Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits

Friends, tomorrow is a new year. The holidays are over. 2018 has come to a close. And do you know what that means? It’s time to pay penance for all those Christmas cookies we devoured over the last month, and clean up our dietary acts.

This year, I’m resetting my eating habits and focusing on gut health with the help of internet nutrition guru Robyn Youkilis, whose recipes and meal plans support the digestive system with healthy, probiotic-rich foods, like fermented vegetables, kombucha, and yogurt. My favorite recipe thus far is what Robyn calls the “Power Parfait,” which combines yogurt, oats, chia seeds, and protein powder to create a delicious, nutrient-packed breakfast that is super easy to assemble, and can be make in big batches for the entire week. It kind of feels like dessert, really, which makes “cleaning up your act” feel more like fun and less like torture (especially this version, which uses a chocolate-mocha flavored protein powder - yum).

Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits Recipe by Brunchographers

Fortunately, our friends at Milk & Eggs carry tons of amazing healthy products that will fit in with just about any New Year’s resolution - whether that’s focusing on gut health (like me), following a specific diet, or just incorporating more whole foods into your daily life. You’re covered.

Be sure to check out Robyn’s original Power Parfait recipe, because it’s super customizable and fun to play with. And if you do, let us know what you come up with!

Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits Recipe by Brunchographers

Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt of choice (we love Kite Hill)
1 package chocolate mocha protein powder
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

Toppings:
1/2 cup homemade granola
1 cup mixed fruit of choice, like berries, cherries, oranges, pomegranate
fresh mint
toasted sliced almonds

Method:

1. Combine yogurt, protein powder, quick-cooking oats, chia seeds, and almond milk in a mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Place in the refrigerator to rest for 15 minutes or overnight (or, eat immediately if you’re in a hurry).

2. Divide the mixture into two small bowls, and add toppings as desired. Have fun with it!

Recipe adapted from Robyn Youkilis

Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits by Brunchographers

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.  

Peaches + Cream Chia Pudding Parfaits

It’s official - as of today, summer is here! Sunny days lie ahead, full of picnics, beach trips, and of course, plenty of vibrant summer produce. The arrival of peaches in the markets was the first fragrant sign of the season’s change, and we couldn’t help but pile heaps of them into our shopping carts (both real and virtual, thanks to Milk & Eggs grocery delivery).

If the summer heat already has you dreading  getting into the kitchen, these cool and satisfying chia pudding parfaits are for you - they’re a great way to dress up your breakfast and take full advantage of all those peaches you may or may not have hoarded, and there’s absolutely no cooking involved. Plus, you’ll crush your hunger through lunchtime by loading up on protein, fat, and fiber. Feel free to swap out for a plain yogurt of your choice - vegan or lower/higher-fat varieties will work well, though take note that Greek-style will hold up best for a pretty swirl effect on top. If more protein is what you’re after, try mixing in your favorite vanilla protein powder to the vanilla “cream” (but be sure to reduce maple syrup quantity to account for a sweetened powder).

Peaches & Cream Chia Pudding Parfaits

Ingredients

For the Peach Yogurt Chia Pudding layers:

• 1 container plain Greek Yogurt (we used Wallaby)
• 1 medium peach, cubed
• 2 tbsp chia seeds (we used Navitas)
• 1 tbsp maple syrup

For the Vanilla Bean Yogurt “Cream” layers:

• 1 container plain Greek Yogurt (we used Aussie)
• 1 tsp maple syrup, or more to taste
• 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Toppings:

• 1 medium peach, chopped
• 2-3 tbsp sliced almonds, toasted

Method

1. Begin by preparing the Peach Yogurt Chia Pudding. Place one container yogurt, cubed peach, maple syrup, and chia seeds in a small food processor or blender, and process until the peach is completely puréed and the mixture is smooth. (Note: some chia seeds may remain whole depending on the type of processor you use, and that’s ok! The mixture will thicken either way.) Decant mixture into a container, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

2. To make the Vanilla Bean Yogurt "Cream," add maple syrup and vanilla bean paste to yogurt and mix well (you can do this directly in the container). Add additional maple syrup if desired for a sweeter flavor. Chill until ready to assemble parfaits.

