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Chantal Urbina

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  • [ About Me ]
    • Meet Chantal
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    • By Name
    • Meals for Minis
  • [ World Wellness ]
  • [ Nutty Recommends ]
[ 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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Big things have been happening for me lately. I can’t tell you exactly where I’ll end up because I have no idea but I’ve changed more in the past 6 months than I have in my whole life. . I’m realizing why and how I’ve been treating myself. And I’m challenging anything that brings me down. It’s exhausting to be honest but it’s so powerful. I feel like I’m on the most clear path I’ve ever walked on. It’s far from crystal but it’s no longer foggy. . I have a habit of making myself feel small. Unintentionally. I’ve been doing it my whole life. Anything worth celebrating, wasn’t. I never let myself feel special or unique. There are things that I have or do want to do but there’s always a voice shutting me down. “That’s been done.” “Others already do it and they do it better.” These negative voices even speak in regards to this account. “There will always be others who are willing to share more. And show more”. . Why do we allow this? We succumb to mediocre lives because these voices in our heads tell us we aren’t good enough. Perhaps these voices stem from others in our lives and perhaps it’s all our own doing. Perhaps both. Either way, it doesn’t matter because it’s all bullshit. We know it is but we usually don’t have the audacity to shut it down. And I’m not sure where my fire came from but it’s here. Maybe my post-partum hormones are completely drunk or completely realigned. Maybe it comes with age and giving less fucks. Maybe it’s just goddamn time. It is goddamn time. For all of us. . I have no clue where I’m headed but I just know it’s somewhere really fucking awesome. I’d love for you to join me.
Today on @thebodybook, I’m diving into 10 things I learned in the year we left behind. It was a very transformative year for me. I legit feel as if I matured one thousand percent. Becoming a new mama for a second time just brought so much understanding to light. I am looking at life through a brand new lens. Check out the lessons life taught me by heading to the @thebodybook blog-link in their profile (post is under the FOCUS category). I’d also love to know what you are bringing forward into this new year.
MEAL PLANNING ||. A meal plan is the plan of action we come up with before we hit the supermarkets. The purpose is to have an organized menu plan that both saves us time and chaos in the kitchen. It also avoids wasting food and blowing up our grocery budgets. Some come up with a monthly menu, some a weekly menu and others play it day by day. It is important to note that meal planning and prepping will not look or work the same for everyone. What is effective for me may not be effective for you and your family. There is no benefit in comparing planning and prepping methods and/or styles. Find a system that works for you and stick with it. If you have been interested in meal planning but are not sure where to start, I have come up with some helpful tips to help steer you in the right direction. Check out my blog post for all the details-link in profile!
A couple of weeks ago I was hugging Eliana when she grabbed at the excess skin seeping out from under my bra in the back. “What’s that mama?” She asked as she grabbed hold of it like it was a sandwich. In my head I thought, “what’s what? My fat?” And I chuckled. But then I realized what an opportunity this was. . After a pause I finally answered “it’s my back.” And she immediately replied with “oh, back. Ok.” It seems like such a small question to dissect but in reality, it’s far from. Had I answered what I thought internally, it could very well have set her up for a lifetime of lies. Every roll she’d see from that point forward would be labelled as “fat.” On others and on herself. Rolls are everywhere and they are on big bodies, small bodies, kids bodies, and babies bodies. They are just a part of us. A back is a back. A stomach is a stomach. A body is a body. Sure, she could very well mature and end up labeling our differences anyway but I sure as shit don’t want to be the one who started it. . It seems dramatic, I know. But think of how we grew up. And think of why we automatically, without question jump to the thoughts we do. Thoughts like my internal response of “that’s my fat.” Every word counts. No, we are not going to be able to control every little thing that comes out of our mouths but we can try. And we need to. Because it matters. // Photo cred: @jamiemandap
