Oh yes……. soooooo yummy.

This awesome twist on traditional pancakes will have even the most non-citrus sweetie diggin in.

Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• Your favorite pancake mix
• Fresh lemon
• Organic blueberries
• Butter
• Powdered brown sugar
• Honey

Make:

1. Whip together pancake mix
2. Add in fresh lemon juice (I do about a 1 teaspoon of juice to 1/2 cup of pancake mix)
3. Toss in a few blueberries
4. Heat the pan on low-med and coat lightly with butter
5. Drop in the first batch of batter and let it cook until you see the bubbles form through
6. Flip and cook the other side to a golden brown
7. Stack your cakes, sprinkle lightly with powdered brown sugar & drizzle with honey

Notes:

• Keep the batter a little thick so the blueberries cook within the pancake as much as possible
• Don’t be afraid to squeeze a little extra lemon juice, the tart will contrast nicely with all the sweet flavors
• Unless you’re using 100% real maple syrup, substitute honey for your typical pancake syrup because that’s nothing but high fructose corn syrup in a bottle
• Protein, protein, protein! And since there isn’t any of that in pancakes, serve it up with some egg whites and/or veggie sausage

We’ve all hear the generic drink 8 glasses of water a day rule, but how much water you need to stay hydrated depends on a variety of factors. I want to bring to light a better method of determining how much H20 you should be taking down daily.

It’s quite simple….. 0.75 ounces x your body weight. The recommended is between 0.5 to 1 oz of water per 1 lb of weight. You can determine which end of the scale better suits you based on your activity level and climate, and the final tell-all…. a quick glance after you tinkle. The lighter the color, the better.

The easiest way I’ve found to keep track of my water intake, is by using a reusable water bottle, and diving up the total ounces you need, by the capacity of the water bottle, to know how many bottles per day you need. For example, 0.75 oz x 110 lbs = 82.5 oz. Let’s say your water bottle holds 18 oz. This means you’d need about 4.5 bottles per day.

There are a number of benefits to staying hydrated, and it cures a handful of issues that easily go unnoticed…..

• Dry itchy skin
• Fatigue
• Parched mouth & bad breath
• Bloating & digestion

That last one is huge if you’re going for weight loss. Hydration aids digestion, which means it boosts your metabolism, and in turn helps you remove excess weight and remove the toxins.

If you’re like me, reaching for water is a conscious effort and not always appealing. Add a slice of lemon to your bottle and you’ll find it much more flavorful, and keep it with you at all times, so it’s always within reach. Kinda like your cell phone ;)

GOOD MORNING! or afternoon for you east coasters. Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow so I wanted to feature one of my favorite breakfast dishes…… egg whites & sausage with guac.

Let’s start with the ingredients:

• 2 MorningStar Farm Veggie Sausage Links
• 2 Organic Eggs
• 1/2 Organic Avocado
• 1/2 Organic Tomatoes
• Organic Cilantro
• Organic Red Onion
• Organic Lime
• Salt & Pepper
• PAM Nonstick Spray - Organic Olive Oil

The veggie sausage:

• Bring a nonstick pan to medium heat with just enough water in it to cover the bottom.
• Place the frozen sausage in the pan and let the water evaporate. Be sure to turn the sausages occasionally as they do have a tendency to stick, even in nonstick pans.
• Once the water has evaporated, spray the pan with PAM and allow the sausages to brown for a few more minutes. (I typically cook my sausage and eggs at the same time at this point).

The eggs:

• Spray the pan with PAM, crack open two eggs and use only the egg whites form an omelet.

The guacamole:

• Mash up 1/2 an avocado
• Mix in the red onion, cilantro, diced tomatoes, and lime, with a pinch of salt to your liking.

Plate & chow down: garnish with some sliced tomatoes, freshly ground black pepper, and your favorite hot sauce.

I also wanted to point out that I typically use a 7” salad plate for my meals, so that you’re aware of the portion sizes. Have a safe & amazing weekend everyone!

Nutrition:

• Fat: 17.9g (49%) - the good omega 3’s
• Carbs: 15.8g (19%)
• Protein 25.7g (31%)

Let’s talk about an invisible little thing you’re probably wearing today. No one knows you’re wearing it, in fact, that’s kinda the idea. Out of guesses? I’m talking antiperspirants and deodorants.

Now deodorant, is really just a way to neutralize or coverup the lovely stink that occurs on a hot summer day or when you’re being called into your boss’s office. Antiperspirant is designed to mess with your normal bodily function and put a stop on your body’s natural cooling system. Except it’s not really sweat itself that stinks. It’s the bacteria on your skin breaking down causing all the commotion. So what do antiperspirants have that works the no-sweat magic? A combination of silicones, chemicals, and antibacterial agents. Antibacterials, like triclosan.

This controversial little ingredient was found in urine of 75% of the population. If that doesn’t make you grasp the concept of skin absorption, I don’t know what will. There are studies raising concerns on the possibility of triclosan throwing a wrench in our endocrine system, and potentially responsible for creating bacteria that is able to resist antibiotics. You can read up more on the FDA’s involvement here.

What else….. aluminum. It’s a neurotoxin. I think the compound word “neuro” and “toxin” says it all. This source cites that aluminum has been found in blood samples 15 days after one application, and potentially linked to Alzheimer’s. Do the math on that one.

And let’s throw one more in here…. butylated hydroxytoluene, better known as BHT. Said to be linked to cancer.

Personally, I’m not a fan of either antiperspirants or deodorants, but then again, I tend to run cold and skipping the stuff doesn’t seem to make a difference for me. For those of you who feel like you have no choice or risk walking around with unattractive armpit stains, seriously consider picking up a natural product. You know, one that isn’t going to run in your bloodstream, be absorbed by your brain, or cause you tumors. My pick….. cruelty free, recyclable, no artificial ingredients Tom’s of Maine. And your buck makes and extra bang with 10% of profits going to human and environmental causes.