Special Diets

Easy Vegan Alfredo with Buttery-sauteed Mushrooms (AD)

COMFORT FOOD DONE RIGHT

When I’m craving comfort, a rich and creamy alfredo topped with mushrooms sauteed in the buttery taste of @earthbalancenatural spread hits the spot every single time. It’s an affordable swap that performs and tastes like butter!

Boil up a pot of your favourite whole grain or gluten free pasta. Meanwhile, toss 1 ¼ cup raw cashews, 1 cup water, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp nutritional yeast + 1 small clove of garlic in a blender, pop the lid on and set aside.

HOW TO MAKE THE MUSHROOMS:

Heat up 2 tablespoons of @earthbalancenatural spread in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1lb of sliced mixed mushrooms and cook, until mushrooms release their liquid and start turning golden brown, about 7-10 minutes. Add 2 cloves of chopped garlic and stir constantly, for 1 minute. If it’s looking a little dry, melt in another tbsp of spread. Then season generously with salt and pepper.

When pasta is ready, drain and return to the pot, off of the heat. Blitz the alfredo sauce on high speed for 1-2 minutes until silky smooth. Pour over the pasta and toss to coat. Serve topped with mushrooms!

Be sure to hit save on this one so you’re ready whenever the mood strikes…and visit the link in my bio to learn more about Earth Balance’s delicious spreads!

(full recipe at www.desireerd.com)

#spreadthelove #readyseteat #veganalfredo #mushroomlover #vegancomfortfood #eatplants #easyveganrecipes #veganglutenfree ...

Harissa-roasted sweet potato + spinach salad 🔥
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Winter salad just hits different when it’s warm roasted sweet potatoes wrapped up in flavourful + fiery harissa.
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Tossed with sweet-tart pomegranate, salty pistachios and a creamy tahini vinaigrette this is one salad that you’ll crave even when it’s 🌨
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Want to add a protein? Some crispy roasted chickpeas would be PERFECT here! Or maybe some roasted tofu?
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If you’re new to harissa, it’s a Tunisian spice blend or paste made from 🌶 , 🧄 and cumin with many different variations.

If you can’t find it in your local shops, I’ve got a link in the blog so you can make your own! You’ll want to use it on everything.
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This yummy salad takes just 20 minutes of hands on time, so be sure to save this post for your next meal plan!

Grab the full recipe by searching ‘sweet potato’ at desireerd.com or via the link in my bio 👩🏻‍🍳
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What’s your fave way to use sweet potato?? ...

BEEF BARLEY SOUP, but make it 🌱
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I don’t know about you, but I could take all the comfort I can get the last few weeks 💆🏻‍♀️
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So often, comfort foods are things we remember from our childhood, and I ate a LOT of canned soup, including beef barley which was a fave as a kid.
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So I wanted to recreate that vibe with this mushroom barley soup. It’s got a rich broth, lots of mushrooms and barley, a grain that doesn’t get enough good press IMO
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🌾 Barley is rich in the soluble fibre beta-glucan, which helps to not only lower cholesterol but boost the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
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And a healthy gut microbiome is part of a healthy mind and immune system so SIGN ME UP!
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Barley is also a low glycemic index grain helping you to keep your energy levels (and mood) on an even keel.
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All you need is a few basic fridge + pantry ingredients to make this! Head to the link in my bio for the recipe 👩🏻‍🍳 ...

HOW TO CLEANSE YOUR GUT…

According to SCIENCE 👩🏻‍🔬

1. Slowly build up your fibre intake over time, until you hit 30-40g daily.

2. Drink lots of water

3. 💩 like a champion

Yep, that’s really it*

Your gut is one of the most quickly regenerating tissues in your entire body. It cleans itself and then gets rid of the debris by pooping.

The fibre in the plant foods you eat work a few ways to help this:

🌱 insoluble fibres gently sweep the gut (for real!) encouraging the gut to slough off its cells into the stool

🌱 soluble fibres form a gel that helps bind and remove unwanted substances from the gut

🌱 fermentable fibres feed the microbiome, encouraging a healthy community that creates a short chain fatty acid called butyrate.

Butyrate feeds the gut cells so they can live a healthy cell cycle.

You don’t need expensive pills, powders or regimes to do this. In fact, food does it BETTER than any supplement can do, even fibre supplements.

And you definitely DON’T want to do a colonic, which can not only disrupt the gut microbiome and dislodge helpful gut mucus, it runs the risk of perforating your actual bowel.

If your gut doesn’t feel good right now, I get it. A quick fix would be nice.

But none of these cleanses and detoxes actually solve the root cause of why you feel this way.

