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Game Day Eats

Are you planning a Super Bowl party this weekend? While pizza, wings and chips tend to be the traditional Super Bowl Sunday fare, consider lightening up the menu with a few healthy options!

But don’t be disillusioned, these lighter dishes pack a serious flavor punch. They are sure to please any crowd – in fact, I bet no one will know they are healthy!

We have scoured our site for the best recipes for your Super Bowl shindig — namely a killer vegan chili and some delicious dips! Check out the recipes below . . .

In case you need a pep talk to get your Super Bowl entertaining on, view our articles on Best Dishes for Entertaining a Crowd and Planning Makes Perfect. There’s nothing worse than not being able to enjoy your own party!

Our Favorite Veggie Chili

5-Ingredient Guacamole

White Bean Dip with Seasoned Pita Chips

Creamy Cauliflower Hummus

January 31, 2015
Cauliflower Hummus

I recently ordered a veggie burger at a restaurant, and it came topped with a big dollop of cauliflower hummus. It was fabulous—it tasted very much like traditional chickpea hummus, but it wasn’t as heavy. I guess that makes sense. With less than 30 calories per cup, boiled cauliflower is much lighter than boiled chickpeas (269 calories per cup.) I came home from my restaurant experience and immediately started experimenting to create my own cauliflower hummus. Why not? Even though I love traditional chickpea hummus, there’s certainly nothing wrong with a copycat version that I can eat with reckless abandon and not feel overwhelmingly full afterwards.

Please note that this is a very mild tasting hummus. Feel free to experiment with your own version to suit your palate. I used steamed cauliflower, but you can oven roast the cauliflower with a bit of olive oil instead. You can also add a clove or two of garlic to intensify the flavor.

Ingredients:
1 medium cauliflower, chopped and steamed until soft
1 tablespoon almond butter
2 tablespoons tahini
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon paprika
Juice from ½ large lemon
½ teaspoon salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor, and process until smooth.

January 27, 2015
Banana Bread – An Updated Classic

The icy weather outside kept me indoors today, so I had some extra time on my hands to experiment in the kitchen.

I had two nearly black bananas staring at me — begging me to do something with them. So, I decided I’d try to make a gluten free banana bread — with no white sugar. I’ve never made such a thing before. When it comes to dessert, I generally go all in — white flour, white sugar, butter, oil. I don’t like to skimp on dessert since I hardly make them given my hectic schedule. However, today I thought I would try to alter a traditional banana bread recipe – a classic, if you will.

I knew there were certain items that I wanted to use — brown rice flour, almond meal and maple syrup, specifically — oh, and those two over-ripe bananas. So, I pulled together other traditional cake ingredients — eggs, a little vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and yogurt . . . . . and, voila, I had banana bread deliciousness baking in my oven!

I could hardly wait the 60 minutes it took for the bread to bake. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how the brown rice flour would work in this recipe so I was anxiously waiting for the timer on my oven to sound.

I’m happy to say, I was soooo pleased with the results! In fact, I was overjoyed. I can’t explain the excitement I feel when I make a healthy version of a generally not-too-healthy recipe — especially DESSERT! However, this recipes proves that you can lighten up your desserts and still retain the delicious flavor and texture you are used to – you just need to use some creativity.

Also, just a side note, banana bread is a completely acceptable breakfast — at least in my house!

So, here’s my Banana Bread recipe. I hope you try it — modify it — make it your own. Don’t be afraid to experiment in the kitchen — I’m so happy I wasn’t!

Banana Bread–An Updated Classic
Yields 1 loaf

1 ½ cups of brown rice flour
½ cup almond meal
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
½ cup of maple syrup
⅓ cup of coconut oil
⅓ cup of plain yogurt or sour cream
2 over-ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

optional — add ½ cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips or shredded coconut — or whatever addition suits your fancy.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with an oil of your choice.

In a bowl, add your dry ingredients — brown rice flour, almond meal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

In a larger bowl add your wet ingredients — eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil (heat to liquid form), yogurt/sour cream, bananas, and vanilla extract. With a hand mixer, beat all wet ingredients until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat until incorporated.

Pour mixture into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the oven for approximately 1 hour, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Let it cool. Slice and serve.

January 26, 2015
Insta-Inspiration

At any given time, you can open your Instagram app to find a vast collection of yoga photos from around the world. How is this collection of yoga photos any different from a collection of photos that you might find in a yoga book? Well, the difference lies in the magic of having a centralized hub for a massive community of yogis to come together—a virtual platform for yogis to meet and inspire one another on a daily basis. In the inspirational world of Instagram, creativity runs rampant, and a traditional pose suddenly morphs into new and interesting shapes. It’s only natural that with many minds at work, many unusual variations of yoga poses will be born and shared.

