I'm a Harry Potter fan. The magic still lives on even after reading the books. I would re-read them and watch the movies and they would still have the same effect. There's something about the novels and the entire universe that makes it practically immortal and ageless - it appeals to young children and adults. It also comes alive in your imagination. I would joke that it's the only book series I ever enjoyed since I'm not a book person.
If a trip to the Harry Potter theme parks in Osaka or London is still a bit of a stretch, you can have your Hogwarts fix in Asia because there is a Harry Potter-themed restaurant in Singapore and it's called Platform 1094 (sounds like a train stop, right?). I was able to have a visit there during my recent Singapore trip (yaay for a 2018 #kittiesinSG).
The benches reminded me of the Great Hall
The chairs gave a pub-ish vibe like The Three Broomsticks
I think inspired from Platform 9-3/4, Platform 1094 is named as such because of its address - 1094 Serangoon Road. If you are coming from the Bencoolen station, take the Downtown Line (Blue line) to Geylang Bahru MRT Station. From there, it's a 14-minute walk from Geylang Bahru to Serangoon Road (you can also reach Geylang Bahru from the Little India Station by taking the North East Line). There are also routes via Google Maps, so depending on your location and mode to get by, either bus, Grab, or train. The location is more suburb, say a very residential. So if your air BNB is in the city, it's like going from Makati to say, Paranaque or Maginhawa and it's a really cute tiny resto and yes, they have WiFi so feel free to IG your stay there.
Oh, so that's my notebook!
It was actually like a mixture of what The Three Broomsticks, a common room, and a mini Great Hall would look like. There were props to pose and play with as well as murals on the wall.
The Legos, glasses, and books are the resto's own.
Dany with her fellow dollies.
Following her yet? She and her friends have Instagram.
The best part also were actually the cloaks, scarves, and hats that you could pose for a magical OOTD.
Look, Professor Slughorn! I fit!
Also, in Hogwarts Southeast Asia we can wear shorts
I actually waited to have a full-on Slytherin gear because Slytherin is my Hogwarts house according to Pottermore (also I love Slytherin. I am not making things up).
a bird of paradise (svarga dvijasana) with tight legs from walking
my "Hogwarts Letter"
I pretended that I got my Hogwarts letter after so many years. The envelope actually just holds the menu, printed in very Daily Prophet-ish fashion. So you can don Hary Potter-like glasses and pretend you are reading the Daily Prophet when you are actually deciding on what to eat.
Truffle Fries
I guess this is one theme restaurant that did not disappoint on food, because the food was pretty good. We were truffle fans so we ordered truffle fries and we could actually smell the truffle from the kitchen. There were also Spam fries but they tasted like Ma-Ling so I wasn't into it. But the truffle fries were a win at SGD10.
Saffron Pan-Seared Salmon
They serve real food such as pasta, salad, and mains. For my omega-3 fix, I got Saffron Pan-Seared Salmon (SGD 18), which was also a bestseller. This yumminess is served with beetroot mashed potatoes and topped with crushed herbs, saffron cream sauce, and came with a side of sauteed veggies. I actually finished the big plate, maybe because I walked to the point of crawling in hunger.
Flexi Frog pre-fancy fog effect
I wanted to complete the experience ordering a wizardy-drink. Platform 1094 has got a selection of wines, beers, coffee, teas, and potions (non-alcoholic smoothies and butterscotch ales), and poisons (alcoholic). It was still early on the day so I chose a potion called Flexi Frog. The name also called to the hip-opening yoga teacher that I am. It was actually just a nice and cold green tea drink served in a flask. It even came with a tiny cauldron with tiny pellets of dry ice to place inside the drink (using a cute spoon) for a foggy effect.
I waited for the dry ice to be gone before drinking it. It was pretty refreshing. I dunno if it would help with my splits but it sure helped as it was a hot day.
They will be one reason to come back
Sadly we didn't have room for dessert but they had pretty good desserts in the menu. Their bestsellers are the Sweet Treats of the Wizardry World (SGD 12), the Chocolate Blackout (SGD 7.5), and Tea By Lupicia Infused Cake (SGD 7.5).The desserts were in the shapes of spellbooks and the golden snitch. I guess it means I am due for another Platform 1094 so I can sample out their sweets and coffee.
