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10 Awesome Recipes for Leftover Eggs

Whether or not it’s Easter, any batch-cooking connoisseur or lunch packer is likely accustomed to a carton full of hard-boiled eggs. They’re fantastic on their own on busy mornings, drizzled with a little hot sauce as a snack, or a quick protein fix after the gym.

While you may take them for granted, leftover eggs have a whole lot more potential. Let’s think outside of the shell and give you some creative ideas for easy and nutritious post-Easter munchies.

Spicy grain-free chicken Scotch eggs

leftover-eggs

A Scotch egg is typically an egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried to crispy perfection. While the original dish is decadent, it’s also quite heavy. Needless to say, it’s not such a healthy breakfast option. Fortunately, this recipe for leftover eggs is easily converted into a much lighter fare using better ingredients and skipping out on the breading and frying altogether. You won’t miss out on much as this recipe is jam-packed with spices giving them flavour and kick you can’t beat. Serve it atop a green salad with fresh lemon. You can find this recipe from The Healthy Foodie.

Beet pickled curry deviled eggs

leftover-eggs

The vibrant contrast in this dish will eliminate any notion that you’re chowing down on leftover eggs. These are the perfect appetizer for holiday parties or a tasty afternoon bite when you just need a little something to tide you over until dinner. Deviled eggs are the go-to recipe for hard-boiled eggs, but these take them to the next level. The red shell is coloured with fresh beets and pickled to perfection while the creamy inside is spiced up with curry powder. Find this recipe at The Mountain Rose blog.

Mayo-free avocado egg salad

leftover-eggs-2

Looking for easy? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Hard-boiled eggs in and of themselves are easy, and leftover eggs make using ’em pretty fool-proof. This recipe contains just four ingredients and makes a simple, satisfying weekday lunch. Pack up some of this for work on top of some greens or your favourite bread. This dish is packed with protein and healthy fats which will keep you fueled for hours to come. Check out the details from the Roasted Root.

Old school meatloaf with eggs in the center

leftover-eggs

Meatloaf is sort of boring. Granted, you can make it your own with different spices, veggies, mix-ups of various meats, and sauces. It’s just a loaf of meat after all. Consider it a blank canvas. The best thing you could do? Put an egg in it! Or five. It’s like those cereal boxes with a prize inside. With every slice, you get a little surprise. This will bring dimension to that boring ol’ meatloaf recipe any day and use up quite a few of those leftover eggs. Find out how to make it happen at The Everyday Maven.

Hard-boiled egg masala

leftover-eggs

Sometimes, takeout sounds better than working up those leftover eggs into something palatable and crave-worthy. This recipe combines the best of both worlds making easy and budget-friendly appealing to all the senses. The warm spices and luscious Indian-inspired sauce will turn those eggs into something brand new again. Better yet, you probably have all the ingredients you’ll need handy and ready to go. Check out the full recipe from Playful Cooking.

Sweet potato salad with avocado pesto

leftover-eggs-3

Looking for a healthier alternative to that old-fashioned potato salad? This dish uses nutrient-dense sweet potatoes, smoky bacon, creamy avocado, and fresh herbs. Eggs will add protein and substance to the dish which could easily turn this into a main course with a delicious kick from the bright green pesto. Save this one for summertime potlucks. This recipe comes from Food, Faith and Fitness.

Sweet potato and quinoa salad with soft-boiled eggs

leftover-eggs

This superfood bowl is packed to the brim with goodness. You won’t be missing out on flavour with this one. The quinoa and egg combo packs a protein punch for a delectable meatless Monday lunch that will make your coworkers green with envy. Beneath the surface lie sweet potatoes and loads of greens. Finishing touches include gorgonzola and a generous drizzle of olive oil and balsamic. Don’t forget the sunflower seeds! Find all the ingredients from Naturally Ella.

Spicy soba noodle bowl with egg

leftover-eggs-4

 

Who doesn’t love ramen? Unfortunately, ramen is known for being sold in sodium-packed, processed-food packages. It’s budget-friendly, but it isn’t very good for you. Fortunately, doing it from scratch can be both affordable and delicious with recipes like this one. This noodle bowl features soba noodles, an inherently gluten-free grain made from buckwheat. Homemade broth and sneaky leftover eggs on top will pull this one together. You can get the full recipe from Pinch and Swirl.

Soft-boiled eggs with asparagus soldiers

leftover-eggs

A soft boil can be achieved with a little less time and an ice bath when it comes to boiling eggs. This will leave the insides slightly creamy and perfect for dipping. That’s what you want with this gorgeous breakfast dish. Asparagus soldiers stand in for toast for a meaty breakfast veggie to soak up the lovely orange yolks in your leftover eggs. Get a little fancy with this amazing brunch idea from The Clever Carrot.

Savoury sprouted grain porridge with soft cooked egg

leftover-eggs

Leftover eggs shouldn’t be confined to breakfast, but they certainly can take it to the next level. We wanted you to expand horizons here with some interesting takes on grabbing ’em and going, and this savoury porridge does just that. Skip out on oatmeal for healthy sprouted grains which often cause less distress than whole grains. This recipe uses quinoa and rice, soaked and sprouted, making it the perfect gluten-free bowl for your morning. Catch the recipe from Tasty Yummies.

What are your best dishes using leftover eggs? Share them below!

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Vietnamese Turmeric Fish with Herbs & Mango Sauce

Looking for an interesting spin on a holiday dish? Whether or not you’re celebrating, this lovely Vietnamese turmeric fish will be a feast for the eyes on your dinner table with unique flavours and vibrant colour.

This recipe comes from ChihYu, the founder, recipe developer, and photographer behind the blog I Heart Umami. Her recipe inspirations come from foods she enjoyed while growing up in Asia and from memories of her family. She uses paleo as a framework to re-interpret foods that people love back home.

