Good evening ladies! Hope you’re all doing well. I’m currently away on a family vacation at Clearwater Beach, FL and am soaking up every minute of it: the seafood (seriously, the Grouper is phenomenal!), the 86-degree weather, the sunshine, beach runs, pool-side drinks). I’m super excited to announce this week’s feature on Healthy Chicks in the Community as she’s someone who is very close & special to me. That is, my younger sister of course. I’ll let Krista take it from here!

NAME/AGE: Krista /24 in a little over a week!

CURRENT CITY: Boston, MA

PHOTO TAKEN: Waterville Valley, NH (Welch and Dickey hike)

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: I’m finishing up grad school to be a speech-language pathologist and am hoping to start a job this fall in the rehabilitation setting. I particularly enjoy working with patients with aphasia, which is a language disorder that can occur after someone has a stroke or other type of brain injury. Many people with aphasia cannot say what they want to say or understand what others say, and I help them to communicate again!

NUMBER ONE PASSION: I really love helping people, and find happiness working with people with aphasia.

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN: I start each day with a green smoothie and a nice long run on the Charles River. I love getting outside and being active as much as possible, even if it is just for a long walk. Outdoor exercise + eating right is when I feel my healthiest and happiest!

BUT I AM ALSO A REAL GIRL & SOMETIMES: I get lazy and make excuses for not going for a run or to the gym, especially during the cold Boston winter months.

TOP THREE KITCHEN STAPLES: spring mix with herbs, hummus + carrots, and brown rice pasta

NUMBER ONE GUILTY PLEASURE: I love pizza. The smell,the taste, the toppings! If someone offers me pizza, 99% of the time I can’t say no. But, I do love homemade pizza, which I guess is a healthier alternative!

EXERCISE THAT MAKES YOU SHINE: going for a long run outside on a nice sunny day. I also love to hike. There is nothing better than the satisfaction of getting to the top of a mountain and being rewarded with a beautiful view (and maybe a beer)!

FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD: chicken noodle soup, homemade of course!

MESSAGE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER HEALTHY CHICKS: As a busy (and stressed out) grad student, I have found that being healthy is more than just eating well and exercising daily. Being healthy also involves taking the time to do something that makes you happy throughout all the craziness: whether it be spending time with friends and family, getting outside to enjoy a nice day, or making a special dinner. It doesn’t take a lot of time to do something for yourself to get rid of some of the stress and negative energy that life can bring

Remember when you were a little girl and everything revolved around playtime? From make-believe weddings to Polly Pockets, fort-building to dream-building, a day never went by without a good dose of play, imagination and fun.

I still remember how trying to get my sister and I to sit down for family dinners was a job in itself. We’d be running around free outside (catching fireflies, building forts, or sharing secrets) and that ever-so-recognizable dinner bell meant playtime was tragically over. We’d even take mini breaks throughout our meals to skip, laugh and goof around.

The thing was: we weren’t even really that hungry. You see, we’d “fill up” on other things in life (you know, the precious things like love, hugs, laughter, and movement) that we didn’t “need” food to fill us up. In other words, as children, we didn’t rely on things like lasagna, Vodka Tonics and ice cream to make us feel better. Sure, mom’s  meals tasted delicious (and she’d surely try her hardest to get us to finish our broccoli “trees”) but we didn’t need food to make us happy.

As adults, so often we use and abuse food to fill some other type of void in our lives. If we’re lonely or sad, we may over-indulge in Mac & Cheese or other comfort foods to make us feel warm and loved (when in reality maybe we just needed a hug). When we’re stressed, we may lose all control and binge on salty chips or packaged snack foods to relieve some tension (or so we thought.) Boredom can cause mindless eating, or poor choices overall. You get the picture…

You see, what and how we eat becomes much more complex during adulthood. That’s because there are many other factors involved: relationships, career, financial concerns, spirituality even. And when any one of those areas become out of balance, you bet one of the first places we go to for relief is (you guessed it) food.

The solution? Well for one, you definitely don’t need to starve yourself, ban sugar or go on another one of those crazy diets to fix the problem. Instead, I recommend my clients go directly to the root of the problem and find out what’s really driving them to lose control. Once you’ve identified the source, I suggest adding more playtime into your life in as many ways you possibly can. And don’t  be afraid to get creative either!

