Tag: health

body, Uncategorized

Pumpkin maca malt with almond butter + granola

by Leave a Comment on Pumpkin maca malt with almond butter + granola

pumpkin maca malt

Let me be clear here, I am not the first girl to jump on the pumpkin-everything bandwagon, once September 1st drops.

Normally I complain to everyone about how the pumpkin-butternut squash-fall-everything craze is one big marketing ploy to make all of America purchase PSL lattes in 85 degree weather and pretend Christmas is coming.

And here I am, wearing shorts and a tanktop and sipping my pumpkin maca malt, flavored not just with pumpkin spice but with actual pumpkin puree. Continue reading “Pumpkin maca malt with almond butter + granola” →

body, Uncategorized

Black bean + quinoa bowl with avocado, hummus, & veggies

by Leave a Comment on Black bean + quinoa bowl with avocado, hummus, & veggies

black bean + quinoa bowl

This bowl was born out of a desire to eat all of my favorite foods at one time, and masquerade it as a grains + greens bowl. That means I get to eat avocado, hummus, and tortilla chips, and feel good about it. It’s a salad. It’s a grain bowl packed with vegetables. It’s vegan and gluten-free. And it’s also salty, crunchy, creamy, and perfect for lunch. Continue reading “Black bean + quinoa bowl with avocado, hummus, & veggies” →

mind, Uncategorized

10 priorities to focus on in your twenties

by 3 Comments on 10 priorities to focus on in your twenties

10 priorities for your twenties

This week, I turn 29 years old. While not officially 30, I feel it’s close enough to merit some reflection on the past almost-decade.

In fact, “29” feels a little odd to me—like the space between two stair steps. Like I’m reaching for something ahead, but not there quite yet. Those two digits that have evolved, at least in contemporary American culture, to suggest that now there are no more excuses to put off adulthood. Your career should be well on its way; if you’re not married yet, thinking about it should factor into your every decision (hate to say it, but especially for women). Your twenties are for exploring and experimenting. Your thirties are for adulting.

Is that all true? Or are these unfair expectations we’ve attached arbitrarily to a numerical value? Continue reading “10 priorities to focus on in your twenties” →

body, Uncategorized

Cashew butter bites with toasted coconut + cardamom

by Leave a Comment on Cashew butter bites with toasted coconut + cardamom

cashew butter bites with toasted coconut + cardamom

I’m  a lazy breakfast maker, which means I often rely on leftovers from the night before, a piece of fruit, or an errant cookie to satisfy my hunger in the morning. But what I really want an hour or two after I wake up is something small, with protein and big flavor. Enter these little babies, triple-threat cashew butter bites with toasted coconut + cardamom. Continue reading “Cashew butter bites with toasted coconut + cardamom” →

body, Uncategorized

Grain-free breakfast bowl with raspberry compote + almond butter

by Kelsey1 Comment on Grain-free breakfast bowl with raspberry compote + almond butter

IMG_1089.JPG

In the spring of 2010, I studied abroad in Strasbourg, France, during which I gained a healthy 8 pounds on my 5 ft 2 inch frame. You guess the culprit: a) tender, beautifully buttery croissants, b) tarte flambée (basically, French pizza) c) copious amounts of chocolate, or d) jam.

The answer is: d) jam. Continue reading “Grain-free breakfast bowl with raspberry compote + almond butter” →

mind, Uncategorized

Why you should schedule rest

by KelseyLeave a Comment on Why you should schedule rest

IMG_1841.JPG

One of my favorite French phrases borrowed from the English language is le week-end. In French, “week” is semaine and “end” is dernier. I guess the French allowed week-end to slip through the typically impenetrable fortress of the French language to make it just a little easier to reference those glorious two days at the end of every work week.

In theory,  we rest and recuperate on Saturday and Sunday. Le probleme is that the French- and many other cultures- do le week-end so much better than most Americans do. When we do have “time off”- which is often rare- we have the tendency to fill those extra hours with more scheduled time. Grocery store runs, hours at the gym, and quick coffee dates with friends end up dominating days off, or hours after work. Continue reading “Why you should schedule rest” →

body, Uncategorized

Tahini + almond stuffed dates

by KelseyLeave a Comment on Tahini + almond stuffed dates

IMG_3125

I’ve been abundantly blessed to live in not only one but two places where dates are grown and harvested: first in California, where I was born and currently live, and then in Morocco, where I spent three years teaching English. Dates have been experiencing a sort of renaissance lately, what with paleo-ites desperately looking for dessert that meets the stringent requirements of a caveman’s diet. I’m pretty sure a caveman might be especially tempted by dates, especially if he stuffed a tablespoon of tahini and a single roasted almond inside. Continue reading “Tahini + almond stuffed dates” →

body, mind, Uncategorized

What I learned about staying healthy while living overseas (it’s surprising)

by KelseyLeave a Comment on What I learned about staying healthy while living overseas (it’s surprising)

img_1328

Before moving to Morocco in 2012, I had one major fear. I didn’t fear loneliness, or being far from my home country, or not being able to communicate with those outside of my culture and native language. I wasn’t afraid of not finding a job, or even of the possibility of terrorist attacks (although there had been a major attack in Marrakesh in 2011). This one thing crossed my mind again and again while packing and preparing: the fear of gaining weight. Continue reading “What I learned about staying healthy while living overseas (it’s surprising)” →