Eating Healthy This Summer

This summer, I'm determined to eat healthy. I say this every break, but it never really works. Here are my tips for making this summer different than all of the rest.

Fill your house with healthy food. If you're surrounded by healthy food, you have to eat it. If possible, get rid of as much junk food as possible. You won't be tempted to eat it if you don't see it.

Go grocery shopping. You can go pick the food that you love, whether it's strawberries, avocado, or spinach. I find a way to incorporate avocado and spinach into as many meals as possible because I love it so much. It makes it that much easier to eat healthy.

Find easy recipes you love. The key word is easy. When I'm hungry, I want to eat whatever I can make fastest. Whether it's grabbing a handful of goldfish or microwaving something, I don't want to spend 30 minutes making a nice meal. I love making avocado toast, omelettes, fruit, or peanuts when I want something right away.

Don't go out to eat! When you go out to eat, it's so easy to say "just this one time," and get that ice cream that looks oh so good. Even when you do get a salad, they load it up with dressing and sides. If you do end up going out with friends, eat a snack before going out, and order the smallest portion possible. If possible, look at the nutritional facts before, or weigh pros and cons. If you live somewhere where there isn't much to do (like me), suggest other options like going shopping (walking around the mall is fun!), going to the park, kayaking, going to a painting class, or taking a dance class.

Don't overeat. Did you know by the time you're full, you've already overate? Eat just enough that you're feeling good.

Have a friend do this with you. If you have another friend trying to eat healthy this summer, team up with them! My friend AV is my friend I'm teaming up with this summer. Every time one of us eats something healthy, we send a photo to the other. She sent me a picture of her banana pancakes and I sent her a picture of my omelet.

Make your meals Insta-worthy. Doing this isn't just for Facebook bragging rights, but it also helps you perfect your meal and include more colors (which typically is more fruits). I love sending pics to AV because I add more to my meals. This morning, I was just going to have my omelet. But since I knew I was sending a pic to AV, I added a slice of whole wheat toast, some strawberries, and a glass of skim milk. It tasted much better and I had a complete meal perfect for the rest of the day.

Let your friends know that you're eating healthy. They'll encourage you on when you aren't feeling it, and they'll stop asking if you want to grab froyo for lunch.

Make the switch from soda to sparkling water. If you're a soda addict, switch to sparkling water with some lemon. It still has all of the bubbles you love, but none of the sugar.

Always have water on you. It makes all the difference. If you have a reusable bottle in your car, filled with ice-cold water, you'll be drinking water more than ever. Don't forget to remind yourself to drink water.

Some of my favorite things to eat...

• Omelet: I personally only like egg whites, but that's just my preference. I add some cheese (I can't cut cheese out of my life sadly), ham, tomatoes, onions, spinach and arugula. I love adding avocado on top and freshly ground pepper. It makes for a great breakfast with a half-slice of whole wheat toast and some fruit.
• Avocado toast: I have a slice of whole wheat toast with a thin layer of olive oil drizzled over. I mash up some avocados, add chopped tomatoes and freshly ground pepper. I spread the mixture on top of toast. 
• Greek yogurt: It took me a while to get used to Greek yogurt, but now there's no going back. I love Greek yogurt, especially with some granola or honey mixed in.
• Nuts: This year at school, I also had a container of peanuts, academia nuts, almonds or walnuts in my bag, they're filling and the perfect snack because they're very healthy and filled with good oils for you.
• Fruit: I love strawberries, pineapples, peaches, plums... all of it! I typically ask my parents to buy strawberries and they'll buy whatever's in season and stock in the stores. I'm excited to slice up some peaches soon! I eat strawberries whenever I'm hungry.
• Frozen grapes: If you've never tried frozen grapes, try it! I love love love it. Such a treat.
• Celery and peanut butter: I'm a huge fan of peanut butter, so there's that.

Do you have any tips on eating healthy? What are some of your favorite healthy things to eat? Anyone have any other habits? My friend RR is going vegetarian this summer.

The Epitome of Brunch

via

I am a huge fan of brunch. However, not just any old brunch. It has to be a perfect brunch.

Some of my favorite elements of brunch include...

Croissants (toasted to crispy perfection, with a side of the jam of your choosing. My preference is strawberry)

Omelettes (my personal favorite way to eat eggs. With some onions, tomatoes, garlic powder, and a dash of chipotle cheese melted on top. Extra point if there's freshly sliced avocado on the side.)

Pancakes (chocolate chip, please!)

Fresh fruit (whether it be strawberries or pineapple... I'm up for it!)

