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Classic Green Smarter Smoothie {Keto, Paleo, Vegan-option} + Video
My Classic Green Smarter Smoothie is a blood sugar balancing meal replacement shake that gives you enough protein, fat and fiber to keep you full for hours on end and it’s loaded with so much goodness.
In case you missed it over on Instagram, I am calling this week Smoothtember Week and it’s a full week all about the Smarter Smoothies. In addition to sharing the brand new video for my Smarter Smoothies formula, this week I will be sharing three of my personal, MOST favorite Smarter Smoothie recipes. These are my classic go-to smarter smoothies!
First up, I am sharing my Classic Green Smarter Smoothie. This is my go-to when I want a vibrant green smoothie, loaded with all the good stuff!
I often notice that folks’ (and especially smoothie and juice shops) their Green Smoothies have so much sugary fruit that while they taste so freakin’ amazing, if you take a look at what’s in there, you are consuming an incredible amount of sugar in one sitting. Oh and newsflash, it’s liquified, so there’s no chewing, there’s no slowing things down, it’s just a straight mainlined shot of sugar (fructose) to the liver.
Yes, I know that sugar from fruit isn’t exactly the same as sugar, it’s not refined. It’s not manmade.
And let me just stop you… absolutely I am 100% aware that fruit has tons of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and loads of benefits – totally! Great, yes, it’s better than a candy bar in that way. But, when we are strictly talking about blood sugar, blood sugar hormones, hunger hormones and all that other stuff going on inside out body, sugar is sugar is sugar. Sorry, but that’s the truth. Want some frui? Eat one single whole piece of in-season fruit, with the fiber in tact. Chew it. Enjoy it. But, it’s best to keep the fruits in your smoothie, to a minimum.
The main reason I care so much when it comes to meal replacement smoothies , is when you craft that Green Smoothie with a ton of sugar, and you aren’t cognizant of the protein or fat that you include, this is why you are hungry in about an hour, reaching for more stuff to give you a quick hit of energy and next thing you know, before lunch you’ve blasted through a ton of calories, sugar and you’re still tired and not satiated.Read more here about the importance of building your meals smarter for a day of lasting energy, so you can avoid that afternoon crash.
This is where my Smarter Smoothies formula comes in super handy. If every meal-replacement smoothie that you create has adequate protein, fat and fiber, if you make sure you are getting loads of nutrients from leafy greens, veggies and herbs and you add those crunchies on top, so your digestion is working at it’s full potential – you will always be getting everything you need! The fruit and those bonuses/boosts we talk about in the Smarter Smoothies post, those are extras – have fun with those, but don’t make the fruit the shining star!
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A Guide to Smarter Smoothies {Video}
While smoothies have become a popular meal replacement, snack and all around trendy food, crafted incorrectly you can be consuming a sugar-loaded, blood sugar exploding cocktail. I am excited to share with you A Guide to Smarter Smoothies to hopefully help you understand how to better create the smoothies that are right for you.
If you’ve been reading Tasty Yummies for some time, you probably know that the archives are LOADED with smoothie recipes. Smoothies used to play a much larger role in my daily diet routine, for the longest time it was always my favorite way to start my day. Interestingly at the height of my smoothie consumption, weight loss was definitely a struggle, as were energy crashes and sugar cravings. What I didn’t know back then, but I do know now as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, is that without the proper formulation, smoothies are a blood sugar explosion waiting to happen.
Every time you consume any carbohydrates and sugar containing foods, it causes an increase in blood glucose. How much so is dependent on the food and the individual. Simple sugars more specifically (monosaccharides), those sugars ending in -ose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, galactose, maltose – these are metabolized especially quickly and can often cause a big surge in insulin.
Our body’s innate intelligence continually monitors the amount of glucose in our bloodstream to maintain balance and homeostasis. When blood glucose levels increase, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin. Insulin increases the uptake of glucose by our muscle and fat cells; increases the amount of glycogen in our muscle and liver; increases fatty acid synthesis from excessive carbohydrates; and decreases fat breakdown and mobilization from our fat tissue.
How Bad Can a Fruit-Loaded Smoothie Be?
With a spike in blood sugar, a release of insulin and the impending crash, no matter what food is the initial cause, this can lead to immediate hunger, mid-day cravings, energy crashes, lightheadedness, anxiety, etc. Even worse, if the rest of your day’s eating (and most days) continue on the carb and sugar path, you are absolutely creating a long term problem. Whether you are overweight, struggle with weight loss or notice blood sugar issues or not.
Day in and day out this roller coaster can lead to a slew of health complications beyond obesity, lethargy and cravings. To simplify the worst of it, constant output of insulin is like the boy that cried wolf, your cells stop responding to the insulin that is constantly being produced and they become resistant, meaning without the insulin to transport the excess glucose to your cells for energy production, blood sugar levels remain high and this is can lead to chronic insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and eventually diabetes.
