October 23, 2023

Hearty White Bean Soup

White Bean Soup This hearty vegetarian soup makes a great appetizer or light lunch. I use my Homemade Vegetable Stock as a base, but you can also use store-bought vegetable broth. You can use white cannellini or navy beans instead of white kidney beans. Beans are loaded with protein and detoxifying fiber, which makes them a great ally if you’re trying to manage your weight. Fiber can also help regulate cholesterol and reduce your risk of certain cancers. Swiss chard has cancer-inhibiting carotenoids and vitamin C. Chard is an excellent source of vitamin K, which helps build strong bones. Both […]
May 10, 2023

Need a Lift? Try These Good Mood Foods

We’re well into spring, so presumably your mood has already lifted from a couple of months ago. But it certainly makes sense that what you eat has lots to do with how you’re feeling about yourself and the world. With longer hours of sunshine (which helps your body use vitamin D for bone health) and the bounty of spring fruits and vegetables available, it’s easy to avoid nutritional deficiencies that increase inflammation within the body, which can contribute to a number of maladies and diseases. For example, there is evidence that depression can be caused by a low-level inflammatory disorder […]
October 11, 2022

Now We’re Full of Beans and Loving It!

Beans are a wonderful, vegan source of protein. They are full of fiber—good for lowering cholesterol and pulling heavy metals out of the body—and lysine, an amino acid that repairs tissue. When made in a pressure cooker, beans provide a quick, easy homemade lunch or dinner. For even faster preparation, canned beans can be rinsed and used. Even if you are not a vegetarian, for those of us trying to eat more meatless meals, beans offer a delicious and satisfying alternative. Here are a few vegetarian and vegan recipes I’ve created that offer a variety of international flavors. Cuban Black […]
October 20, 2020

Autumn Salad with Maple-Protein Dressing

Sometimes salads aren’t filling, but they can be if you add the right combination of fiber, protein and healthy fats. This fall salad offers double beans, a protein punch! Maple syrup, mustard, tahini, tamari and savory nutritional yeast combine into a thick dressing that pairs perfectly with hearty salad greens. Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale are cancer fighting, anti-aging champions. Enjoy them blended into a salad that packs perfectly for lunch or accompanies a holiday meal. YIELDS 10 SERVINGS Ingredients Dressing 1 (15-oz.) can cannellini or white beans, rinsed and drained 2 Tbs. tahini paste 2 Tbs. […]
January 16, 2018

Pile on the Flavor with This Polenta Bowl

This flavorful grain bowl incorporates all the familiar flavors of Mexican food, with a spicy, creamy polenta as the base. Green Chile Cheese Polenta Bowls Ingredients: FOR THE BLACK BEAN RELISH 1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans (rinsed and drained) 2 Roma tomatoes (cored, seeded and chopped ) ½ cup chopped red bell pepper ¼ cup diced red onion 1 ripe avocado (pitted, peeled and chopped) 1 Tbs. fresh lime juice ½ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro 1 clove garlic (minced) 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tbs. red wine vinegar ¼ tsp. salt FOR THE POLENTA 4 cups water 1 […]
January 21, 2017

Spicy Lentil Soup

Lentil soup is a nutritional powerhouse! When combined with other vegetables and spices, lentils will leave you feeling full longer than other types of soups. Part of the legume (bean) family, lentils contain high levels of both soluble and insoluble fiber, making them a satiating and low calorie choice, helpful for weight management. Soluble fiber absorbs water and creates a gel consistency that is known for binding cholesterol-containing bile and escorting it out of the body, helping you detox. Insoluble fiber consists of plant-compounds that the body cannot digest, helping contribute to healthy bowels. Together, this high fiber content can […]