As the air turns crisp and the humidity drops, your skin might crave some extra care. Here's a soothing recipe from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that harnesses the natural benefits of pears for hydration and nourishment making it the perfect glow food.

1. Pears:
   • Hydration: Pears have a high water content, which helps in hydrating the skin from within.
   • Vitamins: They contain vitamins C and K, which are essential for skin health. Vitamin C is involved in collagen production, which helps maintain skin elasticity and youthfulness. Vitamin K can help in reducing dark circles and healing bruises.
   • Antioxidants: Pears have antioxidant properties that combat free radicals, potentially reducing skin aging.
2. Goji Berries:
   • Antioxidants: They are rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids like zeaxanthin, which protect the skin from UV light and environmental stressors.
   • Vitamin A: Good for skin repair and helps in keeping the skin soft and reducing wrinkles.
   • Amino Acids: These can aid in hydration and improve skin complexion.
3. Jujubes (Red Dates):
   • Blood Circulation: They are known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for enriching and replenishing blood, which can lead to better skin health by improving circulation and thus the nourishment of skin cells.
   • Anti-inflammatory: Jujubes have anti-inflammatory properties that can help in reducing skin redness and swelling.
4. Cinnamon:
   • Blood Sugar Regulation: By helping regulate blood sugar, cinnamon can indirectly benefit skin health since high blood sugar levels can lead to skin issues like acne or dullness.
   • Antimicrobial: Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties, which could help with skin infections or acne.
   • Circulation: It can stimulate blood flow to the skin, giving a warm glow.
5. Honey:
   • Moisturizing: Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it helps to retain moisture in the skin.
   • Antibacterial: Its antibacterial properties make it excellent for acne prevention and treatment.
   • Healing: Honey has wound-healing properties, which can be beneficial for skin regeneration and repair.

When these ingredients are combined in a soup:

• Synergy: The combination works synergistically to enhance skin hydration, improve elasticity, provide antioxidant protection, and promote healing and rejuvenation.
• Digestion: Cooking these ingredients together, especially the pears, makes the nutrients more bioavailable and easier to digest, allowing your body to absorb the skin-benefiting nutrients more effectively.
• Warming Effects: In TCM, many of these ingredients are considered 'warming,' which doesn't necessarily mean they raise body temperature but rather they promote circulation and health in a way that can lead to radiant skin.

The holistic approach of this soup not only targets skin health but also contributes to overall well-being, which in turn reflects on your skin's appearance. Remember, while these foods have beneficial properties, skin health is also significantly influenced by overall diet, hydration, sleep, and skincare routine.

Ingredients:

• 1 Asian pear, for its cooling and lung-nourishing properties
• 3 jujube dates, to enrich the blood and alleviate stress
• A small handful of goji berries, for a radiant complexion and immune support

 How To:

1. Prepare the Ingredients: Wash the pear thoroughly, then cut it into quarters or smaller pieces, removing the core if desired. There's no need to peel the pear as the skin adds to the nutritional value.
2. Cooking:
   • Place the pear pieces, jujube dates, and goji berries into a pot.
   • Add enough water to cover the ingredients.
   • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for about 15 minutes. Cooking the pear makes it gentler on your digestive system.
   • Optional cinnamon sticks
3. Finishing Touches:
   • Once cooked, you can lightly sweeten the soup with a drizzle of honey for taste. Add just a pinch of salt to enhance the flavors.
4. Serve:
   • Enjoy warm. You can eat all the solid ingredients along with the flavorful broth.

This recipe not only celebrates the flavors of fall but also incorporates ingredients known for their skin health benefits, making it a delicious way to nourish your skin from the inside out.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil (rich in antioxidants, especially vitamin E, which helps in skin repair)
• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed (high in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A, essential for skin health)
• 2 medium carrots, sliced (loaded with vitamin A, which supports skin cell production)
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed (rich in vitamin C, which helps in collagen production)
• 1 leek, white and light green parts, chopped (contains flavonoids that can reduce inflammation)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties)
• 1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped (provides vitamin C and fiber)
• 4 cups vegetable broth (hydrating and can be made with skin-friendly herbs like parsley)
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (antioxidant properties)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (anti-inflammatory and may improve skin health)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup coconut milk or yogurt for serving (optional, but provides healthy fats that can benefit skin hydration)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Vegetables: Start by prepping all your vegetables. The butternut squash, sweet potato, and carrots should be cut into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking.
   
