healthy diet – Wellness and Well-Drinks

Red, White, and Blue Low-Sugar Desserts That Won’t Destroy Your Diet!

I am a huge fan of 4th of July. The sparklers, fireworks, bbq Foods, beach, sun, swimming, and desserts; all wonderful things that come even better with good company. I’ve always been a fan of spending the whole day and night celebrating and having a good time. This year however, I don’t want all the crazy added sugar. So, I decided to recreate some of my favorites with less sugar, better-for-you ingredients, and of course gluten-free ingredients. These desserts might not please every diet, so just keep that in mind! They can also be made to fit the need of other holidays by using different colors and themes! Personalization is a choice.

White Chocolate Covered Fruit

I love chocolate covered fruit. It is seriously one of my all time favorite things to eat and I don’t think that will ever change. I like the fact that something natural and nutritious can easily be made into a dessert. So, how did I transform this into a better-for-you dessert? I used all-natural white chocolate from the brand SunSpire Fair Trade. This allowed me to be in control of what ingredients I added to the fruit. If I am being 100% honest, the sprinkles are NOT anything special. They are regular ol’ sprinkles, and that’s okay! I decided to make white chocolate covered strawberries, bananas, and blueberries. My family approved and I cannot wait to take them with me for 4th of July festivities.

Ingredients

1 package of SunSpire Fair Trade All-Natural White Chocolate Chips
2 teaspoons coconut oil
Red and blue sprinkles
Any fruit you wish to cover in chocolate

Directions

Wash and dry your fruit. Make sure it is completely dry so you don’t get any water in the chocolate.
Cut your bananas into thirds and store all the fruit in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes. This is so the chocolate has an easier time hardening because the fruit is cold.
In a microwaveable bowl, add 1/2 your chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Microwave for about 30 seconds, and mix ingredients together.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. As you dip your fruit in the chocolate, line up on the baking sheet carefully. I suggest not doing too much at one time to avoid the chocolate hardening before you can put the sprinkles on.
There are different ways to add sprinkles and I think you should be as creative as you want!
Let chill in the freezer for at least 1 hour before serving. So yummy!

Simple GF Blueberry Loaf Cake

Again, all about honesty here, this did not turn out the way I had planned. However, it came out so delicious that I couldn’t help but share the success with you all. The original plan was to use blue berries and beets to create a swirl in the bread, but I just didn’t use enough! I could have easily used food coloring, but I wanted to make this cake as all natural as possible…and the blueberries added a little color without too much blueberry flavor which was the goal. My family has already finished the half I set aside for them!! So, how did I make a cake healthier but still moist and delicious? I used 100% pure maple syrup and a little bit of stevia. I also used gluten-free flour and coconut oil in place of butter. These simple switches can help make eating cake a little less of a guilty pleasure.

Ingredients

2 cups gluten-free flour
3 whole eggs
1/4 cup All-natural maple syrup
2 teaspoons stevia
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup almond milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup blueberries (optional)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 °F. Then, line a loaf mold with parchment paper.
With a hand mixer, combine your dry ingredients. Then slowly add your wet ingredients. Very simple and easy.
Set aside 1/4 cup of batter. Pour the rest in your loaf mold.
On medium high heat, break down the blueberries with 1 tablespoon water. Drain 4 tablespoons of the liquid into a cup and save the rest of the mix in an air tight container for oatmeal in the morning (trust me it’s delicious.)
Mix the batter left aside with the blueberry liquid. Drizzle on top of the plain loaf and use a toothpick to create swirls.
Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes.
Remove, serve, and enjoy!

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Creamy Roasted Vegetable Sauce and Italian Turkey Meatballs (Gluten-free, Low-Carb, Dairy-Free, Paleo-Friendly)

I grew up in a household where I was constantly exposed to so many different dishes and foods; I guess that’s what happens when your father has a passion for cooking and food. A classic choice was always some sort of Italian dish, so naturally this became my comfort food (well, that and mashed potatoes/French fries bc who doesn’t love those?) As most of you know, I recently went to New York (Brooklyn and Manhattan) where I allowed myself to eat a little less restricted while still trying to stay balanced. One thing I wanted the whole time I was there was pasta. Sadly, everywhere we went for dinner didn’t have pasta at all or did not serve gluten-free pasta. Even somewhere that said online that they did told me at their location they don’t! It isn’t always a choice to be gluten-free!!

So, naturally, the moment I got home my recipe creator mind went crazy trying to think of a delicious dish I could make to satisfy my craving. When I create recipes, I like to think of a dish and write down all my favorite flavors that match with that dish. For this recipe, I started with the sauce…because that is my favorite part! I wrote down a list of flavors that I wanted to taste, some extra veggies I could throw in to add more health benefits, and how I wanted to use the ingredients. Then, I moved on to what kind of pasta I wanted to match it with, and I needed to think of a protein to add so it would be a balanced meal. Thus, I created this beauty…okay the color is a little odd, but it comes from the mix of roasted veggies…yum!

