I’m all about self-love and self-care. I don’t think you can overemphasize the importance of your relationship with yourself- I mean, it lasts your entire life!

That’s why I love finding ways to add a little extra joy into my day. I try to do this in so many ways; taking time to play with my adorable dog, procrastinating on pinterest, or doing a homemade facial mask.

I always try to do plenty of things that make me smile and feel a little more upbeat, especially as the seasons change and things get colder and darker. My latest favorite way to add joy into my day is with Tazo® Tea.

I like to take a moment to enjoy myself during that afternoon slump. You know it- right around 2 or 3 o’clock. My brain and body just start to move a little slower. Tazo tea is the perfect pick me up that helps me avoid the glum that comes in my afternoon slump.

Recently, my husband Lars started a new job working from home some of the time, and it’s been an adjustment for us. Usually I’m home working by myself, but now we are trying to get our routines in check. We both hit our afternoon slump around the same time.

A few times we have let it get to us- I mean the couch is so close and comfortable and there’s so many things recorded on our TV. But enjoying a cup of Tazo tea together helps us enjoy our day a little more without getting off track.

Tea is the perfect pick me up for us. A little sweetness, and sometimes a little caffeine, let’s be honest, make me feel invigorated and ready to get back to being productive. Having a joyful moment sipping on one of Tazo’s delicious blends has made our routine more seamless, and more fun. It takes just the right amount of time to brew and enjoy our tea while talking together, and we always feel more invigorated and joyful after.

Tazo has seriously delicious tea blends. My favorite is Passion®, because I love the sweetness of it, and I am a big fan of herbal teas. Lars loves the Zen blend. The lemongrass and spearmint added to green tea are a fun unexpected flavor that tastes amazing. And I love the classic Awake English Breakfast for when you need a stronger caffeine kick!

Don’t just take my word for it- you should try these blends yourself!

If you want to bring a little more joy into your routine, you can find Tazo tea blends at your local grocery store- or check out Tazo.com to find where you can find Tazo in your area.

The post Finding Joy in the 3 o’clock Slump appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love me some coconut oil. I use it all the time! In food, in skincare recipes, and for my hair as well. There is reason for the hype. But I’ve been sensing a trend lately… a new miracle oil is emerging. Avocado oil!

And it makes sense. Avocados are not only incredibly delicious, but they are packed with nutrients. Like coconut oil, the oil is made from the flesh of the fruit and not the seeds, so it is very nutrient rich. It’s the new oil to look out for, and here are some reasons why:

1. subtle flavor

If you’re going to be cooking with an oil, avocado oil has a much more subtle flavor than coconut oil. It doesn’t overwhelm or change the flavor of your recipes.

2. high smoke point

Have you ever been cooking with oil and noticed it starts emitting lots and lots of smoke? That means the oil has reached its smoke point. Oils with a high smoke point can withstand higher temperatures before they start spewing smoke. Avocado oil has a smoke point of about 500°F whereas coconut oil has a smoke point of about 350°F.

3. doesn’t cause acne

According to lots of people, coconut oil will help get rid of your acne. But that isn’t quite accurate. Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it has a high likelihood of clogging your pores. I learned this the hard way. It has the highest comedogenicity rating possible, a 5.

Avocado oil is much less comedogenic, so it’s suitable to use on your face if you are more acne prone. It has a rating of 2. That being said, comedogenic ratings aren’t perfect, so your skin may react differently. Personally, my skin loves avocado oil.

4. rich in beta-sitosterol

Beta-sitosterol is a plant ester that we have found to be highly beneficial. It is used to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Some even claim that helps prevent cancer, though I’m always more cautious to parrot those claims. It is also said to boost the immune system.

5. liquid at room temperature

I’m probably not the only one who has experienced some frustration with coconut oil’s reactiveness to temperature. It is solid at room temperature, but if it goes slightly above (76°F), it becomes liquid. In the summer my coconut oil changes form frequently, leaving me with difficulty controlling the texture of some of my homemade beauty products. But avocado oil is liquid at room temperature, so it wont change the texture of your products if it gets a little hot in the room.

