Healthy Breakfast Idea #1

Hey guys, It's Nicholle here again! 

Today i'll be showing you how to make one of my favorite breakfast meals! I am literally eating breakfast right now at 7:30AM and doing this blog post in the morning before I head out the door (dedicated aren't i? hehehe)

 Breakfast is such an important meal of the day where you SHOULD NOT skip, because by eating healthy in the morning your brain will function a lot better when you're at school!

So today we're making organic yogurt topped with fruits.

Let's get started. 

Ingredients: 
- Organic Greek Style Yogurt (I prefer greek because it's less creamy- Also it's best to go for plain, if you like strawberry flavored yogurt, i'd say blend some fresh/frozen strawberries &yogurt together)
- 1 TSP of Chia Seed (optional)
-A drizzle of Honey
- 2 TBSP of unsweetened granola (If you can't find granola, go for cereal- I prefer to have something on the top that's a bit crunchy! But again, optional)
- A handful of fresh fruit.
-A dash of cinnamon.

Instructions:
Put your yogurt into a bowl, really depends how much you actually like yogurt. If you don't really like yogurt, you can have a tiny bit and tons of toppings (that's how I slowly trained myself to like yogurt). You should to! Yogurt is filled with probiotic enzymes that's good for you!!

Cut your fresh fruits (Today; I have strawberries and bananas. I know some of you may not have your locally fresh supplies of fresh fruits, but you can definitely sub it with either pear, apple, persimmon, mangoes (definite favorite but it's not in season at the moment).

Place it on the top to look pretty. Add a dash of cinnamon &top it off with granola, chia seeds and honey!

                                                 

  Easy and simple as that!! 

If you're on the go like I always am or you know you're tired the night before and wish to sleep in, make it into a small portable cup and keep it in the fridge. Pick it up the next morning and you're ready to go!

NO excuses on "I didn't have time to make breakfast'"! 

I love you guys (: 

Follow me on 

Instagram: @zzoeyla 

Twitter: @nichollezoe 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Argan Oil As Moisturizer?

Hey Guys! Welcome back! 

Today's series would be under skin care! So I don't know about you, but ever since Argan Oil was introduced to be used as a moisturizer, everyone seemed to hopped on to the band wagon. So today i'll be giving you a little more insight into why Argan oil is so good for your skin!

Argan oil is being extracted from the kernels of an Argan Tree. It contains beneficial nutrients like Fatty Acids and Vitamin E. 

Benefits: 

1) Anti- Aging- Argan Oil is filled with antioxidants that reduces the visilibility of wrinkles and fine lines. It also provides a youthful glow. It is also very lightweight so it sinks into the sink easily. 

2) Acne- Argan Oil is not greasy therefore, it balances the skin and with the properties of anti oxidant in the Argan oil, it can help reduce inflammation and heal damaged cells. 

3) Dry Skin- Argan oil is filled with fatty acids and Vitamin E that can help repair the skin and also bring a youthful glow without the grease. It repairs damage skin and providing the nutrients to the skin, it can reduce dry skin. 

4) Versatility- Argan oil can be used for the nail, hair and skin such as stretch marks. The ingredients inside Argan Oil can soothe and create soft smooth skin. Argan oil can also be used as a lip moisturizer where it will moisturise and soften the skin. 

So those are the 4 beneficial properties of Argan Oil, Well I'm pretty sure there are more but those are the most important ones! 

So be sure to grab some Argan Oil and apply it to your skin before heading off the bed!! Skip all the chemical products and go NATURAL! au Natural ! 

I love you guys! 

see you on monday for another recipe post! 

* Post might be a bit late as I will be heading off for Holidays * 

Follow me on my social medias to find out what I am up to! 

Instagram: @zzoeyla 

Twitter: @nichollezoe 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Shedding them pounds!

Hello all you beautiful people! 

So today's *bonus* post would be all about how to lose weight by just drinking water. Aside from the sayings that by drinking water, you will flush out toxins and assist weight loss. Yup, we've heard it all but really, if you actually want to lose a little more pound then adding fruits in would definitely help!

One fruit that is my current staple is; GRAPEFRUIT! 

If you've never seen a grapefruit, they're pretty much similar to an orange but a lot bigger and it's pink or they could be white; Really depends on which type of grapefruit you're after.

So it's pretty self-explanatory; You would have to cut about a slice or two and just put it in your bottle/cup of water &drink up! Easy as that! :) 

Now let's talk about the nutritional value of a grapefruit:

1) Vitamin C- The contains a high amount of vitamin C that supports immune system and can help reduce cold. It is beneficial to promotion cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of any heart disease, stroke or cancer. 

2) Digestion and Weight Loss: Grapefruit and it's bitter-sweet taste is well known to slim down the waist and kick start the digestion that helps with metabolism and assist with weight loss.

3) Antioxidant: Grapefruit is filled with tons of anti-oxidant that helps fight against free radical damage and defend sun damage to the skin. It has the ability to lower any risk of cancer because the color of the grapefruit like pink or red contains a phytochemical such as lycopene which can also be found in tomatoes (SO eat your tomatoesssss!!!)

4) Low- Calorie and keep you full: One serving of grapefruit has only 53 calories and 2 grams of fiber which helps you keep full longer and it reduces binge eating.

5) Stabilizes blood sugar: Grapefruit can reduce insulin levels that helps the body to use the food that you are eating for energy rather than storing as fat. By stabilizing your blood sugar, it also means less binge eating! When your sugar level spikes up, you tend to want to crave for sweeter things.

I hope this post was helpful to you & keep drinking your WATER WITH GRAPEFRUIT IN IT!! 

It's darn good for you!
Please share, follow me on bloglovin and all my social medias for updates!! If you don't, well let's just say I will haunt you in your dreams or I won't offer you a cookie when I see you..
Just kidding! but please do!

I love you guys! x

See you tomorrow for another post! 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Quinoa Stir-Fry.

*BONUS RECIPE!!!!! *

Hi guys & welcome back to zokitchen where I will be teaching you how to make Quinoa Stir-Fry. 

So if anyone has not seen my post about why Quinoa is so good and nutritious for you, please pause right HERE and click HERE &come back to this post later! 

To those of you who have given it a good read through, let's get cooking!

Ingredients: 
- 1 cup of Organic White Quinoa.
-1 cup of filtered water.
-1 Australian Cup Mushroom
-1 egg
-3 cherry tomatoes
- Quarter of an onion.
- A small chunk of cucumber
- A small chunk of carrot
- A handful of cabbage.
-1 TBSP of Chia Seeds.

Please know that these are the ingredients that I like to have with my Quinoa, you can definitely add or take away any vegetables that you do not like! You can add in tofu if you're vegetarian or prawns if you're not. This is the westernized version of Chinese Fried Rice! 

Instructions: 

Firstly, wash your quinoa with cold water. Measure out 1 cup of quinoa is to 1 cup of water.
Tip: You can cook it over the stove or you can put it in a rice cooker and cook it like rice. 

Whilst your quinoa is cooking away, prepare your other ingredients. Pan fry your egg and cut it into pieces once done. Then chop up all your other ingredients as shown above.

Start the fire to high medium heat, add a tablespoon of oil (I used coconut oil, but it's of course totally up to you) and pour all your ingredients into a pan and cook it for roughly around 2-3 mins (do not put the egg in first or it'll be overcooked).

Once your vegetables are starting to sizzle up, add your quinoa into the same pan and stir fry it. Add Soya Sauce whilst cooking your quinoa and let it cook for another 4-5 mins.

When the quinoa starts to pop (LIKE POPCORN!) then you'll know when it's ready. Add in the egg with your chia seeds and give it a little twirl around the pan & it's all ready to be served.

Wasn't that easy my friends? No added salt or sugar needed!!

If you cooked a little too much, you can leave it in the fridge up to 4 days!! THATS 4 DAYS WITH GOOD PROTEIN!!

*** I know most of my viewers are from Brunei and finding Quinoa and Chia Seeds can be rather difficult.
With the help of Royston Poh, You are all in luck! You can find both of the ingredients at Guan Hock Lee!

I hope you enjoy this bonus recipe! Since this is the bonus recipe for the week, another new blog post will be uploaded tomorrow all about nutritional facts!! Keep your eyes ready.

All the best  & Good luck! 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Easy & Healthy Honey Soy Chicken.

Well, Hello There! 

Fancy seeing you back here in zokitchen (I totally just made that up but oh wells) 

Today we're going to make one of my absolute favorite dish; Honey Soy Chicken. I make it so often that I've been know as "the honey soy chicken" girl in my apartment. 

So let's be real, most of us are lazy to actually make the sauce, but did you know that it's actually pretty simple and only require two ingredients?! (SAY WHAT?). When you're out grocery shopping & buying pre-made sauces in a bottle, they can easily cost up to $3.99 a bottle but for this recipe, you'll only be using approximately 15 cents. 

So let's get started! 

