As renowned UK foodie Nigel Slater says in the introduction to his new book, Greenfeast: Autumn, Winter, “winter is nature’s way of making us eat carbohydrates”. I agree. Nothing makes me crave carbs more than cold weather. And while winter doesn’t officially arrive until December 21st, it feels like it is already here as I write this, especially with the snow that greeted me this morning. So November’s menu is both a warm up for winter and to help you warm up in winter! It is chock full of warming spices and starchy carbs, but the healthy kind.
Carbs have been unfairly demonized of late. Yet people often forget that vegetables and fruits are carbs. And about the only thing everyone agrees on is that veggies and fruits are uber-good for you. But it is true that consuming refined and processed carbs (think white rice, white bread, instant oats and the like) are pretty much the equivalent of eating sugar, given how quickly they are metabolized into sugar in the bloodstream.
But the whole grains and legumes that star in this menu are full of healthy fibre (this menu provides 45 grams, in fact), something most of us don’t get enough of. They also deliver many important vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and iron. And these unrefined carbs won’t spike your blood sugar, especially when combined with protein and healthy fats as in these recipes.
So tuck into these steamy, bubbling bowls of goodness without guilt! I hope you enjoy this menu and share it with your family and friends! Sign up here to receive the recipes and stay warm!
Winter Warm Up Menu
Breakfast: Caramelized Banana & Almond Steel Cut Oats (this stick-to-your-ribs porridge keeps you going all morning & you can make it ahead of time)
Lunch: Cozy Slow Cooker Split Pea & Kale Stew (a hug in a mug…if you like it meatier, leftover ham or bacon adds a subtly smoky flavour)
Dinner: Moroccan Chicken & Chickpea Stew (easy peasy but worthy to serve to guests – I love it with a side of garlicky sautéed rapini or simply stir in handfuls of leafy greens like kale, spinach or Swiss chard)
Winter Warmer: Golden Turmeric Hot Chocolate (this spicy rich hot chocolate will warm you up & boost your mood on the coldest of days)
Join The Nutritional Reset community here to receive this month’s menu today (as well as each month to come)! And read on for some nutritional tidbits about a few foods featured in the recipes…
This is the story of how Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) saved me. Certainly Fascial Stretch Therapy saved my ability to run. I love running outdoors! I love the freedom of it and the exhilaration of all that oxygen flooding my body. But it seemed for a time that running didn’t love me back.
Dishing It Up serves up a selection of stories, studies & so on from the world of wellness & nutrition each month.
Wow, October already! Thanksgiving is just around the corner, with Halloween creeping closely behind (I’ve already seen stores selling decorations – spooky indeed)! Fall also heralds the cold and flu season and holiday gatherings mean more opportunities for these scary viruses to spread.
This is the companion menu for my previous blog post, 
This month I thought I’d talk about what happens in vagus. No, that is not a typo. I don’t mean Vegas, the land of mega flashy casino-hotels, but vagus as in the vagus nerve. I have just spent the last several days wandering around vagus and I must report that what happens in vagus doesn’t stay in vagus. And, not only that, gambling with the health of your vagus nerve is not an optimal strategy. Yet many of us do this unknowingly. Let me explain…
August has been hot, hot, hot! And nothing cools down a hot body like ice cream. But if you want to keep your bod hot, you might want to try these healthier alternatives. These have no sweeteners other than natural whole fruit (oops, I lie, there is a tablespoon of maple syrup in the Raspberry Avocado Ice Cream). And they are all dairy-free for those who may have issues in this area (aloha, Alora)!