May 04, 2020 at 10:00AM Before we jump into part #2 of my gardening diaries be sure to check out part #1 where I discuss why we’re doing this, starting veggies from seeds and how I know absolutely nothing about gardening… So when we last left off we I had planted seeds into our mini greenhouse and magically tiny little seedlings had begun to sprout. As I mentioned in that post, all of this is really a big experiment and so far it had been successful. We knew we had a few weeks ahead of us before being able to plant any of our seedlings into soil but we figured we’d get a head start and also start playing around with sowing seeds directly into the dirt and so began our journey into the world of raised beds. The House Before we get into the beds themselves I wanted to quickly chat about the house and what we were working with when it come to gardening on this type of property… We are incredibly grateful to have found this house and absolutely love the space and neighborhood. One thing we didn’t realize when we moved in is that the light isn’t all that great for […] The post Gardening Diaries – Part 2: Building Raised Beds appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
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Baked Falafel Bowls
May 03, 2020 at 12:00PM You’ll crave these plant-based Baked Falafel Bowls! Made with quinoa, roasted vegetables, greens and of course, baked falafel this vegan and gluten-free recipe makes a complete meal in one. If you’ve been a blog reader for awhile, you know I’ve dabbled in many different ways of eating. For the longest time I was convinced that I needed animal proteins with every meal. While I felt good physically, I had a feeling that the choices I was making weren’t the best for the world around me. I’ve since changed my tune when it comes to animal products. While I’m certainly not vegan and make no judgement on people who choose to eat meat, I have definitely benefited from incorporating more plant-based options into my diet. I know vegan meals (even vegetarian meals!) can be intimidating to meat lovers but this recipe is here to prove that vegan food isn’t boring. It’s packed with flavor and nutrients and will leave you feeling satisfied. What is falafel? If you’ve never tried falafel before, you’re in for a treat! It is a traditional Middle Eastern dish that is made from ground chickpeas or fava beans. They’re basically rolled bean balls that are packed with […] The post Baked Falafel Bowls appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
May Journal Prompts for Growth
May 01, 2020 at 10:00AM Happy May! I know it can feel hard to look ahead or dream right now… and that’s exactly why this month’s journal prompts are going to focus on that. To get through hard seasons of life, I always like to manifest a brighter, better future. As you may know, I recently started a garden. I can’t help but think of all the applicable metaphors for this time of life. “You reap what you sow.” “What you focus on grows.” It’s been so rewarding to see the tiny little seeds I planted become full on plants with a little water, love and attention. I’m taking this slower season of life to plant the seeds (literally and figuratively!) for the future. Who’s in? 10 Journal Prompts for Growth 1. What rhythms in your life will you be shifting moving forward? 2. What has become more important to me this past month and what has become less? 3. What from this season of life do you want to bring with you and what do you want to leave behind? 4. No matter what the future looks like, what is the one thing you are most looking forward to this year? 5. What can […] The post May Journal Prompts for Growth appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
Avocado Tuna Salad
April 30, 2020 at 02:00PM A super easy lunch recipe ready in minutes, this Avocado Tuna Salad recipe will quickly become a lunch staple. Swap the mayo for avocado in this healthy lunch recipe that you and your whole family will enjoy. You know those meals you eat every week but they are so simple they don’t feel like they’re worth sharing with friends and family… let alone on the blog?! That is this avocado tuna salad recipe. I honestly make this about once a week in our house. I love it, C loves it, it’s delicious and easy and cheap! So why haven’t I shared it yet? Sometimes I feel this weird pressure (100% put on me by myself!) to share the most creative and innovative recipes on the internet. They have to include a fun ingredient or be served in a fancy way… I convince myself that these are the recipes that you want when in reality I think we’re all looking for simple, approachable recipes these days! Now let me formally introduce you to my favorite pantry staple meal: avocado tuna salad. Here’s What You Need: Canned tuna Avocado Celery Red onion Apple Walnuts – or any nuts you have on hand. Pickle […] The post Avocado Tuna Salad appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
How To Make Homemade Bar Soap [For Sensitive Skin]
April 29, 2020 at 10:00AM Looking to learn how to make homemade bar soap? It’s easier than you think! In this step-by-step guide I’ll show you how to make homemade bar soap using simple melt and pour soap and ingredients that benefit all skin types but especially sensitive skin! Who knew that in 2020 soap would become our best friend?! Let’s not forget toilet paper too…although I’m all for the bidet making a comeback! But in all seriousness, soap has become all the more important and I’m here for it. But today we aren’t talking about hand soap (all hail branch basics sustainable pump refill!) we’re actually talking about body soap and how to make your own bar soap. Now I’m not gonna lie, for most of my life I used a liquid body wash, but as you guys know I’ve spent the last several years trying (emphasis on trying!) to make more sustainable choices and one of those simple swaps was to switch from liquid body wash to bar soap. I actually got into making my own bar soap a few years ago as a budget saving activity and creative outlet. Some of you may remember that Lee and I used to run a […] The post How To Make Homemade Bar Soap [For Sensitive Skin] appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
Eggplant Parmesan Quinoa Casserole
