It’s no secret that I am a coffee lover. I always have been, and likely always will be. But… I am very particular about my daily coffee. Over the years I have graduated from watered down coffee with extra sugar and creamer to homemade lattes using our Nespresso machine.

We own both Keurig and Nespresso machines, but I prefer the latter, to be honest. I usually save my Keurig coffees for when I’m on-the-go to work. It took me a while to figure out how I take my (grown up) coffee, but once I did it was smooth sailing. I’d like to let you in on a little secret… it doesn’t have to be fancy or difficult to prepare! Oh, and… it’s all in the FOAM (in my opinion).

MACHINE

Let’s start with our Nespresso machine. We have the Vertuo duo– which makes both espresso and coffee. I have no complaints here! We don’t have the biggest or most fancy machine, but it’s also not the smallest either. It’s easy to use (similar to the Keurig) so it’s less intimidating, even though the coffee is for more advanced drinkers.

C has a smaller machine for his office, that he loves equally. The pods are different, but are available in similar (if not more) locations than I list below.

PODS

We are lucky enough to have a Nespresso boutique close to home, so it’s easy to pick up these pods on-a-whim, but Nespresso has always had a great online ordering system. Luckily, there are some other options if you don’t have a boutique nearby.

Amazon– the stock may vary, even if listed as prime

Bloomingdales

Macy’s

Bed, Bath, Beyond 

There are a few other locations such as Target and Walmart, that offer Nespresso compatible pods, but they may not be Nespresso-specific coffees.

Bonus- you can recycle the pods! Nespresso will give you a bag and you can return to their store, or mail it back in.

MY RECIPE

I am quite sure that my coffee recipe is THE most popular question I get on social media. C definitely coined the recipe (if you want to call it that), and perfected the foam. It really is all in the foam. So you NEED a frother to make this glorious cup of coffee.

It really only requires THREE ingredients. Coffee + Frothed milk + Cinnamon.

I am sensitive to dairy, so I prefer an almond or oat milk. I have been using Kirkland unsweetened almond milk for years, because it makes the best froth I’ve found. Trust me when I say… I went through countless other almond milks before I came to this one. While I like this brand, I am feeling motivated to start making my own, though I don’t love the idea of straining. TIP: Cashew milk does not require straining! You simply soak the nuts in filtered water, and blend. You can also add maple syrup or agave if you like.

I received an upgraded frother for Christmas so lately my foam game has been ON POINT! No shame there. I used the Aerocino frother that came with my machine for years, but this one has truly taken my foam up a notch.

Pro Tip: hit the button one more time after it brews your first cup! You can get a little more life out of those pods so that your cup is more of a 1.5 size. I will say, you can’t get two full cups out of a single pod without it being watered down, so if I’m craving a full second cup I will just use another pod.

FAVORITE PODS

I can take down ANY nespresso flavor, but I definitely have my favorites. My go-to coffee flavors are Vanilla Custard Pie, Hazelnut Muffin, Caramel Cookie, and Melozio. If it happens to be the fall season, you best believe Pumpkin Spice Cake is in my drawer too! This year around the holidays they offered Peppermint Pinwheel and Amaretti and they were both delicious. Chocolate Fudge was also new this year, and I’m told it will be on the menu year-round!

If we’re talking espresso, Voltesso is my jam. Chris and I love to have a midday espresso when we’re off together on the weekends. We typically have decaf in our stash also, when we crave an espresso moment with dessert, but it’s too late for the caffeine.

ACCESSORIES

The perfect coffee cup is a MUST in this household. I’ll admit that I impulse buy coffee cups regularly. For every new one purchased, I get rid of one, however. These are double wall insulated glass espresso cups and we own a few different styles. I love the elegance behind a tall glass coffee cup, so these are perfect if you want to elevate your next coffee creation! Add in these cute spoons to swirl your milk and spices. I love this drawer to keep all the nespresso pods organized!

Hopefully this all gives you a little insight into how much I love our Nespresso machine (and just how much I enjoy coffee). I am not sponsored by Nespresso, though I wish I were!

