding thing is seeing customer’s reactions to eating Yoga-urt. I LOVE when they come in for the first time and try the flavors. Their reactions are priceless and make me so happy. I’ve also loved meeting so many people – our regulars, new people, the Glendale community, and seeing how positively people are responding to our store.
Any exciting future plans for the shop? (New flavors?!)
We are always thinking about how best to serve our customers. Some exciting things coming up are another collaboration with Charlie from Charlie’s Brownies (will announce soon) and I hope to introduce 1 – 2 more flavors this year, but can’t confirm that yet.
What’s YOUR go-to Yoga-Urt order?!
Depending on my mood, I usually get either a mini Chocolate Bliss with mochi or Ganesha’s Sweet Greens with strawberries, mango, and blueberries. Very different but both so delicious!
Anyone else obsessed with Yoga-urt?! I love trying new flavor combos, so tell me your fave! XO
by Christina | Sep 20, 2016 | Wellness
This is way overdue. Oops. I’m FINALLY getting around to looking at photos from my trip to San Diego last weekend, so it’s time for a recap post! My friends and I really needed to get away for a weekend. It was one of those things where we’ve all been running around like crazy people all summer long and haven’t had a chance to slow down, so we decided we needed one last hurrah before school starts again. San Diego is close, easy, relaxing, and always one of my favorite places to visit, so we figured it would be the perfect quick getaway.
We didn’t do anything that was extremely exciting – which is exactly what we wanted. There were really only two things on the agenda: the spa and eating. Obviously, I planned the whole trip around food. Food is my favorite part of traveling. With the help of Yelp and my friend Kayleigh Bush, I figured out exactly what restaurants I wanted to visit. I’m so happy that my friends are foodies too. I’m also very appreciative of them putting up with me taking so many food pics. Other than food and the spa, we planned on just lounging around. Honestly, that’s all I want in a vacation.
After a traffic-filled drive down to SD, our first stop was Ranchos Cocina in North Park. Ranchos Cocina is an adorable vegetarian Mexican restaurant. It’s got a very old-school, classic vibe. Very homey. Lots of photos of Frida Kahlo, lots of crosses, beautifully embellished tiles… you get the idea.
The menu is HUGE. Like, out of this world. It has pretty much everything you could ever imagine, and the majority of the menu can be made vegan. Mexican food in general is ideal if you’re gluten-free because they usually use corn tortillas, so gluten wasn’t an issue here. The menu was so extensive that it was pretty overwhelming deciding what to get. I was very excited that they serve breakfast all day, so I got the veggie omelette with nopales. It was my first time trying nopales (a.k.a. cactus), and it was DELISH. I was very pleasantly surprised and would definitely have it again. The omelette had cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, green beans, green peppers, and nopales, and I topped it off with avo, obviously.
Nina got the vegan version of the Tocho Morocho (the Works), which came with “carne asada”, lettuce, tomato, cheese, guac, rice, sour cream, and beans. Kailyn got the same thing, but the non-vegan version. Everything came in a bowl with the tortillas on the side, so they could build their own mini burritos.
Overall, we were huge fans of Ranchos Cocina. There’s something on the menu for EVERYONE, it’s inexpensive, and the food was great. If you’re looking for some good Mexican food in SD, check it out!
After Ranchos Cocina, we finally checked into our hotel and explored a bit. There was an adorable grotto area for weddings, so we took over for a few minutes. Always gotta take the photo opps!
Mission Bay is one of my favorite places ever. It always calms me, and the view is beautiful. I like staying near the bay more than the ocean because it’s not as cold, windy, or loud. I’m high maintenance like that. Our hotel was right on the bay’s beach, and there was a perfect little pier attached.
Sailboats, tandem bikes, sandcastles, sunsets… What else can you ask for?
Our hotel room also had a beautiful view of the bay. There’s nothing like patio seating with a gorgeous view. Ideal for lazy girls like us who want to watch the sun go down but don’t want to walk all the way down to the beach… ya feel me?
