Personalized Cooking Session

When people embark on a new journey to health, learning how to prepare and cook food in a new way can be one of the biggest challenges. Women express to me time and time again how helpful it is when I come to their home and show them how it's done and that it doesn't have to be complicated. 

***Special offer for the month of July ONLY...
Check this out -- I am offering this to you as a gift! Anyone who signs up for my 12-week program before July 31st, pays for the first month, and books their first appointment with me will receive their FREE personalized cooking session ($249 value)!

Personalized Cooking Session
1 evening, approx. 2 hours, in your home!
In-home cooking session customized to your dietary and lifestyle needs. We show you the importance and ease of incorporating healthy cooking into your lifestyle ~ and have fun doing it! :)

*Can also be purchased a la cart for $249! Contact me to book!

Contact me for questions or to sign up!

Crock Pot Roast

4.5 pound roast

2 whole onions chopped into chunks

6 whole garlic cloves

2 chopped carrots

1C quartered mushrooms

1C broth

1 cup rosemary sprigs

Coat the roast in heavy salt & pepper

Pile all of the ingredients in slow cooker as pictured above.

Cook on low heat for 8 hours.

Voila!! :)

Getting on the RIGHT track to health... this is your ticket! Choo-choo!!

If you pay any attention to the world of health and nutrition then you know how very confusing it can be out there. Should you be Paleo, vegetarian, vegan? Should you juice? What is a plant based diet? Why is everyone so afraid of gluten these days - hasn't it been around forever? Where do you even begin to determine what will work for you to get you on the right track to optimal health?! Do you have to starve and restrict yourself in order to reach your goals? Absolutely not!

I was a vegetarian for about 12 years. I've been Paleo off and on for a couple of years. I just try to do the best that I can and eat what makes me feel good - and it's never difficult. With everything I've learned over the past few years, I know that different people have different nutritional needs at different times in their lives. We are all different bodies with different compositions and different genetics. If you get in tune with your body, you'll learn what those needs are and be able to eat and supplement in a way that optimizes your health. It might sound complicated at first, but it's actually quite simple.

Generally speaking, I think that you should be cautious of any diet that is monopolizing from a name. Do your own research and become your own advocate. I believe the most important principle that WE ALL need to follow is to JUST EAT REAL FOOD. Allow me to simplify some of the basics...

• Moderation is always key.
• Fast food has an extra 's' in it ;)
• Processed 'foods' are not food. 
• Organic is best - check the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen for the best produce buying guides.
• GMO's are bad - watch GMO OMG - educate yourself and do what you can. 
• Hormones, additives, preservatives & artificial sweeteners are poisons that should be avoided as much as possible.
• Refined sugars and carbs should be minimized. 
• Some fats are good for you! "Fat free" is usually not.
• Certain foods and deficiencies can lead to inflammation and disease. If you're having health issues, learn what those are for you by talking to your doctor, running blood tests and determining food allergies.
• Educate yourself on the ethical treatment of animals and conscious meat-eating. This is a touchy area, but I believe that we can all live and eat in a conscious and healthy way here. 
• Eating fresh vegetables at every meal can greatly improve your health! This is a simple step everyone can take in the right direction!

I could go on and on with this list, but this covers a wide spectrum. The biggest question then arises around going gluten free (or Paleo, which is also grain free). Is this another trend? Certainly the name is, but the principle takes us back to basic eating. And I'm certainly convinced that in our food supply there are very little grains or gluten that are straight from a healthy, nutrient dense source of soil and/or not genetically modified. While you might think these foods have been around for centuries, what we're getting on our plates is not what the cavemen were gathering. Most of the foods on our grocery store shelves are being passed through too many hands, machines and chemicals to be called food anymore. Our bodies are unable to process them naturally and they don't provide the nutritional value that our bodies need.

I will always adhere to the simple fact that we ALL should be educating ourselves about what is going into our bodies. We can't count on the medical system to fix us once we've put our health on the back burner for too long. Here are some ways you can begin the process. These are some of my favorite resources, but I know there are a plethora of them out there. Do the work! :)

• Become your own health advocate! Learn about natural eating and living and take on the practices and principals that work for you.