I have heard about Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi all over the BeachBody Instagram world. They are gluten-free and made with a base of cauliflower (veggie pasta? Yes please!) One of the best parts about them is that they are frozen, so you don’t have to worry about them going bad before you have your next pasta craving. I was finally ready to try these babies after reading about them for about a month now. When I got to the store, I was pleasantly surprised that they were only $2.50 a bag! That’s such a great deal, especially if you are gluten-free like I am and you are used to buying products for way more than the typical prices.

Next came thinking about a protein. I remembered how much I liked the meatballs I made a couple of months ago, and I was excited when I discovered ground turkey in the fridge that needed to be used. However, this time I wanted to do something different from the pesto flavor, so I used two of my spices from RawSpiceBar. If you have never heard of this company, I highly recommend looking into their spices. It is a quarterly subscription that sends fresh, high quality spices to your door and gives suggestions on how to use them. I love receiving the spices because they always inspire me to create things that I normally wouldn’t! I’ve cooked a variety of middle eastern and asian foods I would have never tried without these spices. I am not sponsored by them (a girl can dream) but I have been featured on their Instagram/Twitter pages and recommend them on a serious level! PS: Who can spy a hungry puppy in the bottom of this picture??

Now that I’ve blabbed enough, I am ready to share this recipe! My mom said this was some of the best sauce she has even had and I was so proud. The sauce is creamy without any added cream, and it was purely veggies, some spices, and olive oil! Pretty amazing what vegetables can do on their own! Give it a try and let me know how it goes.

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Creamy Roasted Vegetable Sauce and Italian Turkey Meatballs Recipe

This recipe yields about 3 servings of sauce and gnocchi, and 12-15 meatballs depending on their size.

Ingredients

Gnocchi:

Cauliflower Gnocchi from Trader Joe’s

Meatballs:

1 pound lean ground turkey
1 egg
1/4 cup almond flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 package of RawSpiceBar New York Italian Seasoning (or your favorite Italian Seasoning)
1 tablespoon fennel seeds (I used RawSpiceBar’s)

Sauce:

6 tomatoes (I used Roma because that is what grows in my garden, but feel free to use beef or any other large tomato)
1 whole sweet onion, sliced
6-9 cloves of garlic (depending on preference)
1 whole bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup fresh basil
3/4 cup fresh oregano
2 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 °F. Line two baking sheets with foil for easy clean up.
For your meatballs, in a mixing bowl, add egg, garlic, almond flour, spices, and fennel seeds. Mix until all ingredients are combined.
Add your lean ground turkey. Be sure to mix really well so all of the turkey is covered in flavors, egg, and flour!
Using a tablespoon for measurement, take a scoop of turkey and using your hands, roll into a tight ball and place on your baking sheet. If this thought totally disgusts you, you can also use a cookie scoop so you aren’t touching the raw meat. When making your meatballs, remember to try to make them all a similar size so you can be sure they cook through all the way.
Put baking sheet in the oven and allow your meatballs to cook for 20 minutes.
Using tongs, flip your meatballs so they brown on both sides. Cook for 10 more minutes. When done, take them out of the oven so they are ready to plate later.
While your meatballs cook, you can begin to prep your veggies for the sauce. Chop your onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper, then lay them all out on your second foil lined baking sheet and season with a drizzle of olive oil, sea salt, and cracked pepper. Your garlic can be placed in whole cloves on the sheet as well!
Place your veggies in the oven with your meatballs. They will take less time to roast than the meatballs, so keep a close eye on them. Mine took about 25 minutes and came out perfectly!
In a sauce pan, add 1/4 cup of olive oil and your fresh herbs. Let this begin to warm up on a low heat so the herbs infuse their flavor into the olive oil.
When your veggies are ready, add them to the sauce pan and begin to break them down while mixing it all together.
In a blender, pour your sauce and blend until smooth. A hand held blender works just as well. I personally use my NutriBullet and love it.
Pour your sauce back in the pan, add sea salt, cracked pepper, and crushed red pepper. Stir well and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Cook your gnocchi according to the directions on the package.
Pour gnocchi, sauce, and meatballs into a bowl and enjoy the heck out of it!

Lunchbox Salad Recipe

Hello everyone! For those who follow me on Instagram (@wellnessandwelldrinks) you know that I eat dinner at work. Lately, people have been asking me how I do this, especially because I do not have a fridge or microwave (I work at a dance studio if that makes more sense), so I am limited to options. I also do not like to wait to eat until I get home (around 9-9:30pm) because I go to bed early. If I eat right before bed, I tend to get a stomach ache and my body doesn’t get the proper chance to continue to burn calories. So, I try to eat my dinner between 5pm and 6:30pm because that is what is best for me.