Turmeric has long been used in Chinese and Indian cooking and serves as an agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, particularly in the anti-inflammatory category.

Marinate the fish in turmeric powder along with other spices and pan-fry it in separate batches with infused scallion and dill oil until the fish surface is in light golden brown. To go along with the fish, blend ripe mango with a few mint leaves as a dipping sauce to compliment this delicate dish.

If you love fish, I urge you not to miss this simple yet special dish that comes from the heart of Southeast Asia – Vietnam. Vietnamese Turmeric Fish with Herbs & Mango Dipping Sauce - healthy fish recipe, paleo, clean eating. Looking for an interesting spin on a holiday dish? Whether or not you’re celebrating, this lovely Vietnamese turmeric fish will be a feast for the eyes on your dinner table with unique flavours and vibrant colour.

This recipe comes from ChihYu, the founder, recipe developer, and photographer behind the blog I Heart Umami. Her recipe inspirations come from foods she enjoyed while growing up in Asia and from memories of her family. She uses paleo as a framework to re-interpret foods that people love back home.

Turmeric has long been used in Chinese and Indian cooking and serves as an agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, particularly in the anti-inflammatory category.

Marinate the fish in turmeric powder along with other spices and pan-fry it in separate batches with infused scallion and dill oil until the fish surface is in light golden brown. To go along with the fish, blend ripe mango with a few mint leaves as a dipping sauce to compliment this delicate dish.

If you love fish, I urge you not to miss this simple yet special dish that comes from the heart of Southeast Asia – Vietnam.

Vietnamese Turmeric Fish with Herbs and Mango Dipping Sauce
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Main Course
Serves: 4 serves
Ingredients
Fish:
  • 1 ¼ lbs fresh cod fish, boneless and skinless, cut into 2-inch piece wide that are about ½ inch thick
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil to pan-fry the fish (plus a few more tablespoon if necessary)
  • Small pinch of sea salt to taste
Fish marinade: (Marinate for at least 1 hr. or as long as overnight)
  • 1 tbsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (Alt. dry sherry)
  • 2 tsp minced ginger
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Infused Scallion and Dill Oil:
  • 2 cups scallions (slice into long thin shape)
  • 2 cups of fresh dill
  • Pinch of sea salt to taste.
Mango dipping sauce:
  • 1 medium sized ripe mango
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tsp dry red chili pepper (stir-in before serving)
Toppings:
  • Fresh cilantro (as much as you like)
  • Lime juice (as much as you like)
  • Nuts (cashew or pine nuts)
Instructions
Steps:
  1. Marinate the fish for at least 1 hr. or as long as overnight.
  2. Place all ingredients under “Mango Dipping Sauce” into a food processor and blend until desired consistency.
To Pan-Fry The Fish:
  1. Heat 2 tbsp of coconut oil in a non-stick large frying pan over high heat. When hot, add the pre-marinated fish. *Note: place the fish slices into the pan individually and separate to two or more batches to pan fry if necessary.
  2. You should hear a loud sizzle, after which you can decrease the heat to medium-high.
  3. Do not turn or move the fish until you see a golden brown color on the side, about 5 minutes. Season with a pinch of sea salt. Add more coconut oil to pan-fry the fish if necessary.
  4. Once the fish is in golden brown color carefully turn the fish to fry on the other side. Once it’s done, transfer to a large plate. *Note: There should be some oil left in the frying pan. We are going to use the reminder of the oil to make scallion and dill infused oil.
To Make The Scallion And Dill Infused Oil:
  1. Use the remainder of the oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat, add 2 cups of scallions and 2 cups of dill. Turn off the heat once you’vef added the scallions and dill. Give them a gentle toss just until the scallions and dill have wilted, about 15 seconds. Season with a dash of sea salt.
  2. Pour the scallion, dill, and infused oil over the fish and serve with mango dipping sauce with fresh cilantro, lime, and nuts.

Want more recipes like this?

We know it’s hard to stay on track when you’re tired and busy during the week. We often make bad choices when unplanned and unprepared.

That’s why we created our make ahead meal plans, complete with real food recipes and shopping lists that will cover you for five dinners, lunches and breakfasts.

We believe that planning and preparing meals ahead of time is your best strategy towards healthier eating. Get the 7 Day Meal Plan Today.
Vietnamese Turmeric Fish with Herbs & Mango Dipping Sauce - healthy fish recipe, paleo, clean eating.

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Paleo Creme Eggs

Looking for the perfect bite-sized chocolate treat for the holiday holiday? This Easter recipe comes from Georgie at Greens of the Stone Age. She is a fresh faced freelance writer and recipe developer whose work has been published by leading UK healthy living magazines such as; Free-from Heaven, Vegan Food and Living, and The Funky Raw Magazine.

She specializes in nutrition, fitness, and health and well-being. You can check out more from her at Primal Eye, the UK’s first paleo magazine. Paleo creme eggs

Recipe Notes:

What to Do If You Don’t Have an Egg Mould…

If you can’t get hold of a mould, you really don’t want to faff around with moulds, or you simply do not have time to make the shells then you can use my simple method:

  1. Roll the frozen yolk mix into a small ball, return to the freezer, shape the frozen white mixture around it into an egg shape, return to the freezer again.
  2. Dip the egg into the melted chocolate mix and return to the freezer upright. Repeat the chocolate dip process upto 3 times to get a nice thick shell. I would also recommend using some cocktail stick to stab into the bottom of the egg and then find something to lodge them into to keep upright like a sturdy piece of foam or a cardboard box.

What If I Don’t Any Have Cacao Solids?

If you can’t obtain cacao solids (cacao liquor/paste) for your milk chocolate sub for 75g cacao powder and increase the cacao butter from 150g to 225g to obtain a similar result.

Cacao solids retain about 50% of cacao butter after the cacao beans have been crushed into a liquid state and then solidified at room temperature. This is not the same thing as cacao powder!

