November 12, 2018 at 09:45AM Thanksgiving is T-minus two weeks away, which means recipe-planning starts, well, now. It can be tricky to create a menu that caters to all eaters, from Paleo and ketogenic to vegan and vegetarian. But if there’s one food pretty much everyone can get behind it’s cauliflower. It’s about as uncontroversial as wanting world peace. As it happens, you can use it to create a delish, flavorful turkey replacement. Dana Shultz, the mastermind behind Minimalist Baker, posted a downright genius recipe on her Instagram for a plant-based turkey that only requires six ingredients: cauliflower, avocado oil, curry powder, harissa paste, maple syrup, and sea salt (oh, and water, which you probably have on hand). While—let’s be honest here—cauliflower definitely isn’t meat—it’s a flavor-packed dish everyone at the table can happily nosh on. And Shultz writes on her site that it’s definitely been tested and tried: “This recipe, while it may seem straightforward, threw me for a loop. I roasted seven heads of cauliflower until I got it just right,” she says. “But in the end, it was totally worth the effort. Shultz likes to serve hers up on a bed of quinoa to round it out. And hey, maybe it will be so popular around the table that it won’t just be limited to once a year. Head over to her site for the easy, 100 percent vegan recipe. Here’s how to bring wellness home with you this Thanksgiving. And here are more cauliflower recipes to
Category: Keto
Are pecans the most underrated nut? Here are 5 reasons to add them to your snack haul
November 11, 2018 at 08:00AM Chances are, you don’t really think about pecans at very often—unless it’s the holiday season and you’re baking them into a pie. (Or they end up as one of the ingredients in packet of trail mix you buy at the store.) They definitely don’t receive the same amount of love as almonds, aka the most popular nut milk. So what’s the deal? Are pecans good for you? The answer is a resounding yes. These nuts boast a bevy of health benefits. “Pecans are nutrient-packed and contain a variety of vitamins,” says Neda Varbanova, certified culinary nutritionist, holistic health coach, and founder of Healthy with Nedi. The nutritional breakdown reads kind of like a multivitamin: They’re packed with B vitamins, folic acid, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and E. Below, Verbanova breaks down the benefits of pecans, and why they’re worth a place in your pantry. 1. They’re lower in carbs than other nuts. If you follow the ketogenic diet, then you know that nuts, while high in healthy fats, count toward your meticulously calculated carb count. Varbanova says that pecans are lower in carbs that a lot of other nuts (they clock in at around four grams per one-ounce serving). To put that in perspective, almonds have six grams of carbs per one-ounce serving, and cashews contain nine grams. 2. They help support your immune system and fight inflammation. “Boost your immune system” and “fight inflammation” are buzz phrases you hear a lot in the wellness
Why does the keto diet make your breath smell so freaking foul?
November 09, 2018 at 10:35AM One surprising truth about the ketogenic diet: There are a lot of weird side effects. From feeling completely wiped when you first start to funky poop problems, it isn’t all rainbows and avocados. And now for another super-fun potential downside: keto breath. Keto breath is…exactly what it sounds like. The diet can basically make your breath smell really, really foul, thanks to all of those delicious, good-for-you healthy fats you’re eating. “When you start the ketogenic diet, your liver begins breaking down fatty acids and turning them into ketones,” explains Sara Gottfried, MD. (In case you’re a keto newbie, ketones are a form of fuel for your cells that come from fat.) “Then your body uses a portion of the ketones and the rest are excreted in breath and urine,” she says. Most people compare the distinct smell to rotten apples, Dr. Gottfried adds. Fortunately, Dr. Gottfried says keto breath doesn’t last forever—it’s just an unfortunate part of your body adjusting during that transition period. “Keto adaptation takes about 10 days in healthy people, and longer in people who are insulin resistant—in my practice, up to six weeks,” she says. After that, your body—and breath—should get back to normal. But thankfully, you don’t have to just live with a smelly mouth in the meantime. Getting rid of keto breath starts with being extra-intense about your tooth-brushing routine. “Floss twice a day, scrape your tongue, and brush for two to three minutes twice a day,” Dr. Gottfried says. Something else she
Daily Harvest just came out with holiday cookies so healthy they double as energy bites
