Nutrition – Page 4 – Stylishly Zen

Watermelon, Cucumber and Halloumi Salad

Published on July 20, 2017July 20, 2017 by soreiya10 Comments

As a holistic nutritionist, it would be easy to assume that I eat a lot of salads. But the reality is, that it depends on the time of the year and the weather outside. While I eat a ton of vegetables year round, the idea of digging into a crisp cold salad when it is -40 outside doesn’t seem remotely appealing to me. It is during the warmer months that salads become a staple in my diet, and it would seem that I am not the only one that hones their salad making skills during the warmer months. If your Instagram feed looks anything like mine, then you are probably being inundated with tons of pictures of salads on a daily basis, the most popular being watermelon and feta cheese salad. While I consider watermelon and feta to be a delicious combination, lately have I wanted to kick things up a notch. Enter Halloumi cheese. For those of you that are not familiar with Halloumi, allow me to introduce you. Halloumi is a Cypriot unripened brined cheese that is normally made from goat or sheep’s milk. More recently, it is also made with cow’s milk so be sure to check the ingredients list if you have any difficulties with digesting cow’s milk. Halloumi is often used as a protein replacement by vegetarians in a variety of dishes, but it’s salty delicious flavour makes it a popular cheese among many, regardless of whether they eat meat or follow a vegetarian diet. Halloumi cheese with watermelon just makes sense to me – the salty and sweet flavours pair perfectly together in my opinion. Adding cucumbers to the mix elevates the water content of the dish and helps to meld the stronger flavours of both the watermelon and the cheese together.

Watermelon and cucumbers are both hydrating nutritional powerhouses in their own rights. Watermelon is a good source of Vitamin A, B6 and C, lycopene, antioxidants and minerals and is helpful in neutralizing cellular damage and cancer prevention. Cucumbers are high in enzymes, B vitamins, nutrients and electrolytes along with minerals such as magnesium, potassium and calcium. The skin of a cucumber contains silica which is helpful in boosting your skin from within to help you achieve a glowing complexion. When purchasing cucumbers, I strongly encourage you to purchase organic ones (if your budget allows) so that you can eat the skin without having to worry about any pesticide residue that may be left on the skin after cleaning it.

To call this a recipe would be comical. Consider them loose guidelines on how to assemble a delicious, refreshing and simple summer salad. Both cucumber and watermelon are great to eat when you are feeling a little bloated. Skip the cheese if you want to up the anti-bloat factor of this meal.

Ingredients:

1 organic baby cucumber, chopped

1 cup of watermelon, chopped

2 thick slices of Halloumi cheese

1 tsp fresh mint, chopped

Extra virgin olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

Cracked black pepper

Heat a bit of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the halloumi cheese until it is golden brown on both sides. Remove from heat.

In a bowl, combine the watermelon, cucumber and mint

Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with black pepper

Top with Halloumi cheese

Enjoy!

The information provided in this blog post is solely for information purposes and not as a substitute for medical advice.

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS❤️

One Bowl Nutty Banana Breakfast Bars

Published on July 6, 2017July 5, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

I have a love/hate relationship with breakfast. When I was younger it was the meal that I most frequently skipped, but I got older I began to learn the importance of having a good breakfast. Having said that, there are still days that I don’t quite practice what I preach and fail to properly nourish myself for the day ahead. I alway regret it when this happens, so I decided that I needed a recipe that was simple to make, doesn’t require a ton of complicated ingredients and tastes great. These breakfast bars have become the perfect solution to my breakfast problem.

Filled with many of my favourite breakfast ingredients including crunchy almond butter, nuts and oats, these breakfast bars are a great and satiating snack regardless of the time of day. High in protein and low in sugar, they have become my most recent breakfast obsession. On the days when I am not rushing out the door, I like to enjoy these bars with fresh berries and some extra nut butter. They are also great topped with yogurt and fresh fruit.