Paleo Creme Eggs
 
Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 15 eggs
Ingredients
For the chocolate shells:
  • 150g cacao solids (a.k.a. cacao liquor/paste)
  • 150g cacao butter
  • 4.5 tbsp/67.5ml raw honey/maple syrup
  • ¼ tsp vanilla powder (optional)
For the white creme filling:
  • 25g cacao butter
  • 80ml coconut cream
  • 2 tbsp/30ml maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp/15ml coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp/15ml cashew butter (or coconut manna/oil)
  • 1 tbsp/15ml vanilla extract
For the yolk creme filling:
  • 4 tbsp/60ml of the white creme filling
  • ½ tsp maca powder
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
Instructions
  1. OK, let's start with the nitty gritty - the shells. In a large mixing bowl (in fact, one wider than your moulds) add your cacao solids and butter, raw honey and vanilla powder. Place the bowl over a pan of water on a low heat, creating a bain-marie. Stir the contents frequently using a spatula, making sure to scrape down the sides ensuring that everything melts evenly. Once melted remove the bowl from the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before pouring into your silicone jug. Set aside your mixing bowl as you will need this later.
  2. Very carefully pour the chocolate from your jug into each indentation of your mould(s). Honestly, do pour this as slowly and as carefully as you can until the chocolate fills the indentations fully but does not overflow. If it does overflow, do not worry; simply scrape away using a spatula otherwise your shells will be incredibly hard to remove, so don't be lazy and not scrape the excess otherwise you will find yourself having to re-make a whole batch. Before transporting your mould(s) over to the freezer, open the freezer door! That's tip number 1! To transport your mould, hold each side firmly and gently pull them away from yourself to create enough tension to keep everything in the mould steady and level.
  3. Pop the mould(s) into the freezer for about 5-10 minutes or until you see that they have an outer ring of chocolate that has set at about a thickness of 5mm. Remove the moulds carefully using the technique I stated before and then turn the mould upside down over your large mixing bowl that you had set aside earlier. Pour until as much excess has come out and take a look at what your shells look like. I had a little problem with the top edges of the shells becoming too thin so you may want to set the mould back into the freezer for 30 seconds before removing and swirling the chocolate around the mould much like you would with one of those little mazes with the balls bearings in that you get in crummy Christmas crackers. If you find that the chocolate will not move, carefully scrape around using a teaspoon until you have cleared out a suitable sized cavity. Place into the freezer for up to 2 hours before filling. You may remove the shells before hand if you wish but you will have to work quickly as raw chocolate melts fast. If you are doing this now, look at my tips for removing the shells in step 6.
  4. Now prepare the mixture for your creme white filling. Add all of the ingredients for your white creme filling into a small heat-proof bowl over a bain-marie on a low heat until fully melted. You will want to stir the ingredients occasionally. Remove from the heat and transfer 4 tablespoons of the mixture into a small cup. Stir in the maca powder and turmeric into your 4 tablespoons of mix and stir until evenly distributed. Place both mixes into the freezer and freezer for one hour to an hour and a half until very thick. Make sure that you stir your mixes every 15 minutes so that it freezes evenly.
  5. Now it's time to fill your eggs! Remove the egg moulds from the freezer and press in a small amount of white creme filling into each half shell followed by a little ball of the yolk creme filling. You can roll these mixes in your hands, but work fast! Otherwise, it will melt into a liquid quickly. Once filled, return to the freezer for another 10 minutes to set again.
  6. Remove your moulds from the freezer and carefully pull away the outer edges of the indentations around the chocolates before carefully pushing the bottom of the shell upwards. Once all halves have been removed place back into the freezer again for 5 minutes so that you don't melt the mix.
  7. Remove the eggs from the freezer and using a heated butter knife, (I just placed mine over the stove for a few seconds) melt the inner rings of the egg shells before firmly yet gently pressing the two halves together. Place each egg in the freezer individually before starting the next. Repeat until each egg has been sealed! If you find that the eggs aren't sealing well, you could pipe a little melted chocolate into the gaps or even gently brush some on with the edge of a knife! And that is it, quite a few hours of hard work for some super yummy eggs! Store them in the fridge so that the chocolate doesn't melt but leave out at room temperature for 15 minutes before eating them!

Want more recipes like this?

We know it’s hard to stay on track when you’re tired and busy during the week. We often make bad choices when unplanned and unprepared.

That’s why we created our make ahead meal plans, complete with real food recipes and shopping lists that will cover you for five dinners, lunches and breakfasts.

We believe that planning and preparing meals ahead of time is your best strategy towards healthier eating. Get the 7 Day Meal Plan Today.

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Eat This, Not That – Healthy Swaps You Should Make

I’m sure we’re all on the same page when it comes to the fact that life is too short not to have dessert every once in awhile. After all, it’s what you do most of the time that counts.

Besides, indulgence is a great way to foster balance in your life while indulging our joy. Comfort food gets a bad rap, but every so often, it’s just necessary.

Sometimes, the real deal is 100% acceptable. Special occasions call for breaking the rules, and that’s okay. But what about the rest of the time? You know, like watching a movie on the couch when the craving for something salty comes on?

Instead of reaching for a bag of potato chips or polishing off bags of gummy bears, think outside of the box.

Sure, maybe kale chips are just a novelty to you. You might be asking, “Who in the world thinks they can pass off kale as a potato?” Don’t knock it ’til ya try it.

These healthy food swaps are surprisingly similar to the real thing, and at least you can feel a bit generous with yourself while not throwing all your best efforts out the window.

Potato Chips vs. Kale Chips

healthy-swap-potato-kale

Potato chips are only as good as the ingredients they’re made out of, and when you’re hitting up the gas station for a quick fix, those ingredients aren’t so wholesome.

Non-organic potatoes, refined oil, and artificial flavors galore, we want to steer away from. Kale chips aren’t just a trendy food item these days. Grab a bunch, toss it in olive oil and salt, and bake.

