Breakfast Hacks

I’m notorious for skipping breakfast but feeling guilty about it later. I was stressing about what to eat and forgot to eat. Then I realized, i need a simple no-fail solution. Here’s my breakfast solution, and yes they’re all oatmeal.

• When I’m running late I’ll have a Bob’s Red Mill instant oatmeal in a cup. $1.59
• If I feel like meal prepping I’ll do a couple of oatmeal in a jar with apricots, dates, nuts and other dried fruits. $0.75
• Sometimes I’ll splurge and get a fresh blueberry oatmeal from Starbucks. $3.75

The bottom line is to create healthy habits. Stick to a simple no fail breakfast menu and vary your options. You’ll prevent boredom and promote balance. (Ex: different types of oatmeal.)

The number one reason I enjoy oatmeal is because of its fiber content. After all fiber scrubs the colon and we all want our colon to be clean. (Right) There’s other benefits but being fibrous is a highlight.

I’m focusing on breakfast because our country, USA, has a backward view of a 1st meal. If you think about it, everything we consume has a lot of sugar or even worse… fake sugar.

• Muffin = Cupcake
• Pancake = Cake
• Cereal = Similar to “Sprinkles” on a Cake
• Instant Cocoa = Milk Chocolate
• Chocolate Milk = Creamy Milk Chocolate

Prevent boredom and promote balance.

By Ho’omālamalama

The goal is to hack-away at what doesn’t work and find what does. Because a hack isn’t just a shortcut, it’s also a better way of doing something. The best way to adapt *clean eating habits is to update one meal per week, then one week of meals. My hack was breakfast. What’s yours?

*Clean Eating (my definition): non-GMO, low to zero sugar, no preservatives or additives.

Now this discipline does not include cheat-days 🙂

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Cooking with co-workers.

We’ll I didn’t cook, this time, but I had the opportunity to taste it! Pickles and energy bites came from Carl’s class at the high school.

Elderberry oxymel made with elderberries, herbs, honey and apple cider vinegar. It’s a delicious tonic that my friend, Davina, has perfected over time.

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Classic Treat

I enjoy eating Red Vines licorice but not all the additives and preservatives. Luckily there’s an alternative and it’s called Classic Red.

Just don’t eat the whole bag in one sitting. Check the bag for recommended daily servings per person. However if you’re like me that won’t work. So I typically share it and take a few pieces.

Oh, and it’s vegan.

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March’s Fitness

When covid19 shut down the school I started online fitness for teachers. It was amazing and inspirational. The best part is that we still workout. In fact March 13th will mark our one year anniversary. Here’s this months schedule:

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Cheat Dayz

I’ll be the 1st to confess that I live for cheat days! But even when I’m cheating I try to keep it non-GMO, organic, kosher, locally grown or homemade.

From my coconut water to hot dogs I try to keep it clean. Clean eating is basically everything I mention earlier. In fact buying your greens from a local grower is typically the better choice.

• Most family farms don’t use pesticides.
• They often can’t afford the “organic” label fees.
• So they don’t charge organic prices.
• Their produce has a small carbon footprint.
• You’re supporting your community.

When to shop.

Buying organic isn’t expensive IF you know when and where to shop.

• Costco has organic whole chicken which can create several dishes. You can also grab quinoa, hemp hearts, chia seeds and organic bison. (You don’t need a lot of protein but you do need more plant fiber.)
• Fred Myers/ Kroger has an entire section of organic meats that have a regular expiration date. I typically wait for a sale and scoop up a bunch then freeze them. They also have my favorite coconut water, organic squashes and bananas.

• Greens – You can join a local co-op or produce box membership for a community farm. They have the best eggs and their greens are tasty. (A good egg should have a high yolk and vibrant coloring.) Also check WholeFoods on Amazon.
• Cash & Carry is a shop that sells to businesses and they specialize in offering Bob’s Red Mill grains and gluten free products.
• Costco Business doesn’t have the famous $1.50 hotdog combo but it does have bulk garbanzo beans, organic pho noodle bowls and raw honey.

Basically

Even when I’m blowing the bank I’m still observing some form of clean eating.

For example I showed my teens how to make lasagna and we went all out!

I enjoyed every single calorie and I’d do it again!

We made several pans because we invited our Ohana over for dunch (dinner + lunch). My brother couldn’t make it so he got a pan for his house.

You’re suppose to let it sit but that didn’t happen. We watched the layers of mozzarella and Tillamook cheese ooze down the side like lava.

