Gluten Free Mongolian Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

As we approach summer, I think we’re all craving no-fuss weekday meals that can easily be thrown together and that don’t have us in the kitchen all night long. 

It’s all about capitalizing on that extra bit of daylight at the end of our work day and soaking up that sunshine. I mean…here in Ontario, we’ve waited for it all winter long, right? 

This one pan meal is not only simple and convenient but it’s also nutritious, hormone balancing and loaded with flavour. I think it makes the perfect no-fuss weekday meal! 

Enjoy it on its own or as a side dish, or my personal favourite, over cauliflower rice.

Did you know that cruciferous veggies such as broccoli actually help us to balance out our  hormones? It’s true. These foods help us to clear excess estrogen from our body. So, eat your broccoli ladies because it’s truly one powerhouse of a vegetable. 

Speaking of our hormones, we’re launching another round of our Metabolic Reset this summer. It’s going to be 8 weeks and we’re including tons of updated information, recipes and other goodies for you! 

As with most women, you might be suffering with hormonal imbalances such as low thyroid function, PMS, PCOS or menopause. Our 8 week high fat, low carb weight loss program is designed specifically for women so you can lose weight with ease and balance your hormones with delicious foods. 

It’s meals like this that you can enjoy in the Metabolic Reset program. One of the questions we’re often asked is, “what will I be eating?” Our answer? Food just like this! Delicious food. Easy to prepare food. Food that the entire family will love. 

So if you’ve been wanting to balance out your hormones and lose weight all without deprivation then get on our wait list here. 

This Mongolian Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry is gluten-free, grain-free and paleo-friendly. It’s a savoury dish with tender strips of beef and stir fried broccoli with a rich umami sauce with garlic, ginger and just a hint of sweetness. 

Mongolian Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
This Mongolian Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry is gluten-free, grain-free and paleo-friendly. It’s a savoury dish with tender strips of beef and stir fried broccoli with a rich umami sauce with garlic, ginger and just a hint of sweetness.
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Ingredients
  1. 1 large grass-fed steak
  2. 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  3. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  4. 2 tsp ginger, grated
  5. 2 Tbsp Bragg’s all purpose seasoning (or extra Tamari)
  6. 1 Tbsp tamari
  7. 1.5 Tbsp coconut sugar
  8. 1/4 cup water
  9. 1 head of broccoli, cut florets
  10. 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
  11. sprinkling of sesame seeds, for garnish
  12. 1-2 green onions, thinly sliced
  13. pinch crushed red pepper, optional
  14. 2 cups cauliflower rice, optional
  15. sea salt
  16. black pepper
Instructions
  1. Remove steak from the fridge and let it come to room temp (about 30 min). Get a cast iron pan on the stovetop over medium heat.
  2. Pat the steak dry using paper towel and season generously with sea salt and pepper. Add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil to the pan.
  3. Sear steak in cast iron pan, about 3-4 minutes per side for medium cook (depending on the thickness of your steak).
  4. Remove steak from pan and allow it to rest.
  5. In the same pan, lower the temp and add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add minced garlic, grated ginger and cook out for about 1 minute.
  6. Add Bragg’s all purpose seasoning, tamari, coconut sugar and water. Bring to a simmer for 4-5 minutes or until thickened.
  7. Add broccoli florets, cover pan and cook until bright green and slightly tender.
  8. Slice beef and add it back to the pan with 2 tsp rice wine vinegar for about a minute to coat it in the sauce.
  9. Portion out beef and broccoli and garnish with sesame seeds, green onion and pinch of crushed red peppers.
  10. Optional: serve over whole grains or cauliflower rice.
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Adaptogen Adrenal Fat Bombs (High Fat, Low Carb, Keto Friendly, Paleo)

Who woulda thought you could support your adrenals and eat chocolate all at the same time? Well, it’s possible and these adaptogenic adrenal fat bombs are delicious and super simple to make!

First off, let’s go over some of the key ingredients in this recipe that make it magic (aka. adrenal supportive). 

