Green Smoothie Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Hemp Happiness

by McKenna Gordon on March 21, 2013

I’m so happy to be back to feeling normal after having my sweet little princess. Plus, Spring is here and I’ve got the fever. BAD. For me, that means shopping for happy, colorful clothes, usually a new haircut, and of course a strong desire to create some new recipes that make me feel clean and energized. Here’s what I made for lunch today. I loved it with a side of veggies in my healthy ranch recipe. Let me know how you like it!

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Green Smoothie Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Hemp Happiness

8 oz coconut water
4 oz water
2 large handfuls baby spinach
1 banana
3 Tbsp hemp hearts
3 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp all natural peanut butter
optional: honey, stevia or agave to taste
ice to taste

{ 2 comments }

The New “Fast Food” – 20 Super Fast Snacks

July 31, 2012

One of the biggest hurdles in quitting fast food for good is that it’s just so convenient. We are all running every-which-way and barely have time to shave more than one leg in the shower, let alone spend hours in the kitchen every day. Luckily, there is such a thing as Mother Nature’s Fast Food [...]

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Lighten-Up Tuition Giveaway

July 17, 2012

A few days ago, I wrote in my newsletter about how frustrating it can be when we’re doing our best to instill healthy habits, only to fail over and over at making PERMANENT changes. (aka-constantly “falling off the wagon”) If you’re reading this you probably already know exactly what you need to do to lose [...]

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Turning-On Your Body’s Natural Detoxing Systems

July 16, 2012

We all know that detoxifying the body from contaminants is important, but there is a lot of misinformation out there, which can make this subject really confusing. Just how critical is it to get rid of toxins in your body? According to J.H. Tilden, M.D., author of Toxemia Explained, “All sickness, all disease, and all [...]

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Zucchini Cashew Soup – Warm or Chilled

June 22, 2012

I added my personal tweak to this amazing Zucchini soup recipe several months ago and it has since become a favorite of mine. I love that I can throw it together in about 15 minutes and it’s ready to eat. I also love that the kids will eat it (even if they prefer to dip [...]

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Stop Telling Yourself “No!”

May 23, 2012

This post is an excerpt from my book, The Undo Button. I’ve been seeing a lot of comments lately from people who are punishing themselves when they “fall off the wagon” of healthy eating, or comments about how we must torture ourselves in order to become thin and healthy. It’s just not the case, and [...]

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The Salt Low-Down: Is Salt Healthy? Is Salt Bad?

May 4, 2012

I got asked on my Facebook page, “I want the low-down on salt. What’s the difference between sea salt and regular salt? Is salt ever good or should we always avoid it like the plague?” I get asked about salt a lot, so I’m excited to have a detailed answer so that you can make [...]

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Triple Berry Cheese Cake

April 26, 2012
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  Ummm, hellloooooo! I’ve had this cheesecake recipe up my sleeve for a few months and completely forgot about it until you all reminded me that I teased you about it and never followed through. How could I forget about this delicious dessert? It’s cheesecake. It’s dairy free. It’s made entirely of plants. And it [...]

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Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe

April 19, 2012
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No doubt this is the #1 favorite meal for most kids nowadays. Too bad it’s one of the most processed, chemical-filled junk foods we could be giving our kids. I was once excited to see an organic brand of mac and cheese, but a quick flip-over of the box had me disappointed again. True, it [...]

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Protected: Spring Cleaning Challenge Information!

April 16, 2012

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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Using Essential Oils for Cold and Flu?

April 11, 2012
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(For Part 1 of this Essential Oils for Beginners series, go here: What Are Essential Oils and Why/How Do They Work? ) You know the drill… you start to feel a little tickle or a scratch in the back of your throat. You think you’re probably just dehydrated and your throat needs some moisture. So you [...]

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Coconut Oil Benefits

April 2, 2012

Unrefined, virgin, organic coconut oil is an important part of my family’s healthy diet. This amazing super food has so many uses, from cooking and “frying” to making raw foods taste amazing, to skin and hair care. In this article I’ll get into the many benefits of this amazing oil, how to find the BEST [...]

