Vegan Pudding Pops

Makes: 6

What you need: 

- 12.3 container silken tofu

- 1.5 mashed banana
- 3 tbs almond milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp maple syrup
additional mix-ins: 1/2 cup crushed vegan vanilla cookies

To make:
- Blend everything in a food processor until smooth
- If you are adding the mix-ins, fold cookies layers
- Fill popsicle molds (the molds can be found for cheap at IKEA)
- Freeze for 8 hours
- If too frozen, run cold water to release pop from the mold

Healthy Costco Finds

We've had a Costco membership for years. Yep, there's just two of us, but we've found it so helpful, especially when it comes to healthy eats! We're going to start with Whole30 approved items-- and while many of you might not be detoxing with Whole30, you should find these items super healthy to add to your cart. The prices marked are as of February 2017 (and obviously are not guaranteed).

spinach: sauté it (and we all know you need a lot for a little), use in a salad, the options are endless.

$3.69 for 1 lb.

This sausage is delicious!

$13.69 for 3 packs

Frozen mango is my favvvvvv. 

$10 for a 4 lb. bag

Salmon is our go-to protein for dinners at home

$26.99 for 7 portions at 6-8 oz each

Cage free eggs

$3.59 for 2 dozen

Haven't tried La Croix yet? What are you waiting for? 

$7.89 for 24 -12 oz cans

Coconut oil

$18.99 for 84 oz

Make sure your nut butter are free of sugar and oils

$7.99 for 27 oz. (that's bonkers cheap)

Romaine lettuce (I love using these for 'wraps')

$3.99 

Canned pumpkin

$6.99 for 3 -29 oz cans

Organic chicken breasts (3 pack - 6 breasts total)

$25.82/$5.99 per lb. 

Sliced almonds

$7.99 for 32 oz

The produce section is amazing -- Avocados

$6.99 for 6

Brocoli

$4.49 for 3 lbs

Organic ground beef (3 pack)

$19.99/$4.99 per lb.

Mushrooms

$4.49 for 24 oz.

Brussel sprouts

$4.49 for 2 lbs. 

Other healthy eats: 

Bare apple chips

$9.99 for 14 oz.

Coconut water

$9.99 for 12 - 11.1 oz

Organic brown rice

$12.39 for 10 lbs

Almond flour

$11.99 for 10 lbs. (this alone is worth the membership)

Avocado mayo (paleo, soy free, non-gmo, and refined sugar free)

$8.49 for 24 oz

To-go almond milk

$7.89 for 6 - 32 oz.

Perfect Bar (these our my husband's favorite)

Flavor choices: peanut butter, almond butter, cranberry crunch)

$19.99 for 12 (make for a great meal replacement)

If you're going to do "fun" nut butter, still keep it clean

$8.99 for 26 oz

Pumpkin flax granola

$5.39 for 35 oz

Organic Sunrise Energy Bars (wheat and dairy free)

$9.99 for 32 oz.

Apple Cider Vinegar 

$5.99 for 2 - 32 oz bottles

Organic Edamame Spaghetti (gf)

$9.99 for 2 lb.

This is my favorite salsa because the ingredients are clean

$6.29 for 32 oz.

Organic apple sauce

$9.99 for 24 - 3.17 oz

Organic Evoo

$14.99 for 2 ltr.

Organic hummus

$5.99 for 32 oz

We also always buy our fruit, sweet potatoes, organic coffee, pitted dates, milk, and household items at Costco. Let me know what you find! 

All about that ACV

If you're like me, you feel pretty bleh when you first wake up in the morning, right? 

I used to go straight to the coffee pot and while I still do that and while I'm all about that coffee life, I've found other ways to give myself natural energy with loads of benefits for a lower caffeine intake. 

Have you tried using apple cider vinegar?

There are a tons of ways to use it and even more benefits. 

