4 Super Easy Healthy Breakfast Ideas (Recipes)

Greek Yogurt ParfaitGreek Yogurt Parfait:

Fage Nonfat Greek Yogurt, Raw Honey, Strawberries, Blueberries, Banana, Granola, Almonds

 

Smoothie BowlVery Berry Smoothie Bowl:

3/4 Cup Frozen Blueberries
Handful Blueberries
Handful Raspberries
Handful Blackberries
1/2 Banana
Coconut Water

 

Healthy Blueberry WafflesBlueberry Waffles:

1 Cup Arrowhead Mills Buttermilk Waffle Mix
2/3 Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Dash of Cinnamon
Handful of Blueberries
Handful of Nuts *Pecans

 

Egg ScrambleVeggie Egg Scramble:

Saute the following with 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil …
1 Chopped Rustic Potato
Handful of Spinach
Red/Green/Yellow Peppers

Season with seasoning of choice *I used Slap Ya Mama
Scramble 3 Eggs *You can use egg whites only to cut the fat
Season some more
Eat with hot sauce and salsa *Mateo salsa is the best btw

 

xoxo Fitty Fattys

Stay healthy my friends

4 Health Conscious Restaurants in LA You Have to Try!

So I’m not from LA, I don’t even live there (yet). But after a 6 day trip there I feel like I’m pretty much a local now. Look, I planned a bomb itinerary and did some heavy research and found the best health conscious food places in the land of palm trees. So rather you’re visiting or just a local looking for some good ole healthy grub, this list is for you.

Blu Jam Cafe

IMG_0799Blue Jam CafeIMG_1644Oh how I wish Blu Jam Cafe was in Texas! My goodness this food was so dang good. It’s the perfect breakfast spot, though they serve lunch too! Look, do yourself a favor and split the Crunchy French Toast and get you another entree on the side. You cannot miss on this menu. Whatever you pick WILL be delicious. My girls and I went to this place twice on our trip and I would go a million more times if I could. Plus, Blu Jam Cafe is smack dab in the middle of WeHo on Melrose. So eat then shop, or shop then eat.

Urth Caffee

Urth CaffeIMG_0644This spot is so cute! Laced with desserts galore, smoothies, coffee, tea and some BOMB A entrees. And the cool thing is it’s open late! Perfect for late night chats with your friends or a simple romantical night with your amor. All of my friends were very happy with their selection. I got cheese pizza with spinach added. One of my besties got the vegan pizza with gluten-free crust and swears it’s the best pizza she ever had. (Do you all understand? There was no cheese on this pizza and she was raving about it.) Another restaurant you have to go to.

 

Lyfe Kitchen

IMG_0830LYFE Kitchen is just that, it gives you LIFEEEEEE when you eat here. Let’s start with the unbelievable smoothies and fruit drinks. They were downright magical. One of my besties had the Orange Ginger Chai and I was high key jealous. Not only did it look beautiful it tasted beautiful. Sooo tropical and yummy. I had the Kale Banana Smoothie, induced with the finest ingredients: raw kale, fresh ginger, banana, cucumber, apple juice, lemon juice. Can someone create a time machine so I can go back please? But that was just the drinks, the food was delicious too. Another place you just can’t go wrong.

 Cafe Gratitude

IMG_1961OK, here’s one for the true locally sourced, 100 percent organic eating vegan hipster. This place was top notched. It played NO games. You want something yummy and good for your body AND soul, this is the place. I ain’t ever had a veggie burger so good (besides my own.) There is also a variety of healthy dessert. Like truly healthy, from pies to cookies. Cafe Gratitude is super close to Venice Beach, so you can eat here and still feel gorgeous in your swimsuit. No bloat leaving this place. Oh, and the atmosphere is just so authentic, the vibes were just a flowing like the waves at the beach.

The perks of all of these places:

  • Great location
  • Vegan/Vegetarian Friendly
  • Awesome Atmosphere
  • Health Conscious
  • Positive Vibes

 

Here are few of the restaurants I’ve heard about, but didn’t get a chance to try…. I’ll. Be. Back….

Sage Organic Bistro, HUGO, Make Out Everyday, Real Food Daily, The Counter.

 

Drop your favorite health conscious LA spot in the comments. Let’s spread the love.

xoxo FittyFattys

8 Day Health Challenge

Hello Fitty Fattys!!!

