Isn’t this recipe gorgeous?!

During More Than A Detox we remove all foods that are hard to digest, or known to trigger a common toxic response in the body. My Beet Hummus, one of the new recipes in the Fall program, successfully achieves that, yet still tastes super delicious and is super satisfying! But don’t let the season limit you, it’s just especially amazing during the Fall season when local root vegetables fill the farmer market tables!

Do keep in mind when preparing this recipe, raw garlic is very strong, so prepare your recipe according to your preferences and this notation!

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cups steamed beets
• ½ cup tahini
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Juice from 1 lemon
• Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste
• Fresh chopped parsley to garnish

Preparation: 

Peel and chop fresh beets into bite-sized pieces. Add one inch of water and a metal steam basket to the bottom of a pot. Place the pot over medium heat and place the chopped beets in the steam basket. Cover and steam the beets for 10 to 15 minutes until tender but still firm. When done, remove and set to the side to cool.

Add all the remaining ingredients to a high-speed blender and mix until smooth. Serve with beautiful seasonal veggies from your local farmer!

Buono Appetito! 

Ready to get your healthy on with More Than A Detox: Fall and the 60+ delicious recipes it offers? September has always been the other January, so there is no better time than now to get back in the get-healthy game! Click here to join the waitlist and be the first to hear when it opens on September 15.

This article was originally published for Freed Marcroft, an award-winning law firm in Hartford, Connecticut, as part of a series they posted to support their clients in taking care of themselves while going through a divorce.

This article speaks to the importance of eating healthy, with their previous posts on the benefits of yoga and spending time outside and exercising.

Yoga, combined with meditation and spending time outside in nature are foundational credos that I too teach my clients. These practices are grounding. These practices will bring you back to your most powerful self, especially during stressful times.

Both practices set a mighty stage for you to choose healthy for you and your family.

But, they are just one aspect of wellbeing. Proper nutrition is essential for you to maintain healthy balance.

So how can you take all the lessons you learn in meditation and yoga off the mat and onto your plate?

I offer you three nutrition-based ways to do just that, to take your lessons from the mat to your overall healthy lifestyle goals.

Just breathe = Just prepare

Like your breath is important in your meditation or yoga practice, preparation is important in your stay-healthy game. Preparation will ensure you eat healthy and nutritious foods no matter what the day brings.

I recommend choosing two days a week (like Sunday and Wednesday nights) to prep healthy foods, to have fresh, delicious options easily at hand. Here’s a few of my favorites ideas:

• Wash greens and store in salad spinner, or an aerated plastic bag.
• Wash, slice, chop and cut veggies and store in sealed glass bowls.
• Wash berries and store in a colander,m which will prevent spoilage.
• Pre-package smoothie and juice ingredients the night before, so you’re ready in the morning to blend them up.
• Make a few dips, like guacamole or pumpkin seed pate. They will turn your veggie snacks into a treat!
• Pack a green apple in your desk drawer at work, in your brief case or handbag, in your car. Vow to eat your green apple before you eat the junk food that is screaming your name, and I promise, you will be surprised how many times this one tip can save you!
• Always have a ripe avocado ready to go. Healthy fats satiate and can hold any stressful craving at bay
• Pack a paring knife in your car to cut your avocado, veggies or fruit when you’re on-the-go.

You are not your thoughts = Healthy is fun

This is one of the mightiest lessons meditation and yoga teach — you are not your thoughts. Like the thought, “the posture is hard to do, I’m just a novice,” it’s just your thoughts that the posture is hard that makes it hard for you to do.

Like the thought, “meditation is hard, I don’t like it, I can’t do it,” it’s just your thoughts that meditation is hard that makes it inaccessible to you.

Indeed, like the thought, “taking time to prepare healthy foods for the week ahead is hard, I don’t have enough time,” it’s just your thoughts that taking time to prepare healthy foods is hard that stops you from doing it.

Wayne Dyer said, “Change your thoughts, change your life.” If you nail this practice from yoga and meditation, and start recognizing them to shift your thoughts about eating healthy foods, you’ll accomplish your goals in half the time you ‘think’ it will take.

There is no wrong way to do things = The Wholly Trinity

One of yoga’s guiding credos teaches there is no wrong way to do things. My guiding credo to optimize your health and nutrition and reduce stress is what I call the Wholly Trinity. This is my playful, whole-foods spin on getting green in your body everyday in three ways through green juice, green smoothies and green salads.

Greens reduce inflammation and rejuvenate, remineralize and rebalance. Pound for pound, greens offer more nutrition than any other food so they are an excellent food to include in all the ways I recommend.