I really recommend coming in groups or in pairs here so you can sample out the dishes and have someone take your Hogwarts-inspired photo. Just take note of their hours as they are closed on Mondays. Weekdays are 11 am to 10 pm and they open on weekends 10 am and still close at 10 pm. Aside from mains, desserts, and coffee, you can have tapas and drinks here. One of their best poisons is the Mr. Lich's Flaming Brew (SGD 15), which is a platform secret recipe.
Is it a place I would come back? Yes it is. Would I recommend it to my Harry Potter - faney friends? Yes. Will I eat the dessert? Of course I will.
I thought before that my unlimited resources to exercise could be an excuse for me to unli-eat whatever. Like I can beast mode my workout and then eat platefuls of steak and cake after. Actually I found this working against me because I found myself being very sluggish the next day or so stuffed that I couldn't even peel myself off the couch or daybed. When I took the test to find out how much calories I should actually be consuming for maintenance for someone with high physical activity and physically demanding job, turns out I don't need much. In fact, for my body type, it was actually less than 2,500 calories. Also, it wasn't just the calories. It was also the type of food you put in your mouth. A bag of chips contains 160 calories. Blogilates' Healthy Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich has 260 calories. If you look at it, the bag of chips may be less in calories that the ice cream cookie sandwich but the chips contain a lot of sodium, chemicals, and stuff our body does not need as compared to the all-natural goodness from the bananas and oats. Which of you think would be a better snack alternative when you want something to munch on in the afternoon? I would think the cookie. When I really started incorporating better food and being really diligent with my meal preps (it does take time but the results are worth it and think of how much money you save on!) there is a total difference with my energy, my performance, and even how I recover to avoid injuries and prolong my fitness life more.
So with that, let's talk meal prep. I do my bi-weekly meal prep where I shop for veggies and ingredients and set aside an afternoon or a few hours before going to bed to cook. Since I'm so engrossed in the kitchen, there's less time to drown myself in social media drama (and gadget overdose migraine). It's like magic you're doing and you're making and getting really good food to last you for days. You can start with very easy, uncomplicated recipes that look good just as they taste good. If you get your groove, you can go and look for more advanced recipes. Just don't starve yourself or suffer eating bland food. If you look at my #bambikittycooks, you will never see yucky, dry, tasteless food. For me, it's just not worth it if you cry with every bite of your food or start hating life and the world halfway through this trend diet you tried out because this celebrity was on it and lost a lot of weight. Just eat a balanced diet. Results are better. You may see results a bit slower than extreme trend diets, but you won't hate life as much.
If you want to get into prepping, here are some basic staples in my shopping cart in the market or supermarket
Rolled Oats
I used to buy steel-cut and rolled oats but now I just stick to rolled since steel-cut is quite hard to find in the grocery. I get one big bag. Rolled oats are very versatile not just in oatmeal or overnight oats. You can make granola, add them on to home-baked breads, bake cookies, or just grind them up and you have oat flour for pancakes, crepes, and all the refined flour-free recipes you would want to try. You can even blend them in smoothies for yummy brekkies on-the-go.
Low-Fat Milk and Nut Milk
My stomach can't tolerate full cream milk as it is. If I have it, I'd feel bloated and grumbly the entire day. However, I discovered low-fat milk to be friendlier to my tummy and I use this to make panna cotta, breads, or puddings. For overnight oats, smoothies, or on my little cup of hot chocolate or golden turmeric milk, I prefer almond milk or soymilk. I get my creamy fix without the bloating and bathroom trips feeling like I'm about to give birth to Godzilla.
Yogurt
Savory yogurt: used yogurt as dressing for my salad
Yogurt has the essential probiotics we need for a healthy gut. Yogurt isn't just for granola and parfaits. I use yogurt to make tzatziki or in salad dressings. They can also be an alternative to sour cream in your burrito or tacos.Regular plain yogurt is fine but if you can get Greek yogurt for protein, so much the better. For vegans, coconut yogurt is also a good alternative. You can find coconut yogurt at the Salcedo Saturday Market every morning.