I am so excited because I am going to LA in 9 days!! Woohoo. It is going to be an adventure of a lifetime with my besties!!! Now you already know I’ve been working out and eating healthy, but it’s time to turn it up! That’s why I’ve created an 8 Day Health Challenge. This challenge is specifically created for me and my goals but I feel like this challenge can help some of you as well! I’ll be showing before and after pictures once the challenge is over. SCARY. Ha! Let’s get started. • fitty fattys challenge•

Why Gluten-Free? I know, I know. It’s a fad they say. However there are a lot of people who are gluten sensitive and don’t even know it. With me having problems with digestion and always having a bit of belly fat, I think it’s worth a try.

Benefits: Aids in weight loss, improves digestion, helps clear skin.

Why Dairy-Free? Save the animals! But really, dairy is linked to weight gain, heartburn, lack of energy, high cholesterol, joint pain, lactose intolerance, and even irritable bowel syndrome. I’m steering clear! But if you are going to eat dairy I only suggest nonfat greek yogurt.

Benefits: Aids in weight loss, improves digestion, helps clear skin.

I am currently  a pescatarian so I DO eat fish, though not often. But if you do eat meats, only eat lean grilled meats. I suggest cutting out the red meat. AND absolutely NO fried foods. Don’t even think about it! 

Let me know if you’re joining the challenge!

xoxo Fitty Fattys

Who Taught You To Love Yourself

tiffany maloneIf you know me you know I love the sun. I love the warmth of the sun rays on my skin. I love gazing into the brightness as my eyes are forced to squint. I love the reassurance the sun gives me that God is real. I basically have a love affair with the sun, my goodness, it’s magical.

That being said, the other day I was having a wonderful time sitting outside eating a FreeBirds burrito bowl. And then I felt the kiss of the sun against my melanated skin and just as I was bathing in all its glory,  this thought passed through my mind . . .

“You’re gonna get dark” …

Immediately my brain went into panic mode as I went back and forth on rather I should shimmy my way into the shade or enjoy my beloved. This all happened in a matter of about 3 seconds. And then poof, I snapped back into it. I was shocked that this thought entered my mind. I’m the girl who knows the magic behind her melanin, the girl who follows darkskinbaddiesdaily and soulpick on Instagram, the girl that’s so proud of her blackness . . . so why? Why has this thought entered my mind?

I had to dissect this. I had to figure out why this was happening.

As I sorted through my thoughts, I came upon this memory. It was a few years ago. I had just came back from working out and met up with someone extremely close to me and they said,

“YOU GOT DARKKKK”

But it was not in a “your melanins poppin” kind of way, it was as if my beauty has degraded when my melanin became deeper. They said,

“You need to stay out the sun.”

My heart sank, but I quickly rebutted back with a “I don’t care, I love my skin. I’m going to enjoy the sun as I like.” And it was true. So true. But little did I know that what they said stuck with me, BUT it didn’t get the best of me.

As I came back to the present moment, burrito ready to be devoured, I laughed at how ridiculous the thought was. But I was also very concerned about how those words from years ago affected me for those 10 seconds that day. Needless to say, I stayed flourishing in the sun that day. Fully embracing my skin getting deeper. Richer… Sweeter.

As I write this, I started to remember some of the other comments made, the music lyrics I listened to, the commercials I watched and how they all made my darkness seem inferior and so “damn unpretty.”

But then I realized, that they didn’t have THAT much of an affect on me. I do, I do think I’m beautiful, but I know that a lot of women and men don’t because of these portrayals. Which made me ask “who taught me to love myself?”  And it wasn’t until the other day when I was looking around my mother’s home was where I found the answer. There are paintings of black women and men infused with the culture of Africa on the walls, there are statues of the blackest of faces up against golden patterns on the countertops and there is a painting of Jesus above my mothers bed that reflects the description of him in the bible (You know, skin of bronze and hair of wool like mine.) It was when I looked around my environment that I learn that my mother was the one who taught me to love myself, not just with words, but by creating an environment that reflected who I am. . . who we are.

