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Eat Seven Servings Plus of Vegetables a Day and Notice the Difference!

Benefits of Eating Broccoli

Good Morning Everyone!
Are you getting your veggies in every day? I challenge you to eat at least seven servings of vegetables daily! Yes, at least seven, and I prefer eleven. It isn’t as hard as you think! A serving is roughly 1 cup of raw vegetables, 1/2 cup of cooked, or 2 cups of raw, leafy greens. If the leafy greens are cooked, such as spinach, chard and kale, it shrinks considerably! The average person eats less than three servings daily of vegetables. That’s not enough nutrients for your body, and vitamin pills have their place, but they are never the same as real food working synergistically with your miraculous machine (your body). Look at all the benefits of broccoli alone! Here’s an example of getting those vegetables into your day in a variety of colors.
Breakfast – Throw some leafy greens into a fruit smoothie or the eggs you are scrambling. Be generous, and that’s two servings to jump start your day! Make a vegetable omelet. Add some vegetables from last night’s dinner to your breakfast on the side.
Lunch – Include a salad with your meal. It is filling, and you can get in at least three servings of vegetables. Think Tomatoes, Romaine, Shredded Carrot, Cucumbers, Onions, Peppers, Scallions, and how about some Basil?
Dinner – Make a deliberate decision to always serve three vegetables at dinner. This is easy in a stir fry, or a vegetable medley. Last night I made a quinoa shrimp bowl for the whole family. It had carrots, scallions, basil, broccoli, and zucchini in it. We also had a salad.

Here are a few recipes from my blog that are vegetable forward main dishes, and there are many more in the recipe index.

Bacon, Tomato and Basil Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Butternut Squash Lasagna

English Cottage Pie

Grilled Vegetables and Shrimp Toss

Below, I have a handy free Seasonal Produce Guide to help you out!

Seasonal Produce Guide

Find ways you like to cook and eat vegetables, and just do it! Over time, you will notice a huge difference in how you look and feel! Summer is one of the best times to meet this challenge. There is an abundance of fresh, local vegetables available. I want you to feel your best! So, I’m curious, how many servings are you guys getting on average a day? How do you eat them?
Enjoy your Wednesday!
Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach

Self Improvement

What are you working on in your life? Are you better than you were yesterday? We all have areas in our lives we work on no matter our age.

Improvement

Enjoy your day!

Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach

Lemon Fig Cake

Lemon Fig Cake on a Plate

Lemon Fig Cake

Lemon Fig Cake (Coconut Flour)

Date Sweetened Lemon Fig Cake Using Coconut Flour

Yes, I love cake, and I am a healthy eater and consider myself vegetable forward. I don’t eat refined sugar anymore. I ditched it several years ago in favor of natural sweeteners like dates, honey, maple syrup and coconut sugar. After some practice and experimentation in the kitchen, and reading a lot of cookbooks on baking with alternative sweeteners, (You should see my library, seriously. Does anyone else read cookbooks like novels?) I find I prefer the natural sweetener’s flavors over the white stuff. I like options! Dates give substance to baking, are a whole food, and have a rich flavor similar to brown sugar. Honey is distinct, light, and good for neutral baking. It does have a tendency to over brown at too high of a heat. Maple syrup is very distinctive. I think everyone can picture that flavor on their tongue. It is delicious in chocolate breads and with pecans for example, and coconut sugar has an earthy flavor and is closest in texture and application to refined white sugar.

Lemon Fig Cake Grain Free

Lemon Fig Cake

So, tada………introducing Lemon Fig Cake! Don’t worry if you think you don’t like dates, they are not predominant in the cake. They just add moistness and structure to the cake and contain a ton of trace minerals, calcium and fiber. Dates are a fruit and a whole food sweetener.