We ventured into La Jolla that night and walked around while perusing the different shops and restaurants. This place had some INSANE cookies. They’re almost too pretty to eat!
Before dinner we decided to walk down to the ocean for the sunset. Crashing waves, a golden glow in the sky, a subtle breeze…it was everything.
Post-sunset, it was time for DINNER. My fave. We went to Trilogy Sanctuary, which was highly recommended by a number of highly-trusted foodies. I was so excited.
The location was breathtaking. Trilogy is located on the roof of a building, which means the outdoor seating has an AMAZING view. They have a little shop that sells clothes, crystals, and other trinkets. There’s also a huge open area where they have yoga classes and dancing. Next to that is the cafe itself, which has a totally unique, spiritual vibe.
Everything at Trilogy is vegan, gluten-free, and organic. As usual, I was very overwhelmed and didn’t know what to order. It all looked delish.
These are the ginger spring rolls! They’re filled with quinoa, carrots, other veggies, and a ginger, mango mint sauce. They’re also served with a yummy peanut sauce on the side.
It’s generally rare for me to eat something pizza-like, so I went for the sunflower sprout raw pizza. The flatbread is made from the pulp of their juices – how cool is that?! It was topped with pesto, spinach, tomatoes, cashew ricotta, sunflower sprouts, and hemp seeds. Definite winner.
Nina got the Trilogy Cheeze Burger. The burger is made from brown rice, beans, and mushrooms, and it’s topped with “cheese” and onions. She also added some eggplant bacon. I obviously stole a piece, and it was to die for. The sauce on the side was a sundried tomato aioli that went along with the sweet potato wedges. I was obsessed with the aioli and kept stealing it…
DESSERTS. My favorite part. I’m not gonna lie, I picked dinner restaurants based on the desserts. I couldn’t decide what I wanted, so we got everything. Typical. Above is the Transcendent, which was a warm, fudgey brownie topped with coconut ice cream, date caramel sauce, and cacao nibs. The brownie was perfectly sweet and fudgey, and the caramel sauce was on point.
I almost didn’t get it, but I’m so glad I did. ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICH. I went with the classic chocolate chip cookies, but they had peanut butter as well. The cookies were honestly some of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had, and I thought they paired perfectly with the coconut vanilla ice cream. They were very soft and “fluffy,” if you know what I mean. I’m not sure why, but I’m obsessed with ice cream sandwiches. There’s something about the combo of cold ice cream and a warm baked good that I can’t resist.
This was Indulgence, which is a raw carrot cake. LOVED. It tasted like fall. Lots of cinnamon and spices, and it was topped with a delish lemon vanilla cream. I don’t usually like the “cream” part of desserts, but this was perfect. Not too sweet, not too thick. Balanced out the carrot very well.
Last up – the Lust smoothie. This had almond milk, banana, cacao, date, cashew nuts, maca, vanilla, cinnamon, cayenne, and cacao nibs. It wasn’t as thick as we like our smoothies, and the banana was pretty strong in it – but good if you like a chocolate banana smoothie!
When it got dark, they turned on the fire pits and started playing live music. It was super romantic. If you’re looking for a good date spot, this is it.
After the sugar high, we recorded an episode for Actually Adultish podcast. Speaking of which, if you haven’t listened yet, HOP ON IT! Send in any questions you have or topics you want us to talk about – we love hearing from you!
The next morning, we made a quick Beaming run to grab some smoothies, and then we headed over to the spa. SO RELAXING. There is nothing I love more than a spa day, and we did the whole shebang.
First up, we got “brightening” facials. I love facials, don’t get me wrong, but I feel like they’re all pretty much the same unless you’re getting a medical facial. It definitely relaxed me, though, and I felt like I really was glowing afterward. But it was probably just the oils… 😉
After my facial, it was massage time! I tried a hot stone massage for the first time, and I really liked it. I prefer really strong pressure, so it wasn’t as intense as I like, but it was extremely relaxing. I felt like I was on a different planet. The massage therapist kept asking me how I was doing, and I could barely form words because I was so out of it. She also used essential oils, and I chose the lemongrass scent. All of my senses were totally overwhelmed in the best way possible.
