Red Lentil Sloppy Joes

Red Lentil Sloppy Joes

Red lentil sloppy joes are a nutritious and economical dish but most importantly they taste amazing. Red lentils are rich in iron, fiber, selenium, zinc, carbohydrates, protein, and vitamin B1. Plus, they’re an excellent source of phosphorus, manganese, and folic acid. Unlike other legumes, lentils cook in about 30 minutes and don't require soaking so you can make a healthy meal when you are short on time. Ingredients: 1 tbsp of coconut oil or vegetable broth 1 red bell pepper finely chopped 2 garlic cloves minced 1 medium onion chopped (approx 2/3 cup) 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 bay leaf 8 ounces tomato sauce 1 1/2 cups of…

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German Chocolate Cherry Shake

German Chocolate Cherry Shake

Who doesn't love cake? I LOVE german chocolate cake?! It's rich, satisfies my sweet tooth, and it's healthy- I mean, it even has fruit in the title, right? I can't always sit down and eat a cake, oh, umm.. I mean, one slice of cake. But, I can make a shake anytime I want and it's just as good (and it's less work)! This German Chocolate Cherry Shake is filling and so deliciously rich. If you need extra fiber, you can add a scoop of my favorite chocolate fiber mix.   German Chocolate Cherry Cake Shake Ingredients 1 scoop (1/3 c) plant-based protein powder 1/2 cup organic black…

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Maple Pecan Cauliflower

Maple Pecan Cauliflower

Maple Pecan Cauliflower is my go-to for a quick healthy lunch. There is a big debate in the south on the proper way to say pecan. Some pronounce it “P-can” and others, “P-con”. Some would even debate how I spelled the pronunciation! But, I think everyone can agree that you either love them or hate them. And boy, do I LOVE them. If you’re like me and love pecans, you are going to love this maple pecan cauliflower recipe. This dish makes a great side, lunch, or you can make it a complete meal by serving it with rainbow quinoa. I first experienced a similar dish in my…

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge These jewels are dairy-free, gluten-free and there is no added sugar. I love these for a sweet craving with adding sugar to my diet. The Sync Chocolate powder contains no added sugars, is gluten-free and vegan. As always, use organic ingredients! You are worth it. 1/2 c all-natural almond butter or peanut butter 5 pitted Medjool dates 1 scoop Modere Sync Chocolate Powder (or your favorite plant-based shake) Process all ingredients in a Vitamix or food processor. If your dates are a bit hard, you can soak them in hot water for 5 minutes and drain the water before using. If the mix is…

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Almond Cookie Recipe – Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Dairy Free

Almond Cookie Recipe – Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Dairy Free

After completing a food intolerance test, I learned I was intolerant to all sugars (honey, agave, etc) and dairy so I needed to find substitutes.  My goal was to go sugar free for 4-6 months and at about month three, I wanted cookies! I found a recipe, made a few modifications and finally came up with this! Like pure stevia sweetener, the monk fruit sweetener is highly concentrated so a little goes a long way.  The key is using pure monk fruit to elminate fillers. My favorite is pure organic monk fruit sweetener from Julian Bakery. Ingredients: 1 cup of Almond Flour 1/2 tsp Organic Pure Monk Fruit…

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Understanding gluten sensitivity and symptoms

Understanding gluten sensitivity and symptoms

Gluten is a compound protein that composes about 80% of the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten can be found in many things such as; chocolate, imitation crab (surimi), deli meats, soy sauce, and other sauces along with vitamins and even some toothpaste. Gluten is also used in anti-caking agents, malt beverages, and soups. If you have a gluten-sensitivity or Celiac disease, you must read all labels. I have gluten intolerance and have been gluten-free for years and still read labels. The 6 grains to avoid that contain gluten are Wheat, Rye, Barley, Malt, Spelt and Oats (unless gluten-free), What is Gluten Sensitivity versus Celiac disease?…

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Mango Bliss Balls

Mango Bliss Balls

These treats are delicious for dessert or breakfast! The original recipe called for dried apricots but since I had dried mango on hand, I substituted.  Be sure to use organic for all ingredients as conventional fruits and nuts contains toxic preservatives. Nuts, especially walnuts, can also contain BHT as a preservative which has to been linked to increased risk of cancer. Dried fruits may contain sulphur dioxide (sulfites) which has been linked to respiratory issues.  The #1 Rule is to read ingredient labels and buy organic! 1 c of dried organic apricots or mango 1 c. pitted dates 1/2 c raw organic almonds 1/2 c raw organic cashews 1/2…

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Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice

Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice

Planning is the key to success when the goal is improving your health. Slow-cooking is an easy way to plan your week with healthy meals. Plan ahead by making one crockpot meal and one stovetop meal on the weekend to ensure you have good options throughout the week. This reduces the temptation to stop and grab fast food. 1 lb chopped organic carrots 1 medium white onion, chopped 6 oz organic skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs 2 cups of chopped pineapple 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 Tbsp nonGMO low-sodium Soy sauce or Bragg's Liquid Aminos 1/4 tsp of pink Himalayan salt salt 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp…

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Chocolate Energy Bites

Chocolate Energy Bites

Need a sweet healthy treat to take to an event that you can make in minutes, no bake chocolate energy bites is the recipe you want. I bring this to most events and now those who have tasted them, request me to bring! You don't need much of the sweetener as the chocolate chips provide that. I've put as little as 2-3 Tablespoons of pure maple syrup and they are still delicious. I also use the organic no sugar added chocolate chips from Hu Kitchen to reduce the sugar.  It is key to read labels on ingredients as sometimes healthy items such as protein powders can contain high…

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6 Tips for a Meaningful Thanksgiving Day

6 Tips for a Meaningful Thanksgiving Day

According to Wikipedia, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Prayers of thanks and special thanksgiving ceremonies are common among almost all religions after harvests and at other times. Most of us love Thanksgiving because of the delicious food which is great but we need to remember and focus on more than just that to truly enjoy the day. So here are a few ideas that make your day special and memorable. Create a heartfelt Thanksgiving tradition with an Attitude of Gratitude!  Our tradition is to allow each family member…

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