6. monounsaturated fats

There’s a lot of debate right now about whether or not saturated fats are bad for you. For years we were told to eat less saturated fats because they increase your blood cholesterol level, but some people are now saying that’s inaccurate. It’s always a fun balance trying to figure out what nutrition guidelines to stick to.

That being said, coconut oil is very high in saturated fats. Avocado oil is low in saturated fats, but high in monounsaturated fats where are supposed to be the “healthy” good fats because they don’t raise cholesterol levels. Interpret this however you like- but if you avoid saturated fats, coconut oil isn’t your friend.

7. skin penetration

Coconut oil, while great for your skin and highly moisturizing, leaves your skin feeling quite greasy for a while. Avocado oil is absorbed more quickly by the skin, so you are left with less of a greasy feeling.

8. enhances absorption of other nutrients

A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that consuming avocados and avocado oil helps your body absorb carotenoids. Carotenoids are a nutrient humans can’t produce themselves, so they have to get it from fruit and vegetable sources. So if you eat a little avocado oil at the same time as your carrots and sweet potatoes, you reap more of the benefits of those foods.

9. vitamin E

Avocado oil is high in Vitamin E, which is great for your skin. It is supposed to reduce aging and be highly moisturizing. I frequently add vitamin E oil to my beauty recipes, but the ones that have avocado oil are getting even more!

so what do you think?

Now I’m not saying I’m going to throw coconut oil out of my repertoire, because I do still love it. But avocado oil is quickly making its way up my favorite ingredients list. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go!

get yourself a little avocado oil

The post 9 Reasons Why Avocado Oil is the New Coconut Oil appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

The Whole30 is all over right now. I see it on pinterest, facebook, and instagram ALL THE TIME. And with good reason! The Whole30 is a great way for people to take control of what they eat, learn what makes them feel good (and what makes them feel not so good), and address the sugar addiction that we all have. It makes eating healthy simple. I really can’t say too many positive things about it. I’m assuming that you’re here because you are ready to start your Whole30 journey! Well awesome! I’m happy for you, and I hope you can learn from my experience (and mistakes!).

As a veteran of two whole30s and many whole7s, I feel like I’ve got a handle on this whole30 thing. It has made a lot of positive changes in my life (read more about it here!). It inspired me to go 100 days without eating sugar. It makes me more aware of what I eat. It’s made me a much better cook. And I feel healthier when I do it.

You know that feeling when you have been going on a bit of a binge and eating too much of whatever you want? It happens more often than I care to admit. But it also makes me feel terrible about myself. But I have the solution! Whenever this happens to me, and I’m sitting in a sugar coma with a stomachache and headache, I just think, “another Whole30 (or Whole7 or Whole 15 or Whole whatever…) for me!” And having that kind of control back in my life makes me feel empowered.

So, here are my best tips for how to survive, and even thrive, on your Whole30!

1. Read the book(s)

Seriously. You will not understand it if you don’t. When you’re doing your whole30, you might think, well this feels arbitrary! Aren’t beans good for me? And that’s a really reasonable thought. You have to read through WHY you are temporarily eliminating legumes so that you don’t slip up.

Also, reading the books totally fired me up. It got me so INSPIRED and MOTIVATED to do the whole30 and change my life. I wouldn’t have had the motivation if I hadn’t read It Starts With Food cover to cover.

So I can’t emphasize enough that you have to read It Starts With Food. I’ve also read The Whole30, which is great and answers so many questions plus it has lots of great recipes. So if you want to do it all the way, you should really read both. But if you only read one, read It Starts With Food. Reading will give you the motivation you need and all the explanations for WHY the Whole30 helps.

2. Plan, plan, and plan some more!

If you don’t do at least SOME planning before you start your Whole30, you’re setting yourself up to fail. If you keep tempting foods in your house, you’re orre likely to give in to cravings. If you don’t meal plan, you’re more likely to go out to eat an off-plan meal.

I like to take the Whole30 in 5 day segments and plan each out. I plan out a breakfast, dinner, and side dish. Lunch is almost always leftovers from dinner. I stock up on easy quick snacks.