These crispy, leafy greens pack loads of vitamin A and C while satisfying your need to crunch down on something. Besides, you can pretty much get away with eating the entire batch for far less calories.

Find a recipe for spicy kale chips here

Mac & Cheese vs. Cauliflower Bake

healthy-swap-cauliflower

Before you deem these two dishes as nothing alike, I want to let you in on a little secret: cauliflower can be almost anything you’d like it to be. While it’s certainly not pasta (and there’s no denying it), you can take on the flavors that a baked macaroni dish encompasses with chopped cauliflower and a creamy coconut-milk and veggie sauce.

For a cheesy taste, consider using nutritional yeast. This is the ultimate comfort food classic with some serious produce power.

Try this baked “cheesy” cauliflower from The Healthy Maven

Donuts vs. Bliss Balls

3

Donuts… you can’t eat just one, if only for the variety to be had! Cream-filled, bursting with jelly, coated with powdered sugar, or just plain glazed, a dozen of these bad boys does NOT constitute a healthy breakfast or snack.

While this is some people’s chosen treat of choice, we’ve got something more suitable for an everyday occasion. Bliss balls are often made of dried fruit like dates, nuts, seeds, powders, and spices.

You can generally make them taste however you like with your favorite additions. These are the perfect bite-sized snacks for that on-the-go coffee sidekick.

Get fancy with these apricot and lavender energy balls

Zoodles vs. Noodles

healthy-swap-pasta-noodles-zucchini

If you don’t have a spiralizer, you ought to get one. From zoodles to sweet potato noodles, you can basically turn anything you’d like into pasta. This means alfredo dishes, easy bolognese, fun additions to salads, stir-fry, and noodle soups without limits.

You’re cutting down on calories while stacking up the nutrients. Plus, this simple kitchen investment will keep things interesting for meals to come.

Top yours with these apple and pork meatballs

Tortilla Chips vs. Sweet Potato Chips

healthy-nachos

Tortilla chips aren’t the worst offender when made from organic corn, but sit in front of an endless bowl of chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant and… well, you can’t stop at one!

Making homemade sweet potato chips at home ramps up the nutritional value while allowing you to implement some portion control. They make the perfect vessel for scooping up some pico or guac.

These nachos are the perfect party dish

Butternut Squash Fries vs. French Fries

healthy-swap-potato-butternut-squash

Much like potato chips, fries are as good as the ingredients are. It goes without saying that fast food fries aren’t exactly what one might consider “healthy,” but the need for that salty, fatty, potato-ey goodness just hits us sometimes.

Butternut squash can be peeled, seeded, and cut into fries perfect for dipping and curbing your craving. Bake ’em instead of frying ’em and you’ve got a much better-for-you treat.

Check out this zesty recipe from Martha Stewart

Ice Cream vs. Banana Ice Cream

healthy-banana-ice-cream

Banana ice cream, otherwise known as “nice cream” is all the rage these days. In fact, you can buy a kitchen appliance designed specifically for making it. Rest assured, though, you don’t need to dish out big bucks.

If you’ve got a food processor or high speed blender, you’ve got squeaky clean ice cream coming your way. Simply blend frozen bananas alone or with additional flavorings like frozen berries for sorbet or cocoa powder for a chocolate fix.

We have a handy dandy list of guilt free blender ice cream here

Riced Cauliflower vs. Rice

healthy-swap-cauliflower-rice

Once again, cauliflower stands in as the superior choice here. After all, curry just isn’t the same without rice, and giving that up would be unfair.

With a head of cauliflower and a food processor, you’ve got a bed of “rice” to serve up any tasty Asian or Thai-inspired protein and soak up yummy sauces.

Get creative with this prawn and chorizo “paella”

Fruit & Nut Bars vs. Granola Bars

healthy-granola-swap

Granola bars are often sold and touted in packaging with health claims and whole grains, but we know better than that. Hiding out in between the oats and nuts are up to three different types of sugar.

Yikes! Instead, you can opt for an au natural approach to quick energy and snacking on the go by processing dried fruit and nuts and forming them into bars.

Check out these DIY Lara Bars

Chickpea Hummus vs. Cauliflower Hummus

healthy-swap-hummus-cauliflower

Now, little garbanzo beans aren’t enemy #1, but many people don’t tolerate legumes as well as they think they do. When improperly prepared, these little buggers are known for their anti-nutrient content and causing digestive issues.

Whizzing up some cauliflower, tahini, olive oil, and spices can recreate that Mediterranean appetizer without the negative side effects.

Here’s an adaptation using roasted cauliflower for the dip

Pizza vs. Eggplant Pizzettes

healthy-pizza

There’s nothing quite like ordering delivery and awaiting a glorious, piping hot, cheesy pizza on your doorstep. It’s the ultimate convenience, and it’s not necessarily notorious for being a healthy habit of ours.

When it comes down to it, pizza is all about quality toppings and explosive flavor. Using eggplant rounds as the base, we can top it off with the seasonings, sauce, and cheese we love so much.

Here’s an easy peasy recipe for your pizza fix

Tuna Sandwich vs. Tuna Salad

healthy-swap-tuna-salad

Tuna salad is a humble lunch staple that we often encounter at the deli. In this case, it’s almost always served on bread. Even worse, it’s generally doused in heavy mayo made with refined oils.

Otherwise, this food has so much potential to be a protein-packed lunch full of healthy fats! Serving it in lettuce cups or on top of a salad is the healthy choice.

These endive boats will make you forget all about the bread

Fried Breaded Chicken vs. Baked Chicken Wings

healthy-chicken-wings

Fried chicken is definitely not known for being healthy. Alas, it is known for being really freaking good. And, well, it is. Unfortunately, indulging in this picnic food often isn’t going to be doing you any favors.

Opt for the grill or the oven instead when it comes to wings and forgo the breading for a sticky glaze, a good brine, or a succulent dry rub.

