Zen Beach Life

And the winner of the Transform Your Body with Food cookbook is Heather Lester Vario! Congratulations!!! Tomorrow, November 2, is the final day you can pre-order your own copy through etransfer at: [email protected] **That way you can ensure you receive a copy on the date it becomes available on November 14. The book will be available at Bluewater Nutrition on London Road! The cost of the book is $40 including tax.

I am SO excited to announce the release of my new recipe book Transform Your Body With Food! SHARE this post, and comment that you shared, to enter a draw for a FREE copy! This book is filled with over 100 plant-based recipes that include smoothies, snacks, lunches, dinners, and of course treats!. These recipes have been designed to promote weight loss, improve digestion, reduce bloating, and of course be easy to make! They are all recipes my whole family eats! The bo...ok is available for pre-order until this Friday, November 2. ***************************************************** You may preorder through etransfer to: [email protected] Password: recipes ***************************************************** The books will be ready by Wednesday, November 14 at Bluewater Nutrition for pick up, or can be purchased after that directly at the store with cash only. A big thanks to Bluewater Nutrition for carrying the book! The cost of the book is $40 including tax, and would make great Christmas gifts for the upcoming holiday! A BIG THANK YOU to my wonderful friend Carrie Gauthier-Laakes who worked tirelessly to produce such a beautiful end product!. Your commitment and perseverance through a challenging time is so appreciated by many and should serve as an example to us all:) Check out the cover and some of the interior pages below! Draw will take place Thursday evening and winner will be announced on Facebook!

Here’s a great rainy day recipe! Vietnamese Pho! This is one of our family’s favourite meals, especially on days like today Pho (pronounced feh) is a traditional Vietnamese stew that consists of a flavourful broth with noodles and veggies. You can get totally creative as to which veggies you want to use! I love how the flavour of the miso melds with the mushroom and bok choy in this version. Check out the recipe below! -1 box or bag of soba or udon noodles (8 oz....) -2 (1L) cartons of organic vegetable broth -1 small onion, diced -1 pound (454 g) of cremini mushrooms, cut into quarters -1 pkg. of shanghai bok choy or baby bok choy, washed, and chopped small -2 carrots, sliced thin -2 tbsp. of olive oil -2 tbsp. of dark miso paste -A splash of soy sauce or tamari -Optional topping - chopped green onions, cilantro, red chile peppers. Heat the 2 cartons of vegetable broth, along with the carrots, to boiling in a large pot. Drizzle the olive oil in a large skillet and saute the onions for 2-3 minutes at medium heat. Add the miso paste and stir around with a spoon. It will gradually break up and melt as it cooks with the onions. Add the mushrooms and stir to coat the miso with the mushrooms. Lower the heat and partially cover. The mushrooms will gradually release their moisture and soften. Allow them to cook for about 5-7 minutes or until soft. Add the bok choy to the mixture and stir to coat. Partially cover the skillet again, allowing the bok choy to soften. Remove from heat when the bok choy is soft and has turned a bright green colour. Add the noodles to the broth once it boils, and cook according to package directions (usually only 7-8 minutes). Remove from heat when finished. Add the mushroom and bok choy mixture into the pot and stir. Give the entire soup a generous splash of soy sauce to taste. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with the optional toppings. Enjoy!!!!

So I haven’t posted in a really long time to share a recipe but just had to with this one!!! This is our family’s favourite Fall recipe (and yes I’m one of those Fall lovers!). It’s super easy and makes your kitchen smell like a Thanksgiving feast! Check out my Warm and Cozy Autumn Veggie Bowl Recipe! (Serves 4 generously) -2 cups of quinoa, rinsed and drained ... -1 medium head of cauliflower, chopped into small florets -2 large sweet potatoes, peeled, and diced into 1-inch pieces -3 red peppers, seeded, and diced into 1-inch pieces -Olive oil, for drizzle -1 tbsp. of chopped rosemary -1 tsp. of dried sage -Sea salt to taste Dressing: -1 garlic clove, minced - cup of olive oil - cup of red wine vinegar - cup of fresh parsley, chopped fine -1 tsp. of dijon mustard -1 tbsp. of maple syrup -Sea salt to taste Preheat the oven to 425 F and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread out all of the chopped veggies over the 2 sheets. Drizzle the veggies with a little olive oil and turn to coat. Sprinkle the veggies with the sage, salt, and fresh rosemary. Place the baking sheets on 2 separate racks in the oven and allow to bake for 30-35 minutes, turning halfway through. Meanwhile, place the quinoa in a medium saucepan, along with 3 cups of water, and bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as it boils, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and set aside. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. When the veggies are done, place in a large bowl, along with the quinoa and dressing, and turn to coat everything well! Enjoy!

Did you know a healthy gut also equals a healthy mind? Fostering a healthy microbiome in the gut not only improves digestion and promotes weight loss...it can also relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression! Many large scale recent studies in the past few years have shown that the the good bacteria in the gut are responsible for up to 90% of the serotonin production in the body. Serotonin is the happiness hormone that improves your mood, digestion, and sleep. If you ha...ven’t jumped onto the probiotic train yet, it’s a great idea to get started! Regularly consuming a good quality probiotic each morning helps restore those good guys to your system and keeps the bad guys in check. Ideally we want 80% of the bacteria in our gut as the good guys, but studies are showing most people have a lot less (like in the 50% range or lower)... Got a probiotic question? Let me know in the comments!