These days, I personally prefer to opt for (and I recommend to my clients) the prioritizing of nutrient-dense whole foods, rather than drinkable meals, like smoothies or juice. Whole foods offer the opportunity for maximum nutrient absorption, which allows our digestion to work as intended, and assuming these whole foods aren’t loaded up with carbohydrates and sugar – it’s much easier on your blood sugar.
That said, in the summer I do find myself with a much different appetite and my cravings differ quite significantly from the cooler months. I am not nearly as ravenous for more robust meals, especially on the hotter days. In the summer months I find myself wanting and craving more smoothies than any other time of the year. Knowing what I know now, my approach to creating them has drastically changed, so today I am going to share with you my Guide to Smarter Smoothies.
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Low Carb Keto Biscuits {paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free}
These low-carb Keto Biscuits have become a bit of a staple around here. A bit of a legend, if you will. These low carb Keto Biscuits work amazing for savory recipes like breakfast sandwiches or biscuits and gravy or you can easily go sweet with my keto strawberry shortcake or just a smear of homemade berry chia seed jam. However you serve them up, these low carb Keto Biscuits are a breeze to make, whether you eat low carb, or not.
While I’ve personally been eating keto since January 2017, for therapeutic reasons while I seek to get my autoimmune disease into total remission, hubby isn’t necessarily exclusively low-carb all the time – so I am always working on recipes that will please us both. I created these delicious Low Carb Keto Biscuits for my Paleo Biscuits and Gravy Recipe, which also happens to be keto/low-carb, as well. That recipe is already a hit with so many of you, but also a lot of you have simply made just the biscuits just on their own, for epic breakfast sandwiches topped with fried eggs and some sausage or bacon. It’s a favorite around here, for sure. So, I felt these perfect little Low Carb Keto Biscuits deserved their own recipe post.
These low carb biscuits are a really great way to switch up breakfast and get those classic egg sandwich vibes I feel like you might be craving. I know I crave an epic breakfast sando, now and then. Beyond breakfast sandwiches, or a side to a comforting bowl of soup, these Low Carb Keto Biscuits are lovely toasted up and slathered with a little grass-fed butter or homemade ghee, maybe a drizzle or honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon, or just give them a spread with your favorite nut butter or maybe even coconut butter. For a sweeter treat, try my Keto Strawberry Shortcake, they are amazing, you can also top your Keto Biscuits with chia seed jam or honey sweetened marmalade. (obviously this won’t be quite as low carb) Shoot, guys, I feel like you could also smash a fabulous grass-fed burger into your face with one of these biscuits. Just sayin’.
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Easy Roasted Chicken
Easy Roasted Chicken is a staple meal, that guarantees meal prepping and meal planning success! This no-fail, foolproof approach to Roasted Chicken takes just a few ingredients and a thermometer, for you to master. Grab the recipe for my Easy Roasted Chicken and enter to win a set of Copper Chef Wonder Cooker pans.
There is nothing quite like an impressive meal that requires very little fuss. There is also something to be said for those cozy, beloved meals that bring comfort, despite how basic they may be.
An easy roasted chicken has the power to comfort. Read on for not only my simple technique for roasted chicken but also for an amazing giveaway for this beautiful, versatile Copper Chef Wonder Cooker.
I am super excited about this new Copper Chef Wonder Cooker that I have had the pleasure of experimenting and playing with over the last week. This 14-in-1 multi-cooker set is not only impressive in the many ways that you can use it, but it’s a stunner, a perfect addition to any foodie’s kitchen collection.
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Keto Chocolate Muffins {gluten-free, paleo}
These Keto Chocolate Muffins are a simple, low carb, sweet treat that are so easy to make and loaded with rich chocolatey flavor. This low carb chocolate muffin recipe comes with alternative sweetener options as well, so if you aren’t doing the super low carb thing or if you just want to make these Keto Chocolate Muffins ASAP with pantry staples you already have on hand you can get on in right away.
These Keto Chocolate Muffins are little bit different of a recipe for me. I am not big on baking or sweets and I am also not generally one for using alternative sweeteners, not that there is anything wrong with some of them, necessarily, but it’s just not my scene. Most of the time, if and when I am going to have a little something sweet, I will use a very small amount of maple syrup or honey or a little coconut sugar. We’re talking a small amount, because it’s totally fine and I will be fine and honey and a little sugar won’t kill me.
