organic – Michelle Marie Health & Wellness Coaching

Happy Friday Everyone! Here is a roundup of some new great products that I am loving lately, enjoy 🙂

Ripe Bar Juice: Limited Edition Grapefruit Cocktail Mix

As everyone knows, I am a huge fan of Ripe Bar Juice; they are a local company that makes an amazing line of fresh cold pressed cocktail mixers with no added sugars. They recently released a limited edition red grapefruit flavor that is to die for. I highly suggest trying it with vodka or tequila and some soda water. It makes for the perfect summer night cocktail.

Purely Elizabeth: Ancient Grain Blueberry Hemp Cereal

This cereal is made with ancient grains: quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, gluten free oats, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and sweetened with coconut palm sugar. It is gluten free, non gmo, vegan, free of refined sugars, and made with all organic ingredients! Healthy cereals are so hard to come by that taste amazing as well so this cereal is a win win and kid friendly! It comes in a variety of flavors other than blueberry as well.

Califia Farms: Espresso Almond Milk

This is a breakfast treat at its finest. This drink can be consumed solo or used as a substitute for milk in your coffee to add great flavor with low sugar and fat content. It is simply made up of Califia Farms espresso coffee mixed with their almond milk. It adds amazing flavor to oatmeal and smoothies as well!

Aloha: Superfood Trail Mix

Aloha just recently announced their new superfood trail mix now available and will begin shipping this week. It comes in 6 oz bags and contains; Cashews, Almonds, Goldenberries, Sweet Cherries, Raisins, Goji Berries, Mulberries, Pumpkin Seeds, and Pistachios. This is perfect to divvy up into snack size bags for road trips, beach days, hikes, and long walks or can be used as the perfect handful of toppings over yogurt, smoothie bowl, or oatmeal!
To get $20 dollars off your first order use my code: MICHELLE78

Bearded Brothers: Energy Bars

These are a “granola or meal” bar I can recommend. They not only taste great and come in a variety of flavors but are all made with healthy organic ingredients. My favorite is the Outrageous Orange Kale flavor which is made up of figs, dates, kale, beets, and cold pressed orange extract. These are sold at many Whole Foods as well as REI stores. They are perfect for the on-the-go snack or breakfast; perfect for the beach or hiking adventures this summer!

Beans are one of the most underrated foods out there. These little things come in many variations are SO nutrient dense! Beans are something that everyone should try to start adding into their diet a few times a week. Here are just some of the nutritional benefits of beans:

Great source of Protein (7-10 g per ½ cup)
Saturated Fat, Trans Fat and Cholesterol Free form of protein; which reduces risk of heart disease compared to red meat that contains all three
Filled with antioxidants and minerals that help lower cancer risk
High Fiber content (about 12 g for 1 cup) which is great for aiding digestion
Good source of B complex Vitamins which improve liver health, skin, hair, eyes, intestinal wall strength, and muscle health. The B complex vitmains also aid in breaking down fat, carbs and protein.
Beans are very low on the glycemic index and are a complex carb which means they take longer to digest keeping you full longer. They are also great for blood sugar management

Here are two easy recipes using beans; either canned or fresh. If you buy canned look for ones that do not contain any added salt. If you buy dried beans make sure to soak them overnight before cooking; this allows the acids to release from the beans making them much easier to digest. These two recipes can stand alone or make great salad toppers! Both take under 20-30 minutes to make and can be made in large batches to meal prep for the whole week.

Fiesta Bean Salad

Ingredients:
1 can chickpeas
1 can black beans
1 orange pepper – cut into small pieces
1 yellow pepper – cut into small pieces
Cherry Tomatoes (1/2 container or 1 cup) – halved
¼- ½ of a red onion (taste preference) – cut into small pieces
½ cup cut cilantro
Dressing: whisk together olive oil & balsamic vinegar with some salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Cut all the ingredients and mix together in a large bowl.
Whisk together the dressing in a separate bowl
Drizzle dressing over beans and veggies and mix everything together
Optional: Add some chopped avocado for some extra flavor and fullness

Sweet Potato and Black Bean or Chickpea Patties

Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes, roasted and peeled
1 cup black beans or chickpeas
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbs red onion, chopped
1/4c cilantro, chopped
1 tbs lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Add all ingredients EXCEPT the black beans into a food processor or hand mix after mashing the sweet potatoes.
STIR in black beans
Refrigerate the mixture for 10-20 minutes
Form into small patties, and cook in nonstick pan with a little olive or coconut oil
4 minutes each side to warm them and crisp the outsides

NOTE: Another variation of this patty recipe is to add in quinoa. You can sub half the amount of beans for quinoa for a different variation of flavor and texture. This allows you to sneak in some whole grains to make this a complete meal!

Tag: organic

Things I am Loving Lately pt. 3

Meatless Monday: Spotlight on Beans

This article also appears on Women’s iLab to inspire the next generation of female leaders.