Take it from a girl who has experienced her fair share of burnout and has absolutely been influenced by #hustle culture. 

We glamorize the "workaholic", pulling all-nighters, grinding our face-off as if that's what's required to get ahead, to be worthy, to be good enough. 

You know, that whole "attaching your worth to your productivity" thing. Been there.

But pushing through until you can not push any more doesn't always mean you will get there faster, or with better results. It just means you push until you can't push anymore.

Imagine you're taking a long road trip and your car is almost out of gas. Instead of pulling over to refuel, you go until your tank is empty. What could have been a short break before being on your way again, turned into a much longer wait for someone to pull over to help or for AAA to arrive. This delay was unnecessary and completely avoidable. 

Running until you're on empty is not worth it. In your car or in your lif...

*Sponsored by California Avocado Commission -- All opinions are my own

Have you ever just known you were meant to be somewhere...that you would somehow find a way to get there? 

This is how I have felt about California for as long as I can remember. While I was born in Chicago and raised in Phoenix, my soul had always been pulling me towards the west coast. 

Even now, when I leave and come back to Los Angeles, where I live, I feel my nervous system comes back online -- a jolt of energy that not only makes me feel at home but also more alive. 

From the abundant farmer's markets, varied ethnic cuisines, to the fun food fairs, the foodie in me is endlessly nourished. 

And, it wasn't until I moved to California and tasted California Avocados, that I became hooked on this delicious fruit. A full-blown love-affair (albeit worthy of an eye-roll as my basic millennial self shines through) began. Who knew I would become such an Avocado obsessed person...

Holy shit my friends this is freaking spectacular.

And if you’re bored of pasta with a jar of sauce, but not bored of how easy it is, then this is for you.

Literally took 15 minutes from start to finish and it was time well spent 🤤 so good.
 

THINGS:
1 lbs Tagliatelle pasta
BEETROOT SAUCE
12-14oz pre-cooked beets (store bought)
3-4 cloves garlic
1 Fresno red chili -de-seeded for milder spice
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt to taste
Maple syrup -optional
FETA TOPPING
8 oz vegan feta cheeze
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

WHAT TO DO WITH THINGS
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, cook pasta according to package instructions.

For the sauce, in a blender combine the beets, garlic, red Fresno chili, olive and salt. Blend until smooth and adjust seasoning to taste. If too spicy, add maple syrup or honey.

In a small bowl, mash up the feta and stir in the dill and lemon juice. Set aside.
Drain the pasta and in a large bowl comb...

If you have been around here a while or following along on my Instagram than you should not be surprised by my obsession with fries.

All things fries. I am here for it. 

So the other day when I, for some unknown reason, started thinking back to some loaded sweet potato skins I had made with a peanut sauce many eons ago, I got the desire to remake them but with an upgrade. 

This time I wanted to add some kind of like crunchy delicious salad on top or ingredients that you might find in a cold noodle salad.

But with fries on the bottom, of course!

Needless to say, they came out awesome. The flavor is zingy, zippy, tangy, popping. Texture on point.

All the things. 

I am sure you will love 'em.

And don't let the amount of ingredients scare you off, this comes together very quickly and easily. While the potatoes cook, you can whip up the sauce and mango salad. 

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Sweet Potatoes

4 large or 10 small sweet potatoes, scrubbe...

We've been in Sedona, AZ for over four months, now. What was supposed to be a quick weekend trip turned into an almost permanent quarantine home. 

While I am absolutely in love with Los Angeles and enjoy living there, Sedona is, in my opinion, an infinitely better place to be cooped up. In Los Angeles, we have a small apartment, with a roommate and no outdoor space. In Sedona, my boyfriend and I have a whole house with a backyard to ourselves.

I find myself outside having a cup of coffee nearly everyday listening to the birds and staring at the trees. Needless to say, we are grateful to be here even though the circumstances are sad. 

The one thing though, is there is very little Indian food options and after months without our favorite Indian take-out in LA, the cravings were REAL. So I decided it was time to make some, and this recipe was born.

The curry itself takes around 30 minutes to make which is awesome. I just threw some rice on the...

