Hello Dallas! First timer over here. We’ll start with the bad news –  I didn’t get to spend any time at all touring the city. The good news? I had a LIFE CHANGING three days learning high level coaching skills that are going to literally change my business and therefore, change all of you!

I came into this event knowing ZERO people. Some might call that courageous, but to me it was just a calling. I mulled over the decision to go but it was always a yes. If there’s anything I’ve learned from Stacey & Carey (founders of Health Coach Institute), it’s that your intuition is always right. We almost always know the right answer, it’s just allowing our brain to get to a place of yes. (Did you know that we all have THREE brains? Well, we do! And this weekend, I learned all about them and how they allow us to make decisions and how they can get in our way at the most inopportune times – hello anxiety!)

I landed in Dallas, got room service (eggs for dinner is always a yes!) and passed out. Thursday morning I walked into the huge room and picked my seat. I like to be up close so I can be fully engaged. There were three empty seats open next to me. Knowing how these events work, I was a bit worried because we do paired work and I didn’t have anybody next to me! But then, about 5 minutes after the event begins, three girls walk in and sit down next to me. These girls ended up being one of the most powerful gifts of this entire experience. Not only did I make new friends, I just found three amazingly talented coaches who I can officially call my tribe! We worked through a lot of areas of our businesses that needed some TLC, areas that just felt stuck. Then we decided to create an accountability group that will make sure we’re all sticking to what we say we’re going to do (still saying YES!)

Aside from all of that goodness, I learned new coaching techniques that will no doubt, change my clients lives. The change doesn’t come from me, it comes from the spark I can pull out of them and I now have new killer skills to do that.

I feel incredibly lucky that I have experienced three days of positivity, love, and learning. Nothing is better than feeling educated in the safest and most intimate place (ya know, with 800 of your people next to you).

I came in saying YES and I’m leaving knowing that there is still so much YES to come! I have new programs coming in 2018. I have new talks being created right now that will be LIFE CHANGING. Do you want to find balance in your life? Lose those dreaded extra lbs? Find lost energy that you’re missing every single day? Just wait for it…your moment is coming and I’m going to help you get there!

GO BIG OR GO HOME!  – this is the motivation and reminder I need to really make a BIG impact! 

And now for the eats:

This trip had a lot of room service (YES to treating myself!) but I did get in a few other delish meals, who knew that Dallas was such a healthy minded city?!

Top left: Freshii salad with tofu and loads of veggies

Top right: Room service breakfast: hard boiled eggs with fresh fruit and green tea

Bottom left: Sweet potato fries from Pyramid – the hotel lobby restaurant

Bottom right: Greek salad with tabbouleh and falafel from Café Izmir (some of the best falafel I’ve ever had!)

Not pictured is my amazing (WILD) salmon salad from Snappy Salads – was too hungry and forgot to capture it. I was dying to get to True Food Kitchen but just didn’t have the time. Next time for sure!

Stay tuned for all of the exciting additions to KWSOF – lots of goodness is headed your way!

My mantra/goal/intention for 2017 is….

• to lead with my heart
• to stand up for what I believe in 
• to be kind to my body
• to not be so hard on myself 
• to proceed as if success is inevitable 
• to LOVE the walk as much as the talk 
• and last but not least….to be the kick ass leader of Kale With a Side of Fries for me and for you! 

Now I will write all of these down and stick the note in my bedside table. I plan to check them out as often as I need to stay on track and stay motivated this year! HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Oh I’m feeling all the feels writing this…but just 18 more days in this apartment. The apartment I have called home for 8 ½ years of my life. This apartment (that sits atop five flights of stairs so I naturally refer to it as “the penthouse”) has housed countless friends, hosted Halloween & NYE parties, dozens of pre-games, dinner parties, and millions of memories that started off with me as a single girl living that corporate life. Then I met Marcus (at a bar no less! Yes, it really does happen!) went to nutrition school, started my own business and got married.

But when the stairs become too much and your pots literally have no place to go since the brick wall has run out of space, it’s time to move on. From the east village to the upper east side we go, where I plan to walk double the amount to make up for the loss in exercise from climbing my five flight of stairs everyday.

Follow our packing adventures on social media since it will be a miracle if Marcus and I move out of here on speaking terms. I mean, he’s a hoader and I am not! Consolidating is not going to be our thing…

Here we go UES, we’re comin’ for you!

Hi Mariss! 

3 tips for eating healthy on the road

Travel much? Eat too much? You’re not alone!

Traveling for work can make eating healthy and staying on track really difficult no matter what eating regiment you follow (if you don’t follow any, that’s okay too but don’t you find that wining and dining clients can be so indulgent & exhausting? That’s partially because of what you’re eating!)

Making sure you’re prepared before getting on the plane or walking into that big client dinner can make all the difference. Read on for the top three tips on eating healthy while on the road, on a sales call or entertaining your favorite clients on a regular basis.

1. Pack snacks!

Gone are the days of feeling so famished that you end up eating anything and everything just so you don’t pass out. And no, coffee isn’t enough, you need real food! Keep snacks in your bag or suitcase so you can control what and when you eat. Some of my go-to snacks: unsalted nuts (almonds & walnuts are best), an apple (washed and ready to eat), LaraBars (just have one, it seems small but if you eat slowly it will satisfy your hunger). Packing your own snacks helps with portion control as well…which leads me to number two.

