No Bake Chocolate Protein Balls

What is better than a healthy snack that is tasty and ready to eat whenever you have a sweet craving? There are so many versions of protein snacks and desserts out there, I thought I should try and make one too. I mostly have them in the evenings or post workout as a quick snack or whenever I crave for something sweet.

These are super quick and easy to make chocolate protein balls. All you have to do is add all the ingredients listed in a bowl and mix it all up and make little balls!

I made mine with My Protein – impact whey and I love the chocolate smooth flavor. I use it in my overnight oats too. The best part is that you can really add whatever extra ingredients you want. I have added chocolate chips however you can add dried cranberries, dates, raisins or chopped up nuts.

Add the dry ingredients in a big bowl. Combine the dry ingredients well first and add the wet ingredients to this, I like to use my hands during this part because stirring with a spoon can get a bit difficult and its so much easier to mix them all well with your hands!

You can add 1-2 teaspoon of milk if required to make it stick. It yielded me 11 little balls and it was around 75 calories each.

Ingredients

  • Quick oats – 1 cup
  • Protein Powder(chocolate)-1 1/2 scoop
  • Chocolate chips-2 teaspoons
  • Honey – 3/4 cup
  • Peanut butter-2 tablespoons

Instructions

  • Combine the oats, protein powder and choco chips (nuts/raisins if adding)
  • Add honey and peanut butter in a smaller bowl, mix it well.
  • Now add the wet mixture to the oats mixture.
  • Get in there and combine everything together using your hand. Add extra honey if the mixture is too dry. Once it is all mixed well, wet your hands and form tiny balls.
  • Now place them in a tray and refrigerate it for 15-30 minutes.
  • Enjoy these chewy babies. You can store them in a container in the fridge for up to a week.

Give this a try and let me know how you like it!

LOW CARE INDOOR PLANTS TO GROW

When I first moved to our apartment I knew that I wanted plants around me. I was skeptical, not knowing which one’s to bring home and if they would live and thrive in low light indoor setting. Over the years I have come to understand the care and conditions it needs in order to grow healthily. Even if you are not ready to be a full blown plant parent yet, these indoor plants mentioned below need very little care and occasional watering.

My first plant was an Aloe vera and I’m so proud to see that it is still alive and kicking! Since then I have added a few to my plant family and base on my experience with it, I have made a list of indoor plants you will find real hard to kill whether you have a green thumb or not!

Aloe Vera

Starting the list with my favorite. Aloe Vera is a succulent plant, meaning it can live in very dry conditions just like the cactus. You can place them in the balcony in bright light or a south facing window. I prefer to keep mine indoors where I get some indirect sunlight. When you water the aloe plant, the soil should be thoroughly drenched, but the water should be allowed to drain freely from the soil, so make sure that the pot has plenty of drainage holes. Aloe vera plants cannot tolerate standing water. Also it is important to make sure the soil is completely dry before your watering rounds. I insert my finger an inch or two into the pot to check the dryness of the soil. You can fertilize your aloe vera plant, but generally they don’t need to be fertilized. I fertilize mine once in three months. Growing aloe vera is not just easy but it can also provide you with a plant that can help you treat minor burns and rashes or just take care of your beauty needs.

Dracena

I’ve had this dracena for over 2 and a half years now. I always feel that it is the most neglected plant in my house since it hardly needs any attention and yet somehow it manages to look pretty!

A semi-shade spot is an ideal location to place your dracena. Don’t place your plant under direct sun as the rays will scorch its leaves and turn them brown. Dracaena require less water than most indoor plants. One good way to keep them hydrated is by misting the leaves with water and keeping the soil lightly misted with good drainage. Always allow the top soil to dry out before watering. Do not overwater, as it may cause root rot.

The leaves yellowing or drooping too much could indicate over-watering or poor drainage, but don’t worry if you notice the bottom leaves beginning to turn yellow and fall. It is normal for for these babies to shed leaves in order to grow new ones.

Peace lily

I saw this beautiful plant in Ikea and it instantly reminded me of my home back in India. I had this plant growing in our garden and I had to pick it up. They are called ‘peace lily’ because the white flowers look like white flags of peace although they aren’t actually lillies. These are tropical plants so don’t put the out in cold temeperatures. If can be placed in the darkest corner of the house and it will live however if you want to see the flowers bloom place them where they get some sunlight.

Peace lilies need consistently moist soil, but they like most plants don’t like to sit in standing water. Whenever the top inch of soil is dry, water the plant until the overflow starts to come out of the drainage holes and stop. I like to call this one a drama queen, when I came back from a trip of 5 days once it was all droopy and I thought it was too late foe me to save it. However I watered it instantly and in the morning it was all up and happy like nothing had happened! You can apply the plant food directly to the soil or mix it in when you water once a month.

Pothos/Money plant

Growing up I called this the money plant and it was a common sight in a lot of homes I visited. These plants enjoy a wide range of environments. They do well in bright indirect light as well as low light and can be grown in dry soil or in vases of water. Water your Pothos enough to keep the soil moist, but not wet or saturated. It’s best to water when the top inch of the soil is dry. Don’t worry if you forget to water them once in a while, it will occasionally tolerate a missed watering. If the leaves turn yellow you are watering it too much.

You can easily propagate your plant by placing the cuttings in water. You can either leave them in water, or when a substantial amount of roots grow you can transfer the cuttings to soil. If placed in indirect light make sure you rotate your plant periodically to ensure even growth on all sides and dust the leaves often so the plant can photosynthesize efficiently.

Jade

This one is a new addition to my family and oh what a beauty she is! They make an ideal gift and they can live for years if taken good care of.

It will thrive in bright light although it can tolerates low to medium light. I keep mine in a shady spot in my balcony and on occasional days when there’s a storm coming, I get it inside. It is not to be kept under intense direct sun. Keep the soil around your jade plants moist, as they tend to dry quickly in warm weather. However, it’s crucial that you let the soil dry out between waterings to prevent root rot in your plant. When you get a new plant wait for up to a week before you give it it’s first watering. Waiting to water provides the plant enough time to let the roots adjust to the soil. If your plant starts to develop brown spots on the foliage over the spring or summer, it’s a sign that you need to increase the amount of water you’re giving the jade.

So now that you know these babies need very little care, maybe it’s time to include a few of them to your home and hearts!

Most indoor plants are sensitive to the additives and salts in tap water. I recommend you water your plants with filtered or distilled water to keep them healthy. And when the inter rolls around, make sure you move your plants away from windows and balconies and areas of the home that experience cold drafts.

Happy planting 🙂

The Red Healthy Smoothie

So today I decided to make myself a big glass of smoothie since I have been eating a lot of junk lately and I realized I need to get in some good nutrients into my system.

A smoothie is a drink made from pureed veggies or fruits using a blender. While there are lot of ways to do one using milk or yoghurt. I opted for a super simple smoothie with just water and veggies/fruits.

I picked whatever was available in my refrigerator and I must say it tasted pretty good! So as always I love sharing anything that I feel will benefit you guys! To make this, you will need an apple, half a beet and 5-6 baby carrots, (If you are using the regular carrot, use just one. I for some reason love the baby carrots and find them juicer) and of course a blender. The detailed recipe is below.

Ingredients:

  • Beetroot – 1/2
  • Baby Carrots – 5
  • 1 Apple (Red delicious)
  • 1 Cup of water

Method:

  • Wash and remove the skin of the beet and roughly chop it and boil it for 3-4 minutes in a cup of water. You can also microwave it it a bowl of water for 3 mins. Once it’s done, save the water, we are going to be using the same for blending.
  • Roughly chop the carrots and the apple. Add the beets, apple and the carrots to the blender with half of the water. Blend well. Add the remaining water and continue to blend till you get a thick smooth consistency. Smoothies are supposed to be thicker, however you can adjust the amount of water according to your likes.
  • Add in 1-2 ice cubes if you want them chilled.
  • That’s it. Pour it out to a big glass and enjoy! Have it immediately as the veggies and water will start to separate.

My Tips: If you like it sweeter go ahead and add a spoon of honey into it. Also if you don’t find the consistency appealing you can add 1 more glass of water when you blend and then strain the fibre out and that’s going to be the juice version. It’s good to have a smoothie now and then as these are packed with nutrients and fibre. If you have little kids who hate to eat their veggies this is one great way of sneaking it into their diet.

In the coming days I’m going to be trying out different ingredients and will keep you posted! 🙂

Skin care products I love

Before I even begin, I want to give you a little background. Until I was 17, I had absolutely no interest in skin care or beauty products. I had no idea how a face scrub or even an everyday moisturizer are essentials to you skin care routine and what a difference it makes to your skin health. My mum insisted on me applying the Lacto Calamine lotion before heading out of the house and from then to today it has been a crazy journey trying to understand my skin type, testing what suits my face and how to keep my skin in good healthy condition!

