Pine Nuts! Fun New Appetizer Recipe

I love trying healthy new dishes and today I felt like featuring an ingredient I rarely use. Pine nuts are great in desserts, pesto, and salads or by themselves as a hearty snack. Enjoy!
Pine Nut Salad: (personal serving size)
1/8 cup chopped pine nuts
1/8 cup craisins
1/2 cup arugula
1/8 cup shredded carrots
Dressing:
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
lemon juice
honey
salt
pepper

• chop pine nuts
• wash and add arugula to a dish 
• top with the chopped nuts, craisins, and shredded carrots 
• add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and honey in a bowl until dressing is to your liking 
• drizzle dressing onto salad 
• Enjoy!

Beet Salad

 Beet Salad For 2:
1 cup arugula
1 cup small cubed mixed beets
1/4 cup walnuts and low sugar craisins
balsamic, honey, oil, salt and pepper, lemon juice dressing

Fresh fruit option: 1/4 cup raspberries
Protein?: add goat cheese

Bikini Season: The "Perfect" Body

      Hey All! This post will give me a chance to have a one sided convo with you guys! First off,  I would like to take this time to tell you guys that I greatly appreciate all of you who continue to support and believe in me. Health, Fitness, and Cooking are three of my many passions but by far some of my favorite. Ready to hear some info about getting that bikini body, as well as my recent experiences, "diet", and exercise routine? Lets start off with my tale! 
      For the past 3 to 4 weeks (give/ take) I have been on an elimination diet: low to no meats, no gluten (pretty much), and no to low dairy. As well, I have been a frequent and excessive juicer
(As you may have noticed from my new and frequent posts!) Just a quick FYI all the recipes for juice and smoothies I post are pretty much created on the spot, depending on what I want as my morning or evening juice. [The juices are so very important for cleansing and detoxifiying. Be sure to mix fruits and veggies and do not over consume carbs! (sugars such as ribose and glucose). ] As well as cleansing, I  have been an avid runner recently and have been running a mile + usually everyday. (This is a huge accomplishment for me as I usually have a hard time running because I have asthma and a blew out my knee a few years ago.) Over the past weeks, I have seen great improvement in the way I feel and in the way my body looks which looks, if I do say so my self, pretty darn good! 
      
What have I noticed?: 
- clearer and more supple skin tone
- less swelling and inflammation (from injuries) 
- less joint pain ^
- minimized excess "love handle" and "spare tire" fat
- more defined abdominals
- loss of 5 + pounds 
- healthier appetite
- less stomach problems (you know what I mean...)
- a more positive and happy attitude 
     
       At this point, I know that I am dairy sensitive and I have become sensitive to red meat (causes digestive issues). So, I am steering clear of those foods. I will maintain this diet and tune you in to my results. Also I would like to mention that I am not an expert and hold no degree in health and/ or fitness but I am an avid reader and cooking/health show watcher. I also practice a lot at home and have been doing serious training in fitness since the age of 12. As well, I am a very productive biology class student and love the study of anatomy and physiology, as well as health and chemistry. Also, my mom is a certified children's yoga and adult pilates instructor, and my father is an agriculturalist so, I grew up in a healthy and aware house hold and with many fresh produce handy and an apt knowledge of my health. 

I have modified the "diet" based on my experience...


     "What can I do?" : 

- begin "prep" faze: elimination diet (check out the Dr. Oz* version). This diet is shown to have serious results on body and brain and may key you into your allergies and behavior. Week 1
- begin light exercise such as non- abrasive yoga, walking, light weight lifting, etc  Week 2
- begin a healthy juice cleanse to detoxify and remove impurities from the body: start a three day cleanse where you only consume your juices and broths. 3 days of 3rd Week
- switch back to the elimination diet with controlled portions and add in 2 mixed juices a day. 3rd to 4th Weeks
- start heavier exercise such as running/ hot vinyasa yoga/ kickboxing/ Cross Fit/ HIIT. During 3rd to 4th Week
- Bundle the heavier exercise and the diet until results begin to show. 5th and 6th Week
- PICK: Elimination diet as a lifestyle OR slowly add in a "no no" one by one and monitor your reactions to each food and food group to identify an allergy. (you may want to get advice/ assistance from an allergist or nutritionist for this step) 7th Week 
- If you stop the diet, this regimen should last 7 weeks.

        What Does This Mean For Your Bikini Body?:
Your body should become slimmer and weight, especially fat, will be shed in a matter of days. (results may vary as with anything, but this is what happened with me) Energy level and attitude should be improved. Skin should become clearer and more supple. Pain may be relieved. Body should be thoroughly toned.***

Pros: 
- great results 
- healthier lifestyle 
- improved skin tone 
- weight loss 
- relief of pain 

Cons:
- possibility of weight gain 
- varied results 
- allergies 
- complications due to exercise
- digestive problems
- differences in internal body

*** Always speak to a professional health care provider before beginning a new meal plan or diet, especially if you have pre-existing health problems!

Why Choose This Plan? And What Not To Do:

This diet is very safe and effective because it does not include or condone under eating, purging, or over exertion.* This regimen is accessible to almost anyone and everyone. The food supplies are usually pretty affordable. The diet plan is "easy" and flexible. Meal times aren't set in stone. Diet can easily be adjusted to your personal preferences and needs while still managing to obtain results. You will consume more fiber, protein, and iron than most diets. This diet includes a cleanse portion to detoxify and relieve the body of toxins. Low calorie but you will still feel full. Smaller portions.  So many options! High vitamin and nutrient intake. Quick results. Body AND mind results. 

Your body is a temple and should be treated as such. Make sure to intake a correct calorie count based on your BMI and metabolism. As well, make sure your exercise regimen is healthy and effective. Don't over do it! If you are, for example: under weight, pregnant, have injuries, diabetes, are a senior citizen, or have cardiac or neurological problems please consider steering clear of this diet until seeing a doctor. *

Summary of Elimination Diet:
No- Red meat, alcohol, unnecessary medical drugs, caffeine, dairy, gluten. 
Replace With- fish and white meat, virgin low calorie drinks, homeopathic medicine when necessary, natural energy sources such as pomegranate and acai berries, dairy substitutes (my favorite is almond milk), gluten free "bread" replacement products and potatoes (starch).     

"Bikini Body So Teeny" Cleansing Juice (Morning Dose)

 "Bikini Body So Teeny" Juice:
1 cucumber
1/2 cup kale
2 tblspn. grapefruit juice
2 inch peeled and shredded ginger
purified water as needed

Blend and strain out solids!

Cucumber and Greens Juice: Tranquility and Immunity Boost

Cucumber and Greens Juice:
1 Cup Kale
1/2 Grapefruit
1/2 Cup Berries
1/2 Cucumber
1 Inch grated Ginger
1 Cup Water

Blend (and strain)

Iron Power Smoothie Recipe

Iron Power Smoothie (immune system)
Kale and spinach (1 cup)
Frozen berries (1 cup)
1 banana
Fresh squeezed orange juice or lemon juice
Water
Fresh peeled and grated ginger

Ultimate Ride-or-Die Cleansing Water Recipe

Recipe:
[Use your discretion to decide how much of each you want- everyones different!]

1 acidic fruit sliced thin and zested (ex. grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange)
Ginger shredded (no peel)
Good old H2O
Sprigs of mint

Mix all together and enjoy!