iheartwellness.com

Quick Kale Salad

Posted on 10. Dec, 2009 by kris.

Top of the morning to you my Friends! 

How was your Humpday yesterday??  Mine was a very interesting day…..but a good day.  I got quite a bit accomplished on my “to do” list getting things ready for the Festivities Saturday so I am starting to feel a little calmer.  Are you like me and create list upon list of what needs to be done before you host an event?  I think I write the same list 5 or 6 times and stress out about it every time I write my silly list!  Ahhhh the joys of being “me”

I  concocted again today for my afternoon snack, I was running a bit behind yesterday morning and I needed an afternoon snack so I threw together some Black Kale, a Tomato, some sea salt, a dash of Mrs. Dash and a squeeze of lemon!  This was a mighty tasty little snack I took with me!

 

I just read on a post done by Liz Stein that you should be eating a dark leafy green with almost every meal.  We all know my love obsession with Kale and I have these luscious greens in my morning smoothie and usually with dinner and now sometimes in my snacks!  So eat your Greens people – your body and skin will thank you.

I have received a few emails regarding what I eat on a daily basis.  So here it is folks -

My daily eats:

Wake up – 500ml of water with either fresh squeezed lemon or daily detox drops (I normally drink 2.5 L at least of water a day!)

Breakfast – Green Smoothie

Snack – 1 cup Nutmilk or water with a scoop of Vega Meal Replacement

Lunch- Salad – Mixed Greens, Carrots, Celery, Sprouts, 1/2 an avovado, and hemp seeds - with fresh lemon juice

Snacks (throughout the afternoon) - Carrot Sticks, Celery with Almond Butter, and usually a baked good or homemade granola bar ;)

Dinner – The weekly list:

Quinoa with Veg
Vegan Taco Salad
Mung Beans and Veggies
Salads with Hemp Seeds
Vegan Pasta

The list goes on

I will not lie – I usually have another treat, (2 or 3 more) here after dinner……

Dinner was wonderfully made for me when I arrived home last night and we dined on Mung Beans and Veg.  Ryan sure knows a way to a girls heart  

 

After dinner I worked out Back and Bicep P90X style!  I have noticed such a difference in my body since regulating my “organic” potato or taco chip intake…I know they said there was healthy ingredients in them, but bottom line they were making my bottom bigger!  I have not had any since going on the detox on October 1st and I tell you the body really loves it when  you say no to chips (every once in a while is ok   But I ate them often – even if it was only a handful here and there!  My weekend “snack” with movies now are Mary’s Crackers, Carrots and my baked treats!  YUMMMM

 What do your daily eats look like?  Are your breakfasts always the same like mine?!

Have a great day!!

 

GIVEAWAY ENDS SUNDAY!  Please submit your Holiday Dessert Recipe to me, I would love to see them!  The winner gets a lovely Starbucks Gift Pack valued at $40!  Send entries to iheartwellness@gmail.com

XXOO
Kris

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Pumpkin Tartlets

Posted on 04. Nov, 2009 by kris.

Good Morning All and Happy Humpday to you!!!

I stayed up late last night reading so many wonderful blog posts on so many wonderful blogs!  I didn’t realize how big this healthy eating community really is   I commented a lot on some blogs I just found, I was like a kid at Christmas unwrapping all the goodies in these blogs!  It was a lot of fun.

As I was blogging and reading my pumpkin tarts were “baking” in the freezer……LOL…i heart vegan Raw baking because is it super easy, nutritious and it tastes just as good as regular baking.  These tarts were just like eating mini pumpkin pies I had the perfect amount of sweetness and spice, a big pat on the back for me!  Experimenting in the kitchen is great fun for me and I usually produce some amazing eats.  Ryan would tell you my baking is better than my cooking, but sometimes I do surprise him with a tasty made up dinner

I also had to make Ryan another loaf of Almond Bread – 1 day and it had vanished…..it must have been tasty

This morning was another fierce Green Smoothie!  As you can see I use a beer mug to drink my smoothie…these are surprising only used for smoothies and never beer!  LOL.  Like the Pink Robe??  Ahhh La Senza I can’t live without your robes

Raw Vegan Pumpkin Tartlets   These do not look nearly as cute as the tarts found on fitnessista.com today, but they are super tasty!!  My sister Michelle made a similar pie to this, but she baked hers and used regular Pumpkin Pie filling.  On a side note if you want to read an Amazing Shoe Blogeveryone should checkout Michelle’s Blog - SoleInTheCity.ca - shout outs to the sista! 

Here is the recipe for Kris’ Vegan Tartlets:

Crust:

1 cup Almond Flour
1/2 cup Date Paste (*see my below explanation)

Filling:

1/2 can Organic Pumpkin
1/4 cup Agave Nectar
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tbs Pumpkin Pie Spice (I used a bit more because that’s how I roll…spicy!)