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Spring Motivation Contest:
Pin It to WIN It!

March 29, 2012

Spring is HERE! It’s time to mix things up. Refresh your commitment. Get motivated to MOVE. I’ve got a really sweet gift that I can’t WAIT to buy for you. And the contest to win this gift is going to be tons of fun, too! I have recently fallen in love with Pinterest. It’s such [...]

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What Are Essential Oils?

March 26, 2012

I get a lot of questions on essential oils and whether they’re safe, what they can be used for, how they can safely be used, etc. There’s so much information about essential oils that I thought it would be best to break this out into an series of posts that give you the basics on [...]

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Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Treat

March 15, 2012
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What an honor it is to be guest-writing for The Dating Divas today! Click the link for the full article, and to see their darling website with great dating ideas geared toward married couples. Here’s the recipe: These sweet shamrock candies are so rich, you’ll be satisfied after just a couple, and even if you [...]

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Dye-Free St. Patrick’s Day Food

March 13, 2012

For all you festive food lovers who are concerned about using food dye (with good reason), I have a fun, 3-course St. Patrick’s Day breakfast to share with you! GREEN EGGS One of my kids favorites, whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or not, is green eggs. They’re so simple to make and what makes them [...]

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Healthy Orange Julius Recipe

March 8, 2012
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I had such a lovely break for the holidays, but now I’m ready and eager to get back to work! I have some pretty lofty goals for 2012, many of them involving Totally Healthy Recipes and helping you and your family live a healthy, balanced life. I can’t wait for what’s in store. To start [...]

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Pomegranate Pear Salad Recipe with Maple Nut Dressing

March 5, 2012
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Before I give you this pear salad recipe, let me just say one little bit about salads in general. They’ve become much more popular the last several years because of the trend in sweetening things up with fruit, candied nuts, and super sugary dressing. But this makes salads so misleading! You think you’re being good [...]

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Green Chili Crock-Pot Chicken Recipe

March 5, 2012

I love this green chile crock-pot chicken recipe because it’s so incredibly easy and versatile, and it takes 5-10 minutes to throw together and leave it to cook. If you have picky eaters in your family, or if Mom is on a diet and Dad and kids aren’t, this recipe still pleases everyone. (See below [...]

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Fresh Spinach Salad Recipe with Strawberries and Raspberry Orange Vinaigrette

March 5, 2012

I absolutely love this fresh spinach salad recipe. There’s something about the combination of greens with the sweet berries and slight citrus flavor from the vinaigrette. It’s a family favorite! Enjoy! Serves 4 376 Calories 31g Protein 4g Fiber Ingredients: 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/3 cup raspberry vinegar 2 tbsp orange juice (freshly [...]

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Healthy Potato Chips 3 Ways: Savory, Spicy or Sweet!

March 5, 2012
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These healthy potato chips are so delicious and so easy to make! Sweet potatoes are nutritional power-houses. They pack more dietary fiber, healthy complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A & C, iron and calcium than most other veggies. This recipe is a perfect side to any main dish. Grill up a healthy veggie burger (or lean [...]

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Healthy Meatloaf Recipe

March 5, 2012

Healthy meatloaf recipe! Okay, let’s be completely honest here. While you can make healthy foods taste pretty amazing… USUALLY the unhealthy version of a dish is a little bit tastier than the version with less sugar, salt, fat, etc. Right? I mean, if we’re being perfectly honest. And we are. So BELIEVE me when I [...]

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Healthy Granola Recipe with Almond and Fruit!

March 5, 2012

Oh my… this healthy granola recipe is the best. It’s great for snacking on in the afternoon instead of junk food. It’s also a wonderfully healthy alternative to processed cereals. Pour some almond milk over a bowl of this and you’ll be in absolute HEAVEN. This recipe appears to be high in fat, but it’s [...]

