Food & Recipes

Healthy ChickLit: Have Fun With Your Veggies & Vegetarian Marinara Spaghetti Squash

Of course people scrunch their noses and roll their eyes at the thought of “eating healthy” when they think of it as bland, cardboard-tasting, flavorless meals (think: a pile of iceberg lettuce with fat-free, calorie-free dressing).

And up until about five years ago, that’s what healthy did mean to me: boring salad bars, diet sodas, sugar-free everything, low calorie, processed-fake-food-crap. Blah.

Then I discovered how much fun I could have in the kitchen cooking healthy food, how creative I could get with my veggies, and how utterly delicious green “healthy” foods could really be.

Most days of the week, The Boy and I craft up wholesome, healthy dishes together in the kitchen and more often than not it’s an exciting experiment. We use what we have in the fridge, creating innovative recipes and award-winning concoctions (at least according to us.) In fact, while I am pretty skilled in the kitchen, The Boy is really the Master Chef of the two of us which makes life a little easier.

No matter what we concoct, we typically (most days) aim to make most of our meal veggie-based with healthy fats, nutritious proteins and wholesome grains added in.

Last night, we had lots … Read More!

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Six Health-Boosting Ways with Quinoa

Quinoa and I have quite the love affair. I discovered this grain-like seed a few years ago when I was dealing with gluten issues and haven’t looked back since.

I typically enjoy quinoa at least twice a week and  unsurprisingly, it’s quickly become one of my favorite kitchen staples. Really, I never go without it. In fact, we have three bags of it in our cupboards now. (Hey, you never know when you’ll need it!)

Quickie Quinoa Facts

  • While many refer to quinoa as a grain based on the similarities, quinoa is in fact a seed.
  • It’s 100% gluten free, making it a great choice for someone with Celiac’s or a gluten sensitivity, or for those who don’t digest gluten-heavy grains very well. As an added benefit, it’s also very easy for most to digest!
  • It cooks up in about 15 minutes, making it my favorite go-to when I “don’t have time” to cook as opposed to other grains like rice that can take up to an hour to prep
  • Quinoa is a complete protein, making it superb for endurance & energy!
  • High in B vitamins, iron and potassium to name a few
  • It’s always good to rinse quinoa thoroughly
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Health Boosting, Anti-Inflammatory Green Smoothie {Recipe}

Good morning Healthy Chickies, and Happy Day-Before-New-Year’s-Eve. Since I’m still getting over some sniffles from the holidays, I’ve been trying to eat (and drink) with my health in mind, paying extra attention to the foods that are going to fill me up and make me feel strong & healthy.

This morning, I whipped up a health-boosting green smoothie in the Vitamix, carefully choosing ingredients that’d work on my side as I knock this cold to the ground.

Hope you enjoy!

Health Boosting, Anti-Inflammatory Green Smoothie

Serves 2

  • About 1 c. unsweetened coconut or almond milk
  • 3 large handfulls baby spinach (fill to about 3/4 of the blender): high in vitamin K and A & rich in cancer-fighting antioxidants
  • 3 carrots – rich in antioxidants like Beta Carotene
  • 3 celery stalks high in vitamin A & C, boost immune system and have been used to help lower blood pressure
  • 2 cloves garlic – antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-infection…need i go on?
  • juice of 1 small lemon – strengthen immunity, cleanse the stomach & liver, fabulous detox to name a few
  • 1 large apple – good amount of soluble fiber and have also been known to reduce LDL (“bad cholesterol”)
  • 1
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6 Ways to Increase Your Energy Through Food

Today we’re going to discuss something some of us have, many of us want more of, and all of us need: ENERGY.

Have you ever observed children running around, who seem to have all the energy and life in the world and wonder, “How can I get some of that?” On the other hand, so very often we see business professionals completely drained by the stresses of the workday, mom’s suffering from extreme fatigue, and college students relying on energy drinks to keep them “going.”

What gives? How can we get our energy levels back up in order to feel healthy and alive again?

While there are a number of reasons for low energy levels (including emotional, mental, physical and chemical stress), today I’d like to focus on one of my favorite topics: food. More specifically, I’m going to show you how you can increase your energy levels almost instantly through your diet!

  1. Avoid or limit your intake in processed foods, caffeinated beverages, artificial sweeteners, sugary treats and heavy red meats, all of which can drain your energy if consumed in excess. Remember, you don’t need to change your diet overnight as it’s all about baby steps. Try
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On My Plate This Week

Good afternoon friends! It’s mighty cold in Boston today if I do say so myself. I hate to admit it, but I think it’s time to break out the winter hats and gloves. (I can’t believe I’m saying that.)

Exciting news on the home-front today. Remember when I told you about my boyfriend’s trip to the Living Foods Institute in Atlanta, GA? Well, I’m going down to visit him and his mother for a spontaneous trip this weekend! I’m going to be able to experience the center, try some delicious raw & living dishes, volunteer a bit and join for a big celebratory feast on Sunday night. It feels good to make an in-the-moment decision, which I know is a good one.

Anyway, here’s a little recap of what I’ve been eating lately:

[Sauteed kale with sweet potato, cumin, turmeric, dried shiitake mushroom powder & sea salt with a fried egg on top]

Speaking of shiitake mushrooms, my grandmother gave me a bunch of dried shiitakes that my grandpa grew last week. I LOVE shiitakes for their nutritional boost and medicinal benefits. I decided to grind them up in my extra dry Vitamix blender to add into smoothies, salads, … Read More!