When I developed this particular Keto Chocolate Muffins recipe, however, I wanted to make a low carb muffin recipe that would be versatile for my different readers and their different needs. I know for many folks eating keto or a low carb diet, they find themselves there due to diabetes or a metabolic condition of some sort where tracking their blood sugar becomes of high importance, so they do have to be more mindful and aware then those of us just choosing this lifestyle to feel good. Having several people in my life, close to me, that are diabetic, I love creating recipes that I know they can enjoy, too and I can feel good knowing they aren’t shoving those super scary artificial sweeteners into their bodies (splenda and the like).
These Keto Chocolate Muffins can be made several different ways. To be fully low carb and low glycemic, I tested the recipe with this Monkfruit Maple Flavored Syrup, which I have found is a nice replacement for baking recipes that use maple syrup or honey. There is a very subtle maple flavor, however, so you are aware, but I find that flavor pairs so nicely with these muffins. It’s not too distinguishable in this recipe, but in other recipes it can be more prevalent.
By using the monkfruit, these Keto Chocolate Muffins (by my calculations) clock in just over 5 net carbs per muffin! Not too shabby. Read the rest of this entry »
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Nutrition Tips for More Energy. Avoid the Afternoon Crash. {Video}
Watch this short video to learn how to create the kind of meals that won’t leave you starving within an hour or crashing mid-day! I am giving you the nutrition tips for more energy that I give to all my nutrition clients to help them to ditch the burn out and avoid the afternoon crash.
Each meal is an opportunity to create health and powerful lasting energy or to promote fatigue, constant hunger, inflammation, or worse – disease! I am sharing with you simple tips and my favorite easy-to-remember analogy that you can use at every meal, for building meals that will promote more energy and help you to avoid the dreaded afternoon crash!
We’ve all been there. The 10am hanger, despite eating breakfast or that 2pm crash where you simply just CAN’T EVEN! Rather than coffee to get you through or snacking every two hours, check out the nutrition tips for more energy that I give to all my nutrition clients for building the kind of meals that will creating consistent, all-day-long energy!
Remember at every meal, if you are running strictly on carbohydrates, this is why you are needing to “fuel the fire” every couple of hours. Even those healthful, nutrient-dense carbs, on their own it gives us quick fueling energy, but without a more sustainable energy source, like protein and fat, this means we are constantly tending to the fire.
Examples of:
Healthful Proteins:
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Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice {Keto, Paleo, Whole30}
Easy Keto Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice comes together with your favorite protein and it’s ready it just about 15 minutes. This easy and quick Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe is also paleo, Whole30 with vegan options. If you have never had Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice, life is about to change. Don’t miss this simple Keto Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe, made extra easy with my secret weapon!
To know me, it to know my excitement for all things food! More importantly, beyond my simplistic love of food and cooking, it’s the real special things, like knowing where my food comes from, why it’s good for me, the impact that my food choices make on the environment and my health – that’s where I get real giddy. It’s just a true nerdy love affair, from top to bottom.
Anytime I can connect with my food on a deeper level, I jump at the chance. The wonder of the whole process is truly so special to me and I find each bite tastes so much better and each meal is so much more meaningful when I can slow down and acknowledge the full process and the full journey the food took to my plate. Our food is so much more than seeds, soil, sun and water. It’s love, it’s passion and it’s so so much work! We cannot ever take for granted the amount of energy that goes into our food.
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6-Minute Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon
Much like other staples in our household, shredded chicken, Big F*ckin’ Salads, and hard cooked eggs, this 6-Minute Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon is a weekly mainstay! Here’s the best part, this Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon is ready in six minutes! You heard me – SIX!
If you dare tell me that you don’t have time to make dinner, we will fully get into it. I can promise you that. With delicious, nutrient-dense meals like this, ready in under 10 minutes, there are literally NO excuses. Grab the cast iron skillet, have some high quality, sustainably caught, skin-on salmon on hand, every week, choose some nice organic greens or another fiber-loaded green veggie and BOOM, in under 10 minutes you’ve got dinner. Easy.
Best part, wild caught salmon is an incredible source of quality omega-3 fatty acids. In our household we shoot to eat quality salmon or other omega-3 rich fatty fish, at least 3 times a week, I notice this makes a really big difference in my health, my skin looks better when I am on top of my omega-3 fats and I just feel better. And dang, it is truly so delicious!
As always, I am gonna preach what I always teach and that is quality matters. Seek out a sustainably fished, wild caught salmon. Not only is it better for your health, it’s better for the environment and the earth! Don’t skimp here. And the skin, lots of extra nutrients in there, so not only is it tasty AF, it’s giving you some good stuff, too.
Things I want you to know about my Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon:
- It’s basically the only way to eat salmon!
- If you’ve got the time, let the salmon filets rest in the fridge, uncovered, skin side up, to dry out the skin. 15 to 30 minutes ahead of cooking, an hour if you’ve got it. This makes a world of difference. Trust!