Try these sticky Portuguese chicken wings

Burger Buns vs. Lettuce Wraps

healthy-swap-burger-lettuce-bun

Burgers are generally pretty healthy. We’ve got some meat stacked with veggies, condiments, and maybe some cheese. If you’re making it at home, you can ensure quality ingredients go into the burger.

The bun is the problem here. Before you deem lettuce boring, remember how many varieties you can choose from. Get creative with collard greens and cabbage leaves, too.

Grab some burger inspiration here for your next wrap

Eggs, Baked Beans & Toast vs. Breakfast Hash

healthy-swap-beans-toast-eggs

We’re going to assume you’ve got a healthier choice with this one. Forgo the grains and the sweet baked beans for sweet potatoes and warm roots, bacon or sausage, and whatever veggies you’d like.

A quick breakfast hash makes great use of leftovers for staying on track throughout the week, and it’s easily customized. Just put an egg on it!

This sweet potato chorizo hash has all you need and more

Peanut Butter Sandwich vs. – Apple Slice with Almond Butter

healthy-swap-pbj-apples

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a lunchbox treat, and they’re not just for kids. This combination is a comfort food for adults, too. Whether you’re treating the little ones or yourself, opt for a grain-free option and sandwich almond butter or cashew butter in between two apple slices.

Add some honey if you’re feeling sweet. You can also pile it into celery sticks and top with raisins.

These paleo apple almond butter nachos are the ultimate snack

Lasagne vs. Layered Veggie Bolognese Bake

healthy-choice-lasagna

Lasagne is the deep dish we love second best, next to pizza. The soft layers of noodles, ricotta cheese, meat, and sauce come together to make this dinner the meal you’re always asking for seconds from.

Unfortunately, this recipe is quite heavy, and all of the dairy and grains make it not the best choice. Layering up veggies in a homemade meat and tomato sauce can give you something heartier, cosier, and healthier than traditional lasagne.

Read up on the secrets to a great Bolognese sauce

There you have it! You don’t have to miss out on much just because you’re missing certain foods. These healthy swaps are bound to get you through the worst of cravings while truly enjoying delicious and nutritious foods.

Want more recipes like this?

We know it’s hard to stay on track when you’re tired and busy during the week. We often make bad choices when unplanned and unprepared.

That’s why we created our make ahead meal plans, complete with real food recipes and shopping lists that will cover you for five dinners, lunches and breakfasts.

We believe that planning and preparing meals ahead of time is your best strategy towards healthier eating. Get the 7 Day Meal Plan Today.

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Top 10 Superfood Power Breakfast & Salad Bowls

If you like to observe trends and patterns in popular recipes and food blogging, you may have noticed a cascade of bowl meals. We’re talking about nourish bowls, superfood bowls, protein salad bowls, smoothie bowls, breakfast acai bowls – the list goes on and on. They are essentially bowls filled with super healthy, nutrient dense foods and ingredients, presented in a compartmentalised manner which, for some reason, makes us want them so much more. Maybe it’s the fact that we get to visually register all the ‘super food, antioxidant rich’ bits and pieces that are about to enter our bodies and that makes us feel proud and satisfied.

top-10-superfood-power-bowls

Whatever the reason, if having our food in a bowl helps us to eat healthier, we’re up for it. We’ve decided to scout for some of the Internet’s best meal bowls.

We selected a combination of savory and sweet recipes, all of which are high in nutrients. Some contain legumes, grains or dairy so we’ve provided alternatives for people avoiding these foods.

The idea, really, is to give you guys some inspiration to create your own ‘awesome bowls’ of real food. All it takes is a few good ingredients and a bowl big enough to contain ’em.

Sprouted buckwheat &  coconut yogurt breakfast bowl

sprouted buckwheat bowl

Buckwheat is a pseudograin, or rather a seed, that is gluten free and high in B vitamins and iron. It does however contain similar anti-nutrients to grains and that’s why it’s important to soak and/or sprout the buckwheat grouts.

This not only removes the anti-nutrients, such as phytic acid, but also activates certain enzymes making buckwheat easier to digest and the nutrients more bio-available. We also love the addition of turmeric, cinnamon, vanilla and hemp seeds on top. Serve it with your favorite yogurt and berries. This recipe is from Ashley Neese.

Deconstructed sushi roll bowl from Wild Green Sand Sardines

deconstructed-sushi roll bowl

There is so much we love about this dish! Healthy fats of fish and avocado, minerals and iodine rich nori, calcium rich sesame seeds, crunchy radish and greens, and a little fried quail egg on top – come on?! You can choose to add rice or quinoa to this dish. Find the full recipe and instructions at Wild Greens & Sardines 

Vegetarian super food bowls 

vegetarian-super-bowls

For a vegetarian fix we picked this super food bowls from The Vintage Mixer. This screams ‘autumn on a plate’ and we love the earthy, warm flavours and colours of the dish.

We would choose white rice, quinoa or buckwheat instead of bulgur and add some roasted cauliflower. Don’t forget to soak and properly cook the chickpeas and any grain you use for this dish to remove some of the anti-nutrients and to make those foods easier to digest.

Cajun prawn & zucchini noodle bowls

cajun-shrimp-noodle-bowl

This dish of protein and mineral rich prawns with zucchini noodles (we love zucchini noodles!), onion and peppers is super simple.  Seasoned with garlic and spices, it’s packed with both flavour and nutrients. This recipe is from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen.

Chopped chicken salad bowls with cashew honey mustard

chicken nut fruit bowl

This protein and detox food bowl is from Cooking & Beer (don’t you just love the name of their site?). It’s a very well balanced bowl with good amount of protein from both chicken and nuts, antioxidant rich berries, vitamin and fibre rich carrots and cabbage and even a little goat’s cheese, which is rich in calcium and flavour. The dressing sounds absolutely divine, so give this one a try.

