Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

Lately I’ve been hungry for more veggie protein options, so I’ve been gravitating toward eating more beans. Chickpeas, AKA garbanzo beans, are part of the legume family. They’re touted for their high levels of insoluble fiber, so naturally they’re an amazingly cleanse-friendly food. In just 1 cup of chickpeas you’ll get over 15 grams of protein, so they’re a fantastic veggie-based protein source. Chickpeas boast a wide array of phytonutrients both in the seed coat and inner bean. My favorite inflammation fighting phytonutrient, quercetin, is plentiful in this little bean, which makes it a healthy food to be eating during any allergy season. Chickpeas are extremely versatile. You can flavor them with a variety of spices, add them to soups, salads, and salad dressings. You can even eat them by the handful for a healthy and filling snack. Not only will this recipe delight your taste buds, but it will also help to satisfy your cravings for junk food and sweets. In a recent study, people who ate chickpeas were shown to eat fewer processed foods. Equally exciting, participants who ate garbanzo beans for just 1 week were able to control their blood sugar and insulin levels.

Today I want share with you my new favorite green juice! Hydrating and refreshing – it’s just perfect for detoxifying. Cilantro Detox Juice is an incredibly healing juice. Created by our friend and fellow wellness warrior, Elana Amsterdam, this juice features an entire bunch of cilantro (stems and leaves), which is known to be highly effective at helping chelate heavy metals from the body. As someone who has a family history with Alzheimer’s, detoxing heavy metals is of particular interest to me. If you don’t have a juicer at home, this would probably taste just as good blended up in your high speed blender, but you’ll have to report back and let me know. Alternatively, you might like our Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ―Hippocrates Did you know that the immune system’s army is in the stomach? And to keep the army healthy, you need to feed it good nourishment. Our immune system does an incredible job at protecting us from all those pesky germs that want to invade our body. But sometimes, germs pass by it and we get sick. Thankfully, it is possible to intervene and give the immune system a helping hand. In this article, I share you easy recipes to boost immunity and help you fight those nasty germs and colds.

Turkey, stuffing, pie, oh my! Thanksgiving is a holiday about abundance, or for many us, overabundance! So to make sure you don’t feel like slithering out of your chair only to fall asleep under the table, we’ve pulled together six of our favorite healthy recipes that will leave you feeling energized and not stuffed to the gills. Using fresh herbs, seasonal farm fresh produce, and nutrient dense ingredients, we’ve put a healthy spin on some of our traditional favorites. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do and feel our love as you make them! As you plan your Thanksgiving menu, remember that this time of year is not just about the food you put on your table, it’s also about the connection and time spent with your loved ones. Enjoy every moment!

This gluten-free Matzo Ball Soup is a healthy twist on a Passover classic. My secret to making this dish gluten-free is to use almond flour in place of matzo meal. Yes, it’s a grain-free Paleo Matzo Ball Soup, as a good as any your Bubby ever made. Traditionally, Matzo Ball Soup is served each year at Passover. One of my favorite holidays, it ushers in a change of seasons and occurs each year on the spring full moon falling in March or April.

Temperatures have started to dip in the northern hemisphere the past few weeks, causing us to crave warm soups and other fall favorites. Today we have a recipe that is the epitome of comfort food. It’s the perfect meal that the entire family will enjoy. But it’s also a labor of love and tends to be one those childhood favorites that just don’t work in our Conscious Cleanse lifestyle. That is until today! Our Vegetable Lasagna with non-dairy ricotta “cheese” is a simple, gluten free, vegan lasagna. And it tastes delicious. Now your Italian granny might turn over in her grave but believe us our vegan cashew “cheese” is so tasty you will never miss the real stuff. As for the noodles? Gluten be gone. These “noodles” are made from veggies sliced thinly and roasted until caramelized and sweet. A real excellent substitution in the flavor department. Layer it all up with a high quality can of organic crushed tomatoes and you have a healthy and warming dinner.

Wild rice is technically not a grain! Who knew? It’s actually the seed of a marsh grass grown in the Great Lakes region (my hometown’s neck of the woods). Wild rice has a rich nutty flavor that pairs well with leafy greens and autumn veggies. As we approach Thanksgiving time, we’ve been on the lookout for recipes that could fit into the holiday season, but wouldn’t leave us feeling the usual “Thanksgiving hangover.” The reason we might feel so good eating this robust “grain” is because it’s chock full of B vitamins and contains essential minerals like zinc, folate and phosphorus. It also has more protein than the almighty brown rice. And, because of it’s high fiber content it will keep your digestive system running smooth as silk. Not too shabby! This Autumn Wild Rice Salad can be a healthy side on turkey day or hold it’s own as an entrée on a brisk fall night.