Lemon Fig Cake

Ingredients:

6 Eggs (I used local)

1 Cup of Medjool Dates (Soaked and Pitted)

1/2 Cup of Coconut Flour (here)

1/2 Cup of Apple Sauce

1/2 Cup of Dried Figs, halved

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

Zest of 1 Lemon (organic)

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda (Gluten Free here)

1/2 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract (I use this kind)

1/4 Teaspoon of Fine Sea Salt

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350º degrees F. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Place the dates in a bowl, and cover with very hot filtered tap water, and soak for five minutes. Halve your dried figs from stem to base and set aside. If they are extremely dry, you should soak them as well. In a food processor with a blade attachment, crack six eggs. Pit the dates after soaking and add them to the eggs. Then, process the eggs and dates until you have just little flecks of date in your batter. Add the remaining ingredients, except the figs, and process for about one minute until the batter is a smooth creamy yellow and a thick cake batter. Scrape the batter into your prepared parchment lined pan. Now, add your figs decoratively on the top, cut side up and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched with your finger. Cool on a wire rack, then remove the cake from the pan using the parchment paper as handles.

Lemon Fig Cake Batter (Grain Free)

Batter ready to bake shown above.

Servings 9

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

Health Benefits of Strawberries

It’s Strawberry Season! Take advantage of all the benefits of ripe juicy strawberries! Health Benefits of Eating Strawberries

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

Just Ming Ming and a Monday Cuteness Fix!

study buddy

Traveling study buddy! Ming Ming loves a lap, and she doesn’t mind being a stand in desk or tabletop!

Enjoy your Monday!

Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach

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

Tuna, Avocado Grain Free Wraps with Gremolata Dip and Truffle Aioli

I had to guard these spirals when I was testing the recipe in order to have a chance to photograph them for you all! It was a Saturday morning, and the kids and hubby were home, and I didn’t dare turn my back. 🙂 I have been watching my baby Grandsons during the week, so I develop recipes mostly on Saturdays these days.

Tuna and Avocado Grain Free Wraps with Gremolata and Truffle Aioli Dipping Sauce

The two dips for these delectable spirals stand alone, so you could easily double the recipes to have more sauces on hand. I have been eating gremolata on everything savory lately. I love the salty lemon flavor with the bright taste of parsley. The two dips eaten with the spirals makes them very fun to eat! Who doesn’t love a dip, let alone two?

Tuna and Avocado Wraps with Gremolata and Truffle Aioli Dipping Sauce

You can eat these highly nutritious wraps as soon as you assemble them, or wrap them up after rolling, and refrigerate them until you are ready to eat! Take them out of the refrigerator and slice the wraps right before you want to have them. They are a little easier to slice when cold, delicious right away as well!

Tuna Avocado Egg Wraps

Tuna, Avocado Egg Spirals

Ingredients: For each Egg Wrap you will need:

3 Pastured Eggs

1 Tablespoon of Water

1/8 Teaspoon of Salt

Pinch of Black Pepper

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

Whisk the eggs, water, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. In a 14 inch non-stick skillet, add the olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the egg mixture, and swirl the pan to spread the egg evenly. Cook for a few minutes until the middle is starting to set and the edges are no longer runny. With a large rubber spatula, gently flip the egg wrap, and cook about 30 seconds on the other side. Slide out of the pan onto a cutting board.

Tuna Filling (this is enough for two egg wraps, if you want to make one wrap, half the recipe)

Ingredients:

2 Cans of Wild Albacore Tuna (I buy this kind that is mercury tested)

1/2 Cup of Mayo (I use Avocado Oil Mayo here)

1/4 Cup of Diced Dill Pickle

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

1 Ripe Avocado (diced) This does not go in the filling. It is used when assembling the spiral.

Directions: Mix the tuna filling together.

Gremolata Dip

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons of Garlic Infused Olive Oil (or 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil and a Clove of Minced Garlic)

Zest of 1 Organic Lemon

2 Teaspoons of Dried Parsley

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Directions: Whisk the ingredients together.

Truffle Aioli

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup of Mayo (my favorite is healthy avocado oil mayo here)

1 Tablespoon of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 Tablespoon of Garlic Infused Olive Oil

1/8 Teaspoon of Truffle Salt (here)

1/8 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

Directions: Whisk all the ingredients together. Store refrigerated.

Now to Assemble the Spirals:

Lay out the egg wraps, spread them with half the tuna filling each. Sprinkle each wrap with half of the diced avocado. Roll them up snuggly, and then slice into 1 1/2 inch slices with a bread knife. Serve with the sauces.

Serves 2 to 4 people depending on if you have a Papa Bear or a Baby Bear appetite!