I know it seems counterintuitive not to start right away, but the Whole30 is pretty specific and strict. If you haven’t prepared by finding some good recipes, picking what to eat what days, getting off-plan foods out of the house, and stocking up on quick easy snacks, you will have a hard time finishing your Whole30. At the very least clean out off-plan foods and make a grocery store run before you start.

If you need some help, I’ve made some free Whole30 planners for you!

3. Remember your motivation

There will be times, especially in the first two weeks, when you want to give up. I was at that point pretty recently. On the Whole30 timeline, it mentions it is pretty common to get very irritable on days 4-5. I hadn’t experienced that in my past Whole30’s, but in the most recent one, I definitely did. Those days happened to coincide with that time of the month and it was like a perfect storm.

I was angry at EVERYTHING. Credit to Lars for putting up with me. I was complaining about food. I was complaining about not wanting to eat anything. I was complaining about anything that crossed my line of vision. And I came very, very close to giving up.

But what kept me from giving up was asking myself- why did I start this in the first place? Because I’m sick of feeling crappy whenever I eat. Because I want to be choosing foods that are good or my health. Because I have so many different chronic illnesses that I owe it to myself to take the best care possible of my body. All those reasons were just enough to keep me from quitting.

Write down your motivation. You may need to look back at it. Or even better, every day, write down a different reason why you are motivated to keep going on the Whole30. You wont finish the 30 days if you don’t remember why you are doing it in the first place.

4.Use your support system

I would not have made it through the Whole30 if Lars hadn’t been doing it with me. He wasn’t very strict about it the first time, because it was something I wanted to do for my health and he doesn’t have any health issues. So he was really doing it to support me. But without him I would have had a tough time.

So before you start, tell people in your life WHY you are doing the Whole30. If you’re feeling down, you can ask them to remind you. And even better, if you know someone who will go along with it, start with a Whole30 buddy. And if neither of those things will work for you, find a buddy in the Whole30 forums. Isn’t the internet amazing?

The Whole30 isn’t easy, but it is worth it. Without some support, you might not make it through.

5. If you’re not perfect, it’s not the end of the world

I know Dallas and Melissa may disagree with me on this one. I do believe that the Whole30 should be without any slip-ups or cheats, but sometimes things are beyond your control. Sometimes you have to go out to eat for a work obligation, and you may not know whether your food is cooked in a permitted oil, even if you request it. But you have to eat, and you have to live. Life doesn’t stop for the Whole30.

It is not uncommon for me to lose my appetite. Just one of many symptoms I deal with from living with chronic illnesses. On the Whole30 you are supposed to have 3 meals a day according to a meal template. I can’t eat three meals every day. I just can’t. But I do my best. I also find that I feel better when I eat a little more fruit than the Whole30 suggests.

Lars was recently out drinking an iced tea, which was unsweetened of course. When he went for a sip he accidentally picked up his friends coke and had a sip of it. He was shocked and surprised and the taste was unpleasant for him, but he wasn’t just going to spit it out. It was a complete mistake. And he decided not to start over. I know that Dallas and Melissa say that one sip or bite of an off-plan food can set off inflammation- but in this case, Lars forgave himself for it.

You have to do the best you can for yourself. If the fear of not being perfect on the Whole30 will keep you from doing it, you have to let that go. It is better to do your best and get the improvements the Whole30 offers than to give up because perfection isn’t possible.

6. You don’t need to be a 5 star chef

It may be overwhelming to think of cooking so many meals at home. It is even for me and I enjoy cooking. But don’t choose not to do the Whole30 because you aren’t an amazing chef. It is so simple.

You just need to follow the meal template. If that means that you have a steak with a side of steamed veggies (in one of those microwaveable bags) for most of your meals, you aren’t doing anything wrong. Eating on the Whole30 is more simple than you think.

The Whole30 book is great for this. They take you through kitchen basics on what you should have on hand, and have tons of super simple recipes and basics for people who haven’t cooked before. And guess what- one of the benefits of the Whole30 will be that your cooking skills improve! Mine have.

