Tag: savory

The BEST Roasted Veggies

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Every Monday, I plan to roast up a ton of veggies to have on hand for the week…or at least the beginning of the week because they don’t last long in our house! By the end of the week, the meal prep usually goes to the wayside and you’ll typically find me scrambling to get dinner on the table, in need of an easy, yummy (nutritious) side dish or two that I know my kids will eat. Below you’ll find my go-to’s for crunchy, salty, delicious roasted veggies that are so easy, you’ll make them weekly or daily, just like us!

The Best Root Veggies (Carrots, Squash, Tators, etc.)

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with rosemary, I could eat it on anything…only problem with these roasted veggies is that they don’t last long around our house! These are the best veggie gone comfort food:

Set oven to bake at 400 degrees. Wash and cut your veggies into sticks/’fries,’ or discs (depending on the veg) and place them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Drizzle olive oil (or avocado oil) and season with dried rosemary, sea salt, and pepper. If you prefer sweet to savory, use coconut oil and cinnamon. I always thought that cooked carrots were a little “blah” but roasting them this way is a game changer! Trust me, they’re that good!

Crunchy Green Beans / Burnt Broccoli / Asparagus etc.

Who knew to roast your green beans? Well, you’ll never go back to steaming them after you taste this crunchy, savory goodness. Just put green beans/broccoli/broccolini/asparagus on a cookie sheet on top of some parchment paper and add olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Roast at 375 for about 35-40 minutes. That’s it. You’re welcome!

One Healthy Breakdown: you’ll be poppin’ veggies like never before!

October’s Tiny Change: Eat Breakfast

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OHH Intro: Breakfast is something OHH REALLY stands behind! No, not only on Sundays, but Every. Single. Day. It’s HUGE…and delicious! So, if you’re not a breakfast eater, take the next few weeks to become one (and, no, a cup of coffee does NOT count as breakfast, sorry people!) It may be easier (and yummier!) than you think after scrolling through Kale and Chocolate’s deliciousness below!)

If you’re just joining us, this post is part of Kale and Chocolate’s year-long #12tinychanges challenge. Each month, we’re implementing one super small, super doable change-over a year it really adds up! You can read about all the changes here and share your progress on Instagram with the hashtag #12tinychanges, and don’t forget, there will be giveaways!

kale-and-chocolate-pb-j-oats-1Since October is my favorite month of the year and breakfast is my favorite (and most important!) meal of the day, I decided to turn our attention to how we take care of ourselves first thing in the morning. After all, it’s hard to feel amazing throughout the rest of your day if you’re getting up when it’s still dark and heading out the door on a cup of coffee and an empty stomach!

When we make the time to eat something nourishing and healthy first thing in the morning, we’re setting the tone for the rest of the day! We’re making ourselves the priority, not our schedules or our to do lists. We’re also balancing our blood sugar and metabolism, giving ourselves an energy source to draw on, and taking a few moments to center ourselves before we venture into the fray.

So with that in mind, here are a few tips that will help you navigate this month’s 12 Tiny Changes Challenge. Let’s do this! If you’re not eating breakfast:

1. Figure out why it’s not happening.
Do you dislike traditional breakfast food? Do you feel like you don’t have enough time? (Number one excuse!) Does eating early in the morning turn your stomach? Once you know your “why”, you’ll be able to make changes accordingly!

2. Try different dishes if you don’t like breakfast food.
You’re not actually required to eat pancakes for breakfast – or eggs or smoothies. Make your own rules! Or just move your breakfast from the sweet to the savory end of the spectrum. (It may also help reduce sugar cravings later in the day!)

sweet-savory-breakfasts-lg3. Prep your breakfasts ahead of time.
In September, our theme for the #12tinychanges was to devote a few hours to meal prep each week. When we think of meal prep, we’re usually focused on getting dinner on the table, but guess what? You can prep for breakfast, too! Make yourself one huge batch of overnight oats, pumpkin pancakes, breakfast quinoa, or berry good oat bars and eat them every morning. Chop and peel all your fruits and veggies so they’re ready for smoothies or whip up a big batch of chia seed pudding. You get the idea, it’s about setting yourself up for breakfast success!

4. If you truly can’t eat breakfast, then have a mid-morning snack ready.
There are a few people out there who really feel sick if they eat first thing in the morning. Try starting with a really mild, simple breakfast (like sprouted toast). If that doesn’t work, make sure you have snacks ready to go for when you do get hungry so that you’ll have energy to get through the day.

If you’re already eating breakfast every day, up your game! Breakfast Criminals has been a major influence and has inspired me to take my breakfast to the next level. If you, too, are already nourishing yourself in the morning, but you want to do even better, give these a try:

1. Double-check that your go-to breakfast is serving you.
Many of us (myself included) are creatures of habit. If you’ve been eating the same breakfast for years, why not make sure that it’s right for you? Who knows – maybe you’d have more energy and focus if you started your day with a protein-rich vegetable frittata, baked avocado with eggs, or seeded almond flour bread. Experiment with different types of breakfasts and take note of how you feel for the rest of the morning. Changing your breakfast can change your day, plain & simple!

2. Make your breakfast more interesting (and nutritious!)
If you’ve found a few breakfasts that are easy to make—and help you feel great—experiment with your faves. There are so many delicious, healthy ingredients that you can sprinkle over and stir into your oatmeal, smoothies, parfaits and more! You can see my long list of favorite nutritional boosts here. Have I convinced you? Breakfast can (and should!) be easy, energy-giving, and delicious. Happy breakfast-ing!

One Healthy Breakdown: let’s make this year amazing, starting with our morning meal!

Healthy Crunchy Salad Topper

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I don’t know about you, but I loooove a little crunch in my salad.  I often turn to toasted nuts for a quick healthy crunch, a little protein, and healthy fat.  Here’s my newest crunchy combination:

photo(50)In a toaster-safe tray, combine 1 cup garbanzo beans (chickpeas,) 1/4 cup pine nuts, and 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds.)  Sprinkle with sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a pinch of rosemary (or spice of choice.)  Toast for about five minutes, until golden brown and crunchy.  Let cool and use as a salad topper or a snack when you have a craving for something salty!  This hits the spot and adds protein, fiber, and antioxidants!

One Healthy Breakdown: who needs potato chips anyway?!