Butternut pumpkin, kale & beef breakfast bowl

butternut squash and sausage breakfast bowl AIP

This ‘breakfast bowl’ recipe from The Healthy Foodie  is actually egg free so it’s perfect for those following an autoimmune protocol type diet or simply looking for a different, savoury morning meal. It’s full of lovely, warm spices and is well balanced between protein, carbohydrates and fats. Love the beta-carotene rich pumpkin and the super nutrient kale as the veggies. Breakfast for dinner anyone?

Chipotle mahi mahi burrito bowls with coconut lime rice & strawberry mango salsa

fish superfood mexican bowls

Oh my, where is my Mai Tai? This recipe is like a trip to the Caribbean without living your lounge room. You can use any type of fish for this dish and the rice can be omitted or swapped for cauliflower for those looking for a lower carbohydrate version. We love it just the way it is. Enjoy this bowl from Half Baked Breakfast.

Sea goddess bowl

Sea goddess salad bowl

Have you noticed that quite a few of these bowls have fish? It’s rich in protein, minerals and healthy fats and great for your brain function. Make sure to choose wild and sustainable fish and seafood where possible. This recipe comes from Eat Spin Run Repeat and my suggestion would be to swap those nasty peanuts for cashews or almonds and the edamame beans for some sweet potato, quinoa or another pre-soaked legume of your choice. Young edamame beans are actually not as harmful as processed soy foods, so they’re okay in small amounts.

Matcha mint chip breakfast bowls

matcha breakfast bowl

This is more of a breakfast smoothie bowl, and what we like about it is the addition of matcha (antioxidant rich green tea powder) and leafy greens. You can use your preferred protein powder or simply make without and have a boiled egg on the side. This gorgeous photo and the recipe are from The First Mess.

Chicken power bowls with crispy baked chickpeas

Chicken-Power-Bowls-with-Crispy-Baked-Garbanzo-Beans

And to finish off the list we have this lovely, protein rich salad bowl with chicken, egg and chickpeas or garbanzo beans. We recommend using dried chickpeas, which you will need to soak overnight and then cook for at least 1 hour before continuing with the steps in this recipe. Chickpeas can also be replaced with some nuts or cauliflower for those avoiding all legumes. Recipe is from Iowa Girl Eats.

Want more recipes like this?

We know it’s hard to stay on track when you’re tired and busy during the week. We often make bad choices when unplanned and unprepared.

That’s why we created our make ahead meal plans, complete with real food recipes and shopping lists that will cover you for five dinners, lunches and breakfasts.

We believe that planning and preparing meals ahead of time is your best strategy towards healthier eating. Get the 7 Day Meal Plan Today.

What is your favorite way to build a bowl? Leave your favourite bases, toppings, and proteins below!

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All posts, Recipes

20 (Mostly) Guilt-Free Vitamix Ice Cream Recipes

Today’s round up is all about making tasty and (mostly) guilt-free ice cream and sorbet recipes using a high performance blender like the Vitamix. We believe healthy eating includes dessert sometimes, and at that rate, it’s all about finding clean options.


We know that many of you own this wonderful machine so we searched around to find the most appealing Vitamix ice cream recipes on the web. Of course, we’d also like to encourage you to make up your own recipes, but it’s good to learn the ropes and the framework. That way, the sky is the limit.

If you want power, the Vitamix is a necessary kitchen gadget. It’s expensive, sure, but it’s a fantastic investment if you can swing it. It blends soups effortlessly, processes foods without a hitch, makes delicious smoothies you won’t even know there are kale in and… it makes ice cream! Its blending abilities are untouchable.

We have lots of healthy options including paleo Vitamix ice cream, no shortage dairy-free ideas, vegan recipes, raw warm-weather treats and more that you can simply make in your blender. It’s nothing short of a modern day miracle. Let’s get drooling!

Fruity Vitamix Ice Cream and Sorbet

vitamix ice cream recipes - watermelon sorbet

Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream from Nutritionist in The Kitchen (vegan, gf, paleo, dairy-free)

Watermelon is THE summertime staple. It’s good and juicy on its own, but it’s especially refreshing in ice cream form. It’s full of healthy vitamins, and it’s one of the most hydrating foods, so this is a justifiable indulgence on the hottest days that won’t weigh you down. Top with fresh watermelon chunks for the best results or sprinkle with a hint of sea salt.

sorbets and vegan ice creams with Vitamix

Orange Sorbet from Raw Blend (vegan, raw, dairy-free)

Get your citrus ON with this vibrant, sunshine-y sorbet. It’s jam-packed with vitamin C so you can feel good about eating it – y’know, for the immune system! Who wants a cold in the summer? With just three ingredients, we’re pretty pumped about this one. Sorbet might even be easier to make than ice cream.

Raw Berry Delight from Raw Blend (raw, vegan, dairy free, paleo)

If berries are your thing, this ice cream is a great idea. Those fresh, summetime farmer’s market berries need to go to good use anyways. You know how many you end up with for just a few dollars! It’s sweetened with dates, and the small touch of cinnamon adds some big flavour in the scoop.

5-Minute Mango Sorbet With Vitamix

5-Minute Mango Sorbet from Perry’s Plate (raw, vegan, dairy-free, paleo)

You had me at “ice cream in 5 minutes.” It’s easier than going to the grocery store, and it’s certainly healthier. Mango is delectable, juicy and sweet when it’s in-season, so it makes an ice cream that takes on many of the same qualities.

Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream from Super Healthy Kids (dairy-free)

If you like pina coladas… well, you’ll probably love this. This is made for some good ol’ poolside indulgence.