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Healthy Banana Ice Cream

March 5, 2012

This healthy banana ice cream is made up of completely raw plant foods. You’ll love it. Your kids will beg for more, and not have a clue they’re being fed a great source of potassium, essential fatty acids and blood sugar stabilizer. The next time you’re craving that icy, creamy goodness, try this instead. It’s [...]

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Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe

March 5, 2012
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Okay, so first off, I apologize that my chocolate ice cream recipe is not well-represented in this cell phone picture (my friend Kylie thought it was a picture of pork chops). I debated on whether to even use the pic, but then I remembered that when you’re REALLY craving chocolate, even cardboard in the right [...]

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Easy Chicken Salad Recipe

March 5, 2012

This easy chicken salad recipe is a great dish to whip up for lunch, and is also a great crowd-pleaser. The original version of this recipe has a major mayonnaise base, and is full of calories, bad fat and sugar. This healthy makeover is just as delicious! Enjoy! Serves 4 211 Calories 5g Fat 15g [...]

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Choco-Cherry Bomb! Healthy Smoothie Recipe

March 5, 2012

Have you heard of a GREEN smoothie before? (Speaking of healthy smoothie recipe.) I’m a huge advocate of them. They’re such a great way to get lots of green, healthy vegetables into your diet, especially if you’re like me and don’t necessarily love the taste of most vegetables. This green smoothie recipe is by far [...]

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Healthy Snack Recipe for Dilly Sesame Carrots

March 5, 2012
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This is a fun, healthy snack recipe for kids or adults. It can also be served as a side to any lunch or dinner. My family likes it because it adds a little unique flavor to such a classic snack. I think dill brings out sweet deliciousness on any vegetable. And the sesame seeds add [...]

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Healthy Banana Ice Cream!

March 5, 2012

This healthy banana ice cream is made up of completely raw plant foods. You’ll love it. Your kids will beg for more, and not have a clue they’re being fed a great source of potassium, essential fatty acids and blood sugar stabilizer. The next time you’re craving that icy, creamy goodness, try this instead. It’s [...]

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One of the Easiest No Cook Recipes for Kids: Everything Kebobs!

March 5, 2012
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This is one of the very easiest no cook recipes for kids ever. I love it for so many reasons… It’s great for picky eaters, because you can customize it for your little one. Kids think they’re so much fun to eat. They take all of 30 seconds to throw together, and you can use [...]

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Healthy Ice Cream Recipes (Vanilla Creme)

March 5, 2012
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Calling all ice cream addicts! I’ve got great news. With these healthy ice cream recipes, you can keep that habit of yours without killing your waistline or blowing up your cholesterol and triglycerides. Just have THIS ice cream instead of that ice cream. Got it? Serves 8 304 Calories 23g Fat 32g Carbs 6g Protein [...]

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Healthy Pizza Recipe: Green Pizza!

March 5, 2012
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You and your family will love this healthy pizza recipe. And it’s not just half-way healthy, either. I went way beyond just converting to a whole wheat crust and low fat cheese like most healthy pizza recipes you’ll find. This one is even lower-carb. It’s full of green, fibrous goodness. And it’s so delicious that [...]

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Healthy Sandwich Recipe for Bible Sandwiches!

March 4, 2012
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I have no clue why this healthy sandwich recipe is called a Bible Sandwich. All I know is that my husband grew up on these delights, and that I will forevermore bless the day he made me my first one. This meal takes 10 minutes to throw together, and is a fantastic way to hide [...]

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Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe

March 4, 2012
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This is a really healthy take on a Thai lettuce wraps recipe that takes about 10 minutes to make. Ten minutes, people! First, let me tell you that if you like cauliflower even a little bit, you’ll love this recipe. If you hate cauliflower, you’ll be able to tolerate this recipe, and possibly even enjoy [...]

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Pico de Gallo Recipes – Shrimp

March 2, 2012
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This is one of our favorite and hopefully one of many Pico De Gallo Recipes. It’s like combining two party favorites together to make them better. Very quick to make, you simply chop, chop, and serve. Use your favorite healthy chips or slice a cucumber and use that as a chip. This recipe is pretty [...]

