toddler friendly

  • Feb192018

    sunshine smoothie

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    I generally prefer warm weather but I do love the seasons for the wonderful variety of produce. However, towards the end of every winter there comes a time when I am sick of soup and root vegetables and just want sunshine! Citrus always saves the day bringing loads of vitamin C and beautiful shades of yellows, reds, and orange to go with it! This smoothie is a dose of much needed “sunshine”. And it feels appropriate since temperatures on the east coast will reach the 70s this week!

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  • Jan152018

    hemp protein bars

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    I know some of you were asking for granola bars, and while these aren’t granola bars per se, they are delicious! Made with four types of seeds, they’re packed with protein, iron, B vitamins, magnesium and omega-3s (those essential fatty acids you keep hearing about that reduce inflammation). Omega-3s are important for baby’s brain development as well as brain health for all ages! Both hemp and chia seeds are complete plant proteins, meaning they contain all 9 essential amino acids we need as humans. Hemp is also one of the world’s most sustainable crops because it grows in nearly every climate and is used all over the world as a source of food, fiber, textile, paper and even fuel! To make these bars a little more toddler friendly, I cut them up into bite sized chunks.

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  • Dec192017

    roasted cauliflower 3 ways

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    Cauliflower is probably one of the most overlooked vegetables and has been given a bad rap since the only way our parents knew to cook it was steam it in a pot, bleh. I distinctly remember the cauliflower being the only thing left on the crudite platter at every single family gathering, so it must be gross right? Turns out, it is delicious if it’s roasted! I could literally eat an entire roasted cauliflower in one sitting, it’s that good!

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  • Dec122017

    chocolate cauliflower smoothie

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    This is my go-to smoothie for when I’m running out of the house and need something substantial. It tastes amazing and you would never know there’s cauliflower and mushrooms in it! My two year old is also a fan. So hashtag winning! The cauliflower leaves the smoothie nice and creamy and the chocolate masks the cauliflower taste, I promise!

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  • Dec062017

    all fat is not created equal

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    We need three types of macronutrients to live – carbohydrates, protein and fat. However not all fat is created equal. I think most of us know that saturated fat from meat (red meat, white meat, dairy, eggs and fish) creates plaque in our bodies and increases risk of heart disease and stroke and that trans-fats (partially hydrogenated oils) are even worse still. But what is considered healthy fat? It’s best to stick with whole food forms of fat, and limit oil consumption. Although I do use small amounts of olive and coconut oil for dressings, cooking and baking, it is not what I would consider a health food. Comparatively, it is high in calories and low in nutrients and for the majority of our food, we should stick with foods low in calories and high in nutrients. Dr. Fuhrman, who I received my Certificate in Nutritarian Studies from, says H=N/C (health = nutrients/calories), in other words, the more nutrients per calorie, the better for our health. Below are the fats that give you the best bang for your calorie buck.

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  • Nov302017

    mini winter squash frittatas

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    Frittatas are so easy to make and re-heat wonderfully. Sometimes I even make one for dinner if I don’t have much time to cook. These mini frittatas are perfect for on the go breakfast and for littles. I used butternut squash in this recipe but any winter squash or even sweet potato will do! Add spinach instead of arugula or whatever you have on hand. This is a really basic recipe that can be adapted for whatever vegetables are in season.

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  • Nov142017

    3 tips for picky eaters

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    The questions I am asked the most are regarding children and food. How to get them to eat vegetables? How do I know they are getting enough nutrients? What supplements to feed them? What foods do I give them to make them poop? I work with my clients on these very concerns in my one on one sessions. Here’s a sneak peak at just a few of my tips! If you are really struggling to get your littles to eat their veggies, I’d love to help out! I offer free health consultations if you’d like to learn more about my programs. Just shoot me an email to schedule a time!

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  • Oct242017

    pasta with butternut squash & sage

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    Today I’m sharing a simple weeknight family friendly dinner… pasta! Not white pasta of course, not even whole wheat pasta (bleh), instead pasta made with beans and lentils. If you know me, you know I talk bean and lentil pasta up all the time. It is actually a pretty close second to your regular white semolina pasta, except loaded with protein and cancer fighting nutrients instead of giving you a blood sugar high followed by a crash and taxing your pancreas. If you haven’t tried it yet, do it now!

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  • Sep182017

    protein power balls

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    These snack balls are perfect for a pre work out snack, post work out recovery, lunch box treat, or in my case “need calories for breastfeeding” snack. They are packed with protein (4-5 grams per ball), good fats and minimal natural sugar from the dates which you can certainly omit if you don’t want any sugar. I’ve made these with sunbutter so that they are allergy friendly but you can use whatever nut butter you have on hand (peanut, cashew, almond, etc).

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  • Sep042017

    healthy snacking: kale chips

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    I often forget how easy and delicious kale chips are! The big kale chip hype was probably ten years ago but they never get old. They only take about 5 minutes prep and 15 minutes oven time! Also, for those of you who have never had homemade kale chips, don’t knock them until you’ve tried them! They are perfectly airy, crispy and salty and I bet you won’t be able to stop eating them. You can add whatever flavors you choose like Za’Atar seasoning, lemon, tamari or even a cashew “dressing”. The options are endless.

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