The Classic Flavours

Chocolate Banana Ice Cream With A Blender

Chocolate Banana Ice Cream from As Easy As Apple Pie (raw, vegan, paleo, dairy-free, gf)

Chocolate and banana go together like peanut butter and jelly. Maybe even better, actually. This Vitamix chocolate ice cream recipe contains just two ingredients – can you guess what they are? Bonus: you probably have them handy right now.

vitamix ice cream

Coconut Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from Elana’s Pantry (paleo, dairy-free, vegan, gf)

This ice cream boasts eggs and coconut milk for both healthy fats and protein. I mean, you could even have dessert before dinner or call this a meal altogether (we won’t tell anyone!). Plus… coconut and chocolate? Yes, please.

Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream from Vegetarian Ventures (vegan, dairy-free, paleo, gf)

Even during the off-season, those cravings for pumpkin spice hit hard. If the weather isn’t exactly sweaters and boots yet, this cool treat is totally acceptable year-round. Pair up with a fresh sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg, your favourite crunchy nuts or homemade granola.

Clean Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream from Blender Babes (vegan, raw, paleo, gf, dairy-free)

Raise your hand if mint chocolate chip is your FAVOURITE. It wouldn’t be an ice cream recipe roundup without a variation of the stuff. This is dairy-free, sugar-free and totally good for you. Dig in.

Dairy-free hazelnut ice cream with Vitamix

Dairy-Free Hazelnut Ice Cream from Blender Babes (dairy free, gf, vegetarian)

Hazelnuts are one of the healthiest nuts, and they’re pretty delicious. Slightly buttery with great crunch and flavour that just asks to be turned into dessert, this dairy-free ice cream is perfect. Plus, it’s just three ingredients and it’s easy considering the secret to the taste is flavored coffee creamer! We like this one from Nutpods which is also sugar-free.

Seemingly Naughty But Nice Vitamix Ice Cream

Paleo Swiss Almond Ice Cream With Vitamix or other high-tech blender

Paleo Swiss Almond Ice Cream from Blender Babes (dairy-free, gf, paleo, vegan)

This stuff is totally off the chain. The base contains a creamy blend of coconut milk and ooey-gooey dates, lending their natural sweetness as nature’s candy. It’s topped off with salted, chocolate-covered almonds for a little crunch – basically, the best dessert flavour explosion known to man. Who could complain about extra chocolate?

yummy-vitamix-ice-cream-recipes

Caramelized Banana Pecan Paleo Ice Cream from My Natural Family (paleo, vegan, dairy-free, gf)

Bananas are sweet enough, but caramelised? It. Gets. REAL. The process brings out all of those natural sugars to make this ice cream feel ultra indulgent. You won’t even know it’s healthy. Paired with pecans, this ice cream is going to feel rich and sometimes, that’s just what the craving calls for.

Cherry Coconut Ice Cream from The Casual Craftlete (paleo, vegan, raw, gf, dairy-free)

Frozen cherries are a beautiful fruit to use while making Vitamix ice cream. Their texture is fantastic, you can get them year-round at perfect ripeness and the colour is just stunning. Paired with coconut, this recipe is a winner.

Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream (paleo, vegan)

Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream from Klein Worth Co (paleo, vegan, dairy-free, gf)

Put the banana in the coconut and mix it all up! A little bit tropical and a whole lot of tasty. We love the addition of toasted coconut here, which makes all the difference. What is your favourite ice cream topping?

paleo-vitamix-ice-cream-2

Raw No-Churn Sachertorte Ice Cream by Unconventional Baker (raw, vegan, paleo, dairy-free)

Sachertorte a.k.a. apricot and chocolate may seem like an odd combo, but believe us – it’s not! It’s delicious… that’s what it is. If you’re looking for something unique, here’s your scoop.

Something Different

Avocado Chocolate Soft Serve Ice Cream

Creamy Avocado Chocolate Soft Serve from Half Baked Harvest (gf, can be made vegan and paleo)

You think avocados don’t belong in your ice cream? Think again! You won’t even know that’s what it’s made of. Their healthy fats lend flavour and that buttery goodness that makes this soft-serve possible. This has to one of the healthiest Vitamix chocolate ice cream recipes you can make.

blender-ice-creams

Cherry Zinfandel Sorbet from Blender Babes (vegan, paleo, gf, dairy-free)

Naughty and nice? We dig it. If you feel like combining your evening glass of wine with dessert because you deserve it, this is the jam. You know what they say – double the wine, double the fun. Serve this one up for a special occasion. It has anniversary dinner written all over it.

Green Matcha Ice Cream With Vitamix

Matcha Green Tea Banana Ice Cream from Oh How Civilized (vegetarian, gf)

Matcha is an amazing-for-you green tea blend with loads of health benefits and antioxidants PLUS a natural energy boost, so it’s no surprise we’re advocates for adding it to your dessert! This one could even be a healthy afternoon pick-me-up.

Rosemary Pear Sorbet from Empowered Sustenance (paleo, vegan, dairy-free, gf, AIP)

Fresh herbs are often underestimated in sweet dishes, but the subtle sweetness from pear with a burst of very fresh flavour from rosemary is something you can’t knock until you try. It’s the perfect autumnal mix when the fruit comes in season, but you can still pick from the herb garden. We love this one to serve at a dinner party.

Spinach & mint ice cream

Spinach & Mint Ice Cream from Chocolate Covered Katie (raw, vegan, paleo, gf, dairy-free)

Spoiler: you won’t know there are veggies in here! Instead of artificial colouring found in many mint ice creams, this one has got that au naturale thing going on with a healthy handful of spinach – plus all those vitamins, minerals and fibre! Consider this green smoothie status in our books.

How to choose a Vitamix blender 

How to choose a Vitamix blender

In the market for a new blender? Perhaps you’re looking for the culinary convenience of making ice cream in 5 minutes. I mean, this is a matter of quality of life here! Healthy dessert is on the table in no time, and it goes far beyond that.

It will come in handy if you’re doing our 30-day program or our 7-Day Eat Better Challenge, and it’s one of the top gadgets we recommend for easy meal prep and healthy living. If you need a bit more horsepower behind the machine that is you in the kitchen, we’ve got the low down on a few different models.

