healthy

healthy recipes

Paleo Pasta Alternative: Zucchini Noodles

A grain-free life does not have to be free of comfort food!

A grain-free life does not have to be free of comfort food! When you're craving a big bowl of garlicky pasta, cook up these zucchini noodles aglio et olio (garlic and oil) instead. The real comfort here, other than that fragrant garlic, comes from "breadcrumbs" created from toasted almond meal; I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed their flavor and texture.

Keep reading for this protein-packed, Paleo-friendly recipe for pasta.

recipes

Off the Bookshelf: Quinoa Salad With Cherries and Feta

At the mere mention the word "picnic," my ears perk up.

At the mere mention the word "picnic," my ears perk up. So when I was flipping through Heather Christo's Generous Table and came across a menu plan for a lakeshore picnic, I knew I'd have to make at least one recipe from her spread. Add an early and bountiful cherry season to the mix — my local farmers market suddenly became overrun with them last week — and it was settled. Quinoa salad with cherries and feta would make it to my table, and soon.

Thankfully, Christo's palate is spot-on. Juicy cherries play off salty feta like old friends. Add grassy parsley, sharp minced shallot, and nutty toasted almonds to the mix, and the result is a hearty grain-based salad perfect for picnics, brown-bag lunches, or just because. As long as cherries keep finding their way into my farmers market tote, this delightful dish will be on my table.

Get the fast and fruity recipe.

Cooking Basics

10 Tricks For Better Fruit Salads

It may seem as though there's not much to a fruit salad other than tossing chopped fruit in a bowl, but a few simple tricks transform a flat fruit salad into something enticing to the eye and pleasing to the palate.
How to Make a Really Good Fruit Salad

It may seem as though there's not much to a fruit salad other than tossing chopped fruit in a bowl, but a few simple tricks transform a flat fruit salad into something enticing to the eye and pleasing to the palate. From picking fruit with the same level of ripeness to spritzing fruit with lemon juice, these 10 tricks will help you make better fruit salads all year round.

Source: Shutterstock
sleep

Say Goodbye to Ambien! Sweet Greens Sleepy-Time Juice

If you're having trouble falling asleep at night, skip the sleeping pills for this nutrient-rich juice instead.

If you're having trouble falling asleep at night, skip the sleeping pills for this nutrient-rich juice instead. Neka Pasquale, founder of Urban Remedy, developed this recipe using ingredients known for having calming properties on the body. The result is a bright and balanced green juice that would taste good whatever the time of day! Here's how each ingredient adds to the overall effect of Neka's natural sleep aid:

  • Celery juice: Neka says celery juice contains essential oils that have a "calming effect on the nervous system," which can help the body unwind. "It also contains a high level of magnesium, which promotes muscle relaxation and a sense of well-being."
  • Watercress and romaine: Both of these ingredients are high in calcium, which, like magnesium, can help the body relax after a long day.
  • Lemon and orange: The citrus in this recipe contain inositol, which Neka says can help enhance REM sleep. In small studies, inositol has also been shown to calm anxiety, which may be especially helpful if stress keeps you up at night.

But juice alone is not a cure-all to restless nights; taking care of the body is key, Neka says. "Get yourself in bed around 10 p.m., as this is the body's natural resting time. Even if you're not ready to fall asleep, lay down and read a book or listen to music. It's the act of putting the body in a resting position that's most important!”

See Neka's recipe for sweet green sleep juice after the break!

recipes

Go Greek With This Salad

I liked but never loved Greek salads until I tried them in Greece.

I liked but never loved Greek salads until I tried them in Greece. At the height of Summer, even the red onions are so sweet and tame, I could eat chunks of them like apples. I never met a mealy nor sour tomato, just tomatoes so ripe they didn't even need a sprinkle of salt to draw out their perfect flavor. And the feta. Can we stop a second to describe the crumbly, umami-filled feta, sliced ever-so-thinly and sprinkled with the most fragrant oregano that I can't help but imagine the restaurants plucked it from their backyard bushes?

While it has been four years since my last visit to Greece, the memories linger vehemently. I've tried my best to re-create and somewhat American-ize the recipe, so you can enjoy the salad at home.

cooking tips

Tips For Making a Stunning Salad

Photo: Nicole Perry When building salads, it's far too easy to get stuck in a rut.

