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Photo credit: What The Health

The What the Health documentary has been called ‘the health film that health organizers don’t want you to see.’ 

As a follow-up from the creators of the award-winning documentary, Cowspiracy, the film details exactly what’s gone wrong in our food and medical systems and proposes how we might begin to fix them. For those of you who don’t have a Netflix subscription, you can watch the film online by clicking here.

In a nutshell, What the Health examines some of the key factors involved in our current public health crisis and outlines some of the benefits of reducing our production and consumption of animal-based products. These are changes that could save countless numbers of lives and save us trillions of dollars every single year.

In the accompanying new book, written by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, there are over 50 new, plant-based recipes designed to help you reclaim your life and health, in addition to diving deeper into the truth about the food that we eat. What the Health will “guide you on an adventure through this maze of misinformation” as the authors travel across the country, talking to medical professionals, public health advocates and professional athletes to reveal the real truth about the food that we eat.

Some of the awesome, new recipes include:

  • Creamy Mac
  • PB&J Smoothie
  • Winter Lentil and Pomegranate Salad
  • Mom’s Ultimate Vegan Chili
  • Black Bean Fudgy Brownies
  • Baked Apple Crumble with Coconut Cream

To celebrate the launch of their new book, Kip and Keegan gave us permission to share a recipe that is both delicious and perfectly suited to the Chipotle Method. Check out the recipe below and let us know what you think!


Sushi Bowl with Peanut Miso-Ginger Dressing

Makes: 1-2 servings

Photo credit: What The Health

This light and filling sushi bowl recipe is perfect for a light lunch or easy-to-prep dinner. And it’s Chipotle Method certified to boot!

We could all use a few more greens in our diet, and this recipe is a great excuse to use some of the spinach, bok choy or tatsoi that you have lying around the kitchen. The addition of dried nori flakes give this recipe a big nutritional boost, and the brown rice and avocado provide some real substance.

To assemble the bowl, layer each ingredient individually, starting with the greens. Add the edamame and rice, the shredded carrot and avocado, then finish with the nori flakes, sesame seeds, a drizzle of vinegar, and a drizzle of dressing, if using.


Sushi Bowl with Peanut Miso-Ginger Dressing

Ingredients for the Bowl

  • 1/2 cup spinach, tatsoi, mizuna, bok choy, or a mixture
  • 1/2 cup shelled edamame (fresh or frozen and thawed)
  • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, cooled
  • 1/4 cup shredded carrot
  • 1/2 avocado, sliced
  • 1 tbsp dried nori flakes
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • Drizzle of umeboshi
  • plum vinegar

Ingredients for the Dressing

  • 1/4 cup peanut or almond butter
  • 1 tbsp miso
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water

How to Prepare

To prepare the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a high speed blender, and blend until creamy. In a medium bowl, layer each ingredient, starting with the greens. Add the edamame and rice, the shredded carrot and avocado, then finish with the nori flakes, sesame seeds, a drizzle of vinegar, and a drizzle of dressing, if using.


Enter to Win A Free Copy of What The Health

Click here to learn more.

Kip and Keegan, in partnership with BenBella Books Publishing, has been kind enough to provide a copy of What the Health to our community, and you can enter to win!

We’ll choose a winner by random drawing on February 15th, 2019.

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Sign up for the email list using the form below. If you are already subscribed, you do NOT have to subscribe again.
  2. Leave a comment below letting us know the following: What is one small change you would like to make to start improving your health? What’s the biggest barrier that prevents you from following through?

*Note: Giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada. From What the Health by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn ; BenBella Books, 2018.


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Lentil collard wraps

Lentil collard wraps with salsa

Photo credit: The China Study Cookbook

Chances are, you have heard of the China Study. Back when it was first published in January of 2005, it was met with immediate praise and a warm welcome by the health community. Today, it has sold over two million copies worldwide and will forever be one of the classics of nutrition-based literature. In a nutshell, The China Study examines the relationship between consuming animal products and the occurrence of chronic, long-term disease, including heart disease, diabetes and a number of different types of cancer.

If you haven’t had a chance to take a look at this ground-breaking book by T. Colin Campbell, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy the next time you are browsing around your local bookstore. Almost twenty years later, The China Study is just as relevant today as it was when it was first published and will arm you with a ton of great information to inspire you to live in optimum health.

In this new edition of the accompanying cookbook, written by the author’s daughter, you get a healthy dose of the science behind the China Study right on your dinner plate. The China Study Cookbook includes a number of new recipes (175 in total) that follow core China Study principles, are easy to prepare and use minimal sugar and salt.