Bacon (because what's brunch without bacon)

Coffee (lots of it)

Lemonade (fresh-squeezed, of course!)

San Pellegrino (my favorite drink, with fresh squeezed lemon)

What are your favorite elements of brunch? Oh, how I love sleeping in and waking up to find a delicious brunch. Just some of the joys of Sundays.

New Month, New Me

There's nothing like the feeling after a work-out. However, there's nothing like the feeling during a work-out. Ugh. No me gusta. But the feeling after a work-out is enough to encourage me to continue working out.

During my latest trip to the mall, ALD wanted to stop by in Athleta. There was a lot of cute stuff and it convinced me that I needed to start working out (so I could have an excuse to buy cute work out clothes, of course!).

I've also been looking into juice cleanses and green smoothies. We have a juicer at my house and while we don't always take it out (it's a pain to clean), I love using it! I have a very low tolerance for greasy food and easily get sick when eating too much greasy food. I got sick in Canada after trying the infamous but very fattening poutine (fries, gravy and cheese... still makes me shudder to this day! It tasted good but my stomach after felt horrible. Never again!) I have considered becoming a vegetarian, I'm not huge on meat, (I prefer carbs- bring on the pasta!) but I do love chicken and seafood (seafood is the best!). I might consider being a pescatarian.

My friend SS is a vegetarian. That's just the way she grew up and it was a choice she made when she was younger. She's considering about trying meat, but she's nervous about the taste. It's funny to me, because I would feel the same way if I were her! She was like "You have to chew it?! What is its texture?!" SS' brother went to college last year and he started eating meat in college, since the food options and variety for vegetarians are more limited. He loves meat now and he can't get enough of it. So if I were to switch to a pescatarian, I might need to change my route for college...

I don't think I need to declare myself as anything, but just try to stick with more veggies when possible!

I would love to try a juice cleanse though! I'm not sure if my mom would love it, but maybe a week in the summer. (Not the smartest idea during school when you really need that energy) Or maybe after Christmas and New Year's after all that greasy, delicious food.

I don't even need to do a cleanse, just drinking more juices (juices as in green juices!) would be great. It'd be perfect for me to have a juice every morning for breakfast (I have to force food down my mouth at 6:30am, and I usually don't eat!) during school. It'd be a great way to ensure I get my veggies intake!

I loved this post from The Coveteur with their Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to NYC. Almost everyone recommended Juice Press. If I lived in NYC, I'd totally have a Juice Press addiction! (And a Sweetgreen addiction. Fav kind-of fast food place ever! [a Chipotle set up for salads] Sorry Cook-Out.) Side note: Can I please live in the city?! Juice Press, Sweetgreen and walking everywhere. My Lululemon collection would increase drastically and my weight would decrease drastically.

simple green juice

district cobb salad

Since I'm not willing to buy juices online, I would love to look up and find my own juicing recipes with similar ingredients to Juice Press' juices! I have a smoothie addiction, so I'd love to find some recipes to some yummy green smoothies for a tasty breakfast and afternoon snack! Anyone have any suggestions?

After JSC asked me if I could be her personal shopper/outfit approver tonight (AHH! I was so honored. Love JSC!), I was telling her all about my Lululemon obsession. JSC's parents are super fit and into crossfit- super hardcore working out. JSC's parents are super cool and shop at Lulu and Athleta, so that's how that all relates. Anyways... JSC was telling me how she'd go work out with me if I got into working out. I would love to work out this school year. Working out has so many benefits besides the obvious losing weight, gaining muscle benefit. Working out reduces stress and anxiety (one of my biggest problems when it comes to school), makes your skin healthier and raising endorphins aka makes you happier. (Aka what I learned from Legally Blonde!)

I got really excited that JSC said she'd work out with me. I worked out once with a friend and it was so much fun! The time flew by and even though we got Chick-Fil-A after... well me and JSC won't do that. I was telling  JSC excitedly about how we could get juices and green smoothies afterwards, go power walking in the mall and buy cute new workout gear!

Here's to a new month and new me! While it's still summer, I'll be doing my research, so I can go into school healthy and ready to face the school year!

What do you like to do to workout? I love the elliptical at the gym. I would love to go to some group classes at my gym- any thoughts? It's hard to find workout classes for just teens, but I don't mind being the youngest in the group, especially if I'm with a friend! Any suggestions on what classes to take? I personally would love to do zumba (we do kids zumba at my summer camp, so much fun!), yoga, classic work out classes, and maybe something crazy like kickboxing? Who knows what this year will result in? (Hopefully not me watching Netflix in my spare time and a wasted gym membership!) Any suggestions and tips for working out and eating healthy- please send them my way! I need them all!

