I looooove matcha…I love it so much that I legit have to physically stop myself from posting photos of my morning matcha on a daily basis. No seriously…I legit post a matcha photo every other day on my Fitspo insta…
…and I will take a train from Harlem to Chinatown for a raved about matcha…I’m a match maven! (Seriously, that matcha emoji is everything to me)
So I consider myself to be a smart cookie. I mean, I graduated college with honors and I’m at an ivy for my MBA (p.s. if you are tired of hearing that…I’m not, so I will say it until they put me in the ground). And I’m athletic, I swam and rowed in college, I was a junior olympian in swimming, won countless horse shows…so I like to think I know health and wellness.
Then why was I so dumb about food?!?
Now when I say dumb I don’t mean like because Oreos are vegan I thought they were healthy. I mean allowing my food noise and my disordered eating to take over my life dumb. Nothing put more of a damper on family affairs than when you are on some insane diet, and your out of town relatives have to listen to you order so far off the menu, that you would have been better off bringing your own food. I’m the kind of nutrition nerd that was making her parents show at Whole Foods, when it was called Fresh Fields.
So a few months ago I realized I was letting my disordered eating take over. I was starting to obsess about my calorie counting app, toying with starting a new diet, and wondering if I could find the willpower to go keto. Now those things may work for other people, but I’m looking to go through more of a Khloe Kardashian lifestyle change, slowly but surely, and as a lifestyle change.
After a good bout of Facebook stalking, I came across the Tovita Nutrition instagram page. They had just coached the gorgeous new Miss California USA 2016, and I wanted in on that Tovita glow. I emailed the ladies, and worked with Molly for 8 weeks. The only person that knew about my nutritional fairy godmother was my mom.
What I gained during those 8 weeks never involved a diet, is was about learning to be intuitive and smart with my eating. Through Molly’s guidance I lost 12 pounds, but gained so much more. During my family vacation to Orlando I wasn’t a raging diet monster. If I wanted to indulge I did, and mindfully, and when I was over it, I moved on. It sounds simple, and it wasn’t. But having the accountability of knowing someone would check over my food journals, give me advice, and be supportive was helpful. I think the best compliment came when my cousin said, “I’m so glad we can all sit and enjoy a meal, and you’re not over there eating something depressing.” Full disclosure, this was while we were at a Mexican restaurant where I had all the veggies they could pile on a skillet with some chicken and salsa.
I’m hoping over the next few months, I can share with you dear reader all the tips and tricks I learned from Tovita, how I’m evolving in my lifestyle change…and the smaller jeans I get to rock right now.
So if you are looking to have a kick ass coach, or you just want a virtual buddy who will tell you that “no, more than a tablespoon of coconut oil is not healthy.” Check out the ladies of Tovita.
XOXO,
MacKenzie
I adore Lauryn Evarts at the Skinny Confidential.
Girl crush would be an understatement about this lady. She is aspirational, real, and the friend you wish you had.
I’ve been following her blog for some time (coconut milk ice cubes, chia seeds, diva cups…she covers it all), so when she announced that she was creating the bombshell body guides I just had to try it. If you are wondering, I bought the guides, tried them, and fell in love with them long before I talked to anyone at Skinny Confidential to review them…that’s how much I loved them!
Continue reading “Workout Wednesday: TSC Bombshell Body Guide”
Don’t worry this isn’t a post about coffee…that’s for a later time.
This is about how I start my morning. I start every morning, 30 minutes after I wake up, with a green smoothie.
Now this isn’t a magical 14 ingredient green smoothie that you see on some IG pages, this is quick and easy.
1 banana (preferably frozen so it’s creamy dreamy goodness)
1-2 big handfuls of spinach or any other dark leafy greens (I’ve used baby kale before)
1 cup milk (almond, coconut, cashew, whatever floats your boat)
1 scoop of pea protein (like Perfect Fit Protein)
…and it’s that simple. That’s how I start my mornings. Now if you want to know why I eat something 30 minutes after waking up, that’s another post about my adventures in carb cycling 😉
I start the day with a protein packed, dairy free, gluten free, vegan, nutrient dense smoothie that gets my metabolism humming along for the day.