Bored or feeling unloved in your relationship? Spice things up! Make the effort to plan mini day trips together, say “I love you” more or cook together during date night. Hate your job, in turn making you a raged Cookie Monster at the office vending machine come 3 p.m. every day? Look for other positions at your company that allow you to express your playful personality, take mini stretch breaks, coordinate an office picnic, or even consider re-locating to a new company that would greater serve you (and your passions).

You’ll soon realize that once you find a healthy balance in all areas of your life, things will start to look up, and food stress will slowly melt away. Did I mention you’ll likely lose that stubborn extra weight (both emotional and physical) in the process?  So go ahead, ignite your inner child and create some space in your day for PLAY.

If you struggle with finding balance, or turn to food to fill you up, I’d love to talk with you! Click here to schedule your FREE 15-minutes to FABULOUS info session today, or check out my new health coaching programs (designed just for YOU) here.

I’m a huge advocate for living a healthy lifestyle, but not when it has to be so darn hard. That’s why I like to keep things as easy and pain-free as possible when it comes to food. Here are my top 5 tips for simple healthy eating for you to incorporate into your day now. Plus, I’ve got a pretty sweet giveaway for you! Read on, my friends…

1. Keep it Real: Eat Real Food. Period. I know it sounds silly, but if you truly strive to eat real food (food that you can recognize and clearly tell where it came from), everything else just falls into place naturally.

2. Don’t compare your plate to everyone else’s: Eat what makes you feel your best self.

3. Be Adventurous: Explore new foods (even those you used to HATE as a child), experiment with new recipes and keep an open mind when it comes to what you put on your plate. Whether it’s going out for Thai food or buying a funky new vegetable you’ve never tasted before, find a way to be daring! You’ll never grow bored this way, and you can keep healthy eating fun!

4. Know Your Body: As you begin to listen to your body and learn which foods work for you, you’ll start to need less of what you once thought you needed “more” of. For instance, if you once needed two portions of chicken casserole to feel satisfied or could easily down a bag of potato chips, you may now realize you only need a small portion or heck, may not even want those things anymore at all. I highly recommend starting a food/mood journal to learn what works best for Y-O-U.

5. Get Rid of Your  ”Perfect” Mindset: You don’t have to be perfect to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s all about finding balance! Fuel your body with nourishing, real foods most of the time, and allow for occasional indulgences or “slips.” It’s important not to beat yourself up for treating yourself every now and then. You don’t need to buy 100% organic, eat only raw, juice every day, give up chocolate, fit into your teenage skinny jeans, ban coffee or go on a restrictive diet to be healthy. Take it one step at a time, and I promise you’ll feel much better that way (with much less guilt too).

Bestowed Box

OK, I know I said I had a giveaway for you and I promise it’s coming! A few weeks ago, I was given a Bestowed box to review from the lovely folks at Bestowed. Founded by Nutritionist Heather Bauer, the company strives to take the hassle and confusion out of health food.

Each and every month, Bestowed members receive a box delivered straight to their door filled with 5+ hand-picked healthy product samples (from supplements to nutrition bars). Not only does this keep things simple for the consumer, but it also introduces them to new brands they’ll love! Memberships are $19 a month or $209 a year, and you may cancel anytime.

My sampler box contained:

• Oloves Hot Chili Mama Olives
• Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars
• Nature’s Earthly Choice – Easy Quinoa Lentil Soup Mix
• Happy Family – Happy Squeeze Smoothies
• iTrain $25 gift card
• Artisana Coconut Butter
• Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts

What I loved: Who doesn’t love an adorable little surprise box filled with goodies delivered to their front door? I really liked the nice variety of items, ranging from savory quinoa soup mix to a protein-packed fig bar. I especially loved the crunchy, energizing hemp hearts (perfect to top on a salad, smoothie or yogurt) and coconut butter (great in green smoothies and nearly anything you’d put butter on). I also dig that each month you’re graced with a different assortment, introducing you to new snacks, brands and flavors!

What I didn’t love: My only complaint (which isn’t necessarily a complaint) is that since I’m not a huge fan of packaged food, some of the items I could have done without. Being a whole foods junkie, I often make most of my meals and snacks in the comfort of my own kitchen and get a weird high out of grocery shopping. I’m also not really a fan of sweets or protein bars, although I know lots of people who are so that solved that “problem”! All that aside, I ended up finding some great new brands and snacks to recommend to both friends and clients alike!

