PREPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS | GABY DALKIN

We've been fans of Gaby Dalkin for a number of years and always enjoy seeing when she has new products that come out with Williams Sonoma which takes our tastebuds to the next level. A few years ago during the pandemic, we caught up with her to talk about her brand and products that had recently launched, so when we had the opportunity to touchbase with her again ahead of the holiday season - we had to catch up with her as she always has something going on, dish on grilling, getting her tips on how to navigate the holiday season when you're hosting from preparing, cooking, and of course cleaning up! We also wanted to see how we can be ready for all the planning of holiday gatherings whether we know in advance or an impromptu get together makes itself known!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have had the pleasure of interviewing you a few years ago as you had introduced various seasonings that would take our brunch and breakfast to the next level so clearly, we know you have ideas when it comes to Thanksgiving as well! Before we get into the upcoming holiday, what have you been up to and tell us about your new cookbook!

GABY DALKIN: The new cookbook is called Grilling and it comes out next May! There are recipes that are definitely Thanksgiving-adjacent – we live in California so obviously we grill all year round, but there are a ton of grilled salads and root vegetables that can easily translate to Thanksgiving.

AM: With its focus on grilling, tell us what you enjoy about grilling?

GD: I have a California state of mind at all times – I think it’s a really healthy way to live and maximize time outside. I’m always looking to get outside and grill because the flavor that comes to your food from grilling is extraordinary. It’s the same as roasting, which we’ll be doing a lot of this Thanksgiving. I also love that you can have a lot of people around you when you’re grilling and be entertaining while cooking but I think what I’m most excited about is to break into a very male-dominated world of grilling as a female!

AM: In many ways, Thanksgiving has many dishes that are staples for many of us while also having the ability to have various twists on it. Tell us a recipe that we can include as we prepare for the holiday season!

GD: I’m a stuffing girl through and through and this recipe for the Ultimate Cheesy Herb Sourdough Stuffing that I did for Finish® is quite possibly the best stuffing you’ll ever make. I’m obsessed with it – it’s bubbly and cheesy and bready and everything about it is what you want on your Thanksgiving table. And you don’t have to worry about clean-up because if you’re stocked with Finish® Ultimate dishwashing tabs like I am, those tough to clean, burnt-on stains from the stuffing will come right off in the dishwasher.

AM: Thanksgiving has a lot of moving parts and we have talked with a number of culinary experts and chefs on what that timeline looks like as it begins prior to Turkey Day! What should be our timeline that we incorporate when it comes to purchasing items, prepping, etc to reduce the stress that this holiday can create.

GD: Funny you should ask! Finish® and I put together The Ultimate Thanksgiving Timer, an epic timeline that has everything you need for Thanksgiving – from when you should start shipping, when to start the table, when to start various dishes, it’s got you covered. If you go to UltimateThanksgivingExperience.com, you can sign up and it’ll send you reminders on what to do on certain days and keep you on track. I’m sure most hosts out there can relate, but I love making lists and crossing things off, so it’s a great tool to make things easier on such a hectic day.

AM: When you're hosting Thanksgiving at home, what are things that we should have on hand and how should the actual day be constructed so that we're getting meals on the table that are hot and on time, while also still being able to be with friends and family!

GD: I have three parts to this answer – first is to make sure your pantry and fridge are stocked with every ingredient that you need. Make your list and check it twice and do as much of your grocery shopping as you can ahead of time.

Next is to set the table a day or two before Thanksgiving. You can pick out your glassware and have different platters selected that you’re serving on and save yourself a step Thanksgiving morning.

The third part is to make sure your cabinets are stocked with Finish Ultimate – it works in the toughest conditions to take care of burnt-on stains so that when you’re done cooking and entertaining, clean-up is a breeze and you’re not spending hours cleaning your kitchen.

AM: The clean up is always that segment that seems the most daunting as you want to clean throughout, but it seems no matter how you stay on top of that, you're still left with a lot to do after the big feast, what are some tips that you can share with us?

