Mac and cheese is a favorite of my kiddos...

And as a Momma I am always trying to sneak in veggies and healthy foods when and where I can.  So I created this Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe to sneak in a little extra goodness in our meals and still make the kids feel like they are getting a treat.

This recipe can be used as a Cheese Sauce for nachos, chips and dip or even a cauliflower mac and cheese bake.  The possibilities are endless.

*** and if you are wondering what the All Purpose Seasoning is...here you go:

All Purpose Seasoning 

1 c Pink Himalayan Salt

1/2 c Organic Granulate Garlic Powder

1/2 c Organic Granulated Onion Powder

1/2 c Organic Black Pepper

 Add to a mason jar.

Shake, shake, shake.

Add a lid and a label to store in the pantry or by the stove. I keep a 1 tsp measuring spoon in my jar for easy access.

Happy Cooking!!!!

The produce we choose matters and picking Organic produce is such an important part of living a clean life.  The produce we have at our fingertips these days is sprayed heavily with herbicides, pesticides, insecticides and some many chemicals that do not serve our bodies.

In fact, the chemicals sprayed on our foods are contributing to the rise in hormone imbalances, gut health issues, chronic conditions an autoimmune diseases.  We cannot be to careful and knowing means doing better.

So when budgeting you grocery list and deciding what needs to be organic, you follow the Dirty Dozen.  That is the 12 fruits and veggies that must be organic as they are the most heavily sprayed of the bunch. And the Clean Fifteen are the 15 fruits and veggies that van be bought non-organic and still considered safe.  

So when you at the store be sure to screenshot these lists to make the best possible choices you can with your food.

Happy Shopping!!!!

You may have heard this buzz word somewhere in your life, as it seems to me growing in popularity as we are trying to take control of our health.

Fermented foods are the real deal when it comes to our health and I am here to say you need more fermented foods in your life.  Your gut health needs it and giving our microbiome ( the cornucopia of bacteria in our gut) fermented foods helps it to thrive...bye bye bloating, gas, weight gain, hormones' imbalance. 

80% of our immune system is found in the gut so we cannot afford to treat our guts badly any longer.

Fermented foods have many benefits:

Gut health: When the protective lining of the gut is inflamed, the body is more vulnerable to allergies, infections, and yeast overgrowth. Lucky for us, lactic acid bacteria ( fermented foods contain lactic acid) have the ability to reduce intestinal permeability, thereby restoring the net. They also create pH changes in the GI tract that make it difficult for pathogens to survive. 

Digestion: ...

Oh man...we are almost there. 

Can you believe that 2020 is almost over??

Time to set our sights on a new year and the chance to make a new, fresh start to our lives.

I am not a fan of writing new years resolutions because the stats on achieving them is poor. I do, however, believe in the power of goal setting for reaching goals and that includes a never give up attitude. 

Here are my tips for writing goals:

1.  Think about the areas of your life you want to improve.  Rate the areas of your life on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being a complete failure and 10 being perfection. 

Here is the list of areas to rank: 

Physical Health

Mental Health

Environment

Hobbies/Fun

Relationships

Family

Friendships

Finances

Work/Career

Spirituality

Personal Growth

2.  Now take 5 lowest ranking goals and brainstorm ways to improve in these areas of your life.  Make a list of things you could be doing to improve these aspects of your life.  Research the information you need to make a plan to re...

As we are approaching this Holiday season of some togetherness ( depending on your pandemic Holiday plans)... 

I wanted to give you this friendly reminder that fake is a no good for your body and your life.  

Enjoy REAL FOOD, REAL CONVERSATIONS. 

I say it all the time, you may be sick of hearing it but the quality of the ingredients we put in our bodies is so important.  If its not real, its processed and if its processed its full of toxins, chemicals and preservatives.  All of which are harmful to our bodies.

Ditch the margarine, the conventional meats, the "faux" products.  If it comes in a box, bag or can...it may not be your best option.  Cook with real ingredients and enjoy yourself.

That goes for people too.  Stay clear of the fake conversations and enjoy time with the people who truly make you happy. 

That's my PSA---Happy Holidays!!!!

Have you ever done the baking soda test???

