Egg Roll Bowl

Egg Roll Bowl

Egg Roll Bowl

If you’re a busy parent who’s hellbent on serving your children the healthiest, organically grown, nutrient-rich food… yet you’re floundering when it comes to making your own healthy meals, you’ll find so much value in this recipe.

Now, I know cabbage isn’t the sexiest vegetable, but it is beautifully practical. It rivals kale in health benefits, and it absorbs flavor like no other Brassica. Whether your goal is to find more healthy meals for your family, to get in the habit of simple meal prep, or to begin a lasting weight loss journey, this recipe is a refreshing place to start. Refreshing because this cabbage-filled recipe is:

  • filling and satisfying, yet it doesn’t leave you feeling overly full.
  • like a classic black top: you can dress this dish up or down by altering the toppings, base, or both.
  • incredibly satiating; it contains the perfect combination of sweet, salty and astringent flavors to leave your taste buds happy until your next meal.

I’m going to step away from the cabbage for a moment, and share the following with you only because most of the women I know, myself included, have struggled with their relationship with food and/or their bodies at some point in their life (or know someone who has).

When women reach out to me about weight loss, postpartum health or a strong desire to make lasting nutritional shifts, two particular aspects are completely overlooked and underrated: awareness and satiation, and the two go hand in hand. On a physical level, satiation prevents the discomfort of over-eating, mindless post-meal grazing, and cravings that distract you from your wellness goals. Satiation, the sense of satisfaction during and after a meal, happens when nourish our bodies with combinations of food that satisfy both our palate and our stomach. When we are satiated and feel like we received just enough, we are more likely to give our bodies a break between meals. Not only does this signal our nervous system to “rest and digest,” but it also facilitates healthy weight management/loss. Satiation gives us the opportunity to get to know our bodies again, to pay attention to true hunger signals, and to step back and remember what it feels like to be content with what is in this moment.

In my experience, it’s not one particular diet or food trend (gluten-free, dairy-free, veganism, paleo, raw, etc) that brings lasting change to one’s body and one’s life. It’s the awareness of what your unique body needs. It’s flexing our muscles of patience, when we’d rather take the quick, easy, fleeting path. It’s learning to listen to our bodies. It’s trusting the wisdom within.

…and this “cabbage” recipe will empower you to learn all of this, lose the weight and transform into an intuitive Supermom?

No. But, it will open the doors to satiation… and you have the option to walk through, giving yourself space to release patterns that no longer serve you. The satiation sensation grants you the space to pause just long enough for your mind to witness the “why” of particular desires, cravings and eating patterns. If you choose to open up to this awareness, whether you want to call it intuitive eating, mindfulness or simply “watching,” know that you will also give your hard working body the opportunity to rest and absorb all the goodness within your meal. In our impossibly fast, high-stress world, rest is an invaluable gift.

Maybe you want to call bullshit, maybe this is striking a cord in your heart. Either way, I’ll let you in on one simple mindfulness exercise that keeps me from (continuing to) mindlessly snack. When I find myself grazing through the late afternoon or mindlessly searching for something more after dinner, I ask myself one question: why?  Why am I searching? Why do I want more (food)? Why do I want this particular snack? What am I actually feeling? Not always, but on many occasions, I discover that I’m actually bored, under prepared or dissatisfied. Sometimes that dissatisfaction is as simple as: I didn’t have enough fat in my last meal… and sometimes (the ugly, I-don’t-really-want-to-admit-this truth) dissatisfaction is rooted in an aspect of my life that needs attention, healing or release.

Whether or not you’re in the same boat, I challenge you to ask the question next time you notice yourself scooping up a handful of mixed nuts, mid-stride. You might be surprised by your answer, and if you’re open, that answer could lead you down a path toward a healthier, more mindful and more joy-filled way of eating. My hope for every woman working toward any goal, from baby-weight-loss to finding a purpose-filled career is that, as she works toward her goal, her strides bring her presence, joy and nourishment throughout her entire being.

Alright, let’s dig into these Egg Roll Bowls!*
*Inspired by Clean Eating Magazine‘s vegetarian bowl.

SERVING: 8+ (servings increase when you use one of the base options)
INGREDIENTS

2T sesame oil / olive oil
1lb ground pork
3T pure maple syrup
3T tamari
Pinch ground black pepper
1 large white onion, thinly sliced
1/4 head red or green cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 head red cabbage, thinly sliced
4T peeled and minced ginger
5 cloves garlic, pressed
5 carrots, grated
GARNISH:
1 bunch green onion, chopped (divided)
2C Cashews (divided)
BASE OPTIONS
Serve over brown rice, egg noodles or a bed of spinach

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large skillet on medium-high, heat oil. Add pork and sear until browned, stirring frequently. Approx. 5-7 minutes.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrum, tamari and black pepper. Pour over pork and stir to coat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add cabbages, ginger and garlic and saute until fragrant, about 7 minutes. Stir in carrots and heat through, about 1 minute.
  3. Divide among bowls and top with green onion and cashews. Serve over brown rice, egg noodles or a bed of spinach… or enjoy as is.