To wrap things up, I got a mani and a pedi. With mint tea, of course. And some more massaging, courtesy of the fancy chair I was sitting in.
Later that day we went to Evolution Fast Food for lunch. This place is so cool. It’s literally healthy fast food. How is this not in Los Angeles? Like, there’s a drive through. It’s really small inside, and they have a bunch of pre-made food that you can grab and buy, or you can order something for them to make. Everything is vegan, and most of it was gluten-free.
They had lots of salads, sandwiches, and baked goods. I was dying for a cupcake or brownie, but didn’t get one. We tried their soft serve, and it was AMAZING. Nina and I agreed we need to go back for more. GET THE VANILLA-CHOCOLATE SWIRL.
I got the raw burger, which came in a cabbage shell. I did not expect to be as obsessed with this as I was. This was by far the best raw burger I’ve ever had, and I loved that it was in a cabbage shell. Usually when burgers are in lettuce wraps, the lettuce is too flimsy and everything falls apart. It’s a mess. The cabbage shell is really firm, so it all holds together the whole time. GENIUS.
I also got this avocado kale salad, which had some peppers, mushrooms, and a lemon tahini dressing. It was super yummy. I can’t turn down anything with avocado…
Nina got the raw tacos. Unfortunately the pic doesn’t show the taco “meat” and other yummy goodness at the bottom, but it was there. I also loved how these weren’t flimsy compared to a lot of other raw tacos I’ve tried. I’ve had better raw tacos, but these were really good.
She also got the chicken salad, which looks like an actual chicken salad. Kinda creepy, but cool.
Extraordinary Desserts was right next door, so we had to go inside and check out the goods. EVERYONE talks about Extraordinary Desserts, so I had to see what the hype was all about. The line was very long and slow so we didn’t get too far inside, but I did manage to snap a pic of these incredible cakes. How gorgeous are they? I would honestly feel guilty eating them and ruining the artwork. (Okay, maybe not that guilty…) There were a ton of other fancy dessert options as well, so if you’re a dessert lover I’d definitely recommend checking this place out.
Later that day we drove down to Pacific Beach and took a long, nice beach walk. PB is one of my favorite beaches ever because I have so many memories there from trips we took growing up and from visiting my sister while she was in college.
We even walked by the old house my dad used to live in while he went to college in SD. It’s a total piece of crap, but extra adorable for that reason.
For dinner we went to Peace Pies, which was the place I was looking forward to the most. It’s definitely a home-style restaurant.
Peace Pies is a hole-in-the-wall vegan place. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to the table. This is NOT a fancy restaurant. Everything is mismatched, and the tables are dining tables from someone’s house. The napkins are paper towels. It was kind of bizarre, but really lovable. You can tell it’s the kinda place for regulars.
They had two people working – and working hard. You can see all of their raw desserts in the glass case at the front, which looked amazing.
Nina got the quesadilla with kale chips, and it was delicious. The quesadilla was made with a raw coconut wrap, and it was filled with a ton of veggies. The kale chips might’ve been the best kale chips we’ve ever tried.
I got the zucchini lasagna. Whenever a gluten-free lasagna is on the menu, I have to have it. I MISS REGULAR LASAGNA. I was obsessed with this! The marinara was thick, creamy, and flavorful, and the cashew cheese complimented it perfectly.
Once again, I couldn’t decide what I wanted for dessert. So I got it all. First up was this chocolate tahini bar. This thing was EPIC. If you like chocolate, you’d love it. Very rich and fudgey.
Next up – apple pie! This was ridiculously yummy. I haven’t had any kind of apple pie since going gluten-free, and I loved it. It was very different from a typical apple pie because the apples were dehydrated, and it wasn’t warm because it was raw. Buuut it still gave me that warm fuzzy feeling inside that only an apple pie can give. There’s something about apples and spices…
This was my favorite thing from Peace Pies. NICE CREAM SANDWICH. I got the Snickerdoodle version, and I loved its texture. The “nice cream” in between the cookies was some kind of cream, not a cold ice cream. The cookies were amazing. Best snickerdoodles I’ve ever had. They were fudgey without being chocolate – does that make sense? I would definitely get this again.