Some of the awesome, new recipes include:

  • Almond-Topped Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Ensalada Azteca
  • Green Banana Cassava Soup
  • Peanut Butter Bars
  • Cassava (Yuca) con Cebollas
  • Black Bean Chipotle Burgers
  • Sweet Potato Enchiladas
  • Passion Fruit Bliss Cheese(less) Cake Delight

This revised and expanded edition includes some truly mouth-watering photos to go along with the recipes. It was so hard to choose just one recipe to use for this post because they all looked so good! The book also takes you behind-the-scenes into author LeAnne Campbell’s garden in the Dominican Republic and inside the work of her organization, Global Roots.

To celebrate the launch of her new book, LeAnn gave us permission to share a recipe that we think is perfect for those serious about living in peak health. Check out the recipe below and let us know what you think!

Lentil Collard Wraps with Salsa

Makes: 4 wraps

Lentil collard wraps with salsa

Photo credit: The China Study Cookbook

Created by LeeAnn Campbell, this light and filling wrap recipe is perfect for a light lunch or easy-to-prep dinner. Not many people are familiar with how to use collard greens and I think this is a great way to start.

Collard leaves make a great substitute for bread and tortillas. For those who are gluten-free or for those who are just looking to eat more green veggies, this recipe is for you. The collard greens just need a quick blanch in boiling water to soften them and make them a bit more palatable for the wraps.

To assemble the wraps, pile all the ingredients in the middle of each leaf and then fold over as you would a burrito. Feel free to get as creative as you would like with this recipe – the possibilities are endless with a veggie wrap! 

Lentil Collard Wraps with Salsa

Ingredients

  • 6 collard leaves
  • 3/4 cup brown rice
  • ⅔ cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup vegetable broth, divided
  • ⅔ cup dried lentils, rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • Hot sauce, to taste
  • ⅔ cup Roasted Tomato Salsa (see below)
  • 1 cup Guacamole (see below)
  •  
  • ROASTED TOMATO SALSA
  • 1½ cups chopped tomatoes
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup chopped onions
  • 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped jalapeno
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt, to taste
  •  
  • GUACAMOLE
  • 2 avocados
  • 1/4 cup Roasted Tomato Salsa (see above)
  • Lemon juice and salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the collard leaves by first trimming the middle stem to the same thickness as the rest of the leaf. Place each leaf in a large saucepan of boiling water for 30 seconds and then transfer to cool water for 1 minute. Remove the leaves from the water and pat dry. Set aside.
  2. Cook brown rice according to package directions. Set aside.
  3. In a medium-size saucepan, saute onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons of vegetable broth over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, or until onion browns.
  4. Add lentils, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and hot sauce; cook and stir for 1 minute.
  5. Add remaining vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until lentils are tender, 25–30 minutes.
  6. Uncover and continue cooking until mixture is slightly thickened, 6–8 minutes. Stir in salsa.
  7. Prepare the collard wraps by first spooning 2–3 tablespoons of rice on top of each leaf. Then spoon about 2–3 tablespoons lentil mixture on top of the rice, and finish by adding 2 heaping tablespoons guacamole.
  8. Fold the collard leaf like a burrito, by first folding the bottom up, then the sides in. Enjoy!
    FOR THE ROASTED TOMATO SALSA
  1. Preheat oven to 400˚F. Place tomatoes and garlic cloves on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook for 45–50 minutes.
  2. Place tomatoes, garlic, and remaining ingredients in a food processor and pulse 5–6 times, until blended but still chunky.
  3. Adjust seasonings if necessary.
    FOR THE GUACAMOLE
  1. Scoop avocado flesh into a medium-size bowl and mash with a fork.
  2. Stir in salsa or tomatillo sauce. Season with lemon juice and salt. Mix well.
https://www.truewellth.org/lentil-collard-wraps-with-salsa-vegan-gluten-free

Enter To Win A Free Copy of The China Study Cookbook

The China Study Cookbook

Learn more about The China Study Cookbook

LeeAnn and BenBella Books Publishing has been kind enough to provide a copy of The China Study Cookbook to our community, and you can enter to win!

We’ll choose a winner by random drawing on August 24th, 2018.

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Sign up for the email list using the form below. If you are already subscribed, you do NOT have to subscribe again.
  2. Leave a comment below letting us know the following: What is one small change you would like to make to start improving your health? What’s the biggest barrier that prevents you from following through?