This is a healthier alternative to white rice. Quinoa is an excellent protein source (perfect for after workout). I like that this makes me full faster so that I don't consume as much to leave me feeling like I ate a hollow block. A cheaper alternative would be brown rice or black rice.
As much as possible, I like honey that's pure with no added sugars. Honey that's pure is golden in color instead of brown, kind of like liquid gold. I use honey to sweeten smoothies, overnight oats, make energy balls, or just take it as it is.
Eggs
organic eggs. happy chickens make happy eggs
I prefer organic eggs from cage-free chickens. Have you seen commercial chicken coops? The chickens are enclosed in small cages with very little space to move and are just made to lay eggs. Such a stressful environment! When I found out that they throw baby chicks in the shredder when they do not meet the standards, I do not want to buy from commercial big farms anymore at the thought of these poor babies! I prefer happy chickens for happy, nutrient-loaded eggs raised in small farms. I buy my eggs from Down To Earth where native chickens enjoy the sunshine and their lives free from hormones and antibiotics.
I love Down To Earth because their livestock and poultry are raised humanely and are fed the food they should eat. Beef are grass-fed. I buy their ground beef for my ragu. I don't smell any distinct raw meat smell and I don't need a lot of salt to season my ground beef. I haven't tried their steaks but I bet I would love the steak from grass-fed cows. Aside from high-quality meats, I also buy omega-3 rich salmon and seafood.
Bananas
Bananas are a staple in a fit person's diet. Notice some gyms always have bananas in stock? They're pretty convenient. No need for knives before eating. Freeze bananas and they make excellent smoothies or vegan "nice" cream. Are your bananas getting old already? Make banana bread!
VCO and Olive Oils
These are oils that I can't live without... literally! I use VCO to cook and bake (I get something neutral-tasting but somehow, the coconut-y summery taste enhances the flavor of certain dishes). Olive oils are what make my pastas, pita breads, foccacia breads, and stews so awesome. I use regular olive oil for cooking and EVOO to make salads, spreads, raw sauces like pesto sauces, and my hummus. Contrary to some beliefs, I'm not afraid of fat. Just like everything, just not have too much of it.
Leafy Greens and Vegetables (lots of them!)
eat a rainbow - with lots of plant-based nutrients
Aside from salads, I sneak in leafy greens in smoothies (great way to use this when they're getting a bit mushy). I also stir-fry kale or spinach and make this a siding for my salmon and brown rice meal. Always find ways to add veggies to your diet. They make life awesome, and your poop trips so much easier.
Lemon
Lemon adds a tangy flavor to most dishes. Make fresh lemonade during the summer or have a warm cup of lemon water in the morning to jump start your metabolism. Lemon is one staple ingredient when I make hummus for that tangy, citrusy lift in flavor.
Nuts
packaged nuts and dried fruit from Salcedo Market
For the house, I usually have pecans, walnuts, almonds, and cashews. You can add nuts to granola or cereal or you can make your own nut milks. Add some crunch to your salads with chopped cashews and kung pao chicken. Nuts can be used also to make energy balls, homemade nut butters, or if you want, homemade nut (vegan) cheeses.
Frozen Berries
When not in season, I get my strawberries frozen, which are excellent for smoothies, overnight oats, or puddings. Since blueberries are not available locally and the fresh ones can get really expensive, I buy frozen blueberries for my blueberry pancakes or smoothies.
Chia seeds
These fun little things are excellent plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. I use these as topping for my granola yogurt parfait, champorado, overnight oats, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and even make dessert with them. When they expand, they form a gelatinous coating just like sago.
White Vinegar
Aside from making a mean, flavorful adobo, I use white vinegar to make buttermilk for pancakes and waffles for happy, carby, cheat day treats. White vinegar has also awesome uses not just for cooking. Use this in washing strawberries to prevent them from being moldy and yucky or use white vinegar to remove soap scum, clean your fridge, clean your coffee maker and diffuser, make DIY natural house cleaners, and neutralize pet odors. It's practically an all-around kitchen-to-home solution!
Hopefully a little shift and changes here and there can get you happy and healthy eating. In a few weeks of putting good stuff, you would definitely notice a change in your energy and maybe you may feel better in getting yourself started for the day.
