VEGAN COCONUT MACAROONS

One of my favorite treats in the whole wide world are coconut macaroons. They're creamy, coconutty, and deliciously moist! I have, however, had trouble finding a healthy version of these tropical morsels; especially one that is vegan.

After some experimenting, I have finally created a decent recipe! Not only is it tasty, it's low-fat, low-calorie, vegan, and super easy to make, AND you can also eat it as a RAW dessert! Just skip the baking step :)

So, without further adieu, here it is:


VEGAN COCONUT MACAROONS

2 cups shredded UNSWEETENED coconut
1 medium sized banana
1/4 cup agave nectar (you can add more or skip this all together based on desired sweetness)
1/4 cup diced almonds or almond flour (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract

*water, unsweetened applesauce, or additional banana can be added to reach desired consistency. I like mine thick and chewy, so I chose to add banana as needed.

1) If cooking, preheat oven to 350
2) Mash banana, either by hand or in a blender
3) In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, including banana, until well mixed
4) Place 1 tbsp dollops of mixture onto spray-oiled cookie sheet
5) Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned

Voila!! Simple, healthy, and delicious!

WORLDLY WISDOM

HERE is a great article titled "10 Truths I Wish I'd Known Sooner".

As we get older, we tend to become more introspective as we examine our behaviors, our lives, our views of the world, people in our lives, and our surroundings. When you dip your foot into the truths of yourself and your life, you tend to do 1 of two things:

1) dive in! learn from past mistakes and change who you are for the better (with some back peddling along the way), accepting opportunity for growth as it arises, or
2) step back, turn around, an dig in your heels; scared or unable to face the truth, you seek to follow your current path blindly (hence people who still get trashed playing beer pong at 36 while the kids are sleeping).

Regardless of age or which path you choose, you can always learn and grow. The article above is written by a woman who has clearly taken the leap into the unknown and, through time and grace, has detailed 10 truths that resonate throughout the ages.

A summary of the 10 lessons (directly listed from the article):

1. Events reveal people’s characters; they don’t determine them.

2. Lying, by omission or commission, is a bad idea.

3. Sex always give [sic] you an answer, although not necessarily the one you want.

4. Most talents are transferable.

5. Fashion fades; style is eternal.

6. You can’t fake love.

7. Mean doesn’t go away.

8. No one’s perfect.

9. Ask for help.

10. Keep your eye on the prize and your hand on the plow.

I plan on sending this article to all the women in my life, including Mom and Grandma :)

COMPOSTING (AND OUR NEW aSTORE!)

Check out the video below for tips on composting at home!

Also, SexyHealthyHappy now has an aStore (aka products endorsed by us available through Amazon.com). All of the products are picked for their affordability, efficacy, low-to-no environmental impact, and awesomeness! We strive to pick products that are made in the USA (helping to keep good jobs at home) and are free of toxic chemicals.

After watching the composting video, check out the odor-free composter we picked for our aStore! Link to the store is on the right hand side of this website, under "SexyHealthyHappy Amazon.com Store".

DEAR GOD, MY ASS

Try out the "bikini bootcamp" below. It is AWESOME! Warning: it may lead to a sore (but smaller!) gluteus!


NOTE: to burn more calories and increase the effectiveness of the workout, you can do the following:

1) Instead of marching in place, run in place with high knees. Try the workout all the way through before attempting this!
2) For any side stepping moves, step FURTHER! increasing the spread of the legs and dipping lower is harder on your thighs and butt, increasing the toning and calorie burn
3) For any side stepping moves, HOP to the side instead of just stepping. This adds plyometrics, or explosive exercise, to the routine, VASTLY increasing the calorie burn
4) During the mountain climbers/push-ups and the squat thrusts, JUMP the legs out and back in instead of stepping them out. Again, this adds more plyometrics and it's fricking hard!
5) Eliminate pauses between exercises. Once you know the sequence of exercises, if there are any pauses or marching sections, just go straight into the next exercise. This adds more reps and takes out breaks, making this a more intense cardio workout!

Good luck and enjoy!

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS: PART THREE

So you've committed yourself to watching portion size and avoiding mindless snacking over the holidays, but how are you going to fit in fitness at the family functions?

Simple! Here are a few tips (and a helpful video workout) to help you sneak in some slimming sessions.

PART THREE: Functional fitness

1) Post-meal motion
If you have a dog or a sibling (or a parent, if they're game), bring them along on a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. Studies have shown that a 10 minute post-meal walk can up calorie burning after a meal by up to 10%! So slap on some sneakers and spend some quality time outside with your fam!

2) Early morning exercises
The best time to squeeze in some activity is before your obligations and family time even start. So set your alarm and get in 30 minutes of body-weight resistance work first thing in the morning. Do push-ups, squats, sun salutations, jumping jacks, and the exercises in the video below... just move your body as much as you can! A great way to make sure you push yourself is to set up goals ahead of time (100 total push-ups, 80 total squats, etc.) and just keep going in sets of 15-20 until you reach your goal. Another benefit to exercising in the morning: you've guaranteed yourself a healthy start to the day! Even if you run out of time later, at least you know you've squeezed in some activity each day.

So stop making excuses! Any activity helps and it all adds up! Check out the video below for an awesome and easy full-body workout.

Happy and Healthy Holidays!!!

HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE

I have recently been writing an article regarding the missing piece in our nation's health care debate: our flawed concept/structure/implementation of, in other words our overall approach to, "health" care.

