sunsoulwellness

[sunsoulwellness]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alli Strnad (@sunsoul_alli)

Our trip to Kaua'i felt like a dream 🌴, and I hope to return for more incredible hikes and views! The link to the full video is in my profile 😊🌊 Happy Monday! #enjoy2017 #travelmore (at Kaua'i)

[sunsoulwellness]

When I don't know what to make for dinner I just roast up whatever spuds and/or veg I have on hand and then pile them into a bowl with leftover brown rice/quinoa, some avocado, lemon juice and something flavorful to spice it up😉. In this case, I topped off this massive bowl with @farmhouseculture's raw jalapeño kraut 😍. A random dinner concoction that yielded enough food for hubs and I to enjoy again for lunch today 🙌 #cookonceeattwice

[sunsoulwellness]

Roasted Japanese sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli with fresh ginger, brown rice, green onions and baked tofu marinated in a Korean inspired sauce 😋. Could you tell I was really hungry when I made this?! 😂 #buddhabowl

[sunsoulwellness]

I made my own grain-free granola a few days ago, and ended up with several mason jars full 🙌. I skipped the oats and loaded it up coconut, almonds, walnuts, raisins, cinnamon, maple syrup and sunflower, pumpkin, flax and hemp seeds 😋. I've been enjoying it with berries and unsweetened coconut milk yogurt. A very filling breakfast with lots of healthy fats and probiotics😊

[sunsoulwellness]

Easy, scrumptious dinner for one😁. I've got the even to myself and I had a craving for garlicky pasta 😋. I don't think garlicky is a word, but I like it so I'm stickin' with it😜. I used lentil pasta for some protein💪 and added rainbow cauliflower that I got from Costco. I was pretty stoked to find out that you can successfully roast frozen veggies! I even broiled them for a bit to get the edges a bit charred, and it tasted so much better than steaming it! So now you know. You're welcome 😉

[sunsoulwellness]

Starting off my morning with a healthy balance of carbs, fat and protein. Cooking frozen blueberries into your oats results in this interesting blue/purple color and adding cinnamon, sliced banana and all the nuts + seeds you want makes for a fun-to-eat and nourishing breakfast 😋. I have particularly loving #hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds because of their high protein content, omega 3's (hemp) and vitamin E (pumpkin seeds). Getting some fat + protein in at breakfast helps me maintain a steady energy throughout the day with less cravings, while also helping me to feel grounded. What's your favorite way to break the fast??

[sunsoulwellness]

"We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are shining parts, is the soul" -Ralph Waldo Emerson Spent several hours out in the cold at a local forest preserve this past weekend. Typically I stay indoors as much as possible in the winter, but this year I decided to not let my aversion to cold stop me from enjoying the outdoors. It was so worth it. We had the preserve all to ourselves, and since it was quiet we were lucky to see all sorts of wildlife. I'm still missing warm weather and bright sunshine, but for now I'll made do with what I've got. If you missed my last post, I posted a video from our vacation in the Caribbean! The link is in my profile if you want to see some sea turtles, reef sharks, river tubing and other fun shenanigans! Happy Monday loves 😊 (at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm)

[sunsoulwellness]

My new favorite breakfast 😍. Dairy free, unsweetened vanilla yogurt thawed frozen strawberries (so soft and sweet!), hemp seeds and granola. Yogurt made from coconut milk, almond milk and even soy milk have been around for a while now, but I rarely ever buy it. I have no idea why, but it's basically made its way into my weekly grocery list 🙌. For a 1 cup serving you get 50% of your daily calcium and 45% of your B12. Feeling so good this morning and somehow convinced hubby to come trek around the (frozen) forest preserve with me this morning 😆. It's 28°F here today, which is 'warm' compared the temps we've been having 😂. What are you all up to this weekend?!

[sunsoulwellness]

Taco dinner madness 😍🌮. Can you tell I was HUNGRY?! I made @uptonsnatutals chili lime "carnitas" made from #jackfruit and topped it off with guacamole, cilantro lime rice and @farmhouseculture's jalapeño kraut. On the side I served up some smoky pinto beans with corn and rainbow cauliflower. I'm working a 10 hour day tomorrow so I made sure to make plenty of food for a packed lunch tomorrow for me and the hubs. Cook once, eat twice 😆

[sunsoulwellness]

Let's talk about lunch 😎 Baked curry tofu, roasted Japanese sweet potato and steamed green beans + broccoli with lots of fresh lime juice 💦😋. Veggies were left over from yesterday, and I let the tofu and potato bake while I got ready to head to work. I'm all about those easy meals 🙌 #eatyoveggies

[sunsoulwellness]