   
2. Sauté: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped leek and sauté until it begins to soften, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
   
   
3. Add Veggies and Herbs: Stir in the butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, and apple. Add the thyme and turmeric, stirring well to coat all the vegetables with the spices.
   
   
4. Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth, ensuring it covers the vegetables. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and let it cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.
   
   
5. Blend: Once cooked, use an immersion blender or carefully transfer the soup to a blender to puree until smooth. If you prefer a chunkier texture, you can blend only part of the soup.
   
   
6. Season and Serve: Return the soup to the pot if you've removed it for blending. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you're using coconut milk or yogurt, you can swirl it in now or serve it as a topping.
   
   
7. Garnish: Optionally, garnish with a few fresh thyme leaves or a drizzle of olive oil for an extra touch of flavor and nutrition.
   
   

Serving Suggestion: This soup can be enjoyed with a slice of whole-grain bread for added fiber, or you could sprinkle some chia or pumpkin seed on top for an extra boost of omega-3 fatty acids, which are excellent for skin health. 

Why It's Good for Your Skin: This soup is packed with vitamins A and C, which are crucial for skin repair and collagen production. The antioxidants from the vegetables help combat free radical damage, and the healthy fats from olive oil and optional coconut milk/yogurt aid in maintaining skin hydration. Plus, the anti-inflammatory properties of ingredients like garlic, turmeric, and leeks can help reduce skin inflammation, making this not just a tasty fall dish but a skin-loving meal. Enjoy this Autumn Harvest Skin Glow Soup to keep your skin radiant through the cooler months!

Love + Eat Well!

The Skincare Chef current go-to breakfast 👩🏻‍🍳
*all organic

Ingredients:
1 cup grass fed yoghurt
1 tbl almond butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbl flax seed oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbl maple syrup
Chopped apples
Blueberries
Unsweetened coconut shreds
Flax seed

How to:
Mix first 6 ingredients then top with the last 4. Enjoy!

Flax Seed Skin Benefits:
- Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help maintain skin hydration and elasticity.
- Contains antioxidants that may help fight against free radicals and reduce signs of aging.
- Flax seeds are high in lignans, which possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially soothing irritated skin.
- The high fiber content aids in detoxification, promoting clearer skin.
- Consumption or application of flaxseed oil may alleviate symptoms of certain skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Let us know if you try it!

Love + Eat Well

 Looking for the best curried tuna salad recipe? Look no further! Our delicious and flavorful recipe will have your taste buds dancing with joy. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

If you are into meal prepping this Mediterranean Jar Salad is for you! Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge 4-5 days no problem. Stays crunchy and delicious until ready to nosh on. We typically pour over arugula and make a meal of it for two of us. You can even add chicken if you like! I love all the fresh raw crunchy colorful veggies in this jar meal. Play around with the amounts to your liking

Grab your mason jar and lets get layering:)

INGREDIENTS: *all organic

Cucumber

Cherry Tomatoes

Red, Orange or Yellow Pepper

Red Onion

Chickpeas

Kalamata Olives

Feta

DRESSING:

1 small clove garlic chopped fine

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dijon mustard

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup EVOO

Squeeze lemon juice

S+P

HOW TO:

Add all the dressing ingredients to your jar and give a good shake. Next layer in your cucumber, tomato, pepper, onion, chickpeas, olives, feta. Place air tight lid on and stash in the fridge.

ENJOY!

9 times outa 10 if I’m drinking a smoothie this is the very recipe of what’s in it. I’ve been drinking this since my diagnosis with multiple sclerosis in 2014. I make a few variations here and there like mixing up the greens I use, the flavor kombucha, or the add ins. 
it’s a great balance of nutrition and healthy fats without spiking the blood sugar. Plenty of fiber to keep me full for hours. Plenty of hydration, probiotics, and glow foods here to have your skin radiant and your gut happy and healthy. 
I will warn you, this isn’t a “pretty” green smoothie it’s pretty brown:)

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen blueberries 

1/2 cup frozen strawberries 

1/4 cup frozen cauliflower 

1 stalk celery

3 inches cucumber 

1/4 cup full fat coconut milk

1/2 + kombucha to blend

Optional Add-Ins

Spirulina, chlorella, cinnamon, collagen, adaptagens

How To

Throw all in a blender and whizz up!