And remember- the crock pot is your best friend. One of my favorite Whole30 meals is made by essentially tossing some chicken and salsa in your crock pot. And it comes out delicious. Seriously, crock pots are amazing.

7. Larabars are useful, but they’re also a slippery slope

Larabars (and rxbars!) are delicious. They are also Whole30 approved. They’re great if you’re out and about and need an emergency snack. But you don’t want to become reliant on them or eat them when you want something sweet.

They may be awesome and a good tool, but they still have a high sugar content. Sure, that sugar comes from dates and other approved sources, but it is much more than you would find in a recipe you make yourself. And so if you eat one when you are craving sugar, you are essentially giving in to your cravings instead of conquering them.

So I say limit your larabars. Use them only when necessary and not otherwise. You don’t want to end the Whole30 and go right into a sugar-addicted binge, right? Stick to protein and fat filled snacks whenever you have the option.

8. Control cravings responsibly

This goes hand in hand with limiting your larabars. You’re going to have cravings. Unless you’ve been doing the paleo diet, the Whole30 will be a dietary change for you. You will be cutting out some things that you enjoy, unfortunately. And your body will whine about it.

I get cravings a lot on the Whole30, but they do get easier to deal with over time. Sugar, salt, starch… my body craves all these things. Fried foods. Seriously.

But when you get a craving, be careful what you reach for. If you are actually hungry, eat a responsible snack, like some turkey and carrots. If you are just craving without hunger, distract yourself. Read a book. Go work out. Watch a movie. Go for a walk. This craving will pass.

My other favorite tool when I’m having a craving is to drink some mint tea. It tastes good and it helps quench thirst. It wont satisfy your craving, but it will distract you until your craving goes away. And since it isn’t sweet it wont keep you addicted to that sweet rush.

9. Stay off the scale

If you want to ruin your Whole30, weigh yourself every day. If you want to make it through and feel great, stay off the scale.

The first time I did the Whole30, I did not stick to this. I barely lost any weight for the first 20 or so days. Since I wasn’t doing the Whole30 for weight loss, that was fine for me and I still stuck to my motivation. But if weight loss is a big motivator for you, it will discourage you to step on the scale and not see the progress you hoped for.

I did lose weight on the Whole30 (which I actually ended up doing for 45 days the first time) and almost all of it was in the last 15 days that I added on. I could tell through my body’s responses that the 30 days was not long enough for me the first time through. If I had focused on weight loss, I would have given up on day 30.

I also urge you not to do the Whole30 if your only goal is weight loss. Most people who do the Whole30 lose weight. But the other benefits (or non-scale victories) are way way better! More energy, better sleep, better skin, a sense of healthiness, less bloating, less headaches, etc… those are all way more beneficial to me than the scale. So if you only want weight loss, the Whole30 might not be for you. You need more motivation than that to make it through and trust the program.

10. Starches are not the enemy

Yes, the Whole30 is low carb and low starch, and yes the Whole30 wants your body to learn to run on fat as an energy source. But that doesn’t mean you get rid of starches all together. If you’re struggling on your Whole30, you probably aren’t eating enough starchy veggies. I try to eat at least one serving each day. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash are all great sources of healthy starches.

The Whole30 may be decreasing your carbs, but that does not mean that your body still does not need or want carbs to function. It can be a really hard transition for your body. So make it a little easier on yourself and embrace starches. Don’t be scared of them. They will not ruin your Whole30. I’m not saying to eat only starches… just don’t feel like you should avoid them. They are still good for you.

11. Non-food rewards

I don’t know about you, but if you are anything like me, I use food to control my moods. Well, I’m trying not to anymore. But my instinct after a stressful day is to reach for the chocolate. And one of the  things I’ve tried to teach myself on the Whole30 is not to use food as a reward. It will just ruin the experience. What’s the point of doing the Whole30 if you reward yourself with a cupcake as soon as the 30 days are over?