- Do not overcook your salmon, dry salmon sucks.
- Cast iron is where it’s at. The cast iron gets hot and stays hot, evenly. I like to turn the heat off for those last couple of minutes of cooking on the other side, so it’s not crazy hot, but there’s no need to move the pan to the oven or broiler.
- Serve your salmon, crispy skin side up. If you take it out of the pan and serve skin side down, you broke it, the skin will lose that amazing crisp.
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Paleo Baklava Shortbread Cookie Bars {Gluten-free}
A twist on traditional baklava these Paleo Baklava Shortbread Cookie Bars bring the classic flavors of this popular Greek pastry, I grew up on without flour or gluten. Luscious butter, comforting, aromatic spices, a hint of citrus, a blend of spiced nuts and a sweet honey syrup. Mmmmmm!
I am sorry, I have been holding onto this recipe for sometime now. I usually work several months out on my content, I create and test recipes several times over to get them right, then I make them for the final shoot, I style the food, shoot and edit all the photos, I write up the post and recipe and put it into the content calendar. I move my content around to keep it fresh, I base it on what’s in season, holidays and what you all are wanting most. For me, baked goods aren’t always a priority, I don’t love to bake and I don’t generally care about sweets so the baked goods always get pushed down in the queue.I created the recipe for these Paleo Baklava Shortbread Cookie Bars after a trip back home to Buffalo to see my family this past April. My trips home always inspire so many recipe ideas, often new ways to create family or local classics that I didn’t even know I missed so much. The day I made this recipe for the very first time, the smell in my kitchen reminded me of home, of my mom and my dad, my Yia Yias. The first bite I took of this Paleo Baklava, I actually cried. A full on dessert-induced cry.
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Big F*ckin’ Salad (B.F.S.) // How to Build the Ultimate Salad that Doesn’t Suck
Tasty Yummies Big Fuckin’ Salad. Big Fucking Salad. Big F*ckin Salad.
If you’ve followed me on Instagram for some time, you know that the Big F*ckin’ Salad is a total staple in my kitchen, and yah ok, my potty mouth is also a staple in well, life – but I do my best to keep is mostly PG-ish, most of the time! Nearly every single day, in the Brickey household, we rip a colossal nutrient-dense salad for a meal. It’s a great way to get it loads and loads of important nutrients in one sitting, it’s filling, easy to make, fun to get creative with and they are just dang yummy! I actually feel like if I build an amazing B.F.S. at least once a day, I can be certain no matter what the rest of my day looks like, I am getting a huge dose of super important nutrients. Generally in the summer months, it’s what’s for dinner most nights, but oftentimes it’s lunch and I’ve even been known to crush an epic Big F*ckin’ Breakfast Salad, too! One of my favorites.
I am finally walking you through my basic formula for building the perfect loaded up Big F*ckin’ Salad, so you can be a B.F.S-building Queen (or King). As far as I am concerned, all you need for a successful B.F.S. is quality greens, protein, fat, some crunchy stuff (from extra raw veggies or other add-ons) and an amazing homemade dressing. That’s it.
Best part about a daily B.F.S? You can be sure you are loading yourself up with tons of plant based nutrients, lots of fiber and of course some quality fat and protein. Follow my formula and make yourself a B.F.S. every day to get in your nutrients and I promise you will never ever get bored.
First things first, get yourself a SOLID gigantic bowl for your B.F.S. I love our huge wide bowls for Ikea (seen here), but I am not mad about a big salad being served in a gigantic mixing bowl (glass OR metal), either.
Tasty Yummies Big Fuckin’ Salad. Big Fucking Salad. Big F*ckin Salad.
GREENS + PROTEIN + VEGGIES + FAT + DRESSING
(+ extras if you want ’em)First major rule of the B.F.S. Club:
there are NO RULES!! -
Grain-free Thai Beef Bowls {Paleo, Whole30, Keto}
Grain-free Thai Beef Bowls. This is an easy, one-pan meal, ready in just over 15 minutes, and it’s a weeknight staple in our house. Garnish all pretty-like to create colorful masterpiece, serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles or go with regular rice or noodles. This recipe is paleo, whole30 and keto friendly.
I know for many of you with families and busy schedules, though the summer is supposed to be about relaxing and chilling, somehow before you know it, the schedule fills up and you are going non-stop. Dinners are eaten on the run and you are quite literally setting up your digestion for a rough go. While it’s far easier said then done, to slow down, I think much of this action can take place with meal planning and preparing meals that can me made start to finish in under 30 minutes.
