Feel Good Goddess

01/14/2019

So many people think they are gluten intolerant when really they are intolerant to the pesticides sprayed on crops (see article below). The good news is that you CAN overcome this intolerance by healing your gut. Connect with me to find out how I can help heal your digestive system so you can feel better and enjoy gluten once again.

Study blames Roundup herbicide for gluten intolerance and celiac disease epidemic. “Celiac disease, and, more generally, gluten intolerance, is a growing problem worldwide, but especially in North America and Europe, where an estimated 5% of the population now suffers from it,” researchers wrote...

07/01/2018

I wrote this a while ago and a friend recently reminded me about it; I thought I would share it here since you might enjoy learning about 4 key health benefits of having a furry friend of the canine variety 🐕 🐶

https://www.feelgoodgoddess.ca/blog/4-health-benefits-of-dog-parenthood

05/01/2018

I had a blast recipe testing today for an upcoming food demo at a high school in Brampton. It was a little challenging but I ended up with 3 nutrition-packed snacks that are totally nut-free. These oatmeal chocolate chip cookie protein balls are just as yummy as their nut-filled counterparts!

Ingredients:
1/2 c sunflower seed butter
1/4 c Sunwarrior Canada vanilla protein powder
1/4 gluten-free oats
1/8 c coconut flour
1 1/2 tbsp raw honey, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp h**p milk
Pinch sea salt
1/8 c chocolate chips
Shredded coconut (optional)

Make it:
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl and until combined.

Roll into bite-sized balls. You can coat in some coconut if desired. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for later :-)

02/23/2018

I USED TO EAT store bought granola ALL the time! BUT, with unhealthy ingredients such as High Fructose Corn Syrup, refined oils and chemicals/preservatives lurking about in even some of the "healthy" options, making my own is not only SUPER easy, it's tastes even better because the ingredients used are as whole and as unrefined as possible (plus there's LOVE in it). I hope you will enjoy this recipe, it's one you can feel good about eating :-)

Toasted Coconut Granola Recipe
Ingredients
1 ½ C Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods Gluten-Free Oats
½ C pumpkin seeds
¼ C coconut oil, melted
¼ C maple syrup
½ tsp Simply Organic Ceylon cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
⅓ C raw coconut chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with unbleached parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl mix together all ingredients (except for coconut) until thoroughly combined.
3. Using spatula, spread mixture evenly on prepared baking sheet with and bake for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from oven, sprinkle coconut chips on top and stir mixture until fully combined and then re-spread out on sheet evenly. Return to oven for another 5 -10 minutes until coconut and granola are nicely toasted.

Let cool completely and store in mason jar(s).

02/23/2018

I AM OBSESSED with smoothie bowls these days. They are super fun to make and It's like eating dessert for breakfast! Unlike dessert though, this smoothie bowl is packed full of healthy fats, antioxidants, protein and fibre (to keep me full until lunch time). Here is my favourite recipe at the moment. Enjoy :-)

Berry Acai Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients:
¾ C h**p or coconut milk
½ C frozen organic berries
½ banana, cut into pieces and frozen for at least 2 hours
1-2 tsp of acai powder
2 tbsp vanilla protein powder (I use fermented vegan protein by Genuine Health) or 1-2 tbsp of h**p hearts
1 tbsp sunflower seed butter (or nut butter)
Pinch of Simply Organic Ceylon cinnamon
4-5 ice cubes (omit ice if you’d like to make this recipe into a drinkable smoothie)
Suggested toppings: Toasted Coconut Granola, berries or banana for topping

Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth (stop blender periodically and scrape down sides as necessary or use tamper).
2. Pour into two bowls and garnish with favourite toppings.

01/28/2018

Kale, arugula and basil pesto 🌿 Super easy and SO healthy!
You can use this pesto for making zoodles and noodles, pizza sauce (instead of traditional tomato sauce), for dips, marinades, salad dressings and killer poached eggs. What's your favourite way to use pesto?

Ingredients
1/3 C cold pressed olive oil
1/4 C walnut halves, raw
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 C nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt
1 C arugula, washed and dried
1 C basil, washed and dried
3 large leaves of green kale, stems removed

Directions
Place all of the ingredients in a food processor in the same order as the ingredient list and whirl until greens are broken down. Scrape down sides and around the blade with a spatula. Whirl again until well blended. Refrigerate in a mason jar with tight-fitting lid and store for up to a week. I also like to freeze in an ice cube tray for later use.