November 09, 2018 at 01:00AM Even if you have a sweet tooth year round, the holiday season really can throw it into overdrive. Once people start decking the halls and listening to holiday music, it’s only a matter of time before visions of sugar cookies, gingerbread, and peppermint bark start popping in your head. Ready for something to be extra thankful for this year? Frozen superfood delivery brand Daily Harvest—most known for their next-level smoothie blends—is coming out with limited edition boxes of cookies. Available to order starting today until the end of the year, there are three gooey flavors, all gluten-free and plant-based. A run-down of the seasonal offerings: Chocolate chia (made with cashew butter, avocado, chia seeds, and reishi mushrooms), coconut lemon (made with cassava flour, coconut, lemon, and flaxseed), and cacao nib (made with sunflower seed butter, pumpkin, cassava flour, cacao, and maca). The base of each cookie is a healthy fat-laden nut or seed butter or cassava flour—all of which are so rich in protein that the cookies double as energy bites. The base of each cookie is a healthy fat-laden nut or seed butter or cassava flour—all of which are so rich in protein that the cookies double as energy bites, perfect for stashing in your gym bag or purse for an on-the-go breakfast (or as a healthy travel snack). And the adaptogens in the chocolate chia and cacao nib picks will give your body a little hit of stress-relief. Saving some to leave out for Santa
Munich has way more on the menu than beer and brats: Check out 8 healthy-eating hot spots
November 07, 2018 at 04:00AM I left New York City—and its incredible health-food scene—behind two months ago when I moved to Munich. And while it’s been fun trying classic Bavarian foods like weisswurst and, of course, all the pretzels, sometimes I just want a nourishing green smoothie or a grain bowl. And thankfully, I’ve been in luck. There is no shortage of ways to get your healthy-food fix in this German metropolis I now call home. From a restaurant that does a vegan take on Bavarian classics to the best açaí bowl this side of the Atlantic, wellness grub is covered. And paleo devotees? Well, welcome to paradise. So if Munich is on your wanderlust list (hello, charming holiday markets, Oktoberfest, and nearby castles), stop in a few of these spots to take a break from all the sightseeing—and feel good about and empowered by your eating choices while you’re at it. Consider your Munich meal itinerary set with these healthy hot spots below. View this post on Instagram Who said Munich was just beer and brats? Enjoying all the bowls with @mohorak A post shared by Leslie Barrie (@lesliebarrie) on Oct 10, 2018 at 7:56am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js 1. For the best smoothie bowls: Wagners Here in Germany, muesli is the breakfast of champions—it’s what you’ll see at most coffee shops and breakfast spots. But if you’re looking to change up your a.m. meal while visiting, Wagners is the perfect place to do so. As a California native, I can tell
Kroger has gone full wellness with its 2019 trends—and we’re totally here for it
October 30, 2018 at 09:58AM Whether you grew up with a neighborhood Kroger or not, the grocery store chain’s 2019 food trend predictions are serving up major inspo for filling your cart with wellness-approved eats. According to the chain (which has 2,782 locations across the U.S.), its team of product developers, chefs, and innovators have named regional flavors, plant-based foods, eating styles (like ketogenic or vegan), gut healthy foods, and low-sugar and natural sweeteners as the top five crazes that will reign supreme next year. 1. Regional flavors: Kroger’s experts say, “Foods influenced by regions across the country are bringing flavor and fun to any meal. From tried-and-true barbecue sauces and flavorful potato chips with a twist—inspiration is coming from Nashville hot chicken, Southern Appalachian pimento cheese and other geographies.” Take next year as your excuse to explore the nutritious gastronomy of your local scene. (Healthified soul food, here I come!) 2. Plant-based foods: Citing Mintel’s US protein report, Kroger remarks that 31 percent of consumers went meat-free at least once per week during 2017. “Our consumers are finding it is easier than ever before to incorporate more plant-based fare into their daily diets. By choosing to go meat- or dairy-free, whether for a meal, a Meatless Monday, Flexitarian Friday, or every day of the week, there will be more plant-based options available to power through the day,” says the company. 3. Eating styles: Whether you’re vegetarian, ketogenic, Paleo, or adhering to another popular diet, the grocery chain fully intends on accommodating whatever eating style
Moisturizers require this one ingredient to *really* benefit your skin
October 18, 2018 at 09:15AM Shopping for moisturizers can be seriously stressful. With an endless amount of options to choose from with all sorts of different ingredients that offer up a long list of promises—whether that’s watermelon juice or your own blood (seriously!)—how in the world are you supposed to figure out which is actually worthy of taking up prime space in your #shelfie? Well, one key component might be more important than the rest: good ol’ H2O. In a recent thread on Reddit, users were discussing what makes a moisturizer, and it turns out water is what you should be looking for on the ingredients list. It’s nothing fancy, but it makes a big difference when it comes to hydrating your skin. According to Lana Pinchasov, a dermatology-certified physician’s assistant in New York City, every moisturizer needs to have a base that the other ingredients are mixed into—and that’s usually water or oil. While oil-based moisturizers are great for anyone who needs to “replenish the oil that serves as a protection barrier of the skin,” it’s not going to be nearly as beneficial for your complexion as water. “Applying a water-based moisturizer helps your skin lock in moisture and replenish nutrients.” —Lana Pinchasov, dermatology-certified physician’s assistant “Oil-based moisturizers will still moisturize—you just wont get as many as the added benefits that a water base will give you,” she explains. “When you’re feeling dehydrated, you drink water so your body can rehydrate, and the skin uses water to rehydrate, too. Applying a
