meatless mondays

Sigh. So Sunday Sabbath was a 50-50% success. I'll explain later...

Right now it's time for meatless mondays!

Fact: I used to be a vegetarian, and even briefly a vegan. For a whole host of reasons, I'm no longer either….

I have gone back and forth... and back and forth... for years, torn between all of the reasons why vegetarianism makes perfect sense:

• animal cruelty
• the environment
• our health

and why eating meat makes sense:

• my health in particular.. and the undeniable fact that i feel better when i eat meat
  

Then I saw this…




… and I realized it doesn't have to be so black and white. I can adhere to my ideals without attaching labels. And I realized this is likely a far more approachable way for the average omnivore to enjoy the benefits of a more plant-based diet and do some good for this planet.

You can be a weekday warrior, or even just start with one day a week… like Meatless Mondays!


Today, I'm sharing my favourite super quick, super thrifty recipe: pesto pasta in a pinch!

To make (for two):

• 2 large black or green kale leaves, washed and destemmed.
• 2 handfuls of fresh arugula.
• 2 garlic cloves.
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds.
• 2 gluggs of hemp seed oil or extra-virgin olive oil.
• Healthy pinch of sea salt & freshly ground black pepper.

Toss everything into a food processor and blend, blend, blend. Cook a twoonie-sized amount of brown rice, quinoa or buckwheat soba noodles, strain and mix in pesto. Feeling sassy? Add some cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, walnuts, or whatever you think will taste yummy! Serve with a drizzle of olive or walnut oil and a handful of fresh arugula.

It's vegan, gluten free, inexpensive and super yum! Enjoy!

Happy tumbling and stumbling!
mxo

what's a sunday sabbath?

Today is a my first Sunday Sabbath… which means you shouldn't be hearing from me.

I'm cheating today just to explain the concept... that's allowed, right? :)



Here's why you won't be hearing from me on Sundays:

I've realized that I am a media junkie. Between the computer, my iphone, Facebook and Twitter (not to mention the copious amounts of amazing blogs I read), I spend far too much time online… and also watch too much TV.

I know this isn't good for my health. My noggin needs a restin'.

So Sundays will be dedicated to just that: a sabbath of sorts, a break from all media outlets (yikes!) and a day to enjoy a quieter, simpler life.



It's magical what silence can do for the soul!

Happy tumbling & stumbling!
mxo

i'm back!

Holy bananas, batman! It has been awhile!

It's amazing (and scary) how quickly four months can literally fly by. Oh well, all we can do is make the best of today, I suppose. :)


So on that note, I'm back!


I woke up this morning feeling that it's time…

... time to get serious about my health again

... time to get serious about my life again

... time to be less serious

... time to start blogging about all of it!

And I'm ready to share it with the whole wide world (or my one reader... thanks mom!). :)


Here's a little taste of what I'm thinking:

Mondays... Meatless Mondays... recipes, food musing
Tuesdays... Thoughtful Tuesdays... general life musings
Wednesdays... Humpday Wednesdays... something or other
Thursdays... Thrifty Thursdays... reuse, reduce & recycle
Fridays... Fitness Fridays... because I like to work out
Saturday... Sexy Saturdays... more something or others
Sunday... Sunday Sabbath... you won't hear from me!

Something like that.


Today, on our first Sexy Saturday together, I leave with you with my newest obsession: sexy raw maca cookie balls!


Here's my take on the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tsp raw maca powder
• 1 tbsp organic ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1/4 cup organic dark chocolate (chips, or chop up a bar)
  
• 8-10 soft medjol dates, pits removes
• 1/2 cup raw almonds
• 1/4 cup dried cherries, gogi berries, prunes, etc.... i am currently obsessed with dried cherries
  
• 1 tsp pure organic vanilla extract

Method:

Place all ingredients into a high power food processor and blend until small pebbles form. Roll into balls (roll balls in dried coconut if you're feeling extra sassy) and refrigerate. Makes approximately 15 cookie balls.

I tell you, Ms. Joy of Joyous Health is a genius... these puppies are ridiculously delish!

Here we go again!
Happy tumbling and stumbling! :)

xo

P.S. Here's one reason why I haven't been around much:


We went to my brother-in-laws place in Nicaragua (El Coco Loco). You MUST go... like now!

Yesterday I mentioned that time has come to embark on a happy, healthy be-the-best-Maya-I-can-be cleanse. I am happiest and healthiest when my mind, body and soul are nourished, and when I'm making decisions I can be proud of. I suspect this same formula works for most of us.

So here goes! :)

Starting tomorrow, the following 21 days will go a little something like this:

• I will make mindful, joyous food decisions that make me happy... and I will keep a food journal.
• I will continue Move-ember right into December.
  
• At 8pm most evenings*, a media fast will commence. No TV, twitter, facebook, email, etc.
• At 8pm most evenings**, a food fast will commence. My gut will get some much needed downtime.
• At around noon every day, I will take an actual lunch break. Novel concept, really.
  

I bet you were expecting something completely different! ;)

The point is simply to take a breather from all of the things that prevent me from feeling my best. It's a chance to reset... right before the holiday madness!


What makes you feel your very best?

mxo


* Except, of course, for the occasional movie night with my hubby!

** To this there will be a few exceptions as I'm not prepared to pass on my various holiday dinner parties. This is my favourite time of year afterall! :)

contemplations...

Truth: It's been a very busy November.

Truth: My Move-ember challenge is nearing an end and I can't wait to tell you all about it.


