Tag: seasonal eating

Summer Peachy Beet Salad

Summer is in full swing and so are the local farmers markets.  With so many people starting their own gardens this year and supporting local, we are enjoying a delicious bounty of local fresh produce.  Each week I’ve been sharing (through Facebook) the goodies I’ve been growing and buying and the different ways to prep them.

Today for Farmers Market Friday, I am spotlighting two of my farm fresh favorites- beets and peaches.  Not only are they delicious and display a gorgeous array of color, they pack many health benefits too.

Beets are a powerhouse of health and provide tons of nutritional value.  They help keep blood pressure in check, help to reduce inflammation, provide digestive support and they help to support brain health.  Beets also help support the liver, which is a vital part of our natural detoxification process.  Something we need for better health and immune support.  They’ve also been linked to weight loss and improved athletic performance.

Peaches are a juicy and tasty summer fruit that is packed with antioxidants and nutrients.  It’s been shown to improve heart health, aid digestion, reduce allergies and protect skin.  Something we especially need to be mindful of when we are outside during the summer months.  They are also hydrating.  Which we definitely need during the hot summertime.

This recipe is so flexible and you can play around with a variety of toppings such as dressings, cheeses, nuts and berries.

 

Summer Peachy Beet Salad

Ingredients:

2 Peaches, sliced into bite size pieces http://www.willowspringsproduce.com
Arugula or Mixed Greens of Choice
2 Beets, cut into bite size squares http://www.willowspringsproduce.com
Goat Cheese (regular or cranberry and tarragon)
Sliced nuts (almonds, walnuts and pine nuts are a great option)

Optional: Red Radish Microgreens  https://www.marylandmicrogreens.com

To Prepare the Beets:

Preheat oven to 425 degree

Toss beets in 1-2 Tbsp avocado oil or oil of choice.
Roast in a cast iron or oven safe pan for 30 minutes. Stirring throughout the cooking process.
Beets will have a golden color and be done when a fork or knife can be pinched through them.

 

To Prepare the Salad:
1. In a bowl or serving platter, place greens as a base.
2. Mix the microgreens (if using) with the salad greens.
3. Top the greens  with beets, peaches and then goat cheese.
5. Sprinkle nuts, if using and serve with dressing.

White Balsamic Dressing:

½ cup  Infused Olive Oil or Oil of Choice https://oliveandbasket.com

¼ cup White Balsamic Vinegar https://oliveandbasket.com

1 Tbsp raw honey

Optional: Salt and Pepper to taste

Dressing Directions:

In a mason jar with lid or mixing bowl, mix oil with a gradual drip of balsamic to taste.  Depending on the desired sweetness.  Add the honey for desired texture and taste.  If using, finish with salt and pepper.  Shake or stir to combine ingredients before serving with the salad.

Enjoy! ?

XOXO,

Kim

Winter Squash

Healthy Changes to Your Winter Nutrition

As the temperature drops, our nutritional needs change. Except for winter-sports enthusiasts, people become less physically active. After all, when it’s cold and snowy outside, even a trip to a neighborhood grocery store is a daunting task. With the advent of cold and flu season, staying healthy takes a bit more effort. What’s more, nutrition-packed fruits and vegetables that were plentiful during the summer may be in short supply—and take a bigger chunk out of our wallets.

However, there are many delicious and affordable ways to ensure proper nutrition during the dark days of winter. These tips will help you maintain optimum health and please your palate at the same time.

Healthy Changes to Your Nutrition in the Winter #seasonaleating #winterfoods

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Go for Beans

There are many varieties of legumes, including garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas), lentils, lima beans, and pinto beans. These hearty foods have something in common: they are fiber and protein powerhouses. Beans can be added to stews and soups, served in salads, and cooked and eaten by themselves. To reduce gassiness, soak them in water for six to eight hours and rinse before preparing.

With the cold season in full swing, it’s a perfect time for chili.  Load up on the beans when cooking up your favorite chili.  This is a great stew recipe too!  Add whatever beans you enjoy.  Healthy and Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Try Some Spuds

Potatoes have an undeserved bad reputation for their starch content. However, they are chock full of vital nutrients. One potato provides hefty amounts of immunity-boosting vitamins B6 and C (29% and 25% of the recommended daily allowance of each). Fiber—4 grams in an average-size potato—and folate, essential for the proper development of unborn babies, are added bonuses. Purple potatoes are great sources of anthocyanins, antioxidants with a variety of benefits ranging from keeping heart disease at bay to reducing inflammation. Adding carrots, parsnips, turnips, and other roots vegetables to mashed potatoes is a delicious way to include vegetables in a wintertime dish.