Thank you mommy.

xoxo FittyFattys

Healthy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Healthy Double Chocolate Chip CookiesWho doesn’t love a big soft double chocolate chip cookie? If you follow me on Instagram, you know this is my go to treat. But the best part is that I don’t have to feel guilty about it, because it’s made with only the best ingredients. And let me tell you something else. This cookie is family approved. Actually this cookie is entirely family approved. I had to make this point, because I realized us healthy people sometimes may find something to be utterly delicious, but our friends and family think otherwise because they’re used to the over addictive sugar and chemically packed food. Eww. But I must say when I made these babies, there was not a crumb left! Victory!!!

So here we go, VEGAN, HEALTHY, GLUTEN-FREE, DELICIOUS Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 Banana

1 hefty TBSP of Peanut Butter

(minimal ingredients peanut butter)

1/2 of Gluten Free Oat Flour

2 hefty TBSP of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1 TBSP of Maple Syrup

Chocolate Chips

Pecans (or nuts of your choice)

Instructions:Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Healthy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees

Step One: Mash one ripe banana with a potato masher until it has a smooth consistency. Add in peanut butter and mash that into the banana mixture until the two consistencies are one. Then add in maple syrup and mix until all ingredients are evenly dispersed.

Step Two: Add in oat flour and unsweetened cocoa powder and mix until all ingredients are evenly dispersed.

Step Three: Add in chocolate chips and pecans (or nut of choice) and mix.

Step Four: Grease pan with coconut oil.

Step Five: Take a small handful of dough and mold it into a cookie form and place on pan. Repeat until all dough is used.

Step Six: Bake cookies for 12 minutes.

Step Seven: Cool off for 5 minutes and eat!!!

xoxo FittyFattys

Watermelon Ginger Juice Recipe

Watermelon Ginger Juice RecipeIMG_9180Hello beautiful people! I feel so refreshed writing this post because I’m reflecting on how very refreshing this Watermelon Ginger Juice was. It’s like a beautiful summer day on the beach in mason jar. I was first introduced to this drink on vacation with my besties in San Marcos. The beautiful Deborah from Redefining Beauty whipped this up for us one night after a late night dip in the lake and every since I’ve been hooked. I knew I had to make one for myself. With a some minor tweaks to the recipe I made the perfect watermelon ginger juice. It’s the absolutely perfect healthy drink going into the spring and diving into the summer. This drink is guaranteed to be a hit at any backyard function. I’m making it for my upcoming Book Club gathering. You can join here if you’d like!

But before we get into this oh-so-simple recipe you need to know some of the benefits of each of these ingredients.

THE AWESOME BENEFITS

Watermelon: Relieves muscles soreness, improves cardiovascular health, encourages a healthy digestive tract, reduces risk of cancer, keeps you hydrated, *keeps skin and hair healthy.

Ginger: Provides gastrointestinal relief (dizziness, vomiting, motion sickness, nausea etc.) , induces cell death in cancer cells, boost immune system, anti-inflammatory, migraine relief, promotes brain health,  promotes healthy blood pressure, treats allergies, menstrual cramp relief, protects from UV rays.

Strawberries: Boost immune system, promote eye health, promotes skin health, fights bad cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, helps burn stored fat, promotes bone health, boost short term memory.

Lime: Ease constipation, promotes gum health, aids in weight loss, promotes heart health, promotes healthy skin, fights harmful bacteria (e. coli, food poisoning etc. ), asthma prevention.

Ingredients:

1/2 of a Large Watermelon, 25% frozen 75% regular

Strawberries, 4 frozen & 6 regular

1 Lime

4 inches of Ginger

Instructions:  

Step One: Cut up half of a large watermelon into cubes. Place 25% of the cut watermelon in the freezer until completely frozen. Leave the other 75% of the watermelon in the refrigerator.

Step Two: Cut off the stems of 10 strawberries. Freeze four of them and refrigerate the other six.

Step Three: Wash & skin ginger. Then grate about 4 inches of the ginger.

Step Four: Place all ingredients in blender squeeze in the juice of one small lime.

Step Five: Blend until until smooth. Serve in a mason jar (because it’s cute). Then store the rest in the refrigerator.

Enjoy Fitty Fattys. It’s just that easy. 