3. To assemble, alternate adding peach yogurt chia pudding, vanilla bean yogurt, and chopped peach and almond toppings into two serving containers to create a layered effect. Serve immediately.

Makes two servings. 

Enjoy!

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.  

Vibrant Smoothie Bowls

In January, it's only natural to crave a fresh start. Some of us work on cultivating a new habit, while most make an attempt to clean up a less-than-ideal diet. This year, we've been gravitating toward incorporating as many fresh fruits and vegetables as we can into our daily routine - and by creating big, beautiful smoothie bowls for breakfast, we're able to knock out almost all the vitamins and nutrients we need before we even get to work! Whether you go for a hot pink and fruity blend or a vibrant green concoction, these bowls are a great way to jump start your morning. Bonus points for activating the creative half of your brain by decorating your bowl with pretty toppings - because if you didn't Instagram your breakfast, did it even exist?

Vibrant Smoothie Bowls 

One of the best shortcuts we've found to morning smoothie bowl heaven has been ordering groceries from our pals at Milk & Eggs - there is absolutely nothing simpler than waking up to a bag full of farm fresh groceries on your doorstep! Plus, Milk & Eggs stocks most of our favorite brands, including Kite Hill almond milk yogurts and cheeses, Califia Farms nondairy milks, Spread the Love nut butters, and Navitas superfoods. And our latest obsession? The toasty, nutty granola from Bread Lounge. We had to hide the container out of sight to avoid eating it all in one day. 

While getting creative with your smoothie mixture is what makes the whole process so much fun, you may be wondering what we put in ours - so here are some simple recipes you can use as a guideline. 

Pretty in Pink Smoothie Bowl 

Pretty in Pink Smoothie Bowl

adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie

Ingredients:
2 small peeled and steamed beets (for a shortcut, try Love Beets organic cooked beets)
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup plain yogurt of choice (we like Kite Hill) 
1/2 cup almond or cashew milk (we like Califia Farms) 
optional: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed (adds fiber) 

Method:
Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth. 

Suggested Toppings:
Leftover yogurt, berries, shredded coconut, Spread the Love almond butter, Bread Lounge granola, Navitas goji berries, hemp seeds. 

Green Dream Machine Smoothie Bowl 

Green Dream Machine Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients: 
1/2 ripe avocado
2 cups dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, or chard) 
1/2 apple, cored
1/2 cup frozen cauliflower
1 cup cold water
Optional: vanilla protein powder
Optional: 1 tsp psyllium husk (adds fiber and thickens smoothie) 

Method:
Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth. 

Suggested Toppings:
Sliced apples or oranges, blueberries, sliced bananas, fresh mint, Navitas cacao nibs, Navitas chia seeds, shredded coconut. 

Vibrant Smoothie Bowls 

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.  

Honey Hi | Echo Park, CA

It's common knowledge that just about everyone in Los Angeles is on a restricted diet of some sort - low carb, high carb, paleo, gluten free, vegan, raw vegan, fruitarian, you name it. Perhaps it's the fault of our year-long summer weather; with beach season extending into February, there can be no packing on of the winter pounds. Or perhaps it's that this place attracts dreamers; starry-eyed upstarts searching for their "best life" - whether that's a high-powered career, a glamorous social life, or simply "healing the gut." No matter the reason, we've all caught the fever at one point or another, and it's rare to have a meal out with friends and not encounter a dietary restriction or two. 

With demand comes supply, and Los Angeles is in no short supply of restaurants that cater to our dietary quirks. Even LAX is home to a fast-food version of Real Food Daily, one of LA's first and most popular vegan restaurants. The trick is not to find a restaurant that will cater to your latest diet, but to find one that will also provide you with something dazzling and unexpected. Because you, too - you primal, plant-and-meat-eating-goddess, you - deserve to indulge in something delicious and nourishing. So get your athleisure-clad butt over to Honey Hi on the double. 

