SimpleFoods: Simple, Real Food, Just For You

I'm always looking for great food around town, and last week I found a great new service that everyone's talking about, including one of my favorite actresses Jessica Alba, who instagrammed her SimpleFoods meal plan just last week.

Beverly Hills Personal Fitness Trainer Fred Khorshidi is behind SimpleFoods, which creates daily meals from scratch that are low in sodium, calories, and free of unprocessed foods. He created the brand because he realized that though his clients were great at following his fitness regimen, they found it hard to find time to seek out clean and fresh foods that weren't sabotaging their progress. So he began preparing meals for several of them. 

And everything quickly skyrocketed from there. His clients were so ecstatic with their meals they told friends and family, and he began picking up new clients quicker than he could fulfill orders. Soon he had orders all over Los Angeles. That's simply how SimpleFoods was born.

What I love about their plans is their simplicity. No crazy concoctions, just simple, real food, just for you. It' perfect for the low-touch busy person that has such a complicated life that they need their meals and their workouts simple, quick and easy. Also their prices are great, starting at $55 a day.

And let me tell you, the dishes were mouth watering, and I quickly turned into one of Fred's infamously happy customers. Just look at the sample meals: This upcoming week, the menu includes orange and cranberry oatmeal for breakfast, dried papaya and quinoa salad for a snacks, a veggie wrap for lunch, and grilled chicken with steamed veggies for dinner. You can even eat delicious chocolate mousse.

And now, all Pilates Platinum members can get a taste, thanks to a special 20% discount straight from SimpleFoods to you. When you order any of their meal plans, just use coupon code PLATINUM20, and voila, you'll be eating as though you had your own personal chef. Simple and real!

Farmer's Market Run: Beet Juice, Beet Juice, Beet Juice!

We love going to the Farmer's Markets on weekends, especially the ones close to our studios in Santa Monica and Venice! So this week we want to kick off our new special Farmer's Market blog posts, chronicling our special finds and recipes.

On Saturday we went to the awesome downtown Santa Monica market, right outside of our studio on 2nd and Arizona. We scoped out great veggie prices and we ran home and made a delicious beet juice. The beets are so delicious you don't even need to add any sugar or agave - it's naturally sweet! Add a lemon to soften it up a little bit.

Here's our recipe for your juicer. Try it out next time you find some good beets.

• Raw, fresh beets: take out the gross parts and peel them
• Small or medium raw and fresh carrots
• 1/4 ginger, peeled (watch that you don't add too much, it's got a kick!)
• 1 Medium lemon

 

Healthy Tummy Tuesday: What is Acid Reflux?

One of my good friends was diagnosed with Acid Reflux, or GERD, by her gastroenterologist, and she's had to learn how to eat correctly in order to control her symptoms. Acid Reflux has actually doubled in the last few years (possibly by better diagnosis), and the dangers of finding out you have this includes developing Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. So it's so important to note your symptoms, get diagnosed, and then learn how to eat for your condition.

Some simple foundations for eating if you have acid reflux are the following:

• Stay away from chocolate, caffeine, sodas, anything that's gassy, alcohol, smoking and sometimes random things like tomatoes and very acid fruit like oranges.
• Your diet staples should be simple; rice and veggies or rice, veggies and some type of protein like fish.
• When you go out to eat, stay away from sauces and creamy things - even the soy sauce at sushi places might make your symptoms worse. 
• Stop eating processed foods, and stick to fresh, delicious and nutritious meals
• Don't lie down soon after you eat. Wait at least 30 minutes.
• Drink a lot of water! Try to get 8 glasses of water a day.
• It doesn't hurt to do a juice cleanse once in a while. My friend does BPC cleanses once every so often, especially when her symptoms are acting up. You can also try ZEN  cleanses or  Pressed Juicery.

If you suspect you might have acid reflux, it doesn't hurt to get a simple check up by your gastro doctor, followed by a quick visit to your local nutritionist. Trust us, your tummy will thank you!

Yerba Mate: A South American Surfer's Favorite

The other day, we wrote about the wonders and benefits of green tea. But what if you want to venture out and try some alternatives - something that doesn't involve an energy drink with the sugar content of chocolate cake and the chemicals inside a small UCLA laboratory?

Feast your eyes on a drink that's been used for centuries in South America and that's a tried and true method for getting your energy up.  When we visit those countries we notice that both cowboys and surfers always seem to be sipping on this stuff, so it must be great.