One of the ingredients used was He Shou Wu – a Traditional Taoist Herb and Jing Tonic. He Shou Wu has been used throughout the centuries as a longevity, anti-aging, blood-building, beauty, and rejuvenation food. Long revered as one of the most important and powerful herbs in Chinese Medicine, He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), has a rich and mystical history due to some of its more exotic—and highly sought after—benefits and effects. It is rich in iron and zinc—two hard-to-get essential minerals—and is wonderful for:

  • Improving stamina 
  • Promoting red blood cells
  • Enhancing immune function
  • Increasing antioxidant activity 
  • Can tonify and nourish the blood, hair, skin, nervous system, sexual centre
  • Can stimulate the body to produce many longevity-promoting substances, including superoxide dismutase
  • Can stimulate and harmonize adrenal gland function and promote general endocrine system balance

Sounds amazing right??

Then I added in some Anandamide. I know, another strange sounding ingredient. This is an exquisite blend of unsweetened, raw heirloom cacao and tonic herbs. It’s hand-crafted in small batches using organic or wildcrafted ingredients and freshly-ground spices. This blend may activate and balance the nervous, digestive, and immune systems and is a perfect treat to brighten the mind and open the heart. It is loaded with adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha, astragalus, suma, moringa, and reishi mushrooms that may all work together to help boost your immune system, enhance and strengthen energy levels, and reduce stress and anxiety.

Basically, it’s awesome-sauce! And it tastes delicious. I really love using Sun Potion tonics as they are of high quality and great additions to smoothies and elixirs – or amazing just on their own. 

Do keep in mind that if you do not have these products on hand, it’s all good. You can leave them out of the recipe. But, I highly suggest giving them a try since they are amazing for adrenal and hormonal health. 

As you can see from the picture, there is ZERO sugar used in this recipe. If you’d like to sweeten it, I would suggest using Lakanto or maybe stevia. You can add in raw honey or maple syrup, but that will take the sugar content up quite a bit and defeat the purpose of a strictly high fat treat. 

You’ll notice I also used the Perfect Keto Chocolate Collagen. This is a grass-fed keto collagen that provides complete collagen recovery. Collagen has a full amino acid profile and is the most important structural protein in your body. However it’s largely absent from the average person’s daily diet. Keto Collagen protein is 10 grams of collagen peptides from grass-fed cows.

This Keto Collagen is paired with MCTs and gut-healthy acacia fiber for great low-carb energy as well. 

I linked up all these ingredients and if you’re interested in getting your hands on any of them, I shop over at PureFeast.com. This is where I buy just about everything! You can save 10% off your first THREE orders over $75 over on Pure Feast, plus get free shipping, when you use coupon code – HolisticWellness. Please note – they only ship within Canada. 

You can purchase Perfect Keto off the US site here and save 15% with coupon code – HolisticWellness. 

Ok, now, lets get to the recipe. Enjoy!

Adaptogenic Adrenal Fat Bombs

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Course: Dessert
Keyword: adrenals, fatbombs, hflc, high fat, highfatlowcarb, holisticwellness, keto, paleo
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Author: Samantha Gladish

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup cacao powder
  • 2 scoops Perfect Keto Collagen in chocolate
  • 2 tbsp Anandamide
  • 1 tbsp He Shou Wu

Instructions

  • Add almond butter and coconut oil to a pot and melt over medium-low heat.
  • Once soft and melting, add in remaining ingredients.
  • Stir together until well combined.
  • Pour into silicon molds, then place in the freezer to set for roughly 30-45 minutes. You can use large or small molds, or pour this onto a tray lined with parchment paper to make fat bomb "bark."
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Metabolism Boosting Hemp Seed Breakfast Cereal (High Fat, Low Carb, Paleo, Grain Free)

Fats are making a comeback and thank god! There’s been so much fat-fear mongering over the years, which has caused MORE disease and issues with diabetes, heart health, hormones, weight and cholesterol. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Fat does not make you fat, sugar does! Now of course, if you’re eating fried foods and GMO vegetable oils – these will have a negative impact on inflammation and your waist line, but I’m taking about avocados, nuts, seeds, animal fats, olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, grass fed butter and all the delicious, healthy fats that fuel your brain and hormones. 

And speaking of hormones, have you tuned into my podcast – Healthy Hormones for Women? I’m super stoked for my podcast and being able to connect with YOU in a new way and to continue to bring you information and inspiration for living a healthy, more vibrant life. 

If you haven’t yet left a review or a rating, I would ABSOLUTELY love it if you could. Simply head on over to iTunes or Stitcher, leave your review or rating, take a screenshot and email it over to us at – info@holisticwellness.ca and we’ll hook you up with my FREE 3-Day Hormone Balancing Meal Plan ? This meal plan contains 10 delicious recipes that are low-inflammatory, healing for your hormones and will super charge your energy. 