*Note: Giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada. From The China Study Cookbook by LeAnne Campbell, Phd; BenBella Books, 2018.

 

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Matcha energy bars

Matcha energy bars

Photo credit: Andrew Olsen

Summer has officially begun and there’s no better time than now to get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunny weather. Here in Boulder, Colorado there are an endless number of trails to explore and the only real problem is deciding which one to take! Not everyone loves to hike, but I think it’s true that most all of us are more active in the summertime and generally look to spend more time outdoors.

Eating well away from home is getting easier and easier as plant-based diets get more mainstream attention, but sometimes it still pays off to bring a little snack from home that can hold you over while away. A few pieces of fruit packed away in your bag are great, but sometimes you need something a little more substantial to help you make those extra miles or keep up with the kids.

When digging around on the internet for something healthy and super-energizing, I came across a recipe from One Ingredient Chef that I thought filled the part perfectly. Andrew’s super-easy energy bar recipe takes just minutes to prepare, stores well in the refrigerator, and can be eaten on-the-go. I think these bars would make a great snack before hopping in the car for an outing, or packed away for when you need a second wind.

And there is no doubt that just one of these bars will keep you energized for hours! The matcha powder is stimulating enough to keep you blazing down the trail, but when combined with the dates (a bit of sugar) and the cacao powder (a bit of theobromine), you’ve got a powerful, synergistic combo that will leave you feeling like you could conquer mountains! Matcha has well-known antioxidant properties and the cacao is chock-full of magnesium, which is perfect for strenuous, high-activity days.

Matcha energy bars

Photo credit: Andrew Olsen

Matcha Energy Bars

I really hope you enjoy our Matcha Energy Bars recipe, excerpted from the One Ingredient Chef and perfect for anyone who wants a high-energy, easy-to-digest snack that’s going to keep you buzzing all day long.

As far as preparation goes, this recipe is as easy as it gets. You can have a bag full of bars and be out the door in around 30 minutes and still have leftovers. Just throw everything together in a food processor or high-speed blender, process for a few minutes, and it’s practically done!

Feel free to adjust the amount of cacao and matcha powder if you want to play around with effects. Note that matcha powder contains caffeine and cacao powder contains theobromine. Both are stimulating and eating one of these will feel like drinking a cup of coffee.

I hope you all will take full advantage of the early summer season. I’ll see you out on the trail! Thanks to Creative Commons and Andrew Olsen of One Ingredient Chef for sharing this recipe.

 

Matcha Energy Bars (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1/4 cup dried cherries
  • 3/4 cup raw nuts (ideally cashews)
  • 2 tablespoons cacao powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon matcha powder
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients in your food processor and let it run for at least two minutes. When it's done, the mixture should form one solid, sticky clump.
  2. Take two pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap and sandwich the mixture between them. Use something big and flat like a cutting board to press down evenly until the mixture is about 1/4-inch thick.
  3. Keep the layers of parchment intact and transfer everything to the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes to firm up before slicing and using a sifter to dust the tops with extra matcha powder.
https://www.truewellth.org/matcha-energy-bars-vegan-gluten-free
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Everyday Green Smoothie

Photo credit: Carolyn Vinnicombe

 

It’s no surprise that smoothies are such a health food staple. They’re the perfect combination of easy-to-digest fruits with dark leafy greens, which everyone knows are jam-packed with vitamins and minerals. They leave you feeling full, clear-headed and energized, which means that they’re really great for breakfast. Eating a heavy breakfast (like oatmeal) in the spring or summer will make some people feel heavy and sleepy, which is exactly what you don’t need before a big day of work or a Saturday on the trail.

Carolyn’s everyday green smoothie recipe is super-tasty, easy to prepare, and is filling enough to get you all the way through the morning. It’s sweet, creamy, and has a little bit of bite thanks to the addition of ginger, which warms up the digestive system and makes it even easier to absorb and assimilate.

Everyday Green Smoothie

Photo credit: Carolyn Vinnicombe

Easy Everyday Green Smoothie

I really hope you enjoy our Easy Everyday Green smoothie recipe, excerpted from Carolyn’s Pantry and perfect for anyone who wants a high-energy, easy-to-digest breakfast that’s sure to put a little extra spring in your step.