Talk Turkey

This bird is not for Thanksgiving only. Low in calories and high in protein, it’s a natural in sandwiches, soup, salads, stir-fry, and by itself.

Include Winter Squash

Spaghetti, acorn, and butternut are only a few types of this colorful, tasty, nutritious vegetable. Winter squash is low-calorie and rich in fiber, vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamin C. Acorn squash also has 30% of the RDA of vitamin B1, 25% of B6, and 31% of magnesium. And butternut squash is a powerhouse of vitamins A and C: 179% and 31% of their respective daily requirements. Leave off the butter and syrup and try a little ghee, applesauce, maple syrup, brown sugar, or cinnamon.

Recipe: Simple Spaghetti Squash

Add Some Greens and Reds

Chard, collards, and kale flourish in winter.  The frosty weather can reduce kale’s bitter taste. With healthy amounts of vitamins C, A, and K—and plenty of folate in escarole, mustard greens, and collards—leafy greens can keep people’s immune systems in good shape. Red cabbage, a cousin of kale, contains few calories and lots of vitamin A, plus zeaxanthin and lutein, phytochemicals so important for eye health as people age.

Don’t Forget Fruit

Citrus fruit is loaded with vitamin C. Grapefruit, oranges, and their cousins are also excellent sources of all-important flavonoids. Hesperidin, the dominant flavonoid in citrus fruit, is known to raise HDL cholesterol (the good kind), reduce LDL cholesterol, and lower triglyceride levels. And if you have not yet tried pomegranate juice, you may want to add it to your daily regimen. It contains more antioxidants than any other kind. Studies show that pomegranate juice may help prevent free radicals from doing damage—and increase the flow of blood to the heart in patients whose tickers do not receive sufficient oxygen because of blocked arteries.

By adding these good-tasting and nutritious foods to the menu, you can ensure that you and your family will weather the chilly season. Enjoy!
P.S. If you’re looking for some delicious and healthy recipes for your holiday meals, I welcome you to check out my Healthy Holiday Guide
do you feel like you’re struggling with your nutrition and health goals this time of the year? let’s connect and schedule a free discovery session. click on the contact button here.  i look forward to talking with you soon. Contact

XOXO,

Kim

Fall Superfoods

HEALTHY FOOD SWAPS USING FALL SUPERFOODS

Fall food swaps are a simple, healthy way to support this season’s change, strengthen our immunity and support our body as we approach the holiday season ahead.

If you want to eat a little healthier through the fall season, it doesn’t require completely changing your nutrition. In many cases, you can just make a few substitutions with the foods you already enjoy. Lower-fat foods that are tasty and nutritious. Here are some healthy food swaps that use fall superfoods.

Use Pumpkin in Cake Mixes

One of the easiest healthy food swaps you can do with your fall superfoods is to use pumpkin puree with cake mixes. This turns your cake or cupcakes into just 2 ingredients, including the cake mix of your choice and pumpkin puree. The pumpkin replaces all other ingredients you would have mixed in with the cake mix, like oil and eggs. This is often done with a spiced cake mix that goes well with pumpkin, but don’t be afraid to experiment with vanilla and chocolate cake mixes as well.

Don’t like pumpkin?  Use fresh applesauce instead.  Both pumpkin and apples are incredible fall foods with many health benefits.

Sweet Potatoes Instead of White Potatoes

Many people enjoy potatoes, especially in the fall when you want more savory dishes, but they tend to be high in carbs and fat, and not very nutritious. Instead of having traditional white potatoes in your dishes, try sweet potatoes. These are a superfood, so they are filled with nutrients, and are amazing to enjoy during the fall season. You can enjoy stuffed sweet potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, sweet potato fries or even sweet potato soup.

Use Cauliflower for Low-Carb Options

If you are on a low-carb nutrition plan, then you should become familiar with cauliflower. The bland taste and slightly rough texture of cauliflower makes it perfect as a substitute for many of the carb-rich foods you can no longer have. You can use it to make mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes, make lots of types of rice with it, or even make cauliflower steaks. Be creative and find different ways to substitute the higher-carb ingredients with cauliflower.  Cauliflower can pack a lot of flavor when cooked with avocado oil or ghee, herbs and spices.

I love to make healthier pizza with cauliflower crust.  I keep it simple and healthy with this crust of choice.  Link: Cauliflower Crust

Quinoa Instead of Rice

The last substitution you can make for a healthier superfood-rich meal is to replace your rice with quinoa. Most types of rice, including white rice and brown rice, are okay in moderation, but they lack the nutrition you need for a well-balanced meal. Quinoa is considered a superfood, so it is the perfect alternative when you want to have a rice dish. You can make a harvest quinoa side dish with squash, pumpkin, and spices, which is simply to make and very good for you with all the superfoods included.

As mentioned, there are many ways to swap some of your traditional dishes for healthier, super food filled, yummy recipes.  Below is one of my favorites this fall season.  It’s a great recipe to share with family and friends and it uses up those leftover pumpkins from Halloween. ?
Roasted Pumpkin with Cranberry Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds of fresh pumpkin, seeded and cut long ways into crescents

3 Tbsp raw local honey
3 Tbsp avocado oil (or another oil of your choice)
Optional seasoning: 1 tsp pumpkin spice

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly oil. In a small bowl, combine and stir the oil and honey. Spread pumpkin slices on prepared sheets, side by side. Brush one side of the slices with oil and honey mixture. If adding the spice, lightly dust before roasting. Roast 10 to 15 minutes, or until browning begins.

Carefully flip the slices with tongs and brush with the remaining oil combination. If desired, you can add more spice (if using). Roast another 10 to 15 minutes or until desired texture and color. Serve with cranberry sauce

Cranberry Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

12 ounces fresh cranberries
2 apples, peeled and chopped 1 cup of water
1⁄2 cup local raw honey

DIRECTIONS:

In a saucepan over high heat, bring all ingredients to a boil. Once the ingredients begin to boil, reduce the heat to low. Simmer and stir occasionally until the cranberries pop and the ingredients thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool. This delicious dish can be refrigerated for serving later or served after cooking and once cooled down.

This recipe and many more will be featured in my Healthy Holiday Guide COMING SOON! To learn more or get on the waiting list, message me here: Contact Kim

Have you discovered a healthy swap that you enjoy?  I welcome you to share!

Happy Fall Y’all!

XOXO,

Kim

smoothie bowl

Fall Breakfast Bowl Ideas Using Superfood

Fall Breakfast Bowls are a healthy, filling and warming treat as the cooler air moves in and we crave warming foods.

The fall season is in full swing and we’ve been feeling the seasonal shift.  This time of the year, many experience a lower immune system, stress, less sleep (especially during the holiday season)and may feel ‘blah.’  We start to crave heavier, comfort foods.

To help support the body through this seasonal change and beyond, adding in superfoods is a great way to support and nourish the body.

If you are interested in using more superfoods this fall, a great option for you is to make breakfast bowls. You might have heard of smoothie bowls, but that is definitely not the only fun bowl idea for breakfast that doesn’t include cereal. Take a look at these healthy options for your next superfood breakfast.

smoothy pumpkin breakfast bowl

Smoothie bowls are popular year-round, as a way to add more superfoods into your nutrition and have a healthy, yummy breakfast. It may seem weird having a smoothie with pumpkin, but it actually contains the perfect texture and just enough sweetness to make this a filling and healthy breakfast bowl. The trick here is to add banana to the smoothie bowl along with your pumpkin puree, since it is going to sweeten it up. You can then use some almond milk or other milk (such as cashew or coconut), along with your choice of fall spices. Just a little allspice will also work since it combines different flavors in one. For toppings, try chia seeds, ground cinnamon, and walnuts.  Toasted walnuts are delish too!

apple Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Here is another tasty breakfast bowl that is going to use those wonderful superfoods.  Between the farmers markets and apple festivals, it’s not hard to find delicious apples this time of the year.  Quinoa is added in to give you a healthy grain that is filling and contains plenty of fiber. This quinoa bowl is on the sweeter side, using sliced apples, apple pie spice, applesauce, and some almond milk or soy milk. You can also make it even sweeter with some pure maple syrup drizzled or local raw honey on top.

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

This may not sound appetizing right away, but give it a chance! You aren’t just eating a bowl of sweet potatoes; you are combining them with some of the classic fall flavors for a healthy and nutrient-rich breakfast bowl that is easy to put together. In addition to the sweet potatoes, which should be mashed after cooking them, add in a mashed banana and mix it together. You can then add in your spices, whether you add them individually, or go with allspice or a simple pumpkin pie spice. Other ingredients are up to you, though chia seeds, flax seeds and almond milk go really good with this type of breakfast bowl.

Have you heard of chia and flax?  This is a great article to share more! Chia and Flax

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal breakfast bowl

Pumpkin spice is a popular flavor during fall.  Often a fan favorite, this one you should definitely try. You can transform your morning oatmeal into a fall spiced delight and make it taste just like pumpkin pie. Some ingredients to use include rolled oats, water, nut milk, banana, pumpkin pie spice, and your choice of natural sweetener. You can go with local raw honey, agave syrup or a pure maple syrup. Pumpkin puree is of course also added in the oatmeal.

When it comes to breakfast bowls, spice it up, have some fun and dig into your creative side.  Discover what tastes and flavors you enjoy!