So, if you want a healthier gut, see steps 1-3 above.

And if you think something is seriously up with your gut, don’t Google it. Get a thorough check up with your doc and then book in with a digestive health dietitian to help you find digestive relief for good. ...

Trust your body. Ditch the diet.

There’s always a new hook. A new villain to blame for our ills.

But it is the diets themselves that make us sick.

It’s NOT about throwing nutrition or healthy eating out the window, because yes, taking care of your body will help you feel better.

It’s about NOT mistaking the powder pushers, multilevel marketers or influencers peddling nutrition advice for actual nutrition.

It’s about NOT thinking that healthy eating means never having pasta or an ice cream again.

You might wonder why I do a January challenge…but helping you avoid the diet trap is the reason.

I want to reframe January as a positive time of self care that shouldn’t take every ounce of your time and energy.

To show you that healthy eating is a joyful, flexible and DELICIOUS pursuit.

And to show you that eating more plants can have you feel really, really good.

There are over 500 of you already signed up! And doors close tomorrow, so I don’t want you to miss it.

The link to join is in my profile. It’s the best $10 you’ll ever spend on your health, after groceries of course 😜 ...

It’s HERE 🎉 🎉

Eat more plants. Feel amazing. Don’t miss the Eat More Plants 2022 Challenge 🌱

This is one of my fave things I do all year. Why? Because it’s the coolest, most supportive community on the internet. And it changes lives. For real.

Even though it’s a ‘challenge’ we’re learning real habits you can stick with all year long so you feel really good.

If you’re plant-curious, this is the place for you. Vegan? Learn new recipes and get a brush up on nutrition. Connect with other folks and have some fun.

Here’s what you get:

🌱 4 weeks of positive, zero restriction plant-based nutrition challenges

🌱 a 50 page PDF with all the nutrition info you need, self-reflection journaling, four weeks of (optional) meal plans + grocery lists done for you

🌱 access to the private EMP2022 online community on mighty networks

🌱 weekly live Q+A hours with ME and daily connection

🌱 a few other fun surprises!

The best part?!? It’s ONLY $10!!!

Yep, that’s right. I want to make this kind of evidence-based support available to as many folks as possible so it’s only $10USD.

It’s true price of a couple oat lattes…you’ve got nothing to lose! I so hope you’ll join us. Doors close Thursday!!! ...

YOU ARE ALREADY ENOUGH.

Let’s be real: this app creates as much discontent as it does connection.

The pressure to accomplish and achieve. To constantly improve (according to who?) or “hack” your way to a better life.

It’s garbage. You’re freaking great.

It’s okay to do nothing. You can just be. If you’re feeling the itch of change, examine why.

Is it simply because the world is telling you change needs to occur? Then take a nap instead.

If you feel a real calling to change in a way that helps you live in alignment with what you truly want, that’s different.

You go get it…the world is yours. Start writing a page a day. Go for a run. Learn a new language. Call your mom more often. And yep, eat more plants.

It’s why I created my Eat More Plants challenge. Because I wanted a soft place for us to land if we felt called to change.

If you want to join us, the link to sign up is in my bio💚 ...

Kale isn’t the only game in town 🥬
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Collards are PACKED with nutrition. All veg are good veg, but you know I’m a fan of putting greens on your plate daily when you can…it’s why we start the Eat More Plants challenge with the daily 3 🌟
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Leafy greens are often mineral rich - and collard greens are a lower oxalate green meaning their calcium is more bioavailable. Even more so when they’re steamed or sautéed!!
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Collards are also a member of cruciferous veg family like cauliflower, arugula, bok choy and yes, kale. Cruciferous veg contain unique sulfur-based compounds that are supportive of a healthy cell cycle and hormone metabolism.
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HOW TO EAT MORE COLLARDS
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🌱 shave stem off leaves, blanch for one minute and use as a wrap. Add them as a second layer in enchiladas. Swap collards for cabbage rolls to switch things up.
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🌱 @sweetpotatosoul has a southern style collards recipe on her website
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🌱 shred and massage raw collards and serve in a salad, as you do with kale
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🌱 How about a chickpea peanut stew with collards on @plantbasedrd blog
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🌱 Finely chop and add to a soup or stew
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Curious about how good plant-based eating can make you feel? Join us for the Eat More Plants Challenge!
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It’s four weeks of zero restriction eating, includes weekly live calls with me and a few surprises too for just $10 USD. It’s the best deal in nutrition…you literally have nothing to lose and plenty of energy to gain ⚡️

Link to join is in my bio…

Are you a collards fan? How do you prepare them?? ...