So try to think of other non-food rewards. If you make it through a really tough day and stick to the plan, make yourself a luxurious bath. When you make it through your family dinner without slipping up, buy yourself some great new music that pumps you up. If you make it through the whole program- celebrate by splurging on that thing you’ve been eyeing. Get a mani pedi. Get new clothes that fit you better. Buy a new book. Get a massage. Get flowers. Visit the museum you’ve been wanting to go to. Watch a guilty pleasure movie. Netflix binge your favorite show. The ideas are endless.

12. Follow the spirit of the plan, not the letter

Yes bananas and eggs are approved, but paleo pancakes do not you follow the spirit of the plan. You aren’t supposed to be using less delicious replacements for food, you’re supposed to be changing how you think about what you eat. Yes, unsweetened applesauce is technically an approved food, but if you have a giant bowl of it with berries for breakfast, you aren’t following the plan and it won’t work for you.

A good rule of thumb is, if you say anything is “technically allowed,” it isn’t following the spirit of the plan. Don’t do it half way. Do it right. You owe it to yourself.

13. If it’s not for you- that’s okay

There is a transition going into the Whole30. You will probably feel worse for a few days before you feel better- this is your body adjusting. But there are situations under which the Whole30 doesn’t make sense anymore.

It’s just not for everyone. And that’s okay.

If it doesn’t agree with your body, accept that. My husband did great on our first Whole30, but on our fourth he was losing weight like crazy. I was worried about him- and he did step on the scale because we were concerned about his health. He had lost 17 pounds in 15 days. And he was never overweight, he’s a slim guy. That was just not healthy and too much stress on his body, so he stopped that Whole30 early.

You owe it to yourself to give it a good chance, but you also owe it to yourself to listen to your body if it is telling you it does not like what is happening.

The Whole30 has been so positive in my life. It has really made a difference in my relationship with food. And you can have that too.

So there you have it- 13 tips to help you through your Whole30! Now get to that reading and planning… you won’t regret it!

The post 13 Tips for Surviving (and thriving!) on Your Whole30 appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

Is your thanksgiving coma ready yet?

Ah, the feast, the fun, the family. Then the cleanup. And you know what you’ll be eating for the next few days… it’s taking up your whole fridge. But rather than eating the same meal over and over, why not put those leftovers to use and repurpose them!

I found my 15 favorite blogger thanksgiving leftover recipes just for that purpose. And I would eat every one. Hopefully we are of the same mind, and you enjoy drooling over these just as much as I do! I may be more excited about these than the real thanksgiving dinner…

1. Mashed Potato and Stuffing Patties 

This recipe by Pocket Change Gourmet is brilliant! I would eat these for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And I love that they use mashed potatoes, stuffing, and turkey, the big 3 of leftovers!

2. Leftover Turkey and Mashed Potato Empanadas

Hello Natural came up with such a fun twist on thanksgiving leftovers! This will definitely give your meal a new twist. And they look so amazingly delicious.

3. Leftover Stuffin’ Muffins

I love making non-muffin muffins. Egg muffins, turkey muffins, whatever, if you put it in a muffin tin I’m on board. Budget Bytes is definitely winning on this recipe- the perfect Black Friday breakfast!

4. Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole

So I’m the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of casseroles- but this one by Favorite Family Recipes looks amazing. Like thanksgiving in a pan. It uses all the best thanksgiving ingredients- and man I want some right now!

5. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pesto Panini

I’m kind of a pesto fanatic. So I couldn’t resist including this awesome panini by Damn Delicious. Cheese, pesto, and leftover turkey? Sign me up!

6. Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Turkey and Mashed Potato Chowder

What could be better than cooking leftovers in a slow cooker? So easy and low maintenance, and your home will smell amazing all day. Baked By Rachel has stolen my heart with this recipe.

7. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pizza

And if she hadn’t already done it- check out this clever twist on pizza by Baked By Rachel! I love that the mashed potatoes basically become the sauce. Definitely a fun way to eat your leftovers.

8. Loaded Mashed Potato Balls

Thanksgiving or not- I’m making these ASAP! They look too good to pass up. What a delicious concoction from Little Spice Jar.