Its a great way to test your level of stomach acidity. Why would you care about stomach aciditiy.

Very low stomach acid can lead to many health problems. Without adequate HCl or hydrochloric acid, your body can’t properly defend against pathogenic microorganisms, foods do not get fully broken down (which can actually cause acid reflux), and partially digested food stays in the stomach longer than it should.

This causes food to ferment, putrefy, and rancidify, which can cause a host of symptoms and health problems such as:

• Heartburn or indigestion
• Bloating, cramping, and/or gas
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Food sensitivities and/or allergies
• Dry skin or hair and/or brittle nails
• Hair loss in women
• Chronic fatigue
• Autoimmunity
• Gut issues like IBS, Crohns, Diverticulitis and SIBO

Don't worry you can test your stomach acidity and start creating more stomach acid...watch the recorded video from a live I did on IG for all the ...

Well, at least in my Meals that Heal Community it is.  

2020 is coming to a close and we just spend the last week eating ourselves into a food coma...well maybe you did.  So what better to go into the next Holiday than with a health Gut and all the INS AND OUTS...pun intended...our digestion and how to optimize it for your health.

Fun Facts about Digestion:  

1.  70% of your immune system is in your gut...so if you wanna fight off the Rona and cold season, you need a health gut.

2.  70% of your serotonin is produced in the gut ( that's your feel good hormones'-when they are off you are anxious, depressed and loss focus).

3.  90% of ALL Disease can be traced back to the gut. 

Its of the utmost importance to your health.  So you may not be having problems in the bath ( if you know what I mean) but if you are having any symptoms or dysfunctions you should always start with healing your gut. 

If you have any of this issues...your gut is in need of healing:

1. Food intolerances
2. S
...

The shopping season is officially upon us..

Don’t stress, I have some great gifts ideas for your loved ones that will help them to be healthy this season. I created a Non Toxic Kitchen Essentials Gift Guide for you to check out if you are looking for some gift ideas. 

Non Toxic living has been my mission this year.  Replacing items in my home that are toxic-from cooking products, cleaning products, beauty products, home essentials like towels, sheets...its amazing the amount of goods in the home that can emit toxins and chemicals.  

If you could give the gift of non toxic kitchen essentials to someone you care about this year, that would be the ultimate gift.  

Top 10 Non Toxic Gift Ideas 

1. Essential Oil Diffusers.  Do you friends and family a favor and help them ditch those nasty chemical filled candles and diffusers for a better alternative. 
2. Stainless Steel Pots and Pans.  Ditch those coated and non stick cookware items, they are causing us harm.  A new pot and pan s...

Eating healthy can be fun when you are playing with your food.  My kiddos love to play with their food. 

Here is a fun little turkey snack or breakfast for the family that is sure to please: 

1. The base can be a brown rice cake, gluten free toast or even a sweet potato slice.  
2. The spread can be pumpkin pie hummus, cream cheese or nut butter.
3. The turkey body is a slice of pear, beak is a orange peel, the waddle is a apple slice.  And the feathers could be any fruit your choose-apple slices, pear slices, orange segments, strawberry slices.  
4. The eyes are blueberries.

Get creative with your turkey and have fun with your kiddos.  Sharing a love for healthy food is such a gift for your family.

This is one of my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving dinner that is gluten free and gut healing approved.

I always have at least 1-2 sides and dishes that are veggie-ful for me at dinner and plan my treats in advance as to not go completely off track during the Holiday season.

This is a crowd pleaser and you will not even miss the bread.  It’s that good.  

Sausage and Cauliflower Stuffing 

Ingredients 

• 1 large head cauliflower cut into small florets
• 2 Tbsp avocado oil 
• 1 Tbsp grass-fed butter
• 1 lb bulk pasture raised pork sausage 
• 1 medium yellow onion cut in half and sliced thin
• 4 stalks organic celery chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 Tbsp fresh rosemary minced
• 2 tsp fresh sage minced
• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves removed from stems
• 1 Tbsp fresh parsley minced, plus more for garnish if desired
• Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425° F and lightly grease a large metal baking sheet. Place cauliflower florets on the baking sheet and dri...