• Find a doctor that supports natural and holistic health. These doctors adhere to getting to the root of the issues you're be dealing with rather than just treating the symptoms. These are the doctors that are willing to sit with you for longer than 5 minutes to determine all of the factors of your health with you.

• Read, read, read!
• Robb Wolf
• Whole30
• Eat Clean
• Juicing

• Watch, watch, watch!
• Forks Over Knives
• Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
• Food Matters
• >>>This whole list<<<

• Get in tune with your body by doing an elimination diet.

• Get tested for food sensitivities (ask your doctor).

• Get tested for >Gluten sensitivity< (or ask your doctor).

If you have any questions, send me a message! I'm passionate about supporting and empowering a naturally healthy lifestyle. And, if you're in the San Diego area, let's see how we can work together! I'd love to help you! :)

Yours in health,
~Mimi~

Pachecos Go Paleo!!

I'm SO excited to share with you all this brand new Paleo journey that I'm taking my family on for the next 2 weeks!! I will be posting blogs, videos and pictures on FB and IG through all of my social media feeds and I would love for you to follow along. Bare with me, as this first post will be the longest as I tell you a little bit of our story as well as WHY we've decided to give this path a try.

If you know me, you know that I generally don't believe in "diets" or the idea that "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to what we should be eating. Every body has its own requirements and it's our job to figure out what foods provide us with the energy and vitality that are needed to live our fullest, healthiest life possible.

You may or may not know that I've been mostly vegetarian for the past 13 years. Sometimes I'm very strict about it, sometimes I'm not. I typically just go with how I feel because I deeply believe that our bodies will unfailingly tell us what we need through our levels of energy, how we're feeling, what we're craving, etc.

Sadly though, over the past 6+ months I lost my passion for being in the kitchen. Life got super busy and cooking (something that I truly love to do) became more of a chore than something that I enjoyed. I also got tired of making the same old things that never pleased the whole family (3 adults and 3 kids). So, I began to settle for less on what I was feeding everyone. I'd make separate meals which usually meant something healthier for the adults and something mediocre for the kids. Lately, it really started to get to me. My #1 commitment in life is to give my family the best in everything that I can, so how was I going to get over this major funk in the kitchen?

And then I no longer had a choice. I wasn't sure if I was going to share this next part of our story publicly or not, but one thing I know is that by sharing the REAL stuff in life then others can benefit in their own struggles. It is my hope that in sharing this part of our family's journey that you will gain something for your own life journey.

Last week we found out that our 8 year old son, Eddie, has Complex Partial Epilepsy. You may have followed some of his story over the past 8 years. His issues have been pretty minor and very manageable. However, more recently we began noticing something a little more concerning - periods of complete absence, loss of memory and/or knowledge of his current setting. (We'll keep this part of the story short for now.) And so the tests began (physicals, EEG, MRI, etc.) and our suspicions were confirmed.

Once the devastation settled, reality set in. Something had to change. I knew deep in my being that the kid who would eat pizza at every single meal if he could, had to change his diet. And that meant this mama was going to have to have a solid plan. Whatever the plan was going to be, it needed to include the entire family.

[Parts of our family meeting will be posted on Youtube.]

After conducting much of my own homework as well as already having some intuition telling me that Eddie needed to be eating more meat, I reluctantly decided it was time to start bringing more meat into the house. After a few very DRY and not-so-yummy attempts (I've never been one to cook meat), the first person I could think to help me on this path was my amazingly talented and passion-about-food friend, Camille from Recipe RX and Paleo Living.

It couldn't have been more perfect that she was literally JUST launching her own program to help people transition into a healthier lifestyle, called Paleo Cooking at Home: Fast, Easy & Cheap. I quickly jumped on her affiliate program last week, went shopping on Sunday and began our cooking journey on Monday (yesterday). No time to waste!

>>>>>Meet Camille here!!<<<<<

And now the journey begins.

