Month: September 2014

Tangy Mango Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles)- Foodie Trapped In A Dorm!

~ Katie Reines ~ 2 Comments

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Yuuumm!!  Want something smooth, creamy, sweet, tangy, spicy, cool, filling, and refreshing?  Something low fat, gluten free, nutrient dense, cancer curing, heart disease reversing, and blood pressure lowering?  Something that will smooth up your skin and slow the aging process?!

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Yes, please!  I am BEYOND GRATEFUL that this guy came and surprised me with an amazing raw vegan dinner- made in my lil dorm room 🙂 Thank you SamWise!

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Zoodles:

  • 3 zucchinis, peeled with a potato peeler to make thick noodles, or if you’ve got a spiralizer, use that!
  • Schiffinade iceberg lettuce

Dressing: adjust ingredient quantities as desired.  Blend in high speed blender until smooth.

  • Organic Mango Juice
  • Sugar Plum Cherry Tomatoes
  • Dates
  • Basil
  • Lime Juice
  • Bell Pepper
  • Brazil Nuts
  • Organic Frontier Thai Curry Powder
  • Lil jalapeno

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Hope you love this easy, healthy, and yuummmmmmy recipe as much as I did!  Enjoy and reap good health! ❤

5 Ingredient Banana Oat Stack

~ Katie Reines ~ 6 Comments

When it looks like all you’ve got for breakfast is unripe bananas…

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… you can still create something warm, moist, ooey sweet chewiness, satisfying, and healthy.  The story behind these beautiful banana bakedness is, well I’ve been doing a lot of fitness lately and I was pretty hungry this morning.. all I had around was unripe bananas and 3 dates.  I was like, man, if I’m gonna eat these nanas, I gotta cook em!  We don’t have a baking pan ( I was thinking maybe banana bread ) so I made banana cookie pancake things!  

DEEEELISHH!!!

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Here’s how:

What you’ll need:

  • 2 large bowls
  • a large spoon
  • a large fork
  • a stovetop
  • a nonstick frying pan

Ingredients:

  1. 5 bananas (obviously I recommend ripe…)
  2. 3 dates
  3. 1/2 tsp baking soda
  4. 1/2 cup oatmeal (quick oats)
  5. 1/2 cup ground flax

Steps:

  1. Wet ingredients: mash the bananas and ooey gooey dates in a bowl together until mostly smooth and well combined. I recommend adding a dash of vanilla extract if you’ve got it!  
  2. Dry ingredients: mix oatmeal, ground flax, and baking soda until well distributed.  I also added about a tablespoon of cinnamon, but up to you!  Also, 1/4 cup of carob chips, chopped nuts, and/or fresh fruit like blueberries would have been divine additions!!
  3. Combine wet ingredients into dry ingredients.  Add water or non-dairy milk to get the consistency you want.  (For thinner pancakes, use more water or non-dairy milk, for really thick pancakes, only add a little or none at all) Mix well.
  4. In-between heat settings 3 and 4 ( low – medium heat ) heat up frying pan.  Use about 1/3 of a cup of batter for each pancake.  Flip when pancake has risen and slides on pan.  
  5. Serve with a dollop of your favorite preserves (or maple syrup if you’ve got it 🙂 

How To Connect With People

~ Katie Reines ~ 8 Comments

I was beyond inspired by my Medical Nutrition Therapy class today!  We started getting into Nutritional Counseling.  The number one skill that is VERY important?! LISTENING.

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I have worked for Holistic Health and Nutritional Counselor, Christine Lucas, who has already taught me a lot about this, how to listen and importance of relating to a client.  I also thought of team meetings at the Organic Garden Cafe where we go through a “clearing” where you say what you are present to and fully listen to, and repeat back, what the person says to you.  So I thought I had ample practice in this topic…until…

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We learned about the importance of empathy.  Going into this lecture thinking I wouldn’t learn anything, and leaveing surprised and excited.  This video hit it home for me.  I realized that I am not at all empathetic.  Before this lecture, I thought that looking on the bright side and staying positive was helpful, but I was very wrong!

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Staying positive is obviously a good thing, but connecting with others and making a connection is even better.  Having the ability to listen and understand, relate, and connect, is very important for the nutritional counselor.

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I am the kind of person who will listen to someone’s sob story, and say, “Well, at least you made your bed this morning” and call it a day!  I am terrible!  Just like the animal eating a sandwich in that video (which you must watch in order to understand what empathy really is)!  After watching that video in class and being excited about being an empathetic person, about 2 hours later my friend Grace sitting next to me says, “Urgh, I am so tired and hungry.” I literally replied instantly. “Well, at least you look good.” and then I was like DAMNIT!

 

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I can’t believe it!  I am so relieved that at least I am aware of my terrible tendencies.  It is annoying to me, having a great day and then having to be brought down by other peoples problems.  But it is a skill that I am ready and willing to practice!  From this day forth, I will reply to Gracie with a, “I know how you feel.” In fact, I was definately there yesterday.  I patted her on the back and apologized.  I am so thankful for my education today!  I have grown so much, and am still growing 🙂 Much love superheroes!