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!

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!

Normally in each newsletter that I send out, I try to answer a question that I’m often asked and seems to be confusion among my clients. In this weeks newsletter I answer the question on how to get sufficient protein when eating little or no meat. I thought because this is such a hot topic, I would turn it into a blog post as well.

While there are other sources of plant based protein that I don’t mention, these are three of my favorites options. Even if you’re a meat lover, give these proteins a try and see if you can partake in meatless Monday as an experiment – you may find yourself opting out of meat more often than you would have expected!

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It’s a common misconception that people who don’t eat meat, don’t get enough protein. While this may be true, it’s not because of lack of plant based options, it’s probably because they don’t know what their options are. Some of my favorite plant based proteins are beans, eggs and quinoa.

Beans:
– All beans are full of protein, low in fat, high in fiber and are what’s considered a “good” carbohydrate. Beans move through the digestive system slowly which allows for a gradual increase in a blood sugar and provides sustained energy for your body.

Eggs:
– Try having eggs a few days a week for breakfast or in your salad for lunch and you’ll get excellent protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Make sure to eat the WHOLE egg, not just the egg white because whole eggs have almost every essential vitamin and mineral our bodies need to function. When eating eggs, opt for pasture raised as that is the very best conditions on the farm that translates to the best option for your body.

Quinoa:
– Now I’m saving my favorite for last – quinoa! If you know me personally, you know how much I love and advocate for quinoa. It’s a complete protein, offering all of the essential amino acids in a healthy balance and is gluten free (for those who can’t tolerate gluten). Quinoa is perfect in salads, stir fry’s, oatmeal, as a side dish, or even as a rice replacement. Try adding quinoa to something this weekend and see if you can skip that midday snack – maybe you’ll be full until your next meal? Try it and comment on this post and let me know what you think.

Ingredients:
~ ¼ cup of quinoa – washed
~ 1/3 cup cut up carrots
~ 1/3 mushrooms (I used crimini but any would work)
~ ½ cup kale
~ 1/3 cup parsley
~ Avocado Pesto – recipe can be found here
Directions:
~ Rinse quinoa, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and let simmer until water absorbs (about 10 minutes)
~ Sautee carrots, mushrooms, kale and parsley
~ Combine cooked quinoa in with the veggies and fold in the pesto