It is super easy to make substitutions to tailor these bars to your own personal taste, so consider the directions below loose guidelines to making simple breakfast bars that work for you. Substitute your favourite nut (or a combination of nuts) instead of the almonds and cashews that I used in the recipe below. If you don’t have chocolate chunks on hand substitute them for raisins.

Ingredients:

1 medium banana, ripened

1 1/2 cups oats

1 egg

1/3 cup crunchy almond butter

1/2 cup organic chocolate chunks

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1/2 cup chopped cashews

1 tbsp + 1 tsp maple syrup (you can substitute raw honey if you prefer)

1 tbsp coconut oil

pinch of cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper

In a large bowl mash the peeled banana (try to get it as smooth as possible)

Stir in the almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and egg – combine until all of the ingredients are well incorporated

Add the oats and mix well

Add the baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon

Fold in the nuts and the chocolate chunks

Pour the mixture into the baking pan, smoothing the mixture into an even layer

Bake for 15 – 18 minutes or until golden brown around the edges

Allow to completely cool before cutting into squares

Enjoy!

You can store the squares in an air tight container for up to a week either at room temperature or in the fridge.

I hope that you have a wonderful day! ❤️XXS

Spicy Turmeric Zoodles

Published on June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 by soreiya7 Comments

I may be studying nutrition but there are moments that I really struggle with eating healthy. There are days when I am running on very little sleep and feeling a little stressed out, and I find myself craving a huge bowl of pasta or a cupcake (or three). The last thing that I want to eat is an apple, a salad or a green smoothie. There are times when I indulge my cravings as I firmly believe that life is about balance, but there are many times when I resist or find an alternative solution. Today’s recipe was a happy and spontaneous dish that I created one day when I was particularly hangry (not in the best of moods due to overwhelming hunger and exhaustion). I was craving an indulgent bowl of pasta but I was determined to resist. With a few veggies left in my fridge I decided to put my little spiralizer to good use and created a simple and delicious dish that delivered some guilt free satisfaction.

For those of you that are not familiar with the term zoodles, it is zucchini in the shape of a noodle. Small handheld spiralizers like the one that I have are inexpensive and very easy to use. You can also just use a peeler to cut thick ribbons of zucchini. Zoodles are my favourite of all of the veggie “noodle” variations. The texture and taste is most similar (in my opinion) to a regular noodle, so when I eat them I don’t feel deprived or that I am missing out.

This dish uses two of my favourite vegetables – zucchini and asparagus. I find both vegetables very easy to work with and they don’t require much prep or cook time which makes them perfect when you are short on time. If you are not completely sold on zoodles, you can substitute any noodles that you prefer or mix the zoodles with a regular pasta to create a more hearty dish (just be sure to save a bit of the pasta water to add to to the pan when you putting this dish together). To achieve the rich buttery taste that I was after, I decided to use a combination of olive oil and ghee. When used in moderation, both are healthy fats that will help your body to absorb fat soluble vitamins from the vegetables, as well as give the dish an indulgent taste minus the guilt. Serrano peppers up the heat factor of the zoodles (omit if you are not a fan of spicy food) and turmeric adds beautiful colour and increases the health benefits for this simple and delicious dish. Pair this dish with a simple poached egg, a piece of wild salmon or toss with some shredded chicken breast for a delicious, healthy and well balanced meal.

Spicy Turmeric Zoodles

Ingredients:

1 medium sized zucchini spiralized

1/2 a bunch of asparagus (aprox 6 stalks) chopped

1.5 tsp of high quality olive oil

1.5 tsp of ghee

1 serrano pepper (finely chopped)

1 clove of garlic (minced)

1/4 tsp of turmeric powder

Lemon

black pepper

salt to taste

Directions:

In a medium sized frying pan melt the olive oil and ghee over medium heat

Add the garlic and serrano pepper to the olive oil and ghee combination and gently fry for 1 minute

Add the turmeric and a pinch of black pepper to the mixture and stir to ensure that the ingredients are well combined

Add the asparagus and toss to coat in the oil, cook for 1 – 2 minutes

Add the zoodles and stir to ensure that the zoodles are well coated. Cook to your desired consistency, I like my mine with a slight bite so 2.5 mins is generally sufficient. Please note that the longer you cook the zoodles, the more water the zucchini will release. Season with salt and pepper and squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto the veggies.

