January 19, 2021

Chia Seeds Are a Nutrient Powerhouse

Chia has gained recent popularity for good reason; these little seeds are nutrient powerhouses: High in protein (great for lean muscle, burning fat, and balancing blood sugar levels). High in fiber (providing nearly 11 grams per ounce) Anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (this helps reduce the growth of cancer cells in both breast and cervical cancers).   Including chia seeds in your diet can deliver a healthy breakfast or afternoon energy boost because chia is associated with vitality and satiety due to the balance in fat, fiber and protein they contain. Chia absorbs water and expands, so if you enjoy […]
January 5, 2021

Zucchini Squash Bake Is Great Comfort Food

This Zucchini Squash Bake makes for delicious comfort food when the weather outside is frightful. Gluten free and vegetarian, it’s chock full of nutritious zucchini plus protein-rich ricotta. Zucchini Squash Bake Ingredients: 1 small (about 2 pounds) kabocha, red kuri or delicata squash ½ Tbs. olive oil ⅛ tsp. plus ½ tsp. salt, divided 1 small zucchini, grated (about ½ cup) ⅔ cup ricotta ½ cup grated hard cheese, such as Fontina, Emmental, Gruyère or non-aged Gouda 1 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme ½ tsp. ground black pepper 1 egg (beaten) ½ tsp. ground nutmet 1 […]
December 14, 2020

Braised Greens Mix It Up with Squash

Nutrient-dense kale and chard team up with butternut squash, which adds brilliant color, fiber, and antioxidants. Mix it up by using other greens and winter squash. Sprinkle with finely chopped almonds before serving for an appealing crunch and extra dose of healthy fats. Braised Greens and Butternut Squash Serves 6 Ingredients: 1 small butternut squash (about 2 pounds) 2 Tbs. olive oil 4 large cloves garlic, minced 1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 2-4 Tbs. cooking liquid (vegetable broth, white wine, or water) 1 large bunch (12 ounces) kale, tough stems and ribs removed, leaves cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips 1 […]
September 8, 2020

Cherry Barbecue Tempeh Sandwich

Tempeh is a traditionally Asian fermented plant-based protein source made from whole soy-beans. Because of the fermentation process, tempeh also contains beneficial probiotics. With a meat-like texture, tempeh is a hearty substitute for meatless meals and pairs well with many flavors due to its own mild, slightly nutty taste. Try it with my homemade cherry barbecue sauce, a lower sugar and preservative-free alternative to store-bought versions. Yields 4 Sandwiches Ingredients For The Sauce 1 cup fresh cherries, pitted 6 oz. tomato paste 2 garlic cloves ½ cup water 1 tsp. fresh orange zest 2 Tbs. fresh orange juice 1 Tbs. […]
August 25, 2020

Relax with Mexican Roasted Chickpea Salad

This tasty salad is a mixture of nutritious vitamins from lettuce and grape tomatoes, and offers healthy fats, too. Best of all, it’s vegan, offers a good amount of fiber from the chickpeas, and helps promote sleepiness if you’ve been staying up too late. Ingredients: 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (drained, rinsed and dried) 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. smoked paprika ½ tsp. salt, divided 2 ears sweet corn (kernels removed) ½ cup fresh salsa ¼ cup plain almond milk yogurt (TRY: Kite Hill or Silk) ¼ cup chopped, fresh cilantro […]
September 17, 2019

Why I’m Jacked About Jackfruit

Jackfruit, one of the world’s largest tree fruit that looks like some sort of large alien egg, is a nutritional staple in tropical countries. As the largest tree fruit in the world, it can grow up to 100 lbs., but most of them are in the 10-20 lb. range. It has spiky skin, a distinctive, musky smell, and a flavor that’s a lot better tasting than it smells—sort of like Juicy Fruit gum. Jackfruit is very high in antioxidants and has a mild tropical taste.  Orange and yellow fruits (like jackfruit) and veggies are rich sources of carotenoids. I love […]
August 5, 2019

Viva Mayr: A Place To Relax, Restore and Learn To Chew Your Food

I have been very fortunate to visit a number of wonderful spas including The Golden Door in Southern California, Sanoviv in Ensenada, Mexico (a medical spa), and others. Each offers an experience in healthy pampering and wellness. Recently, I spent six days at Viva Mayr in the magnificent Austrian Alps. The philosophy of this world-renowned med-spa combines modern complementary medicine with traditional diagnostics and therapies according to the practices of Dr. Franz X. Mayr (1875-1965), an Austrian physician. Through his medical practice, he observed that health was determined by an effective digestive system. Food can either keep us healthy or […]
November 27, 2018

Celebrating the Many Benefits and Tasty Joy of Bok Choy

You are probably most familiar with bok choy as that green leafy vegetable floating in Chinese soup, but once you know more about it, you’ll understand why it should have more of a starring role in your cuisine. Bok choy is also sometimes called Chinese cabbage, but it’s more closely related to chard. Technically part of the brassica family, bok choy contains indoles, which are compounds that lower the risk of cancer. A favorite in Chinese medicine and cuisine for centuries, leafy green bok choy is rapidly becoming a staple on American tables, cultivated mostly in California. Not only is […]