I was still hungry, so I got a Horchata smoothie. Horchata smoothies are another thing I always HAVE to get if it’s on the menu. I love horchata. This thing was INCREDIBLE. The waiter said, “I think this is the best horchata smoothie I’ve ever made.” And he was right. Banana cinnamon goodness. It was really thick and creamy – you know that’s what I love. Not too sweet, but very flavorful. Perfect way to end the night!
After Peace Pies, we headed back and had a little GNI. Watched a movie, got in our pajamas, and passed out. We ended our trip with a bomb brunch the next day at Broken Yolk in PB. It’s very old-school and diner-like. They have a crazy food challenge that I really wanted to try (and totally could’ve done), but there was a lot of gluten and dairy in it, so I didn’t. It’s called the Iron Man/Woman, and it’s a dozen egg omelette filled with mushrooms, onions, and cheese and topped with chili and cheese. That’s paired with two biscuits and a ton of fries. If you can eat it all in an hour, the meal is free, you get a T-shirt, and you get a plaque on the Wall of Fame. Ugh. I WANT TO BE ON THE WALL OF FAME. Shoulda coulda woulda.
The portion sizes at this place were huge in general. I was really into it. The pictures don’t really show it, but these were definitely the biggest omelettes I’ve ever seen. The pancakes were GINORMOUS. That was the short stack, and they were huge. Kailyn got the gluten-free pancakes topped with blueberries and a side of eggs. I did the “build your own omelette” thing, of course. Lots of veggies, topped with avocado.
Nina got the “The Mom.” LOL. It had avo, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and alfalfa sprouts. Gotta have them sprouts!
So there ya have it! The best eats from the weekend, along with our lazy girl vacation routine. I would go to all of these restaurants again in a heartbeat. Do you know any amazing restaurants in SD? Favorite things to do there?! Please tell! XO
by Christina | Sep 16, 2016 | Recipes, Wellness
There’s nothing I love more than a thick, creamy, luscious dessert smoothie. Specifically, a chocolate one. Makes me weak at the knees.
I’m sure you’re already well aware of this, but one of my favorite things to do is venture out into Los Angeles and eat dessert. For the past few months, I’ve been on a very specific dessert mission: I’ve been trying as many chocolate smoothies/shakes as possible at restaurants in L.A. in order to find the best one.
Let’s talk criteria. First of all, the smoothie obviously has to be very delicious. I’m looking for a thick, rich, deep chocolate flavor. A real chocolate flavor. None of that fake stuff. I don’t want it to taste artificial, like Hershey’s syrup. That rich and creamy chocolate flavor also needs to be paired with a super thick, smooth consistency. I’m OBSESSED with thick smoothies. The creamier, the better. All about dat texture.
So I traveled from restaurant to restaurant, and I happily taste-tested. There were some fails, and there were also some serious successes. With the help of my friends, I settled on a winner. (Buuuut you’ll have to wait for a future blog post to find out where it’s from!)
While on the hunt, I realized that the top contenders all had very similar ingredients. So I took the best of each of my favorite smoothies and decided to create my own. To be honest, I prefer making my own smoothies so that I know exactly what’s going into it. I don’t want anyone secretly tossing cane sugar in there. Also, most of the restaurants’ smoothies contained a gazillion ingredients. That’s wayyyy too complicated for me, so I wanted to simplify the ingredient list.
Speaking of ingredients, this Chocolate Dessert Smoothie is full of amazing ingredients. The stars of the show? Cacao and goji berries – two of my favorite superfoods. Cacao has a ridiculous amount of antioxidants and is full of magnesium, iron, and calcium. It’s also a fab source of those feel-good chemicals – serotonin, dopamine, anandamide, and phenylethylamine. The addiction is real. Literally.