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Go Greek! Healthy Shrimp Recipe with Orzo

March 2, 2012
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This healthy shrimp recipe is quick and easy to make. Once it’s finished, you may look at it and think that it looks so simple, it will probably taste too healthy! But I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It’s absolutely delightful! So fresh and summery, it’s such a pick-me-up refresher… you know those types of [...]

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Healthy Pina Colada Smoothie Recipe

March 2, 2012

Mmmm. This pina colada smoothie recipe takes me away to some pretty fabulous memories on a particular beach in the Caribbean when I finally (after 2 days already on vacation) felt the stress from my everyday life literally melt away from me in a matter of seconds. Except this one is A LOT more healthy [...]

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Pineapple Chutney Salad with Shrimp

March 2, 2012
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I really love this pineapple chutney shrimp salad. I first love it because it has just a few ingredients, making it cheap and simple. It’s easy to make, and very quick, too. Tonight I threw it together in about 15 minutes, including taking the extra time to show my four year old how to pull [...]

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Mango Salad Recipe Island Sunset Salad

March 2, 2012
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I love this easy mango salad recipe so very much. If you’re one who doesn’t like the taste of greens, you will love this salad. It’s light and sweet, creamy and comforting. This salad is such a treat for me. I love it as a main dish or a side, either way. It’s delicious with [...]

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Quinoa Salad Recipe

March 2, 2012
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I love this quinoa salad recipe because it’s such a no-brainer. Once you’ve made this versatile dinner once, you can make it again from your head. It’s completely customizable to your family’s taste, and can be made differently every time. Really, this is more of a recipe template than a recipe. Get creative and have [...]

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Recipe for Homemade Salsa – Fresh lime salsa, that is!

March 2, 2012
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I can’t even tell you how much I love a recipe for homemade salsa… all kinds! I love traditional tomato based salsa, fruit-based salsas, all sorts of bean salsas, you name it. But lately this is hands down my favorite homemade salsa recipe. Let’s just say that I have been known to eat it straight [...]

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Roasted Asparagus Recipe with Walnuts and Feta

March 2, 2012

First let me say that I’m not the biggest asparagus fan on the planet. But I’m always looking for creative ways to “learn to like” all sorts of healthy veggies and this roasted asparagus recipe made my sister and my knees buckle, it’s just that fabulous. We are both convinced this is the most delicious [...]

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Roasted Vegetable Recipe (Also Fabulous Grilled)

March 2, 2012
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This roasted vegetable recipe is fun and fast to make, so pretty to look at, and super delicious! The spices are perfect and just a bit of Parmesan cheese adds a comforting touch to this gorgeous rainbow of a dish! You can serve it as a side dish, or as the main meal (just double [...]

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Carter’s Spinach Smoothie Invented and Enjoyed by My 4 Year Old Boy

March 2, 2012

My little boy invented this spinach smoothie one morning, and it is the most delicious thing! I’ll give you the recipe first, and then I’ll tell you one of the easiest ways you can give your children amazing nutrition without a fight. Soon, they’ll be asking you if they can make a green smoothie. 154 [...]

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Healthy Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

March 2, 2012

Almost everyone loves this combination of fruit, and if you do, you’re sure to love this strawberry banana smoothie recipe. The best part? It tastes only like strawberries and bananas blended to blissful perfection. But the secret green ingredient gives this recipe a major nutritional upgrade from your typical all-fruit smoothies. Try it today and [...]

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Pepper Stuffed Burgers

March 2, 2012
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My, oh, my. We LOVE these healthy Pepper Stuffed Burgers. They really are such great crowd pleasers. They taste like you marinated them overnight and then spent hours putting them together before grilling them to perfection. An you can go ahead and let your BBQ guests make that assumption. But the reality is, you’ll spend [...]