Hopefully seeing how easy it is to incorporate more greens or nutrient dense food in your day will inspire you to give this a try.
XOXO,
MacKenzie
Some how Wednesdays have become my recipe days…or I eat a lot and this is an excuse to share my eating habit with others.
I fell in love with eggs about a year ago. And I don’t mean rubbery scrambled eggs, I mean poached eggs with a runny yolk, soft scrambled eggs that taste like melted cheese (without the cheese), soft boiled eggs…I’m what some would call an egg slut.
I also love good wholesome food. Now don’t get me wrong I go H.A.M. on some doughnuts and fried chicken (shoutout to Astros Doughnuts in DC), but I also love simple delicious food.
Meet my favorite breakfast of all time…
Now this isn’t a recipe kind of post, it’s a put stuff in a bowl and enjoy kind of post!
2 super soft scrambled eggs (p.s. I believe in making my eggs in either “real” kerrigold butter or coconut oil, with yolks…got to have those good fats, but just 0.5-1 tbsp)
2oz of smoked salmon
1/4 avocado
2 cups mixed greens (or more, no one will fault you for wanting more veggies)
Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Simple, right? You can layer everything on top of the mixed greens like I did, or you can throw it all together and enjoy. I love the briny taste of the smoked salmon with the creaminess of the egg and avocado. If I really want to go to flavor town (DDD is my jam), then use arugula instead of mixed greens and you get that yummy peppery bite. And if I really want to go nuts I put a few oil packed sundried tomatoes on top.
I have been known when I’m feeling culinarily uncreative to make this meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This yummy bowl is paleo friendly, gluten free, dairy free, full of healthy fats, and tastes like heaven.
It’s also good for those times when you are trying to go low carb and you feel like you are moments from devouring your entire kitchen, or biting off the next person’s head who asks you why you’re so crabby…not like I’ve been there before or anything.
Hope you enjoy this bowl of yumminess as much as I do!
XOXO,
MacKenzie
I love ice cream, and honestly who doesn’t…and if you say you don’t, I know you are lying.
When I was younger I discovered Hagen Daaz on a family vacation to Mexico, and legit ate it every day, for almost every meal (man I miss my 8 year old metabolism).
Fast forward to my adult life, and I have yet to find a flavor of Steve’s Ice Cream I don’t like. I fully endorse everything in moderation, including moderation. But even I know if I want to fit into my skinnies, I can’t have it every day. So thank goodness for Nice Cream!
Nice Cream is a cleaner alternative to my favorite treat. Honestly, it’s bananas blended with some of my favorite healthy mix-ins. It satisfies my sweet tooth, I don’t feel guilty, bloated, and stuffed with added sugar.
Here’s how simple it is:
1 banana
1 tbsp chia seeds (I love adding tons of fiber where ever I can)
2 tbsp almond butter (preferably raw, cause it’s amazing)
…and that’s it, maybe a splash of almond milk. But you blend all of that, or toss it in the food processor. And if you want more, double it, share it, do whatever. It’s vegan, dairy free, gluten free, and makes your taste buds so happy. Switch it up however, use cashew butter, peanut butter, carob chips, goji berries…play with your food and find what makes you happy and satisfied…maybe even add a tablespoon of protein powder.
Clean eating takes an adventurous spirit, finding out how to enjoy what you like in a way that you can enjoy it, and that your body will thank you.
Hope you like this nice cream as much as I do.
XOXO,
MacKenzie
I love food.
I love the process of creating food.
I love health and wellness.
