Sexy, Fit and Fabulous for 2014

How many times have you said to yourself, “I have to lose weight”, “I have to go to the gym more often”, “I have to eat healthier”, I want to look sexy, fit and fabulous.

We tend to do the same resolutions every year, but nothing happens because we are simply not ready. We know that at some point we will have to decide what we really want. We want to look sexy, fit and fabulous!

What we think, believe and do is a reflection of our internal balance and harmony with ourselves. When we become conscious of that it becomes easier to make proper food choices.

The approach to healthy eating is a slow transition.

1.            LOVE YOURSELF

Find a quiet, peaceful moment in your busy schedule. Create a personal space using candles, incense, flowers and stones in your favourite room. 

Think about all the good things that happened to you lately – especially when you feel down or caught in negative feelings. Be grateful for everything you have: health, people that you love and that love you, your parents, your spouse, friends etc. Write down your affirmations. Visualize what you would like to create in your life and sense it as if it is happening right now (health, sexy, fit and fabulous slender body, happiness, harmony), and practice love, peace and compassion.

2.            LOVE YOUR FOOD

Listen to your Body. How do you feel emotionally, physically and spiritually after ingesting certain foods?  What are your cravings? Incorporate one food at a time and experiment with it. Prepare your food with love, as it will aid in digestion. Create your own recipes in order to develop a relationship with food.

3.            LET IT GO

Our body needs natural food, rich in nutrients and enzymes without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and that has not been irradiated, packaged, processed and genetically modified. Eliminate them!  Remember what you put in your body is what you become. If you put junk in your body, your body becomes a junk yard, and if you put superfoods in your body you become healthy, happy,sexy, fit and fabulous in body, mind and spirit. A work of art! 

 

 4.            EAT SUPERFOODS

Superfoods will detoxify your body and nourish and rejuvenate the cells. These life-force foods include fruits, vegetables, and raw or sprouted seeds and nuts. Think about live, organic food taken from the garden and solar-powered with the sun’s energy. When we eat this food, this energy is transferred into our body and gives us energy, youthfulness, and well-being.

SEA VEGETABLES: Eat spirulina, dulse, wakame, arame, kombu, or chlorella on a daily basis. They are packed with trace minerals, and they remove toxic chemicals and metals from the body. Toss them on salads or use in soups.

VEGETABLES: Make your own salad with radicchio, green leafy lettuce, arugula, and dandelion. You can add beans or radishes and sprinkle on some ground flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, or dulse.

WHOLE GRAINS: Eat fibre such as basmati brown rice, amaranth hemp seeds, kamut breads and Quinoa. They are important for digestive health and efficient bowel movements.

GOJI BERRIES: Packed with nutrients and fiber, eat this fruit at least ½ hour before your meal. Have a bowl of fruit in the morning. Mix apples, papayas, mangoes, pineapples, bananas, pears and sprinkle with Goji berries.

SEEDS AND NUTS: Eat almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and brazil nuts. For better digestion soak seeds and nuts over night.

SMOOTHIES: Mix hemp or rice protein with almond milk in a blender.  Add some maca and/or bee pollen, as well as frozen bananas. It is so yummy and filling.

WATER: Drink water that has gone through reverse osmosis.  Make sure that you get at least two litres of water a day to help your body remove toxic waste, especially if you drink coffee and alcohol, which are diuretics and promote fluid loss.

GREEN TEA: Drink this instead of coffee. It is a potent antioxidant, contains flavonoids, helps regulate blood sugar, and is anti-inflammatory.

LEAN PROTEIN:  Fish, eggs, and chicken are very good for non-vegetarians.

 

5.            EXERCISE

There is no weight loss and fit body without exercise. Adding 30 to 45 minutes of gentle physical exercise such as walking, cycling, and dancing will promote cleansing of the blood by stimulating circulation and perspiration. It will increase strength and well-being, and reduce stress. Be around people that exercise regularly and eat healthy!

Treat your body, your temple, the house of your soul with care and respect. You want to make the best choices for your body; you want to eat the best food available on the planet and we want to be sexy, fit and fabulous.

HERB BROCCOLI SALAD

2 cups broccoli, chopped in florets

1 yellow red bell pepper, cubed

2 tbsp capers, sundried

1 lemon, freshly squeezed

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic, minced

½ tsp marjoram, dry

½ tsp sage, dry

Celtic salt to taste

Sunflower seeds

 

Combine broccoli, red bell pepper, capers, lemon, olive oil, garlic, marjoram, sage and salt in a salad bowl

Marinate the mixture for ½ hour

Sprinkle with sunflower seeds

 

Simona Stepancic BSc, RHN, ROHP

In August I like to invite friends to join me on a picnic, at the beach, on a farm or in my own garden.