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Summer Salad Recipes: Poppy Seed Fruit Salad

March 2, 2012
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This is one of my favorite summer salad recipes. It’s a unique spin on your typical fruit salad. Of course it’s refreshing and delicious to chop up any array of fruit and toss them together in a bowl, plain and naked. But this one adds a refreshing sauce, without added sugar or whipped cream. You’ll [...]

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Healthy Vegetable Soup Recipe Turkey Vegetable Chili

March 2, 2012
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Sorry for the cell phone picture that I don’t feel does justice to this amazing healthy vegetable soup recipe. I just love this comforting soup. It keeps my husband happy because it’s meaty. It keeps my 4 year old boy happy because he thinks the turkey looks like brains. (He calls it Zombie Soup. That’s [...]

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Superpower Kale Salad Recipe

March 1, 2012
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I’ve lived here in the 9-months-of-chilly-weathered Rocky Mountains my whole life, and I’ve discovered a pattern in the way my body feels as the seasons change. By the end of February we have endured 5 months of cold weather including lots of wind and snow, and not enough happiness-giving sunshine! I’m starting to crave the [...]

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Healthy Chicken Recipe: Italian Chicken Basil Parmigiana

February 23, 2012
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I rarely eat chicken because I don’t like the taste of it, and because I don’t eat very much meat in general. But this healthy chicken recipe!! Oh my goodness, you must try it as soon as possible. This meal tastes like gourmet Italian take-out. Only it is way too easy to throw together to [...]

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My Favorite Healthy Quiche Recipe

February 22, 2012
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Okay, first, just in case anyone wants to get technical on me and my healthy quiche recipe… technically, this is a frittata. The difference between frittata and quiche is that quiche is baked in a pie crust and frittata is cooked on the cooktop first, and then transferred to the oven for a few minutes. [...]

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Healthy Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

February 22, 2012
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Warm your belly with mapley goodness and comforting spices with this healthy oatmeal cookie recipe. They’re on the crunchy side, perfect for dipping in your favorite milk (we use almond milk around here), and allergy friendly! Not to mention super quick to whip up. Makes about 20 cookies, each cookie has the following: 123 Calories [...]

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Healthy Pasta Recipe with Low-Cal Cream Sauce

February 22, 2012
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This healthy pasta recipe doesn’t really taste all that healthy to me because it’s just so rich and buttery and creamy and, hello! It’s PASTA! If you’re trying to lose weight, I wouldn’t eat pasta every day. But as long as your diet is comprised of whole, natural foods, you shouldn’t have a hard time [...]

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Caprese Salad

February 22, 2012
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I still remember the first time I tried this Caprese Salad recipe. We were at a friends house, and she had just returned from the local farmers’ market with the freshest tomatoes and basil. One after another caprese melted in my mouth until they were all gone. Besides the amazing flavor that comes from this [...]

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Yummy Scrummy Energy Bar Recipe

February 22, 2012
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You know that almost all power bars and energy bars are complete crap for you, right? Have you read the ingredients? Can you even identify half of them as food? Pretty sad, especially since their reputation is one that supports weight loss, athleticism, and overall health… Here’s a REAL energy bar recipe that’s great for [...]

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Fruit Recipes for Kids: Blueberry Banana Salad

February 22, 2012
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This is one of my favorite fruit recipes for kids because it takes 30 seconds to make, and provides antioxidants, potassium, iron, and protein. The mainstream public is finally starting to learn that probiotic and cultured foods are a necessary part of a really healthy diet. This is mostly because yogurt companies have used probiotics [...]

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Amazingly Good Salsa Recipe: Bean & Corn w/ Cumin

February 22, 2012
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This is quite a unique, but VERY good salsa recipe. You would never know by looking at the picture, but it has this great warm and comforting taste to it from the cumin. It’s not your typical Mexican-tasting salsa, which makes it awesome for a party crowd, who will get something just slightly unexpected… in [...]