Image Sources: Bananas and Grocery pexels.com Meats Down To Earth https://www.instagram.com/downtoearthph/ Store Directory: Down To Earth Makati Curb Holdings, No. 7433 Ground Floor, Unit J, Yakal St., San Antonio Village, Makati City; http://www.downtoearth.ph/; instagram.com/downtoearthph Salcedo Saturday Market Jaime Velasquez St., Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Since I make my own food most of the time, I try to get the most out of what I eat. I let food be my medicine by eating good-quality food. I'm on the lookout for weekend markets that sell local produce at a fraction of the cost, bonus too for organic finds (I'm not super strict on the organic food, but I know and recognize that there are food that as much as possible we get organic such as greens, eggs, etc.). It makes meal prepping so much more fun because I'm working with a rainbow of high-quality ingredients.
I've been adding superfood to what I make. Superfoods are food that will not turn me to a superhero but it is a fun (marketing) term used to describe food with health benefits that our body needs. I would like to think of it as getting nutrients from other food sources or to up the nutritional value of my food by sneaking in some other food sources. Popular superfood include chia seeds, quinoa, flax, etc. Since most superfoods are plant-based, it makes those with a plant-based diet or those with seafood allergy to still get nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids other than fish or seafood.
I already have food like chia seeds, flax, and quinoa in my stock so I thought I'd add more to my stash. Doing more research led me to the Superfood Grocer website, and I purchased a few products from their list which I would like to show you.
Superfood staples (L-R): Spirulina, Maca Power, Raw Cacao Nibs, and Chia Seeds
I purchased these items in separate days, since I purchased them through their dealer stores such as Rustan's Supermarket and The Green Company. For this time, I decided to go to the physical stores since I like seeing what I buy. Also, it's like making a little trip and discovering new places too where I can source out materials.
Chia Seeds, Php350 (1/2 lb) and Php625 (1 lb)
I really use chia seeds and they are practically in almost all of my breakfasts. Chia contains fiber, protein, and omega-3. They are fun to work with. When you soak them, they form a jelly-like coating that thickens up smoothies.
A post shared by The Superfood Grocer PH (@thesuperfoodgrocer) on
Use chia seeds to make coconut-chia pudding. Just add some mangoes and you have a dessert that reminds you of a popular Thai dessert. Added to overnight oats, it gives you that thick, creamy consistency. One bag of chia seeds last really long for me (unless you make chia pudding everytime), since a tablespoon is more than enough for topping for my granola or oatmeal already.
You can take a cue from my friend Jinky, where she placed chia seeds on her Bayani Brew drink. It adds an interesting texture and keeps you fuller so you don't go mindlessly snacking throughout the day.
Raw Cacao Nibs, Php 225 (1/2 lb) and Php 395 (1 lb)
Cacao nibs are quite interesting because they look and taste like dark chocolate. These bits that look (and taste) like chocolate-covered raisins contain magnesium and manganese as well as iron. They also contain antioxidants that the body needs to fight free radicals.
Mix these in oatmeal or your granola and yogurt or have a few when you're craving for chocolate. I purchased a small packet of cacao nibs from a different brand a while back, but they were a bit too nutty and bitter for me. This one, since they are coated with raw sugar are a bit yummier and sweeter. You can actually include them in homemade trail mixes you can take when you want a snack wherever.
I'm actually curious about Maca Power because it practically contains everything I needed in my life right now plus there were so much good reviews about it. Sleep is important. It's the body's natural way of repairing itself. I've actually planned my day and my life that I should get proper amount of sleep every single day. Since working out is practically my job and my life right now, I need faster recovery so I don't run on empty batteries and an injured body. All you need is 1/2 teaspoon blended into your smoothies, juices, oatmeal, etc. It also doesn't interfere with the taste of my smoothies. Actually, with life so busy and running on instant and fast paced and all these Facebook statuses that I read of people running on coffee, 2 hours of sleep and ready to beast mode at work, we should have this all the time. It's been a week of taking my Maca Powder (I add it to my smoothies and oatmeal). I haven't had coffee the entire week and I have this steady energy like I supercharged my fire meridians. I don't have broken sleep (like being interrupted midway). My sleep is steady and I constantly wake up at 5:00 a.m. every single day. It's like being a car getting VIP tune-up service every single time.