Plate and top with your desired protein

Enjoy!

I hope that you have a beautiful day! ❤️XXS

My Top 4 Beauty Foods For Spring

Published on May 4, 2017May 3, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

Now that the warmer weather has slowly but finally arrived it is time to step up your beauty routine. So as you reacquaint yourself with your razor and erase any residual signs of winter paleness, you may also want to consider adding in a few beauty boosters into your diet to help you glow all season long. My favourite dietary beauty boosters for spring are:

Blueberries

Blueberries are one of my favourite fruits of all time. These gorgeous little berries are a fantastic source of antioxidants, that fight free radicals and help to maintain youthful skin. Rich in vitamin C, blueberries also help to boost the collagen in the skin which is great for keeping your skin looking taut and smooth. Blueberries are also a good source of fibre which helps to keep your digestive system healthy. Remember: a healthy digestive system is integral to getting and maintaining healthy glowing skin.

Asparagus

Asparagus is one of the easiest vegetables to cook making them a breeze to add to many dishes. Filled with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals such as selenium, silica, zinc and iron this delicious vegetable helps to keep your skin clear and your hair and nails strong. Asparagus is also a great natural diuretic which is helpful in removing toxins from the body along with supporting any weight loss goals.

Eggs

Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse. Many people only eat egg whites to achieve their weight loss goals but you should be eating the entire egg. The yolks are packed with important vitamins (such as vitamins A and D) which helps to keep the skin clear and youthful while the egg whites work to brighten and repair the skin. Buy organic or free range in order to get more beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Eggs are a complete protein and are a good source of selenium, B vitamins and vitamin D.

Coriander

I know that coriander (aka cilantro) is a polarizing herb – either you love it or you hate it. For those that enjoy coriander here are a few more reasons to add it into your diet: they are rich in antioxidants which helps to destroy any free radicals in the body. It helps to fight signs of aging and brightens the skin. Coriander is helpful in preventing spikes in blood sugar which is a potential skin ager. It also supports detoxification in the liver which further supports skin health.

What are your favourite beauty boosters for spring? Let me know in the comments section below!

I hope that you have a beautiful day! ❤️XXS

Hot Chia Oats

Published on March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

I often motivate myself to get out of bed in the mornings with plans about what I am going to eat for breakfast. While I don’t often have a lot of time in the AM, I have developed an arsenal of quick breakfast recipes that are quick, delicious and easy.

Oatmeal has been one of my favourite breakfast foods for a number of years. It is delicious, healthy and filling – a total winner in my book. Recently though I decided to up my oatmeal game. Combined with one of my favourite superfoods chia seeds, lightly sweetened with some raw honey and topped with fruit (blueberries are my favourite) and a drizzle of almond butter, it may be super simple but hot chia oats is my new breakfast obsession.

You can make this recipe two ways – you can combine the ingredients in a jar or bowl the night before and store it in the refrigerator as a ready to eat cold breakfast the next morning, but my favourite way is to make it hot. There is something comforting and nourishing about a hot breakfast (especially oatmeal) in the morning and this hot chia oats dish tastes indulgent but is filled with nourishing and nutritious ingredients. Love! Love! Love!

Hot Chia Oats (serves 1)

1/4 cup of oats

1 – 1 1/2 tablespoons of chia seeds

1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or whichever type of milk you prefer)

1 teaspoon of raw honey or maple syrup (you can adjust the sweetness to your own taste)

pinch of cinnamon

Directions

Combine everything but the honey in a small pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally

Once the chia oat mixture starts to boil, remove from heat and stir in the raw honey (if using maple syrup, you can add it in while the oatmeal is still on the heat)

Top with fruit and your favourite nut butter

Enjoy!!!!!

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS