Plant Forward Meal Ideas for the Whole Family
Transitioning to a plant-based diet as a family is - I'd say - more difficult than figuring out how to have a plant-based diet for yourself. Though, that can be tough too! While we are certainly not 100% plant-based, I do try to incorporate a heavy plant emphasis for myself, and am currently working on the rest of the family.
4 Drinks to Make Happy Hour a Healthier Hour!
Sip sip, hooray! Cheers to the holidays! ✨
Are you going out or staying in this holiday season? With the craziness of having four kids, we’ll be staying in over here! That means I’ll be on drink duty, so I’ve been thinking of a few ideas to whip up for those who are visiting. This season is filled with sweets (for me anyway), so cocktails are the perfect place to reduce any extra sugar. If you need a last-minute Christmas or New Year’s cocktail recipe, check out these four fun drinks to make happy hour a little bit healthier!
Winter Stovetop Simmer Pot Recipes
I’m a fan of all things that make my house smell good: essential oils, candles, room spray, incense, good food...Then I heard about these simmer pots for the stovetop! I tried this and it works! If you are home all day, this is something you’ve got to try. It makes the “everyday” a little more fun! Fill your home with the all-natural scents of the season using my favorite stovetop simmer pot recipes!
3 Healthy Harvest Salads
Fall > any other season
The falling leaves and changing colors get everyone in the mood for another cozy fall season. Salads are one of my favorite meals to toss together, especially when I’m running low on other meal ideas or have zero time to make anything - aka all the time being a mom of four lol. Fall harvest produce is great to grab at your local farmer’s market when it’s in season (support local!!). Check out my 3 favorite feel-good salads using healthy fall options!
Tackling Thanksgiving with Easy Food Swaps & Healthy Holiday Tips
Thanksgiving - truthfully I feel like it kind of snuck up on me. Can you smell the turkey yet at your house? lol. A super fun time of year spent with family, friends, and loved ones you haven’t seen in what feels like ages. Annnnd of course, amidst all the fun and good times can be some extra stress trying to get everything planned.
Saturday Morning Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls
Imagine this: you just woke up after sleeping in on a cozy Saturday morning. You’re craving something sweet, so you run down to the kitchen and whip up a batch of (fill in the blank - waffles? pancakes?). Your answer should most definitely be strawberry cinnamon rolls! If it wasn’t, that’s OK, but I’m here to change your mind!
Corn, Basil & Tomato Pasta made with Barilla® Red Lentil Spaghetti Plus 3 ways to find your protein without meat or tofu!
I worked for 2 years at a vegan cooking school, without being vegan myself. But, let me tell you - I really learned how to make food taste good and make recipes nutritionally balanced without the use of any animal products. I swear it was like the best kind of cooking and recipe boot camp. One of the biggest questions I get asked is about the plant-based diet and how to find protein. Now, you know that I do eat meat and cheese - but I do also try to load up my day with mostly plants. So that said - I get creative! I’m even including a nut-based goat cheese in the recipe below for you to try. There are plenty of ways you can find your protein without relying on animal products or even on tofu - which I know can be pretty polarizing.
2 Healthy Halloween Treat Alternatives
Ghost Bananas and Pumpkin Clementines are on the menu today and luckily, they’re so easy to make. Your little ones will be thrilled to lend a helping hand and see their Halloween creations come to life. Check out these two suuuper simple recipes down below and try them out for yourself!
Spooky Chocolate Mousse
I’m a Halloween lover, and my ghoul (eh, goal) is to make everything spooky. When I get the motivation to cook and create, this chocolate mousse is one of my favs! Think chocolate mousse - but the eyeballs make it spooky and the ingredients make it decently healthy! - YUM!
An Easy & Creamy Weeknight Pasta Recipe
Back to school season can wear any parent down! Especially when it comes to mealtime, it can be super overwhelming among everything else going on in the day! Finding a meal that is quick AND delicious is the unicorn we are all striving for, right? I’ve found that having a bunch of weeknight recipes on hand is the best solution. You can look through your list of quick recipes at a glance and simply grab what sounds best.
Postpartum Tea Blends
Postpartum tea blends can get expensive and typically focus more on the nursing aspect of being postpartum. I started looking into this for a client and have decided the best thing to do is buy herbs in bulk and make your own blend! It’s much less expensive and not terribly hard or inconvenient. It’s definitely doable, mama!