Honestly I like to experiment and check on how certain products react on my skin, I don’t blindly go by what’s trending on social media. I try and get samples or travel size products to know how they work on my skin. It is important to understand what works for a lot of them out there might not work for you. I have a normal to dry skin type and the below listed products have worked really well for me and I have been using them for a while now. Here’s a list of top absolute favorites!

1.) Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Creamy Facial Cleanser

I have finally found a perfect cleanser! I was using the Pond’s White Beauty Spot Less Face Wash for a real longtime but had trouble finding it here in the US and I have finally made the switch. This one from Neutrogena is a calming cleanser. it’s super gentle on the skin and yet effective enough to wick away sweat and dirt after a workout, but won’t leave your skin feeling dry and tight. I use it in the morning and post my run/workout. The key is always wash your face with cold water. I have a normal to dry skin type and it works great for me.

2.) Dabur Gulabari Premium Rose Water

This one has been in my skin care routine since forever! I had always heard people say that toner is an essential step post cleansing and instead of switching to any other toner, I continue using this rose water from Dabur and it has served me well all these years. It smells amazing and refreshes the skin in an instant. I store mine in the refrigerator (I love it cold on my skin) and dab it on my face using a cotton pad just after cleansing.

3.) Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer

I love this moisturizer and it works really well on my skin the summer months. This is a refreshing moisturizer and on the plus side, it works well under makeup as a primer since it’s quick absorbing and does not leave a greasy look on the skin. If you have an oily skin and don’t like moisturizers that make your skin even more oily, you can give this one a try.

4.) Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturizing Skin Therapy Oil

Ever since I was introduced to their shea cocoa butter lotion by my sister, i have been a fan of this brand. I tumbled upon this specific face oil and have been loving it ever since. It is made with cocoa butter to moisturize, retinol and vitamin C to brighten the skin & lighten dark spots. It is mildly scented. If you tend to have oily skin and are prone to a breakouts this might not be the one for you. For me personally, my skin tends to be dry at night so I use a few drop of this oil before bedtime on alternate nights on top of my moisturizer and massage it well into my skin. I wake up with soft smooth skin. This oil will last for ages since you just have to apply little very few drops. It’s definitely a good value for your money

5.) La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

Make it a rule, don’t head out without a sunscreen, ever. This tinted sunscreen gives your skin a beautiful healthy glow and blends in very nicely. At first, it applies as oily but it dries down to a silky finish within minutes. I use my moisturizer and then this product. It is light weight and matte on reapplication. The texture is great and you really don’t need a foundation on a busy regular days with this product. I get a lot of compliments on my skin when I use this sunscreen! Overall, I recommend this sunscreen hands down and investing in a good sun protection for your skin is a must. It’ll pay off years down the road!

6.) La Roche Posay Lipikar Balm

From the same brand LRP, this one is a moisturizer that has worked so well for me this past winter. It is both fragrance-free and paraben-free. My skin gets really dry in winter (a problem I did not have back in India) and this product has been a great addition to my skin care routine. I generally can’t stand the feeling of heavy products on my skin so I am so impressed with how hydrating this is while absorbing perfectly and quickly. My skin instantly feels smoother and fresh.

7.) Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

I have heard nothing but great things about this mask for months before I bought it for myself. This product is recommended to be used with apple cider vinegar however I started off using it with my rose water and it worked great! You get an instant glow post washing off your mask. I switched to mixing it with apple cider vinegar and it works well for me with no breakouts or irritation (Make sure you pick the organic option) I use the Bragg organic apple cider vinegar. It makes the clay mix denser and easier to apply. The clay will cause a tingly sensation and a tightening feel once it dries off. It can be drying once you wash it off so make sure you use a good moisturizer afterwards to replenish your skin’s hydration. Remember that a little goes a long way with this clay. one and a half spoon each of the powder and the vinegar should do the deed.

How to stay positive in difficult times

Life can be hard and not always fair. There are days when I feel on top of the world and days when I just wish I could hibernate. We are all humans and we have our ups and down. I try to be positive most of the times and these little habits have helped me over the years.

Before we begin, If you have any signs of depression, please seek a professional or call a hotline for better assistance. There is so much help out there all you have to do it reach out. I’m in no way a professional. These are simple tips that have helped me avoid negativity in my life and helped me be a happier person. And I would love to share them with you.

Express your feelings

There are a lot of things that keep happening in our lives and sometimes we decide to hold it inside ourselves. Have you ever realized how much better you feel by just expressing these bottled up emotions? There will be people who care, your close friends, your spouse, a family member who you know is trustworthy and you could talk and they would understand what you are going through. When we keep suppressing our emotions for a long period, it might create a chaos in our mind and hence push us towards negativity. Life is basically one challenge after the other. We can’t let that get the best of us. That’s why we need to let it all out. Reach out to the one’s that care. They will always be willing to help you.