As far as preparation goes, this recipe is as easy as it gets. Just throw everything together in a blender and viola, it’s done! If you’d like to get a few extra calories, feel free to throw some granola or nuts/seeds on top. Just be careful, as not everyone digests nuts/seeds and fruit very well when combined.

Preparation time is around 5 minutes and this recipe will make one big smoothie. If you don’t want to finish it all in one sitting, feel free to refrigerate what’s left for later. To avoid the fiber separating from the water/nut milk, it’s best to drink your green smoothie on the same day you make it.

This is the perfect time of year to start incorporating lighter, more energizing foods back into your diet. Thanks to Carolyn for sharing this recipe!

Easy Everyday Green Smoothie (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

  • 1 banana
  • 1 large handful fresh green kale
  • 1 large handful fresh baby spinach
  • 1 stalk of celery
  • 3 ice cubes
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • 1 teaspoon fresh organic ginger (peeled)
  •  
  • Toppings
  • Granola
  • Fresh blueberries
  • A sprinkle of hemp seeds

Instructions

  1. Blend everything up and serve!
https://www.truewellth.org/easy-everyday-green-smoothie-vegan-gluten-free
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Spring-Cleansing Turmeric Vegetable Soup

Spring-Cleansing Turmeric Vegetable Soup

Many of us choose to eat a plant-based diet out of compassion and respect for animals, but choosing to fill our plates with fresh fruits and vegetables does more than just protect the natural environment and the animals who call it home. Even if it’s not our primary motivation, eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet has been proven to be a powerful aid in preventing and reversing chronic disease. Each time we sit down to eat in a way that supports the health of the planet, we support our own health in the process.

Eating a diet that’s centered around plants has a natural healing and cleansing effect on the body, especially as we introduce more raw foods, but many of us feel called to take a more active approach in our cleansing and detoxifying process. And now just happens to be the perfect time to do that!

As we move into spring, the days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting warmer. Life is reawakening all over the planet and we start to feel a shift in our own bodies and minds. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is thought that the cycles and rhythms of the human body are closely intertwined with nature. During the cold, winter months, our bodies gravitate towards semi-hibernation. We slow down, crave heavier, more comforting foods, and spend more time in leisurely activities like reading and watching movies.

In the spring, as new life emerges and regenerates itself, we feel naturally drawn towards being more active, spending more time outdoors, and eating lighter, more energizing foods. This presents a great opportunity to shed a little excess weight and clean out the toxins that have been accumulated and stored over the course of our winter dormancy.

Spring-Cleansing Turmeric Vegetable Soup

Photo credit: Ingrid DeHart

We recently found a recipe on the Eat Well, Enjoy Life blog that we thought would be perfect for early spring when we’re slowly waking from our winter slumber. It’s a recipe that’s hearty and fulfilling, but light and full of detoxifying ingredients at the same time.

Ingrid DeHart’s vegetable turmeric soup is full of flavorful ingredients and healing spices that will please your palate and give your digestive system the boost it needs to cleanse from the inside out. The turmeric fights inflammation and reduces gas and bloating, while the ginger and garlic stimulate the digestive tract to shed excess mucous and re-balance the intestinal wall. The other ingredients in this recipe, like coconut oil, carrots and kale all have well-known health benefits and healing properties of their own.

No special tools or kitchen skills are required to make this warming, healing soup. Just a knife, a cutting board and a pot to throw everything together in will suffice. If you’re looking to shed a few excess pounds or just want a little more spring in your step as we move into spring, we hope you’ll give our spring-cleansing vegetable turmeric soup a try!

Preparation time is around 20 minutes and the soup will take an additional 30 minutes to cook. One big pot will easily serve a family of 4. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Note: You could alter this recipe in a number of ways. We love the combination of flavors that Ingrid has created in this recipe, but the vegetables used are merely suggestions. Feel free to use whatever you have lying around the house or really love. The ginger and garlic do most of the cleansing work in this recipe, but if you’re choosing to avoid hot, stimulating spices and herbs, feel free to omit them. Turmeric is incredibly purifying on it’s own. For those eating a paleo diet, feel free to omit the beans.

This is the perfect time of year to start incorporating lighter, more cleansing foods back into your diet. Thanks to Ingrid DeHart and Eat Well, Enjoy Life for sharing this recipe!