Ok… now back to fats and this delicious and quick breakfast cereal. The ladies in my 12 Week High Fat, Low Carb Program are loving this recipe. I’ve got them loading up on hormone balancing fats throughout the day, ditching the gluten and grains (which are very inflammatory) and shedding fat while eating delicious meals ?? In addition to this metabolism boosting breakfast, you might like this breakfast scramble recipe here. 

The bonus of eating fats? It helps to nourish your skin, hair and nails. Ok, let’s get cooking and fuelling our metabolism first thing in the morning. Cuz girl… if you’re still waking up and eating bagels, toast, high fruit smoothies and high carb foods – you are NOT fuelling your metabolism and are in turn, creating an insulin spike, which will cause you to GAIN weight. Make the switch to this breakfast and you’ll start seeing some results!

High Fat Hemp Seed Breakfast Cereal
Serves 1
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Prep Time
3 min
Cook Time
5 min
Total Time
8 min
Prep Time
3 min
Cook Time
5 min
Total Time
8 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk
  2. 1/2 cup hemp seeds
  3. 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
  4. 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  5. 5-6 drops alcohol free stevia (or lakanto, xylitol or erythritol - all optional)
  6. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  7. 1/4 tsp alcohol free vanilla extract (optional)
  8. 3-4 walnuts
Instructions
  1. Combine the milk, hemp seeds, ground flax, chia, cinnamon and vanilla in a small pot over medium heat. Stir until boiling.
  2. Once it’s boiling, bring down the heat to a low-medium and simmer for about 4 minutes. When the porridge has thickened, remove it from the heat and serve in a bowl.
  3. Add the stevia (optional) and top with walnuts.
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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10 Keto-Friendly Dinners (Delicious, Low Carb & Easy to Prepare)

The Ketogenic diet is a hot topic as of late. Some people use it as an approach to weight loss, while others use it as a way to balance hormones and heal their body. A keto diet can be incredibly helpful for balancing insulin and blood sugar levels, which in turn will lead to better overall hormonal health (and yes ladies, that means less PMS and PCOS symptoms for you!)

If you’ve been thinking about going Keto, I’m hooking you up with 10 Keto-friendly dinner ideas! Below are a mix of recipes with dairy, and some without. I often find there are a lot of keto recipes smothered in dairy and although I love cheese, it’s not something I eat often and can be quite inflammatory for some people. Everyone is different so I wanted to provide you with options. 

If you’re looking to try the Keto approach to weight loss, check out my 12 week online weight loss program specifically designed to help women burn fat (with delicious food of course!). This program is not about deprivation, but about supporting women’s hormones with healthy high fat foods. Click here to learn more about my fat burning program.

 

Continue reading “10 Keto-Friendly Dinners (Delicious, Low Carb & Easy to Prepare)”

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Metabolism Boosting Breakfast Scramble

Breakfast is definitely one of my favourite meals! In fact, I feel like you can eat ‘breakfast’ at any meal of the day. 

I always love seeing the reaction of my clients when they see their meal plans. Most of them will find foods such as chicken or beef as a breakfast option on their meal plan, or a combination of specific nuts and seeds with certain fruits all as a way to ensure adequate protein. And of course, then there’s eggs! My fav 🙂 

You might find it strange to eat chicken or beef at breakfast, but the thing is, breakfast is just another meal of the day, so any food can apply here. And protein is key!

In fact, if you’re starting your morning off with a bagel, cereal, granola, or a smoothie (that does not have adequate amounts of fat and protein), you can ensure you’ll be setting yourself up for some unstable blood sugar, combined with a slower moving metabolism, combined with a general feeling of fatigue later in the day. 

Know what I mean?

What you choose for breakfast plays a key role in hormonal health and metabolism. If you’re struggling to lose weight or are dealing with hormonal imbalances, such as PCOS, PMS, diabetes, menopause, hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, stress, acne, hair loss or estrogen dominance,  you might want to take a look at what foods you’re choosing to eat to start your day. 

And of course, this applies to all your meals. Every time you eat is an opportunity to support your health and hormones, so why not choose the best foods possible? 