Deliciousness: Summer Salad

As I talked about in my latest Recap post, I love salad! Something about the summer makes me want salad even more than usual. I made a delicious salad the other day filled with colorful ingredients and I had to share! Hopefully, I'll be sharing more salad recipes throughout the summer. Here's to good eating!

Sorry I only took one photo.

Ingredients: two cups of baby spring mix, five cherry tomatoes, 1/2 can of clementine oranges (I saw Trader Joe's with light syrup), five mini balls of fresh mozzarella (we get ours from Trader Joe's), small handful of croutons of your choice, two tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, two tablespoons of olive oil

1. Pour syrup out of clementines.
2. Cut tomatoes and mozzarella in half.
3. Put the two cups of baby spring mix on plate. 
4. Add the tomatoes, mozzarella, and clementines.
5. In a separate bowl, combine balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
6. Drizzle mixture of balsamic and olive oil onto salad.
7. Add croutons. Enjoy!

Balsamic vinegar and olive oil with clementines is surprisingly amazing! I (for real) prefer eating clementines with it. Tell me what you think! The combination may sound strange, but it is delicious!!

Deliciousness: Smoothies

It is finally warm where I live! Yay yay yay! Warm weather means smoothie weather! Smoothies might just be my favorite food/drink in the world. (Most people drink smoothies, but I like my smoothies so thick; I have to eat them with a spoon!)

It's quick, delicious and easy! It's also really healthy and fills you up! (Then again I make a giant smoothie... whoops!)

It's a work of art.

Ingredients: 2 cups of frozen strawberries, 1/6 cup of milk (whatever type you drink! We drink skim at my house), 2 teaspoons of honey

You can add other fruits and yogurts, if you'd like! This is just the recipe I used for this time.

1.) Add all the strawberries and milk into blender.

2.) Drizzle honey on top of strawberries.

3.) Blend. Depending on how thick/sweet you like your smoothie, add more milk and honey accordingly. 

4.) When the smoothie is the thickness to your likeness, and all strawberries are blended, stop blending! 

5.) Enjoy!

I love my blender! It works so well, and makes the best smoothies.
It can also turn ice into snowballs, which is great.
My brothers and I love making snowballs, and adding syrups.
It's actually a food processor, which can also make drinks!
Ninja food processor

5 minutes later, already almost gone...
It became more liquid than solid quickly
After enjoying it in the sun.

Do you love smoothies? What's your favorite food/drink item for the spring and summer? What's your favorite smoothie recipe?

Deliciousness: Quesadillas

In honor of Cinco de Mayo yesterday!

I'm not always a huge fan of quesadillas; I love to have lots of ingredients in my tortilla, which is why I usually eat burritos or burrito bowls. However... I just had the most delicious quesadilla! And it was homemade... even better! It will probably be my lunch for the rest of the... week? Month? Year? Haha, who knows?!

Anyways my new delicious quesadilla had (guess!) avocado in it... yes, I know, I'm obsessed! The obsession is real.

Ingredients: one small tortilla, shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican cheese), two slices of deli ham, 1/4 avocado (depending on how much avocado you want... 1/4 of an avocado is a lot for this!)

1. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly on tortilla.
2. Put tortilla in toaster oven. I used bagel mode. 
3. Take tortilla out when top of tortilla is crispy and cheese is melted. Don't let cheese burn!
4. Slice avocado into slices. (Just use a butter knife, or even a plastic knife... avocado is really easy to slice!)
5. Add two slices of deli ham onto tortilla.
6. Add avocado onto tortilla.
7. Fold and cut in half. Enjoy!

So tasty.
With a side of cherry tomatoes!

Folded and sliced... and ready for your enjoyment!

Keeping it Local

Today was a busy busy day.

I had a... pre-calc test, Beta Club meeting, meeting with an assistant principal to get Student Council ideas approved, job interview that involved playing with play-doh, picking up a dress from my new favorite boutique, and grabbing a surprise snack.

Things that were supposed to happen: an AP human geography test tomorrow aka studying tonight, a trip to this awesome indoor trampoline place, and a doughnut date with my BFF and her French exchange student.

Why not? My teacher pushed the test date a day back, yay! I realized I wouldn't have time to make it from my job interview to the indoor trampoline place. My BFF's French exchange student got sick today.

But I did get pick up a dress I pre-ordered online and got to try it on! It is super cute, and I'm in love. I'm wearing it on Friday and our Student Council dance is on Friday night, so I'll wear it then too!

