Today I invite you to meet my sister and dear friend in wellness, Maria Cecilia Gomez.  She is my guest blogger, who contributes her Hispanic perspective with her love for the Eat Clean lifestyle, even while celebrating.

 

Maria is a delight and an inspiration to all who meet her. Her love for fitness and Eating Clean® is evident in her life.  She walks the talk, working out with ferocity, feeding her family clean foods, even when on the road and teaching others about her lifestyle passions.  She is a brilliant light with a loving soul.  

 

I invited Maria to write today’s blog for Cinco de Mayo because of Maria’s Hispanic roots.  When I asked Maria to write for me, she was not in a good place emotionally as her dear mother had just passed.  She expressed concern that she wasn’t sure if she could handle both her grief and the writing.  After a few days she realized it was not a coincidence that I reached out.  

 

In her words, “For a minute I saw my mom in heaven thinking “who can contact Maria and ask her to do something she will not refuse? This way, Maria will stop crying and feel a little better.”  Maria and I both felt it was divinely orchestrated and you have the result here in your hands.  

 

Please read with joy.  You are receiving beautiful words from a beautiful soul.  

 

Thank you Maria, for sharing your perspective and your love with us.  I am holding you near and dear now and always. 

 

Love, Tosca

Tasty and clean companions to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

As a Venezuelan immigrant in the United States of America, I recognize that Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, but I tend to celebrate the holiday by honoring our Hispanic heritage and diversity. I’m extremely proud to be a part of the Hispanic community and share it with my family.

Since moving to the United States, I’ve been introduced to some foods that have become staples in my kitchen. They are simple, clean and most importantly quick recipes that provide tons of flavor and good fats.  

What better a way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than snack on some healthy, chock-full of good fat guacamole and fresh pico de gallo. There’s no need to trash your diet or sabotage your workouts with a basket of chips; both of these recipes are excellent companions to any grilled protein.

Guacamole

Ingredients

·         3 ripe avocados

·         ½ cup chopped red onions

·         1-2 jalapeños chopped

·         ½ bunch cilantro finely chopped

·         Juice of 2 lemons

·         ½ tsp Salt (adjust to taste)

·         ½ tsp white pepper

·         ½ tsp garlic powder

Method:

Mash avocado with a fork until creamy. Place all remaining ingredients in bowl and mix.

 

Pico de Gallo

Ingredients

·         4 ripe tomatoes chopped

·         1 medium onion chopped

·         1-2 jalapeños chopped

·         ½ bunch cilantro finely chopped

·         Juice of 2-3 lemons

·         1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)

 

Method:

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix.