Now that snow has finally fallen here on the East Coast, a warm and nourishing bowl of soba is the perfect antidote to a winter chill. Hearty mushrooms, fiber-rich soba, and ginger-filled miso broth make this dish a clean and simple winter standby.
Read moreculinary school here i come!
Hey vegheads! I am beyond excited to share with you that I am headed to culinary school to become a natural foods chef. I will be attending the Chef's Training Program at The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts (NGIHCA). NGIHCA is not your typical culinary school. The Chef's Training program is ideal for plant-forward seasonal eaters and health-minded individuals who want to advance their culinary craft. Becoming a natural foods chef has long been a dream of mine. You may be curious why. It is quite simple. I want to increase my skills in the kitchen in order to be able to explain the art of cooking more clearly to YOU. I want to be able to craft better recipes for YOU and to be able to confidently explain the techniques and the art of health-focused cooking for YOU!
I hope that you join me on my journey over the next few months when I will be sharing my experiences at the school as well as featuring some inspired seasonal plant-based recipes developed especially for YOU! Thank YOU for all the support and the motivation. I cannot wait to share this experience with you all!
Read moreroasted carrot ginger miso soup + za'atar dukkah
My husband likes to call this soup baby food - don't let that be a deterrent. Although it does have that baby food-ish consistency, it is also warming, hearty, and deeply nourishing. Carrot ginger soup is a classic and easy dish that should be added to your cooking arsenal. Nutty and flavorful dukkah and savory miso take this basic soup to the not-so-basic level.
Read morecrunchy radish clean-up: how to sustain your clean eating all year long
Whether you followed my clean up plan to a " T", or used it as a spring board to set yourself up for success the first week into the New Year, the question of how to sustain the positive momentum is quite valid. Most people give up on their resolutions by mid-January due, in part, to setting severe protocols. If your goal is to work out everyday, abstain from alcohol for a month, or go gluten and dairy-free for life, living in extremes is not sustainable or particularly enjoyable. Life is about balance and being in control of your eating habits.
Read ahead for my tips on sustaining your mindful eating and living year round.
Read morecrunchy radish clean-up: day five
You made it to day five! Congratulations. Hopefully you have noticed that eating cleanly and resetting your system does not have to boring, bland, or limiting. Making vegetables and whole grains the primarily focus of your plate is simple and an incredibly nourishing way to lead a clean and balanced diet. Day five closes out with a completely vegan menu and features dishes that should be in your back pocket all year long.
Read morecrunchy radish clean-up: day four
Happy day four! Hopefully, you are feeling more balanced and properly nourished from three days of clean eating goodness. Today continues with immune boosting and anti-inflammatory rich turmeric scrambled eggs with dark leafy greens, followed by a Moroccan style stew, and a fully loaded stir-fry packed to the brim with veggies.
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 morecrunchy radish clean-up: day two
Welcome to day two. Today's menu features a little repetition and a vegetable-filled frittata. Repetition and limiting choices make integrating healthy eating habits more feasible. Yes, eating leftovers can be a little boring, but in terms of practicality, cost-effectiveness, and time management, nothing can beat meal prep.
Read morecrunchy radish clean-up: day one
Kick off day one with a nutrient-rich and filling green smoothie. How clichéd. Not quite. Smoothies as opposed to juices contain the whole fruit and vegetable, adding fiber and reducing the amount of waste that is generated from juicing. Continue day one with a completely vegan menu that includes a creamy nutritious turmeric cauliflower soup followed by a fortifying spaghetti squash with kale pesto.
Read morecrunchy radish clean-up: the framework
Happy second day of the New Year! Today I will be laying down the framework and principles of my recalibration plan to get you started on a clean and properly nourished note for 2016.
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