Recipe for meatless Potato Pie

I grew up eating this dish with meat and pine nuts inside...In Lebanese it's called "Batata bel saynye"
Since I do not eat meat , I made it with veggies ;)

Let's get to it!

Ingredients:

• 1-2 cups assorted frozen veggies
• 14 small-medium red potatoes ( you can use whatever potatoes you like , if they are big you can use 7)
• oil of choice or ghee
• hemp milk or any milk of choice
• ground flax
• salt to taste

Method: 

• First, peel the potatoes and cook in boiling water. Then when they are cooked take out and set aside for few minutes. 
• Place potatoes in a big bowl, add salt, oil or ghee ( I used about a tbsp of oil and a tbsp of ghee) and mash , adding 1/2 cup of hemp milk. Continue mashing until soft, like mashed potatoes. 
• Then grease baking dish with oil or ghee, and spread the potatoes using your hands on the bottom to make the first layer.  You can make it thick or thin, it totally depends on what you like.
• Then add the veggies ( frozen without defrosting or cooking them) on the layer of potatoes. 
• Then spread another layer of potatoes over the veggies to cover them up. You may wet your fingers in order to smooth out the top layer. Again the thickness of the potato layer is up to you.
• Then sprinkle the ground flax on top about a tbsp.  
• Spread a little bit of oil or ghee over the flax. I used ghee , I just cut them in small pieces and put a couple of pieces over the flax.  
• Preheat the oven to 350 and place the potato pie in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, then broil for 10-15 minutes in order for the top to get golden.

Enjoy!

Try the recipe and let me know how you like it. Remember to share a picture on social media with #bzhealthymama

I would love to hear from you in the comments below about how you keep up your busy schedule and healthy eating. 

As some of you may know that I am a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying to be a health coach . I'm learning about how food, diet, and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on our overall health, happiness, and well being . Not only am I learning how to improve my life , I'm also learning how to help clients look better, feel better , manage stress, and reach their health goals. I'm able to start seeing clients. If you would be interested in sitting down with me or skyping for about an hour to discuss your goals , message me (@bzhealthymama@gmail.com)so we can schedule your free health history consultation appointment.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

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Easy dinner idea-Veggies over rice

Hey everyone :)

I am back at work after a two month summer break. The kids are back to their activities . DAILY !!! 

I won't be able to cook daily so what I have been trying to do is cook for two days. 

I have done this recipe before , it's pretty easy :)

Let's get to it ....

Ingredients:

1- 2 small bags assorted frozen veggies ( mine had carrots, edamame, corn, and peas) Remember I am cooking for two days, you can always use one bag if you would like. 

2- 1 small onion chopped

3- 3 tomatoes blended 

4- 1 box of baby bella mushrooms cut small or pulsed in the blender

5- salt and pepper to taste

6- oil of choice - Like usual I use grapeseed oil

7-1-2 cups of water

8- Rice of choice cooked accordingly

Method:

1- Heat the oil

2- Add the onions and sautee  until golden

3- Add the mushrooms , the seasoning and sautee for 10 minutes . You can use other spices if you wish

4- Add the frozen veggies and sautee for 5-8 minutes

5- Add the tomatoes and the water. First add one cup of water then if you need more you can. I covered the veggies that's all. I did not add more this time

6- Bring to boil

7-Then let it simmer for 30-45 minutes

8- Adjust seasoning if needed

Enjoy over rice or quinoa . 

Try the recipe and let me know how you like it. Remember to share a picture on social media with #bzhealthymama

I would love to hear from you in the comments below about how you keep up your busy schedule and healthy eating. 

As some of you may know that I am a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying to be a health coach . I'm learning about how food, diet, and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on our overall health, happiness, and well being . Not only am I learning how to improve my life , I'm also learning how to help clients look better, feel better , manage stress, and reach their health goals. I'm able to start seeing clients. If you would be interested in sitting down with me or skyping for about an hour to discuss your goals , message me (@bzhealthymama@gmail.com)so we can schedule your free health history consultation appointment.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl

Green Beans and Rice

It is Sunday night and I'm exhausted. We were at the beach all day.

Tomorrow I go back to work after a two month vacation !! Alarm is set at 5:30 AM....it is going to be brutal lol

On Monday I made green beans and rice and as promised here is the recipe.