Happy Coffee Drinking! Send me your favorite Nespresso flavors or recipes by commenting below!

What the Fad?!

Oh diet culture, what a fun place to hangout – NOT! Society has corrupted the word diet and psychologically trained people to think it is some crazy way of eating that usually promotes weight loss. Diet has two different definitions when you google it:

1. the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats
2. a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons

See how different those are! The first one is simply stating that diet is whatever is consumed by the being, so whatever you choose to eat is considered your diet. Now the second one, this is where people get confused and think there needs to be some sort of fad followed because when they eat it has to be focused around a certain mindset or list of rules. These toxic mindsets always have a body image agenda and monetary attachment to them, such as a salad means you are eating “healthy” and cookies make you feel guilty. They don’t make you feel guilty they make you feel like you need to feel guilty because of the connotation attached. Nutritionally a cookie isn’t much different than white toast with jam which some might call a healthy breakfast. So we have to first stop thinking of eating as good or bad and just fuel our bodies with what it needs! 

The good old American diet

As most of us know our food has changed drastically over the years – even our parents had access to very different food options, mainly less processed. Foods now can be full of fillers, preservatives, synthetic colors and artificial flavoring. America is known as one of the worst “diets” in the world because our food culture is based around fast food and large portions. Eating to be satisfied and eating to feel full are two completely different things. The food hype these days is so polarizing, centered around crazy over the top foods such as insane milkshakes that have a donut as a topping or a burger the size of your head, but just as soon you’ll see an ad for a green juice or age-reversing matcha. Fads give everyone this feeling like this is what they need to be eating to look cool and be trendy on social media. Of course trying weird things like deep fried oreos is fun but our fast food culture contributes to a skewed look at what a portion should be. 

Since we are not necessarily set up for success I’ve tried to take a step back and understand food for what it is. Trust me I’ve been very much sucked into the media diets. Now that I understand food more, one motto I keep coming back to is ‘eat whole foods’. That means one ingredient, ex// spinach, chicken, quinoa. Of course it’s not always that simple. I don’t necessarily try and avoid food additives altogether but common preservatives to recognize are: Benzoic acid, Calcium Sorbate, Erythorbic Acid, Potassium Nitrate, and Sodium Benzoate. Preservatives are used to slow down bacteria and mold growth and they are mostly found in processed foods. The easiest way to avoid this is eating fresh food. Your almond milk doesn’t really need sodium benzoate especially if you are drinking 2L in 2-4 days. Opt for fresh made from a nearby cafe or DIY! 

European Classics

The diet world over seas is very different in many senses but if you have been to Europe you know it’s carbs, carbs, carbs, pasta, breads etc! So how do some of these people remain so slender and healthy? It is all about pure ingredients, the best they can get their hands on and classic preparation, passed down for years. I read this book called French Women Don’t Get Fat; it is about a French woman who fell victim to the American diet when she moved here for school, and how she made her way back to what she knew as a French woman. The French have been eating breads and pastas for years without becoming overweight. The secret? No guilt or over-indulging but eat for satisfaction. Focusing on quality, variety, balance and always fulfillment. This includes eating for hours with friends to enjoy their company, NOT to stuff themselves. I know it sounds too easy but the concept really comes down to dropping the stress around eating and listening to your body and what it needs. 

Portion sizing is SO SO important and should be taught young. The “growing child” does not need to necessarily eat more than usual but instead should be encouraged to fill their body with better food to fuel it. In Europe you will find large portions but they take their time eating and appreciating the food, everything is slow, appreciated and allowed to digest.

Everything is Better in Moderation

Moderation is the key to life right? Well when it comes to food I truly believe it is. I mean if you eat deep fried oreos everyday they are definitely going to lose their charm. But total restriction of any food is likely setting yourself up for failure. The second we put something on the ‘no’ list or ‘can’t eat’ list we want it more! Unless you feel good about the restriction it will likely come with some major challenge and likely a break in the rule and then….guilt. There is so much guilt that can come with food and it is a daily struggle, we are constantly being bombarded with body images through social media that the mindset has corrupted our relationship with food. Food is essential to living and yes there are foods that are “bad” for you but it does not mean you are forbidden from them. 