GD: I always say to clean as you go. For me, loading my dishwasher and running it in the morning after I’ve completed as much prep as I can and then unloading it and having it ready to go for people’s arrival is a huge pro tip. Make sure you have Finish Ultimate and Jet Dry loaded in your dishwasher as well so everything comes out sparkling and ready to be put away or used in some fashion. This may also be controversial, but I’m very particular about how my dishwasher is loaded, so I’ll allow my guests to move their dishes to the counter and I’ll load it – it makes my life easier because then I don't have to worry about people's loading habits. So choose your clean-up plan of attack wisely!

AM: Thanksgiving kicks off a myriad of holiday events all the way into the New Year! What are things that we should have on hand in order to be ready for impromptu gatherings that we may host or to bring with us to thank those for having us?

GD: I would say have a handful of cheese and crackers is always helpful. If you’re going to be serving drinks, have a stocked drink fridge and cool ice prepped and ready to go in your freezer. I would always have some puff pastry in your freezer and a wheel of brie in your fridge so you can whip up a baked brie in a moments notice - that’s never going to upset anyone! And make sure you have cocktail napkins, Finish® Ultimate and plenty of paper towels.

If you're in the midst of planning your Thanksgiving meal or other holiday gatherings, we couldn't let Gaby go without finding out about how to make her Ultimate Cheesy Herb Sourdough Stuffing.

ULTIMATE CHEESY HERB SOURDOUGH STUFFING

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf Sourdough bread with crust cut into 1-inch cubes (roughly 8 cups)

• 10 tablespoons butter

• 2 shallots, finely sliced

• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped

• 2 bunches green onions, thinly sliced

• ¾ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

• 3 large garlic cloves, minced

• 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 3 large eggs

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 6 ounces coarsely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread the ripped or cubed bread on large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until bread is dry, about 15 minutes. Cool.

Melt 10 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and celery and saute for 5-6 minutes. Add green onions, all the herbs, garlic, salt and pepper and sauté until celery is tender, 6 to 8 minutes more.

Generously grease a large skillet or ceramic baking dish. Place bread cubes in very large bowl. Add warm vegetable mixture; toss to combine.

Whisk eggs and ¾ cup broth in medium bowl. Add egg mixture to stuffing and toss to coat. Mix in Parmesan.

Add more broth (about ½ to ¾ cup) to stuffing if dry. Transfer to skillet or ceramic baking dish. Cover with buttered foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Serve in baking vessel or transfer to a serving platter.

IG @whatsgabycookin

PHOTO CREDITS | Matt Armendariz

Read the OCT ISSUE #94 of Athleisure Mag and see PREPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS | Gaby Dalkin in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | PURPLE CARROT

When it comes to a well balanced and optimal culinary lifestyle, regardless of your diet, having a plant-based diet for a portion of your meals is encouraged whether you have a meat based diet, are a pescatarian, vegan or vegetarian. As we are at home creating an array of dishes, implementing elements from a subscription box is a great way to create a meal that give you the necessary ingredients and directions.

Purple Carrot is a plant-based subscription meal delivery box that allows you to become introduced to this style of eating as well as playing with your veggies in a positive way! When you incorporate this into your diet, you decrease the chance of high blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and lower the risk of diabetes.

It's worth noting that there are over 20,000 edible plants on the planet! When you receive your box, you're not only reducing the carbon footprint versus going to the grocery store, but you receive sample surprises, chef tips and tricks, and contests.

As you build your boxes, you add in breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. You can select those meals that are familiar to you as well as those that you're excited to try that you have yet to have. You'll find that you won't be bored as every week has a new assortment of menus that your tastebuds can navigate.

As you select your desired meals, you can select between 2 and 4 servings, opt between an array of dietary needs (high-protein, gluten-free, quick & easy, Chef's Choice or customize your meal), add flexibility with additional meal options and should you need to pause, you can do this as well.

PURPLE CARROT

www.purplecarrot.com

IG @purplecarrotxo

Read the May Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Purple Carrot in mag.

