Dr. John Day, Cardiologist

Well, I must admit, this was a home run, both in terms of speed and taste. We were racing to make the Thanksgiving veggies and get to our special holiday meal at my sister-in-law's home.  I was planning to make another dish, but in our rush, this one came together more quickly, so we went with it. Upon trying it, everyone said they loved it, even John, and EVEN my two year old! The dressing is walnut, parsley, olive oil,…

A Cool and Creamy Summer Delight!1 cup unsweetened almond or vanilla almond milk1-2 cups frozen peaches1 T almond butter unsalted1T hemp seeds (optional)2 cups packed greens (like spinach, kale, or chard)1 small packet steviaThrow in avocado if you have someBlend well in blender until creamy.

Oh my yummy, quick and healthy lunch option! I put this together for lunch a few weeks ago and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. I now stock these ingredients and it has become regular fare.Ezekiel sprouted grain complete protein tortilla, stuff with:HummusCucumberTomatoesSun dried tomatoesKalamata olivesRed onionPickles- miniature dillSprinkle feta (optional)Fold up bottom, fold over sides. Take a big bite!

This tangy dressing has four simple and wholesome ingredients: sesame tahini, mellow white miso, white balsamic, and lemon.I served this dressing over kale, red onion, tomato and kalamata olives, and it was delightful.It also makes a great dip for raw veggies.Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It is known for its thiamin, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, manganese and protein. Calcium and magnesium may help decrease blood pressure. Tahini also contains more Phytosterols than other nuts and…

This quick and healthy twist on ham fried rice is a favorite of mine and my kids.  I actually use steel cut oats instead of brown rice, mostly because they are so quick to make. Also, oats offer more nutrients overall than brown rice. Hope you enjoy!

Go ahead and get creative with this one! Sauté whatever veggies you have with this flavorful blend of rice vinegar, liquid aminos, sesame oil, turmeric, harissa and nutritional yeast. Serve your veggies over quinoa mixed with hummus and lime. Sprinkle with avocado and toasted pumpkin seeds or favorite nut or seed. Yum! Yum! Yum!

Simple. Warm. Comfort food.KaleOnionGarlic<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Liquid-Aminos-32-oz/dp/B00014X0BQ/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1510764600&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=braggs+liquid+aminos&amp;dpID=41mQA4ow%252B-L&amp;preST=_SY300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch">Bragg's Liquid Aminos</a>  Liquid Aminos are one of my favorite ingredients for vegetable sautees and for many soups, both for the taste and for the health benefits. Adequate Amino Acids help vitamins and minerals to do what they are designed to do for us. According to Bragg, their Liquid Aminos contains these essential Amino Acids: Arginine * Aspartic * Lysine * Glutamic * Serine * Threonine * Alanine * Glycine * Proline * Isoleucine * Methionine…

Zingy tuna salad packs lots of nutrients, flavor and texture: lemon, raw crushed garlic, dill, favorite mustard, hummus, red wine vinegar, olive oil, chopped olives, red onion, celery, and red bell pepper.Raw garlic is so good for you! And this recipe is one delicious way to incorporate it into your cuisine. Don't be shy! If my 1-year-old can do it, you can too. After his first bite of this dish, my 1-year-old signed "more," for another, and another, until he…

Once upon a time, there was a Field of Fresh Greens.Then one day, the field of fresh greens wanted more, so he called on the powers of Sweet Beets, Tangy Goat Cheese, Tart Dried Cherries and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds to rain on him and he was happy.He was overfilled with happiness and strength and was the most powerful Field of Greens in the land.But he was still a bit lonely. So, he hired a friend named Miso Dijon Vinaigrette who…

My cute 12 year old son helped me name and post this smoothie.  He wisely advised me that giving my recipies book-like titles would make them far more interesting.Don't be fooled by the color of this smoothie, which happens to be a vibrant green. This really tastes like a creamy peanut butter smoothie. It just packs a bunch of extra nutrients without sacrificing taste.The recipe is simple: unsweetened almond milk, peanut butter, hemp seeds, avocado, spinach (this where it gets…

Happy Herbs Italian Vinaigrette is no ordinary Italian salad dressing.  This creamy herbal vinaigrette has a beautiful bold flavor with its mixture of simple, healthy ingredients: miso, hummus, white balsamic vinegar, lemon, lime, olive oil and Herbes de Provence (thyme, fennel, basil, savory, lavender). Enjoy on traditional greens with tomatoes, red onion, carrots and sunflower seeds, or with your favorite salad creation. Also enjoy as a vegetable dip by using a little less vinegar to thicken it. Here's to your health…

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!

Brussels Sprouts are an excellent source of vitamins K, C, and folate. They are a cruciferous vegetable known for their cancer fighting properties.  When steamed, they provide special cholesterol-lowering benefits.Garlic is a good source of manganese and vitamin B6. It may also reduce our risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, among many other wonderful things.Cashews are high in copper, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, and zinc  which play a role in a wide range of physiological processes. They have a lower fat content…

So many good ingredients in this smoothie!  It always helps me to know what good I am doing for my body with what I choose to eat.Yogurt offers probiotic support, which is good for digestion and absorption of nutrients. Look for yogurt with no added sugar and one million or more live active cultures (assuming your immune system is not compromised). Yogurt's strong protein content combined with live bacterial cultures also offers blood sugar benefits. Fermented dairy products like yogurt have been shown to…

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!&nbsp;

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!&nbsp;