MAKE IT LAST

  • While this recipe stands on its own, without a base, I prefer a smaller serving with a heap of baby spinach, 1/4C noodles and 1/4C cashews.
  • I also divide half of each batch into single-serving containers (without extra toppings or the base) and freeze for future use.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Leave a comment below, sharing what your favorite combo is! What toppings and base(s) do you love?

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Ground Cherry Pecan Coffee Cake

Ground Cherry Pecan Coffee Cake

Three things you need to know about this mouth-watering dessert:

  1. Speaking as someone who wasn’t sure about using tomatoes in a dessert recipe, I get the hesitation about using ground cherries. But let me say: these sweet tiny tomatoes are delicious. If you haven’t every had ground cherries, I recommend baking with a little faith and trying them out just this one time. However, any berry would be a suitable substitute in this recipe. (I personally am looking forward to making this again with blueberries!)
  2. This particular coffee cake recipe “allows” you to practice moderation. Clearly, coffee cake quite the treat, and by “treat,” I mean that it’s rare and enjoyed on special occasions. My recommend is to give yourself a little wiggle room and thoroughly enjoy a slice or two. As in, put down your fork down and sip on your favorite hot beverage between bites, tuck away distracting electronic devices, and savor it with someone you truly adore…. then pass on the goodness by sharing it with neighbors and friends. I brought this to a neighborhood gathering and it was a hit! (And then I had the leftover slice for breakfast the next morning. With coffee. It was divine.)
  3. My personal wellness philosophy is one of balance, awareness and self-compassion. It’s what I preach and it’s what keeps me feeling healthy and whole. That’s why I rarely look at calories, carbs or fat grams, and choose to instead look at ingredients and the broader scope of nutrients. However, because this particular recipe is a treat (and loaded with sugar, flour and butter) I thought that you might find it helpful to have the nutrition facts. Think of it as a useful awareness tool rather than a guilt-inducing list.

So that’s it! Adjust the recipe to fit your palate, share the goodness, and practice balance (moderation, in this case), awareness and self-compassion while enjoying your coffee cake!

SERVINGS: 14
INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 10 tablespoons room temperature unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups ground cherries (or other berries or fruit), husks removed
  • 1 cup chopped pecan pieces (untoasted)
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter and flour a 9″ cake pan (the taller the sides the better) and set aside.
  2. Whisk together whisk together flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut into the butter with two table knives until the butter-flour mixture is combined into the size of small peas. Remove 1 cup of the butter-flour mixture into a second bowl. Set aside for your topping.
  3. Whisk in baking powder and baking soda to butter-flour flour mixture.
  4. Add buttermilk, egg, and vanilla, and stir until mixture is free of flour streaks (but lumps are okay). Pour mixture into your prepared pan.
  5. Scatter ground cherries (or berries) over the top. Then, add pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon to your small bowl of flour that is set aside. Stir and sprinkle over the top. It will be thick, that’s ok. It equals crunchy goodness.
  6. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes until a knife comes out crumbly but clean. Remove from oven and cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Leave a comment below and share how you made this recipe your own!

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Leg & booty workout – part 1

Leg & booty workout – part 1

This one’s for all the mamas who may not have oodles of motivation or hours of time.

I don’t know about you, but at 26-weeks preggo, I’m was going for strength and endurance over aesthetics.

SIDE NOTE: I’ve got to say, while working out was pretty tough for me mentally and physically at this point, it made me feel a little less anxious about birth and all things baby and I believe that it prepared me for a tricky labor and natural birth. 

Now, just like Part 1 – the Barre Workout for ANY-Body, you definitely do not need to be pregnant to benefit GREATLY from this workout.

In fact, you may have even more fun if you’re not carrying another human being. (wink)

Either way, you’ll definitely want to get your hands on the DOUBLE Workout Cheat Sheet so that you can: 

  • Enhance THIS workout by turning it into a total body workout (I’ll show you all 3 BONUS Exercises) 
  • Dive straight into Part 1 – the BARRE workout
  • Weave in back-relieving and hip-opening stretches
  • Learn how to create your very own workout circuit, no matter how little time you have
  • Track your progress on a beautiful workout chart

Make sure to leave a comment below and share how you made this workout your own!

