Eggs have been associated with beginnings, rebirth and fertility, central themes of old pagan spring rites, since long before they were connected to Easter. When Roman Catholicism became widespread the meaning of the eggs transferred to be a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection and thus remained part of the season’s central religious celebration. They were also considered a highly desirable treat after forty days of strict Lenten dietary abstinence and fasting. Legends of a rabbit laying eggs in the garden led to the tradition of making nests for the eggs to be lain in, which has evolved to the baskets that children now use for chocolate egg hunts. Continue Reading →
Cilantro Pineapple Green Juice
Green juice is best tasting when the leafy greens are cut with some fruits and accented with crisp cucumber and fragrant herbs. This is one of my favorite combinations that I drink regularly year-round. When making juice or smoothies I like to combine ingredients that would taste good together in a dish, these ones for example could become a salsa for fresh seafood. Continue Reading →
Mushroom Thyme Frittata
Thyme is a fragrant, woodsy herb that compliments the earthiness of mushrooms and richness of eggs well. It is used frequently in modern cuisines from around the Mediterranean and has a long history of use primarily medicinally and culinarily, back when its antiseptic properties were more valuable. Continue Reading →
Chunky Monkey Trail Mix
Trail mix is an easy and versatile, completely customizable and portable snack. It provides lots of nutrients in a small package, perfect for providing fuel out on the trails, keeping you nourished on the go or satisfying cravings for something sweet. Continue Reading →
Cherry Balsamic Arugula Salad
Arugula is a delicate leafy green with a unique peppery taste. Like some of the other vegetables that are harvested early in Spring arugula has a slightly bitter taste, a flavor not too common in Western cuisines but one that is prized by some of our oldest nutritional schools of thought including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, “the science of life” from India. Foods with bitter flavors are connected to improved digestion, enhanced cleansing and increased strength and vitality. Continue Reading →
Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Baked oatmeal is a cozy option for a nourishing breakfast cereal, it is both trendy and versatile, and is definitely worth trying if you have 20 minutes to leave it in the oven. This amount is for one person but it can be multiplied and cooked in individual bowls or in one large, shallow casserole dish. Oats are an inexpensive and widely available whole grain rich in fiber. They are very satiating, especially when combined with some fruit and nuts for extra nutrients like protein and healthy fats, and provide sustained energy to keep you going strong all morning. Continue Reading →
Guacamole Salad with Roasted Chickpeas
Unblended guacamole is basically a salad, and definitely becomes one if you add some lettuce and a light lime vinaigrette. Instead of fried tortilla chips I added in some sautéed chickpeas for extra protein and fiber. Continue Reading →
Colcannon
This rather unattractive looking dish hails from Ireland and combines mashed potatoes with sautéed cabbage or kale for a hearty but nutritious side dish. The name comes from the Gaelic “cal ceannann”, meaning “white-headed cabbage”. More traditional recipes require some heavy dairy but plain almond milk and olive oil are good substitutes, with a little butter or Earth Balance thrown in at the end. Another variation I like is to cut the potatoes pretty small, into cubes around the size of dice and then steam them instead of boiling, a method that causes some of the nutrients to be lost in the water. If we are going to eat vegetables we may as well get the maximum nutritional benefit from them. Continue Reading →
Shamrock Smoothie
If you plan on consuming a fair share of green beer for St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow (also known as “National Drinking Day” in the holiday’s home country of Ireland), or if you’ve already been celebrating since the weekend, downing a nutrient dense smoothie like this can help your body recover faster. If you want to make it a little more like a (still healthy) milkshake and less like a smoothie you can try swapping the frozen banana and avocado for a scoop or two of plain coconut ice cream. Smoothies are really easy to digest since they are already blended up, this makes them a perfect snack or meal when your schedule is busy or if you are eating and drinking out at restaurants frequently. Continue Reading →
Piña Colada Energy Balls
Energy balls are compact sweet treats made from nutrient dense ingredients that are easily portable and provide a good dose of energy. Piña colada, or pineapple and coconut, is a delicious combination that can actually be pretty healthy and makes for slightly sweet and tropical tasting energy balls. Continue Reading →