The Verdict: I’d definitely recommend Bestowed for anyone looking to expand their palates, while enjoying a healthy lifestyle. The service is especially great for those who don’t like to cook, go grocery shopping or spend time researching the latest health trends, as all of that is pretty much done for you. For those of you who love to snack but find yourself gravitating toward the office vending machine every afternoon, Bestowed Box is for you! Who knows, you may find your new go-to product along the way! Did I mention it’s perfect for ladies who love surprises?

Now it’s giveaway time! I’m giving away a Bestowed Box for one lucky reader to try for herself. To enter, please do one or all of the following. Be sure to leave a comment on here for each task completed:

1. Simply tweet the following: “Healthy made easy! @bstowed & @Healthy_Chicks are giving away a Bestowed Box filled with wholesome goodies http://healthy-chicks.com/2013/05/12/5-tips-for-healthy-eating-made-simple-plus-a-bestowed-box-giveaway/”

2. Leave a comment here listing your go-to snack of choice. Do you crave salty? Crunchy? Savory? Sweet?

3. Like Healthy Chicks and Bestowed on Facbook

4. Sign up for my FREE “A Day in the Life of a Healthy Chick” weekly newsletter!

I will choose a random winner by Sunday 5/19 at midnight EST. The giveaway is for US-based readers only. In addition to the giveaway, Bestowed would like to honor $5 off every box for all Healthy Chicks readers! Simply use promo code 5OFFBSTOWED01 at checkout.

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! You are all AMAZING!

As women, we’re constantly comparing ourselves to our friends, acquaintances, co-workers, siblings, business partners, fitness idols, you name it. While being inspired by someone or looking up to someone is perfectly fine or normal, it’s when the comparisons set it that things can get a little messy. This typically leads to feelings of jealousy, resentment, judgement or straight up “not good enough” which can be extremely harmful to your personal wellbeing.

While I still struggle from time to time to resist my ego and natural inclination to compare myself, I’ve realized it does no one any good. Here’s why you should stop comparing your plate, pant size, paycheck, yoga posture and everything in between:

1. You don’t know their full story. Often times when we compare, we wish we were *just like* the other person OR we judge the other person. The truth of the matter is that we don’t know their full story, and we may never know their full story. Pay attention to your own story instead.

2. Bio-Individuality: Everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. This is why some women swear by vegan diets, and others thrive on lean meats. It’s also why some hate to run & prefer yoga, and others could run outside all day every day if their life depended on it. If you’re constantly imitating someone else’s behavior, you’ll lose site of your own strengths. Listen to your body and pay attention to what makes you feel your very best self (not your best friend).

3. There’s Only One You. Yes, there are other people out there who are doing what you do. Yes, there are other women who are making double (even 10x) the amount of money you make. Yes, your best friend is in The. Best. Relationship. Yes, your yoga teacher has the most toned arms ever. However, there is only one you. Focus on yourself and let your inner goddess shine.

4. Focusing On Yourself Allows for Growth: I used to be that girl in yoga class that would stare at everyone else’s poses to make sure I was doing it “right.” Turns out, looking at everyone else prevented me from getting stronger. Once I began listening to the cues and focusing on my body, I began to get stronger. Suddenly getting it “right” or “wrong” didn’t matter anymore. It’s what’s right for your body that counts. This holds true for all aspects of your life.

5. Jealously is Ugly: Jealousy aint pretty. To be jealous means that you, in some way or another, aren’t satisfied with a particular part of your life. Once you quit wasting your time being envious (and trust me, I’ve been there) suddenly your life becomes THAT much more fabulous. It’s just how things work!

What areas in your life do you compare yourself to others? How do you snap out of it and bring your focus back to YOU?

This past weekend, I attended a Business Conference for Wellness Professionals in NYC—HMBA Live: Step into Your Spotlight—that literally changed my life. I can honestly say the past three days have been among the most fulfilling days of my life: eye-opening, fun, and transformational all in one.

I cried, laughed, danced, sang, ate, wrote, learned, reflected and heck, even spoke in front of a room full of 400+ people….on a microphone.  In addition, I networked, made new friends, and relished in a community bursting with positive energy.

And while all of those things were life changing in and of itself, one of the most eye-opening “A-Hah” moments I had was when we started talking about money. More particularly our relationship with money. Just bear with me here…

I never really took the time to explore my relationship with money, although I certainly knew it wasn’t a good one. In fact, it was toxic, to say the least. I say was because all of this is about to change…starting 48 hours ago.

