Gingerbread can be the ultimate in sweet comfort food. It has warming, fragrant spices and a deep caramel-like sweetness that can easily be imparted on a healthy bowl of oatmeal, making it more enticing on frosty, cold mornings. Steel cut oats cooked with almond milk thicken up into a dense, gooey and warm nutty-flavoured oatmeal full of fiber and protein to keep your belly satisfied and feeling full. Continue Reading →
Nutritious Rum Balls
Rum balls are a classic Christmas treat. There are endless options but they usually contain some chocolate and of course, some rum. This version is stuffed with other nutrient dense ingredients- almond flour and almond butter for protein and substance, medjool dates and maple syrup for natural sweetness and a vanilla bean for extra flavour. Continue Reading →
Reindeer Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers is a classic combination that appeals even to children and picky eaters alike. With just a couple extra ingredients this snack or appetizer can take on a seasonal twist and be made to resemble little reindeer. Continue Reading →
Apple Pork Chops
Pork chops have long been a favourite in my family. Our dad makes a really good breaded and fried version and my brother, who is becoming quite the master chef, makes them with apples and brown sugar (my other brother’s most recent creative culinary idea was reverse cordon bleu- chicken cooked in a block of cheese, so luckily for our health he doesn’t cook very often). I stole the apple idea and added some wine, dijon and maple syrup which cook down into a sauce and keep the pork tender. Continue Reading →
Granola Baked Apples
Baked apples were one of my favourite childhood treats, long before I started caring for healthy food. My mom used to cut out the core then stuff them with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. While that combination is impossible to beat, I like to sometimes use granola instead for a more filling and nutritious version. Continue Reading →
Winter Fruit Salad
When it comes to healthy eating, arguably the most effective step is simply to make healthy options easily accessible. Cutting fruit takes a bit of time but then for a couple days there is very minimal effort required- simply put it in a bowl (perhaps with some yogurt, granola or oatmeal to bulk it up) and enjoy. Continue Reading →
Vanilla Maple Pecan Stuffed Dates
Pecans and dates are a delicious combination on their own, perfect for a pre- or post-workout snack, and with just three extra ingredients they get extra decadent. Coating the pecans in a vanilla maple sauce then drizzling dark chocolate over the stuffed dates transforms them into a treat. Continue Reading →
Butternut Squash Bacon Spaghetti
As the temperatures drop outside the two foods I find more and more enticing are bacon and pasta- neither are traditionally regarded as the most healthy ingredients. For the bacon, a dish like this is perfect because a little goes a long way and just a few pieces infuse the whole dish with its flavour, coming up in every bite. An extra flavourful variety like Tyrolean Speck (often labelled as Tiroler Bacon), with distinct juniper undertones and a longer curing time, is ideal. Continue Reading →
Caprese Salad Bites
Caprese is a simple Italian salad with just a few fresh ingredients. Mozzarella brings some creamy density, tomatoes keep it light and juicy while fresh basil adds some fragrant, earthy sweetness. To make it into low maintenance, easy to eat finger food use cocktail bocconcini, or small mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes. Continue Reading →
Vanilla Spice Smoothie
There are no greens or weird sea algae powders in this smoothie as is my usual habit- sometimes it’s nice to have a sweet treat with a relatively simple, familiar ingredient list. This version has vanilla protein powder for extra nutrients, frozen banana to make it creamy and medjool dates for some extra but natural sweetness. The addition of spices assists digestion and adds some seasonal flavour, while vanilla almond milk brings it all together. It actually tastes surprisingly similar to egg nog, Continue Reading →