01/20/2018

Hi everyone, I'm super excited to share with you that one of my recipes has been featured in a cookbook from the Academy of Culinary Nutrition! This digital cookbook contains 40 incredible gluten and dairy-free recipes, vegan and paleo options and culinary nutrition tips. It's pay-what-you-can pricing and 100% of proceeds go to Organics 4 Orphans! To purchase your copy go here: https://www.culinarynutrition.com/from-scratch-2018/

This recipe is NOT my own but one of my colleagues from the that I super excited to try out in my kitchen this weekend!

Do you ever look at the veggies in the fridge and wonder how you can use them? Consider this vegan, Brazilian-inspired stew. It’s a light, delicious and full-of-flavor meal that will rock your lunch or dinner!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients:
½ cup tomato sauce
2 cups coconut milk
1 cup puréed winter squash
2-3 Tbsp ginger, grated
2 tsp coconut oil, divided
1 onion, diced
100g white shimeji mushrooms, sliced
150g crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 tsp garam masala
½ tsp salt, to taste
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup carrot, sliced thinly
1 cup red bell pepper, julienned
2 tomatoes, cut in bite-size pieces
Juice from 1 lime
1 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped

Recipe Directions:
1. Blend the tomato sauce, coconut milk, squash puree and ginger until smooth.
2. In a large wok, heat 1 tsp coconut oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes until onions are translucent.
3. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the cremini mushrooms and the shimeji. Sauté stirring frequently for 7-8 minutes. They should become very soft and slightly golden colored.
4. Add the mix from the blender to the wok and the garam masala and salt and mix well. Transfer to a bowl and reserve.
5. Use the same wok and over medium-high heat and add remaining 1 tsp coconut oil.
6. Sauté the broccoli florets, sliced carrot, bell peppers and tomatoes. You want to sauté them separately from the mushrooms and sauce to keep them crunchy till you serve. Remove the veggies from the wok and set aside.
7. When you are ready to serve, return the liquid mixture to the wok and add the lime juice. Check and adjust the flavour.
8. Serve the mixture topped with cooked veggies and basmati rice (my suggestion: star anise flavored) and lots of chopped parsley. Bonus Tip: The tomato, broccoli, bell pepper and carrot can be replaced with any leftover veggies you have in your fridge. You can also swap the mushrooms with chicken if desired.

Recipe and photo credit: Thais Melissa van Delft / melskitchen.com.br /

01/01/2018

Interesting read

If anyone can be called the boss in a world of modern, anti-hierarchical parenting, it’s the children.

12/28/2017

4 Tips On How to Elevate Your Mood Naturally

As the winter season approaches and our daylight slowly fades, many people struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that occurs during the same season each year, typically in the winter. SAD is more prevalent in women, people who live farther from the equator, and people who have a family history of SAD. Adopting healthier food and lifestyle choices may relieve SAD and other mood disorders. Here are 4 natural ways to elevate your mood if you are prone to feeling those seasonal blues.

1. Keep your blood sugar stable by eating some protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates with each meal, when our blood sugar drops, so does our mood.

2. Reduce stress by adopting a hobby that helps release tension, such as yoga or meditation. When we are stressed, our bodies release the hormone cortisol and too much cortisol can alter the physical structure of the brain and impair our sensitivity to serotonin – our “happy” hormone.

3. Cleanse the digestive system one or two times per year by adopting a diet free of chemicals, pesticides, dairy, gluten and any other known allergens. This is particularly important because serotonin is made in the gut. A happy, healthy gut will help make us happier.

4. Spend time surrounded by nature. Studies have shown that getting outdoors each day for a walk or hike has profound effects on our mood. Exposing our selves to the bright blue sky, the greenery of the trees and the sun’s light activates areas in the brain that boost our mood.

Photo by Benjamin Combs on Unsplash

12/12/2017

I hosted "Cooking SOS for PMS" this weekend with some family, colleagues, and new friends. We learned, we laughed and most importantly we ate real food! Thank you to Irene Jane Forndron Diana Adams Sabrina Koleoglou, Leah, Alessia and Kimberly for the love, support and for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow. Xoxoxo