It was kids and husband approved. I was so proud of my daughter as she had some at home and some at school.She told me that she told her friends that she didn't like beans before but now she loves them coz she tried them .

Let's get to it 

Ingredients:

1. 2 lbs green beans ( I used the frozen ones)
2. 1 box of baby bella mushrooms cut small to give it a meaty feel
3. 1 medium onion, chopped
4. 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
5. 1 tsp cinnamon
6. salt and pepper to taste
7. 1 cup of water
8. 3 ripe tomatoes blended or chopped

Method:

1. Stem and cut the beans in half and set aside
2. Heat a tbsp of oil of choice ( grapeseed oil in my case), add onions, garlic and seasonings. Saute for 5-10 minutes or until golden.  
3. Add the mushrooms, saute for 5 minutes
4. Add water and simmer for 8-10 minutes
5. Then add the green beans and tomatoes
6. Add water to half the depth of bean mixture ( you can add more and cover if you like it saucy which was our case)
7. Bring to boil, then cover an simmer for at least 45 minutes. 
8. After 45 minutes, taste it and see if it needs to be simmered some more. If you add more water you might want to simmer it more. If you add less water you may need to simmer less.

Cook rice like usual. You can use any types of rice.
I used white rice and added turmeric to make it yellow because my daughter's favorite color is yellow. 

Try the recipe and share with me in the comments below or share on social media using the hashtag #bzhealthymama.

As some of you may know that I am a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying to be a health coach . I'm learning about how food, diet, and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on our overall health, happiness, and well being . Not only am I learning how to improve my life , I'm also learning how to help clients look better, feel better , manage stress, and reach their health goals. I'm able to start seeing clients. If you would be interested in sitting down with me or skyping for about an hour to discuss your goals , message me (@bzhealthymama@gmail.com)so we can schedule your free health history consultation appointment.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

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Easy recipe- Mushroom rice ( plant based)

I like to keep cooking simple and easy. I am Bz (BUSY) Healthy MAMA LOL

We were out of the house this whole week and we have been eating out so yesterday we wanted to eat something simple and homemade. 

So here is what the hubz and I came up with ....Mushroom rice ;) It  is so DELCIOUS 

Let's get to it . 

Ingredients:

1. 1 onion cut small 
2. 1 yellow pepper cut in small pieces 
3. 1/2 cup of red cabbage chopped small
4. 1 box of whole baby bellas cut in half . Kept them big to give the "meaty" feeling but you can cut them up in smaller pieces if you like. 
5. 1 tsp of homemade sauerkraut ( this ingredient is not necessary and can be omitted)
6. salt, pepper and cumin to taste 
7. olive oil 
8. two cups of rice ( we used white but you can definitely use brown - you just have to adjust the water accordingly)
9. 3 cups of water

Method:

First heat up a tbsp of olive oil in the pot ( you can substitute for a different cooking oil if you wish)

Add the chooped onions and sautee until goldenish, you can season wtih salt , pepper and cumin to start bringing out the flavor

Add the peppers, cabbage, and sauerkraut and continue sauteeing for at least 5 minutes

Then add the mushroms and add a little bit more olive oil ( about a tsp), and sautee for 5-8 minutes

Next, add the rice and sautee all together for few more minutes. Make sure rice is coated with the juices from the veggies

At this point, you can adjust the seasonings. Add more salt, pepper and cumin if you wish

Then add the water, bring to boil, cover, then simmer

It simmered for about 25-30 minutes. It depends on the rice your are working with! Make sure you check on it and don't burn it ;)

Enjoy ;)

Please note I do not mention the heat of the stove because at the beginning, you sautee at med-high but simmering has to  be on low.

Try this recipe and let me know in the comments below how you like it. If you decide to post a picture of it on social media, please use #bzhealthymama so I can see your posts. 

Easy dinner idea-Beans and Rice ( Lebanese)

The more I practice cooking, the more I love it and enjoy it.

My husband is a natural but I could not understand how he can just come up with a new recipe. 

Until I started practicing... Like I mentioned before, I rarely come up with recipes others have not made, but I make it my own and that's the beauty. I add my touch so it fits me and my family. We are all different and what works for me may not work for me.

Practice , practice, practice and cooking will get easier, I promise :)

Let's get to the recipe. 

Ingredients:

1. Pinto Beans ( I soaked them for 24 hours and cooked them with a pressure cooker). You can use the canned ones if you like and those don't need to be put in the pressure cooker ;)
2. 3-4 ripe tomatoes ( will blend them with the mushrooms )
3. A small case of baby bella mushrooms
4. 1/2 onion-1 onion if you like 
5. 5-6 cloves of garlic ( more or less , whatever works for you)
6. Assorted frozen veggies ( mine had corn, carrots, peas, and edamame)
7. Salt , pepper and cinnamon to taste
8. Rice- cooked according to package. To make it yellow , I add 1 tbsp of turmeric before I add the water.
9. Oil of choice ( avocado oil, grape seed oil, etc...)

Method:

1. If your beans are not cooked, cook them and set aside. I recommend soaking the beans 24-48 hours in filtered water. Make sure you change the water at least twice a day ~ you can google the importance of soaking beans LOL 
2. Heat up oil, add onions and sautee until golden.
3. Add garlic and continue sauteeing.
4. I blended the mushrooms and tomatoes on low, meaning pulsing so they are still chunky and add to the onions and sautee. If you don't have a blender just cut up the mushrooms and tomatoes and add to the onions and garlic.
5. Add the frozen veggies and season with salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Please feel free to skip any spice you don't like or add any that you do like. After all, this is your recipe! 
6. Sautee for 5 minutes then add the beans and the water. Add water to cover up all the ingredients. The more water you add, the more you need to let it simmer for it to be flavory rather than watery. 
7. Bring to boil on med high heat, then cover and let it simmer for at least 55 minutes. If it continues to be watery , let it simmer more. The water should become dark in color and full of flavor.  Taste your seasoning and adjust.  

Try the recipe and share with me in the comments below or share on social media using the hashtag #bzhealthymama.

As some of you may know that I am a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying to be a health coach . I'm learning about how food, diet, and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on our overall health, happiness, and well being . Not only am I learning how to improve my life , I'm also learning how to help clients look better, feel better , manage stress, and reach their health goals. I'm able to start seeing clients. If you would be interested in sitting down with me or skyping for about an hour to discuss your goals , message me (@bzhealthymama@gmail.com)so we can schedule your free health history consultation appointment.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl

Easy Meatless Potato Stew

Growing up with Lebanese food , I did not appreciate it much. I just wanted to eat fried chicken, fries, steak, bread and sweets. 
I remember my mom used to tell my dad "they don't eat anything"~ They=my sister and I , later my brother.  It is not like she would eat anything, we were like mothers like daughters.
So my dad used to reply " don't force them, they will eat when they are hungry. It is not like they are going to starve." So we were never encouraged or even forced to eat vegetables. My sister and I hated onions so bad that my grandmother had to cut them so tiny when she was cooking. Guess what!??!? We would pick them, it is like we had microscopic vision.
Right now , I LOVE Lebanese food and I appreciate everything about it to the point that I am cooking it ? I am plant basing it too ;) I know it is not a word !
Let's get to the recipe....

 

Ingredients:

•  1 small carton/box of baby bella mushrooms ground in small tiny pieces ( I used a handheld food processor)
• 1/2 onion cut in small pieces
• 6 red potatoes peeled and cut in cubes
• 3 ripe tomatoes blended in a blender
• 2 tbsp. of avocado oil
• salt/pepper to taste
• 1-2 tsp. of cinnamon ( you can add more if you like)

 

Method:

• Heat oil , add onions. Sautee the onions until golden.
• Add the mushroom and the seasonings, continue sautéing for about 10 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, sauté for few minutes so the potatoes are covered with the seasonings.
• Add the blended tomatoes, adjust seasonings if needed.
• Add more water to cover all the ingredients.
• Bring to boil on high heat then simmer for at least 45-55 minutes.
• It might need to simmer more, adjust to whatever suits your taste buds. 

Serve over white , brown or wild rice. You can also enjoy over quinoa.

Try the recipe and share with me in the comments below or share on social media using the hashtag #bzhealthymama.

As some of you may know that I am a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying to be a health coach . I'm learning about how food, diet, and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on our overall health, happiness, and well being . Not only am I learning how to improve my life , I'm also learning how to help clients look better, feel better , manage stress, and reach their health goals. I'm able to start seeing clients. If you would be interested in sitting down with me or skyping for about an hour to discuss your health , message me (@bzhealthymama@gmail.com)so we can schedule your free health history consultation appointment.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl

 

Gluten free vegan pancakes

Who does not like pancakes? 

I love them but I can not make them from scratch. I used to buy the packages organic ones but they were not gluten free. I tried many recipes that did not work for me and my family.

Then my friend Nathalie made a recipe using simple ingredients so what I did is I just added hemp milk and made my own measurements. 

The pancakes worked and they turned out more like crepes but we all loved them. Since I only cast iron skillet, the first pancake did get stuck to it even with plenty of oil!! Then it worked like a charm and I was able to make a mini stack LOL 

Here are the ingredients:

One cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1 mashed ripe banana

1 tsp aluminum free baking powder

1 cup hemp milk

1 tsp carob powder ( optional)

Mix the dry ingredients then add the banana and the hemp milk, mix all together.

Grease the skillet with oil of choice , heat up and pour mixture ( I used a ladle which is the spoon you use to pour soup) when it bubbles ( usually 3 minutes) turn over and cook for few minutes.

Repeat the process. 

Sprinkle chocolate chips, cacao nibs and sweetener of choice. 

Enjoy :)

Please try the recipe and comment below how you liked it.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

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Easy quinoa salad

Hey everyone :)

I did not even hear about quinoa until recently maybe about a year or a little bit more ago. 

I tried it for the first time and LOVED it. It is filling and light and it does not bloat you . 

Sometimes when you eat too much rice or pasta it feels heavy not with quinoa. 

Later I found out that quinoa is an ancient grain that existed long long long ago , I just did not know about it but now everyone knows about it lol I am serious!! Lebanese people dont cook quinoa and I havent heard of it before. When my mother in law was visiting in 2013 , she knew about it. So I guess it is "healthy" and "trendy" to eat quinoa now ;) That is awesome though coz it is super awesomely delicious , yum yum :)

So here are the ingredients:

1/2 cup of quinoa- Cook it according to the package and set on the side to cool.

1 large cucumber cut up in small pieces 

green onions cut up small

fresh mint ( 2-3 leaves)/cut up pretty small 

Not pictured and not addded could have been cilantro and parsley , next time. 

For the dressing:

Juice of one lemon

oilive oil or avocado oil ( to taste, I think mine was about 1tbsp)

sea salt to taste 

Toss all together ....can't get any easier than this ! Decorate with thyme and olives 

Enjoy :)

Please try the recipe and comment below how you liked it.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

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Easy simple plant based meal: Collard greens tofu pasta

My motivation

I always say in most of my posts, if I can do it ANYONE can. I did not like cooking ! I used to follow a recipe and more than 100% of the time I would mess it up. My husband would have to come add some of his magic and fix it or I would simply discard it and go somewhere to eat.

Not anymore, ummmm ok fine sometimes my husband still adds his magic touch;)

Anywho, my kids motivated me to cook for them. I wanted them to be healthy and eat homemade so if I don't make it how will it be homemade? I can't keep buy organic and not cook. 

The more I cooked, the more I liked it and I started experimenting !

So this recipe below is an experiment and guess what ???!!!! My husband LOVED it and he did not have to add anything. He did not even add salt BOOYA

I did not know what to name it so if you have a better name for it, please comment below ;)

Ingredients:

1 bunch of collard greens

1 bunch of cilantro

1 leeks 

1 block of tofu 

1 tbsp liquid aminos

salt and pepper to taste

grapeseed oil

pasta of choice

Method:

Cook pasta according to the package and set aside.

Chop collard greens , cilantro and leeks. Drain the tofu block, dry it with paper towels then cut in cubes.

In a large skillet, heat up a little of grapeseed oil ( 2 tbsp approx). You can use any oil you prefer I just like to use grapeseed oil.  

Then add the collard greens, cilantro and leeks. Saute for few minutes, then add salt, pepper and liquid aminos. Continue sauteing for about 3-5 minutes. Then add the  tofu and saute all together. 

Then add 1/2 cup of warm water, mix everything, cover and simmer. Simmer until the greens are wilted. Occasionally check and mix the mixture.  

It's ready ;) Pour over pasta or rice, whatever you wish. 

As will all my recipes, please feel free to substitute or add. You can add mushrooms, other spices, etc...

Please try the recipe and comment below how you liked it.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

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How to make ice cream with only one ingredient

How to make healthy no bake energy granola bars

Hey everyone :)

I would like to thank you for reading my posts. I appreciate all the feedback you have for me.

Please feel free to share my posts with your friends and family.  

Granola bars found in the stores are filled with sugar, checmicals and many ingredients that our bodies do not really need. 

Let's take "Nature Valley Oats and Honey Crunchy Granola Bars"

The ingredients are: Whole gain oats, Suagr, Canola Oil, Yellow Corn Flour ( there is your Genetically Modified Organism- GMO), Honey ( you just had sugar so why do we need more ?), Soy flour ( another GMO ingredient), Brown Sugar Syrup ( what's up with all the sweetness?) , Salt, Soy Lecithin( yipee GMO party over here), Baking Soda, and Natural Flavor ( umm I am confused now, what the heck is that?)

The nutritionl information was obtained from their website www. naturevalley.com 

Many people eat these bars with empty calories and no nutrition first thing in the morning! Of course they will get hungry few minutes later and eat something else and here we go with the non-stop snacking.  

However, if you make the granola bars yourself and pack them with nutrition , you won't encounter this problem. 

So  let's get to the easy no bake recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup of dried fruits of your choice: I used prunes, raisins and mulberries ( without added sugar, they are naturally sweet)

1 tbsp unsweetened cacao nibs

dash of cinnamon

1/4 cup of sweetener ( you can use honey, or brown rice syrup, or coconut nectar...whatever liquid sweetener you like) You can also skip the sweetener and add oil ( grapeseed or avocado oil)

You can aslo add nuts , I did not because my daughter and I are allergic to many :(

Place all dry ingredients in the food processor, pulse until you have somewhat smooth consistency ( unless you like it crunchy)

Transfer to a bowl and the sweetener or the oil , mix it all up and form bars. You can place them in the refrigerator or the freezer to harden up a little.

Enjoy ! 

Try this recipe and let me know how you liked it and what you did differently if you did! 

As some of you may know that I am a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying to be a health coach . I'm learning about how food, diet, and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on our overall health, happiness, and well being . Not only am I learning how to improve my life , I'm also learning how to help clients look better, feel better , manage stress, and reach their health goals. I'm able to start seeing clients. If you would be interested in sitting down with me or skyping for about an hour to discuss your health , message me (@bzhealthymama@gmail.com)so we can schedule your free health history consultation appointment :)

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;

http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl

What is your favorite snack in the summer?

We live in Southern California . At this moment , the temperature outside is in the high 90s.

Recently I started noticing that the ice cream truck has been passing by more often than I would want him to !! 

My kids are 9&3 and they play with the neighbors . They do feel left out when they see others get ice cream :( 

However , I did explain to them and my husband ( I had to deal with his "u r stressing over it way too much" speech), my kids are my bunnies ❤️❤️❤️

This analogy is not mine, it's from a lecturer at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). I will look up his name later I promise ;) 

If we have a bunny and we know that if we feed it skittles , m&ms, ice cream, etc... It will get sick and die but if we feed it what it's supposed to eat from Mother Nature it will be healthy and happy little bunny. I asked my son and my daughter what would you feed your bunny ? They replied "carrots, celery, lettuce ..."

Then I moved on and said to them you are my bunnies 💗 how can I feed you junk if I know it will make you unhealthy and sick ! ?

Will this analogy stay with them forever ?probably not ! They do understand but they are still kids and they will get tempted by peer pressure but meanwhile I'm keeping the ice cream truck away by making them their own ice cream ❤️❤️❤️

This is raw vegan ice cream sandwich 

Let's get  to it :)

Ingredients for crust : 

10 medjool dates

1/2 cup of mulberries 

Ingredients for the nice cream:

6-8 frozen ripe bananas 

Pinch of cinnamon 

3 medjool dates 

Method : 

To make the nice cream layer , blend the bananas, medjool dates and a pinch of cinnamon in a high speed blender like a vitamix. Pour the mixture into a glass Pyrex and place in freezer for couple of hours. 

To make the crust, in a  food processor , mix the medjool dates and mulberries until you have a sticky consistency ;) 

Take out the nice cream from the freezer , spread the crust on top using your fingers ( may wet your fingers with a little bit of water if it's too sticky-to help with the sreading) and place in the freezer for an hour or so. 

Take out and cut in squares ! You can enjoy them in a single or double layer , however you wish 💗💞

I must add an alert lol it's pretty sweeeet. 

Try it and let me know in the comments how you like it :) share it on social media and use #bzhealthymama 💗💞

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

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Why don't I have what they have?

I have been wanting to write about this topic for a while now and I have been afraid but today I am facing my fears and writing what is on my mind. Writing is therapy for me. I have always loved writing. 

Everytime I am on the phone and if I happen to be sitting, I fill up a whole page with words . 

So here it is.

At some point, conscciously or unconsciously, whether we like to admit or not, we have asked this question.

Why dont't I have what they have?

This question comes after looking at someone's facebook profile or instagram.  

The answer is : How do you know what they have? how do you know what they don't have?

No one wants to post a picture with their eyes closed, their lipstick smudged, fighting with their significant other or yelling at their kids? 

Remember before digital photography, only nice pictures went into the photo album. Look at your mom's or your grandma's.

If people display happiness that doesn't mean they are problem free. 

If people smile , that does't mean they don't cry.

If people go on vacation, that does not mean they don't ever struggle financially.

If my son gets an award , that does not mean he is a perfect child because he is NOT. 

If someone is skinny , that does not mean they are healthy!
If someone is chubby, that does not mean they are sick!
If someone is successful that does not mean they don't work day and night!
If someone has a housekeeper , that does not mean they sit on their butts all day doing nothing!
If a mom is a stay at home mom, that does not mean she has nothing to do all day!
If kids are being homeschooled , that does not mean they will not make a difference in the world!
Get it???

We are all human beings. We get sad, upset, happy, angry, irritable, we go through highs and lows.

However, we don't showcase the negative emotions. We like to show people our good side, our good pose, our proud moments.

What do others do when they see positivity? They start envying? With envy comes negative energy that is directed to the person trying to portray their good side to their friends and family.

Whether you mean it or not, with the negative comments you make about your friend's picture, you are envying him/her and sending them negative vibes. 
Enough with the envy! and greed!
You have exactly what they have!
You have a brain, head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, heart, lungs etc... Did I make my point?

You have something they don't have and that's YOU, your uniqueness , your voice and your mind/soul. 

So the next time you are looking at someone's picture , instead of envying them , genuinely compliment them. Send them good energy . Really pray for them if you tell them " prayers ". 

Comparing yourself to others is useless because you literally can't compete with every single person in the world !! So let it go, and be you !!! Coz only you can change you ! Only you can accomplish and achieve your dream by being unique not by envying and whining. 

There , I said it all because I'm guilty of it too . 

I want to thank Mastin Kipp of thedailylove.com . As I was drafting this blog, I woke up the next day with a video about not comparing yourself to others which motivated me to continue writing about this topic. 

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

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Chocolate Banana Smoothie

http://youtu.be/5iV1PtWMbr4

Cooked fava beans-easy plantbased lunch or dinner idea

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

This is a Lebanese dish I grew up seeing but I didn't care to try it . I was missing out 😔

No use to regret it now 😍

Let's get to it 

Ingredients :

1lb fresh favs beans (Cut the ends of the fava beans and discard. Cut the beans about 1 inch pieces)

3-4 cloves of garlic 

Avocado oil

Cilantro (fresh or frozen ) 

Juice of lemon

Water 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Method:

Heat up the avocado oil

Sautée the garlic , add the cilantro and continue sautéing 

Season with salt and pepper and continue cooking for about 5 minutes 

Add the beans and sautée so they absorb the flavor 

Add water enough to cover the beans 

Bring to a boil 

Let it simmer for about 45 minutes until the water is reduced and you notice that beans are well cooked 

Then add the juice of one lemon 5 minutes before you remove from heat 

You van enjoy with bread, lettuce leaves or over brown rice . 