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Banh Mi Salad {Keto, Paleo, Whole30}
Banh Mi Salad. This is a delicious take on Vietnamese classic sandwich, the Bánh mì. Keto, paleo, Whole30 and gluten-free, this deconstructed take on one of my favorite sandwiches is loaded with flavor, fresh crunchy vegetables and so much color. I cannot wait for you to try this one.
Alright all my keto, paleo, Whole30 pals, you didn’t think I would leave you hanging on this whole Banh Mi thing, did you? I shared my delicious gluten-free Banh Mi Sandwich a few weeks back, as part of a Sammie Smackdown Contest with Canyon Bakehouse, all for a very good cause, but a lot of you, like me, are generally on that grain-free train. I feel ya, I feel better that way, too! But, there’s no reason we can’t get it on these sammie vibes, in our own way. Enter the Banh Mi Salad, my new favorite thing!
I entered my tasty take on this classic Vietnamese sandwich, the Banh Mi, to try to win $10,000 for my charity, Joyful Heart Foundation. Joyful Heart is a leading national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse and support survivors’ healing. Through healing, education, and advocacy, they are paving the way for innovative approaches to treating trauma, igniting shifts in the way the public views and responds to these horrific acts of violence and reforming legislation to ensure justice for survivors – and ultimately working to end this violence, forever!
Voting is still open. It remains open until August 20th and you can vote up to 3 times a day for my sandwich, with extra votes coming in if you share on social media and sign up through email to win a years worth of gluten-free bread! Head over to the Sammie Smackdown contest on Canyon Bakehouse’s website and help me by voting EVERY SINGLE DAY until the contest ends on 8/20. It would mean the world to me to win this money for this incredible, privately funded organization, doing such important work.
In the meantime, if sandwiches and bread aren’t so much your thing, you need to make this epic salad, inspired by that sandwich. All the flavors, tastes and vibes, without the bread. (And yes, I am aware that Banh Mi literally translates to bread, so this becomes an oxymoron of sorts, but I am OK with that.) If you are following a paleo or keto approach to your eating or maybe just doing a Whole30 and looking to have something fun, this salad is for you!!
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Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl {Paleo, Whole30, AIP-option}
This Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl is a lightly updated version of a classic Hawaiian comfort food. We swap the traditional white rice with cauliflower rice and with flavorful Umami grass-fed beef patty from TRIBALÍ Foods and epic mushroom gravy make this a savory dream come true.
If you haven’t been able to tell by recent recipes here on Tasty Yummies over the last 8 or so months, I was incredibly touched by my two trips to Hawaii in the last year. The food clearly made a major impression on me, among many other things. Beyond the flavors, of course, I love the varying cultures that inspire the cuisine, as well as the locally accessible foods that influence the food.
One dish that continuously peaked my interest (AKA haunted me) on both of my visits to the islands was the Loco Moco bowl. Loco Moco is classic Hawaiian comfort food. Traditionally made with white rice, a burger patty, an over-easy or fried egg, and a generous serving of beef gravy, often with mushrooms, it’s basically a Beth dish, if there ever were one. Savory, unfussy, non-pretentious, comfort food with an undertone of umami. GAH! Dream status. The bad thing, I could never ever ever enjoy one while I was on the Islands, the gravy ALWAYS contained gluten, every single restaurant, I would ask.
So, I creepily creeped on anyone that ordered it near me, took mental notes, maybe drooled a little and couldn’t wait until I could recreate one at home in a way that I could enjoy.
As usual, besides the given of recreating a recipe without gluten, I wanted to created something that was totally grain-free and as always, prioritized quality ingredients, most importantly the beef! You all know how important the quality of my animal proteins are to me. You can read more here about the differences between grass-fed and grain-fed beef and why I choose to make this a focus of my nutrition.
I know prioritizing quality of food can often feel overwhelming, but we cannot afford not to make as many attempts as we can for better quality, our health depends on it. I am also intensely passionate about supporting the companies prioritizing not only better quality but also transparency in their supply chain. TRIBALÍ Foods was created by Holistic Nutritionist, mom and former vegetarian, Angela Bicos Mavridis, who merged her passion for wholesome, nutrient-dense foods with globally-inspired flavors for a delicious, healthy meal option. After meeting with Angela in person and bonding instantly over our Greek heritage, our connection ran even deeper as we shared our health and healing paths and our commitment to high-quality, sustainable foods that actually taste good!! I fell in love instantly with TRIBALÍ and Angela.
TRIBALÍ Foods‘ patties feature 100% organic grass fed and finished, pasture-raised beef and 100% organic free-range, air chilled chicken, all meat is humanely raised on family farms without any added antibiotics or added hormones, and blended with locally sourced herbs and vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, poblanos and fire-roasted garlic. You can buy TRIBALÍ Foods online (use coupon code YUMMY to save 20%), or find them in the freezer section of select Super Targets from coast-to-coast, in Southern California at natural retailers like Bristol Farms, Lassen’s, Lazy Acres, Erewhon and Gelson’s and now all of the Natural Grocers locations across America. I get mine locally at our Whole Foods and you can check out the store locator to find a retailer near you.