What do I bring for dinner? Well, I am a huge fan of kale (as we all probably know by now) so I like to bring a kale salad. For this post, I am going to break down the recipe I most use piece by piece, but I will also offer replacements to create different flavors of salads (thats how I avoid getting bored with it!) Read below for the recipe!

Lunchbox Salad Recipe

This recipe is going to be written a bit differently than my usual recipes. I’m going to go step by step and show you how I build my salad.

Kale. About 2 cups, chopped. Remember to always wash and dry your kale
before using it. Lately, mine has had dirt still on it, which I don’t want to eat. Not to mention your kale was sitting in a store or the farmer’s market where others possibly touched it or something else did. Wash away all possible impurities or contaminants! I do not like buy prepackaged kale because I don’t typically eat the steams when it’s raw. So, I prefer to cut my own. But please do whatever is best for you! This is my preference, but if you like eating kale your way, do so! You are still eating kale after all!
Basil. About 1/2 cup, chopped. I love fresh herbs. I like to chopped them up and add them to my salad because I think it adds more flavor. This is a great tip for those of you who aren’t kale lovers like I am. It will give you a different flavor and allow you to still eat kale, but with ease. Basil also has great nutritional value as well. It is not just for pizza or pasta! Put your chopped basil in your container with your kale and mix it around a bit!
Avocado. 1 medium, cubed as best as you can! Avocados will always be one of my
favorite foods. I love how they add healthy fats, add a creamy texture, and make my tastebuds soar from bliss. As a Californian, they are a staple to my life. Dramatic? Maybe a little. Delicious? Absolutely. Try squeezing a bit of lemon or lime juice on top to avoid having brown avocados in your salad. If needed, season your avocado pieces with salt and pepper.
Quinoa. 1/4 cup, fully cooked and cooled. A healthy alternative to rice, and surprisingly a delicious addition to salads. I do not eat too
many carbs, mainly because I am gluten-free and a majority of gluten-free products are even higher in carbs (not even the healthy kind). However, quinoa offers more than just a health carb option, it also contains protein and makes your salad a bit hardier. Vegetables can be filling on their own, but there is nothing wrong with adding a carb to your salad, especially if it is a meal. Plus, eating quinoa is better than croutons or those yummy, but greasy tortilla crisps.
Chicken. 3/4 cup, chopped and cooled. Or 1 breast. I love chicken breast; it is so versatile, low in calories, and has so much protein. I personally do not eat a “full breast”. I take the chicken breast and cut it in half to make 2 thin breasts. I started doing this in college to make my chicken last longer, but also because it cooks so much faster! Less than 5 minutes on each side which is great for my busy lifestyle. My chicken marinated in 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper before I cooked it in a skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. This adds flavor without too much added sodium.
Dressing. I like to make my own dressings, just so I always know what is going inside of my body. Also, store bought dressing a lot of times has added sugars and carbs. For this salad, I mix 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and cracked pepper. Yum.
Pack and enjoy! Don’t forget your ice pack.

Alternative flavor options:

Kale, cilantro, avocado, quinoa, and black beans with a salsa verde dressing
Kale, parsly, tomato, quinoa, and chicken with a pesto dressing
Kale, dill, avocado, quinoa, and chicken with a honey dijon dressing
Kale, mint, watermelon, feta cheese, and onion with a balsamic dressing

Kale and Lemon Immune Boosting Soup

I have a confession...I love soup. I love making it, I love eating it, and I love how many vitamins I can shove into one bowl. My family has been feeling sick on and off and I work with children/families, so I am exposed to a lot of germs. I need as many vitamins as I can get! Sometimes I make enough soup to share and freeze leftovers, but lately I’ve been making a fresh bowl of soup daily. It does not have to be complicated or simmer for a lengthy time to be delicious, especially when it’s a vegan soup! Meat tends to need more time in the pot, but herbs and veggies breakdown a lot easier. I also do not always need complex, flavor-building soup. Sometimes you need something simple, quick, and easy! I like to use as fresh of ingredients as possible, but if you prefer dried herbs or pastes, use what is best for you! Now, let’s talk about the benefits from this recipe!

Kale: this low calorie, non-fat, fiber rich, leafy green helps aid digestion, and helps promote iron absorption (hello vitamins B and C!) It is also a great source of vitamins K, A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and E. All the nutrients, and a great alternative to spinach or collard greens. If you are an avid reader on my blog, you know that I eat around 3-4 cups of kale a day, so I am personally a huge fan.

