I don’t enjoy being in the kitchen. When I cook, I want it to be quick and easy, including prep time. Being a plant-based eater, cleaning vegetables can be a chore. So I often splurge on chopped fresh veggies or use frozen ones. I love finding vegan recipes that include hearty beans for protein, herbs for taste and vitamin-filled raw vegetables for nutrients. This bean and quinoa stuffed peppers one fits the bill.
Easy Recipe: Bean & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Easy Recipe: Homemade & Healthy Lemonade
I used to O.D. on empty calorie drinks. A healthy lemonade recipe was unheard of…instead I chose low- fat and high sugary drinks. I rationalized that the lite mochas, skinny iced coffees and juicy sangrias were good for me because there was little fat. If I felt a few pounds creeping up, I would replace these with more diet sodas and Crystal Light. My fluid intake filled with sugar, fake ingredients and caffeine dehydrated me and likely contributed to my high stress level, inconsistent sleep habits and forever bloating body. When I quit drinking crud and focused mostly on water intake, my body felt incredibly vibrant and mind was amazingly clear. But as a former sugar-a-holic, sometimes I want a sweet, refreshing drink. In the spirit of summertime slurpies and refreshing cool drinks, I played around with my blender and a few juicy staple ingredients. I found that this lemonade concoction satisfies my sweet tooth. An added bonus is that it’s a fruity plant-based, high-nutrient drink. Plus, it’s simple and quick to make recipe.
Easy Recipe: Hearty Veggie Quinoa Salad
I’m a carbaholic. Now that I eat clean, I don’t miss the bagels, but still long for grains. Though whole-wheat pasta is more nutrient dense than the white stuff, my waist seldom forgives me after a big bowl. In trying many different brands, shapes and kinds of grains, I opted to experiment with quinoa. The taste is nuttier and the texture is softer than most pastas. It’s also packed with protein and I feel great after eating a plateful.
No Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies & Granola
I had a sweet tooth. Anything crunchy with chocolate didn’t stand a chance in front of me. But when I changed my eating habits in fall of 2013, I removed added sugar and syrups from my diet. The medical and natural communities agree that sugar can have devastating effects on our health, so I just quit. Fast forward a few months and I was craving something sweet. So, I experimented in the kitchen and came up with no-bake chocolate oat cookies.
Easy Recipe: Healthy Buttery* Popcorn
Why is it that going to the movies or curling up on the couch with a late-night flick is so much better with a salty snack? From movie theater popcorn to Orville Redenbacher’s microwavable SmartPop, I’ve always enjoyed this buttery treat. But I’ve stayed away in recent years, mainly because of the immense number of calories found in cinema popcorn and those oftentimes mysterious ingredients in microwavable kernels. Here is my answer for non-processed buttery tasting popcorn without the guilt. It’s easy to make with just three ingredients and four minutes on the stove.