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Upgraded Mac & Cheese

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Years ago when my kiddo was just a toddler, a dear client of mine gifted me a cookbook filled with recipes for traditional kid foods that are MUCH healthier than traditional preparations/ingredients.

One of the recipes the whole family (and many of our friends) loved was using hearts of palm instead of grain-based macaroni for mac & cheese.

Here’s the recipe (thank you Maria Emmerich for your amazing creativity and cookbooks!):

“Noodles:”
2 jars of Hearts of Palm
Water or chicken broth

Cheesy Sauce:
1/4 cup butter
3 TBS Cream Cheese
1/4 cup beef/chicken broth
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Sea salt and pepper (to taste)
1/2 cup sharp cheddar (for topping)

Crunchy Topping:
2 TBS butter
1/2 cup blanched almond flour

Now when I have made this recipe, I often don’t do the crunchy topping–not because it’s not delicious because it is–but because I think it’s great without it and I love being able to throw it together quickly on my stove! So if you are time/energy crunched, bear that in mind.

How to:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut hearts of palm in half lengthwise and then cut into 1/4 inch slices. Cook the hearts of palm for about 5 minutes in boiling broth or water until tender. From here, mix all the cheese sauce ingredients in a saucepan or large skillet on medium heat until everything is well combined.

Now, you can just stir in the hearts of palm and enjoy OR you can put everything into a baking dish and get started on your crunchy topping.

To make the topping, mix butter and almond flour up in a small bowl and then crumble over the top of the mac and cheese and add some extra cheese to the top (1/2 cup grated). Bake for about 15 mins until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. Makes 6 servings.

Enjoy!

3 Gut-Friendly Holiday Drinks!

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The Christmas season is a time for celebration and relaxation. It’s also the time that you often find yourself in various get-togethers enjoying the company of family and friends over food, drinks, and entertainment.
 
While Christmas is a season to be merry, food and drinks this season can be a temptation that brings harm to your gut health (as well as your weight, energy, sleep, immune system, inflammation, etc).
 
So today, I created a list of drinks that can do more good than harm to the millions of bacteria that are working really hard to keep you healthy and allow you to enjoy your life.
 
Too much alcohol irritates the stomach and disrupts your gut bacteria (as well as your liver/hormones). So this list is made up of drinks that have no or very little alcohol.

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink with trace amounts of alcohol and caffeine. At first, it is just a sugary tea that is fermented from a SCOBY, which stands for symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast.
 
This fizzy, sour but slightly sweet drink is full of probiotics that support your gut health.
 
Kombucha has various flavors, too, so you get to try what best suits your taste. Dr. Brew Kombucha is a great low sugar kombucha option. I love their Ginger Lemon and Superberry flavors!

Rooibos Iced Tea

Rooibos tea is an herbal tea that originated from South Africa. South Africans have been using rooibos for centuries because of its health benefits such as promoting better sleep.
 
Interestingly, rooibos tea has 50% more antioxidants than green tea!  And it’s gut-friendly. It contains antispasmodic agents that help the digestive tract.
 
You can garnish with berries or add lemon. I love how this homemade rooibos iced tea was done.

Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate juice is not only rich in vitamin C but is also very helpful to the gut.
 
It has properties that relieve inflammation in the gut, so it helps improve digestion and absorb nutrients.
 
Pomegranate juice is refreshing in itself, but you can spice it up with cloves or cinnamon stick. To keep the sugar down, considering adding a splash of pomegranate juice to mineral water and then add the clove or cinnamon stick to give it that festive quality.
 
These drinks will surely bring great taste to your gatherings and health to your gut, so you don’t need to sacrifice health over a fun holiday–because you can have both!

Here’s a bonus healthy egg nog recipe you can also enjoy!
 
It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca

Grain-free just got easier!

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Every day I talk with people who want to release weight, have better digestion, and better energy. And who wants a temporary fix? Nobody!