Sunday we completely overhauled the kitchen... out with the crap, in with the real food!!

OUT with the enriched breads, pastas & processed carbs~

IN with the fresh produce, healthy fats and yes, the meat!!

Our first dinner was last night (Almond Coconut Crusted Chicken - holy heavens!!) and EVERYONE (yes, I said everyone) LOVED it!! So far, we have made last night's dinner, today's breakfast (plantain crepes) and lunch (tuna salad wraps), and all of them have been a hit!!

Words cannot express how exciting it has been in just 24 hours to make meals that the whole family loves! I'm seriously ecstatic!! I'm already thrilled to be back in the kitchen and I feel like this is exactly what our entire family needed to get on track.

Be sure to follow our 2-week "Pachecos Go Paleo" journey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now Youtube!!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Roasted Roots~

Highly requested and extremely delicious... :)

Roasted brussel sprouts:

(approx. 6 servings)

2 pounds brussel sprouts cut in half

Approx. 2-3 tbsp. unrefined coconut oil (enough to cover sprouts)

1 tbsp. black pepper

1 tbsp. rosemary

1 tbsp. salt

Juice of 1 lemon

Toss all ingredients together in a bowl, then lie flat on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 400* for about 30 minutes, or until desired crispiness.

Roasted Roots

(approx. 4 servings)

1 medium size of each- red beet, yellow beet and 1 large carrot - chopped or sliced 

2 tbsp. unrefined coconut oil

1 tbsp. minced ginger (*or 1 tbsp. ginger paste)

Juice of 1 lemon (*or 1 tbsp. lemon grass paste)

1 tsp. garlic salt or minced garlic or garlic salt

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl.

Bake at 400* for about 20-30 minutes.

(*Pastes can be found in the refrigerated produce section, near the salad dressings. 

I find mine at Albertson's.)

Where have I been?!!

You may or may not have noticed a considerable decline in my posting over the past couple of months and I must say, I've missed you!! :)

I guess you could say I'm in sort of a makeover stage. But actually, I don't think I'll ever stop working on my self. I don't ever want to settle on "good enough." I believe there are always things to learn and there's always room to grow.

So, here's where I've been in LIFE~

One of the reasons I have become increasingly busy (on top of the kids going back to school and the pace picking up at work) is because I have begun The Introduction Leader's Program with Landmark Education. I have been participating in this education for almost a year and a half and the best way that I can put it into words right now is that it has rocked my world! This education has burned up my regrets and sorrows from the past and cleared a new path for creation of whatever I desire. Anything is possible! It has fueled my fire in setting out to accomplish and fulfill all of the things that matter to me. I'm now looking at 6 months of self development and growth in this program and I'm so excited about the ME that will come out on the other side!

Here's where I've been in FITNESS~

I just noticed that I kind of fell of the wagon of sharing my LiveFit Trainer progress. Life got insanely busy, my schedule changed considerably and I totally fell off of my gym wagon (for a whole month! ouch!). I only made it through Phase 2, BUT I absolutely LOVED the progress that I made with even just the first two phases of that program. I'm pretty sure I will do those phases again in the future. Phase 3 became a little lengthy and complicated for the amount of time I was willing to spend in the gym. Also, since I wasn't following the diet that went along with the program, I really didn't feel that phase suited my goals. At any rate, I HIGHLY suggest Jamie's program if you're looking for a way to change it up and build some muscle. I found it to be highly effective (with or without the diet) and very well rounded. I'm certain that you'll gain both results and knowledge from this program.

So, what now?! Now, I'm jumping into week 3/4 of The Sweaty Betties 12-Week Lifting Program. I'm really hoping to get back the definition that I lost during my month off. Stay tuned! :)

And in case you didn't see yet, I was one of the winners chosen for the Inspiration & Perspiration workshop in Las Vegas next month!! (*My blog entry*) I can hardly wait to spend the weekend with the amazingly inspiring women that are putting this on. WHO ELSE will we be seeing there???