Photo: Nicole Perry

When building salads, it's far too easy to get stuck in a rut. You know what works, buy the same ingredients, and inevitably eat green leaf lettuce with black olives, sliced tomatoes, and shredded carrots everyday. However, with a little creativity and an open mind at the grocery store, you can enjoy a fabulous variety of healthful yet crave-worthy salads on a regular basis. To get inspired, take a walk around the produce section and be inspired by the vegetables and fruits you come across. Try a new lettuce or pick up a veggie you're unfamiliar with. Just remember: from crunchy to creamy to crispy, a good salad has an assortment of textures (and colors). Here are a few ways to shake things up in the salad department.

Photo: Camilla Salem

Filling Proteins

  • Think beyond grilled chicken: Sliced steak, chunks of pork, and flaked fish are excellent additions. Deli meats, like salami, ham, and turkey are easily shreddable, too.
  • Don't forget cheese and nuts:To achieve the aforementioned crunchy and creamy textures, toss in goat or feta cheese and almonds or pine nuts. Hard cheeses, like manchego and parmesan, can be shaved onto the salad, or finely grated into the vinaigrette.
  • Grains are all important: Protein-rich grains like quinoa, brown rice, and barley add vegan heft to greens.
  • Repurpose leftovers: Toss leftover vegetables, grains, and proteins with greens the next day to make a one-of-a-kind salad.

See more salad-making ideas.

healthy recipes

Bikini Detox: Mustard and Collard Greens Soup

Need an energizing, detoxifying meal to go along with your bikini shape-up plan?

Need an energizing, detoxifying meal to go along with your bikini shape-up plan? This blended green detox soup should be on the menu. The main stars, mustard greens and collard greens, are chock-full of nutrients that aid in flushing out toxins in the body, called glucosinolates, which are found in high amounts in mustard greens and collard greens. Both greens are also high in vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and manganese, making this soup an important part of a nutritious diet. At just over 100 calories, it's high in carbs from the vegetables and has a decent amount of fiber and protein; pair it with these filling lunch ideas to stay satisfied.

Get the recipe here.

healthy snacks

Save Your Moola — Make Your Own Dried Mango

A dried mango addiction is no laughing matter to your wallet.

A dried mango addiction is no laughing matter to your wallet. A small container can run you almost $10! That's just insane when a fresh mango costs about $2. Aside from costing too much at the health-food store, some dried mango is made with added sugar or preservatives. Save triply on money, calories, and chemicals by making your own homemade chewy treat.

Keep reading for the simple recipe.

dinner

Spicy Chicken Salad Offers a Tantalizing Taste of Thailand

If you're not yet acquainted with larb, a Thai meat- and herb-based salad that simultaneously manages to hit salty, sour, spicy, sweet, and savory notes, then it's about time your paths crossed.

If you're not yet acquainted with larb, a Thai meat- and herb-based salad that simultaneously manages to hit salty, sour, spicy, sweet, and savory notes, then it's about time your paths crossed. If you're already a fan — as nearly anyone who's tried it is — you may notice that this version is a bit atypical, primarily in the method of meat prep. Most larb is based around ground meat, but my favorite Thai restaurant's must-order duck version features bite-size chunks of roast duck, burnished, luxuriously fatty skin and all, and since my first bite, I've become a steadfast convert.

This recipe reflects that, but with a slight nod to more user-friendly ingredients, swapping chicken thighs for the duck (feel free to sub duck if your market stocks it). Either way, it's a tantalizing dish that brings a taste of Thailand to your dinner table in a flash. Get the exceptional and exotic recipe.

recipes

A Berry Bountiful Fruit Salad With Mint

The long wait is over — thank goodness!

The long wait is over — thank goodness! — and berries and stone fruit are returning to supermarket shelves (at absurdly low prices to boot). A textured Winter fruit salad has kept me going the past few months, but now I'm putting that recipe aside for this Spring- and Summer-forward fruit salad featuring all-new produce.

It's impossible to pinpoint what I love most about this combination of flavors. Sure, any old day you can combine a bunch of berries in a bowl, but here, mint, nutty Marcona almonds, and lemon zest and juice transform this into a fruit salad worthy of serving on a special occasion. The addition of sugar enhances the flavors in the fruit as well as releases more juices so the whole salad is marinated in a berry syrup.

Celebrate berry season with this fruit salad.