Here are six of my favorite yoga pose variations that were inspired by Instagram posts. Without this social media platform, I’m not sure if I would have ever seen or attempted these postures. In 2015, I encourage you to get inspired, get excited, and add some variety to your practice. Perhaps these interesting variations will be the poses that you attempt this year.

Here’s a new arm balance for you to try. It starts out innocently enough as Elephant’s Trunk Pose (Eka Hasta Bhujasana). It then transforms into this funky shape when the top leg (which usually hooks over the shoulder) straightens, and the bottom leg wraps around an arm. If you are new to arm balancing, skip this pose and head right over to our crow pose tutorial, which is more appropriate for a first timer. Still unsure? Get inspired here.

If the elusive overhand grip is part of your practice, attempt this variation of bow pose, which comes complete with an arm scarf. If an overhand grip is not yet accessible, you can still receive the same heart-and-shoulder-opening benefits by practicing the five front-body stretching exercises presented here.

This looks like a standing split variation, but it makes most sense to start in lizard pose. Once in lizard pose, wiggle your front shoulder under your knee. If you feel comfortable with your shoulder under your knee, rise back up onto your hands and begin to straighten the front knee while simultaneously lifting the back leg from the ground. Once you find your balance, bend the lifted leg and reach for your foot with the opposite hand. This is an advanced pose that requires hip flexibility, hamstring flexibility, balance and strength. Is it necessary to ever achieve such a pose? Of course not. You will receive many of the same benefits by doing much more accessible hip stretches and hamstring stretches.

Once you’ve mastered the tripod egg headstand, challenge yourself by pressing the forearms together and pointing the hands away from one another. Remember—when practicing any inversion in the middle of a room, you must have an exit strategy! Stay safe, and have fun.

When you’re ready to take your compass pose to a whole new dimension, give this variation a try where both hands are planted on the ground and the hips are lifted from the mat. Still working on getting your leg over your shoulder? No problem. Skip this pose, and open up the hips. Maybe you’ll surprise yourself by getting into Elephant’s Trunk Pose.

Is it an inversion, an arm balance or some hybrid of the two? You decide. Start out in Fallen Angel pose, and then lift the bottom knee from the tricep. Feel free to stay in a hovering version of Fallen Angel or straighten the lower leg so that the foot points in the same direction that you are facing.

January 22, 2015
10 Wellness Tips for the New Year
The New Year seems to imply that we need to make a change, but we like to think of it as an opportunity to refocus on ourselves and concentrate on adopting some healthy habits.

We are firm believers that small steps and changes can make a very big difference. Starting small will help ease you into a new routine and work towards adopting a revitalized mindset. Once you start making some incremental changes, you will see, and feel, a difference.

So, in an attempt to inspire some healthy habits, we have jotted down ten that we think are worth considering. They are not only focused on yoga, fitness and nutrition — but overall wellness. We hope they become a part of your routine!

Here’s our list of top ten wellness tips for 2015:
1. Wake up early — start your day early enough that you can accomplish a few things before the day actually gets started. Generally mornings are rushed, making lunches, racing to get dressed and out of the house and off to work and school. Get up early, even if it’s only 15 minutes earlier than usual. Take a moment, have a cup of tea and ease into your day. These few moment of peace are all yours.
2. Set a daily intention — since you will be up early, take the time to set an intention for your day. Find a quiet place to sit and think — think about what you will conquer during the day and how you will achieve your goals.
3. Find time for exercise (morning, noon, or night – whenever it’s best for you). If carving out some time early in the morning or late at night doesn’t work for you, do something active during your lunch break, or while at your desk. Even taking a walk and stretching your legs counts!
4. Take care of your skin — suncreen, skincare, etc. Wash your face. Moisturize it and protect it with SPF. We are not beauty consultants, but we all need to take care and protect our skin.
5. Do something for you. Pencil some “me time” into your calendar. That may mean finding time for a pedicure, or having tea with a friend. Do something for you — maybe not every day — but as often as possible.
6. Cook more, take-out less. Eating healthy is so important, and we really do believe that cooking your own meals inspires healthy eating — a healthier lifestyle. Of course, you can find healthy food options at restaurants and in cafeterias, but your own kitchen is the best place to start. Take a few extra minutes to make something homemade versus buying a pre-made, likely preservative-laden, option. That doesn’t mean you can’t take short cuts — like buying pre-cut and washed veggies — but, focus on preparing your food versus choosing something from a freezer case.
7. Read — a newspaper, a magazine or a book. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or non-fiction. Reading sparks creativity, and it’s just different from being fed information from the television. You are an active participant in receiving knowledge!
8. Go outside, and do something active. Even in the dead of winter, a quick walk around the block can invigorate you. Take a moment and go outside — breathe in some fresh air. Even better, participate in an outdoor activity. Riding a bike, an outdoor yoga class, a run — whatever suits your fancy! Just get outside!
9. Put your phone down, or your laptop — whatever device you are attached to these days. Isn’t it the worst when you are trying to have a conversation with someone and they are glued to their phone? We are all guilty, so, put your phone down. Focus on what’s happening right in front of you — whether it’s a conversation with a loved one or a work colleague. Or, perhaps, just put your phone down in order to focus on yourself.
10. Make a daily to-do list. We love our lists. We like to make ours at night in order set ourselves up for the next day. Making a list will help you organize all of the moving parts of your life. And, there’s nothing like crossing something off your list to make you feel accomplished!
January 20, 2015
5 Favorite Posts from 2014