Making a choice to eat a certain way that is outside of just your health is very common these days. For example, a lot of people are restricting certain foods for their impact on the environment. This is a noble decision but you do have to remember your body is yours and you only get this life once, so make sure you are taking care of yourself first. Eliminating foods comes with the risk of eliminating certain vitamins and minerals so if you feel unwell after a diet change get some blood work done to make sure all vitamin levels are optimal!

The Exercise and Food Balance

Exercise and food seem to have a hand in hand relationship. While it is very important to exercise (yes you should be moving everyday they don’t need to depend on each other), you don’t need to “work off” last night’s dinner or “earn” tonight’s happy hour.

I know most people have heard of the 80:20 rule but it has been applied to so many different things, so let me explain. When you are looking at the health of your body or body composition goals the focus should be 80% on a clean diet and 20% on a few indulgences. Exercise should be something to enrich your body with and support your diet. Also from the flip-side- exercise requires a supportive diet to be effective. Food is essential for achieving any body composition goal. I call it a body composition goal because it is focused on how your body looks, whereas a fitness goal is what your body can do, like 20 push-ups or 3 chin ups or run 5 miles. Goals can be fun challenges but also aren’t necessary, it okay to just move your body without any expectations and enjoy the endorphins! 

It really is food choices which influence how your body looks, your energy levels, your mood and how you feel in general. Your body needs fuel to function at an optimal level. 

Eat The Rainbow

I love eating colorful, not only is it great for my body but it is fun and usually pretty Instagrammable 😉 There are so many naturally colorful foods available to us and it is crazy how yummy they all are. In the fall you get more orange and yellow through squashes, and in the summer you get more blues and red from all the fresh berries. Greens are the easiest to come by and of course so good for you. When you can find 4-5 vegetables you really like it makes eating them a whole lot easier. Salads, rice bowls, stir fry, smoothies, omelettes, and especially pizza can all be amped up with vegetables. 

Listen To Your Body

If this blog post has made you a bit uncomfortable about your eating habits, start by evaluating your relationship with food. Do you restrict then binge? Eat processed food all the time because you crave it so you don’t want to restrict? Do you restrict your calories because you don’t workout? Do you try every fad diet with fluctuating results over and over again?

Now ask yourself… WHY?

There is a deeper meaning to all of our relationships with food and sometimes we use it to soothe or punish. Not necessary, and not fun. Moving past this can take some time and digging but it’s worth it. Reach out to a Dietician for support!

It can take a long time to find your equilibrium with food but once you get there you will find everything gets a little easier. Remember harsh restrictions always fail, you can’t retrain your brain in a day, and take care of yourself first.

I believe a healthy relationship with food is one of the best things you can give yourself in life!

We’ve all had those weeks where we’re ordering more takeout than cooking. Maybe that’s every week for you, I’m not judging. I would also assume that we all have the goal to cook more healthy meals at home! For Chris and I it comes down to each having a handful of recipes in our repertoire and keeping some staple ingredients on hand so that we can throw something together even when we’re already past the hangry stage. 

Kitchen Staple Foods – Why You Need Them 

The first step in cooking more at home is having a handful of go-to items or meals that you keep going back to. You know, the ones you pretty much buy every time you go to the grocery store? I love trying new items and products but having my staple items for breakfasts and dinner meals is crucial. 

You’re probably already imagining what this is for you; maybe eggs, oatmeal, sweet potato, bananas? Whatever it is, as an adult navigating feeding ourselves, step one is to keep these staples on hand! 

There’s nothing worse than going into the fridge and realizing you don’t have a key ingredient you need, OR you have a bunch of ingredients but nothing that really goes together. It’s like when you shop for clothes and the online order comes with 3 new pieces but you don’t have any tops to pair with the green polka dotted jeans you got… 

Moral of the story here is keep your staples on hand. I’m going to take your through ours and why we love them. Bear with me because these items might seem boring at first glance but it’s the versatility we’re going for here! 