Goji berries are also full of a ton of antioxidants. They’ve been shown to support the immune system, improve skin due to their beta-carotene content, detox the liver, stabilize blood sugar, increase energy, support digestive health, and boost your mood. BAM.
This smoothie is also bursting with healthy fats from coconut milk and coconut butter. Y’all know how I feel about healthy fats. They’re my fave. Coconut milk is made up of medium-chain fatty acids that our bodies happily use as energy. The healthy fats and electrolytes in coconut milk also help improve gut health by soothing the gut lining! YAAAS. Not only do the healthy fats in coconut milk and coconut butter give the smoothie an amazingly creamy texture, but they also help manage blood sugar. I always pair sweet treats with healthy fats to help control the insulin spike that comes along with any kind of sugar.
The sweetener in this smoothie is MAPLE SYRUP, which is a kickass ingredient. No, you probably shouldn’t pull a Buddy the Elf and guzzle down containers of maple syrup every day, but it does have its health benefits when consumed in moderation. And I’m talking about real maple syrup. All-natural, organic, 100% maple syrup. Not Log Cabin. REAL maple syrup contains a ton of antioxidants as well as minerals like manganese, zinc, potassium, and calcium. It’s been shown to fight inflammation, decrease oxidative stress in our bodies, provide antibacterial benefits, and improve the immune system.
It took me quite a few tries to nail this recipe, but it was so worth it. This bad boy has the creamiest texture and the richest flavor. It tastes soooo luxurious – like a thick chocolate waterfall.
In my opinion, smoothies are the perfect at-home dessert option, especially if you live alone. They’re quick and easy, and you can make enough for just one serving. Don’t get me wrong, I love brownies, muffins, cookies, and all other baked goods, but sometimes I don’t want to make an entire batch of something. A dessert smoothie is the perfect solution. Plus, it’s a healthified dessert, so INDULGE.
Alright, enough talking. Who’s ready?
Thick & Creamy Superfood Chocolate Dessert Smoothie (Vegan / Gluten-free)
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 1/8 tsp Celtic sea salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp 100% pure organic maple syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut butter
- 1/3 cup goji berries
- 1/2 cup ice
Toppings: shredded coconut flakes, goji berries, cacao nibs
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend thoroughly. Top with toppings of your choice and enjoy!
If you make this, take a pic and tag me (@addicted_to_lovely), or send me a Snapchat (@addicted_lovely)! Let me know what you think! (But let’s be real, I know you’ll be obsessed…)
Are there any other recipes you want me to create?! Send over any and all suggestions – I love hearing from you guys! XO
by Christina | Sep 9, 2016 | Wellness
MONEY PROBS. We all have ’em. The majority of the college-aged population is on a tight budget, and that can be very restricting in a number of ways. One example? Food.
Here’s the thing, though. When people say, “Eating healthy is too expensive,” I’m like, “Kind of, but kind of not.” A lot of people say eating healthy is expensive, so they go out to eat for every meal. Cooking your own food is much less expensive than eating out, so in that case, eating healthy is cheap. On the other hand, organic food is more expensive than non-organic. However, in-season produce is pretty cheap compared to all of the packaged convenience foods most people like to buy. So again, in that case, healthy food is less expensive than unhealthy food. Buying a bunch of veggies and some meat from the store, cooking it, and putting it together as a meal is going to end up being much cheaper than buying a pre-made meal from the frozen section. It will also be a million times healthier.
Let’s put things in perspective. I eat a lot more food than most people do (like two or three times as much…just ask my roommates) on a daily basis. On a week when I’m grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, I’ll spend about $80-90 to get enough food for a week. Let’s just round that up to $100 for convenience. Let’s say I eat about four main meals a day (which is less than what I normally eat), 7 days a week – that’s about $3.50 a meal. That’s not very expensive. And by rounding my numbers, that’s a higher price per meal than what my meals actually are. And that’s on a week when I’m not worrying about a budget – everything is organic, I’m buying things that are out of season, etc. So if I was paying attention to those things, I would be spending even less on groceries. So no, it’s not as cheap as a dollar hamburger from McDonald’s, but $3 isn’t too shabby.