 
4-steps to transition into a postpartum fitness program

4-steps to transition into a postpartum fitness program

The recovering perfectionist, extremist, yo-yo-queen, in me wants to tell you a secret that you PROBABLY already know in your heart:

The question has NEVER been “will x, y or z work.” I mean… the reality is that any pill, wrap, chemical powder, extreme diet or crazy workout program WILL work. For a little while.

But what I know is that most of us don’t have the time, energy or emotional resilience to ride that roller coaster anymore. We deserve so•much•better. Can we just be DONE putting our bodies through those crashes and disappointments?
D O N E.

And I’ll admit: I was afraid, coming off of the (breast-feeding friendly) cleanse that I did this Spring. I feared that I’d return to my eating-while-standing-with-my-baby-on-my-hip habits, grabbing whatever I could put together with one hand and hoping his extraordinarily long {and freakishly STRONG} arms wouldn’t intercept my next bite.

Rather than letting that FEAR eat at me, I chose to do what I recommend almost every single day:

I found RHYTHM that isn’t necessarily easy {planting my bod on the couch to Netflix & chill #literally #andONLYliterally is easy}.

But what I found IS a RHYTHM that I can SUSTAIN: 

I can MAKE time for a 20-30 minute workout. Daily. With my baby. It’s not easy, but I can do that. (I may have to play catch while lunging to entertain my munchkin, but I can do that.)
I can have food in my house that gives me energy. That makes me feel nourished rather than depleted. That is a long-term win rather than a short-lived pleasure.
I can plug into a community that lifts me up on the bad days and celebrates with me on the better days.
I can feel good. Darn good. In my own skin. As a mom. As a human.

And tell me:

Don’t we all deserve a life filled with movement, nourishment, a little fun and a whole lot of compassion? Even when we’re tired… ESPECIALLY when we’re tired?

Change is possible, when we believe we deserve to feel our very best.

5 months postpartum: FORGET diets

5 months postpartum: FORGET diets

If I could tell you about the GAP between these moments – the tears, frustration, sleep deprivation, teething… oh the teething – then it would make a little more sense when I share this:

F*ck diets, hot trends, and OTHER PEOPLE’s side-by-sides (including mine).

YOU need to find what works for YOU.

And (WARNING: tough love comin’ at ya) you need to STICK•to•that•plan.

I struggled for the first 5 months of my little man’s life because I KNEW what worked well for MY body. I knew what I needed, but I told myself that I didn’t have the energy, time, motivation, etc to IMPLEMENT.

Maybe that was true. It sure FELT true.

But the MOMENT I started OWNING my excuses + GIVING a little more to ME, my body AND MY MIND started to shift.

I felt a little less anxious.
I felt energy slowly return.
I felt my moods even out.
I felt stronger.
I felt capable. Finally.
I felt content in my skin. Confident even.
I felt like I get beyond survival mode.
I could think about issues outside our tiny family unit.

But it wasn’t just one walk or one healthy meal or one workout that got me there. It was a very simple, intentional plan that I stuck to… adjusted, stuck to… reassessed, and stayed committed to.

Past me would hate this fact BUT: it’s just not about one A-HA moment. A-HAs are so•freaking•powerful, but they don’t make a sliver of difference if we don’t do something WITH that insight.

So… advice? From one recovering crazy, anxious, sleep-deprived mama to another:
Find what works for you. Move a little more. Eat a lot more mindfully. And stick with it.

If you do THAT you will•see•change. Best case scenario? You’ll see it radiate from the inside-out and you’ll want to share YOUR path with others.

Intentional birth

Intentional birth

Just 12 weeks and 1 day ago right around this time a full day and a half had passed since my water broke.

Acupuncture had unmistakably put me into active labor around 5PM and yet the night took many twists and turns before I finally got to meet my baby boy 10 hours later (and 46 hours after my water broke).

Intuition drew me towards our birth team and intuition is who I have to thank for the intentional uninterrupted birth of our healthy baby boy. The twists and turns could have led us in many different possibly scary directions given a different type of care team. Crunchy hypnobirthing education midwife nurses yoga-centered doulas and water birth hopes are not for everyone. To be honest each of those elements were cherries on top to what I REALLY wanted.

I wanted a team who would encourage me to trust my body.
I wanted everyone in the room to have a holistic big picture approach to my baby s health m as well as my own.
I wanted people who would encourage me when I felt like I just couldn t BE with those damn sensations any longer.
I wanted to feel ANYTHING but rushed.
I wanted brainstorms rather than cookie-cutter reactions.
I wanted care and compassion.
I wanted to feel supported but not in a held way – in an empowered way.
I wanted to feel safe but also trusted.

It all sounds so demanding when said out loud but like all mama bears the health of my child was very very important to me and I recognized how interconnected we all ready were.

