Bolognese or meat sauce, as we used to call it in my household growing up, was a Sunday night staple. My mom would always make it with ground lean turkey, jarred sauce, and it would always be better the next day. Thus the reason why this dish is my comfort food. In my continual effort to think with a more plant-forward focus, I swapped the turkey for lentils, made my own sauce, and added meaty mushrooms and tons of fresh and dried herbs and spices to create a flavorful and comforting meal.
Read morehow to optimize protein with a vegan diet
Protein is an essential macronutrient necessary for a healthy diet. Protein facilitates important functions including muscle, bone, and skin development; hormone production; and immunity. For individuals following a vegan lifestyle, optimizing adequate protein is not difficult, but it does take mindful consideration.
Read morespiced sweet potato wedges with tahini honey and pecans
Thanksgiving is next week! It is hard to believe that the holiday season has arrived. In my best efforts to help the vegheads out, I will be featuring a few simple vegetarian sides that will please everyone at your table. Because, lets be honest, the sides are the best part of the meal.
Sweet potatoes are a staple at most Thanksgiving tables. Try something spicy and a little sweet this year and make these spiced rubbed sweet potato wedges with tahini honey and toasted pecans.
Read morecarrot dogs aka how to make your 4th of july crunchier
I have a confession. I have a secret obsession with hot dogs. To be honest, I cannot remember the last time I actually had a real one. I often imagine the sensation of the snap when biting into a crispy juicy dog and piling it high with relish, onions, celery salt - all sandwiched between a perfectly griddled bun. I am all for living a balanced lifestyle and not feeling like you are constantly missing out. However, once I start thinking about forced meat loaded with sodium, nitrates, preservatives, and other not so health-supportive ingredients, my hot dog eating fantasies usually disappear. If you can find a butcher who uses high quality sustainable meat or brands utilizing clean ingredients, then go live out your hot dog eating dreams. If you are a die hard veghead, these carrot dogs will help make any 4th of July hot dog eating fantasies come true.
Read moreradish recs: fry your rice
Very veggie stir-fried rice is one of those dishes that you should keep in your "back pocket", as they say. It's super simple, adaptable, and great for leftovers. This version is made with coconut aminos instead of tamari, for my soy-free homies. I like the ratio to typically be more heavy on the veg than the rice, which make's it primarily a vegetable dish as opposed to a rice dish. I also lean towards brown rice as my grain of choice for its density and texture, but quinoa, millet, sorghum, and amaranth would all be tasty, nutritious, and gluten-free alternatives.
Read morecrunchy radish clean-up: day three
Kick off day three with a warming protein and complex carbohydrate-filled porridge. Raw or toasted walnuts, chia seeds, and tart dried cranberries create a balanced and delicious way to start your day.
Integrating breakfast into your daily routine is critical for optimal weight management, sustained energy, and is an achievable goal for 2016. It is the meal that breaks your overnight fast. For all of you breakfast skippers out there, you could be going ten to sixteen hours without adding any fuel to your system - enough time to put your body into starvation mode and slow down your metabolism.
Read moreseven vegan dishes to make this thanksgiving
Still in a bind about what to make this Thanksgiving? No worries, I've got your back with a nutritious and healthily curated vegan feast to satisfy every veghead at your table.
Read morehealthy holiday series: roasted cauliflower + green tahini + pomegranate seeds
For most vegheads, the highlight of Thanksgiving is the abundant amount of vegetables which flank the holiday table. Although Thanksgiving is a celebration notoriously known for overindulging, it can be quite nutritious if done right. To continue my healthy holiday series, I am featuring a seasonal cauliflower dish that will be sure to light up any festive table.
Read moremushroom farro risotto
Creamy, dreamy, and almost decadent, this risotto has zero the guilt and one hundred percent the flavor. As the season changes, our bodies start to naturally gravitate to warmer more hearty dishes to sustain us and heat us from the inside out. Typically risotto is full of cheese and white rice, yet this version contains farro, a more hearty and nutrient-rich grain. Earthy mushrooms, a touch of truffle oil, and a light dusting of parm make this dish your new go-to comfort food that will leave you feeling warm, satisfied, and well nourished.
Read morewarm bulgur wheat salad with broccoli rabe + roasted lemons + za'atar tomatoes
Robust and pleasantly bitter, broccoli rabe is one of my "go-to" tender and crunchy vegetables. This brassiceae holds up well as a simple side dish when sautéed with garlic, chili flakes, and olive oil or as a pleasant addition to grain salads. In this recipe, the broccoli rabe is cut with sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic dressing, and zesty roasted lemon. Hot, cold, side dish, or main, this grain salad is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
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