However, up until now, money and I just didn’t jive. We were heading straight to a break-up and boy was it going to be a nasty one. I’d spend my days obsessing over money up to the point where it was affecting every area of my life from my career to my self-love to my relationship. I’d anxiously swipe my credit card to get it over with (especially with impulse buys), and refused to look at my balance when withdrawing cash from the ATM.  Then I’d experience several days of guilt for spending “too much” irresponsibly. To top it all off, I’d constantly compare myself to friends, family and colleagues who were making more money feeling both jealous and ashamed.

My beliefs were “I don’t have enough money,” “I will never have enough money,” “I can’t make good money doing what I love”,  “Once I have money I will be happy” and “That’s great for her that she’s successful and making money but I will never be able to do that. HA! That’d be the day.”

It’s plain to see that money consumed me and, well, I let it. I wanted more of it, but refused come face-to-face with it at the same time. Therefore I ignored it and instead hid behind my go-to place of feeling scattered and “not enough” where in some twisted way I felt safe. I felt safe because this is the pattern I was used to.

It wasn’t until the beautiful Stacey and Carey of Holistic MBA encouraged me to look at my “Money Mirror” (a super powerful exercise if I do say so myself) that I finally saw things so clearly. One of the things we talked about is that how our relationship with money is directly related to our relationship with food, and in fact any relationship in our lives. These relationships—spouses, friends, business partners, co-workers, food, body image, boyfriends, family—are all tied together.

I quickly realized, as tears swelled my eyes, that my relationship with money was exactly the same of my relationship with food (in my late-teens and early twenties, that is). I spent my days obsessing over calories, the number on the scale and how much weight I had left to lose to the point where it consumed my life. I went through periods of bingeing (a.k.a. anxiously eating as much peanut butter out of the jar as fast as I could) followed by periods of deprivation and guilt a.k.a. essentially starving myself. Oh, and to top it all off I constantly compared myself to friends, family, and sorority girls who were skinnier and prettier than I was.

My beliefs were  “I am not good enough, pretty enough or skinny enough,” “I will never lose the weight and be enough,” “Feeling beautiful and confident in my body is just not in the cards for me,” “Once I am skinny my life will be perfect,” and “Yea, she looks great but I will never look like she does.”

Are you seeing the pattern here? By no surprise, my money mirror card (there are four of them) that resonated with me was “Deservability,” also known as “The Pleaser.” Essentially, this type of person constantly feels guilty and tells themselves “I am not good enough as I am.” Constantly comparing themselves to others, “The Pleaser” creates anxiety, chaos and overworks herself leading to major burnout.

I finally got it…money was my new addiction and I was treating it exactly how I used to treat food (and my body). When I went up on the microphone to share my realization, I couldn’t stop shaking. This is it. It finally all makes sense! My limiting beliefs around money were preventing me from living the life of my dreams, just as my limiting beliefs around food and my body were preventing me from loving myself fully and truly. And while I’ve figured out the whole food thing, and in fact help other women overcome similar struggles, money and I still have a little work.

As I spoke, Stacey asked me point blank: “How did you overcome your issues with dieting?” and I said back, hands shaking, “I just quit…I let go. I told myself enough was enough and I didn’t want to feel so stressed anymore.”

She then had me write down this simple affirmation: I am safe to feel safe. I repeated it to myself in my head. It sounded nice…peaceful even. You see, you don’t have to struggle anymore. It is OK to give yourself permission to make a positive change you know deep down you need to make for yourself in order to transform. Whether you are struggling with your relationship, body image or food habits, know that things don’t have to be so damn hard and that you don’t have to suffer anymore.

While I am still on my personal journey with my money relationship, I am proud to say that I have healed myself from food torture and most importantly that you can do the same…starting today. When you make the investment in yourself to overcome these fears and “step into your spotlight,” anything is possible. And I mean it.

Are you ready to make the investment in yourself? If you suffer from compulsive dieting and want to lose the weight & gain the confidence while falling in love with yourself, I’d LOVE to invite you for a FREE 15-minute “Diet-Free Breakthrough Session.” Fill out this quickie form to schedule your complimentary session today.

