This has been a hot summer to say the least, and working out becomes even more of a chore in the heat. But, this past weekend I tried paddle boarding and it completely changed the workout game for me.

Paddle boarding is a combination of surfing and kayaking (another awesome way to beat the heat and get a great workout in). You stand up on a board that looks like a surfboard but is a little bigger and you have one paddle that you use to get around. It is such a great workout for your core, legs, butt, arms – you name it. Even better, an average paddle boarding session (about one hour) burns about 615-708 calories. It also is low impact so if you have any back issues then it’s perfect for you!

Even celebrities are getting in on the action – Alessandra Ambrosia , Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, and Julia Robert!

I loved my experience paddle boarding. I think it’s a great way to switch up a work out, and is an awesome way to see a new place! If you go on vacation to an island or somewhere near water, I definitely recommend it.

To learn more about paddle boarding click here.

This s by far one of my favorite spur of the moment recipes. I invited one of my best friends to come over for brunch and this was the perfect brunch food for us.

It’s cereal crusted french toast with dark chocolate and strawberry compote. It was a little tricky but after a few times it became easier to make. All you need is:

• 4 Slices of whole wheat bread
• 2 Cups of Special K Red Berries cereal
• 1/3 Cup of dark chocolate
• 1 Egg
• 1 Cup of fresh strawberries
• 1/4 Cup of water
• 1 Tbsp of sugar

All you have to do is simply take the cereal and crush it until it is fine little pieces. Then take your egg and whisk it in a bowl big enough to fit your bread in. Take the bread and dunk it in the egg wash then move it to the crushed cereal and make sure every inch is covered. Put toast in the oven at 350 degrees until golden brown on both sides. In a small pot place the strawberries, water and sugar and stir on low heat until come to a boil. After they come to a boil, place on simmer and let cool. Take out the toast, pour the compote on and shave some dark chocolate onto these bad boys!

Happy brunching!

If you need any help, leave a comment in the comment section.

One of my all time favorite meals is chilli! I absolutely love the way my mom makes it – best part – it’s already healthy! Here’s the recipe to make a bomb chili to try tonight before you turn on Netflix.

WARNING I like mine hot, so modifiy to your desired spicyness – except the jalepeno, take the seeds out to decrease heat.

Ingredients

• 1 Pound ground turkey
• 1 20 oz can of tomato sauce
• 1 Red bell pepper
• 1 Green bell pepper
• 1 Jalepeno pepper
• 1 Tbsp Sirachi sauce
• 1 White onion
• 1 Can of red kidney beans
• 1 Tsp of chili garlic sauce

Here’s what to do with it all

Put olive oil in a pan and cook turkey meat until lightly brown on the outside. Take it out of the pan and place aside. Put olive oil in a pot and take chopped onion and cook till the onion is translucent. Then pour in the tomato sauce and add the beans and peppers. Add salt, pepper, chili garlic sauce, and siracha to your liking. Once that all comes to a boil then add turkey meat and reduce stove top to a simmer. Let sit for 45 minutes and then enjoy with your favorite toppings of cheese, sour cream, lettuce, bacon – whatever! Enjoy 🙂

How did you chilli come out? Let me know what you think in the comment section below!

You may not think vitamin D is an important supplement you should be getting daily, but after reading this blogpost I really hope you do! After doing some research for this post, I am forever devoted to vitamin D.Vitamin D is proven to reduce the risk of many disease and even lower your chance of getting breast cancer – if that’s not enough ladies then I don’t know what is.

 So what is vitamin D and what does it do? According to healthline.com, the most vital functions of this super vitamin are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, and facilitating normal immune system function. Getting the proper amount of vitamin D is important for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance against certain diseases.

You know that winter blues feeling we all get and complain about? Well apparently Vitamin D can help fight that as well! According to a 2010 study , people who showed deficiencies in vitamin were also dealing with depression and anxiety. After taking supplements and achieving a sufficient amount of vitamin D, their symptoms improved.

