Melt in Your Mouth Banana Nut Muffins

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This is a recipe I created a while back for my old health blog. But I’ve been bragging about these puppies so much lately, I felt it was only fair to re-feature and share the recipe. Alas, the perfect healthy fall indulgence! Enjoy! 

*makes 8-10 medium sized muffins
-1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour* *I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten free because I’m sensitive to wheat
-1 large or 2 small ripe bananas 
-1 tsp. baking soda
-1 tsp. baking powder 
-1/4 c. organic soy milk 
-2 TB apple sauce (unsweetened)
-1/4 c. Ghiradelli 60% Cacao chocolate chips
-1/4 c. chopped walnuts 
-1/4 c. organic sugar (or equivalent in agave syrup)
-1 small egg (or equivalent in egg whites/beaters)
-1 TB flax seed oil (optional)
-dash of cinnamon 

Mix well and bake on 350 for 12-14 minutes.… Read More!

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You Asked for it: Homemade Eggplant “Lasagna”

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You asked for it, so here it is! I modified a fatty recipe my aunt had given me for eggplant lasagna, using eggplant instead of noodles. Nifty, huh? Anyway, after some big changes to the recipe (i.e. using tofu instead of ricotta cheese), this recipe turned out to be a winner! Note: it’s not the “prettiest” looking picture but boy does it taste amazing. Serve with a side salad. 

*serves 3-4 

-1 large eggplant, peeled and sliced very thin (think: substituting for lasagna noodles)

-8 oz. frozen organic spinach

-2 TB olive oil 

-2 cloves garlic, crushed

-1 egg, beaten

-1/2 block firm tofu, chopped and mashed

-4 to 6 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded

-1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese

-2 TB dried basil

-1 c. of your favorite tomato sauce (with garlic and/or spices)

-salt and pepper to taste 

1. Prepare eggplant, cutting extremely thin slices. Lightly saute on medium heat for a few minutes in a large pan with olive oil. Remove and set aside.

2. Once removed, saute spinach and garlic in same pan in olive oil for about 5 minutes. Combine egg, cheeses, and bail and mix together until blended. Note: the tofu should crumble up … Read More!

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Dinner for One, Please: Eating Healthy on a Budget

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As of this week, I have officially been living in Boston for one year. ONE YEAR! I can’t believe how fast the time has flown by. I also can’t believe that while living in the exciting city on a budget (let’s just say I won’t be rolling in the dough for quite some time), I’m still able to manage my money. People ask me all of the time how I survive in this expensive city. “Dinner out, cafes everywhere, pricy bars…how do you possibly do it?” 

While I talked about eating healthy on a budget in my interview with Lifestyler last fall here, I thought I’d share some new tricks of the trade now that I’m truly a savvy Bostonian (yay, I can finally call myself that, although I still don’t have the accent). Anyway, back to the point: now that I’ve lived in a city for more than a year and have been able to eat, live and sleep, I think I can offer some valuable advice to you fine folks looking to do the same. 

1. Cook the Perfect Amount: Don’t let food go to waste! I know for me, if I cook too much food, I’ll … Read More!

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Bring Your Inner Beauty OUT

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This morning after breakfast, I went into the bathroom for my usual makeup routine. Moisturizer. check. Few dabs of liquid concealer. Check. Touch of powder. Check. Mascara. Check. Eyeliner. Check. Then I saw some bright pinkish/purply lipstick at the bottom of the bag, something I haven’t used for a verrryy long time. After all, I’m a pretty simple girl and normally just stick with clear lip gloss or vaseline if anything on my lips. But today was different. This lipstick had a story behind it. “bibo,” it read in cursive across the outside. “bibo? what the hell is bibo?” Then I remembered what it stood for when my mom gave it to me a few years ago: bringing inner beauty out. 

So what did I do? I grabbed ahold of that lipstick, twisted it up and applied some on my lips. Sure, it’s bright and a little bit much but I was going to rock this lipstick for all that it’s worth today. That’s exactly when I decided that I would also make today dedicated for bringing my own inner beauty out. No feeling fat. No feeling sorry for myself. No comparing myself to other women. No, today I … Read More!

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Labor Day Fun

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Happy Labor Day to all of you Healthy Chicks out there! Hope you are all having a wonderful day, whether you are out getting your last drop of white clothing in (which frankly I don’t believe in), chugging beers, or BBQ-ing away. Whatever you choose to do, it’s your day off to do whatever you so please! Gosh, don’t you just looooveee days off? 

