Have you ever met anyone for the first time and their energy was SO incredibly consuming, uplifting, and inspirational that you just wanted to hang out with them all the time? Yeah, I have one of those people in my life right MEOW and her name is Lindsey Bomgren. If you followed the Summer Sweat Series...
The post 10 Partner Workouts You Have to Try! appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.
Once upon a time I was a single college student in a one-room dorm and it didn’t take much to keep it clean. Fast forward a few years and I was married to an amazing (but super neat and orderly) guy and had a couple of kids who weren’t so neat and orderly! I needed an all-purpose cleaner that worked stat!
(Psssstttt… Click here to see how to get the bottle and ingredients for free this week only!)
As a mom, I soon learned that child is a synonym for “maker-of-dirt-and-messes-while-being-absolutely-adorable” and was amazed at the messes my toddlers could make.
I also realized that kids put everything in their mouths, so I started looking for natural cleaning options that could stand up to toddler messes but without accidentally poisoning them if (when) they licked the floor or counter.
I learned about all the chemicals that are contained in most commercial household cleaning products and found that I could make healthier ones at home. One of the hardest ones to create was a homemade all-purpose cleaner, but I finally found one that works well (and my kids have tested it hard!). In fact, I’ve calculated that over the years, I’ve saved over $200 making this myself!
Short answer:
It takes literally 30 seconds, saves money and works better!
Longer answer:
This all-purpose cleaner is so simple to make that those first couple of toddlers are now older kids who can make and use this cleaner on their own! And their younger siblings have happily filled the toddler mess-making shoes for them.
Also, it is free from the more toxic chemicals found in many cleaners and completely customizable to your taste. Plus, until Sunday, you can get all of the ingredients free! (Click here to find out how!)
Important note: There is some debate about borax and if it is safe to use in homemade cleaners or not. I personally feel it is safe to use and much safer than most cleaning products, but this article has a good breakdown of the information and my thoughts on it. Don’t agree? Just leave it out.
Worried about the chemistry of making your own cleaners? Want to make a substitution? These are the most commonly asked questions about my homemade all-purpose cleaner:
No, They are similar but with some important differences. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and washing soda is just sodium carbonate. Washing soda is stronger and more effective in this recipe (but still non-toxic). Don’t have it? Make your own with baking soda using this tutorial.
Technically no, but most home messes don’t need a disinfectant and using too many disinfectants can cause problems as well. I wouldn’t use this on food related messes, especially raw meat, but it works really well for other hard household surfaces like counters, floors and cabinets. The essential oils do have mild disinfectant properties in some studies, but I personally would stick to hydrogen peroxide or food grade alcohol and soap/water to disinfect raw meat messes.
Vinegar actually isn’t the cleaning powerhouse it is made out to be. It does have its uses and shining moments, like cleaning windows, but isn’t an effective degreaser or disinfectant. Also, vinegar and washing soda (Acid and base) will cancel each other out and this whole recipe would be less effective if vinegar was added. Want to use vinegar in natural cleaning? Save your fresh lemon and orange peels, pour white vinegar over them and leave for a few weeks. This makes a great citrus-infused vinegar that cleans windows and most smooth surfaces.
Vinegar also un-saponifies the soap in this recipe, leaving a nasty stringy mess. Use vinegar if you want to, just don’t use it in this recipe!
There is a lot of debate about this. I talked about my opinion here, but I generally feel safe using it on non food surfaces. If you aren’t comfortable using it, just omit or use witch hazel or food grade alcohol in its place.
Yep. it works really well. But don’t take my word for it… a reader Anne, commented:
Ok, I’m a little slow, just found this. Good news – the gunk on the bathroom floor that no other cleaner in the world could get rid of (I have tried at least a dozen over the years) is now gone. I sprayed this, let it soak about 5 minutes and wiped it up with a microfiber cloth. I am astounded! Thanks so much for this!
