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Chantal Urbina

  • [ Home ]
  • [ Massage Therapy ]
    • Meet Chantal
    • Contact
    • Massage Therapy Practice
  • [ Recipes ]
    • By Name
    • Meals for Minis
  • [ Wellness ]
  • [ Favourites ]
[ WELCOME ]. My name is Chantal . I am a retired Registered Massage Therapist and a current Stay at Home Mom looking after my first baby, Eliana. I am a Culinary Nutrition Expert who is passionate about making healthy and wholesome meals for the whole family. 

[ WELCOME ]. My name is Chantal .I am a retired Registered Massage Therapist and a current Stay at Home Mom looking after my first baby, Eliana. I am a Culinary Nutrition Expert who is passionate about making healthy and wholesome meals for the whole family. 

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Okay, okay, summer is most definitely here. Gimme all the iced dranks like this SPARKLING HIBISCUS ICED TEA ||. . INGREDIENTS 4 cups water 1.5 cups dried hibiscus leaves 1⁄2 Tsp. freshly grated ginger root 1 cinnamon stick 1⁄2 small lime (juice of) 1⁄2 navel orange (juice of) 2 packages of stevia (equivalent to 4 Tsp. of sugar)* 1 cup Sparkling mineral water (I used Perrier) *I used stevia but you can use any all natural sweetener you prefer. My recipe is not very sweet so be sure to adjust the sweeter amount to your desired preference. . DIRECTIONS In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Meanwhile, rinse your hibiscus leaves under cold water. Once the water is boiling, add the hibiscus flowers, the grated ginger root, and the cinnamon stick and remove the pot from the heat. Steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain the flowers, gingerroot, and cinnamon stick out of the tea using a fine mesh sieve. Add the freshly squeezed lime juice, orange juice, and stevia or natural sweetener of choice and stir well. Chill completely. Just before serving, add ice and a generous splash or two of sparkling water. . What’s been your go-to beverage lately? Alcohol or not 😏?
I took zero pictures on our vacation because I didn’t even care to know where my phone was. I also didn’t bring along any makeup or worries. All I wore for the past five days was a shit ton of SPF and even more smiles. It was incredible to shut off the mind and spend some quiet, quality time with my favourite people. It’s only June but this summer is already my favourite.
My baby is a ONE year old. #birthdaygirl
I should be doing something, anything productive. But instead, I’m posting tacos to remind you all that tomorrow is Tuesday and this is what should be for dinner. We love taco night because they are actually so quick and easy. For these guys you just need: Soft corn tortillas Pinto beans Avocado Chopped Onion Chopped Radish Fresh cilantro Fresh lime juice Optional: your favourite hot sauce What is your favourite taco combo? I need to know if I’m missing out on anything.
Happy Father’s Day to our favourite man. We have the best days when Papa is around and I wouldn’t want to do this craziness with anyone else. We love you and everything you do! Thinking of all father figures today and wishing you all the love & appreciation you deserve!
I almost wrote off my birthday. It’s a crazy time. We’ve got Emilia’s baptism and birthday coming up, father’s day, a week vacation to prepare for...I almost let my day get lost in the shuffle. . But deep down I didn’t want that. I wanted MY day. So, I had it. I had breakfast with my fam and spent the noon hour with two mamas that inspire me daily in the spin studio but also outside of it, @opalynvinzon and @oliviaretterlifestyle-you guys are amazing. I had pizza and beer for lunch, and chose a @tallgrassprairiebakery cinnamon bun for my birthday cake. And I’m finishing it off at work because that’s where I choose to be! . I wanted my day and I deserve my day so Happy Damn Birthday to me! Thanks to my favs for spending it with me!
Summertime meals need to be easy, am I right? This dinner was a hit and all you need are some beautiful brussel sprouts, some chicken breasts, and some pasta. Cheese is optional but always recommended. . The ingredients to form this meal were all purchased from @saveonfoods and the noodles I chose were fun and playful and from the @westernfamily product line. But why does this matter? . This June we have the opportunity to participate in a Share It Forward event working to support local food banks. @SaveOnFoods will be donating 50% of net proceeds from @WesternFamily products sold between June 13-19. We can also Share It Forward by adding @WesternFamily items to our online orders as well. Giving back has never been so easy. . For this dish, I simply prepared the pasta according to package directions and grilled my chicken and brussel sprouts on the barbecue (both with some extra virgin olive oil and sea salt and pepper). I finished it off with some freshly grated cheese (be sure to swipe left for the final result). My family loved the simplicity and I loved that another family will benefit from my purchase. So tell me, what are some of your go-to easy summertime meals? This busy mama needs to know. #SaveOnFoods; #WesternFamily #Sponsored #ShareItForward
I grew up in a neighbourhood that wasn’t very cultured. From kindergarten to graduation, I could count the amount of students of different races on one hand. . It was when I started working that I was introduced to all kinds of people. All kinds of culture. I was so sheltered. I was so curious. I immediately noticed the difference in family-hood, lifestyles, and cuisine. For the most part, these new friends I made (and continue to make), come in numbers. Friendships were formed at a young age and only grew tighter as the years went on. The bonds seemed unbreakable. It was amazing to see, and to eventually be a part of. . Things have changed a lot since I was younger. I feel there’s culture everywhere but it’s very important to us when we consider the future of our children. The neighbourhoods, daycares, and schools all must be blooming with diversity. Because where there is diversity, there is just so much more beauty. My life has been so enriched ever since that first job of mine. And I want my children to live their whole lives falling in love with all of our beautiful differences.
I think we’ve decided to bite the bullet and throw them in the same room together. They generally go to sleep at the same time and both sleep through the night. The only thing holding me back would be knowing there will be an adjustment period. I’m expecting Eliana to be excited that Emilia is in the same room as her. I’m expecting some longer downtime required before they both actually fall asleep-but this will happen no matter what age Emilia is so why wait. . We’d be giving the girls our master bedroom and we’d take the smaller room that Eliana is currently in. We’ve been sleeping downstairs on a pullout couch for the last year so needless to say, we are beyond stoked to have a space again. To be fair, we could’ve slept in our bed in our room (where Emilia sleeps in a crib) but there were a few factors that just didn’t make it worth it (to me anyway, the hubs still does on his off days). I’m convinced I now need a lifetime of chiropractic adjustments and might have issues re-learning how to sleep in a real bed. Our brains are just buzzing with ideas and you best believe that most of our toys will be heading upstairs. Emilia is turning 1 years old right away and Eliana just turned 3. How old were your kids if and when you decided to have them share? Any tips and/experiences to share?
If I’m being honest, I’ve been distracted. You know THAT point of busyness we reach. Where we are always thinking a day ahead. Where we aren’t able to carry on a conversation because we aren’t in it. The moments blur together and you finally realize days have gone by... . That’s been me. Just, gone. Now I secretly love a good hustle but not once it hits this point. Then it’s gone too far. I had a stretch of craziness but I’m getting a hold on it. My decisions are starting to catch up to what my instincts know is right for me right now. Like skipping breakfast with my family this past weekend to hit up a spin class instead. Like taking action on situations that are bothering me instead of complaining about them. Like trying to be as productive as possible in my down time but also being lazy as hell if that’s what I need. . What I also need are more meals like this. Easy, but complete. Served cold and appropriate for home, work, or anywhere in between. Packed with nutrients and flavour. I’ve been feeling lost on mindful meals to make during these summer months where I just want to be outside with my kids-not in a kitchen. Where I need quick but also want nourishment. If anyone else is feeling this, hit up this Greek Orzo Salad with Lentils recipe. The link is in my profile. Now excuse me as I add this to my meal plan for next week ✌🏻. . Also, please tell me I’m not alone in this haze of anxiousness. How has your June been so far?
Now Let’s talk about toddlers and how much they love vegetables. Ha. I’ve been open about this before but the only veggies my kid will voluntarily eat are potatoes, green peas, corn, edamame, and roasted seaweed. Everything else I manage to get in her is through soups, sauces/spreads, and smoothies. . I refuse to lose sleep over the long list of vegetables she does not enjoy. I could stress over her lack of possible nutrients but I choose to wake up, keep doing my best, and take advantage of some quality supplements. . We occasionally use @genuinehealth and @joyoushealth’s Fermented Organic Gut Superfoods+ Kids to help boost Eliana’s overall nutrition. It’s a grape flavoured powder that has rich superfoods and prebiotics in every scoop. We use it when we make smoothies. . Head to the link in my profile for our current favourite Superfood Smoothie recipe and for some insight on introducing solids to my girls. There’s also a review on the #GenuineHealthyKids line of immune building and boosting products for children with a discount code for you as well. How do you parents handle selective little eaters? What are your best tips on this subject? . #ad #sponsored
Both my kids make/made this face and I absolutely love it. It’s a classic. Ya can’t help but smile, am I right?