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Honey Almond Citrus Crepe Recipe

February 20, 2012
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I love this crepe recipe because it really does taste just like the amazing crepes you’d find in a Parisian café, light and soft, sweet but not too sweet, melty in your mouthy… the only problem is, they’re usually made with refined flour and topped with way too much sugar. I’ve found a way to [...]

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Healthy Eating On a Budget

February 16, 2012

I still remember the first week I came home from the grocery store after deciding to dive head-first into healthy eating. My grocery bill more than doubled! It was a drastic change in our family’s eating habits, going from a diet made up almost completely of processed foods, to 100% whole foods. Because my lifestyle [...]

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Decadent Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

February 11, 2012
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Love is most certainly in the air around here, and not only because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This recipe for healthy peanut butter cups was very intimidating to me because it was my first time making any sort of candy from scratch, and candy is supposed to be really terrifying the first [...]

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Do Babies Need Milk After 12 Months?

February 9, 2012

There’s no doubt about it: milk is a major mainstay in the American diet. It’s considered an essential source of protein, iron, calcium and vitamin D. Pediatricians, who unfortunately aren’t taught about nutrition in medical school, recommend 12-20 ounces of whole milk per day to a baby who has weaned off of breast milk or [...]

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Fave Black Bean Recipes: Black Bean Mango Salsa Wraps!

February 8, 2012
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One of my favorite black bean recipes! This dish is really versatile because you can make it just as a salsa, or you can fill a whole wheat tortilla with it for a really delicious wrap! You can go vegetarian or carnivore with this recipe, too. Just add some chicken breast to your wrap for [...]

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Southwestern Black Beans and Rice Recipe

February 6, 2012
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This Southwestern Black Beans and Rice Recipe is a perfect example of how mexican food really can be healthy. This recipe is such a trick because it doesn’t taste very healthy, but it’s really a nutritious, low-calorie comfort food. A nice combination of spices blend well with the peppers, onions, and garlic quickly made this [...]

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The Best Egg Salad Recipe I’ve Ever Tried

February 5, 2012

This is seriously the best egg salad recipe I’ve ever had. I know you’re probably thinking an egg salad sandwich is an egg salad sandwich… we’ve all had the basic version a million times. But this one adds such flavor depth, and even quite a bit more nutrient love! All you have to do is [...]

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Banana Split Dessert Shake

February 5, 2012

This delicious banana split dessert shake recipe is a healthy treat for those mornings that you just don’t feel like adding a lot of green to your smoothies. If you’re just getting into fruit and green smoothies this is a good one to keep you going although it doesn’t have the greens we typically recommend [...]

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Avocado Enchiladas

February 5, 2012
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Before I get into the details of these Avocado Enchiladas, I should give a small disclaimer. I am a whole foods advocate. For me, whole foods are defined as anything completely natural or as close to natural as possible. This obviously includes all fruits and vegetables, but I have a short list of whole foods [...]

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Best Authentic Hummus Recipe

February 5, 2012
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  I really, REALLY love this authentic hummus recipe! Sometimes, even when you buy it from the store, hummus just doesn’t taste right. But that’s not the case with this one. It’s got this wonderful depth of flavor, with a hint of sweetness. It’s not spicy, so your kids will love it, and it’s such [...]

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Avocado Dip Recipe: Avocado Boats

February 2, 2012
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This two-minute avocado dip recipe is delicious for all ages, and a fun way for kids to get excited about a nutritious snack. I love that you don’t need any dishes. Mother nature’s “bowl” fits perfectly in anyone’s hand, and kids love to use their imagination as they dip all sorts of delicious goodies into [...]

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Healthy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe

February 2, 2012
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I don’t know about where you live, but it’s COLD in these here parts. (Wait, that phrase sounded just fine in my head, but now that I’ve typed it, I’m psyching myself out… that phrase is referring to a geographical location, right? Not body parts or anything?) At any rate, it’s really cold here in [...]