Directions:

-Place dates into a bowl and pour enough warm water to cover them.  Let them sit for a few minutes.
-Place the Almond Flour into your mixing Bowl.
-In a separate bowl mix the pumpkin, agave, vanilla, and spices together.
-Get your muffin tin out and place 6 muffin liners in.
-Pour half of the water out of the dates and add the dates with some of the soaking water to the Food Processor, blend until smooth.
-Mix the Almond Flour and the Date Paste together.  Place some crust mixture into the 6 muffin tins.  Mold into a tart   crust.  Place even amounts of the filling into each crust.
-Cover with tin foil and place in the freezer for 1 hour.
This recipe makes 6 tarts.

I hope you all enjoy this yummy healthy treat!

Hit me back with some of your favorite tart recipes, raw or baked!  Do you all enjoy raw treats??

Follow me on twitter and on the i heart wellness Facebook page!  Keep in touch Dolls

XXOO
Kris

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Dark Deep Secrets of Greens!

Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by kris.

Happy Tuesday All,

Last night was a late night and I was away from the computer – I actually felt a part of me was missing?  Anyone else feel this when they are away from their blogs, community of friends and connections on twitter?  I sure did!

Raise of hands – who loves consuming Fresh, Dark, Greens?  I do and I know so many of you do too but I can bet this wasn’t always the case now was it?    For myself I didn’t really appreciate the Dark Deep Green until a few years ago when I really understood the benefits of them.  Yea sometimes I prefer them cooked to raw, but they are a staple ingredient in the morning bevy

Like you all know my breakfast is a big fresh smoothie which always consists of 1/2 an Apple, 1/2 frozen ninner, 3 big black kale leaves, 2 scoops vanilla chai Vega (sometimes another flavor) and good clean water (super important to make sure it is good water so you absorb the nutrients).  On certain occasions I might throw in frozen berries, goji berries, nut milk or spices but the staples are always there!

Smoothie Example:

My fave Green is Kale and I really heart Black Kale!  I use it as wraps for my nut “cheeses”, I eat it raw in salads, add it to soups, rice dishes you name it!  Ryan always asked me why I eat rabbit food?  And finally since he has been on the detox and is staying away from all processed foods and meats for 3 more months he finally understands and appreciates the greens   Finally!

Kale – The Green God

Did you know one cup of cooked kale with no added salt contains 2.5 grams protein and 2.6 grams fiber!  I probably eat 4 cups of kale a day and I really notice a difference in my energy when I miss my Kale.

It also has all of these wonderful minerals:

Potassium – 296 mg
Phosphorus – 36 mg
Magnesium – 23 mg
Calcium – 94 mg
Sodium – 30 mg
Iron – 1.17 mg
Manganese – .541 mg
Selenium – 1.2 mg
Vitamin K- 1062 mcg Also contains small amounts of copper and zinc.

And Vits!

Vitamin A – 17,101 IU
Vitamin C – 53.3 mg
Niacin – .65 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – 0.069 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – 0.091 mg
Vitamin B6 – 0.179 mg
Folate- 17 mcg
Pantothenic Acid – 0.064 mg
Vitamin K- 1062 mcg
Vitamin E – 1.1 mg

I researched other ways for me to get calcium since I knew I had an allergy to dairyand I found that dark leafy greens especially Kale has wonderful amounts of calcium which are not high in oxalate and is absorbed as well or better than the calcium from cow’s milk!  Go figure!!  Isn’t mother nature be-a-u-tiful?!

Calcium is mucho important for us ladies and it eases insomnia and helps regulate the passage of nutrients through cell walls. Without calcium, your muscles wouldn’t contract correctly, your blood wouldn’t clot and your nerves wouldn’t carry messages……Could you imagine – no thoughts?!  I would die, I love day dreaming!

If you don’t get enough calcium from the food you eat, your body automatically takes the calcium needed from your bones. If your body continues to break down more bone than it replaces and rebuilds over a period of years in order to get sufficient calcium, your bones will become weak, brittle and break very easily.  Plus you could get a hunch back

A deficiency in Calcium may result in muscle spasms and cramps and I know this is huge issue for bodybuilders when they drink distilled water!  Distilled water will leach all the minerals and nutrients from your bones, ligaments and skin.  I will do a water post in a couple days! 

So I would like to challenge everyone to UP your Greens intake!  I read interesting posts on Balanceisbeauty.ca and Ohsheglows.com where these lovely gals say they are adding 1 extra green drink into there daily diet to feel better, continue glowing and they will be boosting their bods with nutrients!  I am also adding 1 extra green drink into my daily diet routine and will have it most likely after dinner when I really feel like snacking   Dr.Oz also states he has a green drink in the morning and says it will turn back time and we all love Dr. OZ   Greens keep you young, healthy and vibrant! 

Ahhhh whole foods you will love me I will be the girl with bunches of kale hugged in my arms first thing in the a.m.!

On another note – www.loveveggiesandyoga.com has a wonderful give away!  Enter for a chance to win 3 Pounds of Chia Seeds!  Go Enter Now!

Anyone have some good recipes with Kale??  I am always looking for more!

Have a great Tuesday All!

Also join me on Twitter and Facebook!  If you found this interesting pass it on

XXOO Kris

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