It was glorious.

We topped off our dunch with cake(s).

In Hawaiian we say…

Piha ka ‘opu

Full/content is the stomach.

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Workouts

So far my children and I have been sticking to our 4x’s or more fitness schedule. I haven’t opened my livestream sessions yet but it’s coming.

We’ve been enjoying the outdoors.

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If I workout do I need to eat healthy?

Well that totally depends on what you want. Maybe fitness is a social event and you’re just chillaxing through the process. Otherwise YES EATING HEALTHY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. [Said with love and support.]

The best way to transition is slowly & NOT through a DIET [said as an educator] in my opinion. Again it’s my opinion, I’m not telling you what to do.

I recently started cooking like this. For a long time Quinoa seemed difficult but it wasn’t. The only problem was my negative perspective, so once I got over it I started cooking it regularly.

Now I prep my meals and enjoy experimenting with Quinoa. But believe me when I say that I don’t eat like this everyday. In fact my weekends look totally different.

Anyway, back on the subject, food does matter. I actually wrote another blog about it called FOOD & FITNESS, WHY IT MATTERSWhy am I writing about this?

I actually overheard a fitness coach tell a client, “Don’t worry you can workout those calories, just keep coming.” Hmm… the calories from a jelly donut 🍩 isn’t the same as a sweet potato. One actually carries vitamins & minerals, and the other is empty of any value. [Note: I was visiting this gym for a master class.]

PS: Sugar isn’t the same type of energy as chia seeds, I’m just saying. But don’t get me wrong I like a Sunday sweet treat but I don’t expect those calories to benefit my body.

Why can’t all fitness professionals be honest?

I addressed the coach later and asked, “Why didn’t you tell her the truth.” He said, “Because it doesn’t matter, I can help her burn off the calories.” HOLD-UP Shouldn’t we be empowering our clients to make better choices. I would rather have my clients learn to live sustainably instead of relying on me. My thought, “No bueno brah!” And, “Where did you go to school?” Okay, I have to change the subject…

My weekend, on special occasions.

When I do have a special treat I splurge on quality. In other words the baker or chef totally luvs what they do. Their recipes are a combination of curated products, such as farm fresh eggs.

Recently my Ohana enjoyed some Macaroons & Cupcakes from our fave Seattle spot Trophy 🏆 Cupcakes and Party. This is a weekend treat.

True story: I put supermarket cupcakes in a Trophy box and my Na Keiki (children) totally knew the difference. They were like, “Mom this taste different!” “How so you know, it was in the box?” I asked. “THE FROSTING DOESN’T TASTE RIGHT!!!” Ahh so true, they’re mini-foodies. You can taste the quality.

I hope you enjoyed this post & please share the Aloha. Tell me how you balance food, fitness & family. PEACE Be the Journey

BECOME A MERMAID

RANDOM CONFESSION: I adore packaging. I’m such a geek 🤓 because I will read & study the fonts, labels & design.

On the WholelisticFit Blog

Read more here.

Comment below: What motivates you?

Meal Prep vs Kawaii, Bento

Meal prep is when you line up a bunch of containers in a sort of assembly line process. Bento box lunches are the exact opposite, especially in Kawaii style. The idea behind it is taking your time to plate a beautiful and appealing meal. Kawaii uses dainty objects for sauces and special tools to cut designs into veggies. And they’ll often create cute characters. 🍱

What’s the point?

The point is value. How we in America value meals compared to other countries, like Japan, where food is a ritual to lift the Soul by nourishing the body.

Find Balance

So I find a happy balance between the two. I’ll usually prep a base, like cooking a batch of quinoa, and accessorize them in Bento fashion. Each time appealing to my senses & visually showing self-love. Loving myself enough to nourish my body in a holistic way. Below are some of my creations. For Ingredients and closer pics visit Instagram, it has each Bento with fit-foodie details.

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It all boils down to perception, how one perceives their body. I teach my fitness ladies to enjoy the food process. Eating is the single thing that we do for ourselves, daily. So why not make it lovely.

On the WholelisticFit blog I wrote and article about choosing a fitness routine/style that will meet the needs of your mind, body and Soul. It’s a private blog for Mermaids so make sure to use your password. Or… become a Mermaid using the link in the sidebar. See you in Instagram.

I’m back… Paleo inspired lunch.

