Nina Manolson

nina@smokinhotmom.com

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Healthy Raw Truffles ~ Video

Posted on December 26, 2011

Have the Holidays taken you down the path of sugary sweets? Is your sweet tooth in full swing? Don’t want to give up your sweets, but know you need to ease up on the amount of sugar you’re consuming? Try this recipe, it’s super sweet but doesn’t contain any refined sugar. It’s also packed with [...]

Vegan Pizza Bagel

Posted on December 10, 2011

My 9 year old daughter is a dancer. She’s been dancing since she was 3, and if given any spare 10 minutes anywhere, she’ll choreograph a dance. She often asks me for a theme, and then she’s off, until I hear “Mom, I’m done.” Then it’s my moment to sit down and be wowed by [...]

Chickpea of the Sea

Posted on December 5, 2011

This recipe was inspired by a wonderful Chickpea of the Sea dish I ate at Kripalu last week. “Very convincing” was my daughter’s comment when she tried it. So, of course I wanted to try to make it at home. This is the label that was next to Kripalu’s version. Here’s my version: Chickpea [...]

Healthy Brown Rice Pudding ~ Non-dairy

Posted on November 20, 2011

Every week in our house we make a bit pot of perfect brown rice in our heart-shaped pot. It’s my husbands job. He soaks the rice overnight in water (for greater digestibility) and then for fullest flavor, we bake our rice. (Here’s how to make perfect brown rice) Most weeks we use the rice for [...]

Healthy Caramel Apples

Posted on October 16, 2011

My mom made the very best caramel apples when I was growing up. They were the real deal. She would boil the sugar ’til it was at the hard-crackle stage, and dip the apples…it was blissful. The only hard part was getting that first bite. As a kid, it was a challenge getting my little [...]

Healthy Halloween? Is it possible? Check out these 5 tips…

Posted on

Check me out here this week talking about how I make Halloween healthy – well…healthier anyway. I was interviewed by the infinitely savvy blogger Rachel Zimmerman from the Commonhealth wbur (Boston’s NPR news source) blog. http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2011/10/five-surprising-tips-for-a-healthier-halloween/ Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, LMT is the Smokin’ Hot Mom Mentor and Family Wellness Expert. She’s the founder of SmokinHotMom.com and HealthyYummyKids.com. [...]

Healthy Travel Tips ~ Video ~ whether you’re getting on a plane or going down the street!

Posted on October 2, 2011

Let’s face it, in our busy culture, it often feels like we’re on the road. We’re carpooling the kids, we’re shlepping them to after-school activities, we’re doing our household errands. We are in motion! This kind of lifestyle calls for us to step up to the plate of self care. We have to prioritize ourselves [...]

Super Easy Raw Cacao Truffles and…Sleep

Posted on September 18, 2011

If you want to feel great – get enough sleep! If you want lose weight or maintain your weight – get enough sleep! If you want to look fabulous – get enough sleep! Yup, I totally know that and teach that. But last week, I had a couple of sleepless nights. I did all my [...]

Super Simple and Scrumptious Asian Salad – with a great kick!

Posted on September 5, 2011

I have a wonderful guest chef for you today! My sister-in-law Petra Kuehl is a total gourmet chef, but she’s not the kind that comes from chef school. She just has it in her taste buds. She can taste something and tell you every subtle spice and herb that’s in there. I call her a [...]

2 Yoga breaths for more joy and energy! ~ Video ~

Posted on August 28, 2011

I’m leaving paradise. : (

Every summer my kids, husband and I visit my mom at her cottage north of Toronto. While I’m there I get into a fabulous groove of doing yoga on the deck every morning.

It’s bliss.

I want to share a bit of that bliss with you and teach you how you can take it into each and every day. I’ll be taking it with me as we head back to city living in Boston.

Watch this video and follow along. Do these super simple breathing exercises with me to see what a difference 2 minutes can make.

Why and How to unplug from technology ~ Video

Posted on August 21, 2011

I admit it, I’m addicted to technology. I text, tweet, post on facebook, have an iphone, ipad and of course a laptop. I’m completely plugged in! …until I unplugged. I went on a canoe/camping trip in Algonquin Park which is in Northern Ontario and spent four challenging but blissful days canoeing. Check out the video [...]

A couple of easy delicious tomato recipes

Posted on August 17, 2011

August is the only time to eat a tomato! They don’t taste like this any other time of the year. In August tomatoes don’t really need a thing on them – they’re that good. But sometimes…a little sea salt is nice. Hmmm, and a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar is lovely, and really it’s [...]

