If you could ask a nutritionist anything, what would it be? This was a poll we ran a few weeks ago on social media and the response was huge! We loved everyone's feedback and because there were so many great questions, this Q & A with Jennifer will have two parts. While we wish we could respond to every one of your questions, we will only be selecting 10 for this two part series. See below for the first 5!

Before we begin, we'd like to introduce Jennifer Van Horn. Health and Nutrition Coach who specializes in integrative approaches to optimal wellness, Jennifer runs her own successful business, Advanced Nutrition Concepts in the Hampton Roads area. Her approach integrates comprehensive holistic nutrition and healthy routines into her clients' individual lifestyle. We are proud to call Jennifer a close partner of ours since before the opening of our first store. From collaborating with us in menu development to meeting her clients in our flagship store, Jennifer is a Fruitive regular and we certainly wouldn't be where we are today without her wealth of knowledge. To learn more about Jennifer and to schedule a consultation with her, visit her website here.

Now let's get to YOUR questions! We hope you enjoy her insightful feedback as much as we did. 

"As a nutritionist, what's your healthy morning routine?"

I wake around 6:30 AM and drink a large glass of room temperature or warm lemon purified water. Followed with a cup of Holy Basil Tulsi Herbal Tea for some adrenal love and dose of a liquid B12. I LOVE my quiet mornings, not rushing off to appointments. It’s my time to meditate, belly breath, and organize my day. I do a lot of fresh juicing at home.

Jennifer's Favorite Juice Recipe: 
1-inch chunk of ginger
5 to 6 stocks of celery
1 lemon
Red or green apple

This is excellent for hydration and a beautiful dose of vitamins and minerals to start my day. I notice a big difference if I miss my juice. It’s so important to start your day with hydrating beverages. I do enjoy coffee as well. It certainly took some ninja training to not grab my coffee first, but now I don’t miss it. After my green juice, I usually wait 15 to 20 minutes to make organic french-pressed coffee, with a tablespoon of organic coconut oil, Sun Potion Tocos Powder (high in vitamin E—great for skin, hair, and nails), and some powered medicinal mushrooms - Chaga  and Cordyceps are some of my favorites. I blend it up to make an incredible frothy coffee. Absolutely delicious! If I need it a tad sweeter, I will add a pinch of cinnamon and Manuka honey.

"How do you get all the nutrients you need being vegan?"

Hydration, balancing minerals, and gut health are all so important to absorb those beautiful vegan nutrients. Make sure most meals are loaded with vegetables, sea vegetables (seaweed, etc.) some fruits, nuts & seeds (soaking those will help absorption), and of course, healthy fats, such as avocado, cold-pressed olive oil, coconut oil, and again some sprouted or soaked nuts and seeds. Keep your bowels moving with fiber. Do you know that 1 Tbsp. of chia seeds offers 10 grams of fiber? That’s a wonderful addition to your diet. I add 2 Tbsp. to my smoothie or smoothie bowl almost every day. Being vegan doesn’t necessarily mean you have a heathy diet. Watch the processed foods, simple carbohydrates, and sugar. Supplements are recommended on a vegan diet, such as B12 and possibly organic spirulina for added iron.

"What can help with anxiety and depression?"

Gut health! Take probiotics, add spirulina, a blue-green algae supplement. Get in some fermented foods, try one bite of sauerkraut or kimchi before one meal a day, eliminate gluten and dairy to lower the inflammatory process, and eat organic when possible to limit the exposure to chemicals, pesticides, and harmful hormones. I also love adding adaptagens to help ease stress, anxiety, and even depression. My favorite is ashwagandha, a medicinal herb that can work miracles. Try OM or Sun Potionbrands added to coffee, smoothies, or drink as a tea to bring more peace. Sipping on holy basil tea everyday also has a calming effect. The herb, rhodiola and reishi mushroom powder are more miracle workers that can be very effective for stress reduction. Be consistent with these to see the most changes! Also, check your vitamin D level.

"What is a good breakfast?"

I love smoothies and smoothie bowls! I mix up my recipes weekly to play with different tastes and textures.

Jennifer's go-to smoothie bowl recipe:
Wild Blueberries (wild berries are berries on steroids!)
Banana
Homemade Almond Milk
Cinnamon (great for controlling blood sugar)
Bee Pollen
Coconut Oil
2 Tbsp. soaked Chia Seeds
Small handful of Cilantro or Dandelion Greens
Spirulina Powder

This recipe is very high fiber, nutrient rich, detoxifying, and satisfies me for hours! I will sometimes sprinkle a few superfood goji berries on top. What a treat!

"What is your favorite snack?"

If I am feeling hungry in the afternoons, I will drink a large glass of mineral water first to see if I am thirsty, not hungry. I absolutely love a good hot cup of herbal tea, usually mint with a hard organic red apple. It’s making my mouth water as I’m typing this! If that doesn’t hit the spot, I love drinking fresh coconut water and a few stocks of celery with organic almond butter. Or, I love 4 to 5 brazil nuts with 2 dates for that sweet and salty satisfaction, and it’s fat burning.

And that's a wrap for part one of our Q & A with Jennifer! Stay tuned for part two! A special thank you to all of those who responded to our poll. We hope these answers inspire you to better live your health.