I have been showing much love for these babies lately, and rightfully so. Sweet Potatoes can become your best friend in the kitchen. Girls and Boys please listen up…if your goal is to lose weight, build lean muscle and create sustainable energy you cannot cut your healthy carbohydrates out. In a world of high fat everything (which BTW healthy fat is essential too) I am seeing way too many people cut their carbohydrates below 40 grams and paring that with intense exercise. With this combination, mega problems are brewing.

The error people are making is not only reducing carbohydrates, but decreasing calories overall. I see people increasing exercise output, while ignoring their sleep, deep inflammation or hormonal problems. In the beginning of dropping these carbohydrates will you see weight loss? Yes. Will it last? No.

Your body will get used to the lower carbohydrate, lower calories and more exercise and ask you to lower your intake even further to maintain your results. If you’re a woman practicing this, your hormones will begin to fall apart behind the scenes. Say NO to crappy processed carbs, to excess sugar and junk, but please keep a healthy relationship with your veggies and rooted goddesses like the sweet potato. Your body, brain and hormones will thank you.

Here is a recent spot I did on CHCH Morning Live, where I shared some of the benefits of sweet potatoes, along with 3 ways to incorporate them. Check it out!

https://vimeopro.com/user16748619/jenn-pike-by-strattcopr/video/196742898

Beauty Bowl

  • 2 cups greens, roughly chopped
  • 1-cup spinach
  • 4-5 roasted brussels sprouts (from batch cooking day)
  • 1 roasted sweet potato
  • ½ cup carrots, shredded or diced
  • ¼ cup cucumber, sliced thinly
  • ¼ of an avocado
  • 3 tablespoons hemp seeds

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 2 tablespoons hummus (of your choice)
  • Fresh squeezed lemon
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  1. Start by filling a large salad bowl with the dark leafy greens.
  2. Next, top with all the remaining vegetables, sweet potatoes, and hemp seeds; piling them in their own “spot” in the bowl
  3. You can arrange each ingredient in a pile and then wait to stir everything together, or you can simply top the dark leafy greens with all the remaining ingredients at the same time and stir thoroughly.
  4. The nutritional yeast + the hummus + the apple cider vinegar + lemon juice makes for a thick and creamy dressing on it’s own.
  5. Serve and enjoy!

We are almost into a brand new year, so I encourage you to take time to reflect on the year that has past and to reflect on what you loved, what you didn’t and what you want for the year ahead. Write. Dream. Imagine. Sit still. Pause. Create motion. Take one step. Look back. Say thank you and move forward.

Posted in Nutrition, Recipes