5 Fresh Foods We Always Keep on Hand 

Chicken Breasts 

Chicken is definitely the protein we eat the most frequently. I sometimes pick up a full roasted chicken and we enjoy the dark meat at dinner and save the white for sandwiches and salads. Trader Joe’s Lemon Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken is one of our EASY faves. More often though we’re cooking chicken breasts in the oven or Instantpot. 

As far as protein goes, doing a batch of boiled eggs is great too! Take the extra 5 minutes to peel them while they are cooling down – it’ll help the shell come off better AND you are more likely to eat them since they are 100% ready to go.

Spinach

Let’s be honest, we know a dark leafy green contains way more vitamins than plain only lettuce. Options would be kale, arugula, spinach, chard etc. We both like spinach in salads and it’s so easy to add to almost any dish in the last few minutes of cooking. We toss it into smoothies, stir frys, curries, anything! Dark leafy greens are high in antioxidants and spinach specifically has you covered for Vitamins A and K. Vit A and K are fat soluble so pairing it with a fat such as an olive oil based dressing, avocado on your sandwich, or a nut butter in your smoothie with help with the absorption.

Quinoa and Brown Rice 

We love to have a quick grain prepped and ready as well – for us it’s brown rice or quinoa. Both are gluten free if that’s something you subscribe too. Brown rice is a whole grain and because it keeps that outer ‘brown’ layer it also has more B vitamins and a bit of extra fiber as opposed to white rice. It’s a great grain additive for a fruity salad, in the summer. 

Quinoa is awesome because it’s a high protein grain which really takes to any seasoning you put on it. Make sure you rinse your quinoa before cooking it to avoid that bitter taste. The bitterness comes from something called saponins which the plant produces to keep away insects! Crisp it up on the stove and add to a salad or bowl!

Fresh and Frozen Veggies 

Taking the extra step to prep vegetables goes a long way. We always have fresh and frozen veggies. They have almost the exact same nutrient value so don’t be turned off by frozen. I think it’s more about cooking them in a way you like. We are partial to broccoli, carrots and mushrooms when it comes to fresh vegetables. I also love brussel sprouts, peppers, and green beans! Sautée, roast or enjoy raw with hummus or a greek yogurt based vegetable dip! I just ordered a new pan from Amazon that “grills” veggies perfectly! 

Ezekiel Bread

This is a high fiber bread made by allowing the grains to sprout. Ezekiel is much higher in nutrients than your regular loaf of white for a few reasons. From one it’s made from multiple grains, not just wheat flour like most breads, so you get a wide variety of vitamins. Sprouting the grains also increases the benefits. Ezekiel bread also contains legumes which increase the protein and fibre content. There is no added sugar (most breads don’t have unless you’re getting a sweeter bread product). Lastly, the Iron and calcium content is high while it being a vegan product, so no eggs, dairy or milk if that’s important for you! We load up ezekiel bread with avocado or peanut butter and banana. Add Everything-But-The-Bagel seasoning to the top of your avocado toast, it’s amazing!

Why Perfect Your At Home Cooking Routine?

Bottom line is that if I know there is something prepped at home, or something I can easily throw together I’m less likely to pick something up on my drive back. Sorry Sweet Green, not today! 

Chris and I take turns both cooking and picking up the groceries. We are both pretty in tune which eat other’s likes, dislikes, and habits at this point. Having that is huge for us and it really helps with the flow of our kitchen time and meals. 

Aside from meal staples other things to consider would be healthy snacks! Both of us are often packing lunches. I love to throw in a Rise Bar or Perfect Bar, mixed nuts or a trail mix with dried fruit, greek yogurt, chia seed pudding, or bananas/apples. At home we love eating popcorn for a snack too! Lesser Evil coconut oil with Himalayan salt is my fave!

Having your staple foods, healthy snacks, and some non-perishables will go a long way during your week. It saves time at every meal and saves money that might otherwise be spent on food or delivery. 

What are your staples? Do we have any that overlap??