Ingredients: 

- 2 TBSP Superior light soy sauce (I prefer the lighter version, I have a very sensitive taste bud towards soy sauce)

- 1 TBSP of Chia Seeds (optional) 

- Couple of Chives (I bought my own plant because come on it's a cheaper way to get herbs! & you get the satisfaction of it when it keeps growing! I have yet to name it tho!)

- 1 1/2 TBSP of Honey (Organic, if you prefer)

- A dash of Oregano 

- 1 TSP of Pepper 

- A clove of Garlic (Organic- not shown in picture above) 

- Half a Chicken breast (If your chicken breast is smaller than your palm, use the entire)

Of course, this measurement is to the size of my chicken. 

Really, all you need is Soy sauce and honey. Others are optional! :) I just prefer a little more to my liking. Feel free to add a little bit of Sea Salt if you think it's too sweet. 

Instructions: 

Firstly, take an empty bowl & pour in your soy sauce and honey together. Mix well and taste to see if you like it (whether it's too sweet or salty). In this recipe, I didn't add any other ingredients, but if you wish to add a bit of salt or sugar you may do so! 

Add in pepper and oregano herbs. 

Mix well. 

Leave it aside &move on to the chicken. 

Cut your chicken into smaller pieces. 

Start the fire to medium high heat and pour about 1 TSP of oil (I use sunflower oil but my alternative is Coconut Oil) 

Pour in your minced garlic and onions (I used onions here because I absolutely love them! Totally up to you as usual!)

When they're golden brown, put your chicken and cook for about 1 min. 

Pour your ready-made sauce also, the sauce will thicken up because of the sticky property from Honey but if you don't like thick consistency, just add a bit of water. 

After 3-5 minutes of cooking, You are ready to serve it with CHIVES & CHIA SEEDS! WooHoo.. 

Super easy, quick & simple! 

I've made the easier version of a normal bottled Honey Soy Sauce. 

It's less expensive and so much healthier (without any vegetable gum or other unnecessary ingredients)  

*Bonus post sometime this week! Keep an eye out! 

Good luck and All the best! 

Keep Sharing & Liking 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Kiehl's Calendula Toner.

Well hello there! 

Fancy seeing you here :) 

So I am assuming that most of you have dealt with acne at least one point in your life. Well I'm going to share with you my review on 

 Kiehl's Calendula Herbal- Extract Toner (Alcohol Free). 

Price Range- $21-30 (AUD- Depends where you are living in)

Ingredients: Whole Flowers (Calendula, Great Burdock, Allantoin)

Skin Type- Normal to Oily skin. 

Most of you might not know that Calendula is Marigold (the common name). Some of the properties of calendula is to treat minor burns including sunburns. It contains a high content of flavonoids that acts as antioxidants where they protect body cells from damage. It has reducing inflammation properties and some use it to treat cramps. 

When you first buy the product, you will see flower petals floating about in the bottle. Yes! You heard me right; flower petals in the bottle! I was pretty shocked at first when I noticed it but at the same time, I thought that it was pretty cool.

It is totally alcohol free and it doesn't sting or dry my skin out upon contact, that deserves a thumbs up! 

It is easy to pour out, because of the design of cap where it limits you to however much you need to pour. 

It smells a little like jasmine green tea, or lemon tea (which is an absolute fav of mine). Definitely not overpowering but definitely not scentless. 

It definitely did me a favor of calming my skin down and leaving it spotless. 

HOWEVER: It does contain a couple of chemicals. Some people are allergic to Calendula: so if you are, please do a test patch first. It's best to avoid Calendula when you're pregnant. 

Please be aware that some of the chemicals in the bottle can trigger allergic reaction and sometimes they can lead to internal tissue damage. 

This product will be my winter go-to. I change up my toner and moisturizer once in awhile. 

Don't get me wrong, I love this product but sometimes it is best to stay away from chemicals & let your skin breathe (:

Products are available online at Kiehls Website. 

Till then, 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Food that assist weight loss.

Hello all you gorgeous people! 

So let's be real, I hear people around me constantly mentioning about how much they want to lose weight but never really eating the right food. 

It is a hard process to lose weight, so here are 3 essential food that you should have in your pantry constantly. 

Let's get started! 

1) Oats: They're so rich in fiber that will keep you full for the day so it's best to have them in the morning! They're filled with healthy carb that boosts metabolism and burns fat altogether. Its very high in protein and vitamins! 

(picture source: porridge) 

2) Brown Rice- Brown rice is essential a healthier option to white rice, since it hasn't been processed. It is very heavy and filling but it is very low in calories, in addition to it helps you to burn off fats and spike up your metabolism. 

