 Cabo, Mexico. 2019 ❤️ When you decide to get healthy and have a happy life, you have endless ways to approach it. Getting back into an exercise routine, going on a “diet”, following all the “shoulds” and setting goals. All of these things tend to focus on what you can control outside. Like the food you eat, or how much you workout. But the real transformation happened for me when I realized there’s a missing piece: what’s going on INSIDE, our mindset.
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 Let me start by saying that I'm not a nutritionist or a health professional. So, everything I share is based on my personal experience and research. Honestly, it took me years to figure out what works for my body.
My food philosophy is very similar to my fitness method. I love simplicity, quick with maximum benefits. WHAT IS MY DIET LIKE? As I've share on my IG page before, I eat a mostly whole food, plant based diet with some fish and eggs (sustainably sourced whenever possible.) MINDFUL EATING I practice eating mindfully and according to my body's circadian rhythm. I’m also enjoying intermittent fasting for about 12-14 hours during the week. WELLNESS KITCHEN + BOOKS You can find some of my favorite kitchen items like water bottles and food containers and books with healthy recipes and lifestyle tips on my "Favorites" page. If you have any weekly meals, healthy hacks or tips, I would love to hear about it in the comments below. So, let’s start with a few meals I have almost every week... They are super simple and make me feel healthy, nourished, and happy! As much as I love spending all my money on fancy turmeric lattes at health cafes, I've been enjoying recreating all the amazing recipes at home. There's just something about making yourself a warm cuppa and enjoying it in your pajamas. :) Oatmilk Matcha Latte One of my October intentions is to cook at home more often. Even though I make healthy choices when I eat out, nothing compares to a home cooked meal – especially during long, cold Fall days. So, I made a quick grocery run and stocked my fridge with healthy whole foods.  October Weekly Grocery List:
So, my goal is to eat at home for the most part of the week. Here are my tips to make this happen:
Happy healthy eating! :) I lOVE food!
I also LOVE pretty food presentations and great interiors. And, the eatery scene in SF doesn't disappoint! This city is like heaven for foodies like me. Good food + cute décor. Yes, you can have it all! Here are 3 spots you should know about, from one IG loving girl to another. Super Healthy SaladSome days we eat waffles and leftover pizza, some days we eat quinoa salad. Isn't it all about balance? So, here's a very healthy and simple salad recipe for you to enjoy for lunch or dinner. If you don't know already, I LOVE exploring healthy food cafes and recreate their recipes at home. I've had this salad many times in one of my favorite spots in SF, Jane on Fillmore. It's so delicious and easy to throw together!  Ingredients
romaine, baby spinach, dino kale, quinoa, cucumber, one avocado, organic seed mix (optional) *add chicken/salmon/ hard boiled eggs for a protein boost (optional) Method For the quinoa: Rinse your quinoa. Pour the quinoa and water (or broth) in a medium saucepan. The ratio is 1 cup of uncooked quinoa to 2 cups of liquid. Bring quinoa and water to a boil. Then, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Avocado dressing: Mash half an avocado with a fork. Add quarter teaspoon of both salt and black pepper and finish with a squeeze of lime juice. Mix everything, add a little olive oil and/or water at a time to thin it out to your liking. Also if you have a mini processor, you can throw all the ingredients in there to make this dressing. Start building your salad. Wash and prep all the veggies. Start building your salad by mixing the romaine, spinach, kale and cucumber as a base. Add the quinoa and drizzle the dressing over the salad. Throw in some seed mix if you like. Voila! There you have a super healthy salad for lunch or dinner! What is your favorite healthy salad? I'm always looking for new recipes & let me know if you try and love this! Lots of love, Hande  A couple of months ago, I was hiking with my friends in Muir woods. After our 4-hour hike, we headed to a fish and salad place nearby. Then, I was ready for dessert, as you do! ☺ A friend of mine was like “ Oh, but you can’t have ice cream! You are doing this healthy lifestyle thing, right!?” I WAS SHOCKED!! The idea that you CAN’T eat or do certain things if you’re into healthy living is just crazy! The idea that you shouldn't ever drink, eat sweets, fries or burgers anymore is insane to me. Maybe it was a fair question. Plus, she didn’t know me very well anyways. But still, I felt speechless. I realized later that my friend’s reaction was just a reflection of the media, magazines and today's society in general. We are bombarded with images of how HEALTHY should look like. Every second of every day. Haven't we all had enough of restrictions, DON’ts, quick fixes and fad diets!? This blog and my IG are all about living a simple, balanced and happy life that is free of labels and can’t’s! I believe “healthy” looks different on everybody. We are all unique. While one healthy food (like peanuts) can be very good for me might be poisonous for someone else! Then, there’s the social media pressure to look perfect, be perfect and eat healthy all the time. I refuse that. So, here’s my disclosure.  You will see me eat waffles on Sundays. You will see me drinking green juice one day and having a burger the next! You will see me walking to an ice-cream shop any random day on Insta-stories because I want to be real with you!
