A Happy, Healthy Start to Your Day

While I do love some vegan pancakes, a tasty tofu scramble, or a fresh veggie saute to start my day, sometimes my body craves a simple fresh breakfast. That's when I reach for my basket of fruit and put together a healthful bowl of sweetness. I chop up a variety of fruit and round out the meal with a homemade muffin, or a cup of granola, and a big cup of green tea with a drizzle of agave.

~Red berry & chocolate granola, 1/2 a banana~

one tangelo, apple slices, fresh kiwi and green tea with agave

You can also always toss your fruit into a cup of yogurt, add a handful of raw cashews and dried fruit, or mix with granola and splash on some milk. I've even surrounded a square of leftover cornbread with fruit! So many delicious possibilities!

~Fresh blueberries, raspberries and almond granola on top of ~

coconut flavored almond milk yogurt


~Dried apricots, fresh blueberries, cherries and raw cashews~

~Vegan sweet cornbread, fresh blueberries, sliced pluot and raw cashews~

Obviously there is no specific recipe instructions for this kind of breakfast, but I encourage you to eat the rainbow! Choose a few different fresh or dry fruits. There are so many to choose from! Apples, mandarins, plums, pluots, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, you name it! This type of breakfast always makes me feel good about what I just put in my body and I am satisfied until lunch time rolls around.

If using fresh fruit, choose fruits that are in season. Why? Well, because they just taste better! Not to mention you can support your local farmers by picking up those fruits at a farmers' market nearby. These fruits will look better, smell better and be better. There is nothing like strolling through all that produce, smelling the fresh fruits and seeing all the beautiful colors jump out at you. It truly is a beautiful experience. Your body will appreciate it.

Comments

Carrots!

Lately carrots have been a favorite veggie of mine. I mean I've always liked them but just thought there was only so many ways to eat a carrot. But once I really jumped into vegetables I started exploring different recipes for so many different kinds. Carrots, making it to the top of my list. Now, carrots are great for you. They are fat free, low in sodium, cholesterol free, a great source of fiber and are high in vitamin A. No other fruit or vegetable contains as much carotene as carrots, which our bodies convert to vitamin A. Plus, they just taste great! Not to mention they very inexpensive. The carrots greens can also be eaten and are high in vitamin K, which the actual carrot itself, is lacking. For the greens, just sauteing in some olive oil with some red pepper flakes and garlic would be good. You can add a little earth balance butter or real butter to make them a little richer if you want. But for the carrots one of my favorite ways to dress them up is with a lemon-thyme

What's a Great Go-To Snack? Hummus!

Hummus. Such a simple, delicious, healthful snack option. It's amazing that more people don't eat it. And it's even more amazing that people will spend too much money on it when they buy it pre-made from the store! Hummus is so incredibly easy to make, it will blow your mind. Plus, since you're making it at home, YOU have total control of the flavor and can make it super tasty without all the extra sodium and who-knows-what-else. It's also great because you can dip any veggies you like in it, automatically making it a healthier choice. Hummus is great for many reasons. For example, chickpeas (also known as garbanzos beans) are the main ingredient and they are loaded with lots of plant protein and fiber. Chickpeas also contain calcium and are considered by experts as equal to yogurt and milk in providing the body with it's calcium needs. Also, the typical hummus recipe calls for lemon juice which is high in Vitamin C. Then, if you end up adding herbs you get a

Summer Nights

When I think of warm summer nights I think of good times on the back porch: firing up the BBQ, fresh summer fruit, cool beverages, good conversation, good friends... and potato salad. Potato salad is one of those classic summer dishes that everyone enjoys. Unless for some reason you hate potatoes and in that case you must be from another planet. But I can't help you there... Jumping into a lifestyle of no dairy products had me wondering if I would ever be able to find a replacement for my beloved potato dish. But when there's a will, there's a way. And I made sure I found my way back to a delicious, flavorful, healthier potato salad. After a lot of recipe searching and testing I found the perfect combination of ingredients to make one of the best potato salads I have ever had. Not only is this recipe perfect for summer nights, but it's perfect to pack up in tupperware and take on a picnic, bring to a potluck or to have just because it's so darn good. Enjoy! Cr

Yummy Lumpkins

Search This Blog