The Umami Grass-fed Beef Patties were the perfect choice for these bowls, having fire-roasted garlic, onions, and woodsy Shiitake mushrooms — with a tangy hint of nori seaweed, a dash of Red Boat fish sauce, and umami spices. I love that they are paleo, keto and Whole30 friendly, but they are also AIP compliant. WOAH!
With the umami rich beef gravy the punch of flavor if this comforting Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl is unreal. I cannot wait for you to experience this, too! Breakfast just got a whole lot better and better for you, too! Read the rest of this entry »
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Grain-free Spicy Cauliflower Fritters {Keto, Paleo, Whole30}
These Grain-free Spicy Cauliflower Fritters are an amazing way to embrace the cauliflower love, taking the cauli-rice trend to a whole new level. These versatile patties can be adapted to whatever flavor and spice blend you’d like and served with your favorite sauce, we like Chipotle Lime Aioli.
Veg based fritters have always been a favorite of mine, either as a quick bite appetizer or snack, or atop a large bed of greens as a main dish, I find them to be quick, simple, cheap and versatile. Since I have removed both grains and beans from my diet, due to my autoimmune conditions and my digestive issues, I haven’t really messed with too many veggie-based fritters, cakes and patties in recent years. But, after a recent exploration with cauliflower, which is one of my favorite, versatile, low carb, starch-like veggies – these fritters were born and they have quickly become a new fav.
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Coconut Vanilla Bean Shaken Hibiscus Iced Tea Latte {Paleo, Keto, Vegan}
This Coconut Vanilla Bean Shaken Hibiscus Iced Tea Latte was initially spawned from from the idea (visual) of the Starbucks Pink Drink. But I call mine the PANK DRANK! But unlike the chain’s version, this one has no sugar, no terrifying fake sugars, it’s made with organic herbal hibiscus tea and it has flecks of real vanilla bean. This millennial pink tinted bevvie has quickly become my afternoon treat, replacing caffeinated beverages and bringing joy all the while.
With nearly 4 weeks without any caffeine at all, I’ve been getting super creative. I have changed my morning rituals, a bit, rather than getting out of bed, grabbing some water and counting down the minutes to coffee, I’ve been leaving my phone off for the first hour I’m awake and instead choosing to meditate. Sometimes I’ll pour a little decaf coffee or some tea before my morning training session, but most mornings, as of recently, I have totally have forgotten about my old morning habit and instead have relished in my new routines.
Read more about my 14 Day Caffeine-Free Challenge and you can request to join the Tasty Yummies Tribe, our private Facebook community, to stay connected with anyone else doing the challenge.
While afternoon coffee wasn’t an everyday thing for me, I often found myself mid-day looking for a little caffeine kick. From coffee or matcha, so I decided in celebration of breaking these habits, that I would create a new afternoon drinkie! This Coconut Vanilla Bean Shaken Hibiscus Iced Tea Latte is bright, refreshing, sweetened to your liking (or not), with a little coconut milk and flecks of vanilla bean – it’s just magical.
I know it’s a little less than ordinary, but you gotta go with me on this one. It’s just the perfect treat.
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Grilled Spicy Shrimp and Veggie Skewers with Pineapple Turmeric Salsa {gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto}
Ready in no-time, these Grilled Spicy Shrimp and Veggie Skewers are fast, simple, and so crazy-flavorful. Turmeric adds a boost of health benefits and flavor depth to both the marinade and the Pineapple Turmeric Salsa served on the side. This recipe is gluten-free, paleo, whole30 and keto compliant.
This post and recipe were created in partnership with MegaFood®. I am proud to work with brands that care about the health of its consumers and the planet. As always, all opinions, ideas and text are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for Tasty Yummies.
There’s something so special about the food of summer. At our house, we opt for lots of easy-to-make, all-encompassing meals that don’t require too many pots and pans or heating up the kitchen. But more, I LOVE celebrating all the vibrant colors and tastes of the season. And we are ALWAYS down for a grill-centric meal over here.
By now you folks know I am all for getting in ample superfoods and supplements, be it classically in tablet or powder form, tossed into smoothies – I have some very important supplements that are part of my everyday routine, no excuses. That said, there is something I love so much more about foods and supplements working together in harmony. Often, there are other nutrients found in our foods that work symbiotically with these supplements and other nutrients to ensure the best chance for assimilation and absorption.
