My New Favorite Summer Snack

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Frozen Watermelon Skewers

Anyone who's read my (Emily, here!) recipes before knows that I love ones that throw together quickly, are nutritious, and above all make me want to do a happy dance. This recipe does it all. It also couldn't be easier to make. These are perfect for hot hot hot days or times when you want a sweet treat but don't feel like putting in the effort to build a sundae.

Why do we love watermelon? First, it's 92% water? What?! Yes. Talk about hydration station. The rest of it is packed with significant levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants, amino acids, and some potassium for good measure. And you thought watermelon was just fruit. (Psst it's okay, I did too before this post!) Read on for the recipe!

Ingredients & Instructions

+ cubed watermelon // between 1-2 inch cubes or rectangles like mine ;) + skewers // any kind or length works

note: I purposely left the amounts above blank, because it really depends on how much watermelon you have :) -- I used five skewers with a little over a quarter watermelon

Take your cubed watermelon and slide it onto your chosen skewers, filling it up with as many as you'd like. Lay them flat on a baking tray or plate, and pop them into the freezer. Leave them in there for about 4 hours - depending on the temperature of your freezer - or overnight. Once they are at your desired level of frozen, take 'em out and enjoy!

+ what's your favorite summertime snack?

I'd love to see what you make! Tag me on Facebook or @yourfriend_em on Instagram or Twitter.

 want support around controlling your cravings, making yummy and easy recipes, or finally feeling comfortable in making smart choices, let's work together!

Avocado Be Kidding Me // Fast Food Done Powered by Greens Style

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Avocado Toast: Simplicity at it's Best

Avocados contain loads of fiber and have great healthy fats, thus keeping our bodies healthy from hormone production and glowing with healthy skin, hair, and nails (amongst many, many, many other things). A great bread will give you a satisfying and beneficial carbohydrate source, more fiber, and depending on the nuts and seeds within, a varied nutritional profile. Pink Himalayan salt has been known to stabilize ph levels, blood sugar, and water levels in the body; detoxify your system; and promote good respiratory and vascular health. Hummus is filled with satisfying protein and nutrients for a happy tummy. Too good not to add, really.

When I'm in a rush and craving something yummy, nourishing, and energizing, I'm more than happy to toss these ingredients together, and hit the road. I hope you find this recipe easy and delicious.

Ingredients & Instructions

+ 1/4 - 1/2 Avocado

+ Slice of bread (I used an awesome gf & vegan bread from Sami's Bakery)

+ Pink Himalayan salt (regular salt works, too)

+ Pepper or other spices as desired

+ Variation: a tablespoon of hummus

Take your slice of bread -- toasted if desired, drop the avocado on top (for the variation, drop your hummus on there too), and with a fork mash it onto the bread. Top with salt and other spices if using, and take a huge bite. Enjoy! Seriously it's that easy.

+ have you tried avocado toast before? did you like it? comment below or on Facebook!

The wonders of a CSA -- a love story.

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' Why do you use acronyms I don't know? '

Like text talk and everything technological, it's easy to become so familiar with a topic that it's second nature, and anyone who doesn't know what you're talking about has a third head. But that's not productive and certainly not what I (Emily) wish for anyone navigating this green and delicious world. So, what is a CSA? Well, if the above picture is no indication, a CSA is a Community Supported Agriculture. And it is ahhhhhmazing. How you ask? Well, a customer pays - normally a weekly amount or discounted bundle of weeks - and the CSA returns with delicious, locally grown (sometimes even organic if chosen) produce in abundance. The picture above is half of what my mom and I got in this week's box -- and it's a box for two! As the summer tumbles along, you'll see more squash, tomatoes, fresh blueberries, and all that seasonal produce we love to love. And normally, a good CSA goes all year round. Meaning that the freshest, most delicious and seasonally appropriate goodies are sitting in a box waiting for you to pick up (or have dropped off), ready to be made into delicious recipes.

BENNIES of a CSA BOX - some, not all. I don't have all day.

  • budget friendly
  • supports local business
  • means less toxins and harmful preservatives in your body
  • a surprise every week that tastes good and makes you feel great
  • meeting new people when picking the box up having them recognize your face and give you things you love just for fun & free is the best feeling
  • having a varied diet important for a great total nutrition profile - think: all your vitamins and minerals
  • more and more every day as we learn that fresh is best and local is grand

Check with your local CSA, but boxes are usually a flat rate - read: not by pound - so you can get a heck of a lot of produce in the height of the season. I don't think we pay more than $30 for our box a week (even cheaper when we payed up front), and aside from my needs of bananas, almond butter, and chocolate, that's basically it for the week. So even if you spent an extra $20 on items of necessity for your body and nutrition satisfaction, you're only looking at around $50 a week. If that. How often do you eat out or order in? How much does that cost you typically? Do you really know how fresh those ingredients are when they arrive? The average American eats out 4-5 times a week and can spend $250 a month on those meals alone. Just those. That doesn't include the additional amount to make the 16 other meals. And if it's just refined and processed foods, they aren't really keeping you full and satisfied and are sucking your budget dry. Lose, lose.

My favorite part of getting a new CSA box is looking up fun new recipes to put all the produce to work. Sometimes I'll batch cook, prepping foods for the whole week by roasting or making large quantities of the same recipe, but most of the time, especially in the summer, I'll leave it fresh and waiting to be sliced and thrown into a yummy salad or stir-fry. Fresh fruits and veggies draw toxins out of the body, support a healthy metabolism and brain function, and help keep a nurtured and wholesome physique. Win, win, win! Find your local CSA, here. And if you live in Wilmington, check out the Veggie Wagon in Carolina Beach -- that's where I go, and I couldn't fangirl about them more.

If you're interested in support around a wholesome, natural, and plant-based lifestyle while finding foods that fuel you and keep you energized, I invite you to work with me and sign up for a free health consultation.