Food

On average, Americans tend to consume about two thirds less fruits and vegetables every day than is recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of course, the caloric intake and the amount of each food group tends to vary person to person, based on weight, height, sex, and most of all, activity level. But, there is no denying that fruits and vegetables should be the main source of nutrition on our plates. But which is better in the battle of juicing vs blending?

If you ask me, chia seeds don’t really have a taste, but some might describe them as slightly nutty. Either way, they are an easy add in to smoothies or morning oat topper. They can even be used as an egg substitute or, drum roll please… can make the most delicious and satiating breakfast, snack or dessert all on their own. And, without further ado, here are two of my favorite chia seeds recipes for you to try out…

This gluten-free brownie recipe is quite simple with only 6 natural ingredients, and can be made with only ten minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of bake time. They will have a still-warm delicious taste after cooling for 5-10 minutes. Oh, to boot, one of these muffins has only about 159 calories (but who is counting these days anyhow?) and a whopping 4.2 grams of protein. A dessert with protein (in a non-dairy form), magnesium, iron, and antioxidant rich for fewer than 200 calories? Plus a source of healthy fat to restore what I need for proper muscle recovery and future workouts?

As a vegetarian, I sometimes find it difficult to get enough protein into my diet. On average I was getting around 20 grams of protein per day by eating what I thought were high protein foods: mostly beans, lentils and nuts. I went to see a nutritionist and she said, “Girl, you are protein starved!” Everything else in my diet was great. I eat mostly whole, organic foods. I have been vegetarian for about five years now and have been a bit more tired than normal of late. So, the nutritionist asked me to keep a food diary for two weeks and her recommendation was to eat more protein. She also shared that it takes about a cup of beans to equal the protein in 1 ounce of meat!! Who knew?!? So unless I plan to eat 4-6 cups of beans each day, I need to look at some other sources for protein in my diet…

So I have a lactose intolerance issue and have been drinking soy milk for close to 15 years in place of cow’s milk. I recently learned from my doctor that ingesting soy for an extended time period and every day (like I was) could lead to larger health issues, including cancer and other bad things. So in my quest to figure out the best option from both a health and financial perspective, I discovered how easy and affordable it is to make your own almond milk! And with commercial Almond Milk manufacturers now in class action suits about how few almonds yet how many chemicals are in their products, I am further encouraged to make my own. So rather than keeping this as my little secret, I thought I would share this how to make your own almond milk recipe with you…

The cozy taste of Thanksgiving can be enjoyed any day with this delightful roasted vegetable with rosemary recipe. It is kind of one I made up along the way from many different inspirations and is highly adaptable to what to have on hand. It’s especially nice in the fall and winter when root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, turnips, parsnips and the like are easy to find at the local farmer’s market or grocery store. As I often tell my friends who have asked for this recipe, “if you like the vegetable, it can likely go into this dish”. The more variety the better for the most health and nutrient-filled meal. FYI – This recipe is Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free…

A vegan diet plan is a lifestyle choice that completely eliminates animal products from the diet as well as from the lifestyle. There are a vast number of reasons why individuals opt to eat a vegan diet. Below we will take a look at what the vegan diet plan is, including: foods that are “forbidden,” acceptable food substitutions and some key facts that everyone should know about a vegan lifestyle.

When it comes to meat free “meat” options, there are few on the market that satisfies vegetarians and vegans that miss the taste of their favorite proteins. Ethan Brown, founder of Beyond Meat, claims to have been able to do just that with his newest chicken alternative…

When it comes to factory farming there is a lot of misinformation out there designed to muddy the waters. Our goal is to help you understand the factory farming facts so you can form your own opinions on where to spend your money…

I have been vegetarian for about 3 and a half years but it did not happen overnight, it has been a long transitional process over the past 25 years of my life. So, if you have ever wondered about the process of becoming a vegetarian, this is one woman’s story. While mine was gradual, many people make the change to eating vegetarian overnight due to health need or desire to protect animal rights. There are so many reasons that people become vegetarian but perhaps my story can shed some light on how it can evolve over time as you become more educated on what works best for you…