(Not Your Everyday) Tuna Casserole! Grain and Dairy Free!

Newsflash: Pasta isn't really that good for you. Sure, it nourishes your soul (and your soul is important), but as a general rule of healthy eating, grains should be eaten sparsely and sprouted first. Should. Am I going to completely stop eating pasta for the rest of my life? No. But, if there is a way to cut back on my grain intake while eating stuff that is absolutely delicious, I say why not! I'll save up my pasta-eating for my trip to Italy, which will take place when I have enough money. Which will be in say, 10 years.

THIS is a great way to get some extra veggies in your belly without even realizing it. I'm not crazy (and you're not an idiot), so I won't tell you that you "won't notice the difference" or some nonsense along those lines. This will never take the place of that egg noodle-based, canned cream of mushroom, Ruffles potato chip-topped tuna casserole from my childhood, no way. But it does taste absolutely delicious, has no processed ingredients (I cheated and bought mayo instead of making me own, so sue me!), and doesn't have that dairy that causes me to spend a lot of time in the bathroom after eating it. Sounds pretty good to me!

May I present to you: Tuna (Spaghetti Squash) Noodle Casserole! Grain and dairy free!

Ingredients:
1 small (2-ish pounds) spaghetti squash
Coconut oil, for roasting

1 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
1/2 cup frozen green beans (or peas, or both!)
2 tsp chopped fresh sage
1/3 cup homemade or paleo-approved mayonnaise
1 egg, beaten with the mayo
2 cans sustainable, pole-caught tuna, drained
1-2 tsp coconut flour
1/4 cup almond meal
salt, pepper, red chili flake, to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375. Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds (save those and roast them if you want!) and rub coconut oil on the exposed insides. Season with salt and pepper, and roast cut-side down for 35-45 minutes until tender.
2. While squash is roasting, saute the onions in coconut oil until translucent. Add beans and/or peas and sage to the pan and turn off the heat.
3. When squash is finished roasting, cool until the halves can be handled enough (use an oven mitt if you have to) to scoop the insides into a bowl. Turn the oven down to 350.
4. Add the onion/veg mixture to the bowl along with the mayonnaise/egg mixture, tuna, and coconut flour. Season to taste.
5. Transfer mixture to an appropriately-sized casserole dish (a 2-quart works perfectly) and top with the almond meal. Season top with salt and pepper.
6. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes until cooked through. Place under broiler for 1-2 minutes, if desired, to crisp up the almond topping.
7. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes, and serve!

The SMELLS in the kitchen alone are worth making this. A fantastic meal for a cozy night, and one your body will thank you for!

Water. Agua. H2O. Take the GALLON CHALLENGE!

Water. Who would think that something so obvious could be something that is so important? We've all heard it before, but the truth is that most of us are dehydrated without even knowing it! I say most of us, because I assume that everyone is in the same boat as I am. My bff and I embarked on the "gallon challenge" 5 days ago, and even in that short period of time, I have noticed huge changes. I share them here because I am so pleasantly surprised that implementing something has made such a noticeable difference in such a short period of time, and also because if I can drink a gallon of water per day (I survive on tea, kombucha, smoothies, and chicken stock - all great, but they're not water) then anyone can!

I made myself a little jar with my goal and places for tally marks. It's fun to keep track of your progress! Notice my 1 tally mark after chugging one jar right after waking up. Add some lemon to help make your body more alkaline, which is a really good thing. Drinking water first thing will jumpstart your metabolism for the day.

In 5 days I have noticed:
- Decreased appetite
- Improved bowel function (like, 3 times a day, y'all)
- Clear, glowing skin
- SIGNIFICANT reduction of menstrual cramps
- Noticing thirst (why is that good? Because I am now tuned into all the times I thought I was hungry and was actually craving water. I was mixing up my body's signals - she must have been feeling really misunderstood)

So here is some scientific stuff about the importance of hydration. It's good to know that when you feel thirsty, you are already pretty dehydrated, so it's a good idea to keep a bottle or jar (please, no plastics) on you at all times to sip on throughout the day. Sufficient hydration will assist your cells in healing themselves and functioning properly, leading to better sleep and better energy levels through the day. Fully hydrated blood (blood is 92% water) flows more easily through your body, aiding in cardiovascular function. When the body is dehydrated, it creates more histamines (compounds that can create allergy symptoms). Proper hydration helps our skin rid itself of toxins - dehydration leads skin to become irritated, inflamed, itchy, red, and prone to breakouts. A well-hydrated body purges toxins and metabolic wastes more efficiently, and allows matter to pass more quickly through the digestive tract. Staying hydrated keeps our cells more balanced, and we will feel hungry less often. Not to mention, drinking as much water as it takes to stay hydrated will, in all likelihood, decrease the amount of sugary, caffeinated beverages that we consume. Win, win (win, win, win)!

Who's up for the Gallon Challenge?! Join me, it will be worth it!