Here they are…your five favorite posts of 2014. A mixture of yoga, Instagram, and nutrition. In case you missed these articles the first time around, here is a quick recap.

Headstands 101: Your First Inversion
If you want to invert, but you don’t know where to begin, start here. Even if you have no previous experience in gymnastics, yoga or dance, we will teach you an accessible way to do a headstand—safely and without fear.

Handstands 101—Building Your Foundation
Once you’ve mastered the headstand and forearmstand, you are ready to move on and fly high in a handstand. Let this article be your first introduction to handstands. Start here with a “can do” attitude.

Bakasana: Time to Get Your Crow On
Crow pose (or Bakasana) is often the first arm balance that you’ll learn on your yoga journey. If you’re ready to get started, grab a yoga block and a bed pillow. We will guide you through this powerful pose, step by step.

Banana Oat Muffins
This article was shared over 4,200 times across Facebook and Pinterest. We get it. You can’t beat a healthy, gluten-free muffin that only requires five ingredients. Try this recipe in 2015, and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to check out our other Best Recipes of 2014.

Instagram Quick Tip: AfterFocus App
If your Instagram yoga photos are plagued by cluttered backgrounds or distracting details, we have the app for you. In less than a minute, you will blur the background and bring yourself into focus. Check out this article, as well as our other Instagram Quick Tips from 2014.

January 1, 2015
Best Recipes of 2014

Over the past year, we shared many of our “go-to” recipes with you — simple-to-prepare, seasonal recipes that we regularly make for our own families.

We also created new dishes by experimenting with old family recipes that tasted great but were in need of a healthy makeover. We replaced white sugar with maple syrup. We swapped white flour for brown rice flour. We relied on cooking methods that yield the most taste — for example, roasting our veggies for optimal flavor.

We tried to present traditional recipes in a new way. We made pesto out of broccoli rabe (vs. basil). We offered a baked oatmeal for a spin on your go-to bowl of oats. We created a delectable dairy and gluten-free banana walnut frozen dessert. We even brought you a light and healthy take on a classic French dessert with our Apple Raisin Clafoutis.

As we say goodbye to 2014, we want to take a moment to recognize those dishes that really stood out, for us, and, we think for you too. We hope all of our recipes make it into your kitchen in 2015, but if you only choose a few, here are the ones that we consider our “best in class.”

Best Drink:

Best Breakfast:

Best Appetizer:

Best Salad:

Best Soup:

Best Side Dish:

Best Main Course:

Best Dessert:

December 31, 2014
December Yoga Challenge Winner!

We are excited to announce the winner of our December Two Fit Moms yoga challenge on Instagram! Congratulations to @jinhee_1017 for successfully completing all ten days of the challenge.

Please contact kate@twofitmoms.com to claim your Gaiam Sol prize package that includes: a Gaiam Sol Travel Mat in Mulberry, a Black Everything Fits Gym Bag and a free download, from the Gaiam.com website, of our Yoga Rising series!

Thank you all for participating!

December 30, 2014
Entertaining 101: Best Dishes for Feeding a Crowd

Now that we’ve got our planning down, let’s figure out what types of dishes are best for entertaining. When you are expecting a large crowd, individual portions become difficult to manage. Family style (or buffet style), is the way to go. But, what will you serve that will feed a crowd? You need dishes that spread.

Here are my suggestions for the types of recipes (appetizers to desserts!) that work best when entertaining a group of people.

Simple dips and crudite platters
You can make them in advance, and they can generally work for vegetarians and meat-eating folks. And, if you don’t have time to make your own dip or vegetable platter, you can purchase the individual items and assemble. There’s no shame in picking up a store bought hummus or guacamole. Do what works for you.