But for now, I want to write to you about another topic.

A few things have happened over the last few days that have got me thinking. They aren't necessarily related, but they have all inspired my next venture.

First, much to my poor husband's dismay, I have been watching a lot of Oprah's Lifeclass recently. After a particularly indulgent, off-kilter weekend, I watched an episode on Sunday that struck a cord. It was all about living your purpose, pursuing your passion, and being the person you were meant to be.

Second, I had a discussion with a colleague today about the validity of wholistic medicine. We disagreed about many things, but there was one point we certainly saw eye to eye on. Most people, we agreed, are not interested in doing the hard work that true health and prevention require. Few of us are truly committed to eating well, exercising our minds and bodies, or learning to deal with stress - the true pillars of health. Most of us just want a quick fix.

Third, I was reminded today just how fleeting life truly is. It is both too long and much too short to waste on things you do not love.

I have been mulling all of this over for the last few days, and it's leading to some deep-seated changes... for now I can deduce the following with certainty:

1. I am passionate about health, nutrition, fitness, living joyously and helping others do the same.
2. I want to inspire others to engage in the "hard" work of being happy and healthy, and I want to do so by proving that it's not that hard at all. It begins with me.
3. Life is both too long and far too short to be anything but happy and healthy.
   

1 + 2 + 3 = a 21-day happy, healthy be-the-best-Maya-I-can-be "cleanse"... the details of which I will share tomorrow. :)


Bye for now!
mxo

mamamamamaaaaaaaaaa.. MACA!

I have been getting a lot of questions recently about what I eat, when I eat it, why I eat it, etc. In fact, people are so curious that when I make my lunch at work, I usually have to give a mini lecture on every ingredient. So much fun! :)

It's made me think: I should share all of these tidbits with you!

Without further ado, here is my first happy, healthy tip... all about MACA!


What's Maca?
Good question! Maca, or lepidium meyenii (who's a smartie pants?!), comes from the Andes in Peru.

It looks like this:
This root vegetable has been harvested for centuries for its high medicinal and nutritional value. It's packed full of goodness like:

• protein
• fibre
• calcium
• magnesium
• potassium
• iron
• zinc
• fatty acids
• amino acids
• selenium

It's pretty much magic!


Why should you care?
Maca is an adaptogen which balances the entire endocrine system.

Translation: it balances hormones responsible for metabolism, energy levels, growth, sexual stamina, stress, anxiety, and fatigue. It literally helps make you happy and healthy.


How to use maca?
It seems there are all sorts of ways to enjoy maca: mashed or boiled, as a porridge, in salads, etc.

But perhaps the most accessible form of maca is powder. This is the brand I use:
It costs about $13 and can be picked up at most health food stores. You only need 1 tsp per day (as it's super condensed), so it will last awhile. I throw 1 tsp into my morning smoothie. Super duper easy peasy!

Questions? Just say so!

Oh yes, one more thing... ENJOY!
mxo

Let there be soup...

What a BEAUTIFUL Saturday it is in Toronto! 10c, sun is shining, and the trees are all sorts of colourful colours. It's the kind of day that makes you love autumn as much as I do (a lot!)

My first week of my Move-ember challenge went very well. I made it to all of my Jock Yoga bootcamp sessions, attended an amazing JaneyB class (they are all amazing!), and let Jillian Michael's destroy my buns and thighs. Tomorrow I'm thinking of trying a kettlebell class at energyXchange for my fitness wildcard. My muscles are sore but, folks, my soul is singing. Exercise is magical. Yoga is life-altering. Etc, etc.

But enough about that...

Every Tuesday I come home from work to find a bin of glorious organic and (mostly) local vegetables waiting on my porch. We always get the small bin, perfect for two veggie lovers (and one spinach-loving cat), and I let Front Door Organics decide what to put in the bin. I love the surprise... and if forces me to be more creative with what I cook and eat.

But sometimes I end up with a lot of something that I don't quite know what to do with... like onions.


Now, if you know me well, you know I don't particularly love onions. I respect them wholeheartedly and use them in most of my cooking, but I squirm and squirm if I find a raw onion on my salad or in my wrap. So when I found myself with two bags of organic onions, some of which started to look like this...


... I didn't quite know what to do. Throwing them out was not an option. So I went through my cookbooks and remembered a super delicious, vegan, gluten free, and easy peasy French Canadian Onion Soup!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp/ gluggs of olive oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced (or in my case, about 10 little ones)
• 2 leeks, white parts only, thinly sliced (optional as I didn't have any today)
• 1 cup or so mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 4 cups mushroom or veggie broth (water will work as well)
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp gluten-free tamari
• 1 tsp tarragon, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper
• 4 slices of bread
  
• 1 clove garlic

How-to:

1. Thinly slice onions, leeks and mushrooms.
2. In a pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, leeks and mushrooms. Cover, reduce heat so that the veggies sweat (not fry). Stir often. If things are getting too spicy hot in your pan, add a little water. Steam-cook/ sweat the veggies for 15-20 mins.
3. Add broth, maple syrup, tamari and tarragon. Increase heat, bring everything to a boil. Then reduce the heat back down and let it simmer.
   
4. Taste, add salt and pepper if necesary.
5. When you're ready to eat, toast the bread, rub with garlic and float toast in each bowl. (Grate cheese or vegan cheese on top for extra yumminess).

That's it! Yum yum!

Happy weekend, lovelies!
mxo