So what’s so great about my simple and delicious breakfast scramble? Well, aside from being simple and delicious, it contains a few key things:

  • Eggs – which provide you with protein, healthy brain feeling fats and numerous hormone balancing vitamins and minerals
  • Avocado – is loaded with vitamin E and monounsaturated fats, both of which are incredible for skin health
  • Asparagus – contains glutathione, a potent antioxidant that keeps your skin youthful and is found in every cell in your body! It scours our body for toxins, free radicals and heavy metals that pose a threat to our health and well-being and gives them the boot!
  • Spinach – is high in niacin and zinc, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese – so basically, it’s a nutrient powerhouse!

This recipe is quick to make. I love chopping and prepping veggies a day before so they are ready in the fridge to add to recipes. Food prep is a life saver!

Enjoy the delicious and get that metabolism soaring! And if you’re looking for one-on-one support to lose weight and balance your hormones, fill out my online application here. 

And be sure to click here to download my FREE DIY Beauty Secrets eBook for gorgeous glowing skin! 

 

 

 

Metabolism Boosting Breakfast Scramble
Serves 1
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
8 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
8 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 tablespoon ghee
  2. Handful of spinach
  3. 3 asparagus stalks, chopped into 1/4 inch coins/pieces
  4. 1/4 onion, roughly chopped
  5. 2 eggs, beaten
  6. ½ avocado
  7. sea salt and pepper
  8. herbamare
Instructions
  1. Add ghee to a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add spinach, onion and asparagus and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until onion is slightly translucent.
  3. Stir in whisked eggs and cook for 3 more minutes until cooked through, being sure to mix and incorporate into the veggies.
  4. Top with avocado and season with salt, pepper and herbamare.
Notes
  1. Don't have spinach or asparagus on hand? Any veggie will work. Use chopped peppers, kale, mushrooms, chard, bok choy or any green veggie your heart desires!
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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A Chocolate Milkshake for GUT Health

Could it be…

That a milkshake could help to heal your gut?

Now I’m not just talking about any kind of milkshake. There are many different types of chocolate and quality varies, so the kind we use is very important.

Are you familiar with raw cacao? Raw Cacao is the real unprocessed form of chocolate. It’s slightly bitter, but also decadent and delicious!

Raw cacao contains phenylethylamine, an amino acid that helps boost happy hormones.

Plus, it’s loaded with magnesium. A large percentage of the population is deficient in magnesium due to the quality of our soil.

This mineral is important for detoxification, calming the nervous system, balancing the endocrine system (ie. hormones) and supporting the bowels!

Got constipation issues? Magnesium can become your best friend as it helps to draws water into the stools, making them softer and easier to pass. It’s also a muscle relaxant, so it eases any tension in the intestinal wall that might be causing constipation.

So what about this milkshake?

Not only is it chocolatey and loaded with magnesium, but it also contains coconut oil, which has many nutritive properties that support the gut and collagen powder, a great healing superfood!

Supporting the health of your gut is essential if you want to have optimal health. As Hippocrates said – “all disease begins in the gut” and this is soooo true!

With all of my clients, one of the key areas I focus on with their health is their gut. Because guess what? From autoimmune disorders, to inflammation, to excess weight, to skin issues such as acne, eczema or psoriasis and even PMS and menopause, it ALL relates back to the gut. 

If you’ve been dealing with these symptoms and are finally looking to heal, be disease free and thrive, you need to focus on gut health!

Supporting the health of your gut is essential if you want to have optimal health. As Hippocrates said – “all disease begins in the gut” and this is soooo true!

With all of my clients, one of the key areas my team and I focus on when we work with you health your gut.

Because guess what? From autoimmune disorders, to inflammation, to excess weight, to skin issues such as acne, eczema or psoriasis and even PMS and menopause, it ALL relates back to the gut.

You can learn more about working with us 1:1 HERE

 

Gut Healing Chocolate Smoothie
Serves 1
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Prep Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
  2. 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
  3. ½ teaspoon vanilla powder or extract (I prefer the alcohol free one from Simply Organics)
  4. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  5. ½ banana, frozen
  6. ½ tablespoon coconut oil
  7. 1 tablespoon collagen powder
Instructions
  1. Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Fat Burning Chocolate Smoothie

Yes, I just said fat burning and chocolate in the same sentence 🙂

In fact, this smoothie isn’t just gonna help you become a more efficient fat burner, it will even give you more energy, mental clarity and focus. Who doesn’t need that?