What actually got me wanting to purchase a packet of spirulina was because it gives a pretty blue color for my smoothies and colored pasta. This spirulina however, is more a deep blue-green color rather than navy blue. However, even though it didn't color my pasta or smoothie to a blue color, it's still worth it to have some spirulina present. Spirulina in the highest known natural protein source. It has the highest concentration of protein per gram compared to any food on the planet. Any food, yes, that includes protein from animal sources and the yucky monggo. It contains powerful antioxidants, aids in quick recovery and for breastfeeding mommies who are getting umay with eating 25,745 malunggay (moringa) leaves in all forms (including in yucky monggo soup). I have this in smoothies and smoothie bowls. I even made fresh pasta with spirulina.
I do have to warn you though, that spirulina, since it comes from algae, may have an initial fishy smell. However, those who tasted it says it tastes like seaweed or nori. I'm thinking of adding this to my vegan puttanesca sauce next time as an alternative for anchovies.
The Superfood Grocer website has the most complete listing of food we could include to stock up our pantries. I'm eyeing on the camu camu berry on my smoothie next time as well as chlorella. They also have starter packs for those who want to get started on including superfood in their system. The website has all their products but if you are like me and like looking at the actual product before buying, they also have partner stores listed in their site. The groceries though like Landmark, Rustan's, and Robinsons contain just the quinoa, chia seeds, flax, coconut sugar, and cacao nibs. For the maca power and spirulina, you may have to go to organic food stores. Next time, I shall try ordering online. If you're at a loss on how to incorporate them in food, the website also has (plant-based) recipes for you to try.
I've got so much ideas now on my smoothie bowls and juices and I always look forward to making breakfast and meals supercharged with superfood. If you have an idea, let me know how to use them.
Store Directory The Superfood Grocer www.thesuperfoodgrocer.com; facebook.com/TheSuperfoodGrocer; instagram.com/thesuperfoodgrocer The Green Company San Juan: 17-D DPL Bldg, M. Paterno St., San Juan. (02) 5315201; QC: 920 Banawe St. Brgy Manresa, QC (02) 3512982 Pasig: Ground Floor, Ace Plaza Hotel and Suites, United St. cor. Brixton St., Kapitolyo, Pasig (02) 9416165 facebook.com/thegreencompanyorganic; instagram.com/thegreencompany
Funny thing is, I was never a fan of flowers. While most girls gush on bouquets of colorful blooms or go to flower markets to buy sprigs and blossoms for their house, I'm one who would be the one to keep the litterbox poop-free or vacuum the house. For me, I didn't really want the idea of someone to spend so much money on something that would be dying in a few days a slow, sad death. I would want something that I can enjoy aside from just looking at its beauty for just a few days.
If you would still want to give something blossomy-pretty, here are a few bouquet-inspired ideas on how to turn random things into something gorgeous and Valentine's-like. Not only are they gorgeous, but they are also yummy and good for our bodies.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a staple in most grocery carts of fit girls. For those allergic to fish, broccoli can be your source of Omega-3's. It's also got anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It's also good for your digestive and cardiovascular system. Just get good broccoli (organic is best) and tie a ribbon with a short note. It also looks like a bouquet. If you're not a broccoli fan, you can use cauliflower, which can be "riced" and made into gluten-free cauliflower rice or pizza. You can also combine both cauliflower and broccoli.
A photo posted by Bernice Caruana (@bernicecaruana) on
Happy protein overload. This savory grilled veggie. They actually look like tiny boqueuts. Just grab a bunch of enoki (seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper) and then wrap them with bacon before grilling. Cool a bit before eating. Don't they look like tiny bouquets in the photo?
Strawberries are also associated with Valentine's day. Let's make this awesome fruit the star of the show. Did you know that they contain also a lot of antioxidants? They're also great in curbing PMS symptoms and prevent illnesses with the antioxidants. I've seen lots of tutorials on creating a strawberry bouquet. You can create your own and make it as small or as big as you want. For an added treat, dip some (or all) in dark chocolate for a nice treat. Even after dismantling the bouquet, the fruit will still be enjoyed in the form of smoothies, cakes, snacks, and even as it is.