ENJOY!

This recipe is 100% for Mitch as he LOVES carrot cake and this carrot cake overnight oats is his new favorite! Best part, he gets to eat cake for breakfast. Shhhh, not really, its actually good for you. Super easy to make the night before and have on hand for a few days. Packed full of glow foods that promote a healthy gut you just cant go wrong here. You can substitute any milk you prefer, and I even make with steel cut oats sometimes, equally as yum.

OATS INGREDIENTS:

1 cup rolled oats (we use sprouted oats from One Degree)

1 cup almond milk

2 tbls chia seeds

2 tbls hemp seeds

2/3 cup shredded carrot

2 medjool dates chopped

1-2 tsp maple syrup

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon + clove mix

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon juice

FOR THE ICING:

1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt (or plain)

2 tbls almond butter

1 tsp maple syrup

HOW TO:

Combine all the oats ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix up.

Next combine all the icing ingredients and whip up until creamy.

Next, layer into a glass pan or into jars and place in the fridge over night.

Next day...top with pecans if desired and ENJOY!

This delightful twist on a caesar salad will have this recipe on repeat. Easy enough to make any night of the week and fancy enough to make for holiday tables. If you don't do dairy you can swap the parmesan for nutritional yeast. The anchovies in the dressing are optional as well, although we prefer them very much! The crunchy quinoa is so good here as you can get a little in every bite.

The glow food ingredients in this warm brussel caesar salad are nothing to ignore either! Check this out...

Brussels - great source of vitamin C which promotes collagen production and skin elasticity. The high fiber content aids in digestion to improve skin clarity. Full of antioxidants protect skin cells from oxidative damage.

Tahini - rich in vitamins, minerals and healthy fats that nourish and moisturize the skin, leaving it healthy and glowing. Anti-inflammatory properties can soothe red and irritated skin.

Garlic - antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory to calm inflammation and helps promote collagen production.

Quinoa - nutrient rich with amino acids, vitamin E and zinc, which moisturize and repair damaged skin cells. Fights free radicals supporting graceful aging.

EVOO - antioxidant rich and a healthy fat to nourish and moisturize the skin. Vitamin E + K reduce the signs of aging and promote a more even skin tone.

Salad Ingredients:

1 head of romaine chopped

1 lb brussels trimmed and sliced into thirds

Quinoa:

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 tbls evoo

s+p

Dressing:

1/4 cup tahini

1/2 lemon juiced

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp dijon

2 tbls grated parmesan

2 anchovy fillets

Water to blend and thin

s+p

HOW TO:

Oven to 375

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place brussels on one and quinoa on the other. Toss both with EVOO, s+p. Spread out and pop in the heated oven for 15 minutes. Brussels should start to get slightly crispy on the leaves. The quinoa I like to toast until a little brown.

While that cooks throw all your dressing ingredients into a jar a whiz up with an immersion blender.

Add your romaine to a bowl, top with warm brussels, drizzle the dressing on, and top with the crunchy quinoa.

Fresh cracked pepper is always a delight:)

ENJOY!

Low on energy or feeling depleted? Try this hydrating and refreshing Electrolyte Water recipe.

When we are burnt out or stressed our body burns through mineral and nutrient stores much faster. This beverage can help replenish and support your body through these transitional times.

We choose Himalayan pink salt as it also has the ability to help detoxify the body and soften the skin. It also contains a unique combo of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, and potassium. that help to stimulate circulation and detoxify the body. By helping to flush out toxins, it can reduce puffiness, and support healthy skin.

Raw honey not only improves digestion and strengthens the immune system it keeps your body hydrated and promotes that healthy glow.

Fresh lemon juice also aids in digestion, reduces inflammation in the body, and gives your immune system a boost....yes, all supporting healthy glowing skin!

When choosing sparkling water we always choose bottled in glass over cans, as aluminum as been linked to some diseases so we just avoid it whenever possible.

Fun fact: staying hydrated and flushing toxins from your body can help reduce dark circles under the eyes.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lemon juiced

1 pinch pink Himalayan salt

1/4 cup warm water (hot water will kill the enzymes in the honey)

1 tbls raw honey (local if possible)

8-10 oz sparkling water

HOW TO:

Place your honey in a heat safe jar, add your salt and pour the warm water over. Stir to dissolve.