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Quinoa Pasta with Lazy Girl’s “Pesto”

I first fell in love with pesto when I studied abroad in Italy one summer during college. Nothing compares to the delicious blend of basil, walnuts, garlic and freshly shaved parmesan cheese. While I love pesto, I don’t cook with it as much as I’d like to because a.) I’m not a huge fan of store-bought varieties and b.) making your own can be quite a mess. (Side note: I will most likely be making my own more now that I own a Vitamix!)

For those of you who enjoy pesto, but aren’t in the mood to battle with your food processor, this recipe is for you. Instead of making a pesto sauce, I combined all the ingredients into my pasta dish to create the same flavors in half the time. Oh, and it’s gluten free friendly!

Quinoa Pasta with Lazy Girl’s Pesto

Makes two servings

  • 1 to 1 1/2 c. quinoa pasta (you can substitute brown rice pasta if you’d like)
  • 2 cloves garlic (I use more because I’m a huge fan of garlic)
  • 1. c frozen broccoli
  • 1 c. frozen spinach
  • 2 TB coconut oil
  • 1/4 c. freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 TB walnuts, chopped
  • approximately 1 TB
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Healthy Meals, Four Ways

Since moving in with The Boy two weeks ago, we’ve quickly become much more…domestic (well, at least in the kitchen). While I do enjoy cooking homemade meals, when I lived with my sister I frequently settled for salads, signature pasta dishes or breakfast for dinner. Since our schedules were so different, I would often cook for myself and therefore resorted to something easy.

However, living with a man is a completely different beast. Soups, salad, and what I consider “leftovers” simply don’t suffice for a Real Meal. Men need hearty, wholesome, grandiose dishes and thus we’ve become quite familiar with our teeny tiny Cambridge kitchen.

Thankfully, we both like to cook and we both enjoy eating well. I lucked out that my guy doesn’t eat processed food, soda, take-out pizza or boxed meals, but rather enjoys organic meats, high-quality cooking oils and most importantly: real food.

Here’s what’s been on our dinner menu lately:

Homemade Gluten Free pizza with spinach, broccoli, ricotta, fresh mozzarella, mushroom, onion, garlic and Italian seasoning (crust mix from Bob’s Red Mill)

Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers (inspired by Simply Life blog)

Green Quinoa & Rice Bowl (Inspired by Life Read More!

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Healthy Skin Food: Energizing Tomato Acovado Salad

As you know, I enjoy healthy eating for my mind and body, but I also like loading up on foods that are good for my skin. Unfortunately, I didn’t really get the best luck when it comes to naturally, flawless skin, so I do whatever I can to treat my skin with kindness. And for me, that starts with my diet.

This salad is packed with good-for-your-skin eats like Omega-3 rich avocados, olive oil and walnuts, while providing a great source of energy to get you through that mid day slump. It also works wonderfully as a post-workout recovery meal.

Omega Avocado & Tomato Salad

  • 1/2 avocado, sliced
  • 1 small Roma tomato, diced
  • 1/4 c. cucumber, chopped
  • 1 cage free egg
  • 1 TB cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
  • about 1 TB balsamic vinegar
  • small handful walnuts
  • dash of Parmesan cheese, fresh (optional)
  1. Whisk together the balsamic and olive oil to create a delicious dressing. Mix together with veggies and greens.
  2. In the meantime, fry an egg over medium heat to your liking (I like to leave it a little bit runny).
  3. Top with walnuts and Parmesan.

Do you take your diet into consideration when it comes to your skin? Read More!

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Leafy Greens, Goat Cheese & Walnut Salad

I whipped this recipe up for lunch this afternoon when I was in a rush to catch a train. It’s such a delightful combination, providing cooling effects with summer vegetables like leafy greens, tomato and cucumber with a savory touch from the walnuts and soft, goat cheese. A summer classic.

Goat Cheese Summer Salad

  • 1 c. leafy greens like spinach, arugula and kale
  • 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 TB apple cider vinegar
  • juice of 1/4 lemon, fresh
  • 1 small roma tomato, sliced
  • 1/4 c. cucumber, chopped
  • 1/8 c. walnuts, chopped
  • 1 oz goat cheese

Mix vegetables together, and then add in lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and olive oil for dressing. Top with salt and pepper to taste.… Read More!

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Super Lean Green Berry Breakfast Smoothie

[taken via Instagram]

This breakfast smoothie is perfect during a cleanse, a hot summer day, or anytime you need to cool down and clean up your diet. Start the day right with a generous serving of vegetables, fruit, and TLC!

  • about 1/2 c. coconut milk, unflavored
  • 1/2 banana
  • 5 baby carrots
  • generous handful of kale
  • generous handful of mixed collard greens & spinach (choose one if you don’t have both)
  • 1/4 c. frozen wild blueberries
  • 1/2 c. frozen berries mixture (mine had cherries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries)
  • 1/8 c. frozen strawberries
  • 1 celery stalk
  • about 5 cucumber slices (or the equivalent of half a baby cucumber)
  • 1/2 TB flaxseed

~Blend together in a powerful blender and serve immediately. Dust with cinnamon if desired!… Read More!

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