I have a few bloggers that I absolutely adore. One such blogger, Rabbit Food For My Bunny Teeth. Not only is she amazing, has a great plant based focus, but she makes single serve recipes! Now I will be completely honest, I am a portions monster. If a really good recipe has 6 servings, it’s hard to stop yourself at 1/6th of a delicious black bean chocolate cake. A while back she posted an amazing single serving chocolate cupcake/mug cake. Well I just had to try it, with a little modification. I wanted some added protein, and to make it gluten free. I don’t have celiac’s disease, but with an underlying thyroid/autoimmune issue, it doesn’t hurt to avoid it from time to time.
Adapted RFFMBT Chocolate Protein Mug Cake
3 Tbsp Brown Rice Protein
1 Tbsp Unsweetened carob/cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp unsweetened carob chips (or vegan carob, or chocolate chips…use what works for you)
1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 Tbsp maple syrup
2 Tbsp Water
1 Tbsp Egg Whites
1/2 Tbsp Almond Butter
1. Mix dry ingredients – protein powder, cocoa powder, baking powder, and carob chips together in a small bowl. Mix everything together until just combined. DO NOT overmix.
2. Add wet ingredients – melted coconut oil, maple syrup, egg whites and water and stir until batter is well combined.
3. Spray a microwave safe mug generously with nonstick cooking spray and pour batter into the mug.
This recipe is delicious, dairy free, gluten free, packed with protein, and you can fully devour it all alone and not feel awful. I like to top mine with some raw almond butter because why the hell not.
If you aren’t sure about what kind of brown rice protein to get, I recommend Perfect Fit Protein or SunWarrior Protein (I used Perfect Fit Vanilla to make this one).
Have fun experimenting in the kitchen, mix it up!
Can’t wait to hear how much you enjoy this cake :-p
XOXO,
MacKenzie
When I was a pre-teen I was diagnosed with PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It’s a nasty health issue to deal with, and if you want to learn more follow this link.
I refused to spend my life taking countless pills and struggling to feel normal when all my friends were enjoying pre-teen life. I learned about blood sugar, macrobiotic eating, alkalizing your body, and a host of other healthy living topics. I’ve always had a fascination with holistic living. To be completely honest, my parents let my have a holistic living coach when I was 13, who also acted as my spiritual shaman, because I refused to take adderall after a teacher’s recommendation. I shopped at Whole Foods when it was still fresh fields, and I used to eat birthday carrots instead of cake…by choice (geez no wonder I had a hard time making friends).
It wasn’t until college that I started trading my raw vegan chocolate balls for chocolate cookies.
Now my body is so sensitive to clean eating that I can feel the imbalance coming. I swear if I get “cute” and binge on sugar I can legit feel the insulin pouring out of my eyeballs.
I’m always experimenting with how to enjoy food and feed my body properly. There are a host of chefs and cookbooks that do a solid job of helping to find that balance (shoutout to Rocco Di Spirito and Goop.com)…but my favorite and #WCW is Candice Kumai. Kumai is a former Top Chef contestant, Bar Method enthusiast, road runner, amazing chef, and all around badass.
This past Lent session I gave myself a Julie/Julia style challenge of cooking one recipe daily from her cookbooks: Cook Yourself Sexy, Pretty Delicious and Clean Green Drinks.
I cooked up a storm, made amazing things from scratch, tried new ingredients, and every day was a new culinary adventure. My real test was if my dad would eat it, I knew I was on to something…and he loved every bite.
I think the most daunting thing about changing your eating habits is the fear of deprivation, at least for me. I find that all of Candice’s recipes are bursting with flavor, and they even inspired me to create my own healthy swaps (I’ll share those another time).
But seriously, how could you not want to listen to this woman, look at her…
Candice has a new cookbook out called, Clean Green Eats. I can not wait to work my way through the recipes in that book (when I moved to Manhattan one of the only boxes I cared about had all my healthy eating cookbooks).
XOXO,
MacKenzie
Miss USA to MBA 