9. Next Day Turkey Vegetable Soup

I love soup. The best part of fall and winter is that it isn’t too hot to eat it! So make sure to try this recipe from Back to Her Roots- it looks delicious, and is a great way to trick yourself into eating more vegetables and a little less starch.

10. Savory Crepes with Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing

Butter With a Side of Bread has come up with a delicious crepe recipe to use up those leftovers! Definitely droolworthy- do you see that picture? I might just make the gravy drizzle…

11. Leftover Stuffing Waffles

Just a Taste has come up with a perfect easy to make Black Friday breakfast. Definitely something the family will love the morning after your huge feast- and who doesn’t love getting use out of their waffle maker?

12. Leftover Crockpot Turkey Chili

I love turkey chili. Love it. Passion for Savings has come up with such an easy and simple turkey chili for leftovers. So easy, it’s perfect for those who are so exhausted from cooking the day before!

13. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pot Pie

I love Pot Pies. If you want your second thanksgiving coma, this recipe from Damn Delicious is the perfect leftovers recipe for you. I mean, c’mon, who doesn’t want some of that?

14. Turkey Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is one of my favorite lazy meals. Will Cook For Smiles married my favorite lazy meal with thanksgiving leftovers- the perfect combo, in my opinion.

15. Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad Sandwiches

Last but not least- a classic from Love From The Oven. Turkey salad! The pecans, cranberries, and apples definitely elevate this leftovers turkey salad.

I hope these recipes help inspire you to repurpose your leftovers this year!

The post 15 Droolworthy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

Paleo desserts are tricky. Some say you shouldn’t do them at all. But sometimes you do need a treat- especially celebratory occasions! That’s why this recipe is so great- it is a whole food dessert- you are not altering the ingredients to be something they aren’t already. You are just combining them in a tasty (and adorable) way. So you can enjoy this without any feelings of guilt whatsoever. I know I do!

This dessert can also be a fun surprise. If no one knows that it is a watermelon, when you slice it open and see that shocking red people are always surprisingly excited. I speak from experience on this. The other great thing is that it is quick and easy. It takes very little work at all. I love when you get more benefits from your efforts. Less is more, right?

So the next time you have something to celebrate, or just find a really delicious watermelon, treat yourself to this fabulous dessert!

Really you only need two ingredients to make a great watermelon cake:

• a watermelon, and
• full-fat canned coconut milk.

And that’s all you need to make the best paleo dessert ever. Simplicity wins!

I usually add a splash of vanilla extract to spice up the flavor a little, but it isn’t necessary. And paleo purists will say not to have vanilla extract at all. But to each their own.

I’ve made this cake on more than one occasion. Most recently on Easter. Adding the whipped “cream” can be tricky. It doesn’t always listen to what you want. But I think I’ve mastered a technique that works.

The key to successfully frosting your watermelon is the right spatula.

Okay, that’s not the entire technique. But it is important. The next thing that makes the frosting stick is to work from the bottom up. You want to make the frosting thickest on the bottom, and pull up from there. Once you get a rhythm going, you will have no problem at all.

This cake is super amazing, and anyone you make it for will love it. It is perfect for summer and quick and easy to throw together. I hope you enjoy making and eating it! If you do- send me pictures and I will feature them on the blog!

The post Paleo Watermelon Cake (Only 3 Ingredients, and no sweeteners!) appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

We all know how hard it is for paleo eaters to go out to eat. No one likes to be the annoying one at the table asking every detail about how their food is prepared. I know I really hate doing it. But whatever reason you are eating paleo for, it’s hard to find the balance between convenience and sticking to the diet. I love to cook, but I can’t cook every meal every day. It’s exhausting. And the DISHES!

So anyways, I was super excited to find out that Jamba Juice has a new line of Fresh Squeezed Juices available! I have always loved Jamba Juice. Sure they have their all fruit smoothies, but if you want to be really careful and get the most punch out of your juice, cold-pressed is the way to go. These juices are preservative free, cold-pressed, paleo-friendly, and completely, 100% juice. Yum!

