Sugar is an ominous and silent killer and it’s everywhere.

It’s frightful discovering how many foods are filled with sugar.  Even if you’re avoiding adding sugar to your foods, sugar finds its way into most all packaged foods from yogurt, milk/non-dairy milk, baked goods including most breads, muffins, cookies, cakes, pizza crusts and flatbread, sauces, broths, condiments, dips, crackers, protein bars, nut and seed butters and on and on. Then there is candy and alcohol. Mega sources of sugar.
 
You’ll find high sugar in endless forms and added sugars in all kinds of beverages from (the not so smart) ’Smart’ waters and sports drinks, coffees, juice shop smoothies, flavored lattes and Chai teas, many tea leaf blends, so-called healthy protein bars, cereals, many North American, Indian, Thai, Chinese and Japanese foods including the perceived healthy sushi.  It’s the reason most of us are so addicted. And this drug is legal, available most everywhere and encouraged. Help is needed to beat this addiction and I have it.

Lifestyle Wellness Coach and Whole Foods Nutritionist  Foodie 
Teri Gentes www.terigentes.com
 
I get asked all the time, how do you sustain your healthy eating habits with all the traveling you do. 
Well here are some great suggestions to keep your healthy habits intact even when you are on the road!

If you’re heading off for a conference, a business trip, family vacation or adult weekend away with a little pre-planning you can stay on track with your wellness intentions. These fabulous ideas are easy, economical, nourishing and delicious. 

For me, its an essential. I have zero desire for highly processed, high sugar, dairy laden or greasy foods. ​​
Read on for all kinds of ways to eat great no matter where you are.

It was one of those times when I was so hungry I needed food fast yet I have zero desire for fast food.
I was craving hummus and armed with a massive Costco size bag of frozen peas and a new jar of tahini so I decided to blast up a batch of hummus. What resulted made me put pen to paper to record my creation so I could share it with you asap.
It’s truly super easy (I always like that) and just delicious (I like that too). Having hummus around is an essential for me and I always find home-made is to much better. And once you make it yourself - with a great recipe of course - you'll feel this way too. Now to get started...

Put together a few fab foods and they become even more fabulous. That’s how I like it!
These protein- rich, no-added sugar, vegan and gluten-free gems are a perfect go-to sweet.
 
Crammed with vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, quality carbs and antioxidants, you can enjoy these easy-to-make power balls without guilt and you can double the batch and store in the freezer in an airtight container for 2 – 4 weeks.
Adding a pinch of quality sea salt is a great way to infuse added electrolytes making them a post workout friendly snack.  I love to double the recipe,  make a few different visions then freeze them.
You probably have all the ingredients on hand right now and you can even mix these by hand. To start...

Foodies - isn't it great to be us? I mean really - food is one of the most divine ways to enjoy life don't you think? Plus  there are so many amazing offerings from all over the world.  You can be transported most anywhere will culinary tastes. 

In honor of the upcoming Cinco de Mayo yet deviating from the classic Mexican version, I'm melding a few cultures into one for a really yum  unique take on quesadillas.

I have a thing for chocolate and it's pretty serious. 
It's been going on for quite some time now too and it shows no signs of fading or falling short in any way. Just look at the sweets section of my recipes menu and you'll see so many things come up chocolate. Various truffles, cookies, brownies, mousse and now...

Love Bites - yes this is what I call them for they are sure to inspire a romantic affair with you too if you have any inclination to lean in to chocolate. If so watch out for it could be love at first bite.  (I will warn you now - lots of corny cliches here - I have yet to have my daily fix of chocolate.  One of the most amazing aspects of chocolate that you may now know is that...

Let’s face, we all have cravings sometimes. What you may not realize is that cravings are your body’s way of telling you it needs something or perhaps that something is ‘off’. Cravings often indicate nutritional deficiencies, food intolerance, and yes even addictions to substances like sugar, salt, fat.  Chocolate too.

This incredible vehicle that houses our soul - our body - is doing all it can to operate at an optimum level yet it needs you to provide the essentials.  This includes a variety of nutrient dense foods.  Consider cravings to be a call, text or email from your body saying ‘hey there, I need something from you.’ That something isn’t necessarily more calories, its more nutrients as in vitamins, minerals and trace minerals, healthy fats, fiber and amino acids.

Consider cravings to be a call, text or email from your body saying ‘hey there, I need something from you. Now its up to you to figure out what
Read on to find out more.

So, you’ve made the decision to eat healthier and yes, glory-be, more plant-based too.
Now, crucial is to figure out how to do this and what to eat to ensure you are eating a well-balanced diet that provides all the essential nutrients and is truly delicious. Our meals need to be yummy, right?

I sure feel this way and it’s always my main intention… eating delish meals that inspire a ‘wow’ response. Heck, no I don’t always ace this yet most often I do and so I am going to share some of my most fave, yummy, easy-to-make and healthy plant-based ideas with you.

Here I begin with great breakfast ideas and you’ll see many links to full recipes so do click on the highlighted options.  Keep reading for a whole selection of various ideas.  Choose your favorite suggestion, plan on it for your next breakfast and please do let me know what your faves are and if there are any special requests you have. I’ll aim to get on them ASAP.

  I was raised with four brothers in the prairie city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. That’s mid-western Canada for any of you that don’t know.  And it’s cold, very cold in the winters. Between this and all of my brothers, sports were part of our everyday life. Of course it means hockey and yes football too.  Like all great sports, good food goes hand in hand don’t you think?  Fun, good food that is!
 
So, be it hockey or football you are watching right now, if you are longing for delish, fun food all eaters can enjoy, this is it! These cauliflower drumsticks are perfect for hockey nights, Super Bowl Sunday or any other sports you love. Movies and parties too!  Plus they are so easy to make and no animals are involved even though at times I referred to my brothers that way.
 
Now, check out this recipe below, stock up on the ingredients and get into the kitchen to make these before game time. I think you’re going love them!  Do let me know.  PS - if you aren't cooking for a crowd, cut the recipe in half.