Nothing makes a fit girl happy than the gift of #gainz or support towards the #roadtogainz so give her a stock of an after-workout muscle-building snack arranged like a bouquet or topiary in a flower pot. Make it one flavor (usually her favorite) or pick out her favorites and some bestsellers if you would want it assorted, Kinda unusual, but it's one happy gift for the one who wants some gainz.
Not really floral-y but just as pretty, these are gorgeous IG-worthy treats that are great for breakfast. I posted a few smoothie bowl recipes earlier so you can refer to that or your own if you want to go DIY, This awesome acai bowl I found over at Blogilates looks super gorgeous (it's even got actual edible flowers! Substitute with food readily available and remember to use very little liquid with your fruit base. Frozen fruit too helps create that icecream-like consistency.
Any ideas for floral bouquet-inspired Valentine's gifts? Post them on Instagram and tag me and I would love to see your creations!
On a cold day, it's comforting to bundle up in sweaters and slurp on chicken soup for a hearty meal to warm you up. Whenever we're sick, we're surely served a bowl of chicken soup. I even have a go-to recipe for a chicken soup that's low in calories and sure to make me heal faster. In many forms, chicken soup has had its benefits in the nutrition and comfort food department.
How would you feel if there is such a thing as a chicken soup that not only contains organic, high-quality ingredients with a lot of nutrients but also something that has also been our best friend in the beauty department? I actually had that chance a few weeks ago when I tried what is known as a Beauty Collagen Hot Pot, which - yes you got that right, contains collagen, an important ingredient in a lot of beauty products.
Bijin Nabe by Tsukada Nojo gives us an entirely different hot pot experience with its Beauty Collagen Hot Pot. This signature dish is served at Bijin Nabe by Tsukada Nojo, located at the S Maison at Conrad Hotel. This restaurant has a farm-to-table concept, the ingredients are delivered on the very day, fresh and organically grown -with no harmful pesticides, hormones, or chemicals the body doesn't need.
So, anyway, let's talk about the star, the Beauty Collagen Hot Pot:
The chicken used for the broth is the Jidori chicken, a special breed of chicken that's meatier and tastier and richer in collagen. They are grown free-range with good care and a specially-watched diet (again, no hormones!). Cooking the chicken and producing the broth is an 18-hour process of delicate stewing (yes, 18 hours, that's like more than overnight), making the essence of the meat and bones dissolved into the stock.
that pudding when heated melts into a broth
The broth that's presented to you actually isn't liquid-like at first but it looks like a pudding (actually, when it was brought out to us, it kind of looked liked taho).
It would be then heated until that pudding melts into a milky white broth, shown above.
We got a taste of the pure broth in taster cups. The taste of the chicken is very flavorful. It sort of reminded me of essence of chicken but less medicine-like. The chicken meat was melt-in-the-mouth, flaking off the bone. We were provided yuzukoshu seasoning (a paste made of chili pepper, yuzu peel, and salt), depending on our preference. The yellow one was sweet, the green spicy, and the red extra spicy. I personally liked the taste of the green one. It was a bit refreshing with a bit of kick in the end. If you would want the red one, I suggest to put just a little though because the spice is very potent.
The hot pots we know usually have us adding the other ingredients randomly or as we please and letting them cook. Here, there is a process and specific order in adding the vegetables and seafood and time spent for the ingredients to cook. This process also alters the flavor of the broth, which we take sips to distinguish the flavor,
The vegetables were a sight to behold and arranged prettily it's almost like an art. Well, it is actually an art. After the veggies were served (and eaten, the greens and enoki being my favorites), the broth had a different taste, with the strong chicken flavor mellowing down and the flavors of the mushrooms, greens, radish, and zucchini coming through. Veggies are best eaten with the leek oil but I still liked them with the yuzukoshu paste,
The seafood was served last and shrimp peeled for you, if you requested (since I don't really like getting my hands into shrimp shells). The broth changed into a different, richer flavor. The leftover broth was mixed with rice for a thick and comforting rice porridge. I skipped this part to make room for dessert though. According to my tablemates, it was quite good and comforting,
Since there is a ritual involving how the hotpot would be cooked, the eating process was carefully paced so our tummies were given time to rest and digest so I was full, but not really bursting type of full. A portion can actually serve 2 people, so you can go here with your friend or someone you know who would love hotpot (I'm taking my friend here one time). Aside from hot pot, you can try out their appetizers like their salad and maximum eggplant (which I highly recommend to try, even if you're not an eggplant fan). Be sure to leave some room for dessert, too because they have great selections.
