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Hello Fresh: Is It Worth It?
As a nutritionist I am constantly meal planning and trying new foods in an attempt to create meals full of flavor, but at the same time are as nutritious as the can be. Most often, I find myself meal planning for individuals who have had bypass surgery and now need to be on a low sodium, low cholesterol diet. Or someone who was recently diagnosed with diabetes and is feeling overwhelmed with being forced into a complete lifestyle change. It is definitely one thing to make a life style change when it is a choice; it is another thing entirely when an individual feels forced because of a medical condition.…
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Easy Homemade Smoothie Bowls
A recent food trend has been acai bowls or smoothie bowls. They are super yummy and filling. Most often they are also packed with vitamins and minerals and very heart-healthy. The place that is close to my house is one of my most favorite places to treat myself to…but, one bowl is $9 and for that much, I can make my whole family their own smoothie bowls at home. While it is super convenient to have someone else make one for you, I do enjoy creating them at home where I can control the ingredients. The key to smoothie bowls is to make sure the thickness of the puree is…
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Moroccan Chili and Couscous
Back before Pinterest, I watched the Food Network channel religiously. Rachel Ray, Giada, and Sunny Anderson were some of my favorites. I especially loved Rachel’s 30 Minute Meals. If I could make an amazing meal for my family in the time it would take my boys to watch 2 Curious Georges then it was a huge win for me. I hoarded recipes like crazy. It would drive Matthew nuts because our DVR would fill up with all of the food shows I recorded. Now, I mostly create my own recipes and when that fails I search Pinterest. BUT, I have my favorites from the good o’le days…and Moroccan Chili and…
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Paleo Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops
Growing up, pork chops and applesauce was a staple meal in my house. It brings back a lot of memories, but it is also a very simple flavored meal. When I saw some amazing cuts of pork chops at my local butcher I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. This recipe is a zhuzhed up version of my childhood applesauce and pork chops. Not only are the ingredients in season, which makes me super happy, but this recipe is Whole 30, Paleo, and Keto all rolled into one. It may look complicated, but it is ALMOST as easy as grilling pork chops and pouring applesauce on top. Keep…
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Quick Dinners & Pantry Staples
Now that school is in full swing, extracurriculars are consuming our lives, and germs are being passed around…quick dinners have become the norm around here. I definitely love pouring my heart into preparing meals for friends and family, but most often I just don’t have the time or energy during the week to be very elaborate. Healthy, yummy meals are still my top priority…but there are plenty of meals that can be prepared quickly and are still healthy. Quinoa, Jasmine rice, and various types of pasta are always in my pantry. Quinoa bowls are a weekly occurrence in my house. It is easy to cook and easy to flavor. Some of my…
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Quinoa & Arugula Chicken Salad
This week has been the week of chicken salads. It is easy to create and easy to make a lot of for food prep. I really wanted to figure out a way to incorporate arugula into a recipe, especially a recipe the amigos would hopefully eat. Arugula is super yummy, it is a leaf that has a peppery taste. It is also packed with nitrate which has been proven to help lower blood pressure. It is the same nitrate family as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and kale…and I don’t know about you, but I would MUCH rather consume broccoli and arugula than kale or brussels sprouts. Other fun facts about arugula……
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No Oats Oatmeal
Growing up my dad would fix us oatmeal and he would add raisins, which he called flies. While I wasn’t too fond of raisins growing up, I loved it when dad would add them and then tell us to make sure we ate all of the flies. Now that I am an adult, I still love the old school oatmeal my dad makes, but my tastes have expanded. I originally found this recipe here, but I’ve tweaked it a little. I like to make this in advance, but not more than a few days. The crispiness begins to change and the texture becomes funny. I also like to top it with several variations. …
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Loaded Roasted Cauliflower Bowl
I just love potatoes! Fried, mashed, baked, cubed, you name it…I’ll eat it. BUT…potatoes are full of carbs. While they are healthier carbs than that of white bread or a Snickers bar; they are still loaded with carbs. Thus, potatoes must be eaten in moderation. That’s where cauliflower comes in. I’ve riced it, I’ve roasted it, I’ve steamed it, I’ve mashed it…there isn’t much I haven’t done with cauliflower in recipes. This recipe though, I have to say was WAY better with the roasted cauliflower than with potatoes. My mouth was so happy with these flavors that I was rather sad when the bowl was empty. If you’d like to…
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Mango Pineapple Salsa Fresco
Mr. Man would do just about anything for fresh pineapple. If I have a fresh pineapple and need it for a recipe, I have to chop it up and prepare it before he knows what I’ve done. Otherwise, it disappears faster than a fart in a fan factory. So when I decided to refine my pineapple mango salsa recipe, I had to do it while he was at work. Don’t worry, I shared the end results with him…and he loved it. I loved it…no, cooking, a lot of chopping. AND…it’s heart healthy, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, whole 30, vegetarian…you name it…well except keto. This recipe is definitely now in our regular…
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Roasted Heirloom Tomato and Garlic Marinara
I found gorgeous baby heirloom cherry tomatoes at my local Costco last week and just had to snag them. I have to say I am not a tomato lover…I seriously desire to like raw tomatoes, I will eat them on a salad, but overall I avoid them like the plague. I think my dislike stems from when my parents would stew and can tomatoes almost every year as I was growing up and that smell…that smell rivals baby poo. It…well it scarred me for life. BUT I love to figure out how to add them to recipes and spice them up so they don’t dredge up memories that I probably…
