A healthy twist on the summertime classic, this protein-packed vegan potato salad is made with a creamy hummus vinaigrette, scallions and fresh herbs. Fourth of July is right around the corner and I am so pumped! Our city turns into Small Town USA every year complete with a full lineup of events
A hearty and flavor-packed whole grain salad made with chewy spelt, crunchy apples and sharp cheddar cheese. This Spelt Salad with Apples, Cheddar, and Scallions is a fun twist on tabbouleh salad, one of my favorite Middle Eastern side dishes. In a nod to my mom and her famous after school
Juicy citrus is paired with creamy avocado, spicy arugula and toasted pine nuts to create this simple, show-stopping salad. After a glorious week without winter boots and jackets during our San Francisco vacation, returning home to record low temperatures and below freezing wind chills was a bit brutal. To help ease the blow, I decided to transport
A crunchy, tangy and fragrant entree salad – your whole family will love this Thai-inspired chicken slaw with roasted peanuts. When Dara first invited me to participate in the inaugural Healthy New Year 6-Week Challenge last Thanksgiving, I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I knew that I wanted to
This satisfying and delicious kale salad is packed with sun-dried tomatoes, green olives, roasted nuts and sharp feta. One of my favorite places to work remotely is the Downtown Market here in Grand Rapids. Just a few years old, it is packed with stalls of locally owned and operated businesses selling
Cracked freekeh is tossed in a creamy tahini vinaigrette with chickpeas, pomegranates and almonds to create a crunchy and addictive whole grain side dish or meatless main. It’s time to kick off Week 4 of the Healthy New Year 6-Week Challenge with one of my favorite ingredients of all time: whole grains!
Tossed in a creamy tahini garlic dressing and mixed with dried cherries and toasted pine nuts, Brussels sprouts have never tasted so good. Confession: I will eat just about anything smothered in tahini. If you’re not familiar, tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds. You can find it in most
A bright and colorful salad full of chopped vegetables and fresh herbs tossed in a lemon-avocado vinaigrette. September is a magical time of year here in Michigan because apples are in season but the farmers markets are still bursting with produce like peppers, zucchini and fresh herbs. This rainbow chopped
This hearty, protein-packed wheat berry chicken salad is full of spring flavors including asparagus, artichokes and creamy goat cheese. Wheat berries make me happy. No really, they do. So happy that they are the reason I started this blog four years ago next month! Fast forward to today I’m still here
Travel to the Caribbean any day of the year with this delicious, fruit-filled garden salad. If you’re not familiar with Tortola, it is the largest, most populated island of the British Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. I was only 4 years old at the time so I don’t have many memories
Bursting with flavor, this citrus and fennel slaw is topped with sweet roasted beets and creamy goat cheese. Perfect for spring entertaining but simple enough for a quick lunch. Brightly colored fruits and veggies get all of the attention but don’t be fooled, white vegetables are packed in nutrients as
Lean chicken breasts and chewy farro give this spinach salad a major boost of protein to give you long lasting energy. My Spinach Power Salad with Chicken and Farro is my husband’s favorite make-ahead brown bag lunch. In fact, once I made it for him the first time he started
Quinoa is tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, apples and scallions in a garlicky lemon vinaigrette to create this simple, protein-packed dish. I love quinoa because it is an affordable, plant-based source of protein that is naturally gluten free and full of fiber. That being said, until recently, I thought I hated
Roasted butternut squash is tossed with chewy spelt, creamy goat cheese and toasted almonds to create this healthy and satisfying salad. Friends – I am so excited to tell you about this incredible salad. Back in December, my good friend Kristen and I were chit chatting about what we planned to make
A simple salad made with ripe heirloom tomatoes, garden fresh cucumbers and creamy goat cheese is drizzled with olive oil and a plenty of fresh basil.There is nothing better than a good book. You know the type: the one stay up way too late to read and can’t put down.