Yerba mate is a species of holly that is popular in Peru, Argentina, Chile and those whereabouts. It tastes a little chalky at first, but if you sweeten it with a little bit of maple syrup or agave, it tastes like strong herbal tea.

You can drink yerba mate as a regular tea (which you can find with the Guayaki Organic brand of tea bags) or do it the fun way and buy yourself a gourd. Either way is fine, but the gourd version isn't free of controversial potential risks.  But as long as you're not drinking 14 glasses of this stuff a day you'll be fine.

Have a Heart, Lend a Hand

We all feel a little blue once in a while - it's normal. When I'm feeling a little bummed I work out to get my endorphins going, and it helps.  But, there are also other ways to feel good and do your part for your community. Volunteering.

 

They say when you give back  you get more back in return. And slowly, you start getting out of your own head because you start to focus on others that need your help. It's true - You feel wonderful. Those happy molecules fill up your spirit.

 

These past few years I have made lunches for the homeless on Christmas, played bingo with the elderly, and made Valentine’s Day cards for the military.  

 

If you're ready to dive it, there are so many places to volunteer in LA, all you have to do is just find out what opportunity speaks to you. You might like working with animals, kids, elderly, the sick or give a little for the environment. Check out Volunteer Los Angeles to start your search.  

 

For an added benefit, invite your friends and have a group volunteering session this next holiday. Your friends will thank you for introducing them to a great cause.

Put Salt On It!

 

What's a great natural, affordable full body relaxation technique that doesn't require a pricey spa appointment? You'll be surprised to know it may be sitting in your kitchen cabinet.  Magnesium Sulfate, or Epson salt, is fantastic for relaxation and for any ailments that might be bothering you, really.

Just hop in a tub and pour a bit of the Epson Salt in, and tight and tense muscles begin to relax and you will soon melt into a soothing relaxation state. It also helps with sprains and even swelling. Epson also makes a great face mask, exfoliator, and hair volumizer. So it really does it all! 

 

Do it this week after a grueling office day or workout  - I guarantee your body will thank you.

Ouch, my foot…

I walk, I bike, I run, I swim, I do cardio barre, spin and of course pilates…I'm super active, particularly because it's part of my career. But once in a while, working out can be a huge pain in the...FOOT! My arches tend to hurt, especially after a few days of intense working out. I

This happens to all of us, and the question on everyone's minds is usually how can you quickly ease the pain? Well, if no one is around to rub your feet (gross!)  an easier way to get a great stretch is to use a golf ball. You heard me right! Put any type of golf ball (doesn’t have to be high-end) and place it in the middle of your arch. Now, take your time and allow the bottom of your foot to move around the ball. Do it hard enough so you feel a stretch. Your feet will thank you for it.

Also make sure you are using great shoes. Head over to your nearest shoe shop and have them fit you for the perfect type of running or cardio shoe - because you may be using the wrong shoe and really hurting your tootsies long term.

How to get your daily "Ds"

How do we all live in California and are still low in Vitamin D?? It's true - many of us are highly deficient in this vitamin.  Just ask your doc to test you to find out. What's the solution? It's actually pretty easy and doesn't cost a thing.

Are you ready?

Okay....Open your door and  go outside for a lovely walk in the sun and your body will produce this wonder Vitamin. Vitamin D helps with bone health. And, we all have bones and would like them to be and stay healthy, right? 

Besides the sun, you can find Vitamin D in fatty fish, eggs, milk, and you can also pop some easy to swallow, vitamins. 

Voila! You'll be vitamin D rockstar in no time.

Green Tea For The Soul

 

When I am craving a quick pick-me-up I don’t turn to those lab-created caffeinated beverages with a million and one ingredients. You've heard of em - ones that promise you you'll fly around the room like a busy bee.The ones that have Glucuronolactone, and all those  fructoses and taurines. Nasty!

No thanks! I would much rather put real food in my tummy - so I turn to green tea.

Green Tea has caffeine if you need energy, and it also has great benefits to speed up your metabolism.  Just take a drink of this tasty, refreshing beverage and enjoy the great anti-oxidant benefits it contains.  Hot or cold, I love it all.

I really think that all of these snazzy new energy drinks with crazy serious marketing campaigns have nothing on the stuff that people have been drinking in the west for over 400 years, and in the east for many more. Seriously, Columbus didn't need Red Bull to get his jig on, and Napoleon wasn't sippin' on chemicals while trying to conquer the world. He was sippin on pure, unadulterated tea! Nix these chemically-laden fake juices and drinks.

