Celery Root Fries

If you're getting a little sick of the tried and true sweet potato fries and are looking to mix it up, these celery root (or celeriac) fries are perfect! When first transitioning to a whole foods diet or when we are super busy it can be really easy to get stuck in a rut and eat the same things over and over again. This is ok!

It's a great idea, though, to make an attempt to eat a variety of vegetables to ensure that you are getting the wide array of nutrients your body needs.  The beautiful array of colors in vegetables represent over 25,000 good for you phytonutrients or chemicals that are beneficial to our bodies. It definitely pays to "eat the rainbow!"

Additionally, eating a variety of plant foods helps us optimize the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut which has a big effect on our overall health and well-being [2] I find that instead of trying to mix it up every single day, I go for every week. I try to bring in one or two new veggies every week that I can experiment with in addition to my staples. 

Celeriac is a pretty funky looking veggie, but it's surprisingly delicious! It does have a hint of celery flavor, but with a potato-like consistency. You can prepare it in any way you would other root vegetables (think mashed, pureed, as soup or chips) but these fries are an easy way to start. I get mine at the farmer's market, but you can find celeriac at most grocery stores (you've probably just passed it by before!) 

Celery Root Fries

Ingredients

1 lb celery root (or celeriac) about 1-2 bulbs 

Olive Oil

Salt 

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 (f)

Peel and cut celery root into 1/2 inch wide sticks 

Toss with olive oil and salt 

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown

I hope you enjoy trying this weird and wonderful veggie! If you want some more easy recipes click here to download my free guide to batch cooking >> 

You’ll get:

+ 7 day meal plan

+ Step by step instructions for how to cook an entire week’s worth of food in just two 2-hour sessions (life changing)

+ Grocery lists

+ Twelve of my favorite, easy recipes!

Enjoy making delicious and nutritious meals in way less time! 

The #1 thing you might be doing wrong during a detox

It’s January now and you’re probably feeling the urge to do some sort of juice cleanse, detox, or Whole30 type diet to reset after a long holidays season of eating and drinking. Or maybe you’re already a few days in and wondering how the heck you’re going to make it to the end of the week without crying and binging on the candy bowel on the office manager’s desk.

First things first, you are absolutely awesome for prioritizing your health and wanting to do what’s best for that beautiful body of yours. That’s where it all starts – the intention to have more energy, sleep better, and feel better in your body.

I want to make sure you are armed with the best tools and information to give your body what it needs and feel really good while doing so.

Cleanses and detoxes can be really great to give our digestive and detoxification systems a break if we’re feeling out of balance.  They are a good tool to use to become really mindful of what we’re putting in our bodies as well. I’m a total advocate of them if done with intention and in accordance to what works for you specifically.

For example, a 5-day juice cleanse would wreak havoc on my blood sugar and energy levels, make me feel absolutely crazy and is definitely not something my body needs at this moment.  Plus, I would probably only make it ½ a day and then feel bad about myself for not completing it and get all guilty. I do, however, notice when I’ve been eating more carbohydrates and indulging in more alcohol or sweets than usual and prioritize incorporating vegetables at every meal for the next few days to come back to my foundation. It’s an ebb and flow for me, and never something that is strictly black and white anymore.

The intentionality and mindset behind the cleanse is the most important piece, and what I see frequently is people getting stuck about what to do after the cleanse or diet has completed.

Although any form of dietary restriction is challenging, sometimes having the black and white of rules and restrictions of what you can and can’t eat is easier than navigating the grey area of food choices.

Everyone’s “why” behind a cleanse might be a little different, so it’s important to get clear on that first. Did you have a wild and crazy holiday season and need a break from cocktails and cookies? Do you have digestive issues or symptoms of disease and want to experiment with dietary changes? Do you want to shed pounds?

Then ask yourself what are you doing to do after the cleanse has finished. If you are completing a Whole30, is it running out to eat that fried chicken and waffles that you were weirdly dreaming about during your 30 days? Will you go back to eating anything that crosses your path after your juice cleanse because you are just so damn hungry?

In my opinion, the most important part of the cleanse or diet is the reintroduction portion which is always the part that gets looked over the most. A cleanse allows your body to reset so that you area able to “clear the muddy waters” and really tune in to how food affects you.

I strongly encourage setting up a gradual reintroduction process of foods (such as dairy, grains, sugar, alcohol etc.) to gather data about how each of these things works in your body rather than go out and eat all of the things for the next three days of your “freedom.” With that data you can really understand how dairy affects your body, how much and what kind you can have, and how it works in your own unique diet.

Cleanses can set you up to feel like you are either “on the wagon” or “off the wagon” which is why they can be pretty ineffective if done in a haphazard way.  Gathering this information is really powerful because it helps us carry these good habits and new knowledge forward into our everyday lives so we can make empowered choices.

If you need guidance with the reintroduction process and finding the best ways to incorporate healthy, whole foods into your diet email me to set up a time to chat! I’d love to help you get out of the cycle of “on the wagon” and “off the wagon” and to a place of food confidence and freedom. Click the button below to book in a free 30 minute discovery session to chat. I'd love to hear from you!

The Autoimmune Healing Intensive

When it comes to autoimmune disease there is no one size fits all approach, medication, dietary protocol, or even lifestyle change that will provide healing benefits to every single person. We all have unique histories, genetics, environments and patterns of responding and that is why standardized approaches to complex health challenges like autoimmune disease only have limited success. We can't be certain of anything until we actually try and implement changes in our own lives. I know this deeply from my personal experience of living with Adult Onset Still's Disease for the past 12 years, as well as from my training and experience as a Registered Nurse and Autoimmune Protocol Certified Health Coach, and you probably do too.

