Quinoa Granola

Try as I might to avoid carbs, the cereal aisle calls to me.  So I caved to my granola cravings, but skipped the cereal aisle in favor of the beautiful bulk foods aisle.  I loaded up on oats, nuts and dried berries and brought them home to create this happy little thing.  The measurements are approximate so adjust to your taste and you should feel welcome to add other bulk aisle treasures.

Quinoa Granola
3 cups oats
1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
1/2 cup each: pecans, almonds, shaved coconut, dried cranberries, raisins
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup agave syrup or honey
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla

Mix oats, quinoa, nuts, coconut, berries and spices. Mix oil, syrup and vanilla.  Stir oil mixture into oat mixture and pour into 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 min.

When finished, pour cold milk (or milk alternative) over a bowl of the warm granola and savor it. Then and only then, you can put the rest into an airtight container.

Enjoy!

Healthy

I've always been fascinated by the intention to be "healthy." Healthy means so many different things to people. Healthy gives some people energy and excitement, while it offers others frustration and even despair. Most of all, healthy becomes a sort of beacon of truth that people feel obligated to preach to the world. With my string bean figure (thanks Dad), people either assume that I always eat healthy or that my genetics allow me to eat whatever I want.  Many of the latter group seem to be anxiously waiting for my metabolism to quit when I turn 30 so that I'll become "normal."  In truth, it's a mixture of the two.  I do enjoy the sort of genetics that jumpstart modeling opportunities, but I also work very hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It hasn't been a linear journey.  My closest friends know that I have struggled for a long time to discover what healthy means to me. I won't go into too much detail here, but I will say that it is sometimes difficult to let go of a past identity.  I grew up with the identity of the skinniest girl anyone knew, and was terrified to let go of that identity when I began to fill out. This led me to some unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. For most of my life, I also identified myself as "weak." I never thought I was capable of being physically strong.

Today, I consider myself to be the healthiest and strongest I've ever been. From this particular vantage point in my journey (which is nowhere close to the finish line), I will offer a word of advice: If you want to change anything about your body, fitness, lifestyle, etc, you have to change your identity. No matter what you eat or how many times a week you work out, you will only be successful long-term if you are able to see yourself as the person you want to be. Love yourself for where you are and for where you are going! The more you can see yourself in the person you want to be, the more successful you will be in the day-to-day experience of being healthy. 

So, if anyone is interested, these are the things that I believe are healthy:

1. Focus on the positive. If I told you "Don't think about a pink striped zebra," what are you thinking about? Stop reminding yourself what you can't have and focus on what you want in your diet.
2. Guzzle water like it's your job. I drink 1/4tsp baking soda in 20oz of water at least 4 times a day (more if I work out or drink coffee). This helps to balance my Ph and I feel amazing!
3. Expend your energy on things, people and places that give you energy. I mean that spiritually and literally. Working out literally builds your strength and endurance to give you more energy.  Cooking and eating real food literally provides sustenance for you to keep moving forward. If someone, something, or somewhere drains your energy, minimize the time and energy you spend there.
4. I believe in butter. Come on, it's WAY better that those awful industrial oils!
5. Soda is the devil. It's bad for your teeth and literally every other part of your body.  Soda has a malicious intent to make you sick and ugly. RUN AWAY!
6. I do not believe in processed food. I know it's easy and fast, but consider the time to make real food as an investment in yourself. Why bother spending the time investing in your mind, heart, spirit, etc if you treat your body like a garbage can?
7. Strong is the new skinny. The emaciated look isn't sexy. Trust me, I've tried it and it scares people. Be strong.
8. Experiment in the kitchen. It's an exciting place, don't be afraid to try something completely new even if it doesn't work out. My roommate and I still giggle about our horrific experience with chovocado pudding...
9. Once in a while, go to a grocery store in search of inspiration, not a specific food.  Let yourself get lost in the produce or bulk foods aisles.  But, don't bring tons of money with you- it can be as dangerous as gambling.
10. Spend time outside every day.
11. Recognize that sugar is an addictive substance.  Go cold-turkey for a week.  That week will be awful, but you will start craving it less!
12. Never go hungry. Pack your diet full of natural, locally-sourced meat, fruit and veggies of all colors, natural fats, seeds and nuts and water. When you're full of wonderful things, you don't need carbs, sugar, salt, etc!
13. Bacon.

Obviously, there is no one correct way to be healthy. But these are a few principles that I live by. So here's to not letting our metabolisms tank at 30! Cheers!

Thanks for reading, my dear internet abyss.