Balanced Living

Super Powered Pesto

Posted by Arja on April 10 in Main Dishes

When you talk about pesto, most people immediately think of the delicious, garlicky concoction made with fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, olive oil and parmesan.  Pesto is fresh tasting, and best to make in the summer when fresh basil is easy to come by.  Over the last few years I’ve discovered a love for pesto made from a variety of different leafy greens, including dandelion and arugula, as well as with fresh ramps (wild leeks) and garlic scapes (the curly green flowering stems removed from the bulb).

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Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas with Spelt Orzo

Posted by Arja on April 3 in Main Dishes, Meatless

Spring has sprung and I’ve started dreaming about warmer weather gatherings on my deck with friends and family.  I love getting together with people for a simple barbeque where everyone can contribute something to the meal.  It makes things easier on the host, for one thing, and also means that everyone gets to try all the yummy side dishes and salads that everyone else has brought to share.

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Glowing Skin from the Inside Out

Posted by Arja on March 20 in Nutrition

Given that this post is coming from a holistic nutritionist, it probably won’t come as much of a surprise when I tell you that paying close attention to what you put in your mouth is one of the first steps to having healthy, glowing skin.

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Everyday Superfoods

Posted by Arja on March 14 in Nutrition

It seems like there is a new “superfood” introduced every week.  They claim to be able to do everything from increasing your energy, boosting your libido, and calming your mind to helping you live longer.  While all of these things may be true, some of these foods can be challenging to locate, expensive, and even difficult to incorporate into your diet in some cases.  I’m not saying to avoid these new foods.  In fact, I encourage you to seek out new things to try and many of these exotic sounding superfoods have a nutritional content that is quite extraordinary.  But, when you are in the early stages of trying to ameliorate your diet and trying to develop new habits it can be overwhelming to take on too many things at once.

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Good Morning, Sunshine!

Posted by Arja on March 9 in Breakfast, Smoothies and Shakes

Your alarm clock goes off (either in child or electronic form), you jump out of bed and hit the ground running.  You’re trying to beat the clock to get out the door and grab whatever you can to eat on the go.  By 10:30 you are hungry, a little irritable, and find yourself reaching for another quick snack (a muffin, doughnut, cookie) to get you through until lunch.  Does any of this sound familiar?

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arja pennanen lytle c.n.p. n.n.c.p certified nutritional practitioner

Arja is a Holistic Nutritionist with a passion for balanced living. She loves to help people sleep better, think better, feel sexier, and just generally feel better by putting the focus on eating foods that make you feel good. Arja uses whole foods, lifestyle adjustments, herbs, and some supplements to help people feel their best and achieve their health and wellness goals.