Like I said, I get all of the supplies for this recipe and the glass bottle to make it in from Grove Collaborative. Use this link and you can get the bottle, a microfiber cloth and essential oil for free this week!
No way. Just kidding!
Use whatever scent you like in this recipe. Mint is lovely too and Geranium has a mild bug-repelling property if you have flies in the kitchen. You can even omit the oils entirely for an unscented version.
I haven’t personally had this last longer than 3 months because I use it up in less time than that. I can personally vouch for its shelf life of at least three months though.
I always prefer glass personally. If you use the citrus essential oils, it is important to store in glass, as it can break down a plastic bottle over time, but glass is always a good idea!
Do you make any DIY cleaners? Share your favorite below!
Continue Reading...Natural Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner (That Works!)
Being a proud Georgia peach, I like to make Southern food at least once a week. Come over to my house and you’ll be greeted with buttermilk waffles, red beans & rice, sweet potato biscuits, or collard greens (made in all sorts of ways). In this new Southern Buddha Bowl recipe I wanted to showcase some of my very favorite Southern ingredients in one down-right tasty vegan bowl. I was lucky enough to partner with my favorite bean brand, Camellia, of New Orleans on this recipe and video. My dad introduced me to their beans years ago, and I have been stocking up every time I’m in NOLA ever since.
Who over said Southerns can’t be vegan has never tasted creamy Camellia beans. I used their green lima beans (a staple of succotash) in this Buddha bowl along with farm fresh corn, charred tomatoes, Italian farro, pickled Vidalia onions, and a creamy Georgia peach dressing. Oh, and raw collards. Gotta have them greens to complete a Buddha bowl!
This recipe is absolutely perfect for a late-summer lunch or dinner, and a must-have at a picnic. You’ll love how all of the flavors combine to create an absolutely delicious balanced vegan meal. I highly recommend ordering some Camellia beans to make this. They are the creamiest beans I know of 
The post Southern Buddha Bowl with Green Limas {VIDEO} appeared first on Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne.
Every fall we take at least one trip to an apple orchard near us. They have family-friendly activities, wonderful local canned goods for sale, and of course, apples. So many apples! My kids love applesauce so I take advantage of the apple season to make homemade applesauce so that we can enjoy it throughout the year.
I don’t always peel the apples when I make applesauce but if you do take the time to peel the apples (maybe you even prefer your applesauce that way), you can use the peels and the cores to make apple cider vinegar. This way you have virtually no waste!
It is also totally possible to make apple cider vinegar from the whole apple so don’t worry if you don’t have leftover peels and cores from anything.
When I make applesauce, I typically do large quantities at a time so I have enough peels and cores for a batch of apple cider vinegar. If you only occasionally use apples, you can store the peels and cores in the freezer until you have enough gathered to start a batch.
If you don’t have an apple orchard near by, farmer’s markets are another great place to get organically grown apples. Just check with the farmer. Organic apples are ideal for apple cider vinegar, especially if you will be using the peel. If you cannot find organic apples, peel them first. Discard the peel and just use the inside portion.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has many healthy uses. It is made through the process of fermentation and is high in phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Hippocrates is believed to have prescribed ACV for a variety of ailments.
ACV is the base of spicy cider which is a great remedy to help quickly knock out a cold.
Amazingly, and contrary to what seems logical, ACV also has a valuable role in preventing heartburn and aiding digestion. In most cases heartburn is actually caused by too little stomach acid which slows down digestion. Food and gasses put pressure on the stomach, causing stomach contents (including stomach acid) to leak back into the esophagus. When you remedy heartburn with ACV it increases stomach acid and helps the body digest the food more quickly. This prevents the build-up and subsequent leakage which causes heartburn. You can read more about natural heartburn relief here.
In addition to its many benefits when taken internally, it is wonderful for the skin. When added to bathwater, it helps to naturally restore balance to the skin’s pH. It also helps kill bacteria and fungus on the skin which can lead to a host of problems, including eczema, dandruff, and other skin conditions.