Grilled romaine has a slightly charred flavor on the outside and a crunchy texture on the inside – perfect for drizzling with my garlicky, egg-free Caesar dressing. SURPRISE!! It’s a Virtual Baby Shower for my dear friend Aggie of Aggie’s Kitchen! A fellow healthy food blogger who appreciates real food
Avocado, Black Bean and Red Pepper Salsa is packed with flavor and loaded in vitamins, nutrients, protein and fiber. My husband recently attended a week-long conference with scheduled evening events which meant one thing and one thing only: Mexican Fest 2013 for this girl! As I’ve mentioned a million times,
Charred corn, spiced grilled chicken and juicy tomatoes give this main dish pasta salad lots of flavor without a lot of added calories. Southwest Grilled Chicken and Corn Pasta Salad is ideal for summer entertaining and BBQ’s because it can be made in advance and served cold or at room
Juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and nutty pine nuts are the perfect complement to whole wheat pasta in this bright and fresh pasta salad. My beautiful mother is the queen of pasta salads. Every summer she makes them for family gatherings or lazy days at the cottage on Lake Michigan. The
Sriracha Avocado Chicken Salad is packed with creamy avocados, spicy Sriracha and tender chicken breasts to create this addictively delicious salad recipe! Lunch time is my favorite meal of the day, I love salads and sandwiches and never get bored of either. I especially love chicken salads. I think I
Tart apples, crunchy radishes, and a sweet and spicy vinaigrette all come together to create a healthy and refreshing slaw recipe perfect for BBQ season. I don’t want to jinx myself but I think it is safe to say that grilling season has finally arrived! After a ridiculously long winter,
Fresh tabbouleh flavors get an added boost of protein from chickpeas, feta cheese and whole wheat pasta to make this a delicious side dish or entree salad. Happy Monday Everyone! Today is the big day – I am in Los Angeles to attend the Live Finale of Biggest Loser Season
Protein-packed black beans pair with chewy, nutty barley to create a satisfying and delicious salad or meatless main dish. The best part of the indulgent holiday season is that after a few days of eating heavy, traditional foods we all crave clean, nourishing, whole foods. To save precious time, I
Roasting acorn squash results of a creamy, tender and sweet addition to baby greens. I’ve said it once, I’ll probably say it 20 more times: I heart Fall. I love the feel of it, I love the look of it and I love the taste of it. During a recent
The rich, nutty texture of whole wheat pearl couscous is the perfect match for toasted pine nuts, crunch cucumbers, and salty feta. Life is too short to eat boring salads. Is a garden salad with grilled chicken healthy? Of course. Does it get old after a few days? You betcha’!
People often ask me the secret to maintaining long-term weight loss. The short answer: diet and exercise. The reality: planning. After all, it doesn’t matter how good your intentions are to eat right and move more, if you don’t plan it into your schedule, it simply will not happen. In addition to
Roasted red peppers are a delicious, sweet addition to salad and so easy to make at home. In fact, once you realize how easy it is you will never buy those tiny, overpriced jars at the grocery store again! There are several ways to roast peppers are home: over the
Fava Beans combined with shaved fennel and radish create a delicious salad for all to enjoy. In honor of the warm weather, I am sharing a delicious salad recipe made with bright, green fava beans (also known as broad beans.) You’ve probably seen them sprouting up at your farm stand
Sushi Saturday with Dad is one of my favorite childhood memories. Just about every weekend, we would head out to lunch at our favorite local sushi restuarant, Tokyo Grill. It is a complete hole-in-the-wall restaurant situation in an 80% vacant strip mall. Various shops and restaurants have come and gone over the
Today’s salad is one of my favorite go-to lunch recipes. Chicken breast and black beans are a great source of lean protein. The beans also add fiber which helps keep you fuller, longer. For added flavor, I love to use fresh herbs such as cilantro. For a bit of a kick, I’ve
Summer is not the time for fat-laden salads. A typical Caesar salad clocks in at over 200 calories and is loaded in excess fat and sodium. My version is full of flavor and only has a little over 100 calories per serving. One of my secret weapons is anchovy paste that you can
There is a time and place for everything, including mayonnaise. Regular, full-fat, rich and creamy mayonnaise. This is one of those times. Crab salad, like tuna salad, begs for the real deal. Whether you use fresh crab or canned crab, this is a delicious, high protein lunch that really hits the spot. Your