Smoothies: Easy, Kid-Friendly and Nutritious – includes 2 recipes!

Posted on August 10, 2011

This month I wrote a tasty article for the Natural Awakenings magazine. Here’s the original post.
Smoothies are a “pack-and-blend” food. Just pack the blender with nutritious and delicious ingredients, press the button and they’re done! As kids become more independent, they can easily make this healthful snack for themselves.

Purslane – yummy greens with omega fatty acids!

Posted on August 7, 2011

I adore farmer’s markets and wherever, I go I seek them out. This week I visited the Orangeville, Ontario Farmer’s Market, and loved what I found at the Plowshare Farm stand. They’re conscientious, organic growers. You can learn more about them at www.PlowShareFarm.WordPress.com. They had Purslane! It’s not a veggie I find often in stores [...]

[video] Health Coaches talk about what makes them Smokin’ Hot

Posted on July 24, 2011

I couldn’t help help but be inspired by the shiny hair, glowing skin, bright eyes and optimistic outlook of my colleagues. These are women and men who radiate health and wellness from the inside out. They are the epitome of Smokin Hot!

In fact, I was so inspired, I wanted to share my experience with you. So I pulled out my video camera and…

I won and I’m going to Costa Rica! ~ Video ~

Posted on July 7, 2011

I’ve never won a thing in my life. No little raffle, no big jackpot. I’ve never won anything that has to do with luck. But I’ve won a lot of things that had to do with setting my intention, working my tush off, and staying open to what life has to offer. That’s how I [...]

Healthy Lemon or Lemon Poppyseed Cake – Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Dairy-free

Posted on June 30, 2011

If you’ve been following my blog you already know that I’ve gone cake crazy! A couple of posts ago, I reported that I had made 7 cakes in 25 days. That’s 1 cake every 3 1/2 days! (Here’s that story) Now, I’m not sure if I’m proud of what I’m about to tell you or [...]

10 years of Beach Yoga in Chatham, MA!

Posted on June 18, 2011

For 10 years Valerie Twomey, one of my very favorite yoga teachers, has been teaching yoga at Lighthouse Beach in Chatham MA! Happy 10th Anniversary Chatham Beach Yoga! Happily, my dear friend Julie and and I have been enjoying the bliss of doing yoga with her each year. Today was the first class of the summer [...]

Healthy Vanilla Bean Cake – Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Grain-Free

Posted on June 11, 2011

I’ve made this delicious, easy and healthy cake 7 times in the past 25 days! Besides YUM, all I have to say is thank you Kelly Brozyna of The Spunky Coconut for the recipe! I always feel like a Smokin’ Hot Mom when I put a cake on the table that I know is healthy and [...]

Healthy Nutella – with a hint of orange

Posted on May 31, 2011

I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like Nutella! Really, what’s not to like: sweet, creamy, chocolatey and nutty all at the same time. The only problem is that as much as I have loved Nutella in my lifetime – and I have truly loved Nutella (in fact when I was sixteen years old and bicycling [...]

Raw Chocolate Mousse

Posted on May 16, 2011

This needs no introduction except that it’s divine and low on the glycemic index (which means it won’t spike your blood sugar levels). Raw Chocolate Mousse! This recipe is Nomi Shannon’s – with a couple of my changes and suggestions. Nomi makes great simple raw recipes, and her classic raw cookbook The Raw Gourmet is [...]

Best Mothers’ Day Gift Ever – The 21 Day Smokin’ Hot Mom Challenge

Posted on May 3, 2011

If you’ve been following my blog (or newsletter, or facebook or twitter) or have been within 10 feet of me(!) – you probably know that I’m offering a new program….which starts this Thursday May 5th!!! The 21 Day Smokin’ Hot Mom Challenge. The 21 Day Smokin’ Hot Mom Challenge is three weeks of yum and [...]

The joy of Eden Organic – Recipes and 20% off

Posted on April 29, 2011

I don’t often toot the horn of prepared or packaged food, but I have to tell you I have a longstanding love affair with Eden Organic. They make healthy food really easy. I want to tell you about them in case you don’t know about them, or haven’t checked out their recipes online. But, just [...]

What is a Smokin’ Hot Mom? ~ Video ~

Posted on April 21, 2011

What is a Smokin’ Hot Mom? (This video is just over a minute) It turns out that I’m not the only one who wants to be a Smokin’ Hot Mom! Since I’ve launched the 21 Day Smokin’ Hot Mom Challenge, and announced the Free Kick Off Call: the 7 Steps to Being A Smokin’ Hot [...]