Try the recipe and let me know how it turned out 😄

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with us what works for you and your family.  

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All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

Fullyraw Beet Juice

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Today for breakfast, I made beet/greens/apple juice. It was delicious and sweet because I used red apples ;)

I am not going to lie, I do like my juices and smoothies sweet ;)

I used two beets, two apples, a bunch of parsley, a bunch of spinach, 1/2 lemon and 2 sticks of celery. 

Beets:

Beets are sweet vegetables that are energetically grounding because they are root vegetables.  Sweet vegetables are helpful in soothing the internal organs of the body and serve as mind energizer.  Adding in sweet vegetables may help satisfy your need for sugar , hence reducing the not so healthy sugary foods.  

Celery/Spinach/Parsley:

Many people fail to incorporate green vegetables in their lifestyle/diet.  Adding dark, leafy greens helps the body establish a strong immune system.  

Greens  strengthen the blood and respiratory system. Leafy green vegetables are also high-alkaline foods.   In Traditional Chinese medicine, green is related to the liver, emotional stability, and creativity. Greens are high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and vitamins A, C, E, and K.  They are loaded with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll, and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. 

Some of the benefits of adding dark greens to your daily food consumption are:
Blood purification, Cancer prevention ,  Improved circulation , Strengthened immune system , Promotion of healthy intestinal flora,  Promotion of subtle, light, and flexible energy ,  Improved liver, gall bladder, and kidney function , Cleared congestion, especially in lungs by reducing mucus.
Apples:
"One apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apples are high in antioxidants and fiber, hence many health benefits such as protecting against Parkinson's, reducing cholesterol, healthier heart, controlling weight, detoxifying liver, boosting the immune system and many more.
Lemons:
Lemons are highly alkaline, contain many antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.  They are good for hair care, skin care, boosting the immune system among others.

This juice is delicious and packed with goodness, isn't it better to consume that for breakfast and feel light, versus having a bagel and cream cheese and feeling so heavy at 8:00 AM in the morning.
Who wants to feel energized and ready to take on the day? I know I am ;)

Now it is your turn to tell me what you like to have for breakfast and why?

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with us what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

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All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

Plantbased stuffed zucchini

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

A fellow Instagramer asked me to make something with zucchini. 

Being Lebanese , I grew up with stuffed zucchini that I didn't like . I would always eat the stuffing  and leave the zucchini . Now I eat zucchini Woohoo 🎶🎶

These are not a version of Lebanese stuffed zucchini , this is just my version ;) 

Ingredients: 

3-4 zucchini cut in half and cored with a spoon ( leave the core) 

1 cup of peas 

1/2 cup of cooked quinoa

3-4 mushrooms diced 

One tomato diced

1/2 onion diced  

Ground flax meal (optional ) 

Salt, pepper to taste 

Oil of choice 

Method : 

Sautée onions in a little bit of oil until golden, add the rest of the veggies, the zucchini core , the cooked quinoa and continue sauteeing. Add salt and pepper, a little bit of water . Cook for about 5-10 minutes . 

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350. 

Add the stuffing to the cored zucchini and arrange on a baking tray . Sprinkle flax meal on some if you wish. 

Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes . I greased the tray with some Grapeseed oil but that's totally optional. 

Enjoy !!

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with us what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

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All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

The stress of being a mom

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

I haven't written in a while; however, I have been posting on Instagram, Facebook, Tmblr and Twitter daily so please make sure you follow me there ;)