Good morning ladies! And ’tis a goooood morning indeed. The sun is shining bright in Boston right now, and The Boy & I just got back from a quickie, sweaty run together to take advantage. I even whipped out the shorts for the first time this year! Oh yes, it’s simply THAT nice out.

I’m super excited because I leave for my NYC trip this afternoon! I’m going to be attending Holistic MBA Live, a rockin’ business conference for wellness professionals put on by the lovely Stacey and Carey of  Holistic MBA. As I’ve been striving to grow & spice up my business lately, this conference could not have come at a better time. I have so many exciting things in the works!

Even better, while in NYC, I get to spend four whole days (well, nights) with my best friends from college. As you can tell, I’m high on life right now! Best friends + networking + business coaching = my cup of tea.

Anyway, today’s Thursday so let’s get to this week’s feature for Healthy Chicks in the Community. I am happy to introduce you to a lovely lady who I had the pleasure of meeting for one of her spin classes followed by some vino. Let’s just say, she’s full of energy, love & a zest for life so we naturally had a lot to talk about. I’ll let Ali take it from here!

[photo provided by Ali courtesy of lululemon]

NAME/AGE:  Ali Baldassare, 28

BLOG/TWITTER (If Applicable): http://alibaldassare.com / @movesweatlove

CURRENT CITY: Boston, MA

PHOTO TAKEN: This is my Lululemon Ambassador photo taken at the end of last year.  It is currently hanging up on the wall in the Lululemon store on Newbury St. so next time you’re out shopping, check it out!  Speaking of photos, stay tuned because I’m currently planning a fitness photo shoot over the next 2-3 months and it’s going to be epic!

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK:  Most people would never know it, but fitness is NOT my full time job.  It is my full time passion though Right now, I do have a 9-5 job working for a pharmaceutical company, although with the amount of classes that I teach and clients that I train, I could easily argue that I pretty much have two full time jobs.  One day, I’ll be able to answer this question by just saying “full time pilates and fitness instructor” and maybe that day will be soon! No one said making your dreams come true was easy, right??

NUMBER ONE PASSION:  Teaching, inspiring and motivating people to live a life they love in a body they love!

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM:  1) When I eat well.  Eating a good clean diet makes me feel energized, awake and ready for anything!  2) Remembering to make time for me.  Things can get super hectic, but taking time for me can really help me not feel overwhelmed and run down.  It can be anything from going for a run, taking a yoga class, getting a massage or a manicure/pedicure, etc.   3) When I surround myself with other really inspiring and motivating people.

BUT I AM ALSO A REAL GIRL & SOMETIMES: I have bad days when I feel unmotivated, discouraged and just want to throw in the towel and give up, but deep down I know things will always turn around.  Those bad days are what makes my good days that much better!

TOP THREE KITCHEN STAPLES:  1) Bars (Lara bars, KIND bars, or Luna bars are some of my favorites) 2) bananas, apples, spinach, almond butter, raw almonds 3) my blender.  I am always on the go and rarely home for any significant length of time so anything healthy that I can throw in my bag or anything that I can mix up in a blender is perfect.  I’ve been really into making all kinds of smoothies lately and they actually keep me full….says the girl who is ALWAYS hungry!

NUMBER ONE GUILTY PLEASURE:  CHOCOLATE.  Anything chocolate.  I have a really big sweet tooth!

EXERCISE THAT MAKES YOU SHINE:  Dance.  I grew up dancing and love everything about it. Dancing has a way of allowing me to escape the world and just let go.  It makes me feel free, alive, and happy.  It also has so many great benefits like keeping your body limber and enhancing your agility, flexibility and balance.  Even when I’m completely exhausted, I always look forward to teaching my weekly Zumba classes!

FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD:  Every now and then I like to enjoy a cheeseburger

MESSAGE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER HEALTHY CHICKS: You are capable, powerful, and in control of your life! Living a healthy life doesn’t have to be complex or hard.  Everything is based on your perception, your goals, and your choices.  There are endless ways to exercise; there are so many different ways to incorporate healthy eating into even your busiest of days.  All you have to do is find the right balance of the two that works for you.  Healthy living really can teach you so much about yourself and it’s not a one size fits all concept.  What works for you may not work for me, but that’s the beauty of it all.  We are all unique. Remember, you are the only one who can live your life, so don’t compare yourself to anyone else.  Keep things simple.  Have fun!  Be you! Strive for growth, balance and opportunity, not perfection.  You are all amazing.  Believe it and own it!