Dating someone with anxiety? Here’s a cheat sheet for how to be effectively supportive
October 18, 2018 at 06:51AM I, along with 6.8 million American adults, have generalized anxiety disorder, and it’s not going away anytime soon—in fact, I imagine it’ll always be part of who I am. I take medication for it, and while some days I feel in control, on other days it controls me. Since it’s something I personally struggle to deal with, finding a supportive significant other is especially tough. I spent the last few years of my life in a relationship with someone who never fully supported that part of me the way I needed. And in retrospect, this was totally fair; I didn’t communicate effectively. It’s hard for me to articulate how a partner can best be there for me, so of course it’s hard for them to actually do it. Being a mindreader is obviously not a prerequisite for being a great partner. Thankfully, two accredited mental-health pros (who apparently moonlight as relationship superheroes) have come to the rescue with a checklist of ways to support an S.O. who struggles with anxiety. Check out 4 must-know tips for supporting a partner with anxiety. Photo: Getty Images/Ned Frisk 1. Do the research First, give into to your cravings, and log online. “Do the thing we all love to do: Google,” says licensed mental health counselor Jessica Feldman, services director of New York City’s National Alliance on Mental Mental Illness chapter. Researching your partner’s condition is a great way to ensure you can empathize and provide worthwhile support to an
TIL that I’ve been using a cheese grater the wrong way my entire life
October 17, 2018 at 06:51AM Cheese graters seem pretty self-explanatory, right? Whenever it comes time to do some shredding—whether you’re making mac and cheese from scratch or need a tea topper (because yes, that’s evidently a thing)—you probably grab a block of your go-to variety, position your box grater handle-side up, and go to town. Hate to break it to you, but if you’ve been living by these rules, you might have been doing it wrong your entire life. While using a grater vertically is sure to give you a nice arm workout while you’re making your keto dinner, it doesn’t seem to be the most effective way to get the job done. A video recently posted on the Tastemade UK Instagram account showed an alternate option: the horizontal method, in which you lie it down on on your cutting board and grate side to side versus up and down. Evidently it makes the process a easy breezy…or, uhh, cheesy? View this post on Instagram Horizontal or Vertical: how do YOU grate your cheese? A post shared by Tastemade UK (@tastemadeuk) on Oct 16, 2018 at 7:06am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Not only does this simple hack prevent the grater from sliding around (and causing a potential injury!), but it also doesn’t require Hulk-like muscles to get the job done. And as an extra bonus, it’s also pretty mess-free: The cheese collects neatly in the canister and once you’re finished, you simply dump it into your bowl and call it a day. Yep, cauliflower pizza night
Get in on the National Taco Day fun with these keto-friendly cauliflower enchiladas
October 04, 2018 at 01:44PM Today your Instagram feed is likely chock-full of taco ‘grams in honor of National Taco Day. (What, you mean your calendar wasn’t marked?) Well, by dinner time you’re bound to have a serious hankering for some Mexican food. If you’re dialing back on carbs—but really, think twice before cutting them out completely—or following the ketogenic diet, you know taco shells (soft or hard) aren’t exactly part of the plan. But that absolutely doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the festive food action. Mellissa Sevigny of the I Breathe I’m Hungry Instagram account got inspired to create a delish enchilada recipe when a nearly empty fridge forced her to get a little creative. “I was starving and only had a few ingredients in the house to make a tasty keto meal from,” she says. Well, her challenge ultimately benefitted the greater good (i.e., all of us) because it resulted in a green chicken enchilada cauliflower casserole that’s keto-friendly, gluten-free, and will hit the spot. The recipe—along with over 160 others—is featured in her new book, Keto for Life. Scroll down for full instructions, and get ready to straight-up win taco day by thinking outside the shell. Green chicken enchilada cauliflower casserole Serves 6 Ingredients 4 cups cauliflower florets 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 cup salsa verde 1/4 cup full-fat sour cream 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish if desired 1/2 tsp