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

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!

R E C I P E // A Little Yum: Smoothie Bowls

Green Smoothie BowlSpinach & Banana, Naturally

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R E C I P E || what is a smoothie bowl? it's an amazing blend of frozen fruit and veggies that comes out in a frosty-esque consistency, perfect for upending into a bowl and eating with a spoon. It's cold, it forces you to really slow down and enjoy the nutrients (unlike guzzling a smoothie like a person who has just crossed the finish line in the Boston Marathon), and it's perfectly top-able and delicious. I love these over the summer for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and sometimes it tastes so good I want another. If the green freaks you out, try adding some cacao or cocoa and make it a chocolate frosty. You don't taste the greens in my opinion, but sometimes it's easier to eat something that looks like chocolate ice cream, am I right? I left the recipe purposely vague so you can experiment, and find your favorite combination. Starting with the base of banana and spinach (both frozen so it's super spoonable), anything else goes -- if I don't have almond milk, I'll use just water; if chia seeds and flax seeds are at a low, I'll omit or throw in a different seed if I have it on hand; if I don't want oatmeal in my smoothie (I normally add it on the days I run), I don't put it in there ... you guys get the idea, right? It's simple! 

+ 1-2 cups of Non-Dairy Milk
+ 1-2 cups of frozen spinach (if new to the world of green smoothies, start at 1 cup and work up)
+ 1 frozen banana (peel the banana and break it up into bite size pieces -- makes it easier on the blender -- and then place it in the freezer in a baggie or on a tray until frozen. they last forever so feel free to freeze in bulk)
+ Flax & Chia Seeds
+ 1-2 tbsp oatmeal
+ Almond butter to drizzle heavenly on top
+ Spices of Choice (I love cinnamon and nutmeg)
+ Ice (optional)

Add all of the ingredients* (minus the almond butter if you want to drizzle it on top) to a blender until all is combined. I've tried it with my nutribullet and it works just fine! 

*You want the milk to just cover the frozen banana and spinach. After you run it through the blender to get it started, you add very small amounts to help it blend completely, but not too much that it becomes any ol' smoothie -- it's all about that spooning action! If you made it too runny, no worries! Add a little more frozen banana or ice to it and thicken it right back up -- it's almost too simple to call it a recipe.

Why do we love Green Smoothies? The one above packs potassium, manganese, folate, fiber, vital vitamins and nutrients (think B6, C, E, omegas), as well as protein and more, and it's all jam packed into something that tastes amazing ;-). Plus, it makes your body glow from the inside out and feel like it can go for hours (if you're wondering how filling a simple recipe could be, try it out -- I think you'll be pleasantly surprised).

For another smoothie recipe, check out this Berry & Beet Smoothie or the non-bowl version of this recipe, The Training Wheels Green Smoothie.

+ have you tried smoothie bowls before ? was this a new idea for you? comment below or on facebook!

Want to feel like a million bucks with high energy, self-love, and freedom from fad-diets? Let’s work together.

Xx. Remember, always listen to your body and soul when fixing yourself food -- it's generally in there that you'll find just what you need.

Health & Wellness Thursdays || All About Gluten-Free Baking ||11.20.14

For those of you inviting guests over for the holidays that may have Celiac's Disease or be gluten intolerant or just not into eating gluten, here is a run-down of really really really helpful gluten-free baking basics.

|| The Low-Down on Ingredients ||

there's no need to be intimidated, just take it one step at a time -- contact me if you have any questions or need tips (I've been gluten-free for three years now and am on my way to being a Certified Holistic Health Coach)

• Xantham Gum

  • Acts as a replacement for the gluten in gluten-free flour
  • Provides structure by interacting with the gluten-free flour, giving it that 'lift & puff'

• Gluten Free Flour

  • Tends to be a combination of a bunch of different flours (and also some starches)
    • Typically there is combination of rice flours, maybe bean flours, possibly some whole grains such as millet or amaranth, and starches such as potato or tapioca starch
  • In this video, her favorite is Bob's Red Mill
    • Bob's Red Mill has a great mix that was recently recreated to have less of a 'bean' flavor in the raw dough stage -- because we all know we eat cookie dough by the spoonful before baking : - )

• Flax Seed Meal

  • Ground up flax seed
  • Replaces that 'viscous, gooey, binding' texture that eggs provide
  • Also has a delicious flavor -- slightly nutty, a little sweet

• Kuzu Powder

  • Great replacement for gelatin
    • Put the powder in a little water until it breaks down
    • Add to whatever you want to stiffen or thicken -- so easy

• Soy Flour

  • Ground up soybeans
  • Helps achieve a creamy texture for creations like vegan butter-cream (!)

• Coconut Oil

  • No butter in vegan dishes, but looking for a delicious flavor? Best bet.
  • Doesn't taste 'coconutey' just very rich and comforting (plus so good for you!)
  • High burn temperature -- holds up well no matter how you use it
  • Solid in room temperature -- just takes a little heat to melt

• Nutritional Yeast

  • Adds a cheesy flavor to dishes
  • Delicious and Savory
  • Texture: flaky and light

[Video by The Kitchy Kitchen -- watch more on her YouTube Channel]