Category: Food

Check out a few of my favorite healthy and organic products!

My Favorite Organic Drinks

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When I am not sipping on water I love to have my fridge full of healthy, organic juices and teas, so I figured, why not share some of my favorite go-to beverages? I find that Jimbo’s or Whole Food has the best drink selections, but I can find a few of these at Sprout’s or smaller markets if I’m lucky.

Guayaki Yerba Mate Teas-

Yerba Mate has the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea and the euphoria of chocolate, all in one delicious beverage. Of the six commonly used stimulants in the world: coffee, tea, kola nut, cocoa and guarana, yerba mate triumphs as the most balanced, delivering both energy and nutrition.

Yerba mate comes from the naturally caffeinated and nourishing leaves of the celebrated South American rainforest Holly Tree, Ilex paraguariensis. For centuries, South America’s Aché Guayakí tribe has sipped yerba mate from a traditional mate gourd for its rejuvenating effects.

I am pretty much addicted to their iced teas, I love drinking these when I need a boost of energy before the gym or a big pile of work that needs extra focus.

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Dairy Free Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream

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Summer is coming which to me is awesome because that means there will be more watermelon in season for me to eat. I am obsessed with watermelon everything, so when I came across this Watermelon Coconut Dairy Free Ice Cream recipe, I had to try it out. I think the best thing about this recipe, besides the awesome ingredients, is that you don’t need a blender to make it!

-How to Make Dairy Free Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream-

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 can full-fat coconut milk
  • 5 pitted Medjool dates
  • ⅛ teaspoon scraped vanilla bean or ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups cubed watermelon

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Blend all ingredients in a blender and transfer to a brownie or cake pan.
  2. Place in the freezer for 3 hours or until hardened.
  3. Break the frozen watermelon mixture into chunks and place back in the blender.
  4. Blend until a creamy consistency is reached.
  5. Place back in a container or large bowl and place in the freezer to firm up for about 30 minutes.
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Cheers to Spring!

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While I do love all things organic and healthy, sometimes I also like to enjoy an occasional cocktail, especially if it is pink with flowers. I can not remember the last time I did have one, but perhaps after seeing these adorable cocktails it’s time. I came across these on Pinterest, and after seeing how easy they are to remake, I had to share!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup pink lemonade
  • 2 oz coconut vodka or coconut rum
  • Edible flowers of your choice
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The Secret Table Event in San Diego

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Two years ago I attended the very first Secret Table event here in San Diego and had a blast, which is why I am super excited to be attending this years event on April 4th! I figured this event fits in perfectly with this site, so I wanted to share it here in case anyone local to San Diego would like to attend.

The Secret Table is basically a huge organic dinner party/ mixer, perfect for anyone looking to enjoy organic food and drinks and mingle with like minded individuals, all while supporting local non-profit organizations. This event isn’t advertised too much as the Secret Table prefers to keep a genuine crowd, appealing mostly to San Diego change makers, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, visionaries, food and sustainability experts, science and business leaders, and other individuals working to make our community a more vibrant and prosperous place.

The name Secret Table comes from the concept of the location being kept a secret until the day of the event, so all I know right now is that this year’s event will be at a private location in Ranch Santa Fe, however the photos of the venue look beautiful.

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Dairy Free Vanilla Cashew Ice Cream

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If there is one thing I can not live without, it’s ice cream. I love ice cream! However, my body hates ice cream and every single time I eat it, I end up with a stomach ache and major regret. Traditional ice creams are packed full of hormones, gums, stabilizers and other nasty ingredients, which is why I always end up with bad skin, stomach aches, and eczema anytime I consume dairy or other store bought milks. {Organic almond milk is no exception here! The store bought brands of organic nut milks also have gums in them so beware!}

So, what’s a girl to do that loves dessert but ends up sick after eating it? Make a new, healthier way of course! I came across this Dairy Free Vanilla Cashew Ice Cream on Pinterest and just knew I had to try it out.

Not only is this recipe so simple, it is so delicious, better than regular ice cream in my paleo personal opinion.

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Paleo Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

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I recently got a Vitamix, so I guess you can say I’ve been going crazy on Pinterest recipes. First of all, for anyone who says a Vitamix isn’t worth the money, I strongly disagree! I am obsessed with mine and can’t believe I ever lived without it. I know they are pricey {$528.00}, however if you think about how much you can do with it, it’s totally worth it.

With that being said, I had to share tonight’s Pinterest creation- Paleo Garlic Mashed Cauliflower. If you already eat Paleo, then this idea is nothing new, but this was my first time making it and it was so delicious and so easy, I had to pass on the tip.

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How to Make Nut Milk at Home

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When it comes to dairy, you always want to buy organic or make it at home yourself. I am currently half way through my Food Babe way book and I’m learning more and more about exactly why conventional milk is terrible for us. Did you know that non-organic dairy is polluted with genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH)? This drug increases a cow’s milk production by over 10%, but in return, increases our risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Unless your milk is clearly marked “organic” or “rBGH Free” it probably contains this hormone.

Because this additive is so harmful, the cows udders become inflamed which then requires even more antibiotics be given. This, as you can imagine, is bad news for us, as these hormones and antibiotics stay in the cow’s milk that is then placed into the grocery stores we shop at. Because I refuse to drink dairy, or even store bought nut milk (because of its carrageenan or gums), the only way I drink milk is to make it myself. Here are some of the other disturbing ingredients that cause me to further avoid store bought milk.

Bad Ingredients in Store Bought Nut Milk-

  • Carrageenan– This ingredient is derived from seaweed so at first it sounds safe, however, Carrageenan is an inflammatory agent that could be to blame for your bloated tummy. Ever get a stomach ache after eating ice cream, dairy or almond milks? Probably this to blame. With links to gastrointestinal problems and colon cancer, Carrageenan should always be avoided, but be warned- it’s in everything. Yogurts, cream cheese, whipped cream, deli meats and more, this is one tough ingredient to avoid so be sure to check your labels!
  • Xanthan Gum– Xanthan gum is a largely indigestible polysaccharide that is produced by bacteria called Xanthomonas Camestris. A bacteria? Gross. It’s no wonder that this ingredient has serious links to unwelcomed bathroom issues. One study had volunteers consume 15g of xanthan gum per day for 10 days, in which they found xanthan gum to be a “highly efficient laxative,” and subjects experienced greater stool output and gas.
  • Guar Gum–  Not considered a carcinogen, but studies do show Guar Gum causes an increased risk of gastrointestinal issues and abdominal discomfort. Many also have an allergy to this, causing them to break out in a rash or experience an extremely flaky scalp.
  • Gellan Gum– This gum is very similar to Xanthan Gum, as it also produced by bacterial fermentation. Many complain of the same stomach aches and pains after consuming this, and when it was fed to rats it resulted in abnormalities in their intestinal microvilli.

So, now that you’re hopefully ready to kick store bought milks goodbye, here is how I make my own instead. It is more work than just picking one out at the store, but if it can heal your dry scalp, eczema, rashes, acne, and bathroom issues, I would say it’s worth the extra work if you asked me.

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