In FOOD (my favorite topic!) ~

Recently I've noticed an increase in my feeling tired. Yes, I'm insanely busy, but it just doesn't seem to match up with how often I feel fatigued. I sleep well, eat healthy and exercise consistently, so what could be wrong? My initial thought was to blame it on the caffeine, but even when I cut it out, it didn't seem to improve. So now, this preferred vegetarian is adding in some protein again (specifically, seafood) to see if that helps. I'm open to your thoughts on this topic as well! And yes, if the problem persists or becomes more concerning, I will see my doctor. :)

And last, but certainly not least... Heavenly Healthy is undergoing a makeover! I'm so excited because I have a great friend who is working with me on giving my site a new design. I have big plans for this page over the next year or so and our 'outfit' should be reflective of what's to come! Again, stay tuned! :)

Thanks for reading, supporting and sticking around during my crazy times! You're the best! :)

Healthfully yours,
~Mimi~

Noodle-less Zucchini Lasagna

I was given a giant home grown organic zucchini the other day (Thanks to my friend, Tara!) and I thought what better to make a noodle-less lasagna with! 

Super easy, clean, fresh, almost-raw and delicious!

~Pour a 1/2 of a 16oz. can or jar of your favorite organic or homemade marinara sauce on the bottom of  your preferred baking dish

~I used plain, organic tomato sauce and sprinkled a layer of fresh diced herbs (oregano, basil & rosemary) from my new herb garden (Thanks to my grandparents!) :)

~4-5 regular sized zucchinis or 1 gigantic one - sliced into lots of thin slices - pile all of them in pan

~Add a layer of baby spinach

~Here you can also add diced garlic and onions (optional)

~Top with the rest of your tomato/marinara sauce

~Sprinkle lightly with feta cheese

~Bake at approx. 350* for 25 minutes. The idea is to not overcook and still get some crunch from the zucchini.

*On the side:

~Roasted zucchini slices ("chips") sprinkled lightly with garlic (or sea) salt and baked in the toaster oven at 400* for about 15 minutes, or until browning. (Keep a close eye.)

~Sautéed beets cooked in grape seed oil and Penzey's Italian seasoning.

Reading Labels

A crucial piece to optimizing your health is knowing what you're putting in your body. One of the places you can start is learning to read labels. In a perfect world, nothing we eat would have a label to begin with. While I believe that is something we should all strive for, it would be unrealistic to assume that everyone eats that way. So, here are some of the key pointers when looking at food labels so that you can be sure that what you're eating is REAL food and not laden with chemicals and preservatives - all of which can prolong and divert your healthful goals - whether those may be to lose weight, to regain or just maintain your health.

INGREDIENTS: The longer the list, the better off you are without it. Why? Because you probably can't pronounce half of the things on the list, which means you probably don't know what they are. If you don't know what something is, look it up and you'll be sure to not want to eat them after all. Knowing is half the battle!

I used to be addicted to chips. When I started getting serious about my health, that was the first thing to go. I don't think all chips need to be red-taped, but if their ingredients list looks something like this, you should think twice. This is not whole food.

Some ingredients to avoid:
MSG
BHT
Aspartame
Trans fat
High fructose corn syrup
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, etc.)
Enriched flour
Textured soy
Hydrogenated oils
Autolyzed and hydrolyzed yeast extracts



So, what IS acceptable? Most likely that answer is going to be different for everyone, depending on your goals and preferences; whether you're a meat eater, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc. But I think there are a few universal things to look for.

SUGARS / SWEETENERS (<<click here for a list of sweeteners in disguise): Processed and refined sugars come in MANY shapes, sizes, names and disguises. Generally, I prefer raw honey, stevia and xylitol because those are the ones that I know to be less or not processed. I also know that there is still debate on some of those. If you can get your sweet fix from adding fresh fruit to your dishes instead, it's MUCH better and healthier for you. On a label though, I would look to see where "sugars" sit in the list. The further down they are, the less there is of it. Then I would check the grams. Always, less (or none) is best. 

