Healthy Chicks

As I enter the final few weeks of pregnancy, I’m officially in “nesting” mode as we await baby girl’s arrival. Our woodland-animal themed nursery is set up, the hospital bag is packed and I can’t stop cleaning.

The other day, I even decided to make homemade muffins in the middle of the afternoon…for fun! I’m sure glad I did, as these gluten free gems are definitely a new fave. The best part? You’ll likely have most of the ingredients sitting around in your pantry and fridge, making these delicious muffins as easy as can be.

Gluten Free Blueberry-Banana Muffins

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 large egg
• 2 TB coconut oil
• 1/4 c. coconut palm sugar or sweetener of choice (optional)
• 1 TB honey
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• dash of sea salt
• 1/2 c. almond or coconut milk
• 3/4 c. almond meal
• 3/4 c. gluten free baking flour blend (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
• 3/4 c. gluten free oats

1. Preheat oven to 350, and line muffin tin.
2. Mash banana in a large bowl, and whisk in all the ingredients aside from the almond meal, flour, oats and blueberries. Slowly add in almond meal,

Can you believe summer is just a week away? I’m so ready for my favorite season that I’m hosting a special Summer Solstice + Salad celebration at sweetgreen Legacy Place next Tuesday, June 19th. There’s still a few spots open, so Boston area friends get on it!

For me, summer is all about keeping it simple in the kitchen with 10-minute recipes, grilled proteins and veggies and lots of “no cook” meals. This holds especially true being almost 30 weeks pregnant, since I’m trying to stay as cool and stress-free as possible.

Last week, I whipped up a simple Zucchini Noodle recipe with homemade pesto and veggies, and it was a big hit with myself and hubby! This 5-minute meal can be served as is, or with a side of grilled chicken or fish, and is perfect for hot summer nights. Enjoy!

Zucchini Noodles with Pesto + Veggies 

• 2-3 zucchini or package of “zoodles” (already spiralized)
• 1 package cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 large cucumber, chopped
• 2 cups arugula

For pesto: 

• handful of fresh basil
• ~1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil (plus more for desired consistency)
• 1/2 c. walnuts
• 2 cloves garlic
• squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• salt &

When I moved to the suburbs, one of the things I missed most was walking (or taking public transportation) to my favorite healthy hot-spots. Since that’s no longer an option, I realized I had to get used to driving but taking the trip all the way into Boston isn’t convenient or feasible for me anymore.

That’s why I’m super grateful for Dedham’s Legacy Place, an outdoor shopping plaza with a Whole Foods, boutique clothing stores, restaurants and more! Bonus: It’s just a 25 minute drive from me, and I don’t have to fight for a spot on the T to get there! 😉

Since I’m a foodie at heart, I wanted to share a roundup of my favorite healthy restaurants at Legacy Place — some of my old-time Boston faves and some brand new to me!

sweetgreen

Why I love It

I love that sweetgreen is a scratch-kitchen, changing their menu seasonally and sourcing local as much as possible. In fact, they even have a local list in each store clearly outlining where their food comes from. Can’t get much more transparent than that! You can order one of their signature salads or grain bowls, or craft your own … Read More!

It seems as though right now every fitness and wellness company is pushing detoxes, 6-packs and losing holiday weight gain for the New Year. Um, no thanks. I’m so not a fan of the fear-mongering marketing that makes women feel like they need to lose weight to feel good in their bodies.

Also, why do we have to wait until 2018 to “start fresh,” anyway?

How about feeling good in our bodies right now?

Like, today.

As you know by now, I’m not a fan of dieting at all. In fact, I coach women on how to ditch dieting and discover joy around food and have an e-program coming soon on this very topic. Here’s a hint: it’s 90% mindset.

So, where does that leave us? I think we need to re-think the way we “detox” and instead focus on gently cleansing our body through self-care and foods that nourish our body. Instead of thinking of what you need to take out (deprivation), let’s think about what we can add in. Check out some of my favorite things to ante up your cleanse the feel-good way!

1. Incorporate Bone Broth into Your Diet

If you know me well, you … Read More!