choose to live healthy [5]: glowing green monster smoothie

This radical blend of spinach, nut milk, banana, ground flax seeds, and nut butter (optional) is a creamy, delicious, and nutritious breakfast alternative that helps curb cravings for sweets and gives you A TON of energy to glow and get things done throughout your beautiful day! 

Don't let the green scare you! You'll be happy to know that no matter how many handfuls you add, you won't be able to taste the spinach. The other ingredients do a really realllllllly good job at masking the taste.  If you add just one cup of spinach (I usually add two big handfuls) you'll be getting 20% of your daily dose of fiber. Remember, fiber's our friend! It aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and curbs overeating (source). 

Flax seed is also a nutritional powerhouse for your body. Flax seeds fight cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, constipation, menopausal symptoms,  heart disease, and "The Blues" (source). One tablespoon a day. That's it! 

Banana benefits? We all know bananas contain pure powerful potassium. Bananas also contain fiber as well as natural sugars, which make them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy. A banana a day keeps your muscle cramps away!!

Nut milk makes the smoothie creamy and is an excellent source of protein and essential vitamins and minerals such as A, E, phosphorous, potassium, essential fatty acids, and fiber (source). If you have a choice, choose almond milk over soy milk. Almond milk has less fat and is less processed. 

Overall benefits of green smoothies (ready for it?!): 

- natural weight loss

- increased consumption of fruits and vegetables (particularly greens)

- easier digestibility and nutrient assimilation

- antioxidants

- increased energy

- mental clarity and focus

- increased fiber intake

- clearer skin

- cravings reduction

- rich with chlorophyll 

- alkalizing 

(source)

What you'll need:

 (feel free to change the quantities based on your preference)

- 2 cups organic spinach, rinsed 

- 1 to 1 1/4 cup nut milk

- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds

- 1 medium banana, sliced

- 1 tablespoon nut butter (optional)

Do it!:

1. Place the ingredients into the blender in the following order: 1) Flax, 2) spinach, 3) banana, 4) milk, 5) nut butter. The reason for this order is so the heavier ingredients weigh down the flax and spinach and keep it from flying up around the blender and sticking to the side. 

2. Blend everything on the highest setting for 1 minute or so. 

3. Pour in a glass and enjoy! 

Cheers to being green!!!

coconut quinoa + caramelized bananas

[artwork by one life in stills]

Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day. It's the nutritional kick-start for the whole day and gets me revved up and refueled after tough morning work outs. Side note: I ran 5 miles this morning then did an intense heart opening yoga class! I feel SO GOOD and the recipe I'm about to share with you will hit your post work out sweet spot. Speaking of sweet, I like sweets. Actually, I LOVE sweet things. I have the Stillians family to blame for that. I believe that every single person in my immediate family and extended family has a sweet tooth, some far more than others. Having uncontrollable sweet tooth cravings can potentially be extremely harmful to one's health if you don't chose healthier sweet options. I keep mine under control by not consuming processed sweets and sweets using refined sugar. I look for treats that are clearly one step healthier than hideous candies, cakes, and doughnuts. Sweets I eat: organic dark chocolate, dates, dried mangos, these amazingly delicious and addicting chocolate peanut butter cups that are vegan and gf, and acai sorbet with granola, strawberries, and bananas. See...I can satisfy my sweet tooth without risking good health.    

Whoa. I totally just went on a sweet tooth rant. Whoopsies!

What is the topic of this blog post? Oh right...I wanted to share with you a delicious, easy peezy breakfast recipe I kind of concocted as I went along. To caramelize the bananas I used maple syrup and lemon juice instead of brown sugar and molasses so its not overwhelmingly sweet. The bananas pair perfectly with the coconut quinoa! Hope you try it and like it!

What you'll need: (serves 2)

- 1 cup quinoa

- 1 cup water

- 1 cup nut milk (I used almond milk)

- 1 tbsp shredded coconut

- 1 medium banana

- 1 tsp butter (I used vegan Earth Balance butter)

- 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup

- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- 1/4 tsp cinnamon

- small handful dried cranberries (I didn't like the tartness of the cranberries in this so I would use blueberries or strawberries next time)

Do it!:

1. Place quinoa, water, nut milk, and coconut in a 1-½ quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until all the liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes). You will know that the quinoa is done when all the grains have turned from white to transparent, and the spiral-like germ has separated.