Many of us have visited the doctor knowing something is wrong and have been told to "come back when symptoms get worse" when our blood work or complaints don't fit into a neat and tidy disease category.  This leaves many people high and dry, still suffering in a broken system without any help. In my opinion, that's not good enough.  We need a more comprehensive, collaborative approach.

The good news is that you do have options and it is possible to feel healthy and energized again.  If you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, this program is for you. Instead of waiting for your doctor to catch up and do it for you, you should take matters into your own hands and start your own self experiments, organized in a systematic manner popularly known as “biohacking.”

Biohacking for autoimmune disease?

Biohacking is simply a fancy name for taking ownership of your health and running low risk "experiments" on yourself. Is that a good idea? Is it safe? Will my doctor approve? Where should I begin? How do I know it is working? How do I do it? How long do I do it for? These are just some of the questions I have had throughout my healing journey, and you probably have some of them right now too.

January 2018 is a great time begin, continue, or refine personal biohacking experiments for autoimmune diseases, because over 30 autoimmune disease specialists have joined forces to support you through a program we are calling the Autoimmune Healing Intensive. We want to support you every step of the way. 

The Autoimmune Healing Intensive

The Autoimmune Healing Intensive is a comprehensive healing program delivered by 30+ of the leading autoimmune specialists including Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, Dr. Terry Wahls and Sally Fallon Morell, founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation (all bundled up in one place).  It will be available for a limited time from January 1st - 31st 2018.

The Autoimmune Healing Intensive is all about self-experimentation which allows you to figure out what strategies, diets, lifestyle changes make sense and work for you specifically. It walks you through this self-experimentation process step-by-step and connects you with a global community of support which is totally revolutionary. 

The program brings together lessons, self-experiment “run sheets” created by leading experts in autoimmunity (including myself), worksheets, resources, videos, an exclusive website and Facebook group, and daily on-demand support.

All for an incredible package price of just $64. (Click here to learn more now) 

Yes, just $64. For that small one time investment, you get the expertise of more than 30 specialists, including medical doctors like Terry Wahls, leading researchers like Sarah Ballantyne, nutritionists, nurses, health coaches, and therapists. It's a steal of a deal because we are so excited to grow this community and change the way we view and manage chronic autoimmune disease. Isn't your health worth this investment? 

Making It Easy to Eat Healthy

I have contributed an exclusive Autoimmune Paleo Batch Cooking Meal Plan which includes a 7-day AIP compliant meal plan, step by step instructions for how to cook an entire week’s worth of food in just two 2-hour sessions (life changing), grocery lists and twelve of my favorite, easy, AIP compliant recipes! Diet is one of the most fundamental pieces of the self-experimentation program, and this guide gives you all the tools you need without any confusion or overwhelm. The only way to access this batch cooking guide is through this program. 

Other experts have contributed resources on stress reduction, emotional aspects, involving family, coping with grief, traveling, hormones, supplements, nutrition, and exercise, in a variety of formats including ebooks, videos, meal plans, challenges, and exclusive discussion groups. Even if you only use a couple of these tools, I am sure you will consider your $64 very well spent.

Need more details?

The folks at Biohack U have coordinated this revolutionary project and you can watch the informational video below or read more about the program over at their website here >>

Support for learning how to experiment will only be available each day throughout the month of January 2018 so sign up now to get the most out of it!

Trust yourself, and what your body is telling you because you know it better than anyone else, and know that it is possible to live well with chronic disease. It is possible to wake up and feel energized and excited about the day ahead of you. To be able to care for your kids and be there for your family. To have the stamina to enjoy a productive career you love.  To feel great in your body.  Sometimes you just need the right guidance and support to get started.  Click here to learn more and join the program >>  

Easy Breakfast Casserole

If you're looking for a good, easy recipe that can feed the whole family this is perfect.  My family makes this every year on Christmas day and it's always a big hit. It's naturally gluten-free and dairy-free so it will work for those in the group with allergies and intolerances. 

You could even make this just for yourself, and store the extras to heat up for a quick, nutrient filled breakfast (batch cooking is my favorite). I hope you and your family enjoy it! 

Easy Breakfast Casserole 

Ingredients

Cooking oil (extra virgin olive oil or coconut) 

1 bell pepper, chopped

3 large handfuls spinach (or kale)

1 1/2 lbs ground turkey 

12 eggs

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Lightly oil a baking pan (8 x 12)

Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions and bell peppers and cook until soft. Add spinach and cook until wilted (about 2 minutes) 

Remove veggies and place in a bowl

Add more oil to the pan. Add the ground turkey and cook through. Combine with veggies and add salt and pepper to taste. 

Spread the turkey and veggie mixture into the pan. 

Break the eggs into a bowl and whisk. Pour evenly over the turkey and veggies (they don't need to totally cover the mixture but should be close) 

Place in oven and bake for about 35-40 minutes. 

Cut, serve and enjoy! 

If you want some more easy recipes that your family will love, click here to download my free guide to batch cooking >> 

You’ll get:

+ 7 day meal plan

+ Step by step instructions for how to cook an entire week’s worth of food in just two 2-hour sessions (life changing)

+ Grocery lists

+ Twelve of my favorite, easy recipes!

Enjoy making delicious and nutritious meals in way less time!