This is my idea of a good looking label. These are from Flackers. Whole seed crackers; no added sugars or flours; no mysterious ingredients.

FLOURS / STARCHES: A lot of people ask what breads are best. Personally, I might have bread once every couple weeks. And when I do, I opt for 100% whole grain and if I can I choose sprouted (found at most health food stores). Ezekial is one of the best that I know of. Breads (and crackers) are commonly loaded with ingredients to avoid: enriched flours, high fructose corn syrup and other sugars. Here's a nice looking bread:

Reading the ingredients list is a perfect place to start learning about what's in your food and what you're putting in your body. The more you know, the bigger your desire becomes for whole, real, FRESH foods. And in turn, the better you will start to feel.

The closer a food is to the way Mother Nature made it, the better. 

If the Earth made it, eat it - if man made it, don't. 

Thanks for reading, and please let me know if you have any questions or things you'd like to add.

Yours in Health,

~Mimi~

Gourmet crackers and cheese

I've posted this a few times on my pages, but because it's so amazingly delicious, I wanted to be sure to add it here as well.

If you have a Trader Joe's, you MUST try this!

If you don't have a Trader Joe's, you can make your own ingredients as follows:

Your favorite healthy crackers ~ whole grain or seed crackers such as Flackers.

Your favorite cheese ~ mozarella or gouda - yum!

Make your own tomato topping ~ slice some sweet red and/or yellow tomatoes and roast them for about 20 minutes at 450*. Mix roasted tomatoes with olive oil and your favorite italian herbs and garlic.

ENJOY!! :)

Four Fab Fitters ~ Thursday

Breakfast from me~ Heavenly Healthy~

>> VIDEO Workout << of the Day from Better Believe Fit~

Snack of the Day from Go Mommy Go~

Snacktime! Greek Yogurt w/ 1/2 TBSP Peanut Butter & Handful of Blueberries

Dinner from Creating a Family of Lettuce Heads~

Four Fab Fitters ~ Tuesday

Quote of the day from Go Mommy Go:

Workout of the day from Creating a Family of Lettuce Heads~

Snack of the day from Better Believe Fit~

1 mini Jospehs Pita

1 tbsp maple almond butter

1/2 banana thin sliced

and a swizzle of honey

Dinner from Yours Truly~ Heavenly Healthy :)

Four Fab Fitters ~ Monday

I have had the pleasure of teaming up with four fellow health and fitness FB pages and awesome ladies to bring our fans a week of some fresh ideas. Each day we are each sharing our own motivation, workouts and recipes. I would like to showcase our posts here since I know that we all worked very hard to bring it all together and they came out great! Be sure to check out their pages, and ENJOY!! :)

Workout of the Day from Go Mommy Go:

Breakfast from Better Believe Fit:

Blackberry Cobbler Oatmeal!
1/2 cup quick oats
1/4 coconut almond milk
1/2 cup water
3 oz blackberries
1 tablespoon sliced almonds
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1 tbsp ground flax (optional)
swizzle of honey ; )~

Put quick oats, water, blackberries and spices together in bowl. Microwave for 1 min. (or longer depending on your microwave)
Stir in coconut almond milk and flax.
Add on top almonds and honey.

Snack from Yours Truly :) ~Heavenly Healthy~

Dinner from Creating a Family of Lettuce Heads:

Place 5 boneless skinless chicken breast in crockpot that is heated on low.
Season with smokey paprika, cumin, oregano, ancho chili powder and garlic powder.
Add one sliced sweet onion, one sliced green pepper, two sliced jalapeños, 1 cup frozen corn, and 1 tub organic salsa. (no sugar added, I used mild)
1/4 cup water

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hrs.
Shred the chicken while still in crockpot, and add one can of organic low sodium black beans(drained and rinsed). Heat until beans are warm and serve!
This can be served over brown rice, in tortillas, over organic flax seed tortilla chips.
We put it in Ezekiel tortillas with avocado slices and it was FANTASTIC!!
Two of the little lettuce heads ate THREE fir dinner and one asked to have left overs for lunch today!!! 

Friday Favorites!

I have come across some awesome things and people this week that I think are ultra worthy of being shared! I LOVE finding new tools for empowering and maximizing my healthy lifestyle and it is my passion to share the healthy wealth with you all.

Fitness~
TRX - Have you tried it yet? I was already a big fan of using my bodyweight for working out and strength training, but this suspension training takes your training to a whole new level. After one full body circuit workout with two of my friends, I was sore in places I forgot existed. I highly recommend giving it a try if you have the chance!


Food~
I'm so excited to have been introduced to a new realm of healthy cooking this week. My friend, who has been a nutrtitional chef for the past 8 years, came and presented an amazing healthy cooking experience with The Saladmaster. The hubs and I have purchased a whole new cooking set that will completely replace all of our pots and pans. Our new set will maximize the nutritional content of our cooked foods by cooking at a lower temperature and eliminating metal toxicities in our foods. As someone who spends a lot of time cooking and aiming to keep her family as healthy as possible, this is yet another valuable tool in maximizing my efforts. And some day, I'm going to have my dream kitchen to go along with it all! ;)


Friends~
I'm so thankful for the healthy relationships that are forming in my life lately. One of the toughest parts in transforming from an unhealthy to a healthy lifestyle is trying to find your place in a sort of "new" world. You find that you have to change your surroundings to ones that support your new choices and trying to eliminate environments where temptation may occur, or where your choices might be mocked (for lack of a better term). I have found that as long as you stay strong and persistent on your path toward your goals, it will still take time, but soon enough you will find yourself surrounded with a nurturing environment and you will breath a breathe of fresh air. Just don't give up!

I'm also excited because last week the hubs decided to join me on my Heavenly Healthy FB page. I'm thankful for his enthusiasm in helping to share our wealth of healthy knowledge together. This also takes a little bit of pressure off as summer approaches and my schedule tightens. The kids will be out of school which always changes the daily routine, and I will also be taking some classes that are big steps toward my next goals. This is on top of an already crazy, busy routine, but my wish is to keep ~HH~ going and growing strong! :)


Fun~
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and fun Memorial weekend!! Hope you all get to kick back and enjoy some sunshine with your loved ones. Thank you for your support and as always, I love hearing from you!!

My First Ever ~ What I Ate Wednesday!

I have been wanting to participate in this for months and well, here it finally is! 

Breakfast: 

1 cup 0% Fage, 1/2 cup granola, 1 tbsp hemp hearts, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 cup almond milk.

Snack 1:

Jack cheese stick and a hand full of almonds.

Lunch:

1/2 can of red (kidney) beans, 1/4 cup cheese, 1 tbsp hemp hearts, 

1/2 cup fresh salsa, artichoke hearts.

Snack 2:

Jay Robb Coconut Cashew protein bar and a small bowl of fresh pineapple.

Dinner:

Salad~ 

Romaine, artichoke hearts, grapefruit, kidney beans, olive oil, 

apple cider vinegar and a dash of garlic salt.

Roasted veggies with Baked Eggplant 

(I left the cheese out of the baked eggplant and added kale and peas.)

Questions, comments? All are welcome!! :)

Staples for a Healthy Week

That's it! I'm ready to get back on my meal planning! This past couple of weeks have made me realize how much I NEED and miss it. 


Quite often it seems all forces are against me when it comes to staying organized. Life gets busy with 5 kids and my routine tends to be far from consistent. Especially with the end of the school year here for the kids, and myself getting ready to take on some new classes and adventures. Mama isn't happy when it's only Tuesday and I'm rustling around the kitchen at 5PM trying to figure out what to make for dinner. And then when I'm not exploring new ideas and trying new things, the inevitable happens; I get bored in the kitchen. Of all people, I know better! 


Never let yourself get bored in your healthy lifestyle - with food, or with fitness! Boredom is a recipe for failure!! 


So, while I definitely have NOT fallen off of my healthy wagon, I have been a little less than enthusiastic about cooking. And that inadvertently makes it more difficult to stay focused on my goals and the things that are really important to me. But yesterday, I tied down the hubs, we worked up a plan for the week ahead, and we were off to the stores! 

May not be the prettiest or the most organized, but at least I know where everything is and there are lots of options! ;)

Now, I'm ready to get cooking and I can't wait to get some new recipes up to share with you all! But in the meantime, while the cabinets and the refrigerator are fully stocked, I thought it would be a good time to share my shopping list with you. People often ask me for ideas for good, clean food staples. These are things that are versatile and can be used for many dishes. Here are some of the things that I like to have on hand all the time - for cooking meals and prepping snacks and lunches on the go. It's all about being prepared!  


Dairy
Almond and/or coconut milk (insert your choice of milk here)
Eggs
Cheeses (mozzarella, cheddar, ricotta, feta)
Fage 0% plain yogurt
Cottage cheese


Whole Grains
Quinoa
Brown rice
Wheat pita bread
Sprouted whole grain bread
Wheat pasta
Wheat tortillas
Corn tortillas
Oats
Flax meal


Beans, Legumes & Nuts
Wide variety of canned organic beans (red, black, garbanzo, pinto)
A few different kinds of canned organic vegetables (corn, peas, beets, tomatoes)
Canned organic tomato sauce
Dry bean varieties
Lentils
Seeds (chia, hemp, pumpkin)
Nuts (Walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds)


There are really too many fruits and veggies to list, but these are just a few that I almost always have on hand for all different recipes.


Vegetables
Onions
Garlic
Ginger
Zucchini
Squash
Kale
Spinach
Tomatoes
Celery
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Artichoke hearts
Mushrooms


Fruits
Avocados
Lemons & limes
Bananas
Apples
Blueberries
Raspberries
Olives


Spices
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper
Lemon pepper
Penzey's italian seasoning
Basil
Cumin
Turmeric
Curry powder
Garlic salt
Chili flakes


Sauces, oils, dressings, toppings, butters
Olive, grapeseed & coconut oils
Balsamic vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
Tabasco sauce
Tapatio sauce
Bragg's liquid aminos
Lemon juice
Vegetable broth
Peanut and/or almond butter


I'm sure there are plenty more, but this is a great start. Time to go cook dinner! :)


Let me know if you have any questions. And, if you have your own staples to add, just leave them in the comment section. I love hearing from you!!

Sweet Potato & Tofu Tacos

I get about half of the kids to dig on this one. I'm determined that it won't be long before they all love it! ;)

What you'll need:

2 medium sized sweet potatoes
1 package of firm tofu
1 can black beans
1/2 white or yellow onion
3 large cloves minced garlic
Juice of 1 lemon
Lemon-pepper seasoning, to taste
Bragg's Liquid Amino's

Corn tortillas
Lettuce or kale
Tomatoes &/or salsa
Avocado or guacamole

• Chop sweet potatoes into squares and sauté in grape seed oil. As the potatoes begin to soften, add the tofu and chop/scramble it into crumbles (as pictured above). 
• Add chopped or diced onion.
• Add minced garlic.
• Add Bragg's (squirt from the bottle in a circle around the pan one time).
• Add juice from 1 lemon. 
• Continue to sauté on medium-high until everything is cooked and begins to brown and become slightly crunchy.
• Season with lemon-pepper (or spices of your choice)
• Add black beans (they're added just long enough to get warmed up)
• Warm corn tortillas on stove top skillet so they become slightly crunchy without being fried (no oil needed).
• Top with taco mixture, avocado, tomatoes and/or salsa, and chopped romaine lettuce or kale.

ENJOY!! 

Roasted Veggie Party Tray

Choose any array of your favorite veggies, season them, roast (or even grill) them and arrange them on a tray. A healthy and tasty snack that even the kids will enjoy.

Here, I coated two extra large cookie sheets with grape seed oil. On one sheet, sliced sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts. On the other sheet, sliced eggplant and kale leaves.

