Monthly Archives: May 2017

Free Printable Farmer’s Market Guide!

Farmer's Market Shopping

Good Morning!

Did you have a fun Memorial Day weekend? I had a blast! It was so nice to relax and play, with no obligations or “to do” list!  We visited our farmer’s market this weekend. I love the beginning of growing season and all the local produce bursting with nutrition and so fresh! It is also a great outing and sense of community while you support local growers. Here is your free guide! Compliments of me and Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the school where I graduated as a Health Coach!

Just click the guide below, and you will have a free PDF printout you can take with you and refer to! There is also a free recipe and other health tips using Farm Market finds!

Farmers Market Guide

Enjoy your day!

Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach

Gluten Free Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffins

I am crazy about coconut flour baking! Coconut Flour is low carb, gluten free, contains protein, iron, fiber, and healthy fats, and scores low on the glycemic index. Of course all these attributes are fine, but who cares if the finished product isn’t very palatable. But coconut flour makes a fantastic muffin! Scroll down to see the photos of the one I have split open. I wish you could smell them, but you can see the texture! This particular recipe is bursting with blueberries! So, if you are a true blue classic blueberry muffin fan, this is for you!

Gluten Free Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffins

Are you a ship that is staying safe in your harbor? Branch out! Take a plunge and follow a dream. Try something new you have been dying to try but aren’t sure about. Step out of your comfort zone and blossom into the greatness you deserve and are capable of!

Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffins

Gluten Free Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffins

Preheat your oven to 350º degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with non-stick muffin papers and set aside.

Ingredients:

6 Pastured Eggs

1/2 Cup of Coconut Flour (here)

2 Black Spotted Bananas

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Honey

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1 Tablespoon of fresh squeezed Lemon Juice

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1 Pint of Fresh Blueberries or 1 1/2 Cups of Frozen

Directions: In a food processor with a blade attachment, blend the eggs and banana until the banana is smooth. Add in the rest of the ingredients except the blueberries, and blend for two minutes. Fold in the blueberries, reserving 1/4 cup for the tops if desired. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, and sprinkle with the reserved blueberries. Let sit for 5 minutes on the counter to allow the coconut flour to soak up the liquid in your batter. Then, bake for 25 to 30 minutes in your preheated oven, or until the tops spring back and they are cooked through. Remove from the oven, and cool for five minutes before removing from the pan and cooling on a wire rack. I give you permission to eat one hot! :-)))

Makes a dozen muffins

Blueberry Muffin.JPG

Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffins Hot From the Oven

Stay Toned in Ten Minutes a Day!

Good Morning!
Keep moving! The key to being fit and toned is consistency. Once you carve out the time and form the habit, it is much easier to fit it in to your schedule. Toning targeted body parts can be accomplished in a rotating ten minutes a day routine. Meaning for example, Monday target the arms, Tuesday target the buns, Wednesday Abs. This is very effective and gives muscles two days of rest between workouts. If you want to work out from home, there are many great ten minute workouts online that are totally free!
Here’s a few to get you started!

12 Minute Outdoor Workout to Blast Calories

Ten Minute Strapless Dress Workout

Ten Minute Booty Workout

Ten Minute Abs and Core Without Crunches

Stay fit with theses quick toning workouts!

Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach

Enjoy your day!

*Disclaimer – You should check with your doctor before starting any fitness routine. This is not medical advice and is for informational purposes only.

Pittaya Watermelon Smoothie Bowl!

Hey you all! Are you ready for Summer and Smoothie Bowls? I am! Recently when I was on a trip to Phoenix, I stopped at Nektar Juice Bar and had their Pitaya Smoothie Bowl. It was such a gorgeous color of pink from the Pitaya, also know as Dragon Fruit, and it was delicious. I loved it so much, I was inspired to create my own!

I wanted ingredients to promote glowing and hydrated skin.  In the Summertime, the heat requires lots of hydration for our skin to stay plump and soft. This smoothie bowl will feed your skin from the inside out, as well as give you a daily dose of Selenium to give your thyroid vital nutrients to function its best. The selenium in this recipe comes from the chopped Brazil nuts in the topping. Just two Brazil nuts a day has your RDA of selenium! Pitaya (Dragon Fruit) is a superfruit that is a rich magenta color. You can pick up frozen smoothie packs of this fruit at your local health food store or Whole Foods Market. Pitaya is high in fiber and a good source of magnesium. A cup of watermelon in the smoothie is very hydrating and contains lycopene and vitamin C. I also added frozen cherries (which have the benefit of reducing inflammation and may reduce belly fat), coconut butter for healthy fat, and coconut water (more hydrating benefits). Here’s how you make it!

Pitaya Watermelon Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients:

1 Package of Frozen Pitaya Fruit

1 Frozen Banana (cut into thirds)

1 Cup of Frozen Watermelon (I like to cut it into chunks and have it on hand in my freezer for smoothies)

1/2 Cup of Frozen Sweet Cherries

1 Tablespoon of Coconut Butter

1/2 Cup of Coconut Water

Directions: Add all the ingredients to a high speed blender and puree. Pour into your favorite bowl, and top with blueberries, 2 chopped brazil nuts, and some coconut flakes. Enjoy!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach