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 →
Balsamic Salmon Salad
My mom recently commented that it is easier for celebrities to be fit and healthy because they have people to prepare their food and make them exercise. My brother astutely replied that she has me. And thus we began our two week challenge where she eats only what I make for her. I am excited because I finally have the chance to make her eat tons of vegetables and other healthy food to help out her insides. She is excited because it is day five and she has already lost the couple pounds she gained recently from sangrias on her summer vacation, plus an extra three that she has not been able to lose, no matter what she tried. She is liking the results on her outsides. Continue Reading →
Ahi Tuna Ceviche Bites
Ceviche is basically some kind of raw seafood marinated in citrus juice (lime in this case). The marinade slightly changes the texture so even those who find raw fish in sushi unappealing may like it in ceviche form. Continue Reading →
Grilled Ginger Lime Halibut
I like cooking with halibut because it is a really dense, heavy fish in texture but the flavor is so light that it completely takes on whatever marinade or sauces you put with it. It is a more expensive fish but it is very nutritious, being high in B vitamins (including the hard to get B12), vitamin A, and the minerals phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Continue Reading →
Greek Salad Skewers
I love Greek salad, it is one of my favorite dishes on a warm evening but it can be kind of awkward to eat, especially in restaurants when they leave huge cuts of vegetables to be fancy… although I think it is secret laziness at the root of that trend. I needed some snacky food for a girls evening and I wanted something that would be easy to eat but was still healthy and fresh. When you skewer a salad it turns into easily controllable finger food, Continue Reading →
Citrus Albacore Tuna Salad
Raw fish used to gross me out in all forms but I have slowly come to appreciate its soft texture and fresh flavor. Tuna is pretty mild tasting and tender, and I think it goes really nicely with light citrus flavors. Served in this way it is seared lightly to lock in the flavors from the marinade while still maintaing its buttery texture. With the avocado it makes for a creamy salad that does not really require any dressing besides a light drizzle of fresh lemon juice. Continue Reading →
Mother’s Day Flower Salad
Edible flowers can be a really beautiful addition to a green salad. It is best to get them from a farmer’s market, produce stand or health food store when they are grown specifically to be consumed by humans. Like with mushrooms, flower foraging can end up dangerously if you do not know which ones are safe to eat (don’t worry Mom I bought these at the market). A general rule of thumb is that the flowers from herbs are a good place to start. Continue Reading →
Beef Tacos
Tacos are a great option for a meal with people who have different tastes and appetite levels because everyone can serve themselves. To make them healthier, I like to add in extra vegetables through lettuce shells and a couple different types of salsa, as well as add in a layer of refried beans at the base. Continue Reading →
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Popsicles
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 →
Potato Corn Soup with Bacon
The corn and cilantro in this soup keeps it summery and the bacon adds a slightly smoky flavor. I included the recipe for the broth I used at the very bottom of the post, it is slightly sweet and compliments many soups, stews and grains very well. Bone broth is extremely nutritious for us. After the bones are stewed for a few hours the broth becomes very rich in gelatin, bone marrow, collagen, calcium and magnesium, all of which strongly contribute to healthy immune systems, joints, bones, hair and skin. Continue Reading →