How can history be wrong? I'm stickin' to green tea!

Q & A with Inspiring People

By goldenyogi

I am so excited to introduce you to Heather Dorak! She is the owner of a very successful chain of Pilates studios throughout Los Angeles called Pilates Platinum. Her incredible success and passion to have a beautiful healthy life is something to admire. So I asked her 8 questions to get a little insight on how she does it.

1. What is your work out regimen?
I’ve found that the best results have come from making my workouts as varied as possible so that my body doesn’t get used to doing the same movements. I make it a priority to get physical activity each day and I’ve found that the variety in my workouts has helped me from getting bored and has enabled me to sustain an active lifestyle. My regular exercise consists of alternating between: dance classes, Zumba classes, running, spin classes, pilates, weight training, and hiking. That being said, I am always up for a challenge and enjoy trying new workouts on a regular basis.

2. Tell us what you eat on a regular day?

 I start my day off with a cup of coffee with almond milk and for breakfast I usually have oatmeal with cinnamon and   chia seeds or I’ll have a protein shake using Vega (which is my favorite). For lunch, I usually have some sort of salad with protein. My “go to” favorite spot is La Scala for their chopped turkey salad. For dinner, I usually have chicken and veggies such as brussels sprouts and butternut squash. For snacks, I love Fuji apples and typically have one every day. I’ll also have some trail mix or peanut butter, and I love making homemade kale chips with a little olive oil and salt. It makes a delicious and filling snack with almost no calories. I also recently purchased a dehydrator so I’m excited to start trying to dehydrate my own fruits and vegetables. Sometimes if I’m feeling in need of a little picker upper in the afternoon, I drink EBOOST in water. It seems to do the trick! If that doesn’t help, then a good old coco-roon definitely always does! Check out what a coco- roon is!

3. What inspires you to stay healthy and fit?

The way I feel from eating healthy and exercising is my biggest motivator. I find that I have more energy, my attention is better, I’m more productive with work, and I’m actually much happier overall. In addition, the hour in the morning I set aside for my workouts has kind of become my own form of meditation in a way because it’s an hour I have all to myself, no cell phone, no computers, etc. This time allows me to get ready for what the day might bring!

4. What do you think the biggest mistake people make in trying to get into shape?

The biggest mistake people make is that they typically lack patience. They go on crash diets because they want to see fast results. Even if they do see results quickly, it usually isn’t sustainable. Not to mention, it’s probably not that healthy. Slow and steady wins the race. In addition, I think people feel that diets need to be extreme. They tell themselves, “I can never touch chocolate and I can’t have carbs.” That’s not true and it will just make you want it more. The secret seems to be in the practice of moderation. It’s okay to indulge a little from time to time. The way I look at eating is that in the same way that sometimes we have to modify physical exercises, there’s always a modification for your sweet tooth or whatever your yummy indulgence might be. For example, if you’re craving ice cream, try putting some greek frozen yogurt in the freezer. Or, if you’re craving potato chips, try making kale chips or grabbing a container of dried seaweed.

5. If you had to choose one thing that you believe keeps you in best shape what would it be?

I truly believe pilates has been the most beneficial in shaping and toning my body. It literally transformed me and I’ve watched it do the same for others. The machines allow you to get at muscle groups which are typically hard to work. Moreover, I love the diversity of the workout and the variety of results. For example, if you’re a guy and want to bulk up, if you do the same exercises really quickly, you will create a bulkier look. Conversely, by doing the same exercises slowly, you can achieve that ballerina look of long and lean muscles. This is a workout that can benefit everyone no matter what the goal is. It has also been really helpful for people recovering from injuries and those wanting to have better overall flexibility. 

6. What is your guilty pleasure?

COOKIES! I LOVE COOKIES! My nickname as a kid was cookie monster.

7. What is something that you want to try but haven’t yet?

I think next on the list might be scuba diving.

8. What is the best advice you ever got ?

My mom, Kris Rymer, is chock full of great advice! She has a little fan club of my friends as we always say, “What would Kris do? Let’s call Kris for advice!” It seems like I’m getting advice on something each day from my mom so it’s hard to narrow it down to one good pearl of wisdom. I guess if I had to come up with something it’s “Be true to yourself, and no matter how hard it gets, never give up”.