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Everything good, mostly food.
Welcome to The Balanced Foods Blog! I started this blog as a new mom navigating big life and body changes I didn’t expect. What began as a personal outlet has grown into a food and nutrition blog focused on balance, realistic wellness, and feeling good from the inside out. Here you’ll find simple recipes, practical nutrition tips, and honest conversations about nourishing your body through every season. Follow along and let’s keep food balanced, supportive, and real.
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2023 Birthday Freebies
If you have followed for a little while, you know it is tradition for me to get all my birthday freebies in one day. I love doing this...
marinashaker
Oct 4, 20233 min read
Shrimp & Pancetta Pasta
This combo is perfect if you like a little salt and sweet. The saltiness from the pancetta pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the...
marinashaker
Sep 26, 20231 min read
Lemon Scallops & Orzo
Scallops are one of my favorite seafoods to cook. Not only are they delicious but they are so fast to prepare. So naturally this is one...
marinashaker
Sep 13, 20231 min read
Easy Small Batch Brownies
These brownies are simple and perfect to prep for a sweet treat after dinner. Brownies are one of those desserts I never really fell in...
marinashaker
Sep 12, 20231 min read
marinashaker
Sep 5, 20230 min read
Strawberry & Rose Galette
A delicious and simple dessert. 1 lb strawberries sliced or chopped 1/4 cup agave 1 tbsp rose water 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 lemon juice and lemon zest 1 tbsp Cornstarch 1 Puff pastry sheet Coarse sugar to top crust Vanilla ice cream Egg wash (1 egg and 1 tbsp water on puff pastry before going in oven) Slice strawberries and coat with cornstarch. Add agave, vanilla and rose water. Lay out puff pastry on a sheet pan and layer strawberry mixture in center. Food in the sides pu
marinashaker
Aug 28, 20231 min read
Affogato
I often find that simple desserts get overlooked but are usually so delicious. Prime example is an Affogato! Affogato is basically an...
marinashaker
Aug 24, 20231 min read
Easy Chicken Pho at Home
Pho is one of my favorite things to eat throughout the year and it is definitely a go to when I feel under the weather. I love using cheat method because it cuts that cooking time so much. In the traditional way to make pho, it can take hours to develop a rich flavor in the broth. And when I am craving it, I do not have patience to wait for hours. So here she is: Ingredients: 2 tbsp avocado oil 1/2 yellow onion 5 garlic cloves 2 shallots 1 ginger root 2 star anise 1 tsp black
marinashaker
Aug 15, 20231 min read
Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait
If you are a dessert person like me. Like you gotta have something sweet after every meal, but you also do not want to be in the kitchen for an hour then look no further. This parfait is so easy! With only a couple of ingredients and less that 5 steps, you have a delicious dessert! Ingredients: 1 lb strawberries 2 tbsp Strawberry preserves 8 oz Cream cheese 1 tsp Vanilla extract 2 tbsp Agave 1 can Condensed milk 4 crushed graham crackers Directions: Crush graham crackers. Mix
marinashaker
Aug 12, 20231 min read
Easy Hummus
Hummus is definitely loved by most but I feel like it has gotten out of control in the sense that it gets over complicated. In Egypt, we just make it without all the details people tend to add. So here is everything you need: Ingredients: 1 can Garbanzo beans Juice of one Lemon 1/3 cup Tahini 1/4 cup Olive oil 1/4 cup cold water 1/2 tbsp Cumin 1 tbsp garlic powder Salt to taste Garnishes: Whole garbanzo beans Olive oil Sumac Directions: Add all ingredients to a blender and bl
marinashaker
Jun 29, 20231 min read
Candied Oranges Dipped in Chocolate
Ingredients: 3 sliced oranges 2 cups Water 2 cups Sugar Dark or semi sweet chocolate chips Dorections: Slice oranges. Boil in pot of...
marinashaker
Jun 25, 20231 min read
Oreo Chocolate Mousse Parfait
Ingredients: 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1/3 cup Agave syrup 1 tsp Vanilla extract 2 tbsp Cocoa powder 6 Crushed Oreos cookies Steps: In a bowl, beat heavy whipping cream, agave syrup, cocoa powder and vanilla extract until you get a thick mixture. Layer crushed Oreo cookies and chocolate mousse for a delicious dessert! Enjoy!
marinashaker
Jun 23, 20231 min read
Chicken & Pepper Stir Fry
This is the easiest go to meal on busy weeknight's lately. Ingredients: 1lb ground chicken 1 Red bell pepper 1 Yellow pepper 1 Yellow onion 1 orange pepper 2 green onions 3 garlic cloves 1 tbsp sesame seed oil 1 tsp ginger 1/2 tsp white pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/3 cup agave syrup Steps: Cook ground chicken in sesame seed oil until browned. 2. Add onion, garlic, white parts of green onion and peppers. 3. Once tender, add your cooked ground chicken back. 4.
marinashaker
Jun 23, 20231 min read
Home Made Crunch Bars
Crunch bars were my favorite chocolate bar growing up so I'm so happy to be able to make them at home with much healthier and simpler ingredients. Ingredients: - 10 oz (1 bag) chocolate chips - 1/2 cup Quinoa puffs Directions: - melt chocolate chips in a double broiler - Once melted, add quinoa puffs - Spread chocolate mixture on parchment paper and place in the fridge for 30-45 minutes - Break apart or cut Evenly and enjoy
marinashaker
May 9, 20231 min read
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
For all the women in our lives that have helped us grow in some capacity or impacted our lives. Gift giving on Mother's Day can be a bit...
marinashaker
May 9, 20231 min read
Roasted Garlic & Ricotta Toast
There are those who love garlic and then those who LOVE garlic. Ingredients 2 slices of sourdough toast 1/3 cup Ricotta 4 Roasted garlic...
marinashaker
Apr 20, 20231 min read
Tropical Collagen Smoothie
Such a fun and festive way to welcome summer/ spring. Collagen I personally like using vital protein's collagen peptides. They have...
marinashaker
Apr 20, 20231 min read
Homemade Nutella
If you are a fan of this hazelnut spread but don't like the sugar content, then look no further. This recipe allows you to control the...
marinashaker
Apr 4, 20231 min read
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Everyone needs a good chocolate chip cookie recipe but I have a special love for chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. And this is the easiest...
marinashaker
Apr 4, 20231 min read
One Pot Savory Orzo & Chicken
Who doesn't love a one pot dinner during the week. Nobody wants to do anymore dishes than they have to. This savory orzo and chicken...
marinashaker
Mar 21, 20231 min read
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Fattoush Salad: A Fresh Take on Tradition
Long before “zero-waste cooking” became a trend, farmers in Lebanon were already living it. Faced with stale pita bread and an abundance of fresh garden vegetables, they created what we now know as Fattoush—a crisp, tangy salad that celebrates both resourcefulness and bold flavor. The magic lies in contrast: crunchy golden pita chips, juicy vegetables, and a zesty dressing that ties everything together. This is not your average salad. It’s bright, herbaceous, slightly tangy,
17 hours ago2 min read
Chinese Collagen Tonic: Snow Fungus Soup for Beauty & Wellness
If you’ve ever wanted a natural, delicious way to nourish your skin and body from the inside out, look no further than the traditional Chinese Collagen Tonic, also known as Snow Fungus Soup or Chinese Beauty Tea . This sweet, soothing dessert soup is more than just a treat, it’s a centuries-old wellness ritual packed with skin-loving and body-boosting ingredients. This soup combines some of nature’s most potent superfoods: Tremella mushroom (white fungus) – Often called nat
Apr 82 min read
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