top of page
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.
Home: Welcome
Search
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
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
Home: Blog2
Contact
Home: Contact
Home: Instagram
Home: Subscribe
Basbousa (Semolina Cake)
Basbousa is one of those desserts that instantly feels like home. Soft, sweet, buttery, and soaked in fragrant syrup, this classic North African and Southwest Asian semolina cake has been loved for generations across Egypt, Lebanon, and beyond. The beauty of Basbousa lies in its simplicity; humble pantry ingredients come together to create a rich, melt-in-your-mouth dessert that pairs perfectly with coffee or tea. What makes this recipe especially special is its balance of te
May 282 min read
Ful Medames: A Simple, Flavor-Packed Breakfast You’ll Want on Repeat
If you’re looking for a comforting, protein-rich dish that comes together with pantry staples, Ful Medames deserves a spot in your kitchen rotation. This traditional North African and Southwest Asian fava bean dish is hearty, fresh, and surprisingly easy to make at home. What makes Ful Medames so special is the balance of warm, savory beans with crisp fresh vegetables and herbs layered on top. It’s filling without feeling heavy, and every bite is packed with texture and flavo
May 202 min read
Home: Blog Post Gallery
bottom of page