Do you ever feel like you’re lacking that glow? In a funk? Tired of the plain old mundane routine? Need some extra spark? Want to shake things up? Like you’re living in a giant cloud, and it seems like you’ve been waiting for the weather to clear for too darn long?

Well, do not fear my lovely lady. I’m here to tell you that first of all, you are 100% utterly & completely normal. In fact you are more than normal. I’ve been there, and I can guarantee any girl you talk to has been there too. And secondly, this little rut you’re going through is reversible; you can transform your life (more importantly your mindset) after all! Perhaps you don’t need anything spectacular, shiny or crazy expensive. Perhaps all you need is a little extra sunshine. Start now with these 5 simple tips and you’ll be feeling rejuvenated, hot and maybe even a little sun-kissed in no time!

1. Take a Special Someone Out On a Date (and Treat Them): I know, I know, you’re the one that’s in a funk, so shouldn’t you be the one who’s getting treated like a Princess? While it’s always nice to get pampered, it’s even nicer to do the pampering. Not only will you feel good about planning a fun extravaganza (like a picnic in the park, a tea party or a full-fledged sushi fest), but you can show someone you care about just how special you are. When we give the love, we feel the love right back. It’s just how it works! This special someone can be your significant other, your best friend, your mom or best of all – yourself. Yes, you heard that right. Go ahead, I dare you: plan a dream date for yourself!

2. Dance: Dance anywhere and everywhere. Throw on a flowy skirt and grab your girlfriends for a night out on the town, dance around the house in your undies, or sign up for a Zumba class a local studio! Getting into the groove will kick-start those endorphins and help you feel more alive and confident in your beautiful body!

3. Make a Sunshine Playlist: To go along with your dancing, why not make a sunshine playlist to set the scene? I love using Spotify because you can create as many playlists as you’d like for all scenarios. I have a Chill Out Playlist, a Beatles Playlist, a Writing Playlist…you get the picture! Make your feel-good playlist today with your favorite tunes. All I gotta say is you can’t go wrong with Oldies! In fact, I’m currently loving the “My Girl Radio” station on Pandora right now. Yes, it exists. “I’ve got sunshineeee on a cloudy dayyyyy…” I like to sing…loudly and proudly (and so not in tune). Belt it out, girl!

4. Stay Outside…For Most of the Day: You can’t get much closer to adding more sunshine into your life than by literally soaking up those rays outside. Dedicate a day – or at least a few hours – where you can play outside and bring out your inner-child!

This past weekend, I attended Ultimate Bootcamp’s Ultimate Spring Workout which included outdoor yoga, Zumba, bootcamp classes, healthy snacks and more all on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Then on Sunday, I met up with two lovely friends for a girls’ day in the city. We hit up the Boston Harbor area for a free sailboat ride, boxed wine on a boat, strolling around, life chats, and evening apps. The best part? We were outside for the entire day. And yes, sunshine makes us happy (if I haven’t made that clear by now). Plan your very own outdoor girls’ day, throw on your best spring-y outfit and flops and soak up that Vitamin D!

[Girls' Day Out...all smiles here!]

5. Be “Bad”: We are so obsessed with being perfect, looking the part and keeping our composure…doing everything “right.” Well sometimes that just becomes downright exhausting! I’m telling you to be a little bad today. Break the rules. Say “no.” Say “yes.” Skip out on that event you really didn’t want to go to but you felt like you HAD to go to, and do something for yourself instead. Indulge in your favorite dark chocolate with a glass of red. Skip the gym and book a massage appointment that you’ve been putting off for months. Force yourself into breaking your scripted routine. Ask someone out on a date…even if you might get turned down. Make a mistake and laugh it off. Embrace your “slip-ups.” You see, being bad can be quite fun when you think about it!

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut? How could you add more sunshine into your life starting today? What would your perfect outside girls’ day consist of?

It’s no lie I love writing. I love sharing my thoughts with the world, note-taking, blogging and quite possibly my favorite form: journaling. Unfortunately, the only type of journaling I did in college (i.e. my years of dieting) was counting calories in Calculus class while pretending to take notes. Not very comforting or journal-esque if I do say so myself. Food consumed my thoughts, actions and overall social life and, well, I let it.