Brown rice

3) Eggs- They're jam packed with nutrients such as protein, zinc, Vitamins (A,D,E). Eggs during breakfast will keep you full and leave you eating less on your next meal. It's best to eat eggs on it's own so that you absorb as much nutrients as possible. 

Now that you've seen the 3 essential food list; Let's move on to the "tips" 

Tip 

1) Drink water- Drinking water helps flush out toxin in the body and helps get rid of water retention that your body is holding onto. 

2) Eat regularly- Some people are so obsessed with losing weight, they see food as enemy. You need to know that when you're eating regularly, you're actually feeding your metabolism to speed it up; by doing so it will help burn fat. So eat every 3-4 hours regularly! 

3) Don't follow others- Some people follow what others are eating, it's best that you know what works for YOUR body because everyone is different and you can't assume that whatever he/she is eating, will work for you. 

4) Elimination of Junk Food- Of course, the junk food has to go. Cutting down on junk food, you'll slowly lose weight because you're not feeding your body with high sodium chips that can cause bloating. Also by eating free radicals, you're going to have wrinkles!! *eeksss* 

& to help you further, I've included this chart that you might want to print off and stick it at your pantry top! 

Photo courtest of Pinterest!

I hope this blog post have unpacked some bits of "Losing weight". There will be a part 2 next week so keep your eyes peeled! 

Another advice is Don't overdo with the weight loss. I've seen some girls who lost so much weight, they lost their butt and boobs, they just look so lethargic and unhealthy all the time. Be healthy, be slim, be fit. 

It's not a competition, it's a process. 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Apple Peanut Butter Lava.

Hello all you sweet tooth's out there! 
Back here again with another fun yet easy recipe! Great for Vegetarians and Vegans! 

So, I am pretty sure quite a majority of you would have craved for a chocolate molten lava cake when you're at home. Well, here's the catch, make your own but with healthier alternatives! 

It's a new recipe I was inspired by watching "how to make chocolate molten lava." 

Note: To those allergic to apples or don't like apples, you could try other alternatives like pear or banana. The techniques are similar & it can be easily done. The ingredient measurements varies depending on the size of your apple & your own personal taste bud. 

So are you ready? Let's rumble!

Ingredients:
- 1 Gala/Fuji Apple. 

- 1 to 2 tbsp of Peanut Butter (I prefer smooth peanut butter without the chunks for this recipe, but totally up to you! You're welcome to change it to almond butter if you prefer)

- 1 tbsp of Cranberries (Unsweetened) 

- 1 tsp of Walnuts (Try to make them smaller to fit into the apple. Change any type of nuts to your preference ) 

- A Dash Of Cinnamon

Instructions: 

Firstly cut the top part of your apple off, make sure to cut it horizontally so that you are able to fill it in with your yummy goodness! 

Then use a smaller knife to cut a hole in the middle of the apple. To make it easier to scoop the seeds out, cut it into 4 small parts then slowly dig it out (it might take a tad bit of time if you're new to this). 

Once you've created a hole in the middle of the apple, you can start filling in the yummy goodness! Fill the apple with a mixture of walnuts and cranberries then layer it with peanut butter &repeat till you've reached the top. 

After that, place it in a aluminium foil and wrap the apple up with the top on. Before putting the apple into the oven, make sure the tray you're putting the apple on has water to keep the moisture retained in the apple. 

Place the apple into the oven to bake at 170DegC for about 40-45 minutes.

As easy as that! Once done, top it off with cinnamon. Also have a bowl ready filled with Cranberries and Walnuts to enjoy! 

So now you have your own healthy Apple Peanut Butter Lava!
A great alternative for Chocolate Molten Lava Cake! 

All the best & Good Luck. 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Face Map For Acne

Every one has acne/pimples, including me. When I was in my early teen years, I had very cystic acne and it would take forever to get rid of it. Skin care products play a big part in your skin care routine but it is more of what you put in your body.

Ever wondered what your acne means?

Please note that: Some of the information were given by my dermatologist when I had very cystic acne. Also note that just because you're breaking out at a certain area does not necessarily mean that there's something wrong with organs, it could be hormonal as well. 

Some of the remedies may or may not apply to everyone. 

Like usual; Eat healthy &Sleep early! 

So without further or do; 

Let's find out how you can minimize the risk of having acne! 

(Picture source: Personal- picture of me) 

The picture above I only drew in my brows and eyeliner. NO concealer or any face makeup. 