Writing is my way to vent, it is my therapy :) In the past few weeks I was under a lot of stress and I felt I couldn't get anything done. I leave the house M-F at 6:40 AM and I don't get back until at least 5ish. At 5, we have to finish homework, cook, fold laundry, pick up the house etc...
My son had three activities and my daughter one so we had activities daily except one day and I couldn't just cook on Monday for the rest of week. We like the food to be fresh not a week old !!
I could not focus at work which was getting busy, I didn't have time to schedule the payments and look at our accounts.
I knew I was taking on more than I needed to.  I was getting sick. 
At 8:00 PM , I would be so irritated that anything will throw me to the edge. I EAT HEALTHY, I am not supposed to be feeling this way.
I was dragging the household into a state of negativity , whining and irritability.
THIS HAD TO END !!
Why do I do all this? Who am I trying to impress?
Why am I comparing myself to others?
Here when social media can get to mommies! We see other moms " doing" it why can't we? She has her kids in 10, 000 activities and she still looks "happy."
She makes everything from scratch, her kids look "healthy and happy"
She just told me they barely could make ends meet and they are on vacation??? Come on, you know you were thinking it ;)
She this, she that etc...
I started my son in swimming when he was 12 months old , music and dance when he was 3 years old. Why? Because I wanted him to learn swimming when he was 1 just like those little videos.
I wanted him to be the next "so you think you can dance champion" or write his songs and win an Oscar.
Did he concentrate? Was he listening? Was he following directions? NOPE NOPE NOPE
After conversations with my husband and son, we decided to quit music. He wanted to keep hip hop and football. 
I feel so relieved even if it is only one activity. That is an extra day without one.
Fighting with my son to practice music and do homework is gone . Sitting through an hour of music class is gone so I am thrilled. Do I regret it?? NO way !! Will I ever? Not me.
I am not going to make this long but here are some of the tips to help overly stressed working and non working moms ;)

1- STOP comparing yourself to other moms: We don't know their journey and they don't know ours. Concentrate on your own journey, your own life, kids, etc....
2- LET IT GO: I was holding on to all the "my kid is gonna become ..." I was holding on to the idea "my kid will play music, swim, do sports, dance, etc..." And I forgot that my kid is only a child who also goes to school and has homework, reading, projects etc... I let go of the idea that I want my house spotless like my mother's  house. Did I get to where I want? NO WAY, it is a journey and I am work in progress.
3- COMMUNICATE: Talk to your kids and your spouse. I have seen kids in my son's football team who are not into the game at all but I am sure they do it coz their mom or dad want them to play.  I did the same to my son for 5 years with music. He was NOT into it and I used to tell him " you will quit school before you quit music." What the heck was I doing???
4- SELF CARE: Find ways to take care of yourself first. A dear friend of mine told me that before she transitions to a different activity, she takes few minutes to check in and center herself.
Self care can be in a form of deep breathing, hot bath, meditation, praying, taking a walk by yourself, etc... In the safety airplane videos, they tell parents to wear their oxygen masks before helping their kids. Same thing applies to life, if mommies don't care for themselves , they won't have the energy to care for their babies. 
5- SLOW DOWN: Life is busy and everything is on the go. We want everything done NOW that's why our kiddos are so impatient and cannot wait. My daughter says " mommy this is taking forever" I am sure she heard it from me. Now on our walks, if she stops to pick the flowers, I wait for her and we converse about flowers. They are the same freaking flowers she picks but she is happy and that's all that matters.  Slow down now before life makes you slow down due to illness or whatever that might come our way.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Please share with us what works for you and your family. 

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

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All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

 

Easy homemade hummus semi raw ;)

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Growing up in Lebanon, I did not like hummus !!! I never ever tried when I was a kid . My parents didn't push me to try it or eat it :( We took it for granted. 

When Middle Eastern food became popular in the US and hearing all my friends ask about hummus, I felt the need to try it lol I did & it was delicious ... I was probably in my late 20s when I tried hummus for the first time !!! Oopsies 

We like to make it from scratch . 

Make sure you soak the chickpeas for couple of days, change their water and  rinse them . 

Here is what happened with my husband and I . We soaked them for a couple of days. We wanted to make hummus but we just didn't. So we put them in the fridge covered with water. Couple of weeks later we forgot if we cooked them or not so we decided to make hummus . That's why I am calling this semi raw because the chickpeas are raw but not the tahini.

So here is the recipe ;) 

Let's get started ! 

Ingredients:

3 cups chickpeas ( cooked) or in my case soaked for couple of weeks lol 

3/4 tahini

1/2 cup water 

Juice of 4 small lemons

1 tsp salt add more if you like it more salty 

2 garlic 

Adjust any of the above to your liking ;)

Method : 

Process in food processor until purée

Enjoy !

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

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All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.