It’s Valentines Day in New Zealand 🇳🇿 and it will be tomorrow here in the USA. This is a beef inspired dish plated with a lovely organic tomato for all of you fit-foodies. Showing love ❤️ to your body by taking time to eat beautifully. I read a post by Dr. Mark Hyman, “You are what your food ate.”

I’m not a regular beef connoisseur but when I do eat it I prefer locally raised & grass fed. Since my last post I’ve been in training and the extra workout has me eating more protein.

DETAILS: Fit-Foodie Inspiration: Bulgogi beef cuts with shredded ginger, carrots & purple cabbage. On a spinach nest topped with a juicy tomato. Seasoned with crushed pepper & Yakima smoked salt. [My fave sea salt smoked with apple wood.] Beef 🥩 is grass feed organic & my butcher knows how to make bulgogi slices.

More fit-foodie inspiration & smoothies on my Instagram.

WholelisticFit Blog: “The art of self-care.” I started writing more holistic lifestyle post on a Members only blog, but don’t worry it’s easy to join. In fact it’s free. I’ll post the link below.

The goal is to live in BALANCE while getting fit. Paying attention to the mind, body & Soul. If you’re already a Mermaid then use this link to read the post.

To join the Mermaid pod click here, it’s free and you get access to the WholelisticFit blog, monthly newsletter & occasional printable.

Calendula salve I made & wrote about on the holistic blog. What’s your self care routine?

Don’t forget to spoil yourself.

Stop having breakfast blues.

I hear this all the time, “I’m not into breakfast” or “I don’t have time for breakfast.” Let me be the first to raise my hand. 🤚 I use to say both but finally changed my evil ways. Lol. Here’s the problem, most of us went to schools that served blah-type of food. We skipped the sorry excuse of a meal and opted for the chocolate milk. To only be greeted by a bland lunch or what they called chef 👨‍🍳 special. Yikes!

We’ve become disconnected to food, its purpose, the quality & the growers. What we need to do is educate ourselves and become curious about food. Learn about the products you consume and watch videos, vlogs and livestream episodes by people who make ah-mazing dishes.

It’s almost like falling in love with yourself and spoiling your tastebuds. Finding that sweet spot of ingredients that inspire you is the goal. What will wake you up in the morning? If you said bacon I hope you meant turkey-bacon. 😅

Below is a video I did about another smoothie mentioned on my Instagram page. Comment in the box below if you tried it or have a recipe to share.

FROM THE UNICORN 🦄 SMOOTHIE HERE’S AN EASY INGREDIENT LIST AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THE BODY.

Turmeric – Wonderful root that’s waking up our digestive system. All health stems from a healthy gut.

Beets – I use to dislike it but blended up in its raw form is delicious.

Chia – NEED ENERGY? This is exactly what the body will thrive from.

Mango, Banana, Apple – Has valuable vitamins but more importantly it TASTE GREAT.

Honey – More energy & healing properties, according to ancient theories.

Enjoy your life and enjoy what you eat. PEACE Be the Journey, Ho’omālamalama

 

 

It’s a Smoothie thing! How to create your own recipes.

What is it about our culture that has us buying blenders? The idea of slurping up your vitamins sound simple but isn’t this just

glorified baby food?

The idea of processing what we can chew to make an on-the-go meal might be appealing to some… unless you like food. And I’m a foodie before fitness so this took some time.

• I understand the benefits.
• I bought a Vitamix in 2016.
• I never used the Vitamix.
• I bought books about it.
• I joined challenges.

At the end of the day I preferred to bake or broil before blending but that was just me. The truth is that I like smoothies but I didn’t like making them. Until now.

I began to wonder about the flavor that certain combinations would create. That was basically the end to the beginning. Here’s my thought to keeping it simple and how to develop your own recipes.

1. Don’t overwhelm yourself just breathe.
2. Pick one main ingredient that inspires you.
3. Find other veggies, fruits, grains or seasonings that will complement it.
4. Here’s my formula: Power Veggie + Natural Fiber + Flavor Fruit + Seed + Liquid = basic smoothie.
5. Example: golden beets (power veg), carrots & beet tops (fiber), mango & pineapple (flavor fruit), chia (seed) then water.

I drizzled honey on top for flavor and extra energy but the best part is that a lot of these ingredients provide dual benefits.

Watch the process here.

My Instagram page is holding me accountable to drinking at least one smoothie per week. So wish me luck and I’m sending some your way too. If you have an awesome recipe put it in the comment box. PEACE Be the Journey.