Founded by best friends Kacie Carter and Caitlyn Sullivan, Honey Hi is a celebration of Los Angeles' healthy-eating culture. The inviting little cafe in Echo Park looks like it was plucked directly from your Instagram feed, done up in peachy pink hues with splashes of marble and wood, with pops of color from vibrant orange painted chairs and your table-neighbor's neon "pink drink" smoothie. The menu is awash with terms familiar only to the yoga set; items like "chayawanaprash & grilled stone fruit toast" and "medicinal shroom dandy 'coffee'" can make even the most seasoned cook's brow furrow. Let's not even delve into the drink add-on list - it may conjure memories of that high school vocabulary pop quiz you failed after a month-long absence with mono. 

Yoga Jones buzz words aside, Honey Hi's menu is downright friendly. Carter and Sullivan strive for what they call "radical inclusivity," offering options for just about every dietary preference and constraint. Many dishes are inspired by foods the pair make at home for themselves, and with their shared passion for nutrition and eating for wellness, the result is a robust list of healthy, nourishing meals and satisfying snacks. Their kitchen is intrinsically gluten-free, serving a variety of toasts and sandwiches that feature the rarest of birds, gluten-free sourdough bread. The meats and eggs are exclusively organic, and are sourced with sustainability and humane practices in mind. And because this team is cooking for their customers like they cook for themselves, everything is free of refined sugars, GMOs, and harmful vegetable oils - so seriously, even that friend who orders only a glass of water when you go out to lunch can eat here. 

When we popped in on a recent weekday morning for brunch, Honey Hi was active but not packed, with plenty of free tables between the groups of predictably hip, well-dressed East-siders. Some were discussing creative businesses over cold brew coffee, others were sharing brightly-colored smoothies with their curious two-year-olds. Forever on a mission to sample as much of a variety as we could, we ordered a cross-section of the menu: a sweet yogurt parfait, a toast, a hearty bowl, and an iced coffee. 

The cold brew coffee came first, served with a splash of house-made almond milk. It was strong and robust, as high on the caffeine scale as a good cold brew should be, and smooth in flavor. Next was the cashew yogurt parfait, made with probiotic cashew yogurt from a small business called Blode Küh that you may recognize from local farmers markets. While it's not a dead ringer for yogurt made with cow's milk, some would argue that it's better - the cashew base offers a dense creaminess that is both satisfying and rich. Honey Hi's grain-free granola is packed with nuts and seeds, and is therefore intensely satisfying.  Seasonal berries round out the dish with a burst of freshness and bright flavor. 

The sweet potato and avocado toast is a fun, flavorful twist on L.A.'s signature breakfast, piled high with lemony mashed avocado, soft and spicy roasted sweet potatoes, tangy pickled onions, and fragrant herbs. That gluten-free sourdough toast is pretty darn satisfying as well; good enough to evoke euphoria in any bread-starved, celiac-afflicted individual.  

Finally, the breakfast bowl - a melange of ultra-satisfying-yet-actually-healthy breakfasty foods that is without a doubt the correct way to start your day. It begins with a layer of savory sweet potato hash, topped with a generous helping of crispy Niman Ranch uncured bacon, a bright yellow pastured egg poached in turmeric, and a heap of delicately dressed fresh local greens. A perfect crisp radish is placed like a cherry on the top, alongside creamy avocado and a dusting of herbs and spices. It's the type of thing you want to wake up to every morning, if only you lived just a little closer to Echo Park. 

As a food lover in Los Angeles, it can be difficult to find balance amidst an abundance of exquisite, decadent, indulgent cuisine. Fortunately, cleaning up your dietary act no longer means giving up on inventive and exciting food - with places like Honey Hi on the scene, we can have our cake (or grain-free chocolate chip cookie) and eat it too. 

