The Easiest Homemade Apple Chips
An apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon has been a go-to snack of mine for decades. It’s my standby, but I’m gifting you my second-fave version, since sometimes you just need a little variety: apple chips. I’m sure there are plenty of formal recipes out there, but once you get the idea of how to make these munchy bad boys, you won’t need one. And once you hop on the homemade chip bandwagon, you won’t stop at apple chips. There’s beet chips, zucchini chips, and kale chips…your oven doesn’t discriminate. But today, I’m passing on some pomme-love to you, so go green, go red, go Gala or Granny, the choices are endless. Easy Homemade Apple Chips Here’s what you need: Apples (they’re loaded with fiber, pectin, and antioxidants, and include cardiovascular and cancer-fighting properties) Cinnamon (properties in this spice are linked to brain-boosting benefits, decreasing inflammation, cancer-fighting, blood sugar control, and more) Optional: turbinado sugar, nutmeg, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice Here’s what you do: Preheat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Core a few apples. Slice ‘em as thin as possible into rounds. Watch your fingertips, you’ll need them later. If you have a mandolin, it does work beautifully here. Lay your lovely apple slices as close together as possible on a cookie sheet, but do not let them overlap. A Silpat liner or a quick mist of coconut oil may be needed to keep your apple chips from sticking. Sprinkle with cinnamon, coating lightly. You can sprinkle optional ingredients here, too, but go lightly. A heavy hand isn’t necessary. Bake for 45 minutes and then flip them over. Bake another 20 minutes and check for crispy perfection. They should be crisp and browned, but watch them carefully so they don’t burn or stick! Now enjoy! Store these eats in an airtight container so you can enjoy them for a couple of days. Bring them to the movies. Stick them in your kids’ lunchboxes. Pull a container out after the gym. I’m not ashamed to say that I brought them as a gift for a recent dinner host (Paleo-friendly, check. Vegan, check. Gluten-free, check.) And my kids actually ask to share them with their teammates after soccer games. (Nut free, check).
The Easiest, Healthiest, Homemade Fathers Day Dinner
Father’s day is coming up and I can’t wait to celebrate the Dads I know and love. I always feel warm and fuzzy when I catch a man in a moment of parenting. I turn to mush every time I see a father cut his child’s food or handle a scraped knee with the kind of empathy only a Dad could give. Tempting as it is to succumb to honoring dad with a 1950’s style Father’s Day, this year I want you to avoid buying the giant steak, 12 pack of beer, trough of potato salad and dad’s dream dessert. You can bring back the “Father knows best” sentiment and honor him with a manly fathers day dinner that also shows you care about his health and plan to celebrate many more Father’s Days together. We don’t like to discuss it, but as men age and their testosterone levels decrease; their risks of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer increases. Diet and lifestyle plays a huge role in preventing dad from getting these cooties. Play a round of golf with him, take a long walk or help him in the yard, and then make him a meal that is as good for him as it tastes. Here’s what to make dad for a manly, healthy, delicious fathers day dinner: Hearts of Palm and Artichoke Salad Get the Recipe If you know me at all, you know I adore artichokes. They are full of antioxidants, are high in heart healthy and colon cleansing fiber, great for the liver, protective of the heart and improve digestion. Eat them. Hearts of Palm are also a fave of mine. They’re full of iron and calcium and low in calories. Roasted Pork Tenderloin Get the Recipe Pork tenderloin is a super lean cut of meat that cooks simply and quickly and is reliably delicious. Spicy Potato Salad Get the Recipe Red potatoes aren’t just an aesthetic whim for the nutritional artiste. They contain anthocyanins, pigments that act as antioxidants, which are great at fighting cancer. Carefully Creamed Spinach Get the Recipe Iron rich and full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, what’s not to love when it comes to spinach? Spiked Berries and Cream Get the Recipe Lower in sugar than most fruits, full of antioxidants and fiber, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries are a perfect way to finish a meal. Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there! I hope you enjoy your easy, healthy, manly Fathers Day Meal and feel well celebrated this year.
How Do Sakara’s Whitney + Danielle Live a Nutritious Life?
