All tagged Heart Health

Chopped Kale Salad with Creamy Goat Cheese, Apple, and Pumpkin Seeds

This Chopped Kale Salad with Creamy Goat Cheese, Apple, and Pumpkin Seeds is both beautiful and so quick and easy to make. If you don’t eat a lot of salad, a solution is to chop the salad greens into very small pieces- the greens become more tender and you get to savor the salad toppings (sweet apple, pear, crunchy pumpkin seeds, and creamy goat cheese) with every bite!

Light and Fluffy Zucchini Bread

This Light and Fluffy Zucchini Bread is just that- incredibly light and fluffy, almost like a sponge cake! Traditional recipes call for a lot of oil and sugar, but this recipe subs in apple sauce for most of the oil, and cuts down on the sugar, while still creating a moist and sweet bread. The hint of lemon juice and zest adds a nice brightness, and a slice (or two or three) is delicious warm with butter or a slather of almond butter. Meal prep these loafs for quick and easy breakfasts, snacks, or even dessert to enjoy throughout the week 😊

Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley (Vegan, GF)

Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley is the perfect meal prep dip that can last 3-4 days in the fridge.  It’s highly versatile, too!  Serve with your favorite veggies on a crudité platter, spread on a sandwich, or even dress a salad with it.  And what’s even better is that Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley get whipped up in a blender or food processor in 30 seconds 😊

Serves: 6

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 0 minutes

What (your ingredients):

½ hemp seeds

¼ cup water

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons fresh dill

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

How (your directions):

Add all ingredients to a blender or small food processor, and blend on high for about 30 seconds.

Serve with your favorite veggies, as a salad dressing, or even spread on your next sandwich!

Why (the science):  Hemp hearts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are a heart-healthy fat that can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.  Omega-3’s are also important for healthy brain development!

Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding Parfait

Chia seed pudding is an excellent meal prep recipe, as it lasts in the fridge for 5 days!  The Strawberry Sauce is delicious layered with the chia seed pudding, and can also be stirred into yogurt (or poured over ice cream (shh I won’t tell!). Cheers to a breakfast that you can make in advance, grab and go, enjoy as a dessert, or devour as a midafternoon snack 😊

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes (+ soaking overnight)

Cooking time: 0 minutes

What (your ingredients):

Chia Seed Pudding:

½ cup chia seeds

2 cups almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Strawberry Sauce:

8 oz. strawberries

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of ½ lemon

How (your directions):

In a large bowl, add chia seeds, almond milk, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup.  Whisk immediately, then allow to sit 5 minutes.

Whisk chia mixture once more, then cover and refrigerate overnight.

To make the strawberry sauce, simply add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.

To assemble, create layers of chia pudding and strawberry sauce.  Garnish with additional sliced strawberries.

Why (the science):  Chia seeds are incredibly high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, so they’re great for both digestion and heart health.

Creamy Buckwheat Porridge | Vegan, GF |

Creamy Buckwheat Porridge is a no-fuss, gluten-free breakfast made quickly in a blender.  Think of it as an exciting alternative to overnight oats!  Simply soak the buckwheat to soften this pseudocereal, then blend with oatmeal and chia seeds.  Creamy Buckwheat Porridge is a great meal prep breakfast, too- just fill a few glass jars, top with your favorite fruits and nuts, and grab-and-go.  Buckwheat helps prevent blood sugar spikes, so you won’t feel an energy crash after this naturally sweet breakfast. 

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes (then allow to soak 4 hours or overnight)

Cooking time: 0 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 cup buckwheat groats, soaked 4 hours or overnight in water

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 pear, roughly chopped

1 ½ cups oat milk

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Toppings: sliced kiwi, blackberries, sliced almonds, or any fruit and nut of choice

How (your directions):

Begin by submerging and soaking 1 cup of buckwheat groats in water for 4 hours or overnight.

Once soaked, drain and rinse buckwheat. 

Add buckwheat, cinnamon, pear, oat milk, and chia seeds to a blender.

Blend on high for 60 seconds until smooth.

Spoon smooth porridge into 4 glass jars, then top with your favorite fruit, nuts, and seeds.

Enjoy immediately or refrigerate and enjoy throughout the week.

Why (the science):  Buckwheat contains the antioxidant, rutin, which helps reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure.