One of my favorite go-to meal prep staples that I always try to keep on hand is the “Power Burger,” made from a healthy burger recipe that can be enjoyed whether you eat plant-based burgers or traditional ones! And, the benefits of the power burger for vegans, is that it allows you to turn fake meat like Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger into a more wholesome, whole food. That’s because it adds fresh spinach, whole seeds, and oats, making it more nutritionally complex with added nutrient-dense calories.
Savory Oatmeal with Fennel, Asparagus & Peas
Ever heard of savory oatmeal? Being that Oats are a grain, do you ever think about why we would restrict them to only being eaten sweet? Savory oatmeal can be extremely versatile and give you a great vehicle for enjoying more vegetables, fiber, and other awesome nutrients in a quick, convenient way. This recipe is just one example. Enjoy savory oatmeal on it’s own or as a compliment to a larger meal with fish, chicken, turkey, or other proteins. But keep in mind that on its own, oatmeal provides a decent amount of protein. So don’t be afraid to experiment, knowing you’re getting a good meal from a bowl of savory oatmeal with veggies. Enjoy!
Read MoreTofu & Spinach Mashed Potatoes with Porcini Mushroom Gravy
These tofu & spinach mashed potatoes are practically a meal on their own- with 19 grams of plant based protein, spinach, and nutrient-dense porcini mushrooms. There really is no need for much more, and the fiber in the potatoes will help you feel full as well!
The porcini mushrooms in the gravy give it a really rich flavor- they are my favorite mushroom for making an intense, delicious sauce; and the tofu and cashews in the special cream for the potatoes really hit it home.
Whip this delicious dish up any time you’re craving comfort food. Where I live, in the mountains outside of Los Angeles, it’s starting to get chilly at night. So this was inspired by coming home to a cold kitchen one evening after work! Enjoy!!
Read MoreButternut Squash Noodles with Hempseed Pesto
Try these butternut squash noodles with hempseed pesto for a fantastically simple, vegan, nutrient dense meal. Butternut squash noodles are probably better purchased already made, only because of the odd shape and hard shell of the squash. It could turn into a burdensome project if you try to do it by hand. However, you could absolutely make your own sweet potato, carrot, or zucchini noodles and still have a delicious meal with the pesto. This dish can be done completely raw or cooked as instructed in this recipe. Add some other veggies and-or avocado for more nutrition and variety.
Cashew Cream of Turmeric Cauliflower Soup
Sometimes, when I see whole turmeric root at the market, I like to grab a handful to see what I can create with it, and this Cashew Cream of Turmeric Cauliflower Soup is my latest turmeric root adventure! Be sure to use a Vitamix or other high powered blender to get the most awesome taste explosion and creamy texture ever! You’ll want to keep this recipe handy for cold nights in front of the fireplace.
Chickpea & Hempseed Salad Sandwich on Portobello
If you are keeping away from grains, gluten, and other forms of refined carbohydrates, you should definitely give this Chickpea & Hempseed Salad Sandwich a try. The marinated, roasted, and cooled Portobello mushrooms are used as a base, like an open-faced sandwich. And of course, you can always enjoy these ingredients together on a traditional sandwich as well.
Read MoreVegan Zucchini Lasagna Rolls with Herbed Almond Ricotta
Who loves that nuanced taste of ricotta cheese blended with herbs, tomatoes, and garlic? Who doesn’t actually? This recipe for vegan zucchini lasagna rolls delivers on the nuance while providing a more refreshing, more nutrient dense, clean version, that highlights the awesome natural flavors found in some of our favorite herbs and vegetables. These rolls are better suited for a lunch, brunch, or appetizer, but you could also have them for dinner along with some cooked grains, cannellini beans, and-or a green salad. Don’t let the small size fool you. The almond ricotta in these makes them quite rich and energy dense, and one can fill up on just a few. Get ready for a fantastic blend of fresh flavors!
(better than) Bieler’s Broth
Bieler’s Broth is a traditional healing, cleansing broth that is very popular among holistic and alternative medical professionals. The only bummer thing about Bieler’s Broth is that it doesn’t have much to offer from a culinary perspective. It’s just pretty freakin’ blah as far as I can tell. Since I’m all about making healthy eating not only simple, but also delicious– so that you can enjoy healthful foods the way nature intended– I came up with this modified version.
Read MoreTuscan Cold Zoodles with Tomato, Basil & Garlic
With gluten free this, avoid that, and whatever else we are adding to the “avoid list” lately, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of calling something what it actually isn’t. For example, a “cauliflower” is commonly being called a “steak,” and no one seems to mind at all. Are we finally losing it as a society? Well, I guess, keeping it all in perspective, it’s cool to get creative with naming some healthy substitutes. It’s just a word anyway, right? I just want whatever I am eating to satiate and hit the spot on whatever my mind and my appetite have conspired to enjoy together. Whenever that happens to be cold tomato basil noodles, this recipe does the trick. For the sake of avoiding the faux food naming pattern, we’re going to call these babies “zoodles”. Whatever you do call it, get ready for “yummy” sounding words and noises when you serve it. Oh, and it’s raw too!
Read MoreAvocado & Pear Salad with Basil Lime Dressing
I love it when a random “grab two things and see what happens” move in the kitchen turns out to be so yummy. This avocado & pear salad is an extremely easy recipe that mixes pears with avocados, and finishes it off with some fresh lime and basil. Add this to your list of simple raw fruit and vegetable go-to’s. It’s perfectly refreshing for hot summer days. Enjoy!