Category: Healthy Habits

Vegan Friendly Restaurants in Cusco, Peru

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Cusco, Peru

Cusco is a fun, energetic city that sits 11,200 ft. in the Peruvian Andes. It’s old world charm, hospitable locals, and delicious restaurants attract a variety of visitors. Budget conscious backpackers stay at inexpensive youth hostels while older folk opt for boutique hotels and fine restaurants. Even though meat dishes such as lomo saltado (beef stir fry) or guinea pig (cuy) are traditional cuisine, Cusco has great vegan friendly restaurants and is one of the most vegan friendly cities I’ve ever been to.

Traveling as a vegan is not always easy but I was excited to find so many restaurants with vegan friendly options labeled clearly on their menu. My Green Point Vegan Restaurant is 100% vegan and has excellent, organic cuisine. I found the food in Cusco to be light and healthy with a variety of beautiful produce.

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Healthy Hummus and Why You Want to Make Your Own

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I love this Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. It’s got a velvety smooth texture that melts in your mouth. The roasted red peppers in this tasty recipe not only create a super creamy texture (without any added oil) but they add a deep, warming flavor that is enhanced with a pinch of cayenne. The result is a healthy, delicious dip with toasted pita, carrots, snap peas, cucumber, celery, or grainy crackers.

Hummus is a healthy dip but store-bought hummus can be deceiving and less healthy than you think. This post shows you how to make amazing hummus at home and what to avoid when buying it at the store.

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Cuckoo for Coconuts

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The first time I tried fresh coconut water I thought it tasted like dirty socks. It was back in 1994 before coconut water became popular in the US. I’d just arrived in Costa Rica where carts of fresh young coconuts or “Pipas” were being sold for 25 cents each.  My friend handed me this giant green bowl with a straw popping out of the top that had been hacked off with a machete. The bowl was brimming with a golden liquid which to me tasted “off”.

My friend insisted that I hydrate my body after the flight and she rattled on about how healthy this vitamin rich elixir was. Her enthusiasm was catchy but she sold me on the prospect that these unruly nuts prevent aging and weight gain. Pretty soon, I was drinking one a day and loving how great I felt.

Coconut water is incredibly hydrating and your body will love how nutrient dense it is. The flavor quickly grew on me and honestly – who wouldn’t drink the fountain of youth for that price????

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Broccoli Sprouts: Why you Need Them in your Life

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Broccoli sprouts recently hit my radar. I spotted them at Whole Foods when I was looking for powerhouse salad additions. Several days later I was at the farmers market buying Christmas gifts and I stumbled upon a stall exclusively selling broccoli sprouts. I’d never seen this guy before so it felt like the universe was mirroring my newly found broccoli sprout enthusiasm.

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My 3 Seed Mix

Protein Seed Mix

Before making this 3 seed mix, I learned about Chia seeds from a healer I’d seen in Mexico who suggested I add more protein to my diet. I’d never heard of them before aside from the infamous “chia pet” I tried to grow as a child. But there they were in Mexico, a bin of little black seeds.

Little did I know then, they’d hit super-food stardom. Once I began learning more about these odd seeds, other nutritionally dense seeds fell under my radar. Eventually, I developed my protein rich 3 seed mix which I can’t resist sprinkling on nearly everything………

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