Add in your lemon juice and top off with sparkling water. ENJOY!

Love + Be Well

Our family loves lasagna and this lasagna soup does not disappoint in any way. Comforting and delicious without being heavy make it a winner any night of the week. If you are good with regular pasta feel free to substitute and just adjust cooking times to a bit longer or pre-cook then drop in. Remember, always opt for the best quality ingredients you can, shop local, and choose organic when possible.

Ingredients:

*organic

1 lb grass-fed beef

1 lb pastured pork sausage

1 medium *yellow onion chopped

2-3 small *carrots chopped

3-4 *cloves garlic chopped

2 tbsp grass-fed butter

1-2 tbl extra virgin olive oil

2 tbs *tomato paste

Seasonings added to mortar - 1/2 tsp fennel seed + dried chili flakes, 1 tsp basil + oregano

S + P

1 qt grass-fed beef broth

24 oz canned *tomatoes or pre-made sauce of choice

8oz of almond ricotta (we use the brand kite hill)

9 oz box of almond lasagna sheets (we use Cappellos from the frozen section)

Parmesan (optional)

How To:

In a large stock pot add your butter and olive oil and turn heat to medium. Add your onion, carrot, and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until onions are translucent.

Add tomato paste incorporate well and cook for a minute. Then add your broth, tomatoes, and half of your seasoning mixture. Bring to a simmer.

In a skillet brown your beef and pork with the other half of the seasoning then add to your stock pot. Let simmer on low awhile.....the longer the deeper the flavors or you could eat right away.

When ready to serve, cut your thawed lasagna sheets into squares and drop them into the pot, give a stir, and let cook for 15 minutes or so. They will firm up when ready.

Last, add your container of ricotta and stir until completely melted and mixed in.

Serve into bowls and nosh away! 

Optional: If you eat parm you can top it with parm and even throw a rind from the cheese block into the stock pot while cooking.

ENJOY:)

Love + Eat Well

5 mins to prep and 25 min. to bake this delicious Fruit + Oat Bake. No special chopping or baking skills needed here. We have been throwing this together in the mornings while we sip our coffee. Works wonderfully with any frozen berry or fruit, we used peaches and blueberries here. We have even added chia seeds before baking making this a powerhouse GLOW food!

Berries are full of antioxidants to help repair and brighten the skin. oats help boost collagen production, reduce inflammation, and improve your overall complexion. Banana is a great antioxidant that helps remove toxins from the body and clear the skin.

Ingredients:

1 banana

2 oz rolled oats

5 oz nut or oat milk

4-5 oz fruit/berries

Optional - 2-3 tsp chia seeds and or unsweetened shredded coconut

How To:

Heat oven to 325

Grab a small baking dish and wipe with coconut oil. Place banana in the dish and smash up with a fork.

Sprinkle with oats. Pour milk over. Top with fruit and coconut.

Place in the oven to bake for 25 mins.

When done you can dish up as is, or sometimes we serve with some vanilla greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey!

Enjoy:)

Love + eat Well

Delicious Salmon Bowl that can be whipped up in 15 minutes and served warm or cold. Absolutely packed with GLOW foods to have your skin radiant anytime of year. The mix of crunchy fresh veggies, creamy avocado, spicy kimchi, and oh that sauce.....

Ingredients:

Frozen cauliflower rice

Fresh Spinach

Fresh Cucumber chopped

Fresh Carrot cut

Fresh Avocado cubed

Salmon Filet

Kimchi

Dried Seaweed and or Sesame Seeds for topping

Drizzle of sesame oil + rice vinegar (optional)

Dressing:

1 Tbl avocado mayo

1-2 Tbls siracha

1 tsp maple syrup

How To:

Cut your salmon into bites, drizzle with avocado or coconut oil and S+P. Place in your air-fryer at 375 for 10 mins.

In the meantime heat a skillet with a drizzle of avocado oil, add your cauliflower rice and season with s+p, cook for a few and add in the spinach until just wilted. Sprinkle of rice vinegar + sesame oil on top is yum.

Build your bowl and drizzle the dressing and top with dried seaweed or sesame seeds.

ENJOY!

Love + Eat Well,

Natalie