Crunchy Coconut Granola

Crunchy, a little sweet and super nutritious. Homemade granola is simple to make and super delicious! This is one of my favorite things to make on the weekend. Here is the recipe for crunchy coconut granola. Loaded with chia seeds, coconut, extra light olive oil to provide a hefty dose of healthy fats and fiber to keep you full all morning. Try mixing in different fruits for different flavors. I used a few dates this time but using freeze dried fruit to mix in at the end is also a great way to add flavor and be histamine friendly.

Crunchy Coconut Granola

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

4C rolled oats

1/4C chia seeds

1C shredded coconut (no sugar or preservatives)

1/3C extra light olive oil

1/3C maple syrup

pinch of salt

1C dates chopped small or 1C freeze dried fruit

  1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl except the fruit.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper.

  3. Put granola on parchment in an even layer. Bake for about 20 minutes stirring halfway through baking. Then add the fruit, mix in and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the granola is golden. Serve with your milk of choice!

    Store in airtight containers for up to 1 week or freeze in containers.

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Lighten Up the Holidays!

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Winter Cabbage Cranberry Salad (Recipe Below)

Winter Cabbage Cranberry Salad (Recipe Below)

Do you ever worry about weight gain during the holidays? Not only is it a busy time of year but food tends to be everywhere. Parties, holiday meals and food gifts can make it challenging. I have a few tips that can be helpful for managing this holiday season while eating great and taking care of your body too.

  1. Eat Mindfully

    This means you can have bites of some treat foods, just don’t go overboard. Don’t munch on snacks at a party if you are not hungry, but if you are hungry have a sensible portion.

  2. Walk More

    Many of us overeat when we have a holiday meal or party. The food is just so good! Walking helps to reduce blood sugar levels and improves digestion.

  3. Change up the Meal

    Many holiday foods are healthy, some others just need to be tweaked! Check out the recipe for mushroom and onion green beans a mock up of green bean casserole that is only 75 calories per serving vs. the traditional 200 calories per serving. Using mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes can also save you over 100 calories per 1 cup serving. We know that plant foods are better for us so load up on the veggie sides!

  4. Go Easy on the Carbs

    It is so easy to load up on potatoes, rolls, stuffing and then 1-2 pieces of pie. Try picking fewer carby sides with your turkey and veggies, so you can save more carb room in your day for a good slice of pie! Aim for 1/4 plate of starchy sides to save room for pie. Moderation never tasted so good. Try the winter cabbage cranberry salad (recipe below) as another veggie side that provides a nice crunchy bite and cranberry flavor.

  5. Eat Pie

    Treat foods are soul foods in my mind. They are delicious make us happy and are an important part of the holiday season. Eat mindfully, a reasonable portion and enjoy without guilt.

Enjoy these recipes on your holiday table this year!

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Mushroom and Onion Green Beans

Makes 6, 1 cup servings

Ingredients:

4C fresh or frozen green beans prepared

1 large onion sliced

1 clove minced garlic

1C sliced white mushrooms

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 Tbs butter or vegan butter spread

1 Tbs olive oil

 

1.    Combine olive oil, green beans, onion, mushrooms, salt and pepper in a skillet over medium heat. Sautee until onions are golden, green beans and mushrooms are cooked. In the last few minutes of cooking add butter to create a creamy sauce and serve.

 

Winter Cabbage Cranberry Salad

 

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 small head of shredded green cabbage

1C dried cranberries

1 small head of shredded purple cabbage

1/2C slivered almonds or pumpkin seeds

 

Dressing:

2 Tbs maple syrup

1/4C olive oil

Pinch of salt

2 Tbs cranberry juice (unsweetened)

 

1.Add all salad ingredients into a bowl.