As a women-preneur who spends much of her time writing and creating (and easily distracted by shiny objects!), I always need help in the focus department. 

Enter this smoothie. It’s become my new go-to for fueling my mornings, turning my brain on and helping me become more efficient at burning fat.

How can a smoothie do all of that you ask?

Well, that’s thanks to the superfood ingredients! 

Let’s take a look at what’s in this delicious concoction:

First up coconut milk – (the high fat kind FYI) contains beneficial fat called lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that’s easily absorbed and used by the body for energy. This fat is good for you! In fact, it can help lower cholesterol levels and improve blood pressure. 

Secondly we’ve got collagen powder. From skin health, to protecting your joints, to fueling your muscles, boosting metabolism, and supporting leaky gut, what does collagen NOT do! (Oh, I should also mention that it’s great for cellulite too!). Brands I personally like are Great Lakes or Bulletproof. 

Third up we’ve got some sunflower lecithin which is super rich in choline. Choline is amazing for liver detoxification, helps with normal brain development, supports nerve function, energy levels and helps in maintaining a healthy metabolism. I order my sunflower lecithin from this site here. 

Fourth on the superfood ingredient list is cacao powder. Cacao is the raw unprocessed form of chocolate. Like, it’s the real stuff. It’s loaded with magnesium which an important mineral for detoxification and hormonal health. Brands I like are Navitas Naturals, Organic Traditions or Giddy YoYo. 

Fifth up are exogenous ketones. This is where the real fat burning happens. Ketones are essentially an alternative fuel source for the body (vs. glucose) that leaves you feeling energized and focused. Most of us are sugar burners (mainly because we eat too much sugar), whereas taking exogenous ketones helps you become more efficient at being a fat burner vs. a sugar burner. 

When you take exogenous ketones, you now have ketones available in your blood, which means you have fat available as a fuel source vs. glucose (ie. sugar!). 

So what the heck is a ketone you ask? When eating a low carbohydrate diet, the liver converts fatty acids to ketones, which serve as an alternative to glucose for energy for the brain, heart and muscle. Cool right?

Ketogenic diets were developed to help improve symptoms of epilepsy, but were also found to help with many other chronic health problems, like inflammation and alzheimers. 

Weight loss is a huge benefit of ketogenic diets due to lowered insulin levels and the body’s ability to burn stored fat. This is why my clients do incredibly well losing weight on my metabolic program. It is not a ketogenic diet, but it is a lower carb diet, helping my clients to become more efficient at burning fat.

Research is even showing that a ketogenic diet can help prevent and even kill cancer cells.

So let’s get to this delicious, fat burning, energizing smoothie! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

And if you’re looking to get your hands on some exogenous ketones, send me an email at – samantha@holisticwellness.ca 

P.S. For anyone that wants to purchase ketones and give them a try, I will personally send you my 21-Day Clean, Lean and Green program. This incredible meal plan is loaded with over 30+ recipes, 3 weeks of meal plans and a complete grocery shopping list. It’s my way of commending you for taking a step in investing in yourself, trying something new and committing to better health. 

Again, just send me an email to get started 🙂 —> samantha@holisticwellness.ca

Fat Burning Chocolate Smoothie
Serves 2
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Ingredients
  1. 2 cups coconut milk
  2. 1 cup spring water
  3. 1 tbsp sunflower lecithin
  4. 1 tbsp collagen
  5. 1 tbsp cacao powder
  6. 2 packs of exogenous ketones (chocolate flavour)
  7. 1 tsp stevia (optional, if you feel you need a little extra sweetness)
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients into a high speed blender and blend until well combined. Drink, dance, feel energized, supercharged and start becoming a more efficient fat burner!
Notes
  1. *Take this smoothie up a notch by adding in 1 tbsp of coconut butter for extra creaminess and fat.
  2. *Turn this into a "coffee" by adding in 1 tbsp of Dandy Blend (a delicious coffee alternative).
  3. *Serve it hot! Once blended, at it to a pot and heat it up on the stove.
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Garlic Chili Shrimp with Pesto Zoodles

I love a quick and healthy meal. And by quick, I mean a meal you can whip up in 10 minutes! 