1) Forehead- Commonly people would get acne or little red bumps on their forehead. It could be linked to digestive problems that connects with small intestine issue. It could be irregular sleeping pattern or too much sugary food too! Sometimes it could as well be the shampoo that you're using or when you have fringe/bangs. 

Remedies: 

• Go to bed early &wake up earlier. 
• Cut out sugary beverages and carbonated drinks and make sure that you're getting some light exercise in the morning before your breakfast. 
• Eliminate refined sugar and keep healthy fresh food in your fridge. Remember to clip up your hair to avoid it from touching your face whenever you're at home. 

2) Temples & Between the Brows- When your diet consist too much of fat and too much processed food. 

Remedies: 

• Reducing the amount of processed food, junk food, fast food and unhealthy fats. Eat more healthy fats like Avocado or salmon. 

3) Left Cheek- It can be because of overeating and sometimes it's hard for the nutrition to be absorb. Even so, it could be hormonal acne or be linked to stomach/liver problems. Dirty pillow and dirty phone cases can contribute to your cheek if you're constantly sleeping on your side. 

Remedies: 

• Making sure you don't overeat! When you're about 70% full, you should definitely stop (Drink water if you still feel hungry). 
• The liver is strongest at 1-3AM and this is the time you should be sleeping  whereas at 1-5PM it is the weakest therefore you should be relaxing and leaving the heavy work for morning. 
• Eat more cooling fruits and food like watermelon, winter melon, green beans. 
• Remember to clean your pillow cases once a week and clean your cell phones. 

4) Right Cheek- It can be linked to stress, stomach problems or even having too much sugar in your diet. It can sometimes be linked to lung problems. 

Remedies: 

• The lungs are strongest at 7-9AM so time to do some exercises! *smiles*
• Have more fresh air. 
• Eat less sugar, junk food and seafood (if you're allergic)

5) Chin- Chin acne are mostly commonly due to hormonal imbalance. It can also be related to gynecological issues and constipation issues. 

Remedies: 

• Don't eat right before you're about to sleep; Allow your body to have at least 2-3 hours of digestion before you head off to dreamland. 
• Sleeping early and waking up early. 
• Drink spearmint tea would help with hormonal issues. 
• Try to relax more and not getting too stressed out: If you're feeling stressed then do some gentle exercise or listen to music (Whatever keeps you happy!) 

I hope this post was useful to you and it helped you unpack some of the underlying issues about your acne! 

Again, you don't have to follow everything that is written here because some may or may not work for different individual. It's better to eat healthy and piling on products onto your skin. 

All the best & Goodluck! 

See you on Monday for a Low Fat Healthy Dessert post! 

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ

Lose weight with Quinoa.

Most of you might not know that Quinoa is actually a super grain seed and it's considered to be one of the super foods. Quinoa can assist in weight loss because it is jam-packed with vitamins and minerals, packed with protein that leaves you feeling satisfied and not deprived. It is known as the complete beauty protein. 

Quinoa is actually gluten free, low GI and nutrition packed. It has complex carbohydrates and low Glycemic Index which helps steady your blood sugar level and keeping you full without bloating. 

Here are a few benefits on why quinoa assist with weight loss: 

1) Protein-Although quinoa is not an animal based protein, it contains nine of the essential amino acids to help with tissue development and it builds strong, youthful: hair, nail and skin. 

2) Zinc-Quinoa contains zinc that helps with tissue healing and it's important for collagen formation. Zinc allows the regulation of oil production and helps with redness and fights against inflammation. 

3) Fiber-Quinoa believe it or not contains twice as much fiber as any other grains. With fiber, it is widely known to cure constipation. Having fiber in your diet reduces high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and glucose level. Fiber keeps you full on the long run so then you won't over eat and it is less "energy dense". Lastly, it supports healthy digestion by feeding healthy bacteria in the intestine. It reduces the risk of hemorrhoids. 

4) Vitamins-Quinoa is high in B2 which increases energy metabolism. It has a very high content of manganese which is an antioxidants that repairs cells being damaged by free radicals. It also contains iron, phosphorus and magnesium.

5) Low calorie-Not only Quinoa keeps you satisfied but it has low calories, one cup of cooked quinoa is approximately 172 calories. You wouldn't need to worry about overeating quinoa, you would be eating a larger quantity of food but consuming less calories than you would with a burger. 

 I prefer to have Organic Quinoa because it isn't exposed to pesticides.

There are so many different ways to cook Quinoa (Recipe coming soon!) 

Make sure to add Quinoa in your diet, not only to help with weight loss but for your general well-being!  

All the best & Goodluck

Ÿ Nicholle Zoe Ÿ