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The Genuine Health-y Kids Supplement Line Review & Insight
The Genuine Health-y Kids Supplement Line Review & Insight
about 2 weeks ago

I came into my healthy living lifestyle rather late. I was in my late 20’s and was desperate to heal my guts and repair my health. Once I learned of all of the ways our digestion and immunity can be influenced, I couldn’t simply unlearn it. 

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"Autumn's Up" Pumpkin Smoothie

October 23, 2014 in Smoothies, Breakfast, Snack

I would try and fight the ongoing stereotype of every “white girl” being in love with fall but I can’t since for me, that stereotype rings to be true. It’s the season where we obsess over everything pumpkin and indulge in a few Starbucks seasonal beverages. I was wanting to get my pumpkin on ever since our first cooler day hit but I kept forgetting to buy some because I never marked it on my list. So instead everyone teased me day after day with all of their eager pumpkin making madness until I finally caved and ran to the store just for pumpkin alone.

I stocked up on several cans of the ever so popular seasonal star and I will most definitely be experimenting with different recipes. One of my goals is to master a gluten free, dairy free, and egg free pumpkin pie. A baked one. I’ve tried a couple raw pumpkin pies in the past and they were good, but they did not carry the “100% amaze balls” factor. Anyways, stay tuned for that…In the meantime, sip on this creamy, pumpkin smoothie that I’ve created with inspiration from Angela aka Oh She Glows at www.ohsheglows.com. Cheers and “Autumn’s Up!”-from the fall loving, pumpkin errthang white girl.

Photo taken by www.simplychicphotography.com

Photo taken by www.simplychicphotography.com

"Autumn's Up" Pumpkin Smoothie                                            

*Yields 1 large smoothie

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup soaked cashews (so ¼ cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 6 hours)
  • ½ cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
  • 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. molasses
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. maca powder (optional)
  • ¼ tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
  • ½ cup of crushed ice

Garnish:

  • Coconut whipped cream

  • Pure maple flakes
  • Maple syrup

Directions:

  1. Blend all smoothie ingredients together in a blender until you have reached a creamy, velvety texture.
  2. Pour into glass of your choice and garnish however your little heart desires!

 

Tags: Glutenfree, Grainfree, Dairyfree, Vegan, Plant-based, Vegetarian, Paleo
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