wellness

What’s The Deal With Omega-3s?

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

If your health is a priority, you’ve probably considered using one of the most popular supplements: omega-3 fish oil.

I don’t blame you!

Fish oil has claims ranging from improving heart and brain health to treating symptoms of mood disorders like anxiety and depression. So it’s no mystery why fish oil is so popular!

For example, multiple studies link omega-3 supplementation with decreased anxiety – specifically, anxiety is reduced in people who consume 2g or more daily of omega-3 in the form of fish oil. ⁠⠀

Strawberry Chia Jam

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

One of my favorite things to make when I score a big stash of fresh farmer’s market strawberries is this 4-ingredient Strawberry Chia Jam????

First, I like the way the texture looks! I’ve seen several recipes for chia jam recently and it always catches my eye.

Second: it’s so. dang. easy!

Third: I saw a really pretty and light jam cake posted by @sweetlaurelbakery a couple weeks ago and it’s been on my mind to make it ever since – but first I need the jam!

Roasted Carrots with Simple Tahini Sauce

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

One of my favorite, simple ways to get more veggies in your meals is to roast them. It will bring out depth of flavor, plus it’s so easy to throw a bunch of veg on a sheet tray, crank the oven to 375º F and let them go until they’re done, usually 25-45 minutes depending on the veg and how well you like them done.⁠

Whenever my body is craving some fresh and simple, these roasted carrots with tahini sauce are always the first thing to come to mind. They never disappoint and have become my staple side dish for a good reason.

Crispy Cinnamon Tortilla Chips with Fresh Fruit Salsa

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

Fruit… salsa? ⁠

I’ve been craving something fresh and unique, and this fresh fruit salsa popped to mind. I made it a while ago and it was so fun to eat with these cinnamon sugar tortilla chips I made using Siete Foods almond flour tortillas. To me it feels like the perfect by-the-pool-in-the-afternoon snack and I figure there are still a few days left in summer so I’m going to milk that for all it’s worth ????⁠

The salsa itself was super simple to throw together – I used a combination of strawberries, green apple, watermelon, and kiwi minced up and tossed with a couple tablespoons of honey and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (for a total of about 2-3 cups minced fruit, heavy on the watermelon. The salsa itself was super simple to throw together – I used a combination of strawberries, green apple, watermelon, and kiwi minced up and tossed with a couple tablespoons of honey and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (for a total of about 2-3 cups minced fruit, heavy on the watermelon.

Zero Carb Keto Cauliflower Polenta

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

Some of the kinds of recipes you often ask me for include: AIP compliant, vegetarian, and cheap. This cauliflower polenta recipe is one that (maybe surprisingly!) tics all 3 of those boxes.

This grain-free polenta is easy to make, ingredients are flexible to meet your dietary needs, and cauliflower is an affordable ingredient to work with. It’s also rich in sulfur compounds which are proving to have anti-cancer properties.

Stuffed Breakfast Sweet Potatoes

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

Stuffed sweet potatoes (of all varieties) make for a great quick and easy meal. I usually batch bake some and make a filling to go in them so I’ll have a healthy lunch for a few days.⁠

Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta carotene, the plant version of vitamin A, which is important for healthy skin and eyes. Cooking the potatoes actually makes it easier for your body to absorb the vitamin!⁠

If I’m having lunch or dinner, I’ll usually fill my potatoes with a savory beef and veg mixture, but you can make these up for breakfast too! The version in this post is a throwback to the yogurt stuffed sweet potatoes I discovered at a breakfast restaurant several months ago. ⁠

Dairy-Free Keto Ranch Dressing (Vegan & Paleo-friendly, too!)

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

I’m considering eating more salads these days – I went through an intense salad phase in ’15 and I haven’t craved them since. I had to dig my salad spinner out of the back of the highest shelf in my kitchen!⁠

The only way I can really get into the idea of a salad these days is with the right dressing ????

I made a half-batch of this Dairy-Free Ranch today and it really hit the spot on my frisee. The herbs + ACV really make the classic ranch flavor pop, and it has a creamy texture just like the real deal.⁠

Easy Chili Infused Olive Oil to Dress Up Any Dish

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

When you start eating healthier, one of the biggest challenges can be finding ways to dress up your food without adding junk ingredients.⁠

⁠The best way to do that is to get familiar with seasonings! Something simple, like this infused olive oil, can make all the difference and take an otherwise bland meal from “boooo” to “woo hoo!”⁠

The other perk of something like an infused oil is the added healthy fats, which are necessary for long-term energy, brain health, and cellular health. ⁠

This is specific infusion is made with a pepper called “guajillo” chili (pronounced “wah-hee-yo”). It is sooooooo easy to make and goes great on everything savory. It’s a recipe that I brought back from a trip to Mexico that literally requires 2 ingredients and can be ready to eat in an hour!

Make a bottle and keep it on hand for almost anything – grilled meat, potato salad, guacamole, hummus, grilled veggies…you name it, this oil take its to the next level of YUM.

Greek Beet & Yogurt Salad (Patzarosalata me Yiaourti)⁣

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

I don’t always love eating veggies on their own (can anyone else relate?!), so I love finding creative ways to get them in! I discovered this salad during a trip to Greece with my sister. Aside from the nostalgia for me, this salad is one my favorite fun and tasty ways to eat root veggies!

Beets are a super nutrient dense food. “Nutrient dense” basically means that ounce for ounce a food packs in essential and beneficial vitamins, minerals, and other micro- and macro-nutrients without much fluff or non-beneficial components. ⁣

Sugar-Free Baking: How To Use Bananas As A Sugar Alternative

Health & Nutrition, Recipes & Videos

I get a lot of questions about natural sweetener options for baking, and we often cover sugar alternatives like coconut sugar, honey, and maple syrup.

But one thing we don’t talk about as much is fruit options like over-ripe bananas!

Especially with banana bread being the baking sweetheart of 2020, I wanted to give a quick breakdown of this overlooked sugar-alternative.

Bananas add moisture, binding, and structure to a baked recipe. They don’t add as much moisture as one or maple syrup, but they may add more moisture than coconut sugar depending on ripeness. This is definitely something you’ll want to take into consideration when your substituting.