2. Toss dressing in a separate bowl and toss to coat salad. Serve immediately.

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5 Foods to Eat Every Day

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Let’s aim to eat well every day. There are a few foods that if you can get in daily you will be able to give your body a mega antioxidant boost. The foods below will boost your antioxidant and vitamin intake while reducing your inflammation. These foods are affordable, and good to stock up so you can encourage healthy eating without requiring that extra grocery store or specialty shop trip. Try the prep ahead smoothie kits below!

Berries & Cherries

These fruits are rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. They are also rich in fiber and spike your blood sugar less than other fruits.

Tip: Try frozen berries in smoothies or overnight oats if fresh berries are too expensive or are not in season. Also try picking a bunch of berries next berry season and freeze to use throughout the year!

Leafy Greens Like Kale, Mixed Greens & Chard

Deep dark greens are high in antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber.

Tip: Chop up any green and sautée to reduce down. Add reduced greens to meatballs or meatloaf to hide some more greens (from your kids) and add some more greens to your day. Add a handful of greens to your morning smoothie for an extra morning boost.

Complex Carbs: Oats, Brown rice & Quinoa

These whole grains are rich in soluble fiber, complex carbohydrates and B vitamins. Don’t be afraid of good carbs!

Tip: Cook up a large batch of quinoa or brown rice and freeze in single serve 1 cup portions. This is a mega time saver and can be the base for many dishes.

Root Veggies: Sweet potatoes, carrots & winter squash

Deep orange foods give us huge boosts of vitamin A, fiber, and complex carbohydrates.

Tip: Keep these veggies on hand, they don’t rot quickly like lettuce and cucumbers so you can always have one of these staples available even when your pantry is bare.

Ginger

This root is a wonderful anti-inflammatory agent and can be eaten in many forms. Try in tea, shredded into vegetable dishes, rice dishes or even egg dishes.

Tip: Pre-grate some ginger and keep it in a closed container in the refrigerator. Use a microplane grater to break up the tough root.

Prep Your Own Breakfast Smoothie Kits!

Makes 1 smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 C greens

1C frozen berries

1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger

1 Tbs chia seed

1C milk of choices or water

1/4C oats

Add greens, berries, ginger, oats, chia seed to freezer safe bags. Make 3-4 of these if desired to keep in the freezer. Simply add to a blender with 1C milk of choice in the morning for a quick breakfast on the go with some serious anti-inflammatory power.


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Quercetin: An Anti-inflammatory and histamine Lowering Flavonoid

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The old adage eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away, has some truth to it. Apples are not only a delicious fall favorite, but are also rich sources of vitamin C and this weeks featured flavonoid - quercetin. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid with high antioxidant action and also acts as a mast cell stabilizing compound.  Not an apple person?  Other food sources with high levels of quercetin are berries, grapes and onion.  

What is a mast cell stabilizing compound and why should we want to eat bioflavonoid heavy foods?  Some individuals with histamine intolerance or mast cell activation syndrome have overactive mast cells which can increase a variety of symptoms that are affected by the release of histamine and inflammatory molecules. Symptoms can include allergies, eczema, atopic dermatitis, interstitial cystitis, migraines, flushing, acid reflux, and diarrhea among many other possible symptoms.

Flavonoids have been shown to prevent some allergies and reduce allergy symptoms.(1)  For histamine intolerant individuals, quercetin has been found to stabilize mast cells and lower histamine, prostaglandins and cytokine release, equal to, if not better than, the common mast cell stabilizing medication called cromolyn sodium (a commonly prescribed medication for individuals with mast cell activation syndrome).(1)  Quercetin works as an anti-inflammatory compound by reducing release of inflammatory enzymes cyclooxyrgenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX).(2) In other experimental studies quercetin has been shown to reduce asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms (sneezing, sniffling).  In one study, it was found that individuals who ate just two apples each week, had a lower incidence of asthma because of their quercetin intake.(3)

To make sure you eat at least two apples this week, try making this fall harvest buddha bowl!  Rosemary roasted chickpeas, roasted apples, onions, sweet potatoes and beets creates a warm flavonoid rich meal to help lower inflammation.  The recipe below makes 4 portions, so I made one bowl for me and froze three servings for the weekday lunches. The oven does all the work so it is quick and easy to prepare.  The roasted apples and sweet potatoes provide a delicate sweetness to this filling bowl. For more antioxidant rich meals, pre-order The Anti-Inflammatory Kitchen Cookbook, coming out February 2019.