Spring-cleansing Vegetable Turmeric Soup (Vegan, Gluten-free)

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 cups cauliflower, cut into small florets
  • 2 cups kale, stems removed, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated turmeric root or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced (3-4 cloves)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced or ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 6 cups vegetable broth or water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • ½ of 15-ounce can white beans, drained and rinsed or 1/2 cup of dried white beans, cooked (optional)
  • Cilantro, chopped for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the coconut oil in a large soup pot over medium-low.
  2. Add onion and stir. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until the onions begin to brown.
  3. Add carrots and celery, cook for 3-5 more minutes, until the vegetables soften.
  4. Add turmeric, garlic and ginger; stir until the vegetables are coated.
  5. Cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
  6. Add broth or water, salt, and pepper; stir. Bring to a boil.
  7. Add cauliflower. Cover and reduce heat.
  8. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until cauliflower is tender.
  9. When the cauliflower is fork tender, add beans and kale.
  10. Cook until the kale is slightly wilted, 2-3 minutes.
  11. Serve hot garnished with cilantro.
https://www.truewellth.org/spring-cleansing-vegetable-turmeric-soup-vegan-gluten-free
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Brooklyn Barley Stew

Brooklyn Barley Stew

Have you ever experienced recipe overload in trying to find something to make for dinner? Thanks to the internet, we live in a world where thousands upon thousands of recipes are available at our finger tips at all times, but how can you separate the wheat from the chaff? If you’re new to the plant-based diet, how can you be sure that that hodgepodge of strange-sounding ingredients is actually going to taste good when mixed together?

In their new book, The Main Street Vegan Academy Cookbook, top-ten vegetarian author Victoria Mann and pressure-cooking extraordinaire JL Fields have teamed up with with over a hundred certified vegan lifestyle coaches to share 100 of their favorite plant-based recipes. Regardless of whether you’re a long time vegetarian/vegan or just dipping your toes in the world of plant-based eating, The Main Street Vegan Academy Cookbook is a great place to put your recipe search to rest.

In addition to 100+ recipes, Victoria and JL’s new book offers practical advice on the following topics:

  • Dubunking the myth of plant-based eating being expensive, complicated and weird.
  • How to pave your own path to health.
  • Troubleshooting and FAQ’s on vegetarian and vegan diets.
  • Menu plans that will keep you inspired and innovating in the kitchen.

To celebrate the launch of their new book, Victoria and JL sent us a recipe to share that we think is perfect for soothing the soul when you’ve got a case of mid-winter blues. Check out the recipe below and let us know what you think!

Brooklyn Barley Stew

Makes: 6-8 servings

Brooklyn Barley Stew

Photo credit: The Main Street Vegan Academy Cookbook

Created by Victoria Moran and JL Fields, this warming and hearty barley stew recipe is a perfect for deep winter nights when you’re in the mood for something soothing and nutritious. There are few things more comforting than a big bowl of steaming-hot stew, especially when it doesn’t take hours to prepare. You really can feel your body relax and mind slow down with each and every bite.

With this recipe, a few simple ingredients combine to make a healthy, plant-based stew that is packed with flavor. This delicious make-ahead dish only gets better as it sits, so fix it today and eat it tomorrow or save some leftovers…if you can help not gobbling it all down at once. 

A few notes: Traditional stew vegetables were used for this recipe, but feel free to substitute with whatever you like and/or have lying around the house. One of the great things about soup and stew is that you really can make substitutions to your hearts content and still get great results. Additionally, for those who are avoiding gluten, you can substitute rice, garbanzo beans or even quinoa for the barley and it’s equally as delicious.

One-pot Brooklyn Barley Stew (Vegan, Gluten-Free Options)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 8 ounces crimini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup pearl barley (substitute rice, garbanzo beans or quinoa for those who are gluten-free)
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (optional)
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 plant-based bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon plant-based bouillon powder
  • 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves torn into 2-inch pieces
  • Salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent and soft, about 6 minutes. Add the mushrooms and stir to coat with oil. Sauté for 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms have released their liquid and are starting to brown.
  2. Add the barley and stir to combine. Stir in the wine, if using, and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the carrots. Pour in the broth and raise the heat to high. Add the bouillon and stir until it is dissolved. Cover the pot and bring the broth to a rolling boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook, covered, for 45 minutes, or until the barley is tender.
  3. When the barley is tender, stir in the kale. It will look like a lot, but as you stir it in, it will wilt down. Taste and add salt if needed.
https://www.truewellth.org/one-pot-brooklyn-barley-stew-vegan-gluten-free-options

Enter To Win A Free Copy of The Main Street Vegan Academy Cookbook

Victoria and JL have been kind enough to provide a copy of The Main Street Vegan Academy Cookbook to our community, and you can enter to win!

