– The Ultimate Balanced Beauty Inspo – Interview with Miss NJ USA, Alexandra Lakhman  I will never forget the first time I met Alexandra Lakhman. . . The year was 2015 and I was in attendance at Miss New Jersey USA, cheering on and supporting one of my very first pageant clients since starting my business… My client was in the Top 5, and standing alongside her was a wide-eyed, beaming presence of a young Alexandra. I could tell she had prior pageant experience from the way she carried herself on-stage, and knew the competition was fierce for NJ that year. I remember thinking, “This crown ..read more

       Simple (Gluten-Free) Fall Spice Cookies! The Fall is here…And one of my all-time favorite things in life is the sweet smell of spiced cookies baking in the oven! Once that magical cinnamon aroma is in the air, you just feel cozy and warm. These cookies are super simple to make and only take about 10-12 min in the oven! YES– they are also Gluten-Free and made with coconut sugar, so they are also a healthier alternative to other seasonal cookie/dessert options. Balanced choices, like incorporating this type of cookie, will not only hit your Fall Sweet Spot, but also ..read more

How many colors do you eat/day? Yes, everyone knows certain fruits and veggies have properties that provide your body with certain nutritional benefits— But did you know the specific COLOR can also target the remedy an ailment for healing? Colors of the foods you eat are associated with an energy, and this can directly correlate to providing healing properties to that certain energy center (Chakra System) within your body. Below is an outline of the meaning of the colors and how you can incorporate different colorful foods into your diet, to not just benefit your health- but your dreams, goals ..read more

The Atlantic Salmon (“Bradán” in Gaelic), is a native Irish fish. This week, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day– I created a dish using one of this traditional food ingredient, with some “luck of the Irish” GREENS! SALMON is a TOP BALANCED BEAUTY food pick- WHY? One of the BEST sources of long-chain, Omega 3 Fatty Acids and DHA– Amazing from brain, joint and heart health Great source of protein High in B Vitamins, which BOOST MOOD and make you feel amazing Loaded with selenium, potassium and antioxidants (hello, beauty food for hair, skin, nails) Can help with weight-loss, as its low-cal, yet supe ..read more

I was scrolling through instagram and a friend of mine had posted the most beautiful “Raspberry Crumble Bars.” I was immediately drawn in, salivating over her beautiful creation, until reading the ingredients in the description and realizing I was allergic to many and couldn’t make the recipe…. Rather than give up on this new dream treat…I looked in my pantry and realized I could make some easy tweaks to make a custom version of my own; Introducing, “Balanced Beauty Berry Bar Crumble.” My version is Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free, Butter-Free, & GUILT-FREE! I used “gluten-free” all purp ..read more

I love when food and snacks are bright, beautiful and happy. To me, fruits and veggies are not just healthy choices but are “happy” choices. Their colors are bold, beautiful, vibrant and uplifting, without any fake additives or processed food colorings….It may be corny to some, but when I see big, bright and beautiful fruits- like an orange for example-  I feel like it’s like nature’s way of smiling and saying EAT ME! I’m going to make you burst with HAPPINESS!!! Ultimately, the saying, “you are what you eat” is very true- So try to make it a goal to select snacks and foods ..read more

This Balanced Beauty (Gluten-Free) Banana Bread is so light, fluffy, moist and really hits that sweet spot! It’s also extremely versatile, as it makes for a great replacement for morning pancakes, donuts or pastries, can be a healthy snack throughout the day, and/or can be made into a healthy dessert. The STAR ingredient, BANANA, is also a TOP Balanced Beauty SUPER FRUIT! Top fruit pick for recovering after a workout because they contain potassium and all natural sugar for muscle recovery. They are also great for when you need an all-natural MOOD BOOSTER, as they are loaded with B-Vitamins (w ..read more

When I share recipes, they are always with the goal of trying to take the foods you love and enjoy and make them gluten-free and healthier… I am all about BALANCE, by eating clean and allowing for some cheats, but I also love when we don’t even need the cheats because  meals, snacks and desserts are taking the flavors we love, but are using ingredients and cooking methods that are totally Balanced Beauty approved! All Balanced Beauty recipes are designed to help you feel satisfied, hit that food craving for salty, sweet and delicious while always staying on-track with larger wellness goal ..read more

I LOOOOOVE COOKIES! Growing up in Brooklyn, there were bakeries and diners with fresh baked cookies everywhere, and my favorite ones were the BIG GIANT RAIBOW SUGAR COOKIES the size of your head!!! Years later, I found myself obsessed with what I called “CHIPS-AHOY Party Cookies”- Do you remember them? I will never forget, the commercial slogan was, “A Party In Every Bite.” I remember taking a bite and dancing around the house like a little maniac “partying.” They were always present at any childhood Birthday party or celebration. These days, I still party the same way… For me, the perfect way ..read more

KICKING OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH A PERFECT, HEALTHY COMFORT-DISH! The only thing better than delicious, filling, easy-to-make comfort food in the winter- is knowing it’s also GUILT-FREE & TOTALLY HEALTHY! I have taken a classic meatloaf recipe and have made it SUPER simple, SUPER healthy, & of course, Gluten-Free- The result is outstanding!!! Loaded with protein, veggies, and nutrients- with just 5 simple steps, your family will think you are chef of the year. SOOOO GOOD!!! *Posting on Saturday night- as this makes for an excellent #SundayFunday Recipe or Game-Day Food! INGREDIENTS: 1 lb ..read more