Chana Masala is an Indian dish featuring chickpeas in a spiced tomato sauce, with chana meaning chickpeas and masala meaning a spice blend. It is warm, fragrant, comforting, stick-to-your-ribs kind of food. On cold, dark February nights with the rain pounding outside there are few things I find more comforting than gathering around a candlelit table with friends and eating hearty, spiced, exotic food like this. Continue Reading →
Espresso Brownie Bites
Something even better than coffee or chocolate is both of them together. Neither are touted as health foods but in the right package they can be pretty nutrient dense. A non-traditional brownie like this based off of dates and nuts is full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. I do not believe in intense restrictions or avoiding beloved foods but I think that choosing ingredients as close to their natural state as possible combines the best of both worlds- health and pleasure. Something like this allows for a chocolate fix but does not have ingredients that are really draining for the body like refined (white) flour and sugar. Continue Reading →
Thai Salad Stuffed Avocado
Topping a salad off with avocado always makes it better, flipping it around and using a whole half of the buttery fruit as a base to build upon is a good way to mix it up. When it comes to eating seasonally, a salad can be appropriate and satisfying even during the winter months if it has enough substance. Here, the avocado, brown rice and creamy peanut sauce add lots of fiber, complex carbs and healthy fats to weigh down the vegetables, but the Thai inspired flavours keep it light and refreshing. Continue Reading →
Spicy Soba Salad
Soba noodles are a great option to use as a base for a salad, then load it up with leftover vegetables, herbs and perhaps some meat or legumes like chickpeas or soy beans. The noodles have a mildly nutty flavour and a heaviness that makes them very filling and satisfying. Continue Reading →
Strawberry Rose Tangerine Smoothie
One of the most tangible ways to show love is through food. While extravagant ingredients and meals are wonderful and special, sometimes whipping up something quick, healthy and nourishing can go a long way in improving how you or a loved one feels. Continue Reading →
Pesto Potato Frittata
Pesto and eggs are a perfect pair and with the addition of potatoes they come together to form a healthy, simple and hearty frittata. Frittatas are basically Italian omelettes and they are super easy to make- you just throw all the ingredients together and leave it to bake until the top is golden brown. Continue Reading →
Mexican Lime Chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas are a healthy, crunchy little snack on their own or a good addition to an antipasti board. Lime really freshens them up while chili and chipotle add some spice and cumin adds some smokiness. Chickpeas don’t have much flavour, if anything they taste a little bit nutty so they take on other flavours well. Continue Reading →
Japanese Sweet Potato Fries
Japanese sweet potatoes are the newest addition to my list of vegetables that actually taste really good. I always assumed that their pale coloured flesh was indicative of less flavour than vibrantly orange yams but if anything they are a bit sweeter. They are also a bit drier, which is a nice attribute for baking or roasting and they taste very, very similar to roasted chestnuts. Continue Reading →
Strawberry Banana Snake
This fruity snake is basically a restructured fruit and yogurt bowl. It takes a few extra minutes to make but that time is well worth it when it comes to getting picky eaters to willfully eat some fruit. A different way of plating food (and adding some chocolate googly eyes) can make even the most basic ingredients a little extra special. There are a lot of popular diets that focus on taking foods or whole food groups away but one of the best changes we can make to our nutritional habits is adding in more fresh produce whenever and however possible. Continue Reading →Digestive Tea
Long before we had modern medicine we discovered how different plants could alleviate certain ailments. Many of these folk remedies’ power to cure may simply be a placebo effect- studies have shown that when people take something they think will cure them, it surprisingly can, even if it is just a simple substance without any curative properties. However, there are some items in nature that have been proven to have positive effects that come from their vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. The spices used in this tea- cumin, coriander and fennel- are spices we have used for thousands of years to strengthen digestion Continue Reading →