We’ll choose a winner by random drawing on February 14th, 2018.

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Sign up for the email list using the form below. If you are already subscribed, you do NOT have to subscribe again.
  2. Leave a comment below letting us know the following: What is one small change you make to start improving your health? What’s the biggest barrier that prevents you from following through?

*Note: Giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada. From The Main Street Vegan Academy Cookbook by Victoria Moran and JL Fields; recipe by Michael Suchman (BenBella Books, 2017).

 

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Ratatouille

Ratatouille

The holiday season is upon us again and with that comes a rush of family and activity. These are all great things, and many of us look forward to the flurry of preparations and celebration all year long,  but the holidays can also leave us with little to no time to get in the kitchen and prepare healthy meals for ourselves. Even the most disciplined and dedicated health-warriors among us are often left wanting come late-December.  Not only do we not have the time to prepare healthy meals, we barely have enough time to go to the grocery store!

And so the question is: how can we create nourishing, flavorful meals for ourselves and our loved ones with little to no free time and with only a few odd-and-end ingredients lying around the kitchen?

We recently found a recipe on the One Ingredient Chef blog that we thought would be perfect for busy times when simple meals are in dire need. With this recipe, your slow-cooker does most all of the work for you, giving you the freedom to focus your attention where it’s most needed.

And just because this dish takes so little time to put together doesn’t mean that you’ll have to sacrifice on taste. Slow-cookers are great for melding flavors together over the course of several hours, tricking your palate into thinking that much more time and effort went into the meal than what it did.

Ratatouille

Photo credit: Andrew Olsen

If you’ve never used a slow cooker before or you don’t have one, you can get the same results just by putting all of your ingredients together and cooking them slowly over low heat. There’s actually a lot of different ways ratatouille can be made, but all of them involve thinly slicing squash, peppers, onions, and usually eggplant into thin rounds and lining them around a pan with with whatever herbs you have in the kitchen.

In the end, no matter which cooking method you choose, I think you’ll find that our one-pot ratatouille recipe is perfect for times when life gets hectic and packaged, instant meals tend to sneak their way in. If you’re craving something warm and hearty during the holiday season, have just a few leftover veggies lying around and aren’t sure what to do with them, we hope you’ll give our ratatouille recipe a try!

Ratatouille

Photo credit: Andrew Olsen

Preparation time is around 15 to 20 minutes and this recipe will easily serve a family of 4. Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Note: You could alter this recipe in a number of ways. We omitted eggplant, but you could easily layer in some of that as well. You can use your favorite prepared marinara pasta sauce or make some from scratch if you are feeling adventurous. Italian herbs like thyme and tarragon would work really well with this recipe too.

This is the perfect time of year to break out your slow cooker and create flavorful dishes even if you’re short on time. Thanks to Andrew Olsen and Creative Commons at One Ingredient Chef for sharing this recipe!

Easy Potato Ratatouille (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups marinara sauce (any kind)
  • 2 large russet potatoes
  • 1 large or 2 small zucchini
  • 2 yellow crookneck squash
  • 2 red bell peppers
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Basil, for garnish
  • Ground cashews, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Wash and slice the potatoes, zucchini, squash, red bell peppers, and red onion into thin rounds (1/8-inch or thinner). If you have a mandolin, that makes things much easier but you can also do it by hand. Also mince a few cloves of garlic and set aside.
  2. Pour one cup of the pasta sauce into the bottom of your slow cooker, then (the hardest part) overlap the veggies and potatoes in a circular pattern around the edges (and fill in the middle) until you’ve used them all. Stop after each row and add a dash of salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Note: you may not want to use full slices of onion on each level, feel free to use just 1-2 rings each time you layer the onions.
  3. Pour about 2 cups more sauce on top (it will slowly trickle down as it cooks) and slow-cook on high for about 3-4 hours until the potatoes are tender. To serve, garnish with some fresh basil and/or vegan “parmesan” which can be made by blending cashews (plus nutritional yeast and salt, if you’d like) in a high-powered blender until they’re pulverized.
https://www.truewellth.org/easy-potato-ratatouille-vegan-gluten-free

 

 

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Smoothie bowl

Many of our readers write-in to say that they have trouble getting their kids interested in eating plant-based foods on a regular basis. I don’t have kids of my own, but I can totally sympathize with the challenge. How can we get kids excited about healthy, organic, plant-based foods when they’re surrounded by endless quantities of junk food and advertisements that encourage them to eat them?

