My favorite hummus from a store comes from the deli counter of a small local shop. The owner confidently states “If you come back for anything, it’ll be for the hummus.” He was right. The first thing you notice is the GARLIC. It punches you right in the face, but it’s absolutely delicious! I was […]
Spicy Cranberry Mushroom Bok Choy Stir Fry (Low Fat, Vegan, Oil Free)
This recipe is a great one for your leftover cranberries that might be in the fridge or freezer after the holidays (it also makes a fantastic holiday side dish if it’s the season!). I purchased way too many bags of cranberries, and have been left with more than I care to admit on hand. So […]
Beantastic thick and creamy low-fat peanut butter (Low Fat, Vegan)
I have been experimenting a lot with peanut flour, which is a defatted peanut product that is made of only peanuts. It does not contain any additives or sweeteners, so it is a minimally processed product. Because I cannot eat peanuts or peanut butter (even simply ground peanuts), but can eat peanut flour – it […]
Chocolate Mint Pudding (Low fat, dairy free, soy free, nut free)
This vegan chocolate pudding does not contain much fat. I’m not using any of some of the common ingredients, such as avocado, nuts, tofu, or coconut milk or cream. Instead, this pudding uses white beans to achieve the thick and rich texture of a traditional chocolate pudding. It’s cheap, full of fiber, filling, and nearly […]
Oil-free Mango Pesto Pasta Salad (Low Fat, Vegan)
Mango in a pesto pasta salad? Yes. It works (at least for my tastebuds!) This one came from the fact my box of mangoes were running out of time, and I was working on my basil pesto recipe. Tons of pasta in the cupboard. So I thought “why not” and put it all together with […]
Maple Vanilla Hot Cereal (Low fat, vegan)
I love hot cereal. I never thought I would, either. After going low fat whole foods plant based (as opposed to “just” whole foods plant based), I gave up my beloved nut-butters on whole grain toast… and felt a bit lost. But it didn’t last too long after I hauled out the hot cereal (and […]
Does sugar feed cancer cells? (Or: why I eat low fat whole food vegan!)
One of the main reasons I am following a plant based diet is due to my father’s death from pancreatic cancer. For many years I searched for a healthful diet, and finally landed on a plant based diet. I also wanted to eliminate sugar, because I believed it fed cancer. Well, two big changes happened […]
Can you get omega 3’s on a vegan diet? How you can get ALA, DHA, and EPA from non-animal sources
The notion that you cannot obtain omega 3 fatty acids on vegan diet is simply false. This is supported by well established and accepted scientific literature that will be linked for your review below. Why is this even a question? Celebrity Miley Cyrus claimed that she was abandoning a veganism (or more likely a plant-based […]
Plant Based Diet Definition: What being “plant based” means according to leading experts and organizations
There is a lot of confusion about what a plant based diet is, and what food it includes. People ask: is a “plant based diet” primarily plants and some animal proteins, or all plants. There isn’t a centralized page or official organization to find a definition; therefore, we have to look to where and how […]
How to omit oil and make oil-free salad dressings (Vegan, Oil Free)
It’s no secret I post a ton of sauces, dressings and dips on this site. I think they are so, so important for starting out and maintaining a whole food plant based diet. Why? They add variety and excitement to a plate. It’s where the flavor can come from. It means you can prep a […]
Three favorite spreads to use as potato toppings (Vegan, no oil)
Potatoes are a staple in my diet. They are not fattening, healthy, and provide a lot of energy (I teach cardio classes at the gym, in addition to attending a lot of intense classes – need that energy!) I also noticed that my cravings for fat and sugar declined after increasing the amount of starch […]
Avocado Basil Dip or Spread (Vegan, No oil)
I love figuring out new dips to add variety to the week. I use them on and in all sorts of things, from wraps to potatoes. Especially potatoes! This Avocado Basil dip is bright, fresh, and perfect for summer. It pairs with all sorts of different plant based dishes, so you should be able to […]
Role of Nutrition and the Microbiome in heart disease prevention (Dr Monica Aggarwal)
Since I started learning about plant-based health, learning about the microbiome and gut health has been one of the most fascinating and influential topics I have come across. I started my journey into healthy eating (as opposed to dieting to lose weight) after losing my dad to an aggressive cancer. I think that’s why learning […]
Ginger pumpkin seed muesli (Vegan, Dairy free)
It’s easy to get into a rut for breakfast: oatmeal and more oatmeal. Cereal. More oatmeal. While this muesli still utilizes the handy rolled oats, they are quite a bit different in this tasty variation. Adding chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and a healthy amount of plant-based milk, this hearty meal will help you wake up […]