April 28, 2020 at 10:00AM Get the best of eggplant parmesan in this meal-in-one, easy clean-up version of eggplant parmesan quinoa casserole. No need to precook your quinoa – just mix your ingredients and make for a delicious, easy dinner recipe. One of my favorite meals has always been eggplant parmesan. Don’t get me wrong, I pretty much love everything with cheese but there’s something about the heartiness of eggplant parmesan that makes it my ultimate comfort food. But here’s the thing, while I may love eggplant parmesan, I absolutely hate making it. SO MANY DISHES. Between breading the eggplant, frying it and then baking it – not to mention making the pasta- it’s all just a little too much work for me to make on a regular basis. If you’ve been a longtime reader of The Healthy Maven then you know how much I love a good casserole. One pan and BAM you’ve got a meal in one. This is especially true of quinoa casseroles which despite common belief, you do not have to precook your quinoa. It’s all about getting your ratios right and since I’m a lazy but picky cook I’ve managed to get those ratios right just for you. I also […] The post Eggplant Parmesan Quinoa Casserole appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
5 Books to Read This Spring
April 27, 2020 at 10:00AM Who else has been reading a TON lately? I feel like I’ve been blowing through books and I’m not mad about it at all. One of the perks of staying inside amIrite?! The last few seasons I’ve dropped in with a few books I’ve read and enjoyed over the last couple of months. I find that share just five new reads is a bit more digestible. I love a good book round up but to be honest when there’s more than a couple I just get overwhelmed with choices. I also only want to know about books people really loved, not just the ones they read. So with that, here are 5 books to read this spring based on books I’ve read recently and loved. 5 Books to Read this Spring The Gifted School – The story of four families and how things fall apart as a new gifted school enters their posh Colorado neighborhood. I loved the character development in this one and how it shows the dark side of privilege. An important reminder that things aren’t always what they seem! Beheld – This one is a little dark but it was a quick and interesting read. This historical […] The post 5 Books to Read This Spring appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken
April 26, 2020 at 10:00AM Ready for a quick, 1-pot dinner recipe? Look no further than this healthy Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken made with simple ingredients, delicious and juicy chicken and your daily serving of veggies! This one-pot wonder will wow the whole family. I’ll be honest, I’m pretty slow to jump on food trends. I think I was the last person to buy a spiralizer and I’m still holding out on an air fryer. My skepticism holds me back and truthfully, C isn’t all that thrilled with another kitchen gadget taking up space in our already cramped kitchen. The Instant Pot is no exception. I figured, I already have a slow cooker, why do I need an Instant Pot?! If this Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken is any indication, I clearly gave in. We’ve actually had our Instant Pot for over two years. After hearing enough friends rave about theirs and trying some pretty delicious recipes (Lee is the queen of Instant Pot!) I decided to add it to our wedding registry. For the first few months I basically used it as a fancy rice cooker but it became pretty clear to me that while people may claim that it makes cooking faster, […] The post Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
Avoid These Ingredients in Your Makeup Products
April 24, 2020 at 10:00AM So many of you have reached out recently about wanting to switch to cleaner makeup products without any idea of where to begin. I’ve given countless suggestions over the years and have listed many of them in the green beauty shop but what about the makeup products you already have? Is it time to toss them? What are the toxic ingredients in makeup? I thought it was due time I sit down and list this all out for you so you can feel empowered to make these decisions for yourself. While I may advocate for cleaner beauty I acknowledge that everyone is on their own journey, with different priorities and levels of accessibility. That’s okay. If switching to natural makeup products isn’t for you, I totally get it! Bookmark this post and come back to it if you want to. If you’re ready to switch to cleaner makeup, I’m outlining the toxic ingredients in makeup products and some important information about non-toxic makeup products. Let’s get into it. What is Non-Toxic Makeup? Before we begin, let’s talk about “non-toxic” makeup. Honestly I hate the term but for ease of use I’ll be using it interchangeably with “clean beauty” today. It […] The post Avoid These Ingredients in Your Makeup Products appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC
The Best Body Positive Online Workout Classes
April 23, 2020 at 10:00AM I have been very open about my history with exercise addiction and how I’ve made adjustments in my life to have a better relationship with exercise. I know how important exercise is for my mental health but I’ve also crossed the line where issues with exercise became a mental health issue. One of the most important decisions I made when it come to establishing a healthier exercise routine was ensuring I was surrounding myself with body positive messaging that encouraged health at every size. Exercise is so important for everyone but there is no one size fits all and it doesn’t simply exist to make your body look a certain way. Learning all of this has made me discerning about the types of workouts I do and the type of language used in workout classes. I won’t do classes for “the 6 pack abs” or the overrated “bikini body”. I want workouts that encourage tuning inwards, tapping into your energy and best serving your body in the moment. It’s probably one of the reasons I tend to gravitate towards yoga but there are also so many workout classes out there that also include healthy, body-positive language. Now that we’re all […] The post The Best Body Positive Online Workout Classes appeared first on The Healthy Maven. Continue Reading… Author Davida Lederle | Thehealthymaven Selected by CWC