Healthy Passover Candy – Imberlach

Posted on April 16, 2011

Here’s something you may not know about me. In my family, I’m known as The Queen of the Imberlach! Imberlach is a an old-timey passover candy. Imber in Yiddish means ginger. Traditional Imberlach recipes are basically matzah and ginger brittle. For over 20 years, one of my jobs at Passover time has been to make [...]

My mother’s simple salad dressing – My Smokin’ Hot Mom!

Posted on April 13, 2011

In case you haven’t heard yet, I’ve just launched my new program, the 21 Day Smokin’ Hot Mom Challenge! I’m kicking it off with a free teleclass: The 7 Steps to being a Smokin’ Hot Mom! You can reserve your spot in the free call here, and learn more about the 21 Day SHM Challenge [...]

Super Salad Sprinkles – How to eat healthy when you travel

Posted on April 9, 2011

Super Salad Sprinkles are my secret weapon when it comes to eating healthy when I travel. It turns out that this spring is turning into a busy travel time. Within the last two weeks, I’ve been to a rejuvenating overnight spiritual retreat and an inspiring business workshop. Next week, I’m heading to Toronto to see family [...]

7 Steps to being a Smokin’ Hot Mom – Free Teleclass!

Posted on April 8, 2011

Perhaps you are like me and secretly, or not so secretly you want to be a Smokin’ Hot Mom! Sign up here to reserve your spot on the 7 Steps to Being a Smokin’ Hot Mom Call I know from experience that being a crazy-busy mom, running around for everyone else, can make you feel [...]

How to make Pumpkin Seed Butter – so easy!

Posted on March 23, 2011

This pumpkin seed butter is a hit with my kids! Frankly, I wasn’t really expecting it to be, it’s not the most attractive color. But the touch of honey and its nice texture won them over. I’ve been playing with seeds a lot lately, because one of my kids’ schools is nut-free, and the other [...]

Healthy Eating Strategies for School-Age Kids

Posted on March 17, 2011

A new magazine was born this week – Natural Awakenings! It’s a great local monthly loaded with healthy living resources. I’m featured in this month’s issue. Kim Childs wrote a great piece about how my B.E.E. strategy helps parents “bee” an advocate for healthy eating in their family. It’s basically a sneak peak of one [...]

This week’s favorite recipe books

Posted on March 11, 2011

Recipe books are inspiration to me. When I first started to cook they were instructional manuals – I adhered closely to what they said – to learn how to cook. After many delicious and terrible meals, I’m more comfortable in the kitchen. I play more with the recipes, exploring variations and ingredients. I [...]

Japanese Grocery Store Tour and Seaweed Sprinkles

Posted on February 27, 2011

Whenever I travel to new places, I always wander through the local grocery store, or farmer’s market. I call it food tourism. I learn about different food and cultures (and of course, experience many taste thrills). So, I was especially delighted when my friend Tomoko Shibuya announced she was leading a Japanese Grocery Store Tour, [...]

2 great blog post about the benefits of Licorice Root

Posted on February 23, 2011

My family got turned on to Licorice Root a few years ago when I took my daughter, who had the kind of cough that shakes your whole body, to our acupuncturist. The first thing he did, before he started to treat her with acupuncture, was to ease her hacking by having her suck on a [...]

Health Coaching in Oprah Magazine!

Posted on February 22, 2011

Yay! Getting into Oprah is kind of like shouting from the rooftop! “Have you ever lost weight, only to find the pounds creeping back on just a few months later? Or vowed to eat a healthier diet but found it too hard to decipher food labels or set aside time to cook? If you’re having trouble meeting a health goal, or if you’ve tried in the [...]

How to make perfect Brown Rice

Posted on February 14, 2011

A few years ago I received this wonderful pot on Valentine’s Day from my honey. It’s become our brown rice pot. We make a big pot of rice in the beginning of the week, so we always have a quick healthy base for our dinners. This Brown Rice always comes out perfect. The secret is…

Confessions of a Vita-Mix Addict!

Posted on February 8, 2011

You know I love my Vita-mix, but really it’s heavy! And, this year I thought maybe I should just leave it at home. But I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t face the thought of my morning without my power drink. So, I thought I would compromise and… gasp!…bring a smaller blender…

Honeyed Walnuts – the easiest sweet-treat ever!

Posted on January 25, 2011

You may be wondering “What the heck are you going to do with 20 lbs of honey!”

Well, I use honey for baking, for raw deserts and for medicinal purposes.

