March 18, 2026

Southwestern Flavors Enhance This Black Bean Salad

Black Bean Salad Black beans and pasilla chiles give this salad a Southwestern flavor, and red rice makes it fun and different. A lime vinaigrette brings it all together. You can use regular wild rice and store-bought corn. Black beans and wild rice both have protein for building muscles, bones, and blood, and fiber for gut health. Red rice also contains anthocyanins, antioxidants that protect the heart. The red pepper adds lots of the antioxidants vitamin A and C, which contribute to healthy, youthful-looking skin. Serves 4 Ingredients 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained ½ cup cooked red rice […]
March 3, 2026

This Flavorful Chaat Salad Is Packed With Protein

South Asian Chaat Salad This flavorful salad was inspired by a type of chaat or savory snack served across India, and features puffed quinoa and lentils for extra plant-based protein and fiber. A satisfying serving of 2 ½ cups contains 14 g of protein. Benefits The green lentils in this recipe provide a hearty source of plant-based protein and fiber, supporting digestive health and helping to maintain steady blood sugar levels. The mix of colorful vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes delivers a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, helping reduce your risk of chronic diseases and calming […]
February 10, 2026

Sweetheart Baobab Butter Squares with a Healthy Twist

These squares are like lemon bars but made with antioxidant-rich baobab. Baobab is an African fruit that has a powdery texture. You can buy it from Amazon or you can use fresh lemon juice (3 Tbs.) or lemon zest (1 Tbs.) instead of the baobab powder. Feel free to substitute gluten-free flour for the wheat-based flour. BENEFITS: Baobab is a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that appears to guard against heart disease and stroke and also protects the skin from the aging effects of ultraviolet rays. It contains fiber, which helps with detoxification and gut health. Yields 12 […]
December 24, 2025

Cauliflower Steaks Are Great Main OR Side

Cauliflower Steaks with Goat Cheese These cauliflower steaks can serve as a vegetarian main course or sit beautifully alongside grass-fed, grilled rib-eye or Porterhouse steaks. Piment d’Espelette is the French version of paprika. It’s mild and full-flavored. You can use paprika or red pepper flakes (1 tsp.) instead. A member of the nutrition-packed, cruciferous cabbage family along with Brussels sprouts and broccoli, cauliflower is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich, and may boost both heart and brain health. Eating cauliflower provides impressive amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene, and much more while supporting healthy digestion and detoxification. Cauliflower has indoles (sulfur compounds) […]
May 30, 2025

Maple Herb Roasted Tofu

If you think tofu always lacks flavor, you have to give this sweet, savory, and herbaceous soy-based holiday entree a try. A simple blend of oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and tamari or soy sauce combine to create a flavorful entree that’s wholly worthy of a coveted spot on your holiday table. The added aroma from fresh, wintry herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage is just a bonus. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will love this comforting and festive main dish! The tofu provides plant-based protein for strength while the vinegar and tamari promote gut health. Rosemary boosts brain power. […]
April 7, 2025

We’re Designing Dishes for Great Gut Health

Gut health refers to the overall wellness of your digestive system, particularly the balance and function of the microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract. Did you know that your digestive system is a whole plant/animal kingdom of its own? The GI tract is a complex system responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste from the body. It’s inhabited by trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively known as the gut microbiota or gut microbiome. Chew on this: There are more microbes in your digestive system than there are cells in your body! It’s estimated that […]
March 17, 2025

Deliciously Good for Your Gut: Pineapple Black Bean Salsa

Pineapple Black Bean Salsa Party food can most definitely be colorful, delicious, and healthy at the same time. This pineapple black bean salsa is a perfect example. Pineapple, beans, avocado, and other nutrient-dense ingredients combine to create a festive dish that promotes optimal energy levels, digestion, and wellbeing. This dish is also versatile. Try serving it with tortilla chips as an appetizer or use it as a sweet and spicy topping for grilled tofu or fish. Either way, it’s sure to be a hit at your next summer barbecue. Serves 6-8 Ingredients 1 pineapple, peeled and diced (about 2 ½ […]
October 31, 2024

Tipsy Persimmon Bread

Persimmons are a stunning deep orange fruit available in the fall when your neighbor’s decorative tree explodes with the fruit. There are two types of persimmons: the Japanese Hachiya, which is large and round with an elongated tip. The Fuyu is smaller and can look like a tomato. The Hachiya is soft to the touch when ripe and the flesh is smooth and creamy with a tangy-sweet flavor. If not completely ripe, the flesh is very astringent and mouth puckering. The Fuyu, on the other hand, is firm even when ripe and the flesh is sweet and not at all […]
October 31, 2024

Butternut Squash Loaf

Anyone can make pumpkin bread. How about butternut squash bread or better yet, honeynut squash (butternut’s smaller, sweeter cousin) bread? It’s easy to make your own squash puree but you can also use canned if you can find it. The puree gets folded into an easy batter spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and a bit of orange juice. The resulting bread turns out moist and tender, with the sweet, spicy taste of fall. Benefits Butternut squash is packed with beta-carotene and fiber, offering a variety of health benefits. The high fiber content not only helps to regulate digestion […]