Labor Day has passed and everyone has pumpkin on the brain. I, on the other hand, am holding on to the last days of summer. Officially summer doesn’t end till September 22nd. Living in the desert helps my attempts considering it’s 109 degrees Fahrenheit outside! The fashion girl inside me would love to wear plaid scarves and down vests and brown leather riding boots while holding a pumpkin spice latte. If I try that here, I am pretty sure I’ll DIE of a heat stroke- even if I do it to pose for a picture! Hahaha

So getting to the point of holding on to summer…so all summer and spring I drink smoothies for breakfast. Why smoothies?! My life goal is to be a healthy glowing girl with long wavy locks and hold off aging, you know like Gisele. Just radiate wellness because you have the discipline to eat plants except nightshade veggies of course, and sometimes fish, all day everyday. (I know, I know I am a dreamer considering I am 5’2″ and look nothing like her haha)
But right now you are witnessing my journey. I keep fumbling to say the least. Some days I hand make some gluten free, plant based concoction like veggie burgers, lentil tacos, and Thai vegan peanut noodles. …and then other days I am like, “babe let’s go eat street food, pizza or at a little hole in the wall.” You see I love food! I don’t drink-I don’t like it. So trying new food is my vice! Plus I love experiencing culture through food.

I know I’ll get there. I don’t want to do it as a fad. I have learned about nutrition through my chiropractors and through my own research. I do my research. I’ve tried it before for the sole purpose of loosing weight. I know about Atkins, low carb and ketosis. I lost 26lbs eating low carb when I was a teen. I’ve tried paleo recipes, and read about south beach, the Mediterranean diet, being vegan, and watched all those documentaries on Netflix. I have tried being vegan, dairy free and all organic, natural and eating no grains at all. I know I feel at my best when I am plant based , gluten free and dairy free.

I will build this life, not only to lose the extra “baby” pounds, but more than loosing weight I want to build a life of wellness. I want to learn about food and its benefits, not just for beauty but for its healing properties. I don’t want to live with restrictions but with choices. I want my kids to appreciate and respect good food, where it comes from and even learn about cultures through sampling cuisine. I don’t want food taboos just education and understanding. I.e. Why instead of eating something with ingredients you can’t pronounce, you look for the real deal.

Breakfast has been that one place where I have been able to establish consistency. I know there are many options for what is healthy. I personally have decided that I like drinking smoothies for breakfast. One of the things I have learned is, for optimal digestion it is best to eat fruit on an empty stomach since your body digests it quicker than anything else…Hence smoothies in the AM. I can make a variety of smoothies for the nutrients I need- I blend it out, pour it in a cup and attend to my kids. It’s perfect for me.

My favorite smoothies usually contain power greens, flax meal, gluten free oats (especially for breastfeeding), banana for natural sweetness, berries, and hemp protein. As fall rolls around, I don’t drink them as much anymore. The fruits I prefer in smoothies are not in season or when it does cool off I rather eat something warm in the mornings, but I want to try more seasonal smoothies this fall. Stay tuned I will share recipes with you, and tips on nutrients and nutrition that I have learned as I build this wellness for myself and my family.