2. Cut banana in half crosswise then lengthwise.

3. Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet and place the bananas in the butter, coating them using a pastry brush.

4. Move the bananas to one side of the pan.

5. Slightly tip the pan (with bananas on upper side), then add the maple syrup, vanilla and lemon juice.

6. Sprinkle the cinnamon and give the mixture a good stir.

7. Lower the pan and blend the sauce with the bananas, spooning the sauce over the top.

8. Cook for 5 minutes.

9. Arrange the banana pieces on top of quinoa is a bowl.

10. Garnish with additional fruit of your liking (mango, strawberries, blueberries would be nice).

11. Gobble it up!!!

this and that: bfast obsession, quick vegan sandwich, and new buys

This morning I made coconut, mango, and blueberry oatmeal sweetened with dates for breakfast after a pretty challenging yoga session.  My body felt a little fatigued so I wanted to go with a more hearty breakfast over my usual green monster smoothie or kashi cereal. 3 minutes later and one bite deep, I was in oatmeal ecstasy and way happy! It was exactly what my body and muscles needed to refuel and replenish all while keeping me satisfied and energized well into lunch. 

what you'll need:

- 1 cup of organic rolled oats

- 1 tbsp ground flax (or chia seeds)

- 3 shakes of ground cinnamon

- 3/4 cup nut milk (i used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

- 1 tbsp shredded coconut flakes

- 2 dates, pitted and chopped

- 3-4 slices dried mango, chopped (fresh mango is fine too)

- handful of blueberries

do it:

1. Bring nut milk to a gentle boil in a pot

2. Combine the oats, ground flax, cinnamon, coconut, dates, and mango in a bowl

3. Add a pinch or two of salt, then pour enough hot nut milk to just cover the oats (don’t add too much, or it will be too liquidy)

4. Cover the bowl with a plate or pot lid, and let the oatmeal stand until the oats have absorbed the nut milk

5. Stir, and add a little more nut milk if the oats look too dry

6. Let the oatmeal cool a little, and then top with fresh blueberries :)

For lunch I made an easy peezy vegan deli-style sandwich using Tofurky vegan deli slices! If you're a Seagan (like me) or Vegan (like I used to be) this sandwich will satisfy your craving for a juicy sammy! For all you animal eaters out there, give meat a break and try using Tofurky one day out of the week! The turkeys will thank you. 

what you'll need:

- sprouted whole grain bread (I use low sodium Ezekiel bread you can find at most grocery stores)

- avocado

- tahini or hummus (use as a spread)

- a drizzle of olive oil

- sprouts

- spinach

- tomato, sliced

- cucumber, sliced

- Tofurky deli slices (I used Hickory Smoked flavored)

*other ingredients you might light to use: grilled peppers, pickles, pesto aioli, arugula, olives... 

do it:

1. Toast the bread (optional). 

2. Drizzle olive oil then spread the avocado and tahini on one slice of bread. 

3. Layer on sprouts, spinach, tomato, cucumber, and Tofurky slices. 

4. Place the other slice of bread on top, cut in half (diagonally..the real way!), and EAT!

New buys from left to right: 

"Venice" tonal stripe tee by Style Mint. I love the classic style of this tee and it's not too long to where it feels overwhelming as a print. I also love the "funness" the pink and orange stripes add.

"Charis Wild" swimsuit stop by Teeki. Coachella is quickly approaching and this is the perfect bra-styled swimsuit top to keep me cool and comfy in the desert heat. Plus the print and black netting detail is way rad and different from every other suit out there! I should also mention that Teeki is eco-friendly! All of their clothing is made from recycled plastic bottles! 

My favorite candle, "Cleopatra" by Tocca. This light, calming candle is infused with crisp, fresh scent of juicy grapefruit and soothing cucumber. Perfect for soothing mind and body after a hectic day.