How I've found use for it in the morning: 

Combine: 

1 tbsp organic apple cider vinegar

1 tsp cinnamon

6 oz water

squeeze half of a lemon for juice

drink up

You can also: 

1. Use it as an all-purpose cleaner: Mix 1 part water, 1 part ACV, 2-3 drops of essential oil, mix in bottle and spray. 

2. Add to cords to prevent animals from chewing

3. Replace your balsamic vinegar in a salad dressing

4. add to a smoothie

5. Run a detoxifying bath: add 1/2 cup ACV, lavender essential oil, epsom salt to your bath water. 

6. Take a shot to stop unbearable hiccups. 

7. Use for a fruit fly trap: mix with dish soap on flat surface. 

8. Get rid of bad breath: gargle with 1/2 tbs + a cup of water

9. Throat ache: gargle with 1/4 cup + 1/4 cup warm water every hour

Sometimes I'll drink the ACV like a shot or I'll add it to tea, either way, just get it in. 

I will say, it will take time to get used to the sharpness of the flavor, but it'll be worth it when you realize how much this simple thing works to benefit you and your health. 

1. Heal an upset stomach

2. Alkalize body's pH level

3. Cure sore throat

4. Get rid of hiccups

5. Reduce your cholesterol levels

6. Decrease sugar cravings

7. Clear your congested nose

8. Detox organs

9. Lose weight + increase metabolism

10. Eliminate acne + kill bacteria

11. Prevent night leg cramps

12. Prevent bad breath

13. Teeth whitener

14. Improve blood sugar

15. Improve skin and bone health

Go get some and don't be scared to try new ways to use it!

That donut life...

It's all about balance, y'all.

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

Going gluten-free isn't the easiest thing I've done but it's one of the most proud things I've done because it takes incredible discipline but the 

Makes: 22 cookies

Prep & cook time: 25 minutes

What you need: 

- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 6 tbs softened butter
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tsp raw honey
- 2 tbs water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
- 2 2/3 cup almond flour

To make: 
1. Mix the almond flour (2 2/3 cup), coconut sugar (1/2 cup), ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

2. Next, beat the egg in another bowl.
3. Add the butter, water, and honey and beat together.
4. Combine the bowls together and mix gently.

5. For about 40 minutes, cover bowl and freeze dough until it is easy to mold.
6. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
7. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
8. Roll out the chilled dough and create 1 1/2 tbsp balls.
9. Place balls about 2 inches apart.
10. Before baking, flatten each cookie with your palm.

11. Bake for about 10 minutes until light brown around the edges.

Enjoy!

Thai Green Curry (Paleo-Friendly)

If you don't know, my husband and I spent 18 days in Thailand last October. When we got back, all I wanted was Thai food. The cool part about eating in Thailand, is that other than the rice, most of their meals are paleo friendly. Last time I did Whole30, I made a few Thai dishes, so I knew I had to make one this round. I adapted this Thai green curry from various recipes that I found and I'm obsessed.

Serves: 2

Prep & cook time: 25 minutes

What you need: 

- 2 6-8 oz filets of salmon

- about 2 cups of sliced mushrooms

- 1 red bell pepper, diced

- 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice

- 13.5 oz can Thai Kitchen coconut milk

- 2 tbsp Thai Kitchen green curry paste

- 2 heads of baby boy choy, chopped

- 4 tbsp olive oil

- 1 chopped onion

- sale & pepper

- spices: basil, garlic, ginger (better fresh, but if not, that's okay)

To make: 

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2. Place salmon on tinfoil. Rub olive oil evenly on salmon and dash salt & pepper

3. Bake for 12-15 minutes

4. Chop veggies
5. In a pan, heat 2 tbsp olive oil and sauce veggies
(for about 4 minutes, until tender)

6. Add the 2 tbsp of the green curry paste and let cook for another 2 minutes

7. Bring stove top to a low heat, add coconut milk

8. Remove salmon from oven

9. Spoon some sauce onto plate, add salmon, then add more sauce and veggies

That's it! 

You could easily substitute the salmon with eggplant (for a vegetarian/vegan option), or chicken if you're not a salmon fan. 

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