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Homemade Dark Chocolate

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

1/2 cup Clearly Organic Coconut Oil
1/2 cup 100% cacao powder
1/4 cup Clearly Organic Raw Honey
1 teaspoon Clearly Organic Pure Vanilla Extract

Slowly melt coconut oil in a small sauce pan over medium low heat. Stir in cacao powder, honey and vanilla. Stir continuously over medium low heat for 2 minutes or until all ingredients are well blended. Pour mixture into candy molds or a parchment lined bread pan to make a chocolate bar. Refrigerate at least one hour or until chocolate becomes solid.

Variations: Add chopped nuts, dried fruit, Clearly Organic Almond Butter, orange zest, Clearly Organic Cinnamon or Clearly Organic Cayenne Pepper to taste. Add variation just before pouring into chocolate mold.

Broccoli and Mushroom Stir Fry

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

Broccoli And Mushroom Stir-Fry

3 cups fresh broccoli florets

1 yellow onion, sliced

1 Tablespoon Clearly Organic Olive Oil

1 (8oz) package white button mushrooms, sliced

2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1/4 cup peanut sauce (see Clearly Organic blog for recipe)

1 cup Clearly Organic Basmati Rice

 

Cook 1 cup rice according to package directions. While rice is cooking sauté broccoli and onions in 1 Tablespoon olive oil and 2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce over medium high heat. Cook for 5 minutes then add sliced mushroom and continue cooking until vegetables have reached desired doneness. Serve sautéed vegetables over a bed of rice then drizzle warm peanut sauce on top.

5 Ways To Stick With Your Health Goals

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

After the holiday season of eating, drinking and merriment many fitness centers see a rise in gym membership and attendance. However, regardless of this enthusiasm statistics show that gym attendance is typically back to its regular numbers by mid-February. No matter what your New Years health and wellness goals involve here are a few simple tips to stick with your good intentions.

  1. Write down your goal. Putting pen to paper helps many people make a more specific, measurable and achievable goal.
  2. Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask how to use a new machine, a piece of lifting equipment or the proper technique for a particular exercise.
  3. Make a schedule. To accomplish any goal you have to manage your time wisely. Pick a time of day that is sustainable for focusing on your goals.
  4. Diversify your wellness routine. Goals are about results and there are multiple ways to get results. Experiment with new exercises and foods to achieve your goal
  5. Find accountability. To stay on track schedule a time with a personal trainer of fitness coach. Find a workout buddy or use a digital fitness tracker to give you honest feedback.

A bonus tip that’s always well received is Reward Yourself. No one has to be told twice to cut themselves a little slack. Treat yourself to a little relaxation on your day off from working out or plan a fun event to look forward to celebrating your accomplishments.

Natural Protein Smoothies

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

A Clearly Organic customer Kathleen W. wrote in and asked about making an everyday smoothie with extra protein. This is a great question that has multiple answers. There are lots of fun ways to implement a smoothie routine with a wide variety of natural organic foods. Adding protein-based foods to a smoothie helps slow down the digestion process of your meal making you feel full longer. It also helps add thickness and flavor to a fruit or vegetable smoothie.

Here are six natural foods that add protein to a smoothie:
• Flax Seeds
• Nut butters
• Oats
• Chia Seeds
• Plain Yogurt
• Quinoa

Each of these protein-based foods can also be found in an organic variety if desired.

Healthy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

What makes a dip healthy can depend on what you serve it with, this spinach and artichoke dip goes great with sliced sweet peppers, broccoli and zucchini.

1 – 8 oz. package Clearly Organic Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Clearly Organic Ground Pepper
1 teaspoon Clearly Organic Onion Powder
1 – 14 oz. can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 – 10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
6 grape tomatoes, quartered, for garnish on top

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl stir together softened cream cheese, yogurt, garlic, salt, pepper and onion powder. It also works well to use an electric hand mixer to evenly distribute ingredients. Then using a spatula to stir, add artichoke hearts, well drained spinach and mozzarella cheese. Add contents to a small baking dish. About 1 1/2 quart. Top with Parmesan cheese and sliced grape tomatoes. Bake until cheese is browned and sides are bubbly. 20-25 minutes.