Sakara co-founders Whitney Tingle and Danielle DuBoise grew up together in Sedona, Arizona, where they were exposed to the benefits of natural eating and holistic health from an early age. (They were definitely not eating Stouffer’s Macaroni & Cheese like I was!) Danielle’s expertise in holistic nutrition, chemistry, and anthropology allowed her to think outside the box when it came to food and well being. As a former model and actress, her experience with body image, roller-coaster diets, and mind-body disconnection inspired her to create a food system that empowered her to make loving, healthy choices a lifestyle, not a diet. Whitney knows what it takes to fight for health in a stressful environment, since she was working on Wall Street when she realized her true passion was to share her love of health with the financiers who desperately needed her help. She had gained 15 pounds working in the corporate office and was struggling with cystic acne. And when her dermatologist suggested that she do a second round of Accutane, she decided there had to be a better way. Whitney turned to her BFF, Danielle, to partner and create a meal plan that allowed her to drop the weight and clear her skin while maintaining her busy lifestyle. They were then ready to share their secrets with the world and made the Sakara food program available for delivery. All you need to do is chat with these smart beauties for two minutes to “get” why they are now killin’ it as the founders of one of the most popular healthy food programs available. (Sakara is an insider secret among models and celebrities in New York City and Los Angeles, FYI.) Keep reading, below, to find out how these ladies live their own Nutritious Lives. How do you DRINK UP? D: By drinking pretty! I love our morning water which is made with alkaline water, pure rose oil, and trace minerals. W: We developed morning and night waters because we could feel that our bodies were missing the minerals they were used to getting in the water we drank when we grew up. Our waters contain 72 trace minerals and I feel the difference in my body when I drink it, versus not drinking it. How do you EAT EMPOWERED? D: By knowing what it feels like to eat good food. Food is meant to be nourishment and food should make you feel sexy! W: When you fill your body with good foods most of the time, you don’t have to worry about being out to dinner and what you are going to eat. This gives you the freedom to be present with your company and to indulge! How do you LIVE CONSCIOUSLY? D: I am disorganized! But I call it creative chaos and I try not to judge my own “messiness.” W: I only buy things I absolutely love so it’s hard to get rid of anything because anything I have I love, and I have an emotional connection to it, but this also makes me not wasteful. How do you LOVE MORE? D: Whitney taught me this one: to understand that everyone is doing their best. Life is a process and we all have our own path. By understanding this you can come at everything from a loving place. W: Daniele taught me this one: to be vulnerable. Fall into yourself and let your wall down. You then show your soul and have the right energy to tap into others. How do you NURTURE YOURSELF? D: I take mineral soaks for detoxifying. This forces you to relax! W: I get special facials at the Ash Center that really work the muscles and tissues. How do you SLEEP DEEP? D: I always try to fall asleep thinking beautiful thoughts. W: I create a space that imitates nature. Dark and quiet. Which isn’t the easiest to do in New York City, but blackout curtains and eye masks help. How do you STRESS LESS? D: I believe having a morning ritual is important. My fiance and I start the day with kisses and a deep breath together. W: I like to find time to disconnect from technology in order to connect to the moment that I’m in and the people that I’m with. How do you SWEAT OFTEN? D: I think everyone should know the why behind what they are doing. The why motivates us and keeps us mindful of our actions, in exercise and elsewhere. W: We incorporate exercise into our lives by doing things like hosting class in our space with some of our favorite instructors. Recipe: Sakara Power Smoothie 8 oz almond milk 1 frozen banana 1⁄2 cup frozen strawberries 1 Tbsp. hemp seeds 1⁄2 tsp vanilla extract 1/8 tsp Maca powder Dash pink Himalayan salt Instructions Combine all the ingredients in a high-speed blender. Blend on high until smooth and serve immediately.
Avocado Egg Recipes to Make NOW!
When asked about foods I eat every day, (I actually do get asked this quite often), I always list avocado. When it comes to how and when I eat avocado the answer is “anytime, anyway and any place!” The egg-in-avocado concept is something that makes me very excited. No joking here. If you don’t get into this, I’m telling you you’re seriously missin’ out. Having tried it for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner, I can tell you that it’s quite possibly the best invention ever. {Tweet this!} I love a no-brainer way for you to pull it off without breaking out the measuring spoons. 2 simple ingredients, 2 minutes prep time, and limitless ways to rebrand this plate of deliciousness. It’s uber easy. Try it my favorite ways, and you’ll be fishing for an avocado every day too. Here’s what you do: Preheat your oven to 425͒F (yes, you can do it in the toaster oven!) Split an avocado in half and ditch the pit. Scoop out a little bit of the avocado’s center – about a tablespoon – and save it, or shove it in your mouth. Crack an egg right into the center of the avocado and place it in an oven safe dish (you don’t want it to wobble, so choose the tightest fit you can find.) Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, depending on how well cooked you like your egg. Top with fresh herbs and a sprinkle of fleur de sel. Vary it up: My favorite way to eat this masterpiece is scooped out onto a slice of a new fave on the shelves, Dave’s Killer Bread. The Blues Bread version has incredible cornmeal action going on. Toasted, with a smear of coconut oil and the scooped out avocado slathered all over the top and some salsa fresca, it competes with huevos rancheros any day. If you’re entertaining, serve it alongside a frisee salad with citrus slices. Brunch is served. Eggs for dinner? You bet. Put my avocado addiction over a pile ‘o white beans, chili or quinoa and a little shot of sriracha. Cha cha cha! Lookin’ to impress? Go ahead and top that avocado masterpiece with a little smoked salmon and a spoonful of caviar, then serve it with endive and radicchio leaves. Brilliant, I know! You are more than welcome.