I’m not perfect. I am not the healthiest person you can find. I’m just a girl who is passionate about wellness, health, and happiness. I’ve found my own way of living all that. I hope you do too. I just want you to know that: You don’t HAVE to be or do anything to start/live a healthy lifestyle. Find what feels good for you and stick with that! Take good care of yourself because you love yourself and life so much! I hope all this makes sense. Please let me know if you’ve been in a similar situation or just in general want to talk about this. I will definitely write back. I love opening conversations around this topic! Stay real, happy and healthy, my friend! Lots of love, Hande  Oh boy, this was delicious! I literally devoured this 3 layered pancakes in3 minutes! I was having dreams about pancakes and waffles recently, as usual #notevensorry . :) And Sunday morning was the best excuse to sleep in and to make fresh vanilla pancakes for breakfast! This recipe is pretty simple, and can be prepared vegan. Do it and enjoy!
You'll need: 🌟 1 1/2 cups organic whole wheat flour 🌟 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 🌟 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract 🌟 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce OR 1 egg 🌟 1 1/2 cups almond or oat milk 🌟 1 teaspoon coconut oil Method
Hande. 
Hygge is a new buzz word in the health and wellness world. It is raved for holding the key to happiness. So, obviously I just had to learn more about it and share with you!
Pronounced /hoo-ga/, hygge is a Danish concept of coziness, comfort and feelings of wellness and happiness. Hygee is about sharing, togetherness, feeling at home, eating comfort food with your favorite people. It is a lifestyle that celebrates simple things in life. Like a cup of hot chocolate. It is basically the art of creating happiness and coziness in everyday life. So, how can we create hygge and bring more happiness to our lives? I put together a mini hygge list and a delicious hot chocolate recipe for you to experience hygge at your own home! 
Do
1. Light candles. The fastest way to create hygee anywhere is simply lighting a few candles. Turn down the lights and relax with the candles flickering. I think candles really do bring a feeling of cosiness and happiness to a place. 2. Be Present. Turn off your phone. Stay in the present moment and find happiness and joy in doing simple tasks. Just focus on the tea you're drinking or the conversation you're having with your friend. Be totally here and now. 3. Indulge yourself. Fresh coffee and home-made cake! 4. Get comfy. Take a time out and rest. Get in your soft PJs, put on warm socks. 5. Count your blessings. Be grateful. Literally write them down. Be grateful for the food, the health, the family and friends you have. 6. Spend time with loved ones and build experiences. As I've already talked about this in one of my very first posts, material things don't really make people happy. Experiences and spending time with family and friends makes us happy. So, build experiences and stories. Drink Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe Hot chocolate, next to matcha latte, is my favorite drink during winter. This is a healthier version of the classic hot chocolate recipe. It’s dairy-free and is so simple to make. So you can enjoy this deliciousness without any guilt. You'll need: Cocoa powder, almond milk, vanilla, natural sweetener of your choice. Method: Mix 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 cup of almond milk, half a tsp vanilla and 2 tbsp maple syrup (or 1 tsp coconut sugar) in a small pot and heat over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Pour into a cup and add a dash of cinnamon if you like, enjoy!
Read
 What better way to eat all the greens in the world than eating it all in a bowl!? I loooove mixing foods together and eating a variety of colors any time I can. This rainbow bowl is purely the result of one very busy day filled with meetings and Pilates sessions. So, I thought "one can never go wrong with a bowl" and came up with this quick and easy meal. You can adjust the recipe according to whatever you have at home.
