Friday, September 19, 2014

Healthy Chocolate Pudding

Healthy Chocolate Pudding
(This recipe will make about 2-4 servings and is a great healthy dessert or late night snack)
  • 1/2 of a ripe avocado (soft to touch)
  • approx 3 tablespoons of almond butter or cashew butter (preferably raw if possible)
  • approx 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk (preferably organic)
  • 2 heaping tablespoons of organic cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 1 packet of stevia (or enough to your desired sweetness level)
  • 1 scoop of chocolate Shakeology, regular or vegan
  • just a small pinch of sea salt
Put the avocado and almond butter into a bowl and mash together with a fork until smooth.  Then add all of the other ingredients into the bowl and mix together vigorously until all is mixed and smooth.  If you're good with a food processor, you can use that too, but I just mash everything together by hand with a fork or a masher.
If everything went right, the consistency will be similar to pudding... except normal pudding has loads of sugar! This healthy pudding recipe will actually HELP you to burn fat, control cravings, and satisfy your body's need for micro-nutrients, protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
If the pudding ends up too thick, simply add a bit more almond milk or coconut milk for more moisture until the consistency seems right.
If you want to get a little wild and add some more nutrient-rich additions, feel free to add some chopped pecans, chia seeds, or walnuts at the end.  And it tastes great to top this dish with some sliced fresh strawberries! 

Monday, September 8, 2014

My Top Health Tips

Whether you have been into fitness and health for a long time or are just starting out, there are a few things I have found worked for me to be successful and stay on track.
If you can develop a consistent routine your chances improve greatly!

1. Start your day with a warm glass of lemon water to improve digestion and wake your body up. It's an easy thing to do with amazing benefits! Read this article for more information:Warm Lemon Water
2. Schedule your workouts, and have a fitness game plan in mind. It always helps to have a goal set with a measurable time to reach it and to put it on your calendar each day. You can track your progress and see how far you've come.
3. Plan out your meals for the week. Even if it's only dinner, you then won't have the struggle of worrying about what to eat. You can shop for your food on the weekend and even prepare things ahead of time for busy days.
4. Love your body! You are unique and made the way you are for a reason. Don't try and be like you think you should be, strive to be the healthiest person you can be for yourself.
5. Have a coach or accountability partner. Having someone to check in with is huge for motivation! You can share your struggles and triumphs and get guidance. Connect with me here for coaching!
I hope this helps get you started or helps get you back in the game. You are worth it and deserve to be healthy and happy!