We recently found a recipe on the Fork and Beans blog that we thought would be perfect for introducing more plant-based foods into your child’s everyday diet. With her inventive smoothie bowls, Cara Ansis hits the nail on the head when it comes to creating food for kids that’s both tasty and fun, while also ensuring that they’re meeting their daily nutritional needs.

Photo credit: Cara Ansis

Smoothie bowls are jam-packed with an abundance of fresh fruits and are often accompanied by plant-based yogurt and plant-based milk, which you can either pick up from your local natural foods store or make on your own if you have the right kitchen tools.

If you’ve never made a smoothie bowl, this recipe may look a little intimidating. However, being that prep time is only a few minutes from beginning to end, just about everyone will have the time to quickly put one together, even as a last minute snack when the kids are hungry and reaching for something unhealthy. It’s really as simple as blending together a few ingredients, spooning the blended mixture into a couple of bowls, and putting some fresh fruit on top.

The next time you’re left wondering what to make for your kids who don’t seem to eat anything you make, we hope you’ll give our smoothie bowls a try! They’re delicious enough that you may just want to make one for yourself!

Photo credit: Cara Ansis

Preparation time is 15 minutes and this recipe serves 2.

Per Cara’s recipe, you can get super-creative with this recipe and turn your smoothie bowls into creative designs like animals, rainbows, or even flowers! Using fresh fruit, the possibilities are truly endless.

Smoothie bowls are safe for kids who have allergies to nuts, soy or grains so long as you choose plant-based dairy products that don’t contain them (there are some great plant-based milks out there that are made from pea protein).

We hope you and your kids will enjoy these awesome smoothie bowls, courtesy of Cara Ansis of Fork and Beans! Click here to see the full recipe on the Fork and Beans blog.

 

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Have you ever experienced difficulty in adopting a healthy vegan diet? Have you ever struggled with psychological food issues such as compulsive eating, overeating, or gratuitous snacking?

In her new book, The Mindful Vegan: A 30-Day Plan for Finding Health, Balance, Peace, and Happiness, our friend and certified mindfulness meditation facilitator, award winning health educator, and longtime vegan advocate Lani Muelrath teaches us how to overcome these dietary issues and embrace a long-lasting and healthy plant-based diet through mindfulness meditation.

The book offers practical advice on the following topics and more:

  • How mindfulness can create a more resilient vegan lifestyle.
  • How the convictions of veganism reduce stress and increase happiness.
  • How to navigate conversations with others about eating—and living—vegan.
  • Tried and true mindfulness meditation tactics that lead to a happier, healthier life.

In addition to the above, Lani shared a few recipes from her new book, including one of our own personal favorites, Indian kitchari. Check out the recipe below and let us know what you think!

Indian Kitchari

Makes: 4+ servings

Created by Lani Muelrath, our fragrant Indian kitchari recipe is a perfect recipe for the fall and winter seasons when heavier, warmer foods go a long way towards keeping us grounded and balanced. Kitchari is a traditional Ayurvedic healing food and has been used for thousands of years in India to aid in the practice of yoga, meditation and other mindfulness exercises. Lani’s recipe is simple, authentic and tastes great!

Kitchari is one of our favorite go-to dinner recipes and we eat it regularly throughout the cold season. It uses simple, whole ingredients, a handful of digestive spices, requires very little preparation and just about everyone I know loves it. This is a great dish for when you’re feeling stressed and need something comforting to help bring you back into balance.

A few notes: If your spices are ground and not whole, that works well, too. You can also replace the rice with another ½ cup of dal if you prefer or if you plan to serve over rice instead of mixing it in. Lastly, you can find most, if not all, of the ingredients for this recipe at your local Asian or international food market.

Fragrant and Warming Indian Kitchari (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon whole black mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 cup mung dal
  • ½ cup brown basmati or other brown rice (see note)
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. In a nonstick pot over medium heat, roast mustard seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and turmeric powder until the aromas start to mix and the seeds start to crackle and pop.
  2. Add mung dal and brown basmati rice, and roast lightly with the spices.
  3. Add water, garlic, ginger, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for roughly 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dal and rice are cooked.
  4. Before serving, add lemon juice and salt.
  5. Serve in a bowl or plate over brown rice or other whole grain, with a few sprinkles of fresh chopped cilantro on top and lemon wedges on the side.
https://www.truewellth.org/fragrant-and-warming-indian-kitchari

Enter To Win A Free Copy of The Mindful Vegan

The Mindful Vegan

Learn more about The Mindful Vegan

Lani has been kind enough to provide a copy of The Mindful Vegan to our community, and you can enter to win!