Green Juice is my top recommendation for clients to add into their diet. Green vegetable juice requires no digestive energy, so even if you are stressed green juice ensures optimal nutrition. Think an IV infusion of pure vitamin and mineral-water-rich, enzyme-active and phytonutrient laden fuel directed straight to your cells and tissues.

Green Smoothies are a whole-foods, fiber-rich, nutrient-dense ‘meal-in-a’glass’ and likely one of your best meal-on-the-go options. Green smoothies are akin to a salad in a glass, with endless ways to ‘beef up’ the nutrition you most want. They also retain all the fiber of it’s ingredients that satiate longer than juice.

One of my clients favorites is Instant Glow, a smoothie loaded with ingredients to bring your cells to life, and balance to your body, so you radiate health from the inside out! This recipe makes about 64 ounces — a full Vitamix pitcher full, so cut back if you want a smaller portion.

Green Salad: My third recommendation for the Wholly Trinity is a meal-sized Green Salad everyday. Include your favorite greens and/or wild lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and especially sprouts, avocados and olives. Here’s one of my favorites.

You can even make a salad of just simple greens, but do note that ingredients like sprouts peak in nutritional value, and avocados and olives will satiate you and satisfy you because of their healthy plant-based fats.

To dress your salad, I recommend two of my favorite, but ‘atypical’ mouth-watering delicious ‘dressings’ as new lighter fare recommendations — fresh marinara or fresh salsa. Both ‘dressings’ will transform your salad to a whole ‘next-level-healthy-salad-experience’ while keeping fat to a minimum (Healthy fats are essential, but layering an oil based dressing on top of olives and/or avocados is more than you need.)

If you follow my three tips for taking your meditation and yoga lessons “off the mat” and onto your plate, I promise you’ll find yourself not only in a healthier body with a healthier mindset as you learn to navigate your way through divorce, but also feel full of energy and confidence to create you newly!

Would you like more smoothie recipes to help you on your way? I've got you covered right here!

Smoothie bowls are one of the biggest breakfast trends these days — and for good reason! Smoothie bowls are power-packed with nutrient dense fuel you to rev you up for the day and they taste super delicious! Plus, they satiate your hunger and satisfy your need to chew!

Include leafy greens like spinach, kale or romaine for alkalizing nutrition. Include your favorite fruit for sweet fiber! Add avocado or cashews to make it super creamy, and add coconut oil for an extra boost of energy!

Best part? Because they’re in a bowl, you can top them with more of your favorite healthy ingredients … and take them on the road with you!

Three of my favorites? A drizzle of almond butter, a sprinkling of bee pollen and a healthy portion of hemp seeds!

Serves 2

Smoothie Bowl Ingredients: 

• 2 cups baby spinach
• 2 bananas
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1/2 – 1 avocado or small handful of cashews
• 1 date (soaked)
• 1 Tablespoon raw, unprocessed coconut oil
• 1 Tablespoon chia seed
• Almond milk (to achieve desired texture)
• 1 serving of HealthForce Naturals Green Alchemy Protein (or clean protein powder of choice)

Topping Ideas: 

• Sliced fruit
• Chia seeds
• Hemps seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Cracked walnuts, pecans or almonds
• Bee pollen
• Drizzled almond butter
• Drizzled tahini

To Make: 

Blend all ingredients for the smoothie bowl until thick and creamy. Pour into a bowl, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Want more healthy and delicious recipes to increase your energy and look uhh-amazing in your jeans? Sign up here to learn about my upcoming seasonal detox that offers way more than just losing weight, More Than A Detox: Fall. 

During my years in school while working in the restaurant business, I learned how to combine different ingredients to prepare extraordinary meals. Oh yes, straight-up, pure bon vivant, epicurean style! I love delicious foods, but when no doctor could tell me why I was experiencing so many chronic symptoms several years back, I was forced to consider how food impacted my wellbeing and learned how to prepare delicious foods that heal and delight!

I offer you 5 foods that are my top healing food recommendations … plus a recipe! But don’t let my one recipe limit you! Look for ways to incorporate these ingredients everyday in your juices, smoothies and salads! You will love the glowing benefits from the healing they promote!

Avocado: Yes, avocados are high in fat, heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, but are also loaded with soluble fiber (promotes gut health) and insoluble fiber (promotes regular bowel movements), 20 different beautifying vitamins and minerals, with disease-fighting antioxidants and more potassium than bananas!

Healthy fats reduce inflammation in the body and are essential for healthy brain function.

Plus, avocados offer a water-rich source of healing fats and fiber which dramatically promote nutrient absorption from other plant-based foods, and supple tissues and cells.

Sunflower Sprouts: Sunflower sprouts offer extraordinary nourishing benefits. They provide all essential amino acids, a balanced, absorbable form of a complete plant protein (25% protein), 100x the amount of beautifying enzymes provided by other greens and high levels of free-radical scavenging antioxidants. They boost your immune system, promote vitamin absorption and are a nutritional powerhouse packed with healthy fats, vitamins A, B-complex, D, and E, and minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus!