The process with pictures:

Screen Shot 2016-03-20 at 4.11.36 PM

watermelon ginger juice IMG_9170

IMG_9179

xoxo Fitty Fattys

Cherry Oatmeal Smoothie Recipe

Cherry Oatmeal SmoothieCherry Oatmeal Smoothie

I have become obsessed with making oatmeal smoothies. Though, I feel like I totally missed the bus on this one. Like, why am I just now finding out about this? Anyways, there are many different ways that you can make an oatmeal smoothie, but I found that I like the Cherry Oatmeal Smoothie the best. It’s just a wonderful combination. The oatmeal and almond milk gives the smoothie a milkshake like taste, except wayyyyyyyy healthier.

www.fittyfattys.com

OKAY LET’S GET STARTED!

Ingredients:

1/4 Oatmeal

1Tsp Honey

Sprinkle of Cinnamon

Handful of Frozen Cherries

1/2 Banana

1/2 Almond Milk

Instructions:

Add above ingredients into a blender until smooth and then drink!

It’s that easy! And if you’d like to switch up the flavor that’s cool! Here’s the formula I recommend: 

Oatmeal Smoothie Recipe

xoxo Fitty Fattys

Almond Date Balls

This is going to be super quick because this healthy treats is super easy to make! Here I present to you Almond Date Balls! I saw some of these treats in Sprouts, and I was like “oh, I can make that!”  And so I did. So now I’m here them with you!

date

This snack is super rich and sweet with just the right amount of crunch! Can’t wait for you all to try it out.

But first, check out the awesome date benefits below:

DATE BENEFITS (1)

 

What You’ll Need: 

Plate

Parchment Paper

Coconut Oil (optional)

Blender

Ingredients:

8 oz or 14-15 Dates

Chopped Almonds

Instructions:

Step One

Pick out the pits in the dates. Once all of the pits are out, take your dates and blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step Two

Cover your hands with coconut oil and roll the date mixture into about inch wide balls.

Step Three

Roll you dates in crushed almonds until covered completely. Then place covered balls on a plate covered with parchment paper.

Step Four

Put in the freezer for about an hour so the dates can get firm. Though you can eat them right away. I just personally like them a bit firm.

Step Five

Eat up and absorb all the wonderful benefits!!!

Date Almond Balls can be stored in the freezer as they don’t freeze all the way through! 

Enjoy guys! Please let me know how you like them.. Yay!!!

Check out some of these other date recipes!

xoxo FittyFattys

7 Simple Ways to Boost Your Mood

Have you ever just been in a weird mood. Where nothing’s quite wrong, but something is just not right. I really don’t like that feeling, but hey it happens to the best of us. Luckily you DO NOT have to linger in that funky mood. You can get out of it and I’m going to show you how, because well . . . I like you. Yes you! Don’t make this awkward, it’s time to begin.

7 ways to Boost your mood1. Smile: Smiling releases the feel good chemicals dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. And the crazy thing is, the smile can be forced because your mind doesn’t know the difference. There used to be this bridge that I was totally scared to drive over, but I forced myself to do it anyways. To ease the anxiety I smiled the entire way over. I couldn’t help but to feel happy! It made the drive over so much easier. So go ahead and smile. . . Do it now. :)

2. Do Something You Like: Paint, cha cha, run, sing! Whatever it is you like to do, do it. For me, simply writing this post has boosted my mood, because writing (when I’m in the mood to) is something I love to do. Do something you love and you’ll immediately give your mood a boost.

3. Be Grateful: Studies show that being grateful leads to increase in happiness. But I think about it like this, if you’re constantly focusing on what you are grateful for, you have no room for negative thoughts. Write down 10 things that you are grateful for and just focus on those things and see how it makes you feel. I don’t know about you, but when I think about my nephew’s smile I am instantly filled with positivity.

4. Be One With Nature: Exposure to nature reduces stress and boost well-being. Take a walk and soak up the sun. Literally breathe in the nature. Gaze at the leaves blowing in the wind, feel the warmth of the sun on your nose and just really bask in the nature that God has provided us. Ommmmmm.

5. Move: Exercise reduces stress, wards off anxiety and  dissipates the feeling of depression. When you exercise, your body releases  endorphins, which triggers a positive feeling in the body. Personally, I like to dance to get my exercise in. You know, drop it like it’s hot a few times and I’m good. But really throw on some Beyonce full blast and dance your butt off!

6. Listen to GOOD Music: Studies show that listening to positive upbeat music elevates your mood. But remember the word “positive”. Listening to sad or angry music can cause those moods as well.  So really pay attention to what you’re constantly listening to. Now vibe out!