10 MUST-HAVE KITCHEN GADGETS FOR CREATING HEALTHY MEALS

Do you need a little help cooking and crafting healthy meals? Here are 10 kitchen essentials every chef should have in their arsenal.

Great food is one of the true joys of life. And these days, more and more people are learning the value of maintaining a healthy diet.

When you're ready to start eating healthy, you'll probably need some help in the kitchen. That means you will want to buy the proper kitchen tools for cooking healthy.

Fortunately, this article takes a look at some of the best kitchen tools for creating meals that will benefit both your health and appetite. Keep reading to see a list of must-have kitchen tools that will help take your cooking skills to the next level. 

1. A Set of Quality Kitchen Knives

When it comes to getting serious work prep done in the kitchen, one of the most important smartest purchases you can make is to invest in quality cutlery.

Sure, you can save a few bucks and buy cheap knives, but nothing makes cooking more of a pleasure than slicing with a high-quality blade. The key is to buy durable stainless steel knives that will slice super thin and hold a sharpened edge.

If you've never used high-end kitchen knives, get ready, because it's truly a life-changing experience. 

2. A Quality Blender

When you're wanting to eat healthier, you'll discover the value of blending foods for smoothies and other tasty drinks and recipes. 

Yet there's nothing more frustrating than a cheap blender that continuously jams, breaks, or simply doesn't perform the task the way you need it to.

Investing in a quality blender will be one of the best purchasing you ever make for your kitchen. You'll discover the joy of effortlessly pulverizing your favorite fruits and vegetables, as well as ice, seeds, and other ingredients necessary for preparing healthy and delicious recipes. 

3. A Steamer Basket

No healthy diet is complete without plenty of fresh vegetables. And series veggie-heads know that the best tool for preparing vegetables for dinner is a steamer basket.

This classic kitchen gadget allows you to easily lower veggies into a pot of boiling water, and then simply lift them out when they are properly steamed.

Keep in mind that you don't want to boil your veggies, but simply steam them. That's what makes this tool so handy. After all, the steamer basket suspends your veggies about the boiling water so that the steam can reach them without the super-heated water washing away the nutrients.

This is a classic for a reason. It gets the job done simply and efficiently each and every time.

4. An Instant Pot

An Instant Pot is a kitchen tool that allows you to slow-cook meals during the day while you're away from the house.

Do you find it exhausting returning home to prepare dinner following a long day at work? Most people can relate. That's the beauty of the Instant Pot. 

This nifty electronic cooking pot makes it possible to return home to a hot meal that's ready to enjoy the moment you walk in the door.

Simply chop up your favorite veggies such as carrots and potatoes, add some beans and ham or roast, and let it slow simmer all day long.

You'll come home to a house that smells amazing, and the only decision left to make is who's turn it is to do the dishes.

5. A Spiralizer

Here is another kitchen gadget that will make you wonder how you ever lived without it. 

Healthy diets require a lot of vegetables and other heart-healthy ingredients. After all, you will want to make a lot of salads for lunches and dinners. That's where a spiralizer saves the day.

This is a gadget that reduces a full-size item such as vegetables, fruit, cheese, or meat in a cute spiral that will make your salad look like it came from a 5-star restaurant.

Not only will your salad look great, but prep time will also be cut in half. Simply feed a food item gently through the blades, and presto, a stylish spiral of carrots, tomatoes, or pepper will come out the other end.

What could be easier and more fun than that?!

6. Good Measuring Spoons & Cups

Having good measuring spoons and cups in your kitchen might not seem like a big deal, but they are actually key to a healthy diet.

Accurate measurements are crucial to creating great recipes. Yet many people fail to use accurate measuring tools in the kitchen.

Measuring spoons and cups are easy to take for granted, but adding the perfect amount of ingredients can make the difference between a meal that will make your mouth water and a dish that falls short of expectations.

7. A Digital Scale

Again, the ability to accurately measure ingredients while cooking is extremely important to a great culinary experience.

Along with quality measuring spoons and cups, we strongly recommend investing in a digital scale. This will help take the guesswork out of the most complicated dishes, and your tastebuds will thank you.

