When making granola the trio I regularly turn to is oats, maple syrup and nut butter (3 ingredient granola recipe). With just a few ingredients more they can be transformed into dense, chewy and decadent granola bars. Medjool dates add sweetness and help bind the other ingredients together. Puffed brown rice adds some contrast in texture and a nice light crunchiness. Almonds add some bulk and vanilla adds a subtle depth of flavor. Continue Reading →
Tropical Mango Edamame Quinoa Salad
Quinoa salad loaded with a fresh vinaigrette and a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is easily portable, nourishing and light but satiating. They are perfect for picnics and BBQs because they are more food safe then mayonnaise based salads and they will provide lots of energy for fun and games without leaving anyone with weighed down or bloated feelings. The fiber, healthy fats and protein make a whole grain salad like this very filling because it provides everything needed to keep our bodies optimally fueled. Continue Reading →
Homemade Popcorn
Plain air popped corn is an easy, accessible and healthy alternative to processed chips, croutons and crackers. It is considered a whole grain and while it barely has any fat or protein it does have a good amount of fiber and several antioxidants. Popcorn is sturdy enough for thick dips like hummus and guacamole and versatile enough to take on a range of flavors. Continue Reading →
3 Ingredient Rice Bowl
This is a really, really simple bowl but it has been a staple of mine for a long time. It originated as a bedtime snack after late nights out and though I have less of those now, this is still my go-to choice when I need something nourishing, easy to digest, warming and grounding- basically just some healthy comfort food. Both brown rice and avocado are very nutritious and easy to digest, so much so that they are acceptable for babies who are just getting into solid food. Continue Reading →
Blueberry Trail Mix
Trail mix is usually a blend of nuts, seeds and dried fruits- all nutrient dense foods to provide lots of energy in small amounts. While this combination has many possibilities there is a little something extra I like to add- puffed brown rice. It is just like rice krispies but less refined and the only ingredient should be brown rice. It adds a nice light crunch to an otherwise very dense trail mix. This can fulfill its named purpose of providing sustenance out on the trail or it can be a topping for oatmeal or yogurt. If you are a snacker, something like this can be a good alternative to popcorn at a movie (popped corn is good but not all the chemicals and cheap oils they cover it with), chips at home or candy during work or a study session. Continue Reading →
3 Ingredient Granola
Granola can be as fancy as you want it to be, as well as a good way to turn small leftover amounts of nuts, seeds and dried fruits into your own artisinal breakfast. This three ingredient version is an easy base that can be multiplied and added to. Continue Reading →
Lemon Pasta
Shellfish, in this case prawns and scallops, provide high concentrations of some minerals that can be hard to find amply in other sources, like selenium. It acts as an antioxidant, meaning that it is part of a defense network for the body that helps prevent or combat oxidation and cell membrane damage, issues that can lead to a whole host of diseases. Selenium is also important for healthy immune function and it is a component needed for several different proteins and enzymes in the body. Continue Reading →
Chocolate Raspberry Baked Oatmeal
Is chocolate healthy or not healthy? Well, that all depends on your definition of healthy… this is why nutrition can be so confusing. Processed chocolate, like all processed food, does not contain the nutrients that made the original ingredients so health benefitting, or healthy, and it often has some questionable additives like refined sugar and sketchy GMO oils. Many different processing techniques that are required by law to make a food stable enough to sit on the shelf for a long period of time greatly diminish the amount and quality of nutrients once present, and chemicals, flavorings and refined food items are added in to make a desirable color, taste and texture. Raw cacao however, the very base of chocolate, has some pretty potent antioxidants and a decent share of vitamins and minerals, making it beneficial to the body and therefore healthy. 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 →
Pink Soba Noodles in Creamy Peanut Dressing
This dish is a combination of soba noodles and several different vegetables cut down to noodle thinness and smothered in a peanut sauce, the inclusion of a beet gives all the rainbow colored ingredients a naturally vibrant pink hue. Soba noodles are traditionally made from buckwheat, a seed that has been cultivated for thousands of years, and despite the name it is actually not related to regular wheat and is completely gluten-free. Continue Reading →