I love food and I love to eat! Unfortunately, the older I get the more food allergies I develop. I love potato salad but I can't eat potato salad until now. Fortunately, I found this recipe on the Plant Paradox website. It's delicious satisfying and packs a crunch (due to celery and red onions). It's  the ultimate healhy comfort food".
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Enjoy!

What You'll Need

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets and steamed until tender 
  
• 2 turnips, peeled, quartered, and steamed until tender
  
• 4 hard-boiled omega-3 eggs, chopped (omit if vegan)
  
• 2 ribs celery, minced
  
• 1 red onion, minced
  
• ¼ cup minced dill
  
• ¼ cup minced parsley
  
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut yogurt
  
• 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
  
• 1 tsp celery seeds
  
• ½ tsp black pepper
  
• ½ tsp sea salt
  
• Juice of ½ lemon

What You Do Next:

• In a large bowl, gently toss together your steamed cauliflower, steamed turnips, eggs, celery, onion, dill, and parsley. Set the mix aside.
• In another bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mayo or yogurt, mustard, celery seeds, black pepper, sea salt, and lemon juice to make a thick dressing.
• Next, fold the dressing in with the vegetable mix until your veggies are evenly coated — if needed, add a little water or coconut milk to thin it out. And then, it’s ready 

As you know, my favorite pastime, off the mat, is cooking. I search the nebulous internet for delicious gut healthy, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, lectin-free meals and desserts I can tryout and share with you. Sometimes, I like to find not-so-healthy recipes and convert them to delicious, high protein & fiber rich healthy meals.

Today, I struck gold! I found this delicious keto friendly, lectin-free recipe in the Plant Paradox Cook Book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Ingredients:
1 cup of unsweetened (full fat) coconut milk
1/2 cup of avocado oil
1 teaspoon of iodized sea salt
2 cups of cassava flour
2 large omega-3 or pastured eggs or Vegan Eggs
1 cup of nutritional yeast

1.) Preheat your oven to 450 f.

2.) Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or use silicone baking mats.

3.) Place milk, oil. an salt in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat when big bubbles start to form.

4.) Add the cassava flour to the saucepan and stir with a spoon until mixture is well combined. A gelatinous dough will begin to form.

5.) Place dough in a mixer or beat by hand (that's a 10 -15 minute workout by hand) until the dough appears smooth and is cool enough that you can touch it comfortably.

6.) Add in the eggs (one at a time). Make sure the 1st egg is fully incorporated into the dough before you add in the second egg.

7.) Add in nutritional yeast. The dough will be sticky. The texture will be softer than cookie dough but stiffer than cake batter.

8.) Scoop the dough with a small ice cream scoop and place on the baking sheets, space them evenly. (approx. 12 per sheet). Dip ice cream scoop in a bowl of water between scoops to keep dough form sticking,

9.)Place baking sheet in the oven and reduce heat to 350 f. Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate the baking sheets.

10.) Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until bread is golden. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes before serving.

This bread is high in gut healthy resistant starch. Contains healthy fats and 12.6 grams of protien.

Enjoy!

Wall Ball Scissor Kicks are the dynamic sibling to the Splits.  Not only does this ball variation develop tone legs but it increases mobility in your hips, chisels your abs, improves joint strength and stability. This exercise is the perfect combination of strength, flexibility and balance.

This exercise is challenging but so worth it. Here's how you do it:

Equipment:
A ball (any size. hint: a larger ball is easier smaller ball is harder) So start big and work your way down your smallest ball.

The Exercise
1.) Lie on your back with your head close to a wall, your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.

2.) As you hold on to your ball with your arms extended press the ball onto the wall.

3.) Keep your hands on the ball as you lift your feet and tuck your knee to your chest.

4.) Keep your lower back on to the ground as you lift your legs and press them on to the ball

5.) Your abs are super tight, legs super straight at all times, your arms are resting at your side - pressing it the ground and your tailbone is raise up slightly off the ground.

6.) Keep your chin down. Your legs close together.

7.) Alternate dropping one leg off the ball without compromising your lower back. 

8.) Your lower back must stay on the ground throughout your sets. Both legs must stay straight.

9.) I recommend 3 sets of 20 to 30 reps/set.

Enjoy!

Splits are the best hip mobility exercise. This exercise can be modified to fit any fitness level.

1.) Place a towel or pad under your knee and kneel on it close to the wall with your toes pressing into the floor and wall simultaniously.

2.) Place a glider under your front heel with your ties pointed.