Easy Broccoli Soup for Thanksgiving
By: Jennifer Amato, RD As Thanksgiving approaches we might feel ourselves getting swept into a frenzy of elaborate meal planning, too-many-to count trips to the grocery store in search of the perfect ingredients, prep-work, dovetailing, and anxiety over our finished products as we carefully pull them out of the oven. The list of stress-inducing tasks could go on forever. Even if you are not hosting Thanksgiving or preparing any dishes for the occasion, the journey to be with family on the busiest travel day of the year, the onslaught of super-rich food, and really all the excess can be too much to handle. In such chaotic times, stopping to catch your breath and reflecting on the true meaning of Thanksgiving can do wonders. Isn’t Thanksgiving about acknowledging all the things in our life for which we are thankful and spending time with our loved ones? The simple things in life such as the comfort and the support we feel from our family is a gift. The simple things in life are the best things. When I think of simplicity, I often think of my grandmother’s broccoli soup. My grandmother is of Sicilian descent, feisty and healthy as ever, and celebrated her 94th birthday this past summer. She prepared this soup for me, my siblings, and my cousins when we were children. Now I serve it to my family and we all marvel in how simple yet flavorful and nourishing it is. I don’t think she realizes how much of a gift her soup is to me. Here is how I was taught to prepare it: Empty a box or bag of frozen broccoli spears into a pot and cover with water. Add some olive oil (about a tablespoon), and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then simmer for a few minutes until the broccoli is tender. That is it! My grandmother would pour the soup over a small serving of cooked pasta, but more nutrient-dense options could be cooked quinoa or brown rice – just as yummy! I can remember my grandmother insisting I drink the broth. “That is the best part! Don’t let it go to waste!” She was right. While the broccoli will provide you with fiber, the broth is nutrient-rich with vitamin C and several B vitamins that are leached from the broccoli during the boiling process. Not that I needed much convincing to drink the broth…I found it to be delectable and soothing. So during times when we feel as though we need to slow down and take a deep breath, let’s return to the simple things in life…perhaps a recipe passed down from family such as my grandmother’s broccoli soup. Flavorful, nutritious, and delightfully simple. That is the beauty! About Jennifer: Jennifer was born and raised in New Orleans, but she’s been a NYC resident since 2000. She is a registered dietitian and worked as an RD at the VA in New Orleans as a renal dietitian. After moving to NYC, she worked at the Brooklyn VA where her focus was oncology. She is currently a stay-at-home mother and training for the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon (which she hopes to have successfully run by the time this goes live!).
3 Deliciously Healthy Fruit Desserts
When your sweet tooth is calling and you’re torn between making healthful choices and your uncontrollable urge for a “treat”, delicious and easy fruit desserts can appease the angel and the devil on your shoulders. While it is possible to remind you of all the health benefits in each of these fruit desserts, sometimes it is best to see your sweet treat for what it is: an indulgence. In this case, one with some benefits. Pat yourself on the back when you choose one of these fruity pleasures, knowing that you made a healthful and delicious choice. Rock your palate’s world – you’ll never be happier getting a serving of fruit in! 3 of my most favorite, delicious, easy fruit desserts: Delicate Poached Pears Dessert made in a crockpot? Yep! What could be easier? Get the Recipe Broiled Grapefruit Satisfy your sweet tooth in 5 minutes…you’re welcome. Get the Recipe Perfect Pumpkin Custard Portion controlled and delicious – the perfect pair. Get the Recipe So long mixed feelings about having dessert! Bon appetite!