We’ll choose a winner by random drawing on November 30th, 2017.

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Sign up for the email list using the form below. If you are already subscribed, you do NOT have to subscribe again.
  2. Leave a comment below letting us know the following: What is one small change you make to start improving your health? What’s the biggest barrier that prevents you from following through?

*Note: Giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada

 

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Rainbow spring rolls

Rainbow spring rolls

Photo credit: Ingrid DeHart

As we move into cooler fall temperatures here in Colorado, I start to crave heavier, warmer foods. Even so, I feel at my best if I maintain a certain amount of raw food in my diet. These Raw Rainbow Spring Rolls are a fresh and satisfying summer dish filled with colorful, crunchy vegetables, avocado and herbs that can be enjoyed year-round.

Rainbow spring rolls

Photo credit: Ingrid DeHart

Raw spring rolls are popular in southern Asian cuisine and are typically accompanied by a number of different dipping sauces – one light and one spicy. In this particular recipe, which was shared with us by Ingrid DeHart over at Eat Well, Enjoy Life, there is a rich almond butter sauce and a lighter Asian dipping sauce. Feel free to choose just one or try both when making this recipe.

Try using a variety of different vegetables for this dish to let the colorful vegetables shine through. When sliced super thin, the raw yellow beets and red radishes become pliable enough to fold into the roll along with purple cabbage, orange carrots, green sunflowers sprouts and lettuce. You can even add avocado for creaminess and basil for a fresh, herbal flavor.

Ingrid’s spring rolls are gluten-free, peanut-free, and free from refined, white sugar. This recipe is a very clear example of an easy-to-prepare raw food dish that can carry you all the way through the winter season due to the heavy, warming nature of the dipping sauces. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Rainbow spring rolls

Photo credit: Ingrid DeHart

Makes: 12 rolls, 4 servings

Preparation time is estimated at 20 to 30 minutes from beginning to end.

This is a great raw food recipe for when you’re short on time and attracts a lot of attention at communal meals due to the bright, varied colors of the rolls.

The first one you roll may not be perfect, but once you get the hang of it they come out beautifully. Be sure to spread the vegetables out wide enough so that your spring rolls are about 3 1/2 inches wide after they are rolled up. The rice paper is sticky enough to hold together once rolled.

Expert tip: Prepare your sauce first to let the flavors develop while you cut the vegetables. When laying out the vegetables, layer different ones on the bottom to give variety in the final appearance. Serve the rolls with one or both dipping sauces.

Raw Rainbow Spring Rolls (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

  • Almond Dipping Sauce
  •  
  • ½ cup almond butter
  • 3 tablespoons wheat free soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1-2 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 1 serrano chili or thai chili, stemmed and thinly sliced (optional)
  •  
  • Asian Dipping Sauce
  •  
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons wheat free soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut sugar
  • 1 scallion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 serrano chile, stemmed and very thinly sliced (optional)
  •  
  • Vegetable Rolls
  •  
  • 1 yellow beet, scrubbed and very thinly sliced
  • 2 radishes, very thinly sliced
  • 2 large carrots, julienned or shredded
  • 2 cups purple cabbage, very thinly sliced
  • 1 ½ cups sunflower sprouts or other sprouts
  • 4 lettuce leaves, torn
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • 24 small basil leaves
  • 12 Vietnamese spring roll rice wrappers

Instructions

  1. For the almond and asian dipping sauces, combine all ingredients in two separate medium bowls and whisk until smooth, then transfer to a serving dish.
  2. For the vegetable rolls, first prepare the vegetables. Slice the beets and radishes very thin (a mandoline is very helpful here). Julienne the carrots, thinly slice the cabbage, tear the lettuce and thinly slice the avocado. Put all the vegetables into separate bowls.
  3. Fill a large shallow bowl with hot water.
  4. Soak 1 rice paper wrapper at a time in the water for 20 seconds until just pliable.
  5. Spread the wrapper on a work surface. Put some of the beets, cabbage, sprouts, lettuce, avocado and basil in the middle.
  6. Fold the sides inward and tightly roll the wrapper up round the filling.
  7. Serve with rolls with the dipping sauce.
https://www.truewellth.org/raw-rainbow-spring-rolls-vegan-gluten-free
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