2. Portion control

Often times when eating out with coworkers or clients, we feel pressure to eat so much. Appetizer, main course, dessert & wine – sound familiar? Try to keep your portions small if you’re in a position where ordering each course and sharing is a must. Skip the bread, have 2 pieces of calamari instead of a big spoonful (or more) or go bunless on your burger. Passing on the bread & butter will be much easier if you’ve had your healthy packed snacks earlier in the day. If you can’t avoid certain foods to be polite or to not offend a client, taste everything but only take a few small bites so that you enjoy what’s in front of you. This will still allow you to focus on your main meal (fish & veggies perhaps?)

3. Keep your plate colorful

Big client meals can often be at steakhouses or Italian restaurants where it can be a little trickier to keep your plate colorful. Why not try ordering a side dish of veggies as an appetizer? Attempt to stay away from an overload of heavy carbs that can creep its way on your plate. The more colorful the better, think important vitamins, minerals etc. Just some of the benefits of fruits & veggies:

• Greens: Nutrients promote healthy eye development, cell growth & overall balance in the body
• Oranges: Beta-carotene & vitamin A which boasts eye & heart health
• Reds: Aids in heart health & improved memory
• Violets: Boosts motor skills, eye development & the immune system
• Yellows: Vitamin C, helps overall support of the immune system

So, instead of bread or chips, try ordering veggies to dip into hummus or guacamole. You’ll be supporting your joints, promoting collagen growth, detoxifying and adding powerful antioxidants into your diet while still enjoying the appetizer just as much as your client!

My week long trip started off in Las Vegas for an intensive 3-day training on how to up the ante on KWSOF. And.it.did!! The hardest part though, what was I going to eat? Las Vegas isn’t known for it’s healthy food and not wanting to compromise how I like to eat, I knew it would be a challenge. Luckily Henderson, NV has a gorgeous Whole Foods so I knew I’d be set. When I arrived on Wednesday I did a big shop and came right back to my brand new rented fridge which I immediately stocked!

Some of the easiest items? The LaraBars for a mid-morning snack & apples with almond butter for my dessert. No bowls for having Paleokrunch cereal with coconut milk? No problem! I used the hotel water glasses as my bowl and took plastic forks, spoons & knives to keep in the room. You have to get crafty when you travel! It’s so easy to make excuses but you can do it too! Lunches were easy too, back to Whole Foods I went for the salad bar which is always fresh and many veggies are organic.

On Saturday night it was off to LA…I was full of information, excitement and confidence (so much so that I drove myself there!)

Some food highlights:

Elf Cafe

So I have an obsession with Katie Lowes – I can’t help it, she’s amazing! I recently read about how much she likes the Elf Cafe so of course, I had to try it. Four of my favorite things are in this dish: kale, quinoa, avocado & egg…perfection!!

Gracias Madre:

Vegan Mexican amazingness! NYC is really missing this kind of restaurant (the kind where Beyonce & JLo frequent) and I wish it would translate to the east coast. This place is so creative and tastes just as good as a non-vegan restaurant (actually, maybe even better!) This would be a staple for me if I lived anywhere near West Hollywood.

The Farm

Beverly Hills is gorgeous! And the dishes at The Farm mirror that beauty! More of my favorite things: kale, quinoa & avocado, they just make me so happy!

Moon Juice

I could not be more obsessed with a smoothie/juice shop that I am with Moon Juice! They have such creative and decadent tasting drinks that I had to get 2. I legit drank them together because I couldn’t pick just one. I also loved the staff because even though most drinks are pre-made, they made me a special combo and didn’t give me a hard time at all.

Cafe Gratitude 

I finally made it here! I’ve wanted to eat here for years and am so grateful to have finally experienced this place. It was definitely worth the hype! The picture doesn’t do this bowl any justice but it was everything! In the bowl: braised butternut squash, adzuki beans, sea vegetables, seasonal sautéed greens, housemade kim chee, black sesame seed gomasio, garlic-tahini sauce, teriyaki almonds, sunflower sprouts, and quinoa. YUM!

Untitled at The Whitney is my new favorite spot! In addition to the museum itself, the gorgeous building and the excitement of the Meatpacking district, the restaurant is seriously delicious! Most of the dishes are completely KWSOF approved and are so unique that it’s hard to choose just one thing. So on my first visit, I choose three dishes!

The star of the show was definitely the smoked arctic char, soft boiled egg & potato pancake. Then I had to try the cauliflower with cardamom custard (made with coconut milk so it was dairy free!) Completely full but willing to keep pushing through, I had the black bass with field peas, fennel & preserved tomato.

I can’t wait to go back and try all new things!

One morning I was fooling around in the kitchen trying to create something new and different for breakfast. I usually have a smoothie because it’s the fastest and easiest option, but I had time to sit and enjoy so I wanted to embrace it! I threw together all of my favorite seeds (including pomegranate, such a powerful taste!) and voila! This super seed breakfast bowl was born. Filling, nutrient dense and delicious.

My latest obsession: nightshade veggies & lentils. It warms me up when it’s cold and the combo is perfection! I created this recipe based on 2 of my favorites and decided to combine them. The eggplant, tomato & onion combo is so delicious and the lentils are a great winter staple. This recipe can be used as a main dish or a side dish.

*nightshade vegetables: eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes & peppers

The easiest and most delicious meatballs! I used turkey in this recipe but can easily be switched out for red meat as well. This little balls are packed with protein and full of flavor. Try serving with zucchini “pasta” for a full take on pasta and meatballs!