Hey Health nuts!

So I wanted to update you all on my sugar-free journey. It has been 3 weeks without sugar and I FEEL GREAT. I have had a couple of caves (my friend and I made dinner for our boys, and made cupcakes…I HAD TO TRY ONE). We are all human, and it is important to remember to stick to a goal 90% of the time. There is always wiggle room… I mean, we are all human :)

Lately, I have been really into cauliflower. I mean, you can make so many delicious things with it!! Throw it in the oven and roast it, make Cauliflower Buffalo wings, blend it up to make Creamy Cauliflower Soup, or lately, my personal favorite, Cauliflower BREAD!

This stuff is like crack. I honestly can’t stop making it or eating it. I’ve seen lots of different recipes, lots including cheese, or other ingredients. Since I’m no longer eating dairy, I wanted to omit the cheese and see how it came out… the answer is AWESOME.

Cauliflower Bread

• 1/2 medium head of cauliflower
• 1/4 flour of choice (I used quinoa flour)
• 2 egg whites
• desired spices (I like basil, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic powder)

First, pre-heat over to 350-400 degrees (depending on your oven).

Break cauliflower into florets. Lightly blend until you get a “rice like” consistency.

Option 1: Wrap cauliflower in a dish towel, and squeeze as much of the water out as you can.

Option 2: Transfer cauliflower to paper towels (lay them on a plate or a cutting board, about 4 sheets thick), top with another 4 paper towels and press out as much of the water you can.

Transfer cauliflower to a bowl. Mix in flour, egg whites, and spices.

 

Next, transfer mixture to a sheet that is lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Press mixture out flat to that you get a pizza pie shape

 

Keep an eye on it. Take it out of the oven when the edges are browned (about 20 minutes)

ENJOY!!!

I love to spread 1/4 avocado and some drops of hot sauce.

other ideas: Top with tomato sauce, your favorite veggies and continue to make until you get a pizza!

Spread some hummus on top

Add your favorite fillings, and eat it like a wrap

SO MANY OPTIONS!!!

On another note, my friend Mary Sabo over at  Love Filled Journeys wrote an awesome and insanely flattering article about me and my journey to Broadway… check it out!

http://lovefilledjourneys.com/2014/06/28/broadway-actress-rockette-long-island-and-marymount-manhattan-girl-synthia-link/

xoxoSYN

 

 

 

 

 

Hey all!

It is no secret that I am a workout junkie. In my humble opinion, there is no better feeling than completing an intense sweat session. Over the past year or so, I have become completely obsessed with Body By Simone. The studio offers classes in both cardio and strength training. The combination of both has really helped to get me strong and feeling good!

(after class with some friends from the show!!!)

Usually, after a good workout, I like to replenish my body with a protein smoothie of some sort. When making a smoothie at home, try to stick to this equation:

• 1/4 fruit (1/2 banana, 1/8 cup pineapple
• 1/2 veggies (greens, carrots, cucumber etc.)
• 1/4 liquid (water, coconut water, milk of choice -coconut/almond etc)
• ice

I always like to add protein powder, chia seeds, stevia, green powder, and sometimes 1/4 avocado or 1 TBS nuts.

Todays Smoothie:

• 2 TBS pineapple
• 1 mejool date
• 1/4 banana
• 2 large organic carrots
• 1/2 organic cucumber
• 1/2 organic raw beet
• 1/4 small avocado
• organic spinach (I eye-ball it, but id say about 1 cup)
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp flax seeds
• 2 TBS protein powder
• 1 tsp green powder
• 4 drops stevia
• water
• ice
• topped with 1 TBS hemp seeds

blended together…..

ok,ok so the color isn’t the most beautiful, but it was delicious, healthy, and made me feel great!!!

hope you’re all enjoying the beautiful weather! HAPPY MONDAY!!!

 

xoxoSYN

 

Many of you know, I am in the Broadway Show Bullets Over Broadway!!!

HERE WE ARE!!! The lovely ladies of the ensemble (Follow us on Twitter @BulletsBabes.. and if you want to check out the show, check out this deal!!)

 

Our show is pretty awesome…and exhausting! We wear tight costumes, and perform serious cardio heavy dances for 2 and a half hours!

Before the show, we have to make sure that we don’t over eat (to avoid feeling overly full and bloated), but eat enough in order to have the appropriate amount of energy to perform!

Lots of us enjoy The Karmic Kale wrap from Blossum Du Jour (a really cute vegan cafe in Hells Kitchen). It is delicious, but a bit expensive for my taste. I decided to make my own!

 

Karmic Kale Wrap

• 1 wrap (I use Trader Joes Brand Brown Rice wrap..also gluten free)
• 1/4 avocado
• 1 small or 1/2 medium sweet potato (roasted)
• Kale (as much as you want, I use about 3-4 stalks)
• 1 lemon wedge
• 2 tbs water
• Option 1: 1 tbs Amys LIGHT Green Goddess Dressing,
• Option 2: 1 tbs 0%fat free greek yogurt, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 squeeze lemon juice

Pre-roast sweet potatoes (pre heat oven at 450, wash potato,  wrap in tin foil and bake until soft-I usually will roast them all on a free morning and keep them in the fridge). Slice into coins.

Pull kale leaves from the stalk, and place them in a pan with 2 tbs water. On low heat, cook until the leaves are slightly steamed. Take off heat, and immediately introduce cold water to the leaves to keep them from cooking more. Squeeze lemon over kale.

Transfer leaves to wrap, top with 1/4 avocado, dressing, sweet potato, wrap it up.. ENJOY!!!!

xoxoSYN

Hey friends!!!

So this week, I did a little experiment.

Last week, a friend of mine came over to catch up. We chatted about lots of things, but being me, and being him, we started talking a lot about nutrition.

He has been following a Paleo diet for 5 years. What is Paleo you ask? This is a diet (lifestyle) that incorporated protein, healthy fats, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies as a main source of food.  Someone following a paleo diet would stay away from all grains, dairy and SUGAR

I always thought that I ate very little sugar. I mean, I’m not one to binge on candy (most of the time), and I rarely indulge in cookies and cakes. In my opinion, sugar was not a huge part of my diet. Then I took a look at some of the labels in my pantry. THERE WAS SO MUCH SUGAR!!!

Sugar in salad dressings, and sauces. 9 grams of sugar were hiding in my 0% fat greek yogurt. I even found sugar in the cheeses I was eating. I was unknowingly consuming tablespoon after tablespoon of hidden sugars. I WAS PISSED.

This week, I decided to cut out all sugar (processed, not from fruit), and all dairy. I love a challenge, and I figured a new way of eating could be interesting (I’m weird).

After one week without sugar or dairy I feel great!!! My energy levels are up, I feel leaner, and my skin has a nice glow to it. I’ve also noticed that I’m sleeping through the night, where I used to get up constantly to go to the bathroom. Best of all, the stomach issues that were plaguing me have virtually disappeared.

After one week of sugar-free, I tasted a piece of Dove Dark Chocolate that I would normally enjoy at the end of my day. This time, it tasted ridiculously sweet! I actually had to throw it out, I literally could not eat it. Dare I say, it tasted gross???!!!

I’ve also noticed that sweet fruits and veggies taste even better. Bell peppers, sugar snap peas, apples, sweet potatoes and bananas are especially tasty.

I know it’s not for everyone, but maybe try lowering your sugar intake… see how  you feel… and see if you like it :)

 

xoxoSYN