3.) Tighten your belly and brace your abs and belly, like your putting on a tight pair of jeans. push off of your back foot and glide your entire hip forward.

4.) Keep your torso lifted, your hips even on both sides and look straight ahead. Reach the arms out and to help maintain your balance.

5.) Once you have gone as far as  you can, keeping your hips even, drag your whole body back to your starting position. Repeat at least 3 sets of 5 to 10 reps.

Enjoy.

This months core challenge is a smoker. Yes, it will give you lovely arms and tone abs but get ready to work ladies! Here's the set up:

1.) Get on your hands and knees

2.) Place your forearms on the ground with elbows under the shoulders and wrist in line with the elbows.

3.) Walk your legs out so you are in a forearm plank. A good forearm plank with your hips in line with your shoulders, belly pulled in, ribs closed and booty squeezed tight.

4.) Start to walk your feet toward your head, making your hips the highest point of your body. ( you will look like an upside down V, just like Alex in the above video).

5.) Keep looking at your feet, and push shoulder blades down and away from your ears.

6.) Inhale begin to slowly slide your whole body forward until you can drop your nose between your thumbs then exhale and push your self back to your original position.

7.) Repeat this move 5-10 times per set. Do 3-5 sets.

Have fun with it. :)

This exercise is a smoker! If you want a bang'n pair of legs, a firm butt, flat abs, flexible hips and better posture; this is your exercise. This is my favorite exercise and everybody @ the studio knows it. ;)

Here's how you do the exercise for the best results:

1.) Kneel on the ground and stand on your shins. You should lean back slightly so you feel your ankles make contact with the ground. Knees are in line with your hips.

2.) Press your ankles into the ground as you gently squeeze your knees towards each other (while you do the exercise)

3.) Pull your belly in and tilt your tail bone down.

4.)Squeeze your bottom as you reach your hips forward.

5.) Close your rib cage. Tighten the muscles around your rib cage.

6.) Reach your arms forward, out of the shoulder socket.

7.) Drop your chin to lengthen the back of your neck. When in doubt look at your chest.

8.) Keeping your core tight, slowly lean back from your knees. Do not arch your back.
Go back as low as you can keep your back from arching.

9.) If your butt drops onto your heels, you're not keeping your core tight enough. Try it again. This time, do it slower.

You will feel this exercise @ your:
thighs (the front)
butt
abs
inner thighs

If you feel it in your lower back. Stop immediately! Rest and try it again. Take your time. You'll get it.

I recommend 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Work toward this goal. You can do it. :)

Enjoy!!

This exercise burns off belly fat, builds core strength and strengthens your lower back.

1.) Lie on your back with your arms at your side.
2.)Place a yoga block or rolled up towel behind your knees.
3.)Bring your knees under your chest. Always keep your knees close to your chest.
4.)Pull your belly in and drop your ribs to the ground.
5.) Press the backs of your shoulders and triceps into the ground to help you lift your hips off of the ground.
6.) Do not swing your legs up, avoid momentum.
7.) Keep your head on the ground.
8.) Do 3 sets of 20 repetitons.
Enjoy!

To do this exercise correctly, you must imprint your lower back to the ground.
This will secure and protect your spine as you do the exercise.
1.) Lie on your back.
2.) Bring your bent knees to your chest.
3.) Lift your bottom and slide your forearms slightly under the edges of your hips.  Keep your shoulders down.
4.) Lift your head neck and shoulders. Gaze at your belly button.
5.)Reach your straightened legs toward the sky.
6.) Lower your legs slowly toward the ground.
7.) Hoover your legs over the ground while keeping your lower back in contact with the ground at
all times.
8.) Alternate slicing the legs past each other. (Just like the video)
9.) Aim for a total of 50 - 100 reps/leg.
10.) Repeat for 3-4 sets.
Enjoy!

This exercise is a smoker. :)
Proceed with caution: 
Your knees should not collapse or wobble.
Your chest should be lifted throughout the exercise.
Pull your shoulders back
Even distribute your weight into your legs as you lunge.

1.) Start this exercise standing with your weight out in front of you with your arms straight.
2.) As you step back to lunge, twist your upper body, carrying the weight over your front leg.
3.) Keep both arms straight as you twist.
4.) As you step forward, out of the reverse lunge, twist the upper body back to center with both arms bent in a bicep curl
5.) Press the weight directly over the crown of your head.

I recommend 3- 4 sets of 15 -25 reps per leg.

The weight should be challenging but you should be able to maintain good form the entire time.

Enjoy!