Category Archives: Healthy Recipes

I am excited to begin sharing recipes with all of you, but more, I am looking forward to your comments, feedback, and contributions!

For my first contribution I chose to provide you with a complete meal. It contains: A whole grain, a lean protein, and a non-starchy vegetable. Both recipes contribute to a family dinner that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. They are simple, clean, and easy to prepare. Props to my mother-in-law Michelle Haddad who introduced both of these recipes to me. I have been adding both to the weekly rotation ever since.

Recipe 1:

Chicken Chili:

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

1 lb. organic ground chicken (white meat is preferred)

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1  8 oz. can of Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce

Method:

1. Sauté chicken and  garlic in EVOO until chicken starts to brown.

2. Add tomato sauce, and continue stirring over medium-high heat until the mixture begins to boil for 3-4 minutes.

3. Serve over Brown Rice, (if preferred, you can use Quinoa, Bulgur or any other whole grain)

Suggestions:

1. You can also throw this chili right over some mixed greens for a delicious dinner salad.

2. For a spicier dish add crushed red pepper, or hot salsa.

3. If your family prefers a sweeter chili add a sautéed onion as well.

Recipe 2:

Fresh Broccoli sautéed With Garlic and EVOO

This recipe sounds like any other, but for some reason when I follow my mother-in-law’s exact directions it really comes out perfect. So here it is:

Ingredients:

1 head fresh broccoli (organic if possible), cut into florets

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon EVOO

Method:

1. Place broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute exactly. Remove and immediately rinse under COLD water.

2. Sauté garlic in EVOO until nicely browned, then add broccoli and continue sautéing over medium heat for about 3 minutes, or really until desired degree of doneness. ENJOY!

Note: I usually double this recipe for a family dinner, as one head of broccoli really doesn’t cut it!

Hi everyone! I’m back at it, but this time I’m armed with some new minimalist recipes. As a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I am a certified health counselor. Healthy eating and cooking are definitely a passion of mine. My first principle in healthy eating is a CLEAN, mainly WHOLE FOODS diet: Meaning, our foods should come from mostly unprocessed, minimally preserved ingredients, like fruits, vegetables, organic lean proteins, healthy oils and fats, and complex carbohydrates in (carbs their whole form like brown rice or whole wheat flour versus white rice and white flour). As part of a WHOLE FOODS diet, I also believe in using natural sweeteners like maple syrup versus white sugar.

The recipes will be MINIMALIST in terms of the number and types of ingredients, and also in terms of preparation necessary. Lastly, I invite you to share your recipes with me. As long as they meet the criteria, I will be glad to post them. So stay tuned for some minimalist recipes!

PS: The recipes I will be providing are not necessarily creative or original. They are merely recipes I have taken from cookbooks, family members and friend  that I feel are nourishing and tasty, and of course well-received! I am also looking forward to suggestions and comments on how to improve, change and tweak the recipes, as we all have something to contribute.

Recap: Recipe Criteria:

1. Whole Foods

2. Minimalist in terms of prep

3. Well-Received