I wasn't expecting to get a snack on the way home. The job interview was close to my absolute favorite restaurant, so I was disappointed that my mom didn't let me get some Mexican. But I got some delicious French pastries from a local bakery.


This post is dedicated to local businesses. They're some of the best businesses because you know you're supporting people in your community and they're always unique and cool! There isn't that shop on every corner.

My dress and pastries were from local boutiques in my area!

The dress I got!
Excuse the filter, the lighting wasn't that great.
I'm in love with it!

The actual color of the dress.

Lemon tarts are my favorite thing. Ever.
#1 weakness.

The last lemon macaroon!
Almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Gorgeous brownie!

Here's to supporting local businesses. :)

Deliciousness: Avocado

My favorite food might just be avocado. Possibly. But I know one thing for sure, I've never met an avocado I didn't like. 

I think I had avocado for the first time when I was 10? I had never tried it before, who knows why? I didn't try many foods that looked weird to me when I was younger. It sucks because they're some of favorite foods now: avocado, tomato, pickles. (Well I love pickles, but they aren't one of my favorite foods!)

Image via my Instagram

So I was reading Amy Stone's blog, and I love reading about restaurants! I fell in love with that photo of the avocado toast. I knew I'd have to try, and make some of my own! This morning, I was looking for some breakfast, and noticed that we had some leftover avocado from when we made our own sushi. I can't pass up a chance to eat some avocado! Seriously avocado is perfect with everything, on top of omelettes, with rice, with tacos, with chips... with everything!

I wanted to make some avocado toast, but we didn't have any bread in the house! That was unusual because we typically have bread in the house, although I don't eat it that often. (I eat peach, strawberry or plain Greek yogurt for lunch. The plain Greek yogurt is eaten with cereal, honey or granola!) Of course, when I want bread, we don't have it.

But we did have Ritz crackers. So I present to you the easiest snack/light breakfast/side/appeitizer ever that is delicious!

Ingredients: avocado, Ritz crackers (any plain cracker will do fine!)

1. Slice avocado. (Just use a butter knife, avocado is super soft!)
2. Put slice on top of a cracker.
3. Enjoy! 

PS: My rockin' dad is going out to buy some bread, so I'll post about avocado toast when I try it!

Deliciousness: Carrabba's Amore Mondays

What better way to celebrate the first day to the (work) week than a good deal on some good food.

On Mondays, Carrabba's offers a three course meal, starting at just $12! There are different options for $12, $15 and $18 that you can choose from. Here is the menu for Amore Mondays.

The meal comes with an appetizer or dessert, soup or salad, and the main entree.

My family and I get take out from Carrabba's and share the meals together. Everyone gets to try a little bit of everything, and it's quick and easy.

Tonight, we got the Shrimp and Scallop Linguine Alla Vodka for $15, and the Lobster Mac & Cheese for $18.

For the sides, we got two appetizers: the calamari and the shrimp diavolo. We also got two Caesar salads. The meal also comes with bread and olive oil, as they traditionally have before every meal.

Bread and olive oil: Carrabba's has delicious bread. The olive oil is great, however I usually love the herbs the olive oil comes with. We haven't had Carrabba's in a while, and it tasted different. The herbs were still pretty good, just different.

Caesar salad: Pretty good and fresh. Comes with lots of dressing on the side, which is a plus!

Calamari: So good. I love Carrabba's calamari, the tomato sauce that comes with it, and adding some lemon juice on top. That tomato sauce is out of of this world! Whenever we have leftovers of it, we use it as pasta sauce.

 

Shrimp diavolo: It was our first time trying it, so we had no clue what to expect. If you've ever been to Bonefish Grill, it tastes similar to their bam bam shrimp, except there's peppers on top which makes it a bit more soggy. It was okay, we won't be ordering it again though.

Shrimp and Scallop Linguine Alla Vodka: This was amazing! We love seafood, and this pasta was amazing! Obviously, for $15, there wasn't a ton of seafood, but the taste was great and there was a good amount of seafood. We will defintely be ordering it again!

Lobster Mac & Cheese: I love mac and cheese! I thought this tasted great, and there isn't a ton of lobster, but for $18 with two sides- it's a great deal! The mac and cheese was extraordinary, my mom tried it and commented on the delicious taste... My mom isn't the biggest fan of mac and cheese, so that's a huge complement coming from her!

Overall: The meal was delicious, it filled me up! We will definitely be getting Amore Mondays again soon! I would definitely recommend trying out Amore Mondays to make your Mondays tastier! It's quick, easy and delicious. Try out the calamari, shrimp and scallion linguine alla vodka, and lobster mac & cheese!