(*If you have smaller cookie sheets, I suggest doing one veggie on each in the following order: sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts take close to the same amount of time. Then the eggplant, then the kale. Personally, I'm going for crunchy, so I go for longer cook times. It's best to stay close and watch them until they're at your desired crunchiness.)

I love roasted veggies because they're so easy and versatile. You can really choose any of your own favorite spices and veggies to use and it will come out fantastic.

Here's what I did:

Sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts: toss in refined coconut oil, sea salt and cracked rosemary. Cook at 400* for about 45 minutes, or until brussel sprouts become soft & brown, and sweet potatoes become crunchy.

Kale: Rub with coconut oil and sea salt or garlic salt. Bake at 400* for about 15-20 minutes, or until crispy, like chips.

Eggplant slices: lemon juice and black pepper. Bake at 400* for about 30 minutes, or until desire consistency. Again, I prefer slightly crunchy.

Other veggies you can do this with: Broccoli, cauliflower, other varieties of potatoes, sliced zucchini and squash.

Heavenly Healthy's Anniversary

When I started this blog in 5/2010 and FB page in 4/2011, I had no idea that it would become the portal to finding my ultimate passion. I had no idea that my own self-improvement would turn into a burning desire to help others get healthy.. No idea that I would grow a page to thousands of fans, or that I'd become "good enough" to write for websites like Tosca Reno or Skinny Ms. I had no clue that through these pages I would FINALLY figure out which degree I want to pursue in college and actually be able to confidently start working toward it. No idea that I'd be running 5K's and mud runs with my kids, or a half marathon with my daughter! I didn't imagine that I would feel and BE so healthy from the inside that it would show on the outside in every area of my life and that I would be as HAPPY as I always dreamed of being as a child.

To be honest, I still have NO idea where this is all going and I am loving every minute of it! I have learned that one of the life's biggest joys is to just enjoy the ride. I also know that GREAT things are happening. I have helped a few people in my personal life to get on the path to leading healthier lives, and hopefully there are a few of you reading this that I've helped in some way or another. May these pages be a portal to you finding YOUR ultimate health and happiness!

To welcome and introduce myself to so many new followers, I thought I would share some of the things that I do to stay healthy and fit, and feel vibrant and full of energy. These choices ultimately fuel my fire for being the best mommy and wife that I can be for my family and keep me strong and steady on my path toward my dreams and goals. They give me strength and vigor to go after the things I want in life. Sometimes things change and that's always acceptable, as long as it is for the better. I think it's so important to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones, but also be gentle to ourselves. Allow mistakes and downtime. Allow changes when something isn't working the way we want it to. It's all okay! We all have our own unique and individual paths.

As of today, these are some of *my* keys to happiness and health:

• I eat clean about 90% of the time.
• I allow myself clean treats once in a while. This might mean a piece of pizza, some dark chocolate or some ice cream, but that's it. I'm never thrown off of my wagon anymore by one little treat.
• I avoid white flour, white pastas and other processed foods. That doesn't mean it never happens, but I avoid them as much as possible.
• I don't eat meat. I have a few reasons for this, but the main one is that I just don't like it and I never really have.
• I choose my beverages carefully. I avoid soda, juice, energy drinks and alcohol.
• I work out 4-6 times per week.
• I try to get 7 hours of sleep every night.
• When the weather and my schedule permits, I sunbathe for about 30-40 minutes a day. Vitamin D is a HAPPY vitamin (the tan is just a nice bonus)! 
• I take a whole foods multi-vitamin every morning. 
• I drink coffee. Some may say this isn't a healthy habit, but I say it could be (and has been) a lot worse. 
• I make time for the things that soothe my soul.

I hope that you all enjoy reading these pages/recipes and know that I'm here if you have any questions, feedback, requests or just need support. 

Thank you all for reading!

Heavenly healthy living to all~

Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication.
Roger Staubach

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
Vince Lombardi

Hiking is one of my favorite soul foods.
Here we stopped for a yoga break at the top of a mountain...

 And then a jumping jack break...

Remember to have FUN with your health and fitness!! :)