Energy balls are perfect for a healthy dessert or snack or they can be added to a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt to bulk it up a little. Their name describes them perfectly- energy balls, a.k.a. power balls, are filled with nutrient dense ingredients. Each component itself is filled with nutrients, including the macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). When they come together they create a great option for fuelling or recovering from intense workouts or for getting through afternoon energy slumps. Continue Reading →
Ham and Pea Frittata
Frittata muffins can appeal to children and adults alike. This seasonal variation has some sweetness from peas, ham and cooked shallots plus some creaminess from marscapone and butter. A bit of thyme adds some flavour without being too exotic. This recipe can either make 18 muffins or it can be put into a greased casserole dish and baked then cut and portioned after. Continue Reading →
Orange Asparagus Wheat Berry Salad
Eating in the summer is easy- the focus is on lots of hydrating smoothies, fruits and salads, plus some BBQ here and there to weigh the lighter options down a bit. In the fall, it gets a little heavier still and there is (ideally) pumpkin in everything. The winter is all about comfort food- thick stews and chilis, roasted meats and root vegetables, porridge and hearty breads. But what about spring? For the earth it is a time of renewal and if we eat with the seasons, as we should as much as possible, it is a season of renewal for us too. It is the best time of year to detoxify our bodies. That doesn’t mean going on cleanses or restrictive diets, it means eating more foods that support our bodies’ natural detoxification process. Continue Reading →
Baked Salmon with Crème Fraîche and Watermelon Radish Salad
A good piece of wild salmon is one of the healthiest foods to build a meal around. Add in a fresh, colourful salad with a light vinaigrette and perhaps a little topping for the salmon and voilà- a well balanced plate loaded with beneficial nutrients. When it comes to eating healthily, a palm sized piece of simply baked fish and a mound of vegetables is pretty near perfect. Continue Reading →
Bruschetta Endive Boats
Endive leaves are the perfect shape for one- or two-bite appetizers, they are like edible spoons that can be filled with whatever your heart desires. I topped these with a quick bruschetta mixture for a colourful and easy option. To make it even faster, some chopped tomato can be tossed in an already prepared pesto sauce or a fresh salsa from the deli can be used. Continue Reading →
Mini Bites Greek Salad
Since I like my salads to last for a few days I’ve been experimenting on different ways to make them stay as fresh as possible. I find that smaller cucumbers and tomatoes like this tend to stay more intact because they are still encased in their skins even when chopped, versus larger versions that get diced and have more exposed surface areas. Continue Reading →
Cruciferous Carrot Salad
Nutritional findings can be very conflicting and confusing and if you’re trying to eat healthier it can get a bit disheartening. Very simply, the most universal rule is to just eat a variety of foods, especially plant foods, in as close to their natural state as possible. Do this as often as possible, and you will probably be doing quite well. Salads with a range of different, colourful raw vegetables can be a great source of nutrients that can be eaten on their own or as a supplement to your regular meals. Continue Reading →
Tomatillo and Tomato Sausage Frittata
Golden coloured sweet cherry tomatoes go really nicely with tart green tomatillos. Throwing them into a frittata with a few handfuls of sausage makes for a filling meal in which the vegetables (or fruits to be technical) still shine. Continue Reading →
Hummus Avocado Potato Bites
These are a simple appetizer, side dish or snack based loosely on potato skins. They feature small potatoes with thin skins so the flesh doesn’t need to be removed, they are a good finger food size already. This makes them easier to prepare, plus their toppings make for a much healthier option that still has lots of flavour and feels like comfort food. Continue Reading →
Strawberry Mango Chia Pudding with Kiwi Berries
Chia pudding can be flavoured as simply or as intricately as desired. This is a really simple version that just utilizes fruit and a bit of unsweetened vanilla cashew milk to take chia seeds and plump them up into a flavourful, vibrant pudding. Here I used frozen strawberries and mango defrosted and blended with the milk. I like to use frozen fruit, especially this time of year when fruit isn’t really in season because the frozen option should have been picked and immediately frozen at its peak of ripeness. Therefore it is at its highest in nutrient content, which is preserved through the freezing, as well as at its most flavourful. Plus, I find that unthawed frozen fruit is often a little sweeter than in its completely fresh, unadulterated form. Maximum flavour and sweetness means that we don’t have to add in refined sugars to have a sweet, enjoyable treat. Continue Reading →