A Healthy Brownie for Bad Girl Health

Sometimes a girl has got to have a brownie. Now being a supa-dupa Health Goddess that I am, I know better than to bake a tray of chewy, chocolate goodness. Because if I did, by the end of the week the brownies will have vanished and my bodacious booty would have more dimples than a golf ball. Not good.

So I did a quick internet search for a "healthier" brownie recipe and found an unusual sounding one on the website of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (my alma mater). A brownie made without flour and starring garbanzo beans.

Despite the immediate "ick" factor, my craving made me adventurous. And it did meet my other "new recipe" requirements: minimal preparation, little active time, few ingredients that could easily be substituted.

I replaced the agave nectar that was called for with maple syrup (because that's what I had on hand). And I also used real chocolate chips instead of carob chips (because I don't like carob - a chocolate tasting alternative made from locust beans). It sounded like a breeze to make. But would it taste like bean dip?

To my surprise, this brownie was delicious and totally satisfied my craving. And hurrah! No bean taste! Of course, I had to try it at different temperatures to be sure. I had some right out of the oven, at room temperature and then chilled. (Yes, I took one for the team). I liked the chilled version the best as it produced a chewier consistency.

And best of all, it passed the Health Goddess test: That is, this batch of brownies didn't have that "come hither" addictive pull that traditional recipes made with refined flour and lots of sugar do. Translation: I didn't feel compelled to eat the entire batch.

The final test, however, was serving up a square to my sugar-loving sweetie. I thought maybe it was just me and my bean loving palate that proclaimed this recipe food of the Health Gods. He gobbled it up and promptly asked for more. Even after I told him it was made with garbanzo beans, he still wanted more.

Ladies, I think we're onto something.

Get yourself some g-beans and party on with a "healthier," high protein brownie. Yum.

Get yours here.

Got a Soundtrack?

I was preparing for a girlfriend’s 50th birthday bash by making one of my “famous” CD mixes of party-appropriate tunes. I started making these mixes several years ago when I noticed I would scroll through a dozen different albums to find those special mood-boosting songs. One holiday season, I decided to make a compilation of these songs and gave them to clients for health inspiration. And to my surprise, I received tons of positive feedback and requests for more copies. A new hobby was born.

The geeky tech-girl in me had a blast selecting favorite songs for my friend from my Itunes Player and downloading Motown classics from the Itunes Music Store for less than a dollar per song. Every score was chosen for its inspiring lyrics, dance grooves and living fully theme. And for under $12 and in less time it takes to go shopping, I had a personalized gift to present. Naturally, I made a copy for myself and thus was the beginning of my next 3-month soundtrack.

I believe every wanna-be Health Goddess needs a soundtrack. A selection of songs that you can play at a moments notice in your car, commuting to work on the train, during your lunch break, while exercising (dancing is my personal favorite) and especially during PMS moody fits. In the time it takes to listen to a song, you’ll be re-inspired.

The bottom line: It’s simply impossible to stay on a healthy track without lots of support and inspiration. Consider your soundtrack an essential part of your health goddess program.

More Health Goddess Soundtrack Benefits:

1. Five minutes is better than no minutes. Most of my clients always start with 5-minutes of dancing to one or two favorite songs. Particularly if they haven’t exercised in years. In no time, the dancing expands to 20 minutes. (Because it’s fun!)

2. A health goddess soundtrack can change your mental state. Say goodbye to mood funks when you crank up your tunes and boogie down. It’s a drug-free alternative to beating the blues.

3. It reminds you of who you want to be, when you feel far from it.

4. It’s much easier to choose healthy activities, if it’s fun.

5. Mix it up! I usually change my soundtrack every 3 months – or when my health goals need tweaking.

All you need is 20-minutes of music (about 5-6 songs) to get you started. Or, just borrow mine. Get your copy of my Health Goddess IMix here.

Jazz It Up - The Jasmine Tea Chill Effect

Hands down, my favorite tea is Jasmine Green. It’s light, refreshing, and energizing (and with much less caffeine than coffee so you don’t get the energy slump an hour or so after). According to Ayurvedic tradition, (made famous by India's Dr. Deepak Chopra and yoga enthusiasts) it’s the perfect brew for summer as it has a natural cooling effect on the body. (Especially for us moody goddesses.)

So imagine my delight when reading in this month’s Elle Magazine about a study cited by the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation claiming that inhaling the scent of jasmine flowers may reduce or enhance the mood of those who breathe it in. “Neurologist Alan Hirsch MD who led the study found that bowlers who inhaled the aroma (they wore a spritz of jasmine perfume) while playing improved scores by 27%. He believes the increase in accuracy could also mean that jasmine improves hand-eye coordination.” Who knew bowlers could kick ass while smelling so sweetly?

While jasmine perfume is notoriously expensive, there’s a more nutritious way to get this same affect. Drink a cup of Jasmine tea. Trade in your afternoon latte for Jasmine Green tea and you’ll get what I call the Jasmine Chill Effect. 1) A mood boost from breathing in the refreshing scent and, 2) let the jasmine flowers work internally by cooling off your bodacious body during the summer heat. Hot or iced, it's absolutely delightful!

Here are my two favorite brands for you to try:

The Romancer Enhancer Jasmine Green Tea by The Republic of Tea (who wouldn’t want a cup with a name like that!? The flowers have traditionally been considered a “romancer enhancer” because they bloom in the evenings.) I typically use a good pinch of this tea at a time and steep it for up to three servings so the 3oz container lasts a very long time.

While steeping loose tea may not be handy for the office, you can’t go wrong with Long Life Brand Jasmine Green in tea bags. And for fun, each bag comes with an inspiring quote.

So jazz it up ladies. And let the romantic nutrients of jasmine green tea chill you out.