Clean Eating
Eating healthier food has become one of my biggest passions. It's pretty simple; when I eat better, I look and feel better!!! With each year I see the impact it has on me and how important it is to "eat clean", as it affects my energy level, my moods, my sleep and my overall physical & emotional vitality. Obviously when we look good we feel good, but it's much more than that. People often ask me "so what is the best diet to follow" or "what is the latest trend everyone is talking about". Research has proven every time my personal conclusion which is - it's not a diet, it is a lifestyle! The more we adapt to replacing our bad eating habits with good ones, the easier the road is to long lasting change and lifetime results. Let's dive in shall we?
Wether it's the South Beach diet, The Mediterranean Diet, Paleo, Keto, Atkins or Dash, I believe clean eating is the way to go. So what does clean eating actually mean? The text-book definition will read "foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, maybe organic, and most likely with minimal use of any chemical additives and preservatives".
Although that is true and great, it's not sustainable for everyone to buy organic foods every single day. To me, clean eating means the following;
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prep and make almost everything at home
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no sugar
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low carbs
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intermitten fasting
I do love the Keto way of eating, but again, not everyone including myself is comfortable with 70% fat in every meal they eat. So I have found a way to alternate by changing some minor rules, I use and stick to what I know works and is most beneficial, while making it easy enough to stay comfortable, happy and consistent. Commitment and consistency are the key elements to any success !!! Along the way in my personal journey I have discovered some amazing mentors that I believe in and follow, but it had to make sense.
I hope you enjoy some of the recipes and blogs I share here and most of all, I hope it inspires you to dive deeper into the world of clean eating and self love.
Enjoy :-)
Favorite Dishes
Baked Salmon
Prep time: 10 minutes. Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each), skin-on or skinless
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons hawayij seasoning
2 teaspoon turmeric (optional) - I use turmeric for its antioxidant and anti - inflammatory properties
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Prepare the Salmon: Place them skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Season the Salmon: Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the salmon fillets, then rub it over the surface to coat them.
In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, hawayij, Himalayan salt, and black pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the salmon fillets, ensuring they are well coated.
Bake the Salmon:
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fillets.
Serve:
Once the salmon is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro if desired, and serve hot with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the fish.
Sautéd Chicken and Veggies
Prep time: 10 minutes. Total time: 30 minutes.
Ingredients:
1 pound chicken breast, thinly sliced into strips
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon Hawayij
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish (optional)
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Instructions:
Prep the Ingredients:
Slice the chicken breast into thin strips. Slice the red and yellow bell peppers into thin strips. Mince the garlic cloves. Thinly slice the onion.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onions, garlic and vegetables, about 4-5 minutes.
Add the chicken strips to the skillet. Cook until they are browned on all sides and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
Seasonings: Add salt, pepper, paprika, hawayij. Continue to sauté until chicken is white. Add a 1&1/2 cups of water and cover skillet with the lid. Continue to cook for approx.15-20 minutes. Once everything is cooked through and well combined, remove the skillet from heat.
Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro if desired.
Serve hot as is or over a leafy salad.
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Mashed Califlower
Prep time: 5 minutes. Total time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil for a dairy-free option)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chopped fresh parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Rinse the cauliflower head and cut it into florets, discarding any tough stems. You can also use pre-cut cauliflower florets for convenience.
Steam the Cauliflower: Fill a large pot with about an inch of water. Add the cauliflower florets and bring the water to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and steam the cauliflower for 10-12 minutes, or until it is tender when pierced with a fork. Drain the water.
Mash the Cauliflower:
Once the cauliflower is tender, transfer it to a large bowl.
Add minced garlic, butter (or olive oil) to the bowl with the cauliflower.
Use a potato masher or a fork to mash the cauliflower until it reaches your desired consistency. For a smoother texture, you can also use a food processor or blender.
Season and Serve:
Season the mashed cauliflower with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Transfer the mashed cauliflower to a serving dish and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives if desired.
Serve hot as a side dish alongside your favorite main course.
Green Cabbage Salad with Sesame Dressing
Total time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
For the Salad:
1 small head of green cabbage, shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Dressing:
3 tablespoon olive oil
3-4 tablespoon sesame oil (don't be afraid to add! it makes the salad and is super healthy).
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon Sweetango (optional, for sweetness)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted (for garnish, optional)
Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Prepare the Cabbage: Rinse the green cabbage and remove any tough outer leaves. Cut the cabbage into quarters and remove the core.
Shred the cabbage finely using a sharp knife or a food processor.
Prepare the Dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage and the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the salad until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Garnish and Serve:
Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the salad for added texture and flavor (if desired).
Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley for freshness.
t's best enjoyed after being refrigerated for a few hours, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, resulting in a more flavorful taste.
Keto Brownies
Prep time: 10 minutes. Total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1/2 cup granulated erythritol (or preferred keto-friendly sweetener)
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sugar free almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar-free chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cocoa powder, granulated erythritol (or sweetener of choice), salt, and baking powder until well combined.
Combine Wet Ingredients:
In another bowl, beat the eggs lightly. Add the melted butter, almond milk and vanilla extract, then mix until smooth.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix until the batter is smooth and well combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Add Chocolate Chips (Optional):
Fold in the sugar-free chocolate chips into the batter, if using. This will add extra chocolatey goodness to your brownies.
Bake the Brownies:
Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter).
Cool and Slice:
Once baked, remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Once cooled, slice into squares or rectangles.
Serve:
Serve your keto brownies as is or with a dollop of whipped cream or a sprinkle of powdered erythritol on top for extra sweetness (optional).
Flour-Free Tahini Bread
Prep time: 10 minutes. Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
6 Tablespoons Tahini (whole)
4 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Teaspoons Sweetner (Sweetango)
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Extras:
2/3 Cup of Mixed Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, chia)
4 Tablespoons Sesame Seeds
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F degrees and line a 1lb loaf tin with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, baking powder, Sweetango, salt and baking powder.
Add the tahini and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Extras:
In a small bowl, add all the seeds and mix them around. Pour approx. 3/4 of the seeds into the tahini batter. Mix well with a spoon.
Pour the tahini batter into the prepared loaf tin and scatter sesame seeds plus the other remaining seeds on top (optional).
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the bread is golden and firm.
Slice, serve and enjoy!