The Healthy Maven

Best of Clean Beauty 2021December 07, 2021 at 10:00AM The best of clean beauty posts are definitely one of my favorite posts of the year to write! It’s an excuse for me to go through my cabinets and shelves and reflect back on some of the highlights from the year. This year is especially interesting because I had to change things up in April when I found out I was pregnant. Now to be fair, most of my products are pregnancy approved but I did get a little extra vigilant and had to give up my beloved Marie Veronique Retinol Serum and a few of my favorite CBD products. Fortunately my skin has loved pregnancy so I haven’t had to worry too much. Much like last year the focus of my clean beauty products this year has been skincare rather than makeup. I…

35 Healthy and Delicious Soup Recipes To Keep You Warm All Winter Long!December 06, 2021 at 10:00AM The ultimate healthy soup recipes round-up! 35 Healthy and Delicious Soup Recipes to Keep you warm all winter long! This round-up was a long time coming. By now you should know that I love soup. It’s my favourite quick and easy meal, you can pack em’ full of veggies and protein and you can make big batches all at once. The sky really is the limit with soups. Odds are if you throw a bunch of veggies and meat or beans in a pot with some spices and stock, it’s gonna taste awesome. But if you’re not quite comfortable attempting this, I’ve rounded up 35 healthy soup recipes that will definitely keep you warm all winter long! Let’s get to it… The post 35 Healthy and…

Chocolate Gingerbread MuffinsNovember 30, 2021 at 05:00PM Ring in the holidays with these healthy chocolate gingerbread muffins that are moist, packed-full of flavor and healthy ingredients! They’re full of rich chocolately flavors plus a spicy gingerbread kick. I’ve always loved combining foods and seeing what would happen. When I was little I would test spices on different foods to see how they would taste. I’m pretty sure I was the only 8 year old sprinkling cinnamon and nutmeg on their Cheerios.  Chocolate + gingerbread has always made sense to me! I always love my chocolate with a little kick and ‘tis the season! You’re going to love these slightly sweet, flavor packed muffins.  Here’s What You Need All-purpose flour– I’ve also made these with all-purpose gluten-free flour and they work great. Unsweetened cocoa powder – for that chocolate flavor! Spices – a mixture of…

The Best Non-Toxic Candles [Yes! Candles Can be Toxic]November 23, 2021 at 01:00PM ‘Tis the season… to burn candles that smell like the holidays but also could be emitting harmful toxins into the air. I know it’s easy to feel like everything is harming our health but when it’s a simple fix like swapping out your candles or cleaning products, I want to be here to educate you and empower you to make that decision for yourself! At the very least, promise me you’ll gift a non-toxic candle this season. Side note: last week we shared a DIY to make your own non-toxic aromatherapy candles so be sure to check it out! Why Switch to Non-Toxic Candles? Conventional candles can literally be considered pollution in the home. They let off harmful chemicals that can affect everything from your breathing to your hormones. What do…

Rosemary Cashew Bar NutsNovember 22, 2021 at 01:00PM An easy appetizer recipe with just 6 ingredients.These rosemary cashew bars nuts are perfect for serving at a dinner party when you’re strapped for time and need a quick and easy recipe! This is an OG recipe that has stood the test of time! I was actually introduced to a similar recipe when I was visiting Minnesota back in 2011. C’s mom made a similar recipe and I could not stop eating them. It’s now become my official holiday appetizer – especially if I’m prepping last minute!  These bar nuts are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy with the added depth of rosemary. Truly a fantastic recipe for any holiday or dinner party!  Here’s What You Need Cashews – I recommend roasting your own raw cashews but you can buy roasted cashews for a shortcut.…

Leftover Turkey and Cranberry Sauce SaladNovember 18, 2021 at 02:00PM Not sure what to do with all of those Thanksgiving leftovers? Repurpose them in this Leftover Turkey and Cranberry Sauce Salad! It’s delicious and a healthy alternative for the days after Thanksgiving leaving no food to go to waste. If you haven’t noticed, it’s been all things Thanksgiving here on THM! As I talked about in my Cauliflower Stuffing post, I am a full-fledged Canadian (okay half Canadian) who is obsessed with all things US Thanksgiving. So I am very much going to draw the process out for as long as possible. I also just love that there’s something in between Halloween and Christmas because in Canada Michael Bublé’s Christmas album comes out full swing on November 1st. It’s also been fun to revisit some classic recipes around here. This turkey and cranberry…

Gingerbread Overnight OatsNovember 16, 2021 at 02:00PM Get the taste of the holiday season with this easy meal prep gingerbread overnight oats recipe. Simple and healthy ingredients mixed together in a jar and ready for breakfast the next morning! Even though the majority of my life I have lived through never-ending winters in the north, it wasn’t until last winter that I fully embraced the season. I loved cozying up by the fire in big sweaters, taking the dogs to frolic in the snow and creating seasonal recipes with ingredients that are just made for winter… like gingerbread!These overnight oats are great for a comforting breakfast or snack that can be prepped in advance. Here’s What You Need Rolled oats – make sure you grab gluten-free oats if needed. Chia seeds – adds protein and fiber to this breakfast but also helps the mixture…

15 Healthy Thanksgiving SidesNovember 14, 2021 at 05:00PM Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Enjoy your holiday season and the company of family and friends with these 15 Healthy Thanksgiving sides including healthy cornbread, roasted squash and brussels sprouts galore! Can you believe it’s November?! How is Thanksgiving right around the corner? In true maven fashion, I wanted to share a round-up of 15 healthy sides you can make for Thanksgiving dinner. But this isn’t about “staying on track” or how to not gain weight during Thanksgiving… This is about enjoying your food, your company and making some healthy swaps here and there. For many reasons, the holidays can be a stressful time for some, so least of your worries should be what you’re eating. All of these healthy thanksgiving sides are made from delicious and fresh ingredients that you and your Thanksgiving…

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds [Copycat Trader Joe’s Recipe!]November 09, 2021 at 06:00PM Have you ever tried the Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds? They’re unbelievably addictive! I’ve just made your obsession worse by sharing the recipe so you can make them at home with just 5 ingredients!  I have a deep deep obsession with Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds. The kind that takes a lot of willpower not to finish the entire box. Thankfully I now live less than five minutes from a Trader Joe’s and can stock up on these almonds whenever my heart desires but for all of my Canadian friends or for those of you that want to master this recipe at home, I’ve finally perfected it! These copycat chocolate covered almonds are made with just five ingredients and come together in no time at all.…

Grain-Free Banana Protein PancakesNovember 08, 2021 at 05:00PM The absolute best banana protein pancakes recipe you’ll try. Made with vanilla protein, egg, banana and a few other simple ingredients, these grain-free banana protein pancakes will become your new favorite high-protein breakfast recipe. With the holidays upon us it’s easy to get really wrapped up in Thanksgiving and Holiday recipes. Don’t get me wrong. I love me a good cornbread and peppermint cookie, but we also have to continue our daily lives during this time and it’s not all pumpkin spice and mocha all day, everyday. The other day these grain-free banana protein pancakes got a nice little boost in traffic (they were originally posted in July of 2013!) and it was a total throwback for me. I hadn’t made them in so long but the popularity made me want to try them again.…