Honey Hi
1620 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Tribal Café | Los Angeles, CA

It's probably obvious by now we really enjoy brunch foods. But while our favorite decadent treats like pancakes, waffles, fried eggs, and bacon are a lot of fun for our taste buds, they’re probably less fun for the rest of our bodies. So when we can find a way to sneak in some healthy brunch that tastes just as good as the naughty stuff, we’re happy campers. 

Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

Inside Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

We recently found just that - healthy brunch food that also happens to be delicious - just off the 101 Freeway in Downtown Los Angeles. Open in its somewhat unlikely location for over ten years, Tribal Café is a charming little health food oasis. Good health, a supportive community, and creative collaboration are at the core of what makes Tribal so special; philosophies upheld by the restaurant’s lively founder, Josh Jose. Josh’s enthusiasm for health food is contagious; just a few minutes discussing vegetables with him will have you feeling excited about eating cabbage, kale, and beets. It’s no wonder the restaurant has formed its own little neighborhood tribe - it feels like there's an ever-present group of friendly creative-types meeting here over green juices to discuss their latest ventures and what’s going on in their community.

Filipino Adobo Breakfast Bowl at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

Inside Filipino Adobo Breakfast Bowl at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

In his efforts to bring “healthy food to the masses,” Josh hopes not just to provide healthful alternatives to underserved communities through the food served in his cafe, but also aims to educate his customers so that they can make good nutrition choices in their daily lives. In fact, he recently taught some of his customers how to make green smoothies at home, so they could save a few bucks while still enjoying the nutritional benefits offered by the concoctions. Josh joked with us that teaching your customers to make their own version of your product may not be the most sound business practice, but it's clear that it's that sort of commitment and enthusiasm that has strengthened Tribal Café's customer loyalty. 

Mushroom Veggie Burger and Filipino Adobo Breakfast Bowl at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

The menu at Tribal is sprawling (literally), covering an entire wall with options ranging from açaí bowls, juices, and smoothies to paninis, salads, and grain bowls, with tempting options for vegans and meat-eaters alike. As difficult as it was to narrow down our options on our recent visit, we opted for smoothies, the Filipino Adobo Breakfast Bowl, and the Mushroom Veggie Burger. 

Super Alkaline Smoothie at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

The green smoothies at Tribal are what you could call super-charged - there are so many veggies packed into each one, it’s difficult to keep track. Each smoothie starts with a base of leafy greens, mixed veggies, and fruits, then is customized with added ingredients. The added ingredients in our “Super Alkaline” smoothie were ginger, avocado, strawberry, and pineapple. This was refreshing and energizing - and filling enough to be a meal in itself!

Filipino Adobo Breakfast Bowl at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

Next up was the Filipino Adobo Breakfast Bowl, a Tribal Café favorite. This beautiful bowl was packed with garlic brown rice, sweet potatoes, peanuts, pickled carrots, cilantro, apples, and breakfast potatoes, and was topped with a perfectly poached egg. The avocado is optional, but was a really delightful addition (but really, when is avocado not a delightful addition?). To add a little bit more zip, the bowl was also served with adobo sauce and salsa roja. We loved how hearty and satisfying this bowl was; it was like everything you’d want in your breakfast bowl, and then a little something extra. 

Filipino Adobo Breakfast Bowl at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

Mushroom Veggie Burger at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

Finally, there was the Mushroom Veggie Burger special, stacked high with cheese and a rainbow of veggies. We loved the flavorful homemade patty, made with grilled mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, brown rice, and millet. This dish felt the most like an indulgence out of the group, but with all the fresh, whole food ingredients, it also felt like a responsible one. 

Mushroom Veggie Burger at Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

Apart from its delicious, healthy fare, what is most impressive about Tribal is the warm sense of community that surrounds it. Josh and his staff are kind and welcoming, eager to sit down and chat with you about food, health, and creativity. At Tribal, you will find not just food that nourishes your body, but an atmosphere of kindness and generosity that will nourish your spirit. 

Tribal Café, Los Angeles, CA

Tribal Café
1651 West Temple St.  
Los Angeles, CA 90026