A common source of struggle is finding foods that are convenient, tasty, AND promote these health goals. There are tons of recipes out there, but not everyone is willing to make all their meals from scratch or hire someone to do it for them. The good news? Food manufacturers are realizing that around 80% of the population in America does better on a lower carb diet. More and more people are looking for food choices that don’t keep them stuck at a weight they don’t like, with gas and bloating, and looking for an afternoon pick me up because they’re falling asleep at their desk!
For this to become your reality, you’ve got to take care of your gut. I’ll be sharing 3 great options with you in just a moment.

First, why do you need to prioritize your gut so much? Your gut is where you take all the good stuff you eat and drink and transform it into the many building blocks your body needs to make energy, think clearly, sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, and clear out toxins that need clearing out daily so you can thrive. 

It is my passion is to work with people like you whose health symptoms–like gut/digestive issues, excess weight, low energy, mood imbalance, and skin & sleep problems–are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 

3 Tasty, Nutritious, Grain-free Foods You Can Buy (and not make yourself!)

  1. Cauliflower Thins by Cali’Flour Foods (grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free). Depending on where you live you may or may not find these in a local store but they do sell them on Amazon. I’ve tried both the Classic and Italian Herb flavors and they’re both good. They are a very crunchy cracker, great for dipping in egg salad, tuna, guacamole…you get the idea! They have other products like flatbread and pizza crust (haven’t tried them yet).
  2. Beyond Paleo Pizza Crust (grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free). Kept in the frozen food section, 1 box has three 8-inch crusts with a nice herby flavor. These are thin crusts but they don’t fall apart when you pick up a slice, which is great.
  3. ProGranola by Julian Bakery (grain, free, gluten-free, dairy-free, super high in fiber & protein). My breakfast of choice. Simple, tasty, packed with fiber. My favorite flavors are the vanilla cinnamon cluster and espresso cluster.

Now, to be clear, I don’t recommend eating pizza or snacking on crackers every day, but these types of healthy alternatives sure make eating healthier an easier to stick to! It makes it easier when you are having cravings to pick a great option so you sustain your healthy changes over time and don’t yo-yo around.

What foods have you found that have made it delicious and easy for you to eat healthy? Email me at rebecca@choosinghealthnow.com and let me know!

Also, if you’re ready to take your health to the next level FOR GOOD, I’d love to connect with you. Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!

~Rebecca

Have you heard about sacha inchi?

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Gut health is what it’s all about.

You see, your gut is at the root of both health and disease. When your gut health struggles, you’re going to feel it! Maybe you’ll feel it with low energy or poor mood. Maybe you’ll feel it with obvious digestive symptoms. Maybe for you it’s your skin or your weight that’s telling you something isn’t quite right.

You can’t be healthy and free of symptoms if your gut isn’t functioning properly and your gut needs the right foods for YOU in order to thrive.
Your gut is where you take all the good stuff you eat and drink and transform it into the many building blocks your body needs to make energy, sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, and clear out toxins that need clearing out daily so you can thrive.

I care about all of these things because my passion is to work with people like you whose health symptoms–like gut/digestive issues, excess weight, low energy, and skin & sleep problems–are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.

So what does all this have to do with sacha inchi? Well, sacha inchi is a superfood that delivers all sorts of key nutrients to your gut!

Sacha inchi


Sacha inchi is a seed native to Peru. It’s a complete protein that’s highly digestible, is high in the amino acid tryptophan which you need to make the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, is rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 fats, and high in fiber (great for satisfying the appetite, promoting healthy blood sugar, and encouraging healthy bowels).
You can enjoy the nutty tasting seeds roasted or in powdered form. They can be added to just about anything from soups, salads, or your favorite smoothies. Some companies like Julian Bakery use them in products like their Pegan Thin food bars.
If you are looking for ways to increase your protein, fiber and healthy fats, sacha inchi is a great option. Look at your local health food store or get some online.

The more you are in touch with nourishing your body, you less deprived you’ll feel…AND the more likely you will want to keep feeling great. You’ll find ways to celebrate and be social that honor your health while still enjoying delicious food.

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!

~Rebecca

P.S. Do you know someone who is struggling with their weight, digestion/gut, or energy?
Send them my way! They can set up a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session with me here.