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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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St. Patrick’s Day Hot Chocolate
Such a fun and festive green hot chocolate to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. If you are like me and worry about dyes especially if you have...
marinashaker
Mar 10, 20231 min read
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Ingredients: - 1/2 cup chia seeds - 2 tbsp Agave - 2 tbsp Cocoa powder - 1.5 cups Milk - 1 tsp vanilla 1. In a bowl, mix ingredients well...
marinashaker
Mar 8, 20231 min read
Zuppa Tuscana
If one of your favorite soups at Olive Garden is zuppa Tuscana like me then you are going to want to stick around for this one. Ingredients: 1 bundle kale 5 russet Potatoes 1 cup Cream 1 onion 6 garlic cloves 8 cups chicken stock 1 lb Sweet Italian sausage Parmesan 5 Bacon strips Crisp up 4-5 bacon strips them set aside on a paper towel. Cook onions in some of the bacon fat. Add Italian sausage and cook until brown. Add garlic, potatoes and broth. Allow to come to a slow boil
marinashaker
Mar 6, 20231 min read
Pear Gorgonzola Salad
This might just be the prettiest salad I have ever made and I have made A Lot of salads! Ingredients: 1 pear sliced 3 cups Mixture do...
marinashaker
Feb 28, 20231 min read
Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
Who doesn't love a potato recipe. This one is perfect as an appetizer or a side dish with your main course. Ingredients: 10 oz golden...
marinashaker
Feb 22, 20231 min read
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Once you make a home made hot chocolate, you won't go back to a prepackaged one. Mostly because of how easy it is, and it's ingredients are so simple. You probably already have it all in your pantry. My favorite part is personalizing them for holidays and occasions like these Valentine's Day ones. Ingredients: 2 tbsp cocoa powder 2 tbsp sugar 2 cups milk 1/3 cup chocolate chips 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp cinnamon Mix all your ingredients together in a sauce pan over medium heat.
marinashaker
Feb 20, 20231 min read
Easy bulgogi recipe
The first time I tried bulgogi, I thought it was so flavorful that it must have been marinated for hours. But I have since learned that...
marinashaker
Feb 15, 20231 min read
Yogurt Toast (Valentine’s Day edition)
The obsession with this yogurt toast was for good reason in 2022. It is basically a healthier cheese danish. So simple to make and delicious. Most importantly you can make it extra special for each holiday or occasion. Ingredients: 4 brioche loaf slices 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 egg 1 5 oz yogurt (I like vanilla but you can choose any you like) 2 tbsp agave syrup Directions: 1. In a bowl, mix yogurt, egg, agave syrup and vanilla extract. 2. Using a cookie cutter or using um you
marinashaker
Feb 12, 20231 min read
Pink Pasta
This viral pink pasta is perfect for Valentine's Day or for a picky toddler. It is filled with flavor and the pink color comes from beets. Ingredients: 1 can beets drained (save 1/2 cup juice) 1/3 cup Pine nuts 1/2 package of Rigatoni 3 Garlic cloves 1/3 cup Olive oil 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup Pasta water 8 oz feta block Feta cheese Fresh basil Directions: In a blender, mix beets, feta, garlic and olive oil. Cook pasta and save 1 cup pasta water . In a pan, add mixture
marinashaker
Feb 11, 20231 min read
Butter Cake
It is my goal to bake more in 2023 and I thought this simple butter cake would be a good start. What I love about this cake is that you...
marinashaker
Feb 8, 20231 min read
Chili Oil Ramen Hack
Turn a fifty cent ramen packet into a flavorful meal. With only a few simple ingredients, you can make this delicious meal in under 15...
marinashaker
Jan 30, 20231 min read
The Perfect Scrambled Eggs
I only recently learned of tips and tricks to perfect scrambled eggs and they come out perfect every single time. The biggest tips: Start...
marinashaker
Jan 28, 20231 min read
Simple Homemade Pickles
The easiest home made pickles. I love making these because you likely already have all the ingredients in your home. I also love to make...
marinashaker
Jan 26, 20231 min read
Lemon Spaghetti
If you are looking for a 15 minute dinner and you love pasta, look no further. I always say that food is my love language and pasta is...
marinashaker
Jan 24, 20231 min read
Homemade Pesto
How many of us have gone through a week without using a box of their greens they were going to use for a salad. If you have greens that...
marinashaker
Jan 22, 20231 min read
Garlic Butter Mushrooms
One of my favorite side dishes to make next to steak or chicken are these super easy garlic butter nushrooms. Ingredients: 16oz Baby...
marinashaker
Jan 18, 20231 min read
Pull apart garlic cheese bread
This simple recipe is great for appetizers year round. With only a few simple ingredients, it Is so flavorful and as always, easy to put...
marinashaker
Jan 5, 20231 min read
Sparkling Pomegranate Orange Vodka Cocktail
Perfect for New Years and all throughout the holidays. This drink is light but will get you a good buzz and if you are not into alcohol,...
marinashaker
Dec 31, 20221 min read
Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup
Soup season is the best season. This comforting soup is easy and super cozy for a night in. What I love about it is that you can change out the protein for anything you want. My favorites are Italian sausage or chicken. Ingredients: 1 Yellow onion 2 Carrots 2 Celery 2 Italian sausage links 1 lb Gnocchi 1 cup Cream 2 cups chopped Spinach 5 garlic cloves 4 cups Bone broth 1 cup shredded Parmesan Salt & pepper Seasoning: garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chicken b
marinashaker
Dec 27, 20221 min read
Chocolate Peppermint Shake
A year round favorite with a holiday twist. Chocolate and peppermint are a top holiday pairing. Ingredients: 1 Banana 5 Dates 1 cup milk...
marinashaker
Dec 25, 20221 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,
5 days 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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