Try this as a post-workout recovery meal with all the good protein and organic veggies or try it on days when you are craving for something warm for your belly. The farm-to-table concept gives us a healthy dose of good-quality produce raised without chemicals, additives, fertilizers, and hormones so we get the best quality ingredients in every bite.
Let me know your Bijin Nabe experience. Did you have a special sauce combo used? Let me know and I'll try that when I get there.
Bijin Nabe by Tsukada Nojo is located at the 2F of S Maison at Conrad Hotel. Visit their website at http://bijinnabe.ph or check them out at Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
If you find yourself accumulating some Holiday fluff from eating too much ham and sweets or sweet ham, enjoy the feast by eating clean with these alternatives that are healthy as well as tasty.
Lessen the bilbil tendencies by cleaner food choices that do not taste like chalk this Holiday season
A photo posted by Johanna Garcia (@realgirltoykitchen) on
Hummus is a dip made of chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini, and garlic. It's great with toasted pita bread and veggie sticks. Use it as an option to chips and dip for starters. Hummus is also a vegetarian protein source that's great post-workout. Is that probably why Zohan is so strong?
Fresh Juices and Smoothies
Have a smoothie instead of beer. You got good sugars and good energy
I developed alcohol intolerance so I don't drink alcohol. So what to drink in these Holiday festivities? The alternative may be fresh juices which are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Cocktails also actually contain a lot of sugars which can be bad for you. Try this juice recipe, which I got from Solenn Heussaff's fitness book Hot Sos - slice 1/4 pineapple, 1/2 beetroot, 2 oranges, 1 big carrot, and a half-thumb size of ginger and place it in a juicer. Place in a wine glass and add chia seeds. The drink looks like red wine but it contains a load of nutrients your body would love. You can drink this any time of the day too! Try also a red margarita by combining beet juice, lemon juice, coconut sugar or honey, and water. moisten the rim of a margarita glass and dip in Himalayan pink salt. Pour in your concoction and drink up!
Healthy Cookies
I myself love homemade, fresh chocolate chip cookies. Too much of it though leaves me with a muffin top. These healthy cookies from Honest Junk do not scrimp on flavor as well as the pretty factor. These are gluten free, dairy free, low sugar, low sodium, vegan, and contain superfoods like malunggay (moringa) and chia that up the health factor. Try their healthy gummies too, which taste like citrusy orange gummy chews.
Salads
Juju Eats Big Boy Salad is my go-to post-workout light meal.
Salads are refreshing as they are pretty! Have a DIY salad bar or make a family favorite. It's one excuse to literally eat a rainbow of awesome raw vegetables! Up the nutri factor by choosing light, oil-based sauces instead of heavy, creamy ones. It also gives you more space in your tummy to enjoy the main course
Grilled Food Versus Fried
DIY Grilled lunch: Grilled zucchini and grilled salmon with chimichurri
Grill your meats instead of frying them, and choose meats that are lean like lean beef, top round chunks for stews, chicken breast, and seafood. A few weeks ago, I bought this book of healthy Mediterranean recipes with super-easy food that's fast and simple without the added baddies. I was surprised to find a healthy stew recipe that's flavorful but hardly contained salt! Yes, we can have our hearty, savory dishes and eat healthy and low-cal! Just don't overindulge or burn the food!
I remember totally going YOLO one Christmas season and letting go and ended up having my pants a bit too snug and so much sluggishness shedding off the Holiday weight gain via training was more difficult. I mean it's okay to do a bit of indulgence. With a bit of research and switching things around, you can make healthy choices that are yummy, pretty, and you don't feel you are depriving yourself. Since these food choices contain a lot of good nutrients, it powers you through properly through the hectic Holiday schedule and can help you avoid getting sick during this time.