9 Healthy, Filling Snacks for Any Time of Day
Snack time is pretty much all the time if you ask me, lol! I love having tons of different options on hand at the house to fill any craving, from crunch to chew, sweet to savory. But! I don’t usually care for snacks that are totally void of nutrients or satisfaction. Having easily accessible, healthy, and flavorful snacks around is important when you are looking for a healthy relationship with food. I look for snacks that have a nutritional profile other than just carbs and sugar. Why? Because the more you snack on empty, the more you continue to reach for empty. Don’t get me wrong, we all love carbs, but finding snacks that have protein, fats, and fiber are going to be more beneficial in the long run.
Crispy Chickpea & Avocado Flatbread
Now, if you’re looking for a way to get in more plants or are trying to alternate your protein sources - you’ve got to try this Roasted Veggie, Crispy Chickpea & Avocado Flatbread recipe. This is a great option for any non-meat-eaters in the family, but meat can definitely be added for a different option! Not only is it super flavorful, but it’s also an easy way to sneak in some healthy veggies. The crispy chickpeas and creamy avocado have the protein and fat to keep everyone’s bellies full.
8+ Ways to Incorporate Plant-Based Protein
When you eat a lot of plant-based foods, the protein question is often circulating. Though we are by no means totally living by this diet - I also don’t eat meat and dairy with every meal. I like to switch up my proteins and have been practicing how to do that over the years! Many people are concerned that not eating meat means that you will not get any protein at all! Luckily, there are tons of plant-based foods that are packed with protein. And fun fact - almost every food does have even a small amount. Remember that doing your research is essential to be sure you aren’t depleting your body of necessary nutrients.
Quick & Healthy Kids Meal Ideas
If you have super easy mealtimes with your kids, this might not be for you. But I am always trying to get them to try new things that are e-a-s-y for me and also put some nutritional value into their meal. It’s important to make sure our kiddos are eating a balanced diet, but we may not have much time during the day, especially if we’re working from home, too. Making healthy and delicious lunch and dinner options for the kids doesn’t mean that we have to spend hours in the kitchen.
How to Create the Best Vegetarian Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards have been all over my feed for some time now. Their popularity has been growing because they make the perfect food option to satisfy a variety of taste buds. Plus, they’re totally customizable! My preferences change in terms of what I want to include, but right now we are talking about a yummy Vegetarian Charcuterie Board.
My 2 Favorite Plant Based Wing Recipes
Gosh, wings are so good. Now I know you might be asking yourself, “Jess, really… wings?” but yes. You heard me right! The problem I have with them though is the stringy chicken. I’m just not a fan. So I guess basically I just like the idea of dipping something hot and spicy into ranch. Anyway, because I always TRY to do some better-for-me options - and especially always experimenting with plants - I thought I’d give some plant-based wings a try to see if they fit the bill.
4 Ways to Snack Better When Working and Momming from Home
Whether you’re new to working from home or it’s been your longtime gig, you’ll like this post. Well, if you are a snacker like me - you’ll like this post! As someone who has managed business from home for 6 years now, I’m well aware of the tendency to wander over to the fridge and pantry and mindlessly make snacking decisions. I wanna start off by saying that snacking isn’t automatically bad, and you should feed your body when you’re hungry! It’s more about what foods you choose and how to tell when your body actually needs them.
An Easy, Fun Breakfast for Everyone - a Holiday Breakfast Bar
It’s safe to say, everyone is looking forward to the holiday season earlier than ever before. With Christmas just around the corner, are you making new recipes, the same recipes? Endless grocery lists? LOL One of my favorite food traditions is to set up a DIY breakfast bar to enjoy one of the mornings we have off. As the kids get older, they absolutely love the whole concept of having a “buffet” style setup at home! And even if you are doing the holidays with a super tight knit group, or even alone, this is an awesome way to extend the holiday-days. :)
Try this Healthy Twist - A Holiday Veggie Scampi
This year, I am really excited to present my family with this amazing alternative to a classic Italian dish! From my days working at a seafood restaurant as a teenager - shrimp scampi is one of my faaaaaavorite meals. But, you know - it’s super heavy. And it doesn’t have to feel that way! There are substitutions that can be made that don’t drastically affect the flavor.