So, paleo friends, you are in luck! The perfect on the go snack, pick me up, or quick breakfast is here, and I’m gonna tell you all about it. PLUS- there is a giveaway included in this post, so make sure you read all the way to the bottom to find out how to enter!

I went to our local Jamba to try out the new juices. When I got there, I was overwhelmed with flavor choices. Lars and I took about 5 minutes and let 2 groups of people pass us in line trying to figure out what juices we wanted. I wanted to try them all.

If you don’t believe me, here are just some of the amazing flavors we considered:

Orange Reviver: Oranges, apples, bananas, beets, and chia seeds. Hello extra fiber and deliciousness!

Carrot Cayenne: Carrots. apples. ginger. cayenne pepper. For spice lovers like me, this was extra tempting.

Kale Orange Power: Fresh orange juice, kale and bananas. All the yum of orange with all the super-goodness of kale.

Tropical Greens: Apples, pineapples, supergreens, and chia seeds. Another superfood friendly treat.

But in the end, we decided to try out:

Orange Berry Antioxidant (Fresh Orange Juice, Frozen Strawberries, Frozen Blueberries) and Triple Revitalizer (Fresh Orange Juice, Fresh Carrot Juice, Bananas).

Lars tried the Orange Berry Antioxidant and I tried the Triple Revitalizer. Cheers!

I gotta say, these were every bit as good as we expected. The cashier told us we would have to wait a bit longer as the juices were fresh pressed. I did not have a problem with this. We got to see the juices in action in the juicer, and then blended together. So I can vouch that they are definitely fresh. And fabulous.

The Orange Berry Antioxidant was super sweet and also a little bit tart. It was basically dessert. It was thicker than I usually think of juice being. The Triple Revitalizer was just the perfect level of sweetness for me. The carrots balanced out the orange and banana. And it was much more juice-like. We tasted each others but both decided we liked our own best, so it worked out really well.

I can say that I am definitely a fan of these juices! And as I’m writing this post, I am thinking about how I can find the time to make it back to Jamba to try more flavors. Seriously. And if you want to try them too, make sure to Find Your Closest Store.

And…. Drumroll Please…

Now to the best part- THE GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment on what flavor of juice you want to try most, and you will be entered into a draw for a $20 Jamba Juice gift card! Make sure to include your email (which won’t be published or used for any purpose other than this giveaway!)

The giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Denise!

Schedule

The post Paleo On the Go (And a Giveaway!) appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

From mid-October through January I went without eating any added sugars. That includes cane sugar, maple syrup, honey, splenda, aspartame, and any kind of added sweetener except for fruit or pure fruit juice. I was fairly strict but I also ate at restaurants so there is no way I can be sure that I ate absolutely no added sugar throughout the 100 days. Regardless, I did my best, and I thought it was worth blogging about.

My sugar-free health kick started with the Whole30. A big part of why I wanted to do the Whole30 was to try to kick my sweet tooth. I have an out of control sweet tooth. It’s bad. And it also feels even worse in comparison to Lars. I live with someone who eats two bites of a candy bar and can save the rest for a month. My self control is not quite so strong.

I know I am addicted to sugar. The kind of sugar cravings I get are intense. I used sugar for energy. You know how people drink a ton of caffeine during finals so they can concentrate? I would eat more candy. It is such an unhealthy habit and addiction.

When we finished the 30 days of the Whole30, I felt like my sugar addiction hadn’t decreased. I continued the Whole30 for another 15 days. Still didn’t feel like I kicked it. Inspired by my future mother-in-law, I decided I could go a full 100 days without sugar.

I know how bad sugar is for you. All the latest nutritional research is finding that fats (saturated fats included) are not the culprit contributing to rising obesity rates and heart disease. Ever since the low-fat craze our health has been getting worse. And you know what is increasing in our diets? Sugars. Sugars have replaced fats in all the low-fat foods that we are told are healthy. The chance of dying from heart disease increases with proportion of added sugars in your diet, regardless of whether the rest of your diet is healthy.

I don’t know if that scares you, but it scares me. It scared me enough to try 100 days without sugar. And it was so worth it.