8. Quality Storage Containers

Leftovers are a part of life. In fact, leftovers are often more fun than the original meal. And the key to getting the most out of healthy leftovers is quality storage containers. This is certainly not the place to try and save a few dollars.

9. Quality Cookware Sets

Next, be sure to invest in quality cookware sets. Believe it or not, this is the secret to making the cooking experience fun and satisfying. Treat yourself to a great set, and you'll never regret it.

The Kitchen Witches' guide to top cookware sets will make cooking in your kitchen a true delight.

10. A Tomato Slicer

No meal is complete without tomatoes. A good tomato slicer will produce perfect slices each and every time. 

The Best Kitchen Tools for Cooking Healthy

There's never been a better time to start cooking healthy. Fortunately, the items contained here can help you get started right.

Don't forget to bookmark our site to never miss our latest posts! 

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

DOES LOSING WEIGHT MEAN HAVING TO GO HUNGRY?

For many people losing weight is synonymous with restriction and sacrifice. In an effort to acquire the body of their dreams, patients obsess over every calorie and cut too many corners, leaving their body starved and tired. Dr. Niket Sonpal, an NYC Internist and Gastroenterologist, tells us malnourishment is not the key to a healthy lifestyle and could be the “gateway into difficult health problems.”

Dr. Sonpal, who is an Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Associate Director of Brookdale Hospital's Residency Program, says, “Starving yourself is a technique that quickly backfires on patients. It can cause ma ss to be stored, water to accumulate, and hormone imbalances, among other things. If we aren’t careful about our nutrition and our weight loss, we can end up worse than when we started.”

Hunger is defined by bodily sensations ranging from mild pains in the abdominal region, headaches, mood changes, a decline in energy or light-headedness. These sensations signal the body’s instinct that it needs to replenish energy by consuming food. Biological cues arising from hunger inform the body of what to how to operate some of its essential functions to adapt to your circumstance. Remember though society has evolved tenfold since the first Neanderthals roamed the earth, our biological instincts are still quite similar, and hunger is at the center of how our body assesses its ability to survive. Simply put, if our body is not receiving the energy it needs, it will adapt its functions to survive what it perceives as hard times. During this adapting period, we can undergo mild to serious health implications that run contrary to our overall goals of losing weight and improving our health.

Here are 6 Major Reasons to Refrain from Starving Yourself and what to do instead:

Your Metabolism

Prolonging your body’s state of hunger regularly and for extended periods can cause your system to slow down your energy expenditure during periods of rest. Your Basal Metabolical Rate dictates how much energy your body burns in order to fuel your essential bodily functions while at rest. In the absence of regular and consistent nourishment, your body may begin to store energy, often in the form of fat.

Many people get caught up in an unhealthy obsession with calories. While calorie counting is sometimes necessary to get rid of stubborn fat and techniques like intermittent fasting can help people jumpstart their metabolism. Studies show that for people who are already obese or lack muscle while packing excess body fat, extended periods of hunger can worsen their situation.

To avoid going down the path of starvation and fat storage, start to slowly and sustainably build a schedule and regiment that has you eating high volumes of low calorie and low carb foods. Vegetables and lean proteins are your friends. Instead of eating two or three huge meals, space them out throughout the day with space for small healthy snacks that keep your energy up throughout the day.

Stress and Bingeing

Hunger and stress have an interesting relationship. People come in a great many varieties, and they react to stress differently. However, it is common for stress, in short doses, to decrease appetite. Prolonged stress, on the other hand, can lead people to binge-eat, especially if someone has developed the habit of food-for-comfort over time. Hunger, prolonged periods of fasting, and eating disorders can increase the body’s production of cortisol, known as the stress hormone. This can make you moody, anxious, and uncontrolled. Stress also inhibits our ability to control our appetite, often leading to overconsumption of calories. Once your system becomes overwhelmed with stress, you break, and the result may very well be binge eating.

