Tag: quality

Why I’m So Proud of My Mama…

Posted on

I am so proud of my mama…

Early in December my moms fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis got the best of her. She spent all of the holidays in so much pain she could barely walk. She couldn’t sleep and spent many nights crying in pain.

Years of stress, being on her feet and not taking time for herself caught up to her.

I’ve posted about my mom before, and how much I’ve learned so much from her and have taken on many of her culinary skills

You see…even though my mom is a fabulous cook and makes everything from scratch, she truly never understood what GMO’s meant, or the importance of eating organic, and the damaging effects of gluten and dairy.

So when her pain got to the point of crippling, she started to listen.

She’s been juicing, making a ton of green smoothies, eating better quality protein, lots of good quality fats, drinking a TON of water and eliminating gluten and dairy.

She’s been more conscious about purchasing organic and even threw out a bunch of her toxic household cleaning and skin care products.

She visited a rheumatology specialist who put her on a cocktail of medications which I didn’t completely agree with, but I understand that she needed the relief. This MD rolled her eyes at me when I spoke of supplements and nutrition and the mention of my Integrative Medical Doctor. Such lack of respect and support.

Then I booked her an appointment with my Doctor at the Markham Integrative Medicine Clinic. There, my mom received a 1hr consult, got an anti inflammatory supplement protocol and did a live blood cell test which showed she was severely B12 deficient.

Now…she barely has any pain. She can walk. Sleep better. Think better and she’s lost 15lbs! In her own words she told me “I feel so happy!” This all happened in a short 4 week period!

YOU…are so capable of creating the LIFE you want! It is YOUR birthright to live with abundant good health.

I hope my mother can be an inspiration for you to create positive change with your health.

You are SO WORTH IT!

Listen to the whispers of your body. My mother ignored them for years and spent weeks in agony.

Prevention is EVERYTHING.

I’m here for you xoxo

And mama….I’m so proud of you!

To Your Health & Abundance,
Samantha

SHARE THIS!
Share on Pinterest

Spaghetti Squash Bake with Italian Sausage and Herbs

Posted on

Oh yum!

I think I just made on one of the most delicious and satisfying dinners ever.

You know you’ve cooked up something good when your boyfriend asks for thirds!! Not seconds, but thirds!

I love me a good recipe. Especially one that is healthy, satisfying, and is free of glutinous grains and starches.

Most of my carbohydrate sources comes from more nutrient dense sources such as sweet potato, squash, pumpkin and some fruits. I’ve given up most glutinous grains and ‘white’ sources of nutrition-less breads. The one thing I can’t kick is oats. I love my oats. My favourite brand is Bobs Red Mill wheat free rolled oats. They are great for making homemade oat flour and using in baking recipes, or for a delicious and warming morning oatmeal.

Have you kicked the grains?

Are you still eating gluten?

I highly advise you ditch the gluten and start replacing your carbohydrate sources with more satisfying and nourishing squashes. Ditching white bread for whole wheat is a WHOLE other issue. Going gluten free includes ditching wheat too! And may I add….going gluten free doesn’t just require that you swap out your typical glutinous loaf of bread for a gluten free loaf. It really doesn’t work that way! Most of the gluten free breads are loaded with junk. So my honest advice, ditch the bread altogether!

It’s easier than you think! Especially once you try this recipe, you won’t miss the ‘starchy’ carbs. In fact, you just may beat the bloat and feel a whole lot better 🙂

Now onto the goodness…

Image 2

Spaghetti Squash Bake with Italian Sausage and Herbs
(recipe adapted from PaleoOMG.com)

Ingredients:
  • 1 large spaghetti squash
  • 1 pound italian sausage (turkey, chicken or pork will do) – source out organic/antibiotic & hormone free*
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 cup pizza sauce (homemade or store bought – no sugar added) – organic & clean ingredients*
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon chill flakes
  • sea salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 eggs, whisked
  • (optional: add anything you like with pizza: veggies, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, etc)
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Place spaghetti squash cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the skin of the squash becomes slightly soft and you can puncture it with a fork. Remove squash from oven and reduce oven heat to 350 degrees.
  3. Remove threads from squash (using a fork, scrap down the squash to form spaghetti) and place in an 8×8 greased baking dish.
  4. Place a large pan over medium heat. Add italian sausage and onion. Break sausage up into pieces and cook until pink no longer remains.
  5. Add pizza sauce, dried herbs and spices and salt and pepper to the pan and mix well.
  6. Add sausage mixture to the 8×8 baking dish and mix well with spaghetti squash threads.
  7. Lastly, add whisked eggs to the baking dish and mix everything together well, until you can no longer see the eggs.
  8. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour or until the top of the mixture forms a slight crust. It will look as though the top layer is covered with cheese!
  9. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  10. Optional – feel free to top with shredded mozzarella or chopped fresh basil.

Enjoy!

Guaranteed you’ll go back for seconds…and thirds 😉

To your Good Health & Abundance,

Samantha xoxo

SHARE THIS!
Share on Pinterest

Paleo Bread- No Grains or Gluten Here!

Posted on

Paleo. What the heck does this mean?

First off… let’s not get so hung up on the word Paleo. Basically, this is a type of ‘diet’ that focuses on eating more like our caveman ancestors. Focusing on wild game, grass fed meats, quality fat sources, such as coconut oil, grass fed butter, olive oil, avocados, etc. As for carbohydrate sources, grains are omitted and replaced by a small intake of fruit (yes, fruit is a carbohydrate source) and squashes and sweet potato.

Grains are pretty non-existent on a pale diet and quite honestly, I am all for that!!

Wheat, whole wheat, pasta, bread….are wreaking havoc on our brains and our waist lines! More on this in a later post.

Bread and Paleo don’t typically go together, but I’m all for breaking the rules! As with any ‘diet,’ there needs to be a little wriggle-room for you to enjoy your favourite foods. Plus, it’s so easy to ‘healthify’ just about any recipe.

So if you’re following a Paleo diet, you might be craving for a big hearty slice of bread. That’s where this recipe comes in.

It’s grain free and made primarily from almond flour!

It’s nutty texture is amazing. I love having a slice of this bread toasted with some almond butter, or as a side to my chilli toasted with some grass fed butter. Either way its delicious!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

Image 8

Paleo Bread

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups almond flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
4 large organic eggs
1 tbsp raw honey
3/4 tsp apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 F. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, then add the honey and apple cider vinegar. Whisk to combine. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir together. Pour the batter in a well greased loaf pan (I greased mine with coconut oil). Bake the bread for 45 minutes, until bread is golden brown and a tooth pick comes out clean.

Easy peesy!

* Feel free to add some cinnamon or ground vanilla bean to sweeten to the dry ingredients.

* Or try a more savoury bread by adding in dried herbs such a thyme or rosemary.

 

Enjoy!

Health & Abundance,
Samantha 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

SHARE THIS!
Share on Pinterest

Foods to Eat to Lose Weight!

Posted on

Dieting does not need to be difficult!

We do a very good job of complicating weight loss and diet regimes.

I think it’s safe to say that we ALL KNOW how important it is to eat fresh, whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, good quality meats and heart healthy fats.

Following this type of diet is a whole other story 🙂

In my quick video below, I share tips to starting a diet protocol and offer up my approach to weight loss.

If you’re struggling to eat right and lose weight and would like to re-vamp your diet and get SEXY, STRONG and HEALTHY, let’s work together! I can help to give you the right tools and strategic plan specific for your goals and body type.

Click HERE to choose the BEST program that works for you!

In the meantime, enjoy the video below! 🙂

 

 

Health & Abundance,
Samantha 🙂

 

 

SHARE THIS!
Share on Pinterest

@holisticwellnessfoodie