<p style="text-align: justify;">You get all of the rich nutrients of the pumpkin and avocado in a super creamy shake without even knowing the avocado is there. This is a great alternative to pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and anytime you desire a   Pumpkin treat. It is naturally sweetened with banana and dates. If you want it sweeter you could add another date or a packet of Stevia. It also has a mild flavor.  I kept the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice…

With white miso, this tangy and bold dressing is super tasty and good for your gut health!It is awesome on a nice kale, spinach or argula salad. I also drizzled it on butternut squash one night and sweet potatoes another and found it to be a great complement to these sweet vegetables.I put the dressing out with a bag of kale one night, and my kids couldn't get enough of it, pulling out a second bag of kale.  I'm not sure…

In the airport recently, I enjoyed a steamed milk with a squirt of hazelnut flavor.  I knew the hazelnut syrup had sugar in it and wondered how I might make a more wholesome version of this delicious drink when I returned home. I discovered it! Just blend a favorite warmed milk (almond, soy or cow), a few hazelnuts (almonds work well too), and a couple of dates until creamy and smooth. I like using dates as a sweetener because they are lower…

If you love vanilla yogurt and don't want all the added sugars and other ingredients, this is a simple and great way to go! Use your favorite organic plain unsweetened yogurt, and just add stevia and pure vanilla extract.  Creamy yum!

Feeling like just a spoonful of cookie dough? This "cookie dough" is sugar free, flour free, and dairy free. Intrigued? This tiny treat is made from cashew butter, stevia, vanilla extract, sea salt and stevia sweetened dark chocolate chips. When you're looking for just enough and just the right ingredients, it sure beats making a batch of cookies!&nbsp;

Tomatoes, yellow squash, onion, carrot....a great soup for the end of summer harvest.  The blended red lentils make it creamy and add additional protein and fiber.

Quinoa, blueberries, walnuts, flax seed, and hempseed––you are giving yourself a delicious super food start to your day. Also a great afternoon energy boost without producing cravings!

If you haven't yet discovered tempeh, you're in for a great find.  While tofu offers incredible protein, tempeh is the entire bean with protein, fiber, antioxidants and more. For a killer sandwich, grill some tempeh for a few minutes in liquid aminos and sesame oil, toast a sprouted grain bun, add a little avocado tahini spread and some veggies. Truly Satisfying!

I love veggies morning noon or night. When I am not hungry and just feel like a refreshing drink, I am so excited to have this boost of the most awesome nutrients in such a tasty drink.I asked John if he would like to try my green drink.He said, NO WAY, that he tried making a green drink once and it was disgusting. He blended a ton of kale with a little water and nothing else. Well, no wonder.This green…

If you'd like a healthy treat to share at gatherings or just to enjoy yourself, these little bars are a nutritious and tasty delight.  Just slice a deglet noor date and add a little crunchy salted almond butter or peanut butter and a whole almond, pecan or walnut, then sprinkle with coconut and stevia sweetened dark chocolate chips. You can even mix in a little chia seed and flax for extra crunch, then chill or freeze. This real-food treat is chewy…

Since we've been cooking up big batches of quinoa lately, I thought I'd share another recipe for you to enjoy this superfood for breakfast.  This quinoa porridge is inspired by my sister-in-law Chrissy's favorite oatmeal recipe made with cinnamon, vanilla, almond milk, and coconut. I've also topped it with chopped dates and walnuts. You can top it with whatever you'd like--bananas, sliced almonds, chia seeds, blueberries, etc.  Enjoy!To cook quinoa: Use 1 cup of uncooked quinoa to 2 cups of…

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…

&nbsp;I experimented to see if I could make a delicious crepe using only quinoa for the flour--it turned out awesome! This protein-packed crepe recipe is made from four simple ingredients: quinoa, milk, eggs and salt.  With a blender such as a Blendtec or Vitamix, you can blend whole grains for 90 seconds, such as quinoa in this case, to make your own fresh flour, then simply blend in the milk, eggs, and salt for a crepe batter. I'm so excited that we now have this simple…

The key to this delicious and fun Summer Quinoa Salad is to blend a variety of colors and textures. You can substitute whatever you have on hand--get creative! Toss with our Maple Pecan Dressing, or another of your favorites.

This maple pecan dressing is inspired by the one chef Steve Rich serves at the Park City Ski Resort Yurt. This recipe has reduced sugars and added shallot. It makes a very thick, creamy dressing, and can double as a dip.  This recipe makes a big batch--enough to store in the fridge and use over several days. I use this dressing in my Summer Quinoa Salad. I've also mixed this in with tuna instead of mayonnaise. It creates a unique…

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…

Nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon in a blend of tomato, sweet onion, sweet potato and butternut squash make this a sweetly spiced, creamy vegetable soup. My kids all love it, and every ingredient offers nourishment their bodies need.

This recipe is inspired by the delicious soup our friend Liz Warner made for our family last week. It is quick and easy to make and can stand alone as a flavorful and hearty vegetarian main dish. We've paired it with Ezekiel sprouted corn tortillas, toasted and cut into chips for dipping. Enjoy!

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!

Packed with nutrients and protein, this spring salad is made with spinach and arugula, red quinoa, chickpeas, cranberries, shredded butternut squash, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds and a bit of crumbled goat cheese.  The dressing is a tangy homemade vinaigrette of white balsamic, tahini, olive oil, honey and kosher salt. Colorful and delightful!

This creamy tomato basil soup is adapted from a delicious recipe that a friend shared with us in her home.  Full of flavorful vegetables with a touch of soy milk and tofu, this soup is nourishing and satisfying. Enjoy!