• Nov 11, 2021

In the kitchen with Maria Fernanda Lopez Moreno

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  3. In the kitchen with Maria Fernanda Lopez Moreno
  • Personal Background & Journey

My name is Maria, a nutritionist and food blogger. A foodie from heart, I’m also Mexican so the love for food and different flavors runs in my blood. I’m a truly passionate about what I do; developing recipes with a fun healthy twist. My journey begun in high school when it was time to decide the career and my life’s future… with a passion for the human body and cooking I found a nice in-between with nutrition. At the time I as starting university my Instagram, Purely Healthy Living was born as a hobby that over the years started to grow more and more.

My main focus, as mentioned before is to create healthy and fun recipes since my values as a foodie and nutritionist is that life is about being sustainable and enjoying everything; taste, textures, visuals as part of a healthy lifestyle. That’s important for me and that’s what I try to share in my blog.

 

  • Life Aspirations

I want to keep growing my blog, it’s such an amazing community that has given me the opportunity to meet new people… really inspiring people. My biggest aspirations in life is to have a family and my own bakery, along with a cookbook in different languages.

Health wise, this is something I’m constantly working on. The balance between job and taking time to myself, that’s something I have struggled from working independently and even as much as I enjoy creating recipes I still find myself stressed. So, finding that balance and keep eating and developing healthy recipes to keep myself nourish along with doing an activity that I enjoy, at the moment, CrossFit!

 

  • What is a Bento Box / Lunch Box to you?

My key elements in my Bento Box will always be vegetables in different colors, I try to add at least three different colors and vegetables to keep things extra nourishing, get some fiber in and pretty to look at, since we also eat with our eyes (that’s a phrase I have heard before and find it to be true!). 

A protein, I’m a huge fan of seafood, but I also rotate my proteins since each one has different nutrients to offer which I usually prepare in batches on my oven or air fryer along with a sauce; green salsa, sriracha, chipotle… I really love my spice!

Also a fat to make my Bento Box extra satisfying and to help with the absorption of vitamins… my go-to’s are extra virgin olive oil or avocado.

  • What do you pack in your TAKENAKA Bento?

Super basic, but delicious elements; vegetables, protein and healthy fats! Being more specific here’s what I packed:

  • BENTO BOWL, a taco bowl salad with romaine lettuce + roasted red onion + tomato + cilantro + spicy pork chop bites + EVOO
  • BENTO LUNCH BOX, some konjac noodles with coconut aminos + garlic + steamed veggies + curry air fried chicken

 

  • What is your favorite part of our boxes and what colors have you chosen?

I love the organization, personally I am a person who eats everything separately instead of mixing everything, so my Bento Lunch Box is just perfect! As a nutritionist I also thing that these are great to estimate portions, to take to work, travel or have them ready for meal preps. I love having my dinners ready after a crazy day of work and/or working out. 

The colors make these even more personal; I love using bright colors, so I picked some that matched my taste and personality; candy pink, coconut white and spearmint. They are just gorgeous, and I even had some compliments from my friends.

 

-- Chipotle Pork Bite Taco Bowl

  • 1 pork medallion 
  • 1 lime
  • Avocado Oil for cooking
  • 1 tsp of chipotle powder
  • 1/8 tsp of sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp of black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp of garlic
  • 2 cups of romaine lettuce
  • 1/4 piece of roasted onion
  • 1/4 piece of tomato
  • 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro
  • 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

Method

  1. Squeeze the lime on the pork medallion and add the seasonings.
  2. Cook in a skillet (medium heat) with avocado oil and cook for 2:30 each side.
  3. Serve with vegetables and olive oil.

 

Curry Chicken

  • 1 chicken breast
  • 2 tbsp of curry sauce
  • 1 lime
  • 1 pack of konaj noodles (dranied)
  • 2 tbsp of coconut aminos
  • 1 tbsp of sriracha
  • 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp of sea salt

Method

  1. Preheat the air fryer or oven at 370F.
  2. Cover the chicken with lime, seasonings and curry sauce.
  3. Cook for 20-25 minutes.
  4. In a pan cook noodles with coconut aminos, sriracha, garlic and salt.
  5. Serve with chicken and enjoy!
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