Turmeric is one of those foods/supplements that I don’t ever miss! I’m serious, I take it every day. I have personally seen improvements in the health of my joints and muscle recovery post-workout by consistently including turmeric in my diet over the past few years*. In fact, I can almost always feel a marked change if I miss even a single dose. It’s pretty wild.
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15-Minute Paleo Taco Skillet Dinner
This 15-Minute Paleo Taco Skillet Dinner is ready in just about 15 minutes and it’s loaded with quality protein, fibrous leafy greens and if you top it with avocado, you’ll get some bonus healthy fats. A perfect, low-carb, one pan meal to please all!
I have been loving a good one-pan meal these days. Despite the, I am sure, blanket assumptions that when you don’t have kids, you have all the time in the world for meal planning, it can actually be quite hard, even still, in a child-free home. Without the forced structure and routines that comes with having little ones, we can often flail and have to just “make do”.
I am not that great at planning ahead some weeks and I am often not that methodical with our meal planning, so there are always staples that we have around, so there are always those staple-inspired meals. You know the ones – they aren’t all that glamorous and they are more about the function than the fashion.
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Keto Strawberry Shortcake with Balsamic Roasted Strawberries and Basil Whipped Coconut Cream {gluten-free, paleo}
What? Low Carb Keto Strawberry Shortcake? Yup, you read that correctly. This dreamy, classic summer treat gets a bit of an update with grain-free, low carb biscuits, tasty balsamic roasted strawberries and a basil infused whipped coconut cream. Real food, no weird ingredients. Just some tasty, clean whole foods.
Let’s start off by saying, if you think I’ve lost my mind and if you want to keep this classic dessert more simple and traditional, you can very very easily follow this recipe, opt simply for fresh strawberries or just roast the strawberries without the balsamic, but if you’ve never had balsamic roasted strawberries, yet, you truly aren’t living. And as for the basil infused coconut cream, will change your life. That has to be said.
This recipe is quite fuss-free, despite the amount of characters required to accurately describe it. Make the easy, grain-free low carb biscuits ahead and while they are baking you can prep the strawberries to go into the oven next and then finally, whip together that delicious, basil infused whipped coconut cream while the berries roast.
As far as I am concerned, strawberries are the quintessential summer fruit. They have such fond memories attached to them, for me. From strawberry picking with my mom and my sisters, to bowls of fresh berries being brought outside out for dessert after a delicious summer meal, enjoy al fresco. My mom loves to bake and she made an incredible strawberry shortcake, with fresh baking soda biscuits, which she always made to seem so effortless. Strawberry shortcake reminds me of backyard meals, towels wrapped around our chilly bodies from spending the entire day in the pool. It brings back memories of no school, being outside all day and late sunsets.
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Safer Sun Protection. From Sunscreens to Superfoods. How to Protect Yourself in the Most Non-Toxic Way.
Safer Sun Protection. From Sunscreens to Superfoods. How to Protect Yourself in the Most Non-Toxic Way. Check out this post to learn more about non-toxic sunscreen, how much sun is too much, how to eat to support your body’s natural defenses and more.
The topic of sun protection, like SO many things, has gotten a bit confusing for folks. “The sun is bad”. “The sun is good and absolutely necessary to avoiding vitamin D deficiency.” “Sunscreens are necessary, don’t ever leave the house without sunscreen on.” “Most sunscreens are loaded with so many toxic chemicals that they may be more harmful to our bodies than the sun itself.”
Recently, reports from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports have warned consumers against using many types of conventional sunscreens, especially on children. Of the 1,400+ sunscreens tested by the EWG, only 5% met their safety standards and over 40% were listed as potentially contributing to skin cancer.
So, where do we go from here for safer sun protection?
With 1 in 5 Americans being affected by skin cancer, it’s amazing to learn that the majority of folks aren’t wearing sunscreen daily or worse, there aren’t doing anything at all to protect themselves appropriately. By simply wearing a non-toxic, protective SPF sunscreen daily, we can prevent skin cancer and premature aging. But, we need to know what to look for and what to avoid and all the many ways beyond sunscreen that we can support our body for safe sun protection and safe sun exposure – while still reaping the necessary benefits of the sun.
Why Most Sunscreens are Harmful
Chemical Sunscreens vs Physical (or Mineral) Sunscreens.
There are two ways that a sunscreen protects the skin from sun damage – either with a mineral barrier or a chemical one. Chemical sunscreens contain compounds, which create a chemical reaction and work by changing UV rays into heat, then releasing that heat from the skin. They are often referred to as chemical or organic absorbers. Chemical sunscreens are technically sun filters. Mineral sunscreens typically include ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which create a physical barrier to protect the skin from the sun, they sit on the surface of the skin and physically bounce or reflect sun’s rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens are great for people with sensitive skin as well as babies and kids.