A summer picnic is all about playing outdoors, laughing, relaxing and eating delicious food. As a host and nutritionist I feel a responsibility to provide the most nutritious food that will also satisfy every taste bud.

I create special recipes so that when my friends come they can’t wait to try my picnic-perfect ideas.

 

HEALTHY PICNIC – PERFECT IDEAS

1. Use colorful summer harvest

Take advantage of the fruits and vegetables that come into season gradually from June to August such as apricots, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries and plums. They are delicious in fruit salads or sliced and topped with seed sauces.

Asparagus, celery, carrots, red and yellow peppers, cucumbers, radishes and tomatoes are excellent summer vegetables to give color and texture to your dish.

 

2. Quick and Easy vegan appetizers

Create an easy healthy food by using fresh, crisp vegetables such as carrot sticks, celery sticks, peppers, chopped fennel, cucumbers, radishes, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower and broccoli florets. 

Arrange sliced vegetables on a platter, and add home-made spreads or dips in the center such as parsley dip, hummus, white bean dip or spinach dip.  

Raw almond butter is yummy and delicious with celery sticks. Baked tortilla chips are healthier version of high fat corn chips and excellent with my home-made salsa. Try brown rice crackers – they go with everything.

I always serve nori vegetable rolls stuffed with sunflower or almond pate and veggies. They are filling and a perfect bite size appetizer.

 

3. Perfect Salads

Cool and crisp salads are always fabulous to eat during the hot summer days. Make your own salad with English cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, black olives, oregano, olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper. This salad is a perfect summer meal and one of my favourites.

For building your own salad use vegetables that you can prepare the day before, such as broccoli, celery, carrots, green cabbage, red cabbage, green onions, radishes, zucchini, cucumbers and olives. You can sprinkle them with walnuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds or almonds.

 

4. Delicious Fruit Salads

I use fruits as a sweet dessert. I like to mix strawberries, apples, bananas, peaches, grapefruits and oranges in the bowl. Watermelon is also very cooling on a hot summer day.

Prepare the fruit salad the evening before your picnic. Sprinkle fruit with lemon to prevent browning and cover the bowl with a clear plastic wrap. Store it over night in the refrigerator.

Serve the fruit salad as is or sprinkle it with cinnamon or coconut flakes. So good and refreshing!

 

5. Perfect Beverages

Pure water is of course the best for our body in the hot summer days. Drink at least 2 liters of water a day, especially if you are playing outdoors in a hot sun. You can add some freshly squeezed lemon to your water for flavour or you can make your own smoothie recipe with strawberries, banana and blueberries. Pour the smoothies into icy cold bottles and take to the picnic in a cooler with lots of ice-cubes.

 

Enjoying summer picnics does not have to be a challenge for healthy eating. Try these suggestions and appreciate the gifts that nature provides for us.

 

                      

HEALING WITH COLOURS IN FOOD

Simona Stepancic BSc, RHN, ROHP

Holistic Nutritionist/Plant Based Nutrition Coach, Holistic  Orthomolecular Practitioner

I have a simple explanation what colour is. Colour is a result of light and it is broken down into wavelengths and into different vibrational levels.

Foods that we eat daily also carries a vibration  and each colour of the rainbow has its own frequency.  When we eat this colourful, high frequency food, we ingest positive energies into our body.

 Foods affect our body, emotions, mind and spiritual life.  What we eat and how we eat also reflects a state of harmony within ourselves, with the environment and with the planet.

Food is much more than fat, protein and carbohydrates. Foods also possess energies that are important for healing, maintaining, building and cleansing the body.  Each food has a particular taste, shape, colour and texture.

Full spectrum coloured food contains sunlight energies stored in plants through the process of photosynthesis.

Seven spectrum colours in food correspond to seven main energy centers or “chakras” in the body. The word “chakra” is derived from Sanskrit meaning “wheel”. A chakra is a spinning vortex or wheel of energy; each one is located along the spine from the base to the crown of the head.

Chakras can be affected by specific emotional and psychological issues, as they are connected to our nerves, hormones and emotions.  Chakras are the link between energy and the physical body.

BODY DETOX

with

Nutrient-rich foods: Seeds, Seaweeds and Blue-Green Algae

Simona Stepancic BSc, RHN, ROHP, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Orthomolecular practitioner, Raw Food Coach

SEEDS:

 

Flaxseeds:

Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Flaxseed is a potent laxative, and is beneficial for intestinal tract and cardiovascular system.