All I could think about was my next meal, the calories in my lunch, where we were going to go out to eat, what I would order at dinner, or what would happen if I “cheated” and fell off the “band-waggon.” My thoughts were filled with guilt, shame and defeat and I had no one to share these thoughts with (or so I thought) and therefore I filled the void with dieting and self hate…my form of control.

After I quit dieting once and for all, I threw away the rusty scale, my calorie-counting notebook and any negative restrictive thoughts I had about myself. I decided it was finally time to wake up and live! For Real. Because what I was doing…was not living. It was hiding. It was torture. It was restriction. It was not who I was meant to be.

During my years of diet-hood, I only wished I had an outlet to get my thoughts out, to somehow make sense of it all. And that’s exactly why I’m fortunate to have discovered the Food/Mood Journal, essentially a personal diary tracking what you ate and most importantly how you feel (both inside and out). Journaling –no matter what your form may be — is a key step in breaking free from diet-obsessed living as it allows you to get real with yourself.

Be careful not to confuse food journaling with calorie counting or obsession, as it is quite the opposite as that. You see, after a few days of tracking what you’re eating and how it’s making you feel you’ll begin to see little patterns that help unlock your true emotions around food. Better yet, you’ll begin to understand & become more in tune with your body, improving the relationship you have with youreslf.

Not quite sure where to start?

Step 1: Read my guest blog post over on the universe knows, outlining everything you need to know about listening to your bod & creating a Food/Mood Journal.

Step 2: Take a Deep breath & clear your mind. Get excited – this is going to be fun!

Step 3: Purchase a journal, whip out a pen & get the writing started! I absolutely love these colorful leather journals from the universe knows, made with recycled paper with little inspiring words of wisdom on the covers. How pretty are these?

SPECIAL OFFER: Since I love you guys too, all Healthy Chicks readers can get 15% off their journal of choice with coupon code healthychicks.

Step 4: Schedule your FREE Diet-Free Breakthrough Session if you need more support through your journey to happy, healthy diet-free living.

Happy weekend friends! Do you listen to your body when it comes to food, or do you let mind games take over? Have you ever made a food journal?

It’s no surprise that The Boy and I like to make our own creations in our tiny box kitchen! We’re always playing with different greens, oils, herbs, meat, seasonal produce and garlic (lots and lots of garlic) to tantalize our taste buds.

Then we have our classic dishes, our staples if you will. The Boy’s include soup (particularly his heart-warming Potato Corn Chowder), Breakfast Frittatas and his famous meatloaf (which he literally won’t stop talking about…he keeps telling all my friends and family to “Ask Rach about my meatloaf!”) Classic Rachel dishes include Almond-Crusted Coconut Chicken with Sweet Potato Fries/Mashed Sweet Potatoes, fancy salads, and an apartment favorite: Warm Quinoa & Veggie Bowls which The Boy just dubbed “The Bowl of Goodness.”

The original inspiration came from our favorite local organic cafe Live Alive, as we are absolutely addicted to their warm grain bowls. That’s when I decided to get my experimenting (and my apron) on!  I never make one bowl exactly the same, but all are vegan and free from gluten and dairy ingredients. Sometimes I add in raisins or curry powder, while other times I load up on the garlic and create a more savory dish. Here’s the most recent bowl I made this week:

“The Bowl of Goodness” {A Warm Quinoa Bowl with Greens & Creamy Garlic Sauce}

Makes 4 servings

The Bowl*:

• 1 c. quinoa, rinsed and cooked according to directions
• 1 bag frozen organic broccoli (or equivalent fresh)
• 1 head Kale (simply run your hand down the stem to remove leaves)
• 8 shiitake mushrooms, cleaned & sliced into thin strips
• 1 large avocado, sliced
• 1/2 c. green onions, diced
• Sea salt & nutritional yeast to taste

*Use organic ingredients when possible

1. Cook quinoa according to directions, covering and stirring occasionally until all water is drained.

2. While the quinoa is cooking, steam kale, broccoli or any other dark green veggies you are using. Once mostly cooked through (about 10 minutes) add in mushrooms and steam for another 5 minutes or until all the vegetables are cooked to your liking.

3. Drain the vegetable mixture, and in a large bowl mix together quinoa, vegetables, green onions and avocado. Add sea salt & nutritional yeast to taste. Slowly mix in Creamy Ginger & Garlic Tamari Sauce (shown below) to your liking.

