{Book Club}: Younger Next Week Review AND Giveaway!

We’re big fans of fellow registered dietitian, Elisa Zied. We admire Elisa’s relatability, her encouraging #moveitorloseit social media posts, and her articles on the Parents.com blog, which provide helpful and insightful health advice for families. When we heard she was coming out with a new book, titled Younger Next Week, we couldn’t wait to grab a copy.

In Younger Next Week, Elisa points out that our society’s new revved-up lifestyle is unfortunately leaving many multi-tasking women exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed out. And we can relate; between the pings and dings on our iPads and email inboxes, and rings on our phones – it can be hard to find a free moment throughout the day to just unplug. Watch this episode on Elisa’s Stressipes web series and you may relate. We truly feel that every woman -- from college students and beyond can connect with Elisa's message.

In fact, according to a 2012 Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association, 30 to 45 percent of women in U.S. reported being so stressed they feel fatigued, nervous, anxious and overwhelmed. 46 percent of the women reported making unhealthy food choices and overeating while 31 percent reported skipping meals -- neither which do much to improve our ability to manage stress, improve our self-esteem, or promote optimal health. 

The overarching message of Younger Next Week is to help women restore their vitality and slow down the clock by trading in their anti-wrinkle cream and plastic surgeon’s scalpel for a knife and fork, and stress management techniques. In the book’s chapters, Elisa debunks many common diet myths (we’re big fans of that!), answers those burning nutrition questions surrounding hot topics including coconut oil, eggs, and caffeine, and also offers her own Stressipes (rhymes with “recipes”) – food, fitness, and lifestyle remedies to help us better cope with stress, the greatest vitality buster of them all. Ultimately, the reader is given strategies for restoring vitality through Vital Foods and Vital Moves. The book wraps up with a 7-Day Vitality Plan. The reason we love the plan? It’s not about adopting a rigid diet; it’s based on sound information and maintainable habits that will help you feel happier, healthier, and nourished. The plan includes “daily goals and weekly goals to help you move it, lift it, laugh it off, connect, reflect and sleep it off.” We love that.

Below is one of the 30 delicious recipes in Younger Next Week (reprinted with permission). Since making this recipe the first time, we've made it two more times; we hope you love it as much as we do! Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog for details on the giveaway!

Blueberries with Ricotta Cream

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh blueberries

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

½ cup part-skim ricotta cheese

¼ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

½ teaspoon lime zest

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the berries, sugar and lime juice. Cover and refrigerate.
2. Mix together the ricotta cheese, yogurt and lime zest in a small bowl. Serve the blueberries with a dollop of the ricotta cream.

Younger Next Week GIVEAWAY

Do you want your own copy of Younger Next Week? Elisa is giving away a copy to one lucky reader!

To enter to win:

• Follow us on Facebook and tell us why you want to win Elisa’s new book
• Follow us on Twitter and tell us why you want to win Elisa’s new book

A winner will be randomly selected on Friday, January 24^th at 8:00am PST.

If we don’t hear from you in 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents.

Good luck!!

{Book Club}: Peruvian Power Foods

When I step foot into a library or bookstore, I inevitably end up in the cookbook section. When I travel, I often pack cookbooks for something to read. When I visit my friends and family, you can anticipate me scanning through their collection if I get the opportunity. And I’m sure many food lovers can relate.  Cookbooks have this way of sparking a sense of creativity and ambition.

I was so excited when I recently added a new cookbook to my repertoire: Peruvian Power Foods. Not only it is packed with delicious and healthy recipes, it was developed by an award-winning registered dietitian, Manuel Villacorta. To develop the recipes, Manuel returned to his homeland in Peru to experience 18 of the world’s greatest superfoods in their natural habitat. The result is an inventive recipe collection guaranteed to get anyone out of their cooking slump.

What makes this book so unique is it’s emphasize on nutritionally-packed “power” foods such pichuberry, maca, and kiwicha – staple foods to Peruvians, yet new to many of those in North America. At first I was skeptical that I may not be able to find many ingredients in the book, but I quickly learned that these Peruvian power foods may be purchased in mainstream markets like Bristol Farms, Safeway, Whole Foods and Vons. 

Manuel’s websites, EatingFree and PeruvianPowerFoods also carry a good number of the power foods referenced in the book, so they’re a good starting point, too. 

At the beginning of each chapter, the properties that truly make each “superfood” a nutrient-rich ingredient and worthy of your attention are described. For example, I was so excited to learn that eating 3 ounces of pichuberries may help you reach your daily recommended intake for vitamin D. A serving of this super fruit provides a lofty 39 percent of your daily requirement based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Following each description is a small collection of recipes highlighting each of the power foods as an ingredient. With recipes as creative as Hearty Pichuberry Quinoa Bread and No-Bake Kiwicha Bars, it's difficult to decide a starting point.

It’s also worth mentioning that familiar foods such as avocados, beans, sweet potatoes, and artichokes make appearances in their own chapters. It was fun creating the Peruvian Stuffed Avocados (see recipe below) and the Lima Bean with Choclo and Feta Salad.

Limo Bean with Choclo and Feta Salad

This book is a exciting, unique culinary experience that will not only make your tastebuds happy, the recipes are good for your body, too. And for those that are picking up last minute Christmas gifts, it will make for a fun and festive gift for the food lovers in your life.

 Happy holidays!

Peruvian Stuffed Avocados

Ingredients:

2 avocados

½ cup cooked quinoa

¼ cup peas, fresh or frozen

¼ cup steamed beets

1 tablespoon lime juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.      Slice the avocados in half lengthwise, remove the pits, and peel off the skin. Set the avocado halves aside.

2.      Combine the quinoa, peas, beets, and lime juice in a bowl and gently fold together until thoroughly mixed. Season with salt and pepper.

3.      Fill the avocados with the quinoa mixture and serve.

Stay tuned for our next book review, Younger Next Week, written by the wonderful registered dietitian, Elisa Zied.