I absolutely love hummus. The best hummus I ever had was in Istanbul. It was the perfect smooth consistency with just the right combination of lemon and garlic. I'll never be able to top that, so I decided to try a checkpea-less hummus. I used zucchini - mostly because I had a bunch on my countertop, but also because I knew it would blend up well in the food processor. Combined with the lemon, nutritional yeast and tahini, it was a hit at my house as we chowed down while catching up on Suits.

A few weeks ago I met up with a friend for a walk. We hit up our local Whole Foods for a light lunch, and they offered a healthy coleslaw option with a dressing of olive oil, AVC, and local honey. It was so delicious and it seemed pretty straightforward so I set out to recreate it the next day (it was that good). I've pretty much been making it twice a week ever since and it's the perfect, most refreshing and satisfying summer salad so I wanted to share with you.

So this recipe is freaking awesome. I totally don’t mean to toot my own horn here, but I was rather ambivalent when constructing it, and thus my mind was blown when I actually tasted it. Granted, I realize that I could be setting myself up for failure here, as you now have extremely high expectations, and when juxtaposed to my low expectations, who knows where your reaction will end up landing. It doesn’t matter though, because this recipe is yummy no matter your expectations, AND it’s the perfect intro to fall dish, AND it’s super easy, AND it can be sweet or savory. I’m calling this a win.

I love all kind of condiment, I'm talking sauces, pickles, chutneys you name it. I feel like it's those kinds of things that take dishes to the next level. I've made pickled vegetables before, but have yet to create a recipe that I think really stands out from the rest. I never made a chutney until a few days ago. After throwing in seemingly random quantities of each ingredient, I ended up with (what I honestly believe) is the best tomato chutney I've ever had.

No need to play off of false pretenses here. This is a safe place. I’m no dainty flower. I am, in a lot of ways, mostly talking about gluten and caffeine consumption. But in how I present myself - decidedly less dainty. And you know what, sometimes a lady wants to feel sophisticated and flowery and perhaps a hint of dainty. Hence why I love to add lavender to anything and everything.

Looking for a way to kick up the flavor in your water everyday? I suggest adding citrus essential oils to your glass every morning! While everyone’s taste buds are different, I love adding a drop each of the different citrus essential oils – lemon, wild orange, grapefruit or lime. Fill up a glass (or water bottle) with water and ice and load in those oils! I highly recommend starting with one or two of the citrus oils, then start mixing and matching until you find the mix that’s perfect for you!

One bowl meals are an awesome way to incorporate a large variety of veggies into your daily routine. We’re giving this one a new spin by calling it a Yogi Bowl, because after you eat all of this goodness you will feel the same yoga bliss that you would after a juicy yoga class.

It’s pumpkin season! Hooray! Admittedly, I’m not usually much of a soup lover, but this recipe has completely won me over. Bursting with rich flavor and a smooth creaminess, this soup will warm your belly and enliven your taste buds just in time for the crisp fall weather. You might even want to add this to your Thanksgiving menu. It’s sure to impress your guests and they’ll never know it’s good for them!

It’s the height of zucchini season and for those of us with a veggie garden (or a nice neighbor who likes to share), we’ve got “zukes” (and “cukes” for that matter) coming out of our ears!

Holiday festivities are in full swing and that means it’s time to start planning another healthy holiday feast.

One thing I really enjoy in life is EATING. I also like cooking, but my big problem is that I often wait to think about what to eat until I am famished and then I don’t have the focus or energy to cook. That’s why I keep my fridge loaded with fresh veggies and plant based proteins (nuts and seeds).

It's officially fall and that means cooler temperatures, crisp evenings and brightly colored changing leaves.

If you’ve done the live Conscious Cleanse program with us then undoubtedly you recall Jo’s infamous “chicken breast story.”

It’s been a long week. You’re craving a glass of wine, but you want to treat your body like a temple and at the same time you want to feel comforted. Instead opt for a soul nourishing soup that’s good for your body too!

Summer is just around the corner and that means it’s time to fire up the grill! As the resident vegetarian in my household, I’m always looking for veggie options to throw on the grill. I love me some grillin’ season because it’s fast, easy and the best part–there is little to no clean up! Can I get an Amen!

With the 4th of July weekend upon us you probably have a round of BBQs to hit, and with it begs the question, "what to bring?" While burgers and beers always sound like a good idea, we know how heavy and lethargic all the traditional BBQ fare can leave us feeling. To keep yourself light and energized in your yoga practice this holiday weekend, try the Quinoa Watercress Salad from the Conscious Cleanse.