Something that I routinely hear from my clients is how they "know their thoughts and beliefs about food and their weight are irrational".

Their fear of weight gain is irrational.
Their fear of carbs is irrational.
Their hatred of their body is irrational.

And that's the problem with leaving out education on the oppressive nature of Diet Culture, and dominant narratives like Fatphobia.

When the focus is on you, your behaviors, and your beliefs without understanding the larger cultural subtext in which they arise and form, you are left thinking you are the problem to be fixed. You are the irrational one worrying about weight gain.

The truth is there is nothing inherently irrational about any of our thoughts and beliefs around food & weight when you consider the culture we grew up in.

A culture that trains women to believe their weight dictates their worth, social life, career...where fatphobia is so real that parents willingly put their kids on diet...

 *This post is sponsored by the California Avocado Commission. All opinions my own. 

Peach, Tofu Bacon & California Avocado Grilled Naan Bread Pizzas

It is officially summertime which means it's grilling time. You will catch me cooking everything from potatoes to cauliflower to pizza on the grill. It's a vibe.

And if you haven't ever cooked pizza on the grill before, well then you are in for a treat!

These pizzas highlight some of the best summer produce including peaches, basil, and of course, fresh California avocado. Locally grown California avocados are picked at their peak resulting in fruit that is fresh and consistent in taste and texture!

While you can absolutely make some pizza dough from scratch, I decided to keep things simple by using store-bought garlic naan bread which cuts down on the prep & cook time. 

Then I layered vegan mozzarella & ricotta with caramelized onions, tofu bacon, and finished it all off with balsamic glaze to tie it...

I was craving an ice cream cookie sandwich so I had an ice cream cookie sandwich.

Not fruit, not oatmeal with cinnamon, not granola.

A MF ice cream cookie sandwich.

Have you ever had the experience where you get a craving for something sweet and you immediately fear it? (sugar, carbs oh my!). You decide to *try* to curb the craving with something "healthy" or "clean." 

Back in the day I always tried to get rid of a craving for ice cream with sugar-free yogurt. (BTW it doesn't work). I'd eat the yogurt, not feel satisfied, and keep snacking on things until I was stuffed. 

Yet... I'd still have ice cream on the brain. I was full but not satisfied. 

Now I just eat the ice cream. I enjoy it, bite by bite, and really let myself savor it (not inhaling it quickly out of shame). 

When you resist cravings they persist.

When you honor them, you satisfy them, so they go away.

And then you can move on with your life instead of obsessing over the foo...

BIG GREEN LENTIL SALAD WITH GRILLED CAULIFLOWER PUREE

As you may know if you follow me on Instagram, I have been in Sedona, Arizona for the Quarantine. Been here since the end of March. 

One of the things I have been loving is the backyard and the grill. Two things we do not have in Los Angeles. 

Basically, I've been putting anything on the grill that I would typically put in the oven and well, it's been awesome. 

The grill obsession gave me the idea to adapted a @bonappetitmag.

The original recipe called for yogurt, but I decided to make a grilled then creamed cauliflower instead.

It’s delicious.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup rinsed green lentils
Salt
1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp olive oil, divided, more for drizzle
Black pepper
1-2 tsp garlic powder
3 tbsp vegan mayo, I used @followyourheart
3 tbsp vegan sour cream, I used @foragerproject
1 cup unsalted roasted sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, more if desired
1 rip...

*This post is sponsored by The California Avocado Commission. All opinions are my own. 

There are few things that excite me more than Summertime. 

I love the laid back vibes, pool and beach hangs, and of course the food.

While I enjoy all the seasons and their produce, summer has a special place in heart largely impart because it is peak California Avocado season. 

California Avocados elevate whatever dish they are added to in flavor, texture, and nutrition. And now the presentation!

For this delicious summer salad recipe, I sliced & folded the avocados into roses which are absolutely stunning and take this salad to new levels. 

While it is almost too pretty to eat, this California Avocado Rose Summer Salad is too good not to eat. 

It's made with mixed greens topped with roasted beets, strawberries, steamed yellow beets, grilled asparagus, toasted pecans, vegan feta cheese, California Avocado roses bathed in the most delicious strawbe...