So here are my thoughts on going 100 days without sugar:

• I picked the worst time ever. My 100 days included Thanksgiving, Hannukkah, Christmas, and my birthday/ New Years Eve. But the fact that I made it through all those days makes me super proud.
• My days felt a lot more even. I was taking less naps.
• I have more self control than I realize. My sugar cravings got smaller and less intense but didn’t go away.
• Do you know how hard it is to bake and not lick food off your hands? I do!
• Do you know how hard it is to carry leftover wedding cake and then not lick frosting off your hands? I do!
• I think my migraines decreased, but it’s really hard to say. I should keep better track of them.
• Eliminating sugar effectively limits processed foods. Can you find any processed foods without sugar in them? It’s next to impossible.
• My skin got way better. Who knew that sugar affected my skin so much? Or maybe it is something like preservatives in processed foods. Who knows.
• Man I am glad to not be eating processed foods. But I do miss the convenience of the occasional frozen meal.
• Do you know how sugary most breakfast foods are???
• I lost about 15 pounds in the 100 days (and I’ve since gained back 4)
• Thank goodness I gave up sugar during honeycrisp season. They’re seriously the best tasting thing ever.
• I’ve read that people who go for a long time without sugar think that sugary desserts taste too sweet later. This was not the case for me. I don’t know that my body has a “too sweet” setting. Something I’m missing, I guess.
• 100 days did not kill my sweet tooth or addiction. The second I had one bite of sugar when I was allowing it back in my diet I needed more.
• I did have a small binge after allowing sugar back into my diet. Now my sugar intake is lower than before I started, but still higher than I want it to be.

What was so crazy to me was that 100 days did not kick my sweet tooth. As soon as I had a bite of a chocolate on day 101, I had to have 3 more. Then ice cream that night. It was bad. So unfortunately, I didn’t meet my goal, but I feel like I learned a lot.

So now that I’m thinking back, I feel like it might be time to do another 100 days without sugar. It was so good for me. I still get pretty bad sugar cravings, usually right about mid-day. I want to have a healthy heart and live a long life, so it would be worth the sacrifice.

What do you think? Should I do another 100?

The post 100 Days Without Sugar In Review appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

Although Lars and I have not really been successful at our second Whole30, I still love making the recipes. This recipe is an amazing Whole30 breakfast because it has everything you need- fats, veggies, and protein. It’s easy to make and it reheats really well. It has been fully approved at two separate brunches by non-paleo eating folks. So let the deliciousness ensue.

I adapted the recipe from Fourteen Forty. I love sweet potatoes, especially at breakfast, and I knew I had to try it as soon as I saw it. The original recipe has lots of cheese in it and less veggies than I would have liked, so I made it paleo-friendly. It was a great success.

You will need two gadgets for this recipe. You could get by without them, but it will be much easier if you do have them. They are a mandolin slicer and an olive oil spray bottle. They are two of my favorite kitchen gadgets and I use them both often, so I personally think they’re worth it.

Sweet potatoes are so lovely looking, aren’t they? Use your mandolin slicer to make your sweet potato crust. The thin slices get laid out in a pie pan and baked. Yum. If you want an extra thick crust you can add more than I did here, you will just have to cook it a little longer.

And here is the quiche ready to go in the oven! My stomach is literally growling while I am writing this post. I should probably go eat something. I just wish I had more of this leftover and I could eat some right now.

Okay- so now on to the real reason you are here. The recipe!

Yum. Sweet potato goodness. Before I found this recipe I considered myself a master of the frittata. This is so similar, but the sweet potato crust really kicks it up a notch. So now I guess I’m a master of the sweet potato crust quiche.

You can use whatever veggies you like. I’ve loved the combo of mushrooms, onion, bell peppers, and spinach. But I think maybe I’ll have to add asparagus into the mix as well next time I try it. This is one of those recipes that you won’t get tired of because you can change it up every time.

Try this recipe out at home and let me know how it goes for you! You don’t even have to tell anyone it’s paleo… they won’t miss the grains and dairy!

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