Lifted groceries today 💪😂. Highlights from this week's food haul that I'm pretty stoked about include: grain-free granola + dairy free, unsweetened yogurt😍, golden beets, frozen organic rainbow cauliflower and @farmhouseculture's raw jalapeño kraut Some of you have asked if I plan out my weekly meals, and the answer is not really🙈. I'm really spontaneous and have a limited attention span so planning meals has never been my forte. However, in the morning I usually start poking my head around the fridge to see which veggies need to get used up first and decide at that time what's for dinner later. That way if I need to soak rice or beans I have plenty of time to do so. With that being said, spontaneity in the kitchen is not everyone's forte either, so you're best bet is to experiment, and see what works best for YOU! I know some very successful meal planners, and I also know plenty of people who wing it like me! I will say this...winging it when it comes to cooking has given me a lot of confidence in the kitchen and has helped me try out new food combos I likely wouldn't have otherwise So are you a meal planner or do you play it all by ear? What has worked best for you??

[sunsoulwellness]

Some simple things that make me happy: ☁ Quiet mornings sipping coffee ☁ A hot bath with lavender oil ☁ Cooking (obviously) ☁ Snuggling with my pups ☁ Walking in nature I always say and firm believer that good health goes far beyond diet & exercise. For me, the biggest challenge has been learning embrace and savor each moment and to make time every day for simple things I enjoy. Everything I listed above involves quiet or silence, which helps me manage stress and find balance This year I'll be posting more of what makes me happy because my intention always is to share in hopes that my words and photos resonate with someone. Cooking with fresh, plant-based foods is one of my biggest passions, but there is so much more in life I want to share. This is the forest preserve that I'm grateful to have so close to home. I come here often, and it isn't uncommon for me to get up close to deer and spot some beautiful birds. Wishing you all the happiest Wednesday 🙏 (at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm)

[sunsoulwellness]

Thai curry with loads of veggies, tofu, fresh ginger and Thai chili peppers 😋. The kind of meal that's so good your husband can't stop complimenting you (not complaining) 😂 He was especially stoked to taste my cinnamon rolls from earlier, and right after he finished he offered to give me a shoulder massage 😂. How sweet! Anywho, who wants me to make a recipe post on my favorite way to make Thai curry?! 🙋🙋

[sunsoulwellness]

I really wanted to trek around the forest preserve with my dogs today, but the weather is definitely not cooperating. We have 60mph wind gusts going on, and I swear I've been seeing the rain fall horizontally 😅😵. So since outdoor activities are a no-go today, naturally I ended up in the kitchen. I used @minimalistbaker's easy cinnamon roll recipe, and these babies were born 😍. I added raisins and used a vanilla glaze to go on top. And in case you're wondering, I certainly did eat one fresh out of the oven, and yes, it was heavenly 👼😁. A few posts back I talked about #balance and not being too strict with what you eat. Here's a perfect example. #Treatyourself (because cinnamon rolls are 💣)

[sunsoulwellness]

The morning wind spreads its fresh smell We must get up and take that in that wind that lets us live Breathe before it's gone -Rumi❄ (at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm)

[sunsoulwellness]

One thing I have really been focusing on is being aware of my reactions, especially when it comes to my emotions. It gets easier the more I do it, and this past week I was able to recognize pretty quickly whenever I was stressing out, and those realizations alone were enough to get me to take a deep breath and relax For example (and this happens to me frequently), you are supposed to be somewhere by a certain time, and you realized you were running late. Cue the stress. You get in your car and traffic is awful, and you watch the minutes tick by as your slowly become even more late, and by then your breathing is shallow and your shoulders are tense and you're irritable all the sudden. I'm sure you can relate. I've been catching myself getting stressed, and that awareness allows you to see very clearly that your stress isn't solving ANYTHING. It isn't doesn't turn the clock back so you're on time; it just puts you in a state of discomfort and total unease. It's a choice you can make, and that's why I put effort in every day to observe my reactions. Awareness is empowering, and I'm always surprised at how profound such a simple shift in mindset can be. Start this week with the intention that you will be more aware of your thoughts and reactions. It's a simple way to begin to develop more ease into your daily life 😊

[sunsoulwellness]

Weekly grocery haul 💪🙌. Our staples include lots of fresh fruits + vegetables, beans, edamame, almond milk, frozen fruit + veggies, lentil pasta, avocados, nuts, aloe juice and not pictured but always on hand....dark chocolate 😜. These foods make me feel my absolute best! I wake up energized every morning and sleep soundly every night. The only time I ever get headaches is when I miss my morning coffee, and I used to get headaches constantly! I rarely get sick, and I used to get sick often. My mind feels clear and sharp. Most importantly, I LOVE eating these foods and only infrequently crave junk or fast food. When I do get cravings for unhealthy food I treat myself! Yep! There's no such thing as a perfect diet, only what feels best for YOU. Most of the time I eat the types of foods pictured here, but I do indulge occasionally because.... BALANCE! Balance is everything 😊 #eattherainbow