This is the kind of food to go for after you have been sick. After a spell of nausea or food poisoning, a wicked hangover or even just an energy depleting virus or really intense workout, we need sustenance that is easy to digest, absorb and use. When I was little this meant saltine crackers and gingerale but I wanted a more nutrient dense and chemical free option to aid in recovery. This is easy on sore tummies and it does wonders to help get one back to regular speed quickly. Once we are already dehydrated, drinking water can make us feel instantly worse but some studies, and my own empirical research has shown that coconut water helps to rehydrate without any negative symptoms like increased nausea. Continue Reading →
Vegetable Trio
Back when I was younger and before I started liking vegetables I loved this dish. It actually got me excited to eat them, the combination of rich butter (or olive oil) and smoky dried thyme transforms the vegetables to become a medley much better than the sum of its parts. I made it recently for a family dinner and not only were my brothers visibly stoked for it but our parents showed some enthusiasm too. All four of them are generally against vegetables unless they are completely drenched in creamy or cheesy dressing, so any dish that gets them to eat vegetables that are visibly vegetables is a near miracle. I didn’t make this recipe up, it came from my Aunt Karen, a lovely lady and fabulous cook. Continue Reading →
Rainbow Roast Chicken Meal
Traditional meals with my family are centered around the meat, and there is always lots of it. Then, in keeping with a strict shades of white and beige theme, there are piles of white flour buns, ground meat stuffing and mashed potatoes with a very small side of rather lackluster vegetables that get drowned in gravy. I know better than to mess with this formula on special holidays, but when I am putting on a family meal otherwise I like to transfer the emphasis to a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, with the meat as more of a side dish, and include some nuts and/or seeds any maybe whole grains like brown rice or quinoa. Continue Reading →
Green Carrot Cake Smoothie
Some people scoff at the idea of eating rabbit food, clearly they have not tried putting carrots in smoothies. With enough fruit, cashew butter and a vanilla flavored protein powder they are a nutrient dense way to get a carrot cake flavor without the low quality oils and refined flour and sugars that are normally used in the actual cake. Plus the whole food ingredients contribute fiber, healthy fats, potassium, calcium and vitamins A, C and E. 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 →
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 →
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 →
Creamy Tropical Green Smoothie
I have been on a major smoothie kick the past few weeks, trying out different combinations every day and this one is my favorite so far. It has a lot of fruit and ends up making around 5-6 cups, big enough for breakfast or lunch after an intense morning workout or for sharing if it’s a less active day. Continue Reading →