Many of you followed Eliana’s journey through starting solids. You witnessed her eat everything under the sun (and while she danced). She used to eat any and all vegetables and was a machine. . I’m here to let you know this is no longer the case. But I’m also here to let you know that I’m so okay with it. I stopped stressing over it a long time ago. She will literally only eat a few select vegetables (sweet potato, spinach if it’s minced up really fine, edamame, green peas, and roasted seaweed). . I do my best to include veggies in her meals in a way that I know she will eat it (using soups as pasta sauces, including puréed vegetables in our oatmeal, smoothies, etc). I also still always offer a bit of everything. If we have a salad (always), she gets a piece of lettuce, a carrot, a tomato, and whatever else. I know that there’s a 99% chance she won’t eat it and will give it right back to me. But she knows what they are, what they are called, and that mama and papa eat them. This is important to me because maybe within the year, she’ll come around. Maybe it’ll take a few years. Maybe she’ll be 18. But she will always know what each damn vegetable is. Familiarity is half the battle (speaking from experience-I used to be the worst believe it or not). This is the difference I can make as a mother. Guidance, knowledge, and leading by example. The rest is up to her. I’ve done my part. I’m truly doing my best. It’s all we can do. Relax, breathe, and let it go. Parenting is hard enough isn’t it?
CARROT GINGER LENTIL MUFFINS ||. No, Lentil isn’t a typo here. I intentionally put red lentils into my muffins. It might’ve been a crazy idea but let me tell you, it wasn’t a bad one. These babies pack 7g of both fibre and protein in each muffin. Don’t let the name fool you, these deliver in taste and texture. It’s a new year, get ballsy and bake with lentils. Direct link for the recipe is in my profile.
I’m more confident now than I have ever been. This is a tad ironic since the appearance I was always chasing hasn’t been further to what it is now. The gray hairs, the pooch, the soft skin with little tone. It’s not the look I was initially aiming for but it’s everything I needed to fully embrace myself, to let go, and to finally learn to love and respect my body. . My post-partum body challenged my ways of thinking countless times on end. Irrational thoughts would creep in and I would immediately recognize the insanity but it didn’t stop them from creeping in. I feared the relationships in my life would change because my body had. I’m talking beyond my husband. My friends, my family. I was still me, a better version of myself actually but I still was haunted by what others thought. . Up until this past year, I wouldn’t even go grocery shopping without my comfort layer of foundation on my face. I have no idea how errands I didn’t run because I didn’t want to put makeup on. . Countless items of clothing went unworn or un-purchased to begin with. Things I loved but couldn’t wear “just yet.” . Why am I sharing this? Because these negative thoughts take over each and every one of us in some way or another. On a daily basis. And it’s unacceptable. This past year had me challenging each and everyone of these irrational thoughts, one by one. It wasn’t and still isn’t always easy, trust me. But I’m determined. My relationships will not be affected by fear of judgement. My face will not be slathered in cosmetics unless I want it to be. I’m going to wear what I want to, and now. There’s no waiting. There’s no point in time that we will ever reach where we will be “good enough.” Because we already are. Challenge the lies. Every single one. Every single day. And never stop.
PLANT BOOSTERS ||. When January hits, I see many taking on the goal to eat more plants, yay! As with any goal my personal approach and opinion is to take it day by day and create new habits in a way that comes easiest to us at first. . Today I’m sharing 5 ways we can easily boost our meals with plants. And no, it doesn’t involve cooking legumes from scratch. These ideas are effortless and help create a complete meal in no time. Check out my full blog post for the details, direct link in my profile. . In the meantime, let’s get to this amazing homemade hummus recipe, yeah? . SIMPLE HUMMUS: Ingredients: •1 garlic clove •14 oz can chickpeas, rinsed well •1/4 cup tahini •1/4 cup lemon juice •1 tsp. Cumin •1/2 tsp. Paprika •1/2 tsp. Sea salt •Pinch (or more) of cayenne pepper •Water (optional-to reach desired texture). . With the food processor running, drop the garlic clove in to mince. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until thoroughly combined. Slowly pour water in while running to help blend, if needed.
Today on my stories I chatted about baby purees, supplements, and shared a couple of recipes (that yes, I’ll add to my highlights soon). . This pure prune purée from @lovechildorganics is an excellent resource to have on hand when solids start. It’s a beautiful fruit to keep things regular and to naturally sweeten other purée combinations. . I gave Emilia a tad bit of this the other day and didn’t want to waste the whole pouch so I froze it into ice cube tray servings just as I do with my homemade purees. . The great thing about frozen purée servings is that they never have to go to waste. Even if your baby skips purees and goes straight to finger foods, these little servings can be useful into toddlerhood (and adulthood)! How? For example, I’ll definitely be adding some of these prune servings to my toddler’s oatmeal. I also made a beautiful butternut squash purée earlier this week and I will be using frozen servings of that as a pasta sauce for my toddler as well. Today I shared an Apple and Zucchini purée that I froze. Plop one of those little babies into a smoothie, or again, oatmeal. . It’s funny because a lot of people adore the baby led weaning method because it’s easy to feed the whole family in one shot. Agreed. But I think purees can easily boost the nutrient profile in family meals just as well, all in one shot. There a million ways to go about feeding our families. And there are a million ways to get creative with them. That’s why I love this stage. It forever challenges me to use every last drop, every last nutrient, every last bit of love I put into it.