No wonder it’s called the sunshine vitamin. To learn more about vitamin D in relation to beast cancer click here.

Working out is a labor of love for me – labor is hard but I love the results!

It is so important to work, stretch, and push your body at least three times a week. It’s not only to keep you in shape, but it’s just good for your overall health. Here are some of the reasons you should get your body moving:

• More energy throughout your day (really? YES!)
• Can prevent diseases
• Helps you catch more zzz’s
• Makes your mood improve
• Increases brain function

It also is a great way to destress. There is no greater feeling to me then finishing a hard work out and knowing that I pushed myself to my max! Growing up I mostly did ballet and jazz, but when I went off to college I had to find a new way to work out.

My school has great classes and I love trying them out with my friends. Body Pump is a class that combines weights with cardio – aka not walking for three days. I also love going for runs around campus and doing yoga daily. I like to switch it up a couple times a week, that way I don’t get bored of my workout.

What are some of your favorite ways to sweat? To learn more about the benefits of working out click here.

Fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes….what could go wrong?

See, I really did go out and buy the asparagus. Hello! Bikini season is upon us and I have no time for bloat.

Yes detoxing is annoying. Yes every second I want to call the local pizzeria and ask for my very own personal margarita pie. Yes I am counting down the minutes to my next meal.

BUT do I feel great after? YES! There are four essential things I consume when I’m detoxing:

1. Green tea
2. Grapefruit
3. Asparagus
4. Lemon Water

First off, I only do this maybe three times a year and it’s only for a few days, because I will not have friends and my family will disown me because of my bad attitude. Even though those four things are essential to my detox, that does NOT mean it’s all I eat. I make sure to eat three meals a day and drink plenty of water.

I usually start out with a grapefruit and a cup of green tea and lemon water for breakfast. I then have kale, quinoa, and chicken for lunch. Last but not least, for dinner I have grilled chicken and a salad. I also drink a gallon of water a day just to really flush my systems outs and don’t go out to eat.

Light, simple, clean and all made by me!

*I’m not a nutritionist and I’m not saying that you should follow this. It’s just what I do as a detox because I know how my body responds to it.*

Yes, a Krabby Pattie.

I went to Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, NYC and had one of the best burgers of my life! It was a full on hamburger with a pound of lobster meat on top. Everything I could ever want, mmmm seconds please!

That’s a pretty bold title I had, but I do think this cooking method I tried was pretty crazy. I always have loved eggs benedict, but wanted to try an egg white version of it. Not eggs benedicts, but whatever it’s my version of it and I have a creativity license. 

So I took who small ceramic containers – like very small, not really what they’re for – and put an egg white in each of them. I put them in the microwave for 45 seconds and in no time and I cute little fluffy egg whites!

It’s honestly a miracle they didn’t stink up my house, or nothing
happened to the now purposeful little ceramic bowls.

I put them over a toasted english muffin with salmon and spinach. Voila! Breakfast for one.

If I was to have one meal everyday for the rest of my life, it would be grilled salmon and asparagus (boring I know but I love it).

There are so many great health benefits to eating salmon. It’s filled with Omega 3’s that promotes healthy joints and skin, reduces the risk of heart disease! But even though I could eat it everyday, the American Heart Association recommends eating it only twice a week (everything in moderation). It also is filled with vitamins, minerals and is a great source of protein.

Asparagus isn’t so bad itself, infant, it’s basically the MVP of vegetables. According to  health.com, asparagus has 10 killer health benefits:

• It can help you lose weight
• Is full of antioxidants
• Helps with hangovers (yes please)
• Reduces bloating
• Makes you happy
• Keeps your urinary tract healthy
• Contains Vitamin E
• It may help get you in the ~mood~
• Filled with Vitamin K
• Good source of folic acid

If those aren’t good enough reasons to start eating asparagus then I don’t know what is!  Brb off to the grocery story to buy some.

Check out health.com‘s article to learn more!