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Honey Glazed Chicken Dijon

February 1, 2012
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This Honey Glazed Chicken Dijon recipe is a great family friendly dish. It can can be a delicious chicken recipe with or without the salad greens listed in the ingredients. If you’re looking to combine a two healthy recipes try serving it with the Roasted Veggies recipe also listed on this site. It may sound [...]

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Healthy Taco Salad Recipe

January 30, 2012
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There’s no hope for me: I will always love Mexican food… but this healthy taco salad recipe makes me feel better about my obsession. It’s not that Mexican food is bad, per se. It’s just that whenever I have a Mexican dish, I feel this insatiable need to douse the entire plate in melted cheese, [...]

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Is Agave Good or Bad?

January 26, 2012

The subject of sweeteners is something I’m rather passionate about, as I’m sure it is with most of the health-seekers who read this website. There is so much misinformation about artificial sweeteners and even natural sweeteners. One that is causing a current controversy is agave. I get asked whether agave is a good sweetener or [...]

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

January 23, 2012
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This recipe isn’t just gluten free. It’s also egg free, butter free and refined sugar free! I posted about this on my Facebook page, and someone said, “That sounds like a handful of chocolate chips!” Doesn’t it, though? Without butter, eggs and flour, how on Earth can you make a chocolate chip cookie? I have [...]

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The 15 Days of Christmas Challenge

December 1, 2011

Calling all fudge-loving, candy-cane licking, fruit-cake devouring divas and dudes! Sign up for McKenna Gordon’s 15 Days of Christmas green smoothie challenge and make this December the healthiest you’ve ever had… Punch cravings and binging right where they deserve it! (No boxing required.) I’m talking about LOSING (and never again finding) pounds this month instead [...]

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Q&A: Natural Caffeine, Molasses, and Smoothie Alternatives

November 28, 2011

Just a little while ago, I started answering reader questions, using the “Ask McKenna” feature on my Facebook Page. Usually I answer in the form of a weekly article, here on this blog. But sometimes the answer is so simple that it doesn’t require an entire post. I have a few questions that I’ve been [...]

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5 Ways to Fight Depression and Win

November 17, 2011

You’re nowhere NEAR being alone if you get the mild winter blahs.You’re nowhere near being alone if you suffer from seasonal depression (or Seasonal Affective Disorder). And nope, you’re also nowhere near being alone if you suffer from completely debilitating depression during the dark, cold months of winter. We’ve consistently been told that depression is [...]

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How to Get Picky Kids to Eat Healthy
(or picky adults!)

November 10, 2011

I know how badly you want your family to eat healthfully. I know you want to give your kids the best nutrition possible, otherwise you wouldn’t be here reading about how to do so. But I also know that it can be incredibly frustrating and worrisome when your kids flat out refuse to eat their veggies. In [...]

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The Truth About Dairy and Calcium

October 28, 2011

Ask just about anyone where is the best (or only) source for calcium, and the answer will almost always be, “Dairy, of course!” That’s because the Dairy Council’s $50 million marketing budget has done such a great job of marketing dairy’s calcium content, they’ve created the belief that dairy is the only reliable source for [...]

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How NOT to Get Sick This Winter
Part 2: Strengthening the Immune System

October 20, 2011

Last week I posted about the very  important things to avoid in your environment and lifestyle if you want to keep yourself and your family from getting sick this winter. But I left one important “don’t” off the list that I’ll address quickly before getting into the 8 most powerful things you can do to [...]

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How NOT to Get Sick This Winter
(Part 1: Avoid These Immune System Killers)

October 13, 2011

You already know that the key to prevention and treatment of the common cold, the flu (and most other diseases) is a powerful immune system. And you know that when your immune system is abused or neglected, it can’t do what it was created to do: shelter you from illness and disease. Everyone knows washing [...]

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Healthy Halloween Ideas (plus me as “Flo” the Progressive girl)

October 6, 2011

I have such a love/hate (mostly love) relationship with Halloween, as I’m sure most health-conscious moms do. It’s always been one of my favorite holidays. I love dressing up, hosting parties, coming up with festive treats and games… but I absolutely hate the feeling I have after overindulging on candy. I’ll admit to you now [...]