Get active, Get moving.

Staying active can help put you in a better headspace. Studies show even small bouts of body movement decreases negative thinking. If you don’t have access to the gyms (considering the current scenario) you can still keep yourself active by playing a Youtube workout video on your laptop/phone and get yourself moving for 20 minutes. I follow @MADFIT on YouTube and she has tons of great workout videos that will get your heart pumping. There are always days where you feel low and it’s hard to even get yourself off the couch, on those days make a little extra effort and go for a long walk with a family member or spouse or a friend or even by yourself while listening to a good podcast or music. Nothing refreshes you like fresh air.

Surround yourself with positivity.

This isn’t a one day job. You work on it, every single day. Be around people who bring out the best in you. You have the choice to stay away from people who put you down and instill negative thoughts. If you are a reader, pick up a good book. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a self-help book, just something that puts you in a good mood. Try to find inspiration in everything you read or listen to. Find a hero and try to adapt their qualities to your journey. I personally love listening to Sadguru. You won’t see a dramatic change overnight, but by slowly adding in these positive mindset techniques, you may find yourself handling adversity better than ever.

Stay away from negative people

‘You are what you eat and you are who you spend your time with by choice’ I read this on a magazine and it has stayed with me ever since. As you grow up you realize, what you consume will consume you. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self this. Although difficult at first, make a diligent effort to distance yourself from negative people. Get rid of negative people or influences that do not provide a positive element or growth in your life. Chose your mental health above everything. And you don’t have to be sorry about it.

Shift towards a healthy lifestyle.

I can’t emphasize on this enough. Having a healthy lifestyle is such an important factor towards mental health. It starts with good night’s sleep, nutritious foods and exercise. Your lifestyle has a direct impact on your mood. Have you noticed how irritated you get when you lack a good night’s sleep? I for one can’t do without a good 8 hour sleep. Focus on your health, make conscious efforts to keep your body and mind healthy.

Set Goals

I have always been curious and eager to learn new things. One of the reason being, it keeps me busy and motivated towards a particular thing that I focus on these goals and it gives me little time to ponder on my negative thoughts. Start with small achievable goals, write them down and journal how you are progressing towards it. Get them done, and see how good you feel. Then go on to set some goals that take a little more effort. And see how you feel when you get those done. When you keep setting goals no matter how big or small you will find that your mental state of mind is more positive. The fact of the matter is that when you are more productive, you are happier. By default, setting goals can create positive emotions.

Practice Gratitude.

I had heard so much about this and how it affects your mood, I thought of giving it a try. It is simply an act of noticing and appreciating all the good things in your life. So from there, a gratitude practice is training yourself to notice and appreciate the good things, then expressing gratitude for them. Sounds simple in theory. But training yourself to focus on what you’re grateful for, instead of the negative things going on around you, takes practice and commitment.

Be grateful for all of the good people in your life, and always have hope that things will get better, and that you will do everything in your power to make them so. Every night before you go to bed thank the universe for the life and family and friends you have. And most importantly remember, life is going to be just fine!

Hope this helps 🙂 Sending out lots of positive energy your way..

Guilt-free Greek Yogurt & Banana Protein smoothie bowl

To begin with the texture of this is in between a smoothie and a nice cream but whatever it is, it satisfies my sugar cravings and under 200 calories that for me is a win! Pick ripe bananas for this recipe and once they are ripened freeze them for at least 4 hours. This one’s so basic and yet so tasty I had to share this with you’ll!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Pick the bananas that are turning brown. Peel and cut into pieces. Freeze in an airtight bag or container.
  2. To make the smoothie place the frozen banana, greek yogurt and the protein powder in a blender. Pulse till all the banana pieces are blended well and smooth. Add some milk (3-4 tablespoons) if you find it hard to blend the frozen bananas. I just keep pulsing till I get the desired consistency It helps when the bananas are chopped to small pieces.
  3. Pour it into a bowl, top it with some nuts & raisins and serve immediately.

Notes: The above recipe will serve 2. The protein powder I use is from My Protein. However I used to previously use the R1 Protein-Chocolate fudge. Both these options are not chalky, they blend well with milk/yogurt and they have tons of flavor options, but I am always inclined towards chocolate. While you don’t have to use a frozen banana for this recipe, I recommend it because it will make the texture creamier and thicker.

That’s the consistency you want!