Category Archives: vegan

Super Simple Carrot Soup

Carrot Soup

Vegan, gluten-free and EASY to make. This deliciously sweet, creamy and savory soup will keep you warm as the weather continues to cool.  Its vibrant orange color means it is full of the powerful antioxidant, vitamin A.  With one bowl you are helping to reduce your risk of cancer, slow aging and reduce some diabetes-related [...]

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Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookie

Pumpkin Breakfast Coookie Healthy

A