Because of its great pH balancing benefits and dandruff preventing abilities, it makes a great hair rinse that replaces conditioner and can be used after shampooing with a natural shampoo.
Most of the ACV you find in the supermarket is pasteurized and highly filtered. These versions still work well for cleaning but they are not optimal for internal and culinary uses because most of the benefits are gone once the “mother” is filtered out and the vinegar is pasteurized.
There are a few available that are “with the Mother” which means they leave the beneficial bacteria that develops during the fermentation process in the vinegar. When you make your own ACV you can be sure that your vinegar retains this beneficial “mother.”
Before starting to make ACV, there are a few things you’ll need to have on had first.
At some point while making apple cider vinegar, you will probably notice a SCOBY-like “thing” that forms on the top. This is the “mother.” You can remove it or you can just leave it floating in your vinegar.
If you don’t want to make your own apple cider vinegar, it is becoming more common for grocery stores to carry organic ACV “with the mother.” Or you can buy it online.
How do you use apple cider vinegar? Will you try your hand at making your own?
Continue Reading...How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar at Home
If your eating and exercise are on point, but you still don’t feel or look the way you want, poor sleep may be to blame. Here’s how to tap into the power of sleep and make rest a daily priority.
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Struggling with your weight? Feeling bummed out? Sluggish during workouts? Or just sluggish in general? These are common complaints from new Precision Nutrition Coaching clients. And poor diet isn’t always to blame.
Everything from lucid thinking, to good decision making, to proper digestion, to high performance is heavily dependent on getting good quality sleep.
Unfortunately, more than a third of adults get fewer than 7 hours of sleep each night, the minimum needed to keep your risk of health problems in check.
And that’s not counting the millions of folks who likely over-estimate how much sleep they’re getting, or whose sleep quality is poor because of other, seemingly unrelated lifestyle factors.
In this infographic, we unpack early indicators that you’re not getting enough rest. Then we share exactly how to prep for the best night sleep, starting with when you wake up.
Download the infographic for your tablet, or to print out, and keep it as a handy reminder to prioritize high-quality sleep every day.
(Note to fitness pros: This is also a great resource to share with your clients).
There you have it: Why sleep is so important, how to tell if you’re not getting enough, and how to engineer the perfect day for a great night’s rest.
Print out or save the infographic as a reminder to up your sleep game. And please share with a friend (or client) who might benefit from it.
After reading this infographic, you might be wondering what other lifestyle habits affect your diet, weight, mood, and general wellbeing — and how you can tweak your routine to finally reach your health goals.
Women and men in our Precision Nutrition Coaching programs learn all about these. Even more, they get the support and guidance they need to develop practical, effective nutrition and lifestyle habits that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.
And fitness and health professionals in our Level 1 and Level 2 Certification programs learn the Precision Nutrition method to help their clients do the same.
If you’re a health and fitness pro and would like to learn more about becoming an elite, world-class nutrition and lifestyle coach, check out our Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification program; it kicks off soon.
Important: Since we only take a limited number of students each time we offer the program, and it sells out every time, the best strategy is to add your name to our free presale list.
Getting on the list gives you the chance to sign up for the certification 24 hours before everyone else. Even better, you save big on the cost of the program.
[Of course, if you’re already a student or graduate of the Level 1 Certification, check out our Level 2 Certification, an exclusive Master Class for elite trainers looking to perfect their nutrition knowledge and coaching techniques].
The post The power of sleep. [Infographic] Why sleep is so important, and how to get more of it. appeared first on Precision Nutrition.
Make a smoothie in under 60 seconds with my smoothie meal prep in a bag secret! You’ll have this Strawberry Banana Green Smoothie made in no time! Want to know what I love? Going to the store and finding ALL THE BERRIES on sale. I wait all dang year for this to happen and believe me,...
The post Meal Prep: Strawberry Banana Green Smoothie (in a bag!) appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.