Also, spending a little more on healthy food now is going to save you a lot of money in the long run. A healthy diet now will prevent poor health later. Poor health later might mean thousands of dollars in medical bills. INVEST IN YO’SELF.
My point is, buying healthy foods while on a tight budget can definitely be done! It just takes a little planning and a little thinking. Here are some tips for saving money while eating healthy on a college budget:
- As previously mentioned, eat out less often. There are so many people who complain about not having enough money for food (and other things), but they eat out for the majority of their meals. Cooking for yourself is much cheaper, and it’s healthier. Win win. When you’re cooking for yourself, you’re probably (hopefully) not throwing in unnecessary sugar and highly processed oils. Be honest with yourself here. If you’re that person who is on a tight budget but you’re not willing to give up daily restaurant excursions with your friends, then that’s your own fault!
- Budget and plan ahead. Figure out your budget before you go shopping, and make a grocery list ahead of time. What foods do you need this week? What sources of protein do you want to eat? Fats? Carbs? Veggies? Fruit? Make a list and stick to it. If you go into the store with a specific list, you’re less likely to grab unnecessary things while perusing. We’ve all been sucked into that trap before. I mean, those chocolate chip cookies always look so tempting…Plus, right now everything pumpkin-flavored is being released. CONTROL YOURSELF.
- Go grocery shopping after you eat a meal. If you go grocery shopping when you’re hungry, the hunger monster will make you want to buy everything, and you’ll buy things you don’t need.
- Choose wisely when it comes to grocery stores. In my neighborhood, there’s a Whole Foods, Ralph’s, and Trader Joe’s. If you’re on a tight budget around here, then Ralph’s and Trader Joe’s are your best options. There’s also a 365 somewhat nearby, which is a discounted Whole Foods, and that’s another great option for people in my area. Look up which grocery stores are closest to you and choose the stores that have cheaper prices overall. Even Target can be a great place to get groceries (as long as you choose the right foods).
- Sign up for rewards programs and grab coupon books. A lot of grocery stores have rewards programs that give you cash back or discounted prices if you sign up for their card / a membership — DO IT. (I don’t mean a credit card, I mean a membership card.) Some stores also have little coupon books, so grab those. Go through the coupon books, take out any coupons you might use, and stick them in your wallet so they’re already there the next time you go grocery shopping.
- Look for sales. I feel like this is pretty obvious, but it still needs to be said. It also makes your decision process easier when choosing what to buy. If something is on sale that’s non-perishable, stock up on it while you can get a good deal. For example, I always stock up on nut butters, nuts, coconut oil, canned coconut milk, olive oil, vinegars, and spices when they’re on sale because I know I’ll need them eventually and they won’t go bad.
- Check to see if there’s a clearance section in your grocery store. The Ralph’s near my apartment has a clearance produce section where they put the “ugly looking” produce, and they sell it for a reduced price. For example, they put the ripe bananas over there. If your grocery store has a reduced price area, make sure you check there first when buying produce – you might luck out!
- Utilize the frozen section. The frozen section is a gift from heaven. Frozen food is much cheaper than fresh food, and it’s also on sale pretty often. Frozen meats and veggies are lifesavers. First of all, dealing with frozen food is easier because you don’t have to worry about it going bad. Frozen fruits and veggies are also oftentimes even better for you than fresh produce because those fruits and veggies are frozen right when they are at peak ripeness (which is when they have their highest nutritional value), while some of the non-frozen produce might be old. Just make sure you check the ingredients when you pick things out – it should just be whatever fruit, vegetable, or meat is inside, with no added sugars or flavoring. You can cook frozen veggies just like normal ones – I like to steam or roast them. Thaw your chicken/fish/etc. and then roast it, cook it on the stove, throw it in the Crock-Pot, etc. Frozen fruit and frozen greens are also great in smoothies – thickens them up verrrrry nicely!
