One of my intentions for the month of March is to eat fewer processed foods in exchange more nutritious ones. I compiled 5 recipes that are tried-and-true nutritious staples. I’ve included the links to the recipes — as well as my own spins on them — below. Enjoy!
1. Seed Cycling Energy Bites For Hormone Balance from Well-Fed Soul
I’ve always loved making raw desserts, dating back to my early college years. The bases are usually composed of dried fruits (often dates), nuts (like almonds, cashews, or hazelnuts), and yummy nut butter. This recipe, however, uses seeds in its base — specifically to support hormone balance. There are two recipes included in the post: one for the follicular phase of your menstrual cycle (the first 14 days) and one for the luteal phase (last 14 days). I love that these desserts are packed with nutrients and also support my hormonal balance throughout the month (oh, and that they satisfy my sweet tooth, too!).
2. Almond Pad Thai with Shirataki Noodles from Kelly Leveque
I was weary of this recipe when I first found it in Kelly Leveque’s book Body Love Everyday but, after giving it a chance, I found that the flavor and textures in this dish didn’t disappoint! The most ‘out there’ ingredient is the Miracle Noodles, which are made from Shirataki mushrooms and contain 20 calories and 6 g of carbs! While they are not nutrient-dense, the other veggies and nuts are. I LOVE this recipe and highly recommend giving it a try before you knock it.
3. Green Goddess Quesadillas from HelloVeggie
Okay, this recipe is AMAZING! The green goddess pesto-like sauce is chock full of greens and nuts, making it a nutritious but delicious addition to your weekly Mexican night. To make this recipe even ‘healthier,’ you could always swap the spinach tortilla for a low-carb version (like almond flour tortillas). The tangy lemon comes through in every bite and the cashews give the quesadilla a little texture, too! These quesadillas are truly to die for.
4. Red Pepper Pasta With Roasted Cauliflower from Pinch of Yum
This is a great recipe to try if you’re a pasta lover like me! By adding cauliflower, you nix your pasta consumption in half without losing the flavor. I also like to replace the whole-wheat pasta with Banza pasta for a lower-carb option. The creamy sauce is THE signature part of this recipe — the roasted red peppers create a complex, dynamic flavor; the cashews provide nutrients rather than heaviness to create a dairy-free creaminess. It is the perfect recipe to help satisfy those comfort-food cravings.
5. Egg Muffins from @_mindfuelness_coachinez
This is a recipe I got from one of my former pilates instructors (her instagram is #healthgoals). The recipe is in her instagram post linked in the title above. It’s simple but delicious and easy to make — I probably make these egg muffins at least once a month if not more! Simply crack an egg into each pocket of a muffin tin, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and onion to each egg, and top with sprouts/micro-greens, salt, and lemon pepper! The vinegar actually gives the eggs a lovely tangy-ness that makes them so tasty! I usually have 2 muffins and feel full for the rest of the morning. I would encourage you to add as many veggies as you’d like (I bet peppers would taste amazing!) and figure out how to make them your own.
Emma E. Bryant 