I call my food HER when it looks pretty.  ‘She pretty!’ And girl, when you add roses to anything it just makes a person happy. 

In anticipation of Mother's Day, I decided to make my mom's rice pudding.  It makes me feel more connected with her when I can't physically see her now that she's taken residence in heaven.

My mom’s rice pudding is a happy place for this MENA girl (Middle Eastern North African).  I just gave it a little ‘rehab’ and boosted the macros, lowered the sugar and made it healthy enough to have for breakfast. I love dessert for breakfast :-) 

Truth is, right now I'm prepping for my second bikini competition, so while I can have rice, I really needed to take the protein up and fat burning power of my food - and so should you.  Protein is comprised of essential amino acids and we need those to build lean muscle mass and stoke our metabolisms more effectively.  I also add my new fat...

Are you ready to make your breakfast stack fall in love with you? If you've been on a quest for the perfect high-protein pancake, your search ends here. Imagine a pancake that’s not just good for you but also delightful to your taste buds—welcome to the world of protein pudding pancakes!

Why These Pancakes Are a Game-Changer

• High Protein: Each serving packs a whopping 30 grams of protein to fuel your day.
• Low Carb: Only 7 grams of carbs, making it ideal for a low-carb diet.
• Sugar-Free: Absolutely zero added sugars.
• Versatile: You can choose from various pudding flavors like salted caramel, banana, vanilla, chocolate, or lemon.

Ingredients

• 1 package of Simply Delish Salted Caramel pudding (or your choice of flavor)
• 60 grams of whey protein powder
• 1 cup of plain nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of AP gluten-free flour
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 extra-large egg

Instructions

1. Prep: In a large mixing bowl, blend all the...

We know breakfast helps to set the tone for how successful your day will be but how the heck do we really make it healthier?  Here are 10 easy tips to take to the bank when it comes to setting yourself up for a better morning.

1. Avoid your triggers: The reality is that you crave what you eat, so as you make healthier choices, your old cravings will weaken. So if you are in the habit of going out for donuts, guess what? You’re going to eat the donuts!  Time to change the habit and retrain your tastebuds, which I talk about in-depth in my book “Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive.”

2. Balance your blood sugar: Research studies indicate that low blood sugar levels are associated with lower overall blood flow to the brain, which can jeopardize your ability to make good decisions. To keep your blood sugar stable, eat a nutritious breakfast with protein and fat such as eggs, protein shakes, avocado, or nut butter. Plan to...

Spring keeps calling you to try this frozen buddha bowl! 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1/2 frozen banana, peel left on
• One 3.5 oz. packet frozen no-sugar-added acai or pitaya
• 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
• 1/4 cup unsweetened non dairy milk (almond, rice, coconut, soy, hemp) 
• 1/2 teaspoon spirulina powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon raw honey

Optional Toppings:

• Pomegranate arils 
• Fresh pataya and lychee fruit 
• Grape halves 
• Hulled sunflower seeds or raw hemp hearts
• Maca powder 
• Unsweetened cocoa powder

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Wash the ALL fruit with eatCleaner Fruit and Vegetable Wash and pat dry with paper towels.
2. In a food processor or blender, combine the banana, acai, flaxseed, milk and coconut oil. Blend on medium to high speed for 15 to 30 seconds, until smooth and creamy. Pour into a bowl and add the yoghurt, spirulina, and honey. Stir until completely smooth. 
3. Top your Buddha bowl with an assortment of topping and feel zenlike immediately....

What could be better than eating pudding for breakfast and having it basically make itself? Plus, blueberries and chia seeds together are an antioxidant power couple. Just get yourself set up with some mason jars you can grab and go. That's good news to spoon to!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk or other nondairy milk
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2 teaspoons granulated stevia or monkfruit extract
• 6 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1½ tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash any produce with our eatcleaner spray wash or washpowder. Let air dry on a paper towel. 
2. In a blender, combine the almond milk, vanilla, blueberries, and stevia.
3. Put 1½ tablespoons of the chia seeds into each of four mason jars. Evenly distribute the blueberry-milk mixture over the top of each and stir or shake well. Seal the jars and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or ideally overnight, until thickened.
4. ...