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Fall Harvest Buddha Bowl

Makes 4 servings

Time: 45 minutes (including roasting time)

Ingredients:

1C dry quinoa

1 sweet potato

1 large golden beet or 2 small

2 apples

2 Tbs olive oil

1 large red onion

1 sprig of rosemary

1C chickpeas

pinch of salt

1. Add 2C of water to quinoa in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil with the lid on. Once it is boiling drop heat to low and let it simmer until all the liquid is absorbed about 20 minutes. Set aside.

2. Meanwhile, slice beets, sweet potatoes, onions, apples into 1/3 inch pieces. Drizzle 1 Tbs of olive oil on the sheet pan and lay vegetables and apples on in a single layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown and tender.

3. While the vegetables are cooking, toss the chickpeas in 1 Tbs of olive oil, and add about 1 Tbs of chopped rosemary and a pinch of salt. Spread evenly onto a sheet pan and bake for about 15 minutes until golden. Set aside.

4. Assemble your buddha bowl! Add quinoa, veggies, and chickpeas. With another pinch of salt over the top or a drizzle of olive oil you are ready to eat.

Sources:

1.Zuyi, W, Bodi, Z, et al. Quercetin Is More Effective than Cromolyn in Blocking Human Mast Cell Cytokine Release and Inhibits Contact Dermatitis and Photosensitivity in Humans. Plos One. 2012. 7(3) e33805.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3314669/

2. Yao, Li, Jailing, Y, et al. Quercetin, Inflammation and Immunity. Nutrients. 2016. 8(3): 167.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808895/

3. Mickek J, Jurikova, T, et al. Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules. 2016; 21(5): 623.

http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/21/5/623/htm

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Veggies for Breakfast!

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When people think of breakfast, most people think of grains, dairy and maybe some fruit. However, breakfast can also be a great meal to sneak some veggies into the very beginning of your day. You should aim to consume at least 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, because fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients and inflammation busting antioxidants which will help reduce inflammation.

I like to eat as many colored vegetables and fruits as I can each day to get the most variety in taste and in nutrients. Each different colored fruit or vegetable yields a different phytonutrient. For example, orange veggies, that I feature today, like sweet potatoes, squash or pumpkin contain betacarotene, fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. All of these nutrients help to keep your immune system strong and skin healthy, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk for colon cancer, asthma and heart disease.  

Competing to see who can eat the most different colors is also a good way to challenge kids to get more veggies into their day. Have a list of veggies by color and see who can get more colors in their diet each day. It is easier than you think. To help you get started, here are two of my favorite veggie breakfast options that are low in histamine, high in antioxidants and of course orange! Using squash or sweet potatoes are a great option since they are high in nutrients and naturally sweet.

Vanilla Squash Oatmeal: Perfect for Fall!

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 C Oats

  • 1/4C pumpkin or squash puree

  • maple syrup to taste

  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

  • 3/4C milk of choice

  • Simply combine oats, pumpkin or squash puree, milk of choice, vanilla extract and maple syrup. Microwave for 3 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and oats are tender.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Carrots with Fried Eggs

Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 1 large sweet potato, diced

  • 1 onion, diced

  • 2 carrots cut into 1/4 inch pieces

  • 2 Tbs olive oil

  • pinch of salt

  • 4 eggs

  • Roast sweet potatoes, onion, carrots tossed with olive oil and salt at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Then fry up eggs and serve over veggies.

Tip: Make a large pan on the weekend and freeze up single portions and just reheat during a busy weekday morning.

For more amazing high nutrient recipes pre-order The Anti-Inflammatory Kitchen Cookbook!