SPLURGE: The Vitamix G-Series 780 Home Blender with Touchscreen Control Panel

avocado-ice-cream-vitamix-1

If you like tech as much as you like food, this is gadget-worthy with its sleek display. It’s got 110v voltage for high-speed potential, it’s relatively quiet, it won’t leave bits of kale in your green smoothies or green ice cream and it’s beautiful to use and look at with that LED touchscreen! It contains five program settings, so it will undoubtedly meet (and exceed) ALL of your needs.

EVERYDAY USE: Vitamix 7500

Vitamix 7500

This one’s major selling point is the fully adjustable dial, allowing you to program your blend beyond speed. You can easily switch the dial up a notch to customise your blending experience – something you never even knew you wanted. It also has a pulse feature for chunky salsas, soups and even ice cream if that’s your style. The 64 oz. size is perfect for cooking needs and easy storage, fitting under most counters in cabinets.

BLENDING ON A BUDGET: Vitamix 5300 Certified Refurbished

Vitamix 3500 Certified Refurbished

Refurbished gadgets are the way to go if you want to get your blend on but you don’t want to dish out big bucks. You could opt for a cheaper blender overall, but if your heart is set on the Vitamix, this is one of the best deals you can snag. It has many of the same features as the 7500 with both variable speed control and the pulse feature, and it has the same size container.

We hope you’ve found a Vitamix ice cream recipe in this roundup that you’re excited to try! We believe that occasional healthy treats are a fantastic way to sustain a healthy diet and lifestyle – we even include a few in our 30-day program to keep you on track. Choose wisely. Tell us in the comments what your favorite flavor is!

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20 Mostly Guilt-Free Vitamix Ice Creams - Paleo, Vegan, Raw, Dairy Free, Low Sugar Recipes

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benefits of journaling
All posts, Natural Living

7 Undeniable Benefits of Journaling

While many people want to take on journaling, it can be hard to make it a habit. You might just notice those subtle differences once you really stick to the pen and paper, though. Here are a few benefits of journaling and a few great resources to get started with.

1. Stress Reduction

Studies have shown huge improvements amongst those who keep a journal in regards to stress. In particular, these studies focus on gratitude journaling – simply writing down what you are grateful for. The benefits of journaling for stress include a more optimistic approach and outlook, increased enthusiasm and energy, and lower anxiety and depression. Overall, gratitude allows contentedness to thrive.

2. Problem Solving

When we face conflict, it can often be hard to sift through the components of our problems inside our head. Whether it’s a technical issue, a personal battle, or a with a disagreement loved one, writing about it can help you see your dilemma from a new angle and solve problems with a more objective point of view.

benefits of journaling

3. Increase Your IQ

Not only will you increase your emotional intelligence, but the benefits of journaling can even raise your IQ which essentially means your brain will have a higher capacity. While it’s often thought that IQ is a “set point” and does not change, expressive writing has been studied in correlation with intelligence.

4. Setting & Reaching Goals

We all have goals, but it can be difficult to gauge those goals relative to time (short-term vs. long-term) and how much progress we’re making. The benefits of journaling shine through when we analyse those goals and how we’re coming along. Write down daily, weekly, and monthly goals and reflect on them accordingly. That way, you can help keep those objectives at the front of your mind.

5. Healing

One particular study has found that individuals who explore writing prompts actually have potential to see improved immune function making the benefits of journaling useful to those who hope to heal physically or emotionally. Long-term journaling can result in less stress and better sleep which helps to improve both cognitive and immune functions. 

benefits of journaling

6. Sparking Creativity

Creativity is more useful than you might think, even if you aren’t an artist or have a particularly creative career. In the realm of problem-solving, the benefits of journaling can help you think outside of the box. “Stream of consciousness” writing (writing exactly what comes to your mind) helps you recognize hidden thoughts and feelings while helping you overcome writer’s block and tapping into your creative mind.

7. Improving Communication

Think of journaling as an opportunity to write out conversations. Whether those talks are with yourself, a friend, or your boss, the benefits of journaling will help you to articulate your thoughts. Whether you aim to be more social or a better public speaker, consistent journaling can get you there.

The Happy Body Formula encourages you to use a daily food journal in addition to writing down your thoughts as we seek to improve our group member’s sleep, stress levels, and overall mindfulness. If you need a helping hand in getting started and seeing the benefits of journaling, consider joining us.

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All posts, Recipes

Chocolate Raspberry Brownies (Paleo & Gluten Free)

These decadent chocolate raspberry brownies are gluten-free and grain-free, and have no added refined sugar. This is a guest recipe from one of the Happy Body Formula program experts Larina Robinson, a wholefood dietitian from The Body Dietetics. If you like this recipe, check out her cookbook Wholefood Entertaining.

For more healthy treats, check out these incredible guilt-free desserts and our favourite low-carb and keto friendly brownies.

Gluten-free & Grain-Free Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

4.9 from 11 reviews
Chocolate Raspberry Brownies
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 12
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Line an 8×8 inch brownie pan with baking paper.
  2. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius. In a bowl, combine all the wet ingredients with a hand mixer. Sift the dry ingredients into the wet and mix till smooth. Fold in the raspberries. Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 20-25mins (my oven is an older model so takes a while longer to cook – it’s best to keep an eye on them around the 18-20 minute mark so they don’t overcook). They get fudgier over time so if you can resist, let them cool a little. They’re even better the next day!

Want more recipes like this?

We know it’s hard to stay on track when you’re tired and busy during the week. We often make bad choices when unplanned and unprepared.

That’s why we created our make ahead meal plans, complete with real food recipes and shopping lists that will cover you for five dinners, lunches and breakfasts.

We believe that planning and preparing meals ahead of time is your best strategy towards healthier eating. Get the 7 Day Meal Plan Today.

Paleo Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

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