7. Laugh: Laughter relaxes your body, decreases stress hormones and releases the feel good hormone, endorphins. So literally LOL, you’ll feel so much better.

But before you do all of these mood boosters I suggest really pin pointing what it is that is making you feel this weird way. Confront it, address it and know that everything is going to be OK. Because it really is. Often times we are worried about things that haven’t even happened yet and will probably never happen. So put your trust in the Lord and just have faith that everything really is going to be OK. I’ve realized that God never ever everrrrr let me down.

I hope these tips help! Leave a comment below and let me know what you do to boost your mood. I want to know!!!

xoxoFittyFattys

Body Peace 101

BODYHello all. In the past I’ve gone crazy trying to figure out why I can’t loose that tiny layer of fat on my lower belly. I eat clean, I do HIIT workouts and I’m just pretty dang active all around. But yet and still this tiny piece of fat had me borderline obsessed.

Today I was looking at pictures on Instagram of all these super hot girls with amazing before and after pictures. And I’m just like, dang this girl  lost 130 pounds and now has a body like Halle Berry. But I just can’t seem to get rid of this 1/2 pound on my lower belly. Now I’m not hating, respect to the girls that’s doin’ it! But why can’t I?

I’ve asked myself this a million times. But today I’ve decided to stop asking that dumb question, because the truth is… I have. It has taken awhile, but my tummy is more defined, my arms are toned and my booty has a shape LOL. A lot of times in life we’re so focused on that one thing we “think” isn’t good enough, that we forget about all the other beautiful things. My tummy has gone down, but it’s just not where I want it to be. It’s hard to remember that patience = progress. You just can’t stop.

I’ve seen people lose a drastic amount of weight in a short time span. However I’ve realized that time really doesn’t matter. (Well at least not to me). Earlier, I was on Instagram and stumbled upon this girl with an amazing transformation. So I looked at all her pictures to see what she was doing that I wasn’t. It was the food. She ate a veggie, lean meat, and a carb repetitively. I thought to myself “I can do that”, but then a lightbulb went off in my head. DINGGG! I don’t want too! Like dang, I eat healthy and I love to cook new things! My body is loving what I feed it. So why should I change that? I’m not.

Conclusion: If you are eating clean and listening to what your body wants, your dream body will come. Just be sure to put in that work at the gym and keep eating clean. Life’s too short not to eat good food. But by all means, if you want to get on a strict regime to get those results fast, do it. However my goal is to live a healthy life, maintain a healthy mind and enjoy delicious nourishing foods. 

body peace

1. Don’t compare yourself to others. There is only one YOU in the world, YOU are special. Why compare yourself to someone who is uniquely them, when you are uniquely you?! Focus on being the best you can be and SHINE. You are your only competition. When we seek what others have there is a never ending dissatisfaction in life.  Think about it like this.  You may seek a booty like ‘Yonce, but the truth is you can’t have a booty like hers, because it’s hers! You can make YOUR butt bigger and more shapely but it will never be exactly like HER Ba-Donk-a-Donk-Donk. Get it?

2. Love your body. Go to the mirror right now, and point out 3 things that you love about yourself, then focus on those things. Love those things, accept them for all their glory. Then go back into the mirror and point out that one thing you just don’t like about yourself, and then embrace it. Accept it. When you fully embrace and accept your “flaws”, you’ll realize that you are beautiful just the way you are. Sure you may want to improve your features, but until you accept things for what they are, nothing will change. So love your body in every stage it’s in. It’s your temple.

3. Focus on being healthy. Don’t focus so much on loosing weight or looking hot in a bikini for Spring Break. Your focus should be on leading a healthy lifestyle. Putting foods in your body that will give you nourishment and participating in activities that will help build a strong body. Once you focus solely on being healthy, changes will come without you even realizing it.

4. Remember what beauty REALLY is. Remember that true beauty lies on the inside. Kindness, generosity, care, love, passion… these qualities are what truly make someone beautiful. Plus, this kind of beauty never fades. Be beautiful on the inside and it will surely shine through.

These rules may seem cliche, but it’s these simple things that really make a difference. Love yourself, focus on being healthy and work on that inner beauty.

-Fitty Fattys