What you'll need: Half a can of Garbonza beans (I used organic canned) 3-4 baby potatoes A cup of shredded carrots A cup of collard greens 1 cup of quinoa 1 cup of brown rice Tahini Sauce: 2 tbsp Organic Tahini paste 2 tbsp Tamari soy sauce 1 tbsp juice of lemon 1 tsppon of water A dash of ground ginger Method: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cook your quinoa and brown rice mix in your rice cooker as directed. Or you can cook your quinoa and rice in a pot to your liking. The ratio is 1 cup of uncooked quinoa to 2 cups of liquid. Since my rice cooker came with a steam tray, I basically lay all the vegetables on this tray and let everything cook and steam at the same time. Meanwhile, cut the baby potatoes in quarters and toss with some olive oil, rosemary and black pepper. Place the potatoes to a sheet pan and spread out into one layer. Let the potatoes roast for about 30-40 minutes in the oven. For the sauce: whisk the tahini, tamari, ginger and water into a wonderful creamy sauce in a small cup. Once everything is done, serve in a bowl for a delicious and filling meal. Pour the sauce all over as you like. Enjoy!  I loooove reading and watching "what I eat in a day" posts! I always find great "foodinspo" and get ideas for my next meals. So I thought I'd share mine. In this post, you can see what a typical day looks on my plate. I always try and eat a colorful variety of food to make sure that I'm getting all the nutrients my body needs for vibrant health! Breakfast 7-8am If you're following my Insta stories, you'd know that I LOVE toasts for breakfast. So typically, breakfast is usually some kind of toast and lots of green tea. I love making myself avocado toasts if I I can get my hands on a nice, ripe avocado. They are the quickiest and yummiest! Avocado toast | At home Toasted whole wheat bread Half an avocado Red pepper flakes Freshly cracked black pepper Few drops of fresh lemon juice  Super Dragonfruit Bowl | by Cafe Jane If I'm out and about, I try to start my day with a healthy breakfast. This bowl was truly like a dream! So colorful, antioxident rich and super healthy! In the bowl: Dragonfruit smoothie Rasberries and blueberries Golden berries Cocao nibs Goji berries Snack 11am Green Juice and Vegan Chocolate Cupcake I had this amazing Gamechanger green juice and a vegan chocolate cupcake from Seed + Salt, a cute vegan bakery in San Francisco. The juice had some lemon, and mint which made it sooo refreshing and cleansing! The cupcake was also out of this world and really satisfied my huge sweet tooth! In the juice: Romaine, dinosaur kale, cucumber, parsley, Gala apple, lemon, ginger, mint. Check out these super healthy and easy green juice recipes here. Lunch 12-1pm Shroomami Rice Bowl Lunch is usually my biggest meal of the day. During cold seasons, I really crave a big warm bowl as pictured above. I tried this seasonal warm bowl by Sweetgreen in San Francisco, and it was so filling and delicious! In the bowl: organic wild rice, shredded kale, raw beets, bean sprouts, basil, spicy sunflower seeds, roasted sesame tofu, warm portobello mix, miso sesame ginger dressing! 🌿🙌🏻 Dinner 6-7pm
Veggie Tempura Roll & Avocado Maki For dinner, I had some leftover Vegetarian Tempura rolls and Avocado maki, which is a kind of vegetarian roll too, from my Japanese restaurant in SF - Yuubi. Someone else was eyeing my dinner as captured here! Lol! I also had some veggie Udon noodles with these rolls. It was amazing! What are you favorite meals? Let me know in the comments below! I come up with all sorts of excuses for eating poorly during busy weeks! For me, it's usually some of the following: I have no time!!!, I don't even know how to cook!!, What do I eat! And many more... Sounds familiar :) ? I still fall back into those excuses from time to time and I think it's OKAY. At the end of the day, it's all about balance and having a healthy relationship with food. Setting realistic goals for the week and giving myself the flexibility to eat out at weekends have really helped me establish healthy eating habits. I've also come up with some very simple and practical tips to get myself to try and cook at home at least 4-5 days a week! So, here are the 3 tips that hopefully will help you in your goals too. :)
Since this is the lazy girl's version of healthy snacks ideas, I've prepared a bullet list of tips for a quick and easy read! :)
I thought I was running out of healthy lunch ideas. Before giving up and ordering food online which probably wouldn't be something as healthy as I'd like, I went onto Pinterest and Instagram for #foodspiration! Then, I saw a Buddha Bowl on Instagram! Oh, how did I ever forget about you, Buddha Bowls? So, I looked at the pictures of super pretty and healthy lunch bowls (20 Wholesome Buddha Bowls to Nourish Your Body via Brit + Co.) . And I made a simple and healthy meal for myself at home. Patting myself on the back for not spending money and not giving into take-out food!  Beets and Buddha
It was the most beautiful day in the city yesterday! The weather was just amazing, reaching up to 80s. So, I decided to just walk around and bring you a taste of the best city ever!
If you don't already know, San Francisco is a heaven for health nuts like myself. There are many amazing healthy eateries, juice spots, and the best energy-pumping classes all over the city, including top yoga and Pilates studios, juice bars, and gear shops. 
 Photo Credit: Smoochsmile Organic nutella, anyone? Read on first, thank me later :)
I have been craving chocolate and Nutella the whole week. You know it gets hard sometimes to resist the urge and stay on the right track with healthy eating. I think it all comes down to creating a balance: eating healthy and nutritious food on most meals and indulging here and there to keep your sanity!
As the weather is getting colder outside, I've been loving this delicious toast with some tea in the mornings. I change up what I eat depending on what I crave that morning. But, it almost always involves berries, almond butter, and green tea :) This morning I had whole wheat toast with almond butter and fresh strawberries.
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