Below is one of my favorite fall breakfast recipes.  Super simple and easy to make.  It’s a great combination of the fall goodies we enjoy this time of the year.

 

RECIPE: 

apple CINNAMON SPICE OATMEAL

Makes 2 servings

1 cup rolled oats
2 cups water or dairy-free milk Dash of sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon raw cacao
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Honey or your favorite sweetener 1 apple, sliced

Add oats, water (or milk), sea salt, cinnamon, raw cacao, and coconut oil to a small pot over medium heat. Stir well and cook for about 10 minutes. Serve with honey or your favorite sweetener and sliced apple.

 

Happy Fall Y’all!

P.S. I will be sharing many delicious and healthy meals in my two upcoming programs Fall Fuel for You and Living the Nourished Life.  I welcome you to message click on the links or me on my Contact Page to learn more.

XOXO,

KIm

Chicken with Zoodles, Tomato and Feta

It’s prime season at the farmers market and I have been loading up.  I made chicken with zoodles, tomato and feta this week and it was amazing!  I had some zucchini and roma tomatoes left over and decided to try the combination.  WOW!  Especially when you throw in some spices and fresh herbs.  Looking for some lean protein?  Add in some healthy organic chicken.  The presentation is pretty too.  No chef skills needed here, friends!

Zucchini has a ton of benefits and is pretty inexpensive when found locally.  Zucchini is known to help with weight reduction and boosts a healthy nutritional value.  It helps to promote eye health, has been shown to lower homocysteine levels and helps with asthma symptoms. Zucchini contains high quantities of Vitamin A, folate, potassium, Vitamin C and fiber.

About a month ago, I was asked to be a guest vendor at my local farmers market.  I knew I was going to be preparing simple, healthy and delicious dishes from ingredients at the market.  I had such a wonderful time shopping around and chatting with the local farmers.  I love asking them about their farming practices and hearing their recipe ideas.  A few of the many things that I love about shopping local and supporting the farmers in my community.  While at the market last month, I made these zoodles and they were a HIT!   Since the event, I’ve been receiving zoodle recipe requests and wanted to create a delicious but simple combo.

I thought the zoodles would pair well with my  Farm Fresh Tomato, Basil and Feta Salad recipe and some healthy chicken.  I grill chicken throughout the week as part of my food prep, but you can cook it on the stove or bake it as well.  The recipe pairs well with the farm fresh tomato, basil and feta recipe (as a topping or side), but you can keep it simple with diced roma tomatoes pan cooked in a little avacado oil and spices.  I’ve made it with homemade pasta sauce too!  I encourage you to be creative and experiment with the different options when combining flavors and ingredients in this meal.

 

Chicken with Zoodles, Tomato and Feta

2-3 Large Zucchini (4-5 small)

4 Chicken Breasts (organic if possible)

3-4 Roma tomatoes, diced (or use the recipe above and cut the portions)

Feta Cheese (unless using the farm fresh recipe above)

Fresh Basil (small handful)

1 to 2 tsp Fresh Garlic, chopped (I love garlic, so I use a lot!)

1/2 Tbsp of Italian Seasoning

Salt and Pepper (optional and to taste)

Avacado or Grapeseed Oil

directions:

zucchini:  using a zucchini spiralizer, carefully prepare your zucchini into spirals. in a large skillet, boil a cup to a cup and a half of water. gently toss and cook (steam) your noodles until they are a little soft but not falling apart.  once cooked to your desired texture, drain and set aside.
*I am not a fan of boiling with a lot of water because the vegetable has water and makes the noodles runny. i prefer to cook in a skillet and slightly steam with a little hot water.
tomato mixture: In a stove top pan, heat a little oil and add your garlic.  cook just a few minutes while stirring around.  it will not take long for it to cook.  add in your tomatoes and italian seasoning.  once cooked down, remove and set aside.
chicken: if you’re cooking your chicken on the stove, pound or butterfly your chicken to thin it out for cooking.  season with salt and pepper (if desired).  heat your skillet and add a TBSP of oil. add your chicken to the pan and cook on both sides until the center is no longer pink.
let’s plate it up:  carefully dish out a serving of your zoodles onto a clean plate.  add your chicken and top with your desired tomato seasoning.  add feta (unless you’re using the above recipe with feta in it) and some chopped up fresh basil to create your meal.  I served mine with a side of asparagus, but additional veggies are not necessary.
Note:  I used the Veggetti Pro Spiralizer (click on the link below).

Veggetti Pro Table-Top Spiralizer, Quickly Spiral Slice Vegetables into Healthy Veggie Pasta

 

i would love to hear your feedback and comments about the recipe.  do you have a favorite zoodles recipe that you would love to share? comment below and share your tips or favorites.  enjoy, friends!

XOXO~

Kim