Frozen bananas have become a pretty well known (in healthy food circles) ice cream substitute, known as “nice cream” but they are also a great base for popsicles. From there the coating can be any kind of chocolate and the final topping can be any kind of nuts or seeds (although my brother is watching me type this and he says that seeds are only appealing to squirrels [he’s wrong]). Dark chocolate is ideal nutritionally because it has a higher concentration of cacao and usually less sugar. Continue Reading →
Pesto Smashed Potatoes
Potatoes are a particularly great source of potassium, I’m not sure if their names start the same way for that reason or if it is just a coincidence. Potassium is an electrolyte and it is crucial for maintaining hydration and a proper pH, or acid alkaline balance in the blood and other tissues. It is also integral for nervous and cardiovascular systems, and increasing it can be potentially as effective as lowering sodium for people with high blood pressure. Continue Reading →
Ham and Cheese Frittata Muffins
Ham and cheese is one of those classic flavors that appeals to nearly everyone, including even the pickiest of eaters. I like to use a nice aged cheddar because it has more flavor, so less can go further, which is something I like to consider when combining such heavy proteins together. The tomatoes add in some bulk and fiber, balancing out the eggs, ham and cheese so that the end product isn’t too rich and they are generally less off-putting than most vegetables for those picky eaters. Continue Reading →
Spring Prawn Salad with Mojito Dressing
As soon as the sun comes out I start dreaming of lazy afternoons on patios with friends and mojitos. It wasn’t that kind of day so I settled for a mojito inspired salad. Limes are very high in vitamin C, so much so that they were used to save British sailors, or “limeys” from scurvy. Like lemons they contain several other nutrients and are cleansing and detoxifying. Continue Reading →
Cherry Chocolate Almond Energy Balls
Energy balls are kind of like baby granola bars that don’t need to be baked at all. They are really nutrient and energy dense, making for a great snack during or after any kind of physical activity or for an afternoon slump. Even my picky dad approved of them as a cookie substitute so they work for that too. Continue Reading →
Marie’s Maple Parfait
My mom’s friend Marie is one of the best cooks I know, her food is always full of love and so creatively prepared. She makes this for us in the summer, a simple dessert from her Québécois background, with blueberries over vanilla yogurt drizzled with maple syrup. It is unbelievably good! I like to eat it on its own for snacks too so I add in some nuts and seeds to make it extra filling and increase the protein and fat content to balance out the sugar, keeping blood sugar levels from spiking too much. Continue Reading →
Chocolate Hemp Milkshake
This has the healthy ingredients of a smoothie but the thick creaminess of a chocolate milkshake. Hemp is a pretty amazing plant, every part of which can be used and transformed into textiles, soap, paper, plastic, paint and more. The seeds are anti-inflammatory nutritional powerhouses rich in magnesium, protein and essential healthy fats. Continue Reading →
Smoked Salmon Kamut Pasta
Here in the Pacific Northwest, smoked salmon is a regional delicacy. Cold smoked and served over bagels, bread or crackers with cream cheese is pretty common but I like the hot (temperature, not spiciness) smoked versions the best. The end product is denser and flakier, just like baked salmon but with a slight smokiness and firm crust around the top from the pre-smoking curing. All smoked fish and meats tend to have more added sodium than their fresh versions and the use of smoke makes them potentially carcinogenic in large quantities, so they are best saved for occasional indulgences. When I have no inspiration to cook, I like to find an ingredient that I don’t normally use or that I think is really special, like smoked salmon, and build something around that. If it doesn’t work out that great then at least the process is fun. Continue Reading →
Subtly Spiced Nut Clusters
Most portable and quick snacks are quite sweet, with lots of stabilizers, preservatives and refined sugars so I like to make something like this when I am really busy or going on a road trip or long flight. They have lots of healthy fat, protein and fiber to fill you up between meals and they will not lead to any sugar crashes. Baking nuts and seeds into clusters with egg whites as a binder makes them a little easier to eat with your hands because there are no little pieces to fish out of a bag- much more convenient when on the go. Continue Reading →
Super Green Smoothie
The first time I had a fresh green smoothie I could not believe how energized and alive I felt. Over the past few years and lots of kitchen fails I have learned some tricks to making them totally edible and even delicious. The first trick is to blend the greens with the liquid before putting all the other ingredients in, unless you have a Vitamix, putting everything in at once can make an end product with chunks of green leaves… gross. Continue Reading →