Instead, focus on eating as healthily as possible without sacrificing the fulfillment of feeling nourished. If you have a craving for sweets or some treat, navigate the situation reasonably. For example, if you are a fan of chocolate, as many of us are, treat yourself to a piece of dark chocolate after dinner. Dark chocolate is an excellent way to get a taste of cocoa without overdoing the sugar. As for your cortisol production, don’t revolve your entire life around dieting and counting calories. Take time to run outside and feel the sun. Working out is a natural stimulant of endorphins, the hormones that help us feel good. Endorphins are also helpful in helping relieve stress and pain.

Your Calorie Intake Helps Dictate Your Calorie Output

As previously mentioned, our bodies burn calories daily to cover our essential bodily functions while at rest. Reducing calories in an extreme way can reduce the number of calories you regularly burn in an extreme way also. This makes it more difficult over time to lose weight, maintain weight, and remain lean. This is especially true for people who are predisposed to having a hard time shedding pounds, such as postmenopausal women and people with a family history of high cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity.

Instead, focus on the quality of your calories. 200 calories of broccoli will not affect your body the same way as 200 calories of ice cream. Giving our bodies an appropriate amount of food at an appropriate amount of calories is key to our metabolic health. The best way to cover our bases on the calorie front and on the hunger front, meaning fulfilling our energy needs while still satisfying our hunger is to eat foods that are high on nutrients, fiber and vitamins.

Hydration is key to your health

In their incessant battle for an “Instagram-worthy” body, people concentrate overwhelmingly on the solid foods they eat and very little on the liquids they drink. Needless to say, our bodies are dependent on water to help keep them regulated, hydrated and refreshed. If we are dieting like madmen while drinking sugary drinks, dairy products, and alcohol all the time, we are essentially counteracting everything we have accomplished at the gym and the dinner table. In other instances, people forget to drink water leading to dehydration and water retention.

Drinking ample amounts of water is also an effective way to send signals to the brain, informing it that you are not on an empty stomach. Drinking water before a meal has been shown to effectively decrease the amount of a person consumes once they sit down to eat.

Keep in mind water is extremely useful in keeping your digestion working properly.

Fiber is your friend

Fiber is a useful tool for staying regulated and healthy. Fiber is interesting because, though it is a carbohydrate, the body is unable to dismantle the nutrient to convert it to a simple sugar molecule. This results in Fiber passing through our gastrointestinal tract accomplishing many beneficial tasks to help us with our diet and health goals. Fiber is a healthy way to increase fullness hormones in the body. For many people who have built up resistance to this hormone, called leptin, this becomes more beneficial as your body becomes leaner and you become healthier. Fiber also helps to keep you full and it shows up in a variety of foods from fruits to vegetables to grains. The versatility of fiber means it is easy to work it into your diet without a lot of stress. Fiber helps fill you up as well without the risk of it staying and accumulating in your body to be processed into fat.

Opt for healthier choices that are rich in fiber, as opposed to processed and sugary drinks with little nutritional value. Because of where fiber is found, odds are the foods you eat to incorporate it into your diet will be full of many other vitamins and nutrients that will help keep your body healthy.

Fat Storage

The term “starvation mode” is incredibly common and if you confess your fasting weight loss methods to a caring friend or family member, odds are they will mention starvation mode as a reason against going hungry.  You may be tempted to roll your eyes and ignore the advice, but your loved one may be right. When we are constantly hungry, skipping meals and only feeding our bodies with one or two big meals a day, even if the meals are mostly healthy the body will do everything it can to store as much fat and nutrients as it can. This is especially true if you eat at inconsistent times of the day. Why? Because the body’s biological clock does not know when its next meal will come and how big that meal will be. So while you go hungry, your body grows anxious and looks for ways to compensate for the insufficient and inconsistent way with which it is fed.

To avoid starvation mode, make sure you are eating consistently and snacking on something natural and healthy between meals. Make sure to never skip breakfast as it jumpstarts your metabolism. Breakfast is also a signal to the body that its overnight fast is now over. It helps to keep track of the times you eat and make an effort to stay relatively consistent when it comes to your eating schedule. This will help alleviate some of the body’s anxieties about being left without food until further notice.

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