Dr. John Day, Cardiologist

This warm, spicy, with a touch of sweet, concoction was inspired by a special at the Five Seeds Restaurant. Sautéed cauliflower, onion, garbanzos, almonds, raisins and dates spiced with harissa, cinnamon and cumin seeds. So good for you and so tasty. Serve over whole grain basmati or quinoa, with toasted whole grain pita, or on its own.

The black beans and quinoa actually blend nicely into this tangy raspberry smoothie! It is refreshing and satisfying.  Be bold. Give it a try!

Collard greens! Interested in nutrients that support the body's detox system, antioxidant system, and inflammatory/anti-inflammatory system? Not sure how to prepare them? I wasn't. We were out of greens and I had just a few minutes to stop at a small local store.  The only greens available were collard greens, so I snatched them up.  When I got home, I stood there looking at them wondering what in the world to do with them. As I tried to imagine how…

Swiss chard leaves contain at least 13 different polyphenol antioxidants, including syringic acid which offers blood sugar regulating properties. Mangoes boast over 20 vitamins and minerals, being especially high in vitamins C and A. Lemons contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Ginger helps with gastrointestinal relief and has anti-inflammatory properties. Of course, these are just a few highlights. There are so many other benefits as well! Enjoy! 

If you are in a super big hurry, this is a nutritious way to make a fast food dish that is warm and flavorful.Five ingredients warmed in a pan on the stove: Navy beans, bouillon, herbs de Provence, nutritional yeast and water. Throw in a few diced carrots too,  if you want.Nutritional Yeast gives you an awesome B-Vitamin boost, along with other essential nutrients. Experiment adding nutritional yeast to your favorite dishes! 

This sweet and simple dish is made with little ones in mind. If you have kids, they'll probably love it, just like my daughter. She loved it so much that she served it on a silver platter. An easy vegetarian alternative to chicken noodle soup, this dish is made from four ingredients: protein-packed quinoa, flavonoid-rich onion, bouillon, and water. You could also throw in diced carrots and celery, if you have them on hand.

This peanut stir fry sauce can be mild or pack a little kick by adding red chili pepper flakes, which we really love. Throw any fresh chopped veggies in a wok or pan on the stove and add this dressing for a quick and flavorful stir fry. You can even find pre-chopped fresh veggies at many grocery stores.  The veggies we used this night happen to be the Trader Joe's asian blend found in the refrigerated section. Serve over brown…

This creamy vegetable quinoa dish is a combination of my Sweet Spice Soup recipe and cooked quinoa. I simply combined the leftovers of each and topped with cracked pepper and parmesan cheese for a new dish.Quinoa is remarkably nutrient-rich and easy to prepare.  It boasts of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, flavanoids, protein, fiber, and is a great source of manganese, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, folate, and zinc.Quinoa can be enjoyed as a grain and even ground into flour, as in my…

This warm potato dish has a kick to it with the lemon, balsamic, Chinese five spice, and red chili flakes. The small, soft mung beans--one of the healthiest you'll find--add a fantastic boost of phenol, protein, fiber and other nutrients which help defend against chronic age-related diseases including diabetes, cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Serve this dish with brown rice, if desired. Enjoy!

I love my cranberries tart and wanted to find a way to add just a little sweetness without adding any sugar. I used just a little stevia and added freshly cut mango, yielding a delightful blend of tart cranberries and sweet mango. Enjoy!

Creamy Butternut Sweet Potato Soup

This soup was a random concoction of the vegetables we earned for helping at the community garden.  The shapes and sizes of the veggies were also random, as the kids all helped chop.  Use whatever you have on hand or follow this recipe, as works for you. Use organic or local when possible. It will turn out to be a nourishing and delicious soup.

This is our version of fast food--tasty and healthy.  Put the ingredients in a pan on the stove and cook until hot. Enjoy!  

This red lentil curry soup with onion, celery, tomato and a special blend of madras curry spices is satisfying and nourishing. Madras curry is a blend of many healthy spices that includes coriander, chilies, cumin, turmeric, fenugreek leaves, salt, black pepper, ginger, mustard, bay leaf, pulse, cloves, nutmeg, caraway, cinnamon, cardamom seeds, mace, and asafoetida.  Enjoy!

This Pad Thai is loaded with vegetables and drenched in a delicious and healthy peanut sauce. Enjoy!

This nutritious and bold soup is quick to make and very satisfying.  Just boil water, amino acids, rice vinegar, hot sauce, garlic and a little sesame oil to make the broth. Throw in organic green onions, diced carrots, shredded cabbage, mushrooms, cubed tofu, and soba buckwheat noodles (if desired). In 3-4 minutes, you have a hot, delicious soup.  Alternatively, you can pull the veggies and tofu from the broth and heap them over brown rice for a complete meal. Enjoy!

This vegetable soup is light yet satisfying with the beans and quinoa.  It is also versatile; you can throw in a handful of whatever vegetables you have on hand.  In this recipe, we used onion, celery, cauliflower, carrot and broccoli. It is easy to make on the stove or in a crockpot.Enjoy!

This bread is crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside.  It is by far the fastest (when you plan ahead) and most delightful bread I’ve ever made, and it is really the only one I make these days.  It resembles the loaves you buy at the farmers market or bakery for $5 or more and costs little to make.The first time through, as you are familiarizing yourself with the process,  it will take longer to make. But it now…

Cherries, peaches and lime--a healthy and refreshing treat.This smoothie is easy to make in the winter with frozen cherries and peaches.Cherries are high in fiber, vitamin C and flavanoids. Anthocyanins give them their dark-red color. and can help protect our bodies against damage from environmental toxins and free radicals that can speed up the aging process and cause cell death and damage. Anthocyanins are shown to have anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. Cherries may also help prevent diseases, control obesity, and help in treating diabetes.Peaches are…

Hummus is so easy to make and so healthy when you use fresh, real ingredients.Cumin lends a truly Mediterranean flavor to this garlic lemon hummus.Enjoy!