The Creamy Garlic & Ginger Tamari Sauce:

• 6 cloves garlic, pealed and chopped
• About 1/4 c. fresh ginger, peeled
• 1/4 c. tamari, organic
• 3/4 c. extra virgin olive oil, cold-pressed & unrefined
• 2 TB lemon juice
• 1 TB nutritional yeast
• sea salt to taste

~Add the garlic, ginger, tamari, lemon juice and half of the olive oil. Blend on high speed in a food-processor or Vitamix (I used a Vitamix). Then slow add in the olive oil, pulsing until it creates a creamy texture. Mix in nutritional yeast and sea salt to taste, and stir with a spoon.

Note: This sauce makes enough so you have leftover to use for other dishes, sandwich toppings or as a dip with your favorite veggies.

Do you like experimenting in the kitchen? What are your classic go-to dishes? Who does most of the cooking in your house? P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for my Spring Cleaning Wellness Workshop next Tuesday. Special discount for Healthy Chicks readers!

If you know me or have been reading my blog for a while, it’s plain to see I’m big on goals. I love creating goals for myself (both big and small), holding others accountable for their goals via health coaching, and am a sucker for vision boards (even as a teenager apparently). I’m a “Goal Junkie” if you will.

And this past year, I’ve come a long way with many of these goals. I’ve landed a part-time job of my dreams with sweetgreen (and have been loving every minute of it), I launched my innovative health coaching programs (including my Healthy Supermarket Tours), I greatly expanded my freelance writing, and I made big strides in my relationship and even moved in with The Boy (my very first living-with-a-man experience).

But, while I’m a pretty avid goal-setter, sometimes I get ahead of myself by creating too many goals at the same time, turning my dreams & visions from inspirations to one, big overwhelming mess.

That’s why when I was invited to lululemon athletica Prudential Center’s “B.H.A.G. Yourself to Greatness” event yesterday evening, I gladly accepted in a hot second. What’s a B.H.A.G. you ask? Why it’s a Big Hairy Audacious Goal, a goal-setting strategy the lulemon athletica folks have got down pat. It was time for me to take a good, hard look at my life and get that B.H.A.G. out there to the world! And what better way than by chatting over tea & healthy goodies with a lovely bunch of like-minded, inspiring people?

At the event, we were encouraged to share our one-year goals, and then broke up into small groups to plan out the how as well as set timelines for ourselves to hold one another accountable. We then broke it down into mini 3 week, 6 week, 3 month, 6 month and 9 month goals.

And now, for my one-year B.H.A.G.: I am going to publish a book (an e-book and/or actual book) on healthy inspirations for women focusing on the fact that there is more to life than dieting, body bashing, “fat days” and counting calories. My book is going to be inspirational, feel-good and light-hearted focusing on the “why” & “how” rather than the “what” (think: none of that diet book stuff with strict rules and guidelines). The why & how is where all the juicy, good stuff is anyway! More details to come on that…

WHY?

Because I’ve been there.

Because I understand how sucky living your life dieting, counting calories, and hating your bod can feel. And that being skinny & exercising like a mad woman means nothing if you aren’t truly happy inside.

Because I know first-hand the power of a hug, a pick-me-up, or a confidence boost.

Because I want to share my love with as many women as I can.

Because life is so much more meaningful (and fun) when you start living with purpose and zest!

Because I’m a writer, and writing brings me joy. It makes me feel alive.

Because I’ve started writing said book a zillion times (with a zillion different drafts, post-it notes and scrap pieces of paper filled with my thoughts) and know the time is now to start. For Real this time.

Because I know I’m meant to share what I have to say with women all over, of all ages and sizes, who went through or are going through what I did.

HOW:

After we shared with the group, we broke our Big goals into small, manageable goals to ensure they get checked off. Step one? We had to create a Do It Now, and mine was a.) announce my B.H.A.G. to friends, family, readers, and my peeps and b.) add it to my vision board. So here I am today, announcing it to you guys: my lovely readers, my fans, my friends, my family and anyone else who reads my blog. I hope you follow along on this exciting, juicy journey!

Let me ask you, what’s your B.H.A.G.? What gets your heart pounding, makes you stay up ’til the crack of dawn, and makes you ooze excitement? I want to hear!

Quick note: I apologize for the lack of blogging last week. I was greatly affected by the events that took place in Boston, and took a week for myself to process my feelings, pray, reflect and begin to heal. While it will take time, I am finally starting to feel like myself again… Much love to you all!