 

Quinoa:

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient grain-like seed. Quinoa has been cultivated in Andes, South America for more then 5.000 years.

Quinoa is high in insoluble fiber which helps prevent formation of gallstones, constipation, colon cancers, and heart disease. It also balances your blood sugar levels, which is very important during a detox when you may be eating less than your body is used to. Quinoa is a highly nutritious food packed with complete protein, iron, and high levels of potassium, B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese. Quinoa has a delicate taste and a nutty flavour when cooked. Have a bowl of quinoa every day.

 

 

SEAWEED:

 

Seaweeds are superfoods with remarkable health benefits. They are abundant in minerals and antioxidants such as beta-carotene, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, iodine and zinc.

Sea vegetables also contain alginic acid which binds in the intestines with heavy metals and then eliminates them through the stools.

 

WHEATGRASS:

 

Wheatgrass is a superfood with a good source of minerals, beta-carotene, B’s, vitamin C, E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, sulfur, chlorophyll, and amino acids.

Wheatgrass is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and a potent anti-oxidant. It detoxifies and alkalizes the blood, cleanses the gastrointestinal tract and liver, eliminates heavy metals and improves digestion.

 

SPIRULINA:

 

Spirulina is a green superfood rich in chlorophyll; it contains complete protein, minerals, carotenoids, all B-complex including high amount of B 12, and essential fatty acids. Spirulina is also a powerful antioxidant; it works on the lymphatic system, boosts the immune system and increases energy. Energize your mornings with a green spirulina drink.

 

Simona Stepancic BSc, RHN, ROHP, Registered Holistic Nutitionist, Raw Food Coach

 

Body Detox

with

Nutrient-Rich Food – Vegetables

 Simona Stepancic BSc, RHN, ROHP, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Raw Food Coach, Orthomolecular practitioner

There are a few detoxifying techniques that you can incorporate into your life.

 

 

1.      Eat organic nutrient-rich food

2.      Exercise

3.      Dry skin brushing

4.      Infra-red sauna

 

VEGETABLES:

 

Carrots:

Carrots are one of the best body cleansers. They contain Beta-carotene, vitamin B, calcium, vitamin C, pectin and fibre.

Carrots have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. They strengthen the liver, kidneys, lungs and digestive system.

 

Celery:

Celery is excellent blood cleanser, diuretic and laxative. Celery contains vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, silica, fibre and coumarins, anti-cancer compounds that may be beneficial in cancer prevention. It helps to neutralize acids in the body.

Drink celery juice after exercise to replace lost electrolytes.

 

Kale:

Kale is rich in iron, sulfur, vitamin C, beta-carotene, chlorophyl and calcium. It contains powerful anticancer compounds that protect against breast, lung and colon cancer.

Kale has a cleansing effect on the body and its high fibre content helps cleanse the intestinal tract. Kale can be added to salads or included in vegetable juices.

 

Cabbage:

Cabbage contains beta-carotene, calcium, vitamin B1 and B6 and vitamin K. It is also a good source of fibre and has antiseptic, antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Cabbage cleanses the liver, detoxifies the stomach and helps with digestion. Cabbage contains phytonutrients that remove free radicals, toxins and carcinogens from the cells. Cabbage is especially potent when eaten raw or juced.

 

Simona Stepancic BSc, RHN, ROHP, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Raw Food Coach, Orthomolecular practitioner

 

Foods that Heal

Simona Stepancic, BSc, RHN, ROHP, Holistic Nutritionist, Orthomolecular Practitioner and Raw Food Coach

Foods that we eat daily shape our body, emotions, mind and spirit.

What we eat and how we eat also reflects a state of harmony within ourselves, the environment and the planet.

Food heals, prevents, and in some cases fights disease. Certain food can make us beautiful, while some causes inflammation in the body. Knowing this, it is easier to become conscious about our food choices.

Eating organic, fresh living plant food such as fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, sea vegetables, sprouts, and high quality oils is essential to get the glow, and experience vibrancy and aliveness.

These foods contain minerals, vitamins and plant pigments which are disease preventive phytonutrients and anti-aging antioxidants.

Phytonutrients are naturally occurring substances that plants create for their own protection. They give plants their colour, taste and flavour, strengthen digestion, detoxify your body, preserve your beauty, but most of all they are anti-inflammatory and have the greatest preventive effects against free radicals and inflammation.

The goal is to eat as many anti-aging antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods as possible to boost the immunity and obtain lustrous hair, vibrant glowing skin, and strong healthy nails.

 Simona Stepancic, Registered holistic nutritionsit, Orthomolecular practitioner, Raw food coach