This was my lunch the other day. Busy with client calls and lots of writing, I quickly got into the kitchen, perused through the fridge and my eyes landed on the pesto, the zucchini and the bag of shrimp I was defrosting.

I think it can be easy to over complicate food. 

I remember back in my 9-5 work days I would bring in my own lunch to work and everyone would always be peering over my shoulder talking about my ‘gourmet’ lunch. 

Umm… gourmet? Not really. I would just whip together leftovers, like roasted veggies and grilled chicken and apparently it looked gourmet. 

Well, considering that most people in the office were eating fast food and well… crap; my meals looked pretty fancy. They also looked vibrant! You know, real food, real colours and not beige nutrient-less junk. 

Anyhow, you can image some of the ‘health’ conversations that would get stirred up at the office. 

I mean, I was eating real food people. Ain’t nothing wrong with that!

Anyhow, I digress…

Let’s get to this incredibly tasty 10 minute meal. The smell of fresh parsley mixed with garlic and chili is so good. You’re gonna want to eat the shrimp right outta the pan (I sure did!).

Best part is, this meal is incredible for balancing out your blood sugar levels. Ain’t no insulin spikes happening here! You’ve got a bowl full of veggies (zucchini), protein from shrimp and healthy fats. No starchy carbs, just real, simple whole foods. This meal will keep your mood stable and support your energy levels. 

Also, shrimp (make sure to get wild caught) is loaded with selenium, which is an important mineral for supporting the thyroid. 

Ok, let’s get cooking…

So first, you’re gonna need to start with some spiralized zucchini noodles. This is the spiralizer I have here.  If you don’t have a spiralizer, don’t fret! You can simply use a vegetable grater and grate thin slices of zucchini or use a knife to slice it into thin strips, your call.

IMG_6344

If you are using a store bought pesto, make sure it’s organic or at least contains only natural ingredients. If you prefer to make your own, try my detox pesto recipe here. If you’re making it from scratch, now’s the time to whip it up before you get cooking. 

Once you’re pesto is ready to go, chop up 2 garlic cloves, a small bunch of fresh parsley (roughly 2-3 tbsp) and measure out 1 teaspoon of chili flakes. Prepare your shrimp by peeling them and leaving them aside. I used one whole bag (roughly 30 shrimp).

Heat olive oil or grass fed butter in a cast iron pan and once hot, add in shrimp, garlic, chili flake, parsley and fresh cracked black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp turn nice and pink. 

IMG_6346

Once shrimp are cooked, remove from the pan and set aside into a bowl.

To the same pan, add in zucchini noodles and pesto and cook on medium-low heat until cooked through, roughly 6-7 minutes. The time it takes to cook your noodles all depends on your preference. You might like them on the softer side or slightly harder and on the raw-er side with a bit of bite. Your call. Cook them to your desired preference. 

IMG_6356

Once cooked, add zoodles to a bowl, top with shrimp and sprinkle fresh parley on top. 

DONE and DONE!

This meal is finger-lickin’ good, healthy and a huge time saver when you feel strapped to get something quick and nutritious on the table. 

As much as a delicious bowl of pasta can be, I really don’t miss it. The zucchini noodles are really filling and satisfying and you can top them with you favourite sauce. 

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Garlic Chili Shrimp with Pesto Zoodles
Serves 2
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
5 min
Total Time
10 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
5 min
Total Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 large zucchini's, spiralized
  2. 1 large bag frozen shrimp, defrosted (I used wild caught)
  3. 3 tbsp pesto
  4. 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  5. 1 tsp chili flake (or more if you like it hot)
  6. 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped
  7. Black pepper
  8. Olive oil, for sautéing
Instructions
  1. Spiralize zucchini's and set aside (I used the 1/4 inch blade for a thicker noodle).
  2. Prepare pesto and set aside (make your own or use store bought).
  3. Defrost shrimp and remove shells.
  4. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil. Once hot, add in shrimp, garlic, chili flake parsley and black pepper.
  5. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until cooked through and nicely pink. Remove from the skillet and place in a bowl.
  6. To the same skillet, add in zucchini noodles and pesto. Cook for roughly 5-7 minutes until desired texture is reached.
  7. Add noodles to a bowl and top with shrimp and fresh parsley.
  8. Eat and enjoy!
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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4 Keys to Resetting Your Metabolism for Successful Weight Loss

It’s January 2016 and everyone is in health mode. I’m excited about this because I love seeing people get serious about their health and seek out help, coaching, join gyms and commit to better eating. 