But the current, most popular use of our new “rough/raw” honey is Honeyed Walnuts.

Eat Local Honey – talking to Mike Graney

Posted on January 18, 2011

Those big white buckets are brimming with Raw Honey and the bag next to it is packed with bee pollen. I’m a total Raw Honey and Bee product fan. In addition to being luscious and sweet, honey is a Superfood. Raw honey is known to: strengthen the immune system aid in digestion increase energy It’s also [...]

Most popular posts for 2010

Posted on January 5, 2011

The folks at WordPress just sent me my blog statistics. Here are my most viewed posts of 2010. Top Attractions in 2010 Healthy Pie in 3 minutes! Video! Healthy Ginger Cookies – Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free Raw Quinoa Salad – make Quinoa even more nutritious! Green Smoothie Video- Healthy Start for 2010! Healthy Rice Crispy Squares [...]

My New Year’s Gift To You

Posted on January 1, 2011

I’m so excited to give you this healthy new year’s gift!
I created Ten Tasty Salads, an ebook, to help fill your year with tasty-wellness!
These salads are super easy and delicious. Just Email me at Nina@BodyAliveBodyAware.com with the subject line – Ten Tasty Salads and I’ll send you the ebook. It’s my gift to you. HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

Healthy Chocolate Fudge – Raw, Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Posted on December 17, 2010

How do I stay clear of all the sugar-laden sweets that are everywhere during this season (actually, year round as well)? I make my own healthy versions! What I love about this Healthy Fudge recipe is that you can make it an everyday treat or dress it up for company. Also, it’s protein-rich, so you won’t [...]

Raw Cacao Truffles – Healthy candy!

Posted on December 14, 2010

These rich tasting truffles are a treat that treats you well!

They are easy and quick to make. I often whip them up for a quick desert for company. But, I must say they are perfect to keep on hand for when you need a little sweet treat for yourself.

Healthy Holiday Strategies

Posted on December 7, 2010

Today you’ll find me over at the Arlington Patch in Kim Child’s column, giving advice about staying healthy during the holiday season. In it, I talk about my “Four Go’s” Method for eating at holiday gatherings. Check out the article to learn more about how these tenets can help you: Go Sated Go Green Go Quality [...]

How to eat Tamarind Fruit – healthy candy

Posted on December 5, 2010

Who knew Sweet-Tarts grew on trees? Well they do, in the form of Tamarind.

I eat Tamarind Fruit when I’m looking for a special sweet treat. They taste kind of like a date, but not as intensely sweet and with a wonderful tangy flavor.

Raw Cranberry Sauce

Posted on November 18, 2010

This cranberry sauce is quick and easy. It’s so much healthier than traditional Cranberry Sauce because it’s not packed with refined sugar. And, it’s versatile:

It fits in beautifully with a traditional thanksgiving meal.
It’s superb served on top of my super easy healthy squash pie
I even eat it on it’s own as a treat with chopped walnuts and raw honey drizzled on top.
It takes one minute to make.

Natural Remedies for Colds, Coughs, and feeling crummy – for kids and adults

Posted on November 14, 2010

My kids had the cough, sore-throat, feeling-lousy, sneezles this weekend.
This is what we do in our house to ease the symptoms and speed the healing.

How to make Ginger Tea – an effective and easy natural remedy

Posted on November 5, 2010

Ginger Tea is one of my favorite easy, natural home remedies. When my family has a sore throat, cold, flu, nausea or any digestive upset, I make ginger tea. Having fresh ginger on hand is key in making this a remedy you can just whip up. The trick to having ginger at-the-ready is to freeze [...]

Healthy Halloween Tips – Halloween at our house

Posted on October 27, 2010

“So, do you let your kids eat candy on Halloween?” Being a Health Coach I get this question a fair amount.

Here’s how we have in the past and currently handle Halloween in our house.

Healthy Snacks For Kids

Posted on October 21, 2010

This week I taught one of my favorite classes: “Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t: Let’s Talk Sugar” at The Congregational Church in Needham MA. It was such a privilege to be in a room of enthusiastic parents who are committed to their families’ wellness! We had such fun, we ate my [...]

Salad Club – Healthy Eating at Work!

Posted on October 15, 2010

Talk about practicing what you preach!

I learned a powerful wellness tool from my lunch meeting today…….every 5 minutes or so, someone would walk into their office for a plate of salad!

It was Salad Club Day!

Thursday is Salad Club day at Internal Medicine. It’s absolutely brilliant and simple!

Here’s how it works:

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