To introduce others to healthy food, we can bring a healthy dish we prepared for others to try, most especially if it's something new. Choose one that's easy to prepare. It also helps to present it in a nice, Instagram-worthy way, so people can be attracted to it. For example if it's a dip, arrange the dip with veggies and pita in a nice plate. Choose a salad that's got lots of flavor and color. Present a smoothie in a pretty cocktail glass. This is one encouraging way of sharing healthy meals.
Do you have a healthy Holiday food choice this year? Let's share this gift of health with family and friends. I'd love to see what you've got tomorrow on Christmas Eve!
Image Directory: Cover Photo by Fritz Tentativa fritztentativa.com; facebook.com/fritztentativaphotography Hummus Photo: instagram.com/realgirltoykitchen Store Directory: Honest Junk facebook.com/honestjunk77; instagram.com/honestjunk; email at honestjunk77@gmail.com Hot Sos available at all leading bookstores nationwide Real Girl Toy Kitchen realgirltoykitchen.com; facebook.com/realgirltoykitchen; instagram.com/realgirltoykitchen Juju Eats click here for store locations; jujueats.com; instagram.com/jujucleanse
(NOTE: This isn't actually a super fitness post, since it's food, but I swear, this has so much love and awesomeness I decided to post it. )
I love truffle flavor. Once the truffle love hit me, boy was I obsessed with it! I love anything with truffle - truffle fries, truffle pasta, truffle lechon, and my favorite savory breakfast - truffled eggs ben. I always have a bottle of excellent-quality truffle oil in my pantry. I get my truffle oil at Santi's or this store called Truffles and More, which sells all my favorite truffle ingredients like truffle honey, truffle salt, and truffle paste. Truffles and more sometimes has a stall at the Gourmand Market, and I pass by when I need to replenish. When someone asked me to describe the flavor if it's sweet, savory, spicy, I couldn't actually find the right word to it, more of like I would say it's like gasoline, but a bit earthy, but actually quite appealing.
While at Santi's I saw that they had a stock of truffles in juice. The thoughts of gorgeous things to eat went in my head so I asked how much a bottle was. A tiny bottle with like 5 pieces of truffles was like around Php 2,400. Thankfully, I remembered my friend Josyne was in Europe for a vacation. I asked her if she was going to buy some truffles (as she loves them too) so I asked if she could buy for me a jar. When she showed me this photo in Facebook, I cried again of happiness at 4 in the morning. The equivalent cost of this in Philippine peso was Php 770 I think so it's pretty much a good deal.
Thank you Josyne, for understanding my obsession.
I guess this is trufflle sauce or truffle paste from the label, where the truffles are grounded and immersed in olive oil, like an intense black paste. I actually like this better as I don't have to worry about making truffle shavings too thick. A little actually goes a long way because a little spoonful, or even half a spoonful is already very potent.
So what things have I been making with this jar of happiness?
I would start by making one of my favorite breakfasts (or brunches) - truffled eggs Benedict. Making eggs Benedict is really time and space consuming - I have to toast the English muffins, poach the eggs, fry the bacon, and make the Hollandaise sauce. However, taking your first bite of everything makes it so worth the trouble. Yes, I make my own Hollandaise sauce from scratch (no powders). That's actually the secret to really good eggs ben and it brings all the flavors together. I add the truffle and the truffle oil at the last minute, so the truffly goodness is still there instead of evaporating away.
I also upped my go-to dish, black pepper truffle mushroom pasta with a heaping teaspoon of paste. You know what makes my black pepper flavor so intense? I get black peppercorn (no need to be expensive, just your regular old pamintang buo used to make your chicken adobo) and crack them with a mortar and pestle.
Grilled cheese panini (the original recipe is from Solenn Heussaff's book Hot Sos) with a little truffle paste and truffle salt. Yes, I served it still with salsa.
I made this a while ago for lunch, another pasta recipe this time using butter, lemon zest, truffle, and nutritional yeast (as I didn't have pecorino cheese with me). a sprinkle of salt and pepper and fresh parsley plus chili flakes, this dish has so much texture and flavor and dimension they make so much perfect sense.
These are some of my food for the soul, meals that make me happy. either making it or eating it. Are you a truffle fan like I am? What are some of your favorite indulgent truffly things? Let me know in the comments or tag me in Instagram of your favorite resto with the best truffley dish. Share us the love.