I wish January was all the time! There’s always this excitement in the new year to get healthy and then come February (or shall I say Valentines Day) the healthy eating, along with the over indulgence with chocolates takes over. 

I’m not here to judge. I love chocolate and in a balanced and healthy plan, chocolate is a-ok in my books!

But today, I want to share with you 4 ‘unconventional’ ways of resetting your metabolism. Now… you may have heard of some of these before, but they are not often talked about in regards to metabolism and weight loss; until now. 

As you know, I specialize in weight loss and offer a comprehensive weight loss program and with my clients, there are rules! Of course, with any meal plan and weight loss protocol there are always rules, but these ones are a little different and I want to share them with you because as you embark on your own health journey, I want you to start incorporating them asap. 

Whether you’re looking to lose weight, get energized or balance your hormones, these rules can help to benefit you and your goals. 

Rule #1 – Leave 5 hours between your meals, or more simply, eat 3 meals a day. I’m sure you’ve heard me speak of this before, but the truth is, eating every 2-3 hours means your spiking your insulin levels constantly throughout the day. Taking a 5 hour break allows your insulin levels to drop, which allows for more fat to be burned. I was recently interviewed on the Paleohacks podcast about this and share some insights into mindset when it comes to dieting. You can listen to the podcast here. I also wrote an extensive article on this topic, which you can read here on my site. I go into more detail about why 3 meals are beneficial for hormones. 

Rule #2 – Eat an apple a day. Ok, you’ve heard of this one before, however, it’s not just any apple and it’s not just any time of day. Apples should be eaten as part of your meal, not as a snack, and you should look for more tart varieties like macintosh, gravenstein, jonathan or green varieties. Apples contain lots (and I mean LOTS!) of vitamins and minerals and can help to lower cholesterol and uric acid. They also provide pectin and cellulose, fibres that help your body detoxify.

Rule #3 – Water. Yup, another one you’ve heard of, but the truth is, most of us just aren’t drinking enough. You should aim to be drinking 1/2 oz. of water per pound of body weight. Water cleanses your body, helps to remove waste from the bowels, and supports fat loss. Calculate your water intake and start drinking before you’re thirsty!

Rule #4 – Take 2 bites of protein at the beginning of each meal. This means your fish, poultry, meat, beans or legumes, etc. Most of us dive into the carbs, but protein helps to effectively manage insulin spikes. When the stomach receives protein first, the pancreas reacts by secreting the hormone glucagon. This hormone actually works by blocking insulin production as well as triggering more satiety. Remember, lower insulin levels means higher fat burning. 

These rules are incredibly easy to implement, you can get started with them today! I love hearing from my clients how these rules have become second nature to them. They sit down to their meals with more awareness and more appreciation for their hormones and their health. 

If you’re interested in joining my online 8 week weight loss program, I can only accept 10 women into the group. Everyone receives their own comprehensive blood panel and customized meal plan, plus 8 weeks of coaching with me. After guiding over 60 women last year to weight loss success, I am so excited to bring this program to more women.

Whether you are in the U.S. or Cananda, you can join in on the group program and even get your labs complete near you! This program is by application process only. If you are interested, please take a minute to fill out the application. Once you’re application is received, I’ll connect with you to set up a complimentary consult call to discuss your health and goals in more detail.

Click here to fill out the application form.

I look forward to helping more women achieve weight loss success in 2016, regain their hormonal health and feel confident and vibrant in their bodies once again. Know that’s its possible. Anything is possible with dedication, commitment and a true desire to make change happen.  

Cheers to the happiest and healthiest 2016!

Check out some before and after photos:

Meet Elide. She’s lost 50lbs in just over 6 months. Not only has she lost weight, but she’s gone off her medications and reduced inflammation in her joints.

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Meet Elizabeth. She’s lost over 56lbs pounds in 4 months and her energy levels have increased dramatically. She’s started to run 5km and finally looks forward to being active again. 

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Meet Marisa! Only after 8 weeks into her program, Marisa has lost 20lbs. She has been incredibly dedicated to her program and looks amazing!

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Click here to fill out the online application and let’s get you closer to your weight loss goals in just a few short months!

Your Qualitarian Nutritionist & Wellness Coach, 
Samantha, RHN
xoxoxo

 

 

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