Garlic/Onions: Ah, the Allium family. Garlic, shallots, chives, leeks, onions..oh my! I love the flavors of all alliums, but garlic and onions are by far used most in my daily life. They help with cold and flu relief, as well as provide great anti-inflammatory benefits due to the vitamin C and manganese content. While you can get heartburn from both of these ingredients (my grandmother could not stand garlic), when eaten in moderation, you should be okay. I typically do not have side effects, so I eat a lot of garlic! Again, modify for yourself.

Ginger: I’ve been a fan of ginger for quite sometime now. I love ginger tea, ginger chews, and fresh ginger in soup. Ginger is typically known for its relation to relieving stomach pain. Whether it be motion sickness, nausea, morning sickness, or just an upset stomach, ginger is a great option to try! It is also known to help relieve cold and flu symptoms, as well as help reduce inflammation.

Lemon: Fresh lemon juice has so many great benefits. Again, a great source of vitamin C (do you see the theme here?), but lemon juice also promotes weight loss, aids digestion, and can help promote hydration. When making soup, add your lemon juice in when serving. Just like with all vegetables and fruit, it is best to consume them in the rawest form possible (if safe) so you can really get the nutrients than can be cooked out.

Kale and Lemon Immune Boosting Soup Recipe

I made a single serving for this soup, so feel free to double, triple, or make as much as you want! It’s easy to digest, low calorie, non-fat, vegan, gluten-free, and filled with immune boosting goodness!

Ingredients

1/2 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup ginger, chopped in large pieces
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups kale, chopped
1/2 fresh lemon, juiced
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Pour water into a medium sauce pan. Add onions, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a boil and continue to let it boil for 5 minutes. Turn down the heat to medium low for 10-15 minutes covered.
Remove ginger if you do not want to eat it in your soup. Personally, I do remove it at this point, but if you want to consume the pieces, go for it! Remember to remove the skin before cooking if eating.
Add your kale. Let the kale cook for about 5 minutes.
Pour your soup into a bowl. Pour lemon juice into the soup and give it a stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy and try to keep the germs away!

Spaghetti Squash with Protein Sauce

I have an obsession with squash, but more importantly spaghetti squash. I am gluten-free, and as much as I love gluten-free pasta options, I still hate how many carbs are in a single cup. My parents used to serve us spaghetti squash as a treat when we were kids, and all three of us would gobble it up. In college, I rediscovered how cheap and easy it was to have a squash fill you up and be just as tasty as actual spaghetti. You can replace spaghetti squash in any of your favorite pasta dishes, or simply enjoy with olive oil and seasoning. There are virtually endless possible ways to consume this yummy squash.

Even if you aren’t gluten-free or on a low carb diet, this is an easy way to get a ton of vitamins in your diet. Spaghetti squash is high in fiber, vitamin B, potassium, and omega-3 fats. It also contains the essential minerals calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. With all the benefits, spaghetti squash can help aid in weight loss, lower cholesterol, and help regulate your blood sugar. Who knew you could replace regular spaghetti with something so nutritious!?

For this recipe, I decided to make a meat sauce with ground turkey, garlic, olive oil, and fresh tomato and basil. I’m sure a meat substitute, such as lentils, would work fine (I was a vegetarian once, I get it!) or even without the meat substance at all. This is how I chose to fuel my body, and I have no regrets!

Spaghetti Squash with Protein Sauce Recipe

This recipe includes how to prepare a whole spaghetti squash, so there will be enough for leftovers. I made enough sauce for a single serving, but feel free to double or triple it to serve your whole family! Sorry, I do single girl servings!

Ingredients

1 Spaghetti Squash
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce:

1/2 a cup ground turkey
1 roma tomato, diced
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
For spice, you could add crushed red peppers, but I didn’t have any on hand!

Directions

Start by cooking the spaghetti squash. To do this, preheat your oven to 450 ℉. Pierce your squash with a fork so it can steam. Put your squash on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. This allows the squash to soften making it easier to cut. Cut the squash in half (I cut mine long ways, but the choice is yours) and remove all seeds. Evenly distribute olive oil and seasoning on the squash. Place the halves back on the baking sheet with the inside facing down. This helps the squash steam and not burn. Cook for about 10-15 more minutes. Take out of the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before trying to touch. With a fork, carefully scrape your squash and create long strings. Boom. Spaghetti in squash form.
For the sauce, start by cooking your protein. I put the ground turkey in a skillet on medium high heat with a drizzle of olive oil, flavored with salt and pepper, and occasionally stirred until it was fully cooked.
Next, turn down the heat down to medium. Add your tomato and garlic to your protein. Cook and stir until the tomatoes have softened.
Slowly incorporate the basil and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the rest of the sauce.
In a bowl, portion yourself a serving of spaghetti squash (I eat about 1 1/2 cups at a time) and add your sauce on top. Top with salt and pepper for added taste.
Enjoy!