My baby is eating solids, my toddler is going to the washroom in the toilet, and my closet is smaller than it’s EVER been. The changes are big but I’m flying high. I wanted to pop in and chat about closet issues when it comes to pregnancy and post-partum....because that shit makes everything more complicated. Here’s what I think through learning lessons the hard way. Don’t buy post-partum clothes during pregnancy. It’s a mystery what the pp body will look and feel like. Trust me. I donated a few items that I’ll never wear because I foolishly bought them during my pregnancy and just, no. . First time post-partum mamas, hold onto the most favourite items that may not fit right now. Some women lose weight, gain it, “bounce back” and bounce back and forth. Until you know where your body will fall, hang onto them. However, be warned that even if you “bounce back” you won’t feel like it for awhile. You’ll feel like a weak, hollow, empty nest (kind of because that’s what happened). Your posture, strength and overall comfort level *MAY shift in different clothing. We never can be sure what our bodies will do post-partum until we are done nursing. Some women lose or gain weight as they nurse and some lose or gain afterwards. Also remember that supportive bras can eventually be worn again someday...a good lift in the rack area really makes a difference in where some clothes fall. I am a second time post-partum mama so I know what’s up. I know my body has changed so much and that some things are permanent and others may not be. I made all my donation decisions today based on this reality. . Although our bodies change after childbirth and breastfeeding, all hope is not lost even if it feels like it. We must learn our bodies all over again. We must experiment with different fits and styles and find what compliments our bodies best. This takes time and patience, and practice. And once you find what works for you and your comfort level-own it. CONTINUED IN COMMENTS.
PURGE ||. I’m in full out purging mode. I thank my nesting phases during pregnancy because since then, I feel like I’ve become a pro. Over the past 2 weeks I have been tackling one area/issue a day. I’m not putting pressure on myself or giving myself a deadline because unfortunately the world doesn’t just freeze so I can complete this detailed task. . When I asked what content you wanted more of in the New Year, organization was one of them. My biggest tips are: Use lots of baskets/bins/containers. This keeps everything together easier and is much easier on the eyes rather than keeping everything in their original packaging (that always takes up space). The thrift stores and dollar stores are both wonderful for this. . If you haven’t used or worn something within the last 6 months and it has no sentimental value, bye. . The closet. If you have a huge pile sitting there labeled “but maybe it’ll fit again one day”.....think long and hard about how toxic that pile is. There will forever be this battle against ourselves, a voice telling us that we aren’t good enough. Instead, make room for today’s body. Love it and spoil it. I’ll touch on this more in my stories tomorrow as that’s when I’m cleaning out my closet. . And toys. Ah, the biggest problem. I personally try to keep it minimal and succeeded up until Christmas. I have just rearranged everything and made room for bigger toys and things with no containers and/or small pieces in one of my kitchen designated pantries. It’s all behind a closed door and it’s a dream. I also have no problem telling certain people (mostly my parents) that everything they buy that is ridiculously large (like a ball pit and a car racing tower taller then E) is staying at their place. I also divide up their toys between our home and the grandparents’ houses where we spend a lot of time at as well. What my toddler does have access to is organized in categorized bins where the whole family knows where what goes. If there is something that doesn’t easily fall into a category , it’s gone. Also, as soon as something breaks, it’s gone. . Anything else you want to know? What are your top tips? // Photo cred: @jamiemandap
2019. This is the year that I:. . Fiercely honor my worth. Replace my maybes with a simple yes or no. Gain back my physical strength. Flow in the direction of my passions even though the end goal is still unclear. . I learned an overwhelming amount this past year. About myself, about relationships, parenthood, and life in general. So many toxic ways of thinking & living have been laid to rest. And I’m so ready to evolve and grow more as an individual and as a whole with everyone around me. // Photo cred: @jamiemandap

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It's OK to not have a Plan
It's OK to not have a Plan
about 2 days ago

I am 33 years old and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. And I am finally okay with it. It bothered me for years that I was living a life without “purpose” or so it seemed. It affected me so deeply because I grew up with your typical millennial mindset. I believed that happiness should always triumph a paycheck.

[ D.I.Y ] Salted Caramel Mocha

November 30, 2014 in Specialty Beverages

Oh coffee. I used to not like anything about it. I despised the smell, the taste, everything about it, really. Fast forward to today where I love everything about it. Even when I don’t feel like having coffee, the smell excites every fibre of my being …I think coffee to me is like chocolate for normal people. I’ll call myself out even more on my weirdness and admit that I’m not a morning coffee person. The thought of caffeine first thing in the morning makes my stomach turn. My coffee routine is scheduled for after lunch. It’s my little dessert if you will…bringing me blissfully into the afternoon.

I’m sure we have all seen Food Babe’s breakdown of ingredients for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte that has been circulating. If not, you can check it out here: http://foodbabe.com/2014/08/25/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/.  I knew Starbucks was terrible for us a long time ago. I’m fully aware that when I go there and order...anything really that I’m not nourishing my body. But I’m consciously making that choice. I also eat French fries, chips, anything potato related, cake, pizza, and other frowned upon foods. I have come a very long way and I’m proud of myself. I understand what I am eating and I make conscious choices to eat what I eat, when I eat it. I’m all for moderation, balance, and enjoying life. Maybe a year from now I will have progressed even more and choose to eat even less crap foods, maybe not. Who knows and who cares? Until then, I will eat to live and that will include all types of food.

Now, on to the feature of the day. As big of a Starbucks freak as I am/was, I had never tried the Salted Caramel Mocha until very recently. I was on a Starbucks and website development date with my dear friend Ashley, (you may know her as Rae of Sunshine) and she ordered one and I said why not, I’ll try one too. With all of my recent food blogging activities, I have been having several Starbucks stop-ins on lunch breaks and often feel like indulging in one of these babies. Fortunately for me, spending the $6+ on it isn’t so tempting. I decided to see if I could make my own version of it today, and guess what….your welcome is what ;) Cheers caffeine lovers!

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Salted Caramel Mocha

 *1 serving

Ingredients:

“Mocha” Syrup:

  • 1 tbsp. water
  • 1 tbsp. chocolate (I used Enjoy Life chocolate chips)
  • ½ heaping tbsp. of coconut palm sugar (or an organic sugar)
  • ½-1 tsp. cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp. coconut nectar

Other:

  • 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or any milk/milk alternative of your choice)
  • Double shot of espresso

Garnish:

  • ¼ cup coconut whipped cream
  • ½ tsp. pure maple flakes (optional garnish)
  • ½ tsp. coconut nectar (optional garnish)
  • Pinch of sea salt

 

Directions:

*Note: I do not own a fancy espresso machine so I made my bevy mostly stove top. My espresso shots were brewed using a Tassimo.

  1. In a small pot, warm your milk of choice over low heat, stirring occasionally.
  2. In a separate small pot, mix and melt together the “mocha syrup” ingredients over the lowest heat. Stir frequently and remove from heat once the chocolate has fully melted and the ingredients are combined.
  3. Pour the espresso shots, the “mocha syrup,” and the almond milk together in a mug and stir.
  4. Top the beverage with coconut whipped cream and your remaining garnish ingredients.

 

 

Tags: Grainfree, Dairyfree, Glutenfree, Plant-based, Vegan, Vegetarian, Coffee, Latte, whipped cream
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