Well, while writing my article I found THIS ARTICLE that summed up everything I was trying to say. It is a MUST READ article for everyone!! So check it out!

And send a link to your friends and family! Changing the mindset of the average health care consumer, aka you and everyone you know, and the dialogue between patients and doctors in regards to "health" and "wellness" are the first steps in reforming our failing system.

So take an active role in your health care and start demanding holistic treatment! And learn more about what "health" SHOULD mean BY READING THE ARTICLE! :)

ANTIBIOTICS BAD FOR BABY

HERE is an article detailing a recent study that links increased rates of birth defects with use of common antibiotics during pregnancy. Very important news for anyone planning on having a baby now or in the near future!!

Antibiotics are often over-prescribed, even in cases where antibiotics are an inappropriate treatment. Talk to your doctor, pregnant or not, before taking antibiotics.

If you are prescribed antibiotics for a viral infection (like the flu or a cold) or a sinus infection, just say NO! Viruses cannot be treated by antibiotics and studies have show that, in the case of sinus infections, steaming your face and using OTC cold medicine (or herbal teas, my preference) are more effective treatments.

And remember, if you are pregnant, make sure to clear herbal teas, supplements, and ANY medications with your midwife prior to taking them!

HEALTHY AND HAPPY

A new study has been released linking increased intake of processed foods and higher rates of depression.
Eating a diet high in fruits, veggies, and fresh fish can help to fend off fatigue and battle the blues. More incentive to eat a fresh plant-based diet! Look good, gain energy, and feel happy :) You can read more about the study from the link above.

As always, when buying fruits and veggies, look for organic and preferably local produce. Better for the earth, waterways, and your body!

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS: PART TWO

So now that you have some healthy holiday recipes up your sleeve, let's talk about preventing binging and diet sabotage during the holiday season!

It can be hard to stick to a diet plan when the holidays roll around. Friends, family, and hordes of food and inactivity often spell disaster for our waistlines, hips, and thighs! But constantly saying "no" and isolating yourself in your bedroom during hordeuvres can ruin your holiday happiness, too. So what is a person to do?! It's actually pretty simple: seek balance.

Here are 2 tips to keep you mingling and munching without regret:

PART TWO: Eating without cheating

1) The "Two-Bite" Rule
You can have whatever you want at the family feast, just limit your intake of sinful snacks to two-bites. This allows you to savor the flavor and satisfy your craving without making a huge dent in your calories! To make sure you're still getting enough bulk to beat back hunger pangs, eat unlimited portions of all vegetable and fruits that are NOT sweetened or sauteed in oil/butter. So go ahead! Have your fill and brave the buffet! With simple limits and open menu options, you're sure to have a waistline-friendly holiday season!

2) Constantly Sipping, Not Constantly Snacking
Often times just BEING in your family home during the holidays means constant temptation. Extra cookies sitting on the counter, an over-stocked fridge... it's just so easy to snack insensibly! The solution: keep your mouth busy! Stock up on mineral water and constantly carry a glass around with you (or a water bottle). This calorie-free, calcium-containing, bubbly brew keeps your tummy feeling satisfied and your mouth full... so you can't shove a cookie in there before meal time. Also great: add some fresh squeezed lemon juice. The citrus smell and added vitamin C help to beat back cravings and keep your hunger at bay!

Check back in here at SexyHealthyHappy or part 3 of our series: finding ways to make your Holidays more active!

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS: PART ONE

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and at least for me that means family, friends, and a whole lot of not-so-healthy and not-so-animal friendly food.

The time around the holidays fosters eating patterns that can snowball into long-term weight gain and diet sabotage, so today I begin the first of a multi-part series dedicated to strategies and recipes for a healthy, indulgent, and fun holiday season!!


PART ONE: Tasty Thanksgiving Treats!

1) Pudge-free Pumpkin
HERE is a recipe for fabulous vegan pumpkin muffins! Replace your slice of fat-filled pumpkin pie with one of these delicious, portion-controlled substitute to save calories without sacrificing taste. Great for the whole family, vegan or not, and left-overs make a great breakfast!

-To add a little extra sumthin-sumthin to these, whip up an easy vegan frosting:
1/4 cup soybean margarine
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup soymilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

2) Meat-Free Main Course
HERE is a recipe for a delicious vegetarian"nut loaf" (think meat loaf but tastier, less greasy, and more humane). This is NOT VEGAN, but to make it vegan just switch out the butter with Earth-Balance and use egg substitute. If you are having thanksgiving with some meat eaters, your friends can still enjoy this dish in addition to their turkey.

-To up the "yum" factor of your loaf, whip up a quick vegan brown gravy! Recipe available HERE

3) Not-So-Sinful Stuffing
HERE is a recipe for a sweet cranberry stuffing that is vegan AND low calorie! To make heartier AND healthier, mix in some cooked quinoa and chopped pecans for a healthy dose of filling-fiber and protein! ALSO, since most dried cranberries are covered in added sugar, replacing the cranberries with pomegranate seeds will up the antioxidant punch in this dish! Mmm mmm mmm!

4) Bulge-Free Beverage
HERE is a recipe for a lower-calorie hot cranberry-apple cider. Warm liquids are great for digestion after a large meal and this drink can serve as a low-cal dessert on the nights before and after the big feast. Only 80 calories per serving!!


Look for my next post in this series. I'll be addressing holiday portion control, staying social without creating a diet disaster, and fun activities for the whole family to help keep your holidays active!