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Healthy Kids Lunches for School

September 29, 2011

My oldest boy just started school this year, and we’ve been having fun coming up with quick, portable meals for his lunchbox. I know this is one of those things us healthy moms worry about the most. It’s such a challenge to find meals that will fuel and nourish their growing bodies, that they will [...]

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How to REALLY Stick to a Workout Plan

September 19, 2011

If you’re like me, exercise often comes in stops and starts. Two weeks on, followed by a week off and a little bit of self-loathing, followed by yet another “this time I’ll stick with it” start (on a Monday, nonetheless, after getting excited about it but still doing nothing the entire weekend, because–hello–you’re supposed to [...]

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What ARE Processed Foods, Anyway?

September 15, 2011

How many times have you heard the phrase lately (whether condescendingly or not), “We don’t eat processed foods.” It’s become a popular thing to say, but I’m often surprised, once the conversation continues, that many don’t know the definition of processed foods. It’s also a question I’ve been getting more frequently lately. So let’s go [...]

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How to Make Almond Milk

September 7, 2011

Almond milk is one fantastic alternative to dairy milk for those who have dairy sensitivities or who avoid dairy for health reasons. Some of the benefits of almond milk, as opposed to dairy milk, are: Only 60 calories per 8 oz. Much lower sugar content than dairy milk and other store-bought milks Very low carb [...]

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Let’s Get FAT! The Skinny on Healthy Fats

August 29, 2011

Let’s get FAT together! No, I don’t mean for us to BECOME fat, just get fats in our diet. And no, not grease and processed junk food fat. I’m talking about healthy fats and essential fatty acids. EFAs help you absorb other nutrients, greatly boost your immune system, and majorly contribute to healthy hormonal balance. [...]

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Why Are Trans Fats Bad (and why the picture below is a big, FAT joke)

August 25, 2011

  I feel like I’m always telling people, “NO amount of trans fats are appropriate for anyone, especially children.” It’s usually in response to someone saying, “But the package says ‘Zero Grams Trans Fat Per Serving!” It’s time to stop being fooled by this ploy. Food labels can make this claim if their product contains [...]

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Protected: How to Read Food Labels
(p.s. they ARE allowed to lie on labels)

August 20, 2011

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Does Your Family’s Health
Need to Make a “U-Turn?”

August 20, 2011

Do you want to make the change to truly healthy eating, but don’t know where to start or who to believe? Well, you’re not alone… The fact is, most Americans are in the same position. And I need to tell you that I know what it feels like to be exhausted all day, stressed to [...]

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What Are Probiotics? And do you have more than one brain?

August 11, 2011

If you and your family members seem to catch every little cold and flu bug that comes around, or if you have digestive problems (constipation, diarrhea, IBS, etc.) you might be shocked to find that the following issue could be the culprit… and I’m willing to bet that about 90+ percent of those having immune [...]

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How to Make Exercise a Habit
(It Starts with Flipping Your Switch)

August 1, 2011

I know you’ve heard it a million times: “It takes 21 days to form a habit.” It is true, but how can you make sure you’ll make it through to the other side of those 21 days? I’ll teach you how right now, but you need to humor me and take the following (seemingly ridiculous) [...]

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5 Healthy Breakfast Ideas

July 28, 2011

  You already know it, you’ve been told over and over: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it’s also the one that’s usually most rushed, or skipped all together. Here are some ideas for quick breakfasts. If you don’t already, I urge you to make sure you’re getting some healthy calories [...]

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Amazing First Week and a Second Chance to Participate

July 25, 2011

The Shake it Down Challenge is well under way and doing so incredibly well, that we (myself and the other nutrition and fitness experts I assembled to help me facilitate the challenge) have collectively decided to open it up to allow a few more participants. At first, we capped it at 20 participants so that [...]

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Protected: Gabriella’s Birth Story

April 4, 2010

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