- Buy cheaper cuts of meat. Fattier cuts of meat are usually cheaper, and IN MY OPINION, (I’m about to rock your world) they’re healthier. Don’t be afraid of fatty cuts of meat. They will fill you up faster than lean meats, and those animal fats (as long as they’re from healthy animals) are actually good for you. WE NEED HEALTHY FATS IN OUR DIETS. I always choose bone-in, skin-on chicken over boneless and skinless. It tastes better anyways.
- Buy meat and fish when it’s on sale and freeze it. I depend on this, especially because I’m very high maintenance when it comes to my proteins. When wild-caught salmon is on sale, you KNOW I’m stocking up. I buy way more than I need, put it in a plastic bag and suck the air out of it, and freeze it until I’m ready to cook it. I do this with all kinds of fish, turkey, chicken, grass-fed beef, bison, buffalo, and so on. LOOK FOR THE SALES.
- Go for the healthy foods that are cheap in general. For example, eggs, nuts (raw, unsalted), chicken, lentils, quinoa, rice, canned fish, and oats are staple foods that are relatively inexpensive but pack a big punch in the health department. Besides eggs, those are also things that you can buy in bulk when they’re on sale, and you’ll save a ton of money.
- Buy produce that’s in-season. It’s always cheaper. Sorry if you’re craving something totally out of season, but you’ll get over it if it means successfully staying within your budget.
- Choose cheaper fruits. Berries are always more expensive than other fruits, so avoid those if you’re on a super tight budget. Apples, bananas, and peaches and nectarines during the summer are all great options.
- Know when it’s okay to buy non-organic produce. I’m all about organic produce, but there are certain fruits and veggies that are usually safe to buy non-organic because little to no pesticides are used when they’re grown. These include asparagus, avocados, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, grapefruits, kiwis, onion, mangos, onions, mushrooms, papayas, pineapples, watermelons, and sweet potatoes. Produce that you should always buy organic includes apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach, peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, potatoes, kale, regular potatoes, zucchini, blueberries, and collard greens. (Screenshot that for reference at the store!)
- Stock up on things that you’ll rarely have to buy but will hold you over in a pinch. A good protein powder (check the ingredients – make sure it’s not a sugar bomb) and nuts are things I always have in my pantry. Those are things that I don’t buy very often but will fill me up if I do run out of food.
- Give up your unnecessary indulgences. This is probably the hardest thing for most people, but it’s the most important if you really want to save money. Doing this will also probably make you eat a lot healthier than you were before. You only need to buy what you need to survive. (That sounds dramatic, but I’m serious.) Sorry, but you don’t need that bottle of wine or pack of beer. You don’t need that carton of ice cream or box of cookies. And, dare I say it… you don’t need coffee. If you do, that’s a problem. Coffee is a money-sucker. If you don’t buy those treats, you won’t eat them (so you’ll be eating healthier automatically), and you’ll be saving money. If you have extra money in your budget and want to get some extras, then go for it. But if you’re struggling in the money department and wasting your precious funds on things you don’t absolutely NEED, then that’s your own fault. Sorry ’bout it.
- Go to the farmer’s market! Produce is usually cheaper there, and you’ll also be supporting local farmers. That’s the best. Another trick is to visit the farmer’s market close to closing time. The sellers usually want to get rid of whatever’s left over, so a lot of times they will give you a discounted price at the end of the day just to get rid of their food. Also, if you buy a lot, sometimes they’ll give you freebies!
- Buy a Brita. Bottled water is expensive and a waste of money. Invest in a Brita and a water bottle, and you’ll end up saving a bunch of money in the long run.
- Utilize your leftovers. When you’re on a tight budget, every bit counts. Don’t ever throw food away. I will never understand why people do that. If you don’t finish a meal, save it (no matter how little is left) and eat it the next day.
I wish there was a magic wand I could wave to make all food ridiculously cheap, but sadly I can’t. Everything in this world costs something. Hopefully you picked up at least one trick for saving some money at the grocery store! Do you have any tips for eating healthy on a college budget? Do tell! XO