Anyway, while back in college I’d probably be chugging boxed wine out of the bag and running around in the sun, this Labor Day I took as a personal day and did everything I wanted to do (ya gotta be selfish sometimes). 

I started my day cleaning and organizing the kitchen. It was way overdue. When you can’t find your favorite coffee flavor, and it takes 10 minutes to dig up the Cuisinart, you know you have a problem. Alas, the problem is fixed due to my master organization skills. 

Once the kitchen was sparkly clean, I made a delicious breakfast: an egg white omelet with mushrooms, spinach, onion, tomato and fresh mozzarella cheese with a side of Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel toast (mmm mmm good). Oh I also brewed two cups of fresh coffee … Read More!

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Finding Your Healthy Passion

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A few months ago, one of my friends came to me in distress. “Rach, I’m just so jealous of you that you have a passion. I feel like I’m not passionate about anything,” she said in distress. “Sure you are. You are one of the most loving people I know, and there are tons of things you enjoy!” “I guess. But I just don’t get excited about anything. I don’t have any true passions.” 

This made me sad at the time, as I wanted her to open her eyes and see how much this world has to offer, and more importantly how much she has to offer the world. It was especially hard for me to understand, because she was right: I am passionate about lots and lots of things; some would maybe even say I’m TOO passionate. So how could my friend not find one little thing to get excited for, to make her feel good about herself? I wanted deeply for her to figure that out. 

Fast forward a few months to this email I received from that same friend: “I’m sure you all know that I’ve ALWAYS bitched about not having a ‘passion’…and … Read More!

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Healthy…Dudes?

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Lately I’ve been getting a lot of feedback from men. There are those who read my blog religiously, others who enjoy what I have to say about women, and some who just simply like the concept of it and want to know more. While my blog is called “Healthy Chicks” and mostly geared for, well, chicks, I suppose much of the advice I give can be for both men or women, really. 

So for all of you men out there: don’t be ashamed to read my blog and give me suggestions. In fact, I’m flattered that both men and women can enjoy what I have to say. No, I’m not going to change the name of my blog to “Healthy Chicks ‘n’ Dicks,” nor will I suddenly become an expert on the male species, but I do welcome readers of all backgrounds and genders. 

When it all comes down to it, both men and women can follow a happy, healthy lifestyle…and who knows, maybe we can learn from one another? I’ve got to be honest: I’ve flipped through Men’s Health magazine, and actually find it interesting what they have to say about men, health and even relationships. Not to mention … Read More!

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Friday Shenanigans: What's On My Mind

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Today was a pretty random day, hence making for a pretty random blog post. I started my day off amazingly with a nice 3-mile run in the sun with my best friend, followed by an even more amazing breakfast that consisted of an egg white omelet with veggies and feta and two pieces of Ezekiel toast (I guess it was more like brunch since we ate at 11 a.m.) Anyway, I then threw on my cute, new sundress for a meeting at Panera, only to be graced by rain later this afternoon. (Go away Earl!) Now I’m sitting here on my couch half-soaked, hair a mess but still ready to write, write, write. Random, I know. Alas, five random thoughts on my mind this lovely, rainy Friday evening…

1. People Watching : Seriously, I think this is one of my favorite hobbies of all time. This afternoon I went to a cafe, ordered a large iced coffee, then parked myself on a window-side stool facing the busy streets of Boston. I not only got to write and enjoy my deliciously perfect coffee, but I also got to observe hundreds of interesting people walking by. From construction workers who stared at … Read More!

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The Power of One Little Compliment

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Today when I was ordering my food at Panera, the barista caught me by surprise. While normally it’s just the usual place your order, fake smile, take the buzzer and go, today was different. “I absolutely love your dress,” the woman said. “It looks so cute and comfy!” Not only did the lack of robotic communication take me by surprise, but I was also completely flattered. She then continued by telling me the salad I ordered was a good choice, and that I seem like one healthy girl (little did she know I’m a “Healthy Chick” after all). Anyway, back to the point: this stranger’s simple compliments completely made my afternoon. And they weren’t even over-the-top or extravagant in any way. I walked back to find a seat beaming in confidence, just because of two little nice lines from a stranger.

This got me thinking about how I wish we saw more of these kind exchanges more often in life. Too many times throughout the day, I see people frowning and looking completely pissed off, or watch as people blurt out rude comments without thinking. I see it every day in line at Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. Yelling. Shouting. Snide, … Read More!

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