New Food Trends For A New Year

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

Like most “trendy” items food trends may come and go but some are worth pursuing and implementing into your routine. Luckily healthcare professionals agree that food habits are cycling back to more wholesome natural ingredients. In fact, many of the food trends for 2019 include plant-based products and unique ways to add more Omega-3s to your meal plan.

Organic, dairy free and gluten free products are more readily available on store shelves. I do believe this health trend is here to stay. With the uptick in allergies and intolerances, the market demands a wide variety of products that are lifestyle specific. In the end some classic food principals remain the same. Our bodies require a balanced diet of vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and fruit. While analyzing the food trends of 2019 keep these core values in mind.

Eat What You Love

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

Around the holidays everyone is thinking about their favorite festive traditions. Many family traditions involve special recipes and bountiful meal times. Making it challenging to eat healthy this time of year. Grandmas recipes are not typically low calorie, but at the same time, it’s comforting to enjoy some family favorite foods once a year. Therefore, the holidays are a great time to focus on portion control. Eat what you want, just don’t overdo it. Some general principals to follow when you are enjoying a festive family meal.

*Skip the seconds. Enjoy one plate of your favorite foods and resist the urge to fill up again. One plate is typically all it takes to be satisfied.

*Focus on the healthy nutritious foods that you love. Try not to go down a mental list of vegetables that you hate, or the foods you are allergic and intolerant to. Simply enjoy the fruits, vegetables and grains that make you happy.

*Don’t be afraid to bring a healthy dish to a holiday party. Most friends and family members appreciate a well made healthy recipe, so don’t be shy about bringing your new favorite healthy appetizer or side dish

Soft Gingerbread Cookies

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup Clearly Organic Brown Sugar
1/3 cup water
3 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Butter, softened
3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon Clearly Organic Ground Ginger
1 teaspoon Clearly Organic Ground Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:
In a medium bowl or standing mixer, beat together molasses, brown sugar, water, and softened butter. Combine until smooth. In a separate bowl add the flour, baking soda, allspice, ginger, and cinnamon. Stir to combine dry ingredients. Then add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, one cup at a time, stirring or beating with a mixer to evenly distribute.

Combine all ingredients and form dough into a ball. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly flour your counter and roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough with desired shapes and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes then allow cookies to cool on a wire rack. Decorate as desired.

Seasonal Foods for December

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

We often think of eating fresh seasonal foods during the summer months. However, December offers a wide variety of flavorful ripe produce. Holiday meals can be more colorful and nutritious with beets, Brussels sprouts and butternut squash. All of these vegetables are at their peak of freshness in December. Cauliflower, fennel and mushrooms are also seasonal delights late in the year.

When it comes to fruit, oranges, kiwi and grapefruit are just right during the winter months. Pomegranates, pears and persimmons are also excellent choices in December. All of these fruits make delightful additions to any meal or snack. Next time you’re at the store pick up some of your favorite seasonal produce.

Making Healthy Choices During The Holidays

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

Striking the right balance with food, family time, fun and relaxation around the holidays is not easy. Even if we have good intentions to eat healthier and exercise during the Christmas season we usually lose sight of that goal the minute the first cookie platter shows up. Here are a few simple tips to help you stay motivated during the busy holiday season.
1. Plan ahead. As you put more holiday events in your schedule be sure to also put your workout time in your calendar. Picking a day and time for exercise makes it far more likely to happen. Planning ahead also means keeping your kitchen well stocked with fresh vegetables and lean protein. Pre-chopping veggies or cooking meals in advance helps most people consume a more portion controlled balanced diet.
2. Try something new. Allow the change in your daily routine to bring change to your exercise regimen. Try a new class at the gym, sample some new YouTube workout videos or hire a personal trainer for the month.
3. Stay moving. Even if you can’t get in a structured workout you can always do a few sit ups, push ups or squats. Start your days with a quick heart rate jump by doing 30 squats, jumping jacks and some leg lifts.