Chemical Sunscreens
Chemical sunscreens, the type you’ll most often find at the store, contain a slew of chemicals, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are absorbed by the skin and both of which are linked to health hazards and have been shown in scientific studies to harm coral reefs. (These are the two chemicals Hawaii recently banned in all sunscreens, effective in 2021). Additionally, many sunscreens also contain avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene and homosalate. Laboratory studies indicate that some chemical UV filters may mimic hormones, and physicians report sunscreen-related skin allergies, which raises important questions about unintended human health consequences from frequent sunscreen application.
Spray sunscreens have also become quite popular in recent years, and these carry their own additional dangers, especially when inhaled.
Many sunscreens also contain methylisothiazolinone, which has been found to be a top allergen.
Here’s a scary statistic: The chemical oxybenzone, that has been shown to pose a hazard to human health and the environment, it is an allergen and a hormone disruptor that soaks through skin and is measured in the body of nearly every American – in 2018, over 12 years after first reports from EWG were published in regards to this chemical – it still appears in 2/3 of the commercial sunscreens on the market. The reason that hormone and endocrine disruptors are so scary is because they’re especially harmful in small amounts, as they mimic the hormones our body creates daily and can interfere with everything from our reproductive systems to our metabolism. They’re particularly bad for young ones whose systems are rapidly developing.
Recent research shows that many chemical sunscreens may carry more of a risk than moderate sun exposure, so it’s best to simply avoid these sunscreens, unless you have absolutely no other option, there is no shade and you have no cover-up options with clothing. But I would suggest this to be a last ditch effort simply to avoid overexposure and extreme sunburn.
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Paleo Buffalo Ranch Dressing {dairy-free, whole30, keto}
Like my classic dairy-free ranch dressing, this Paleo Buffalo Ranch Dressing has turned into a bit of a staple around here. It’s creamy, rich and loaded with the flavors of classic Buffalo Chicken Wings, without the dairy or sketchy ingredients of most store-bought salad dressings.
At this point, we all know how I feel about Buffalo-style foods. After 30+ years in that city, it certainly left a mark on my heart, well, I suppose in this case, my palate. I’ve been in Southern California over 5 years now and I will ALWAYS have a large bottle of Frank’s Red Hot sauce in the fridge. Because when in doubt, make it Buffalo-style. I love a few dashes of that stuff on my scrambled eggs, on simple grilled meats and of course, on my Big F-in Salads.
This Paleo Buffalo Ranch Dressing adds the spicy flavor of classic Buffalo wings to classic ranch and it will add a kick to any boring salad, it’s a great dip for raw veggies, it’s perfect for roast potatoes or homemade french fries (your standard potato AND sweet potato) and I even love drizzling it over a big huge bowl of roasted veggies, like Brussel sprouts or broccoli.
Of course, if you are making some crispy Buffalo wings, (might I suggest Mark’s crispy grilled chicken wings) this Paleo Buffalo Ranch Dressing is the perfect compliment for even more flavor. I am not trying to tell you what to do, but definitely if you are making my Crispy Paleo Chicken Tenders, this Paleo Buffalo Ranch Dressing is an absolute must there, too.
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10-Minute Grounding Meditation
This 10-Minute Grounding meditation is a guided practice incorporating a combination of breath, awareness, and visualization to connect you to the battery pack of the earth. Grounding allows you to draw up prana, energy, or life-force from Earth in order to become rejuvenated, revitalized, and restored. This is a great practice to use anytime you are experiencing times of stress, overwhelm or if you feel out of focus. Get comfortable and get grounded.
10-Minute Grounding Meditation
Meditation is an excellent way to reduce stress, reconnect with your body, mind and spirit and improve your health and well-being in a variety of ways.
When we meditate we rest the mind and attain a state of consciousness unlike our typical wakeful state. Rather than being focused on the external world or events taking place around us, we instead allow the mind space to become relaxed, clear and focused inward. Meditation gives us an opportunity to slow down and focus on self-awareness.
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Grounding
Grounding is the physical connection between the electrical frequencies of the human body with Earth’s. Practicing a guided grounded meditation will allow you to focus your mind on the present and learn to feel more balanced and aware. Grounding reconnects us with that felt sense of stability that resides within us all, it connects us to a foundation and roots us in stability and firmness.
When your mind is unfocused, you can feel uneasy, restless, and uncomfortable. Often just from the daily stresses of life we can feel scattered, overwhelmed, disconnected and spacey.
Grounding yourself can help you feel calm, peaceful and centered. This guided grounding meditation brings the opportunity for you to connect with the earth and experience a transfer of energy. By plugging into the Earth’s energy this helps to bring us back to our natural electrical state which is vital to our health as we are electrical beings.