Like all sprouts and micro greens, sunflower sprouts provide a concentrated source of chlorophyll, the substance which makes plants turn green. The chemical structure of chlorophyll most closely resembles the chemical structure of hemoglobin, which nourishes healthy blood, reduces inflammation, calms the nervous system, revitalizes and cleanses tissues, and balances pH levels in the body.

Sunflower sprouts offer a high ratio of plant fat and calories, also making them a perfect addition to your fitness and beauty regiment.

Lacinato Kale: According to the Andi Score Chart, pound for pound, kale provides arguably the most nutrient-dense, healing benefits of any other food on the planet. Kale is anti-inflammatory, promotes detoxification at the cellular level, is high in antioxidants, Vitamin A and C, B-Complex and vitamin-K (supports calcium uptake and promotes neuronal function in the brain).

Lacinato Kale (also known as Dinosaur kae) has dark blue-green leaves and a slightly wrinkled, firm texture (the darker the blue-green color, the higher the phytochemical, Anthocyanin antioxidants concentration). Lacinato kale is slightly sweeter and more delicate taste than the curly kale.

Carrots: Carrots and carrot juice offer amazing healing benefits. Carrots lower cholesterol, increase absorption of nutrients from food, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and protect the body from free radical damage, harmful bacteria and viruses. Carrots provide overall tonic and alkaline benefits to purify and revitalize your blood. They nourish, remineralize and balance your entire system.

Carrots, and especially carrot juice offer a highly energizing and beneficial effect on the kidneys and liver.

Wheatgrass, Barley and Alfalfa Grass: Wheatgrass, Barley and Alfalfa grasses contain all known vitamins and minerals, including 30 times more vitamin B1 and 11 times more calcium than in cow’s milk, 80 micrograms of vitamin B12 (excellent source for plant-based eaters) per 100 grams of dried barley plant juice and up to 1000 enzymes the body needs to regulate and function at the cellular level.

Grasses provide nutrients unavailable in full grown leafy greens, with the most bioavailable forms of nutrients to increase absorption, even in sluggish digestive systems. Barley grass offers whopping levels of the enzyme SOD (superoxide dismutase), which protect against premature aging.

And here’s the recipe I promised you…

Be True Heal You Salad

• 2 cups kale, chopped chiffonade
• 2 cups sunflower sprouts, chopped hearty
• 2 avocados, cubed/diced
• 1 cup carrot, finely diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 green apple, diced
• 1/2 jalapeno, minced

When chopping vegetables, create a range of textures, as suggested above

Lemon Vinagrette Dressing:

• 1 lemon, juice
• 2 Tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Garnish: Raw pumpkin seeds, sprouted seeds if you can get them

Whisk ingredients together until well-combined and lightly thick.

Toss with chopped salad ingredients. Garnish with pumpkin seeds.

Buono Appetito!

Want more healing and beautifying recipes? Want to learn more ways to eat your way to your healthiest you? Ready to uplevel your get-healthy game? Get on the 'first to know' list about the special early offer I will make for my upcoming More Than A Detox program here.

Chocolate Sunbutter Protein Balls

How have I not shared this More Than A Detox favorite with you yet?

Everyone loves these Chocolate Sunbutter Protein balls because they’re so easy to make, they taste amazing, they are the perfect after-workout snack and they’re ready to go, when you are!

Make a double batch to have at-the-ready for even a midday snack! You’ll be happy you did! Promise. As all detoxers learn, preparation is a game changer for your get-healthy goals!

[Makes 8-12 bars or balls]

Ingredients: 

• 6 Tablespoons sunbutter
• 4 Tablespoons cacao (or unsweetened cocoa)
• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 Tablespoon ground flax seeds, chia seeds, or raw almond meal
• 1 scoop plant-based protein powder
• 15 drops of liquid stevia OR 1 Tablespoon honey (to taste)
• Pinch of sea salt
• Water (as needed)
• 1 Tablespoon raw cacao, shredded coconut, or crushed almonds (for rolling)

Preparation

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl (except the 1 Tablespoon of raw cacao or shredded coconut). Stir and slowly add water until you get the desired consistency of your protein ball (you want the dough a thick rollable texture, go easy with the water). Mold the dough into little balls. Roll in nuts or coconut, or dust with raw cacao.  Place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze or fridge for 10-15 minutes. Eat, or store in a sealed container for later use.

Buono appetito! 

Have an allergy that you need to replace an ingredient? Let me know in the comments below and I'd be happy to help you make this recipe to suit your needs! And ... even if you don't, I'd love to hear how you like this recipe after you make it!