Brussels Sprouts and Yoga Mats and Hawaii, OH MY!

What do brussels sprouts, yoga mats, and Hawaii have in common???

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (at least that I know of) except that now, after 30 years, I LOVE brussels sprouts, and of course, I LOVE yoga therefore I LOVE my yoga mats, and who doesn’t LOVE Hawaii…oh, and did I mention that I ate brussels sprouts and did yoga on my new travel yoga mat while we were on our family vacation in Hawaii a few weeks ago.

Hey, don’t hate me! I just got lucky when I married my husband. His family likes to do family vacations on Kauai…what can I say!?

But, I will say that the weather was beautiful during our stay! We did some shorts hikes (our 21 month old toddler only tolerates so much), we went down to the beach to play in the sand, and played in the pool.  We cooked and ate dinner as a family at the resort, which is way more favorable to me than going out to eat.  It was a much more relaxing trip than when we last went when my daughter was 4 months old. But, two of the highlights from the trip…brussel sprouts and yoga on my new Manduka eKO SuperLite Travel Mat!

Yes, I took my yoga mat on our trip! Actually, I bought myself a little present before our trip. I am a big fan of my Manduka PRO Yoga Mat (aka The Black Mat PRO).  When people ask me what mat I recommend, I always point to my mat (don’t worry, this is not a paid endorsement! This is just my PERSONNAL opinion!). This is what I tell people when they ask: if you are going to be on your mat a lot, doing a lot of yoga (have boney knees life me), and can afford to invest (because this mat runs about $100) in one awesome mat with a lifetime guarantee, then look no further…if that does not describe where you are in your life/practice, then you might want to shop around. But, if you want to travel around with your mat, this is NOT the mat for you! It is NOT a light weight mat. It is definitely made to last. So, since we were going to be traveling to Hawaii with a limited amount of luggage, I decided to buy myself a birthday present (my birthday was in September, so don’t worry, it was justified). I bought Manduka’s eKO SuperLite Travel Mat! This baby only weighs about 2 lbs. and can be folded or rolled! For me, one of the most important things in a mat is what I call “the slip factor.” The rubber has to be somewhat sticky so that my hands and feet don’t slip all over the place and I land on my face.  Aside from it lacking in the cushion department for my boney knees, it was just like practicing on my Black Mat (and obviously it can’t have all the extra cushion if it is only going to be 2 lbs and fold and roll for travel).

Ok, moving on (you thought I was going to rant and rave about my yoga mat forever, didn’t you!) So, my husband always jokes around that if someone came out and said that dirt was the new superfood, I would eat it! Well, that is only partly true… :) To me, beets taste like dirt and they are extremely good for you and I have never been able to eat them. Although, I have found some ways to include them in my foods. As for the brussels sprouts, growing up and until this year, I thought I HATED brussels sprouts! WOULD. NOT. EAT. THEM! But, my sister cooked them one night for dinner (she is living with us while finishing up at Vet School), and I barely left any for her! They were amazing! Now, you would think that I prepare brussels sprouts as my main course, and everything else as a side dish! So, I made these in Hawaii as well. Actually, I would love to make them every day! I don't think I could ever get sick of them!

But, let's for a second look at how awesome these bad boys are for us.

1. Their high fiber content helps lower our cholesterol.
2. Recent studies have shown that certain compounds in brussels sprouts help block specific enzymes that can be detrimental to the health and stability of DNA within our white blood cells.
3. TONS of vitamins AND antioxidants
4. Helps fight inflammation
5. Cancer prevention AND cardiovascular support
6. Aids in digestion and diet

Here is the EASIEST and TASTIEST recipe ever (again, my PERSONAL opinion):

What you will need:

• Brussels sprouts
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Minced Garlic
• Sea Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees and line baking tray with parchment paper (or aluminum foil)
2. Rinse sprouts, cut/remove ends, and cut brussels sprouts in half lengthwise 
3. Place sprouts on baking tray
4. Pour oil and vinegar over sprouts. (This is the fun part! We like a lot of vinegar on ours...just make sure to drench them pretty well, but it is up to you how much).
5. Sprinkle with garlic, sea salt, and pepper.
6. Using a spatula, turn sprouts a few times to make sure they are all coated,
7. Place in oven for 25-30 minutes, depending on how soft or crispy you want them.
8. Devour...guilt free! :)

If you were like me and hate brussels sprouts, try these! And let me know what you think! :)