Pasta
A big bowl of pasta is hearty and can feed many. Make a homemade pesto or marinara or any other sauce of choice and top it onto your favorite pasta. We do not have dietary restrictions in our house, but some of our guests do, so we make brown rice pasta and semolina pasta — two big bowls — both with the same sauce. You can also make a baked pasta — a lasagna or stuffed shells — or baked manicotti (which is what my family eats during the holidays). Generally, kids and adults are both happy with it!

Salads
They will go a mile and everyone enjoys them. My recommendation is to make a green salad and a grain salad. Not everyone at your party may be well versed on farro and quinoa, but everyone can relate to a nice green salad. Make both. Throw some seasonal ingredients into them to make them more festive — like pomegranate seeds, cranberries, toasted walnuts. You get the picture.

Veggies
A big platter of vegetables is always welcomed. You can grill them and serve them along with other appetizers, including breads and cheeses. Or, you can include them on your buffet along with your other dinner items. You can never go wrong with grilled vegetables and they taste even better room temperature.

If it’s too cold to bust out your grill, try a roasted vegetable platter instead — beets, butternut squash, throw some nuts and maybe cheese on top. Yum!

Meat or Fish
This is a little more complicated because cooking meat and fish requires timing it, carving it, etc. That being said, if you don’t mind stealing away from your guests to do so, there are definitely some options. You can roast a whole fish or salmon fillets and arrange on a platter. You can also bake a ham or roast a whole filet mignon and serve it room temperature. I tend to include meat on my holiday table because the older crowd look for it, but I’m seriously considering skipping it this season — just to give myself a break and offer myself a chance to not cook while my guests are around.

Dessert
Well, dessert is easy. Make a big fruit crisp. You can make it in advance, and just pop it in the oven to warm it before serving (with ice cream, or whipped cream or nothing because it’s so delicious on it’s own!). You can make cookies or cupcakes or a cake or pie or two. Just don’t make too much. I prefer quality over quantity.

In addition to the sweets, put out some fruit and nuts as well. Not everyone will be up for a heavy dessert after a big meal.

I hope these tips help make your holiday entertaining a bit easier and a lot less stressful.

December 21, 2014
5 Pre-Flight Yoga Stretches

Right now, I’m writing to you from a fully-packed flight back to the New York area from Colorado. (Laura and I were in Boulder for the better part of the week, working on some new projects with Gaiam.) Let me just say that I am relieved to finally be in the air and flying. Although we arrived at the airport early, we found ourselves sitting at the gate with an hour delay—And it was one of those annoying delays that was supposedly only ten minutes long. We reasoned that ten minutes wasn’t long enough to shop or eat, so we found ourselves sitting and waiting for the boarding announcement, which of course, didn’t happen in ten minutes. We hadn’t even boarded the plane, and our bodies felt stiff from sitting. Laura and I looked at each other and decided it was time for a little airport yoga.

Next time you find yourself sitting at the terminal with a few minutes to spare, try these five poses, which will loosen up your body before you board the plane. Don’t worry—there’s no reason to be embarrassed. You won’t make a scene doing these stretches. You can do them all at your seat. Happy flying.

Chest and Shoulder Stretch
Sit up tall, engaging your core by pulling your navel toward your spine. Sweep your arms behind your back, and interlace all ten fingers, squeezing your palms together. Roll your shoulders down and away from your ears, and lift your chest toward the sky. Inhale deeply, then exhale as you hinge forward from the waist, allowing your clasped hands to fall forward. Continue to breathe deeply.

Seated Spinal Twist
Inhale deeply, as you cross your right leg over your left, and place your left hand on the outside of your right thigh. Place your right hand on the back of the chair, and exhale as you twist your torso to the right. Press your left hand into your right thigh for leverage while you twist and gaze over your right shoulder. Hold the stretch for a few breaths and repeat on the other side.

Hip Stretch
Sit up tall in your seat, and cross your right ankle over your left thigh. Flex the right foot, and begin to lean forward, bringing your chest toward your shin. Maintain length in your spine, and stop moving forward when your spine begins to round. Breathe deeply through this intense, but very effective hip stretch. After five breaths, repeat this exercise on the opposite side to stretch the left hip.

Forward Fold
Stand with your feet about hip width apart, and fold forward. Grab opposite elbows, or hold the outsides of your calves as shown here. Relax your head and neck, and allow the weight of your torso to release the tension in your lower back and to stretch the hamstrings. Take five long breaths in this pose, then put a slight bend in your knees as you slowly rise to an upright position.

Wide Squat
Separate the feet a bit wider than hip width apart. Angle your toes about 45 degrees out to either side. Bring your upper arms to the inside of your thighs, and press your palms together in front of your heart. Lengthen the spine, sit up tall, and use your triceps to press your inner thighs back in space. Breathe deeply, and enjoy the stretch.

December 19, 2014