I am confident that compassionate knowledgeable birth teams like this are not restricted to birth centers. Hospitals homes and everywhere in between have the potential to make mothers feel safe & supported. Each of these places also have the potential to make her feel minimized scared and unheard. My prayer for all mamas is that they are able to birth where and with whom they feel the most care desired expertise and love.

Love is important.

However we choose to live… however we choose to birth our next generation I have to believe that having FAITH in ourselves and surrounding ourselves with people who TRUST one another might be two of the most important factors to bringing more love light and hope into this country and into this world.

2-months postpartum: honor the journey

2-months postpartum: honor the journey

My sister and I were talking about how frustrating it can be to only see “the end,” particularly “the end” of the postpartum journey.

It’s definitely easier to share the “I MADE IT” moments.

While that can bring others, who are in the thick of the journey, hope, ONLY sharing the finish line can also leave the rest of us feeling alone…. like we’re moving forward at a snails pace… questioning if we’re even moving forward….

Some days I barely know the day of the week, I HOPE I’ll get through my embarrassingly small checklist, and I feel blessed beyond measure to get 30 minutes to myself to MOVE.

Other days are better, BRIGHTER, easier…
*and I have to be careful that I don’t ONLY share the light.

So, this is me today.

Still ON the journey.

Often feeling like I’ve barely begun.

Working my HARDEST to let go of that “not good enough” feeling.

Doing my best to become STRONG over thin, HONEST over surface-y, and KIND with my inner dialogue rather than plain old mean. ((Remember, we’re ALWAYS our first own worst critic.))

Let’s honor our freaking journey this year.
THE. WHOLE. THING.

If for no other reason than because THAT is what is real and THAT is what can empower each of us to LIFT one another UP as well as ourselves.

6-weeks postpartum – the new beginning

6-weeks postpartum – the new beginning

Alright, Team NO Judgment if you continue to read. Deal?

I hated being pregnant. Yes, OF COURSE it was worth it – OF COURSE.

But we have the option to own or truth despite the highlight reel on social media and my truth is: growing this sweet peanut drained me mentally, emotionally and physically more than any other phase of life.

So, this isn’t about a “before and after.” It’s about the freaking journey.

40 weeks pregnant vs. 6 weeks post-Max

TODAY I feel squishier and much weaker than I’ve been in a long time (just being real) BUT then I remind myself:

You birthed a (pretty sizable) human being.
You (somehow) feel energized again, despite that little sleep situation.
You ARE strong, just in different ways than before.
You are evolving simply by recommitting to yourself WHILE nurturing your baby.
You get practice compassion with yourself by being consistent with your self-care.
You survived the first six weeks.

I’m one of those crazies who’s excited to start moving again mostly because it makes me SANE and makes me feel empowered to change what’s no longer serving me (like watching all the Gilmore Girl episodes)! So, this is week 1 of the returning to my yoga mat. Week 1 of getting to know my bod again.

Why tell you all this? Well, believe it or not, it’s bigger than the belly & even BIGGER than abs. (Although, I’ll be real: if I happened upon abs, i wouldn’t send them away… I mean, anything to help me lift my milk monster!)

I am committed to sharing my postpartum journey OUT LOUD, no matter how uncomfortable. BECAUSE I’m absolutely positive I’m not the only woman who feels squishing, weaker or a grab bag of other adjectives this time of year (orrr after birthing a human).

It’s important to me to share the FULL journey rather than just the sparkly “after” moments in life.

As far as I’m concerned, friends, we’re all in this life game together, and I’d prefer to travel with folks who aren’t afraid to show their squishy, weak, uncomfortably vulnerable moments as well as their highlight reel.

CAUTION: pregnancy do’s and don’ts

CAUTION: pregnancy do’s and don’ts

I’m curious: how many things have you been cautioned about doing/NOT doing while pregnant… or while parenting… or while simply living your life?

I’m finding that the debates are NUTS about what “should/shouldn’t” be done and what is “wrong/right” for momma and baby.

Clearly, I’m quite new to this scene, but I’ve been shocked at BOTH how fear seems to rule one’s way of life AND how extreme distrust for “the system” forces people to ward off ANY recommendations.

Historically, I’m no better; I’ve struggled with an extremist mind as long as I can remember, but this process {for me} needs to be far more balanced and grounded than the swings of extreme rule-following or extreme rebellion.

Personally, the two ways I find the most peace, freedom AND safety in my decision-making process are through:
• a range of research from a variety of sources
• my own intuition
…and letting go of the fear & reality of judgment

We’re all doing the very best we can for ourselves, our families and our little creatures.

Maybe, just maybe, when we STOP judging others for their choices and START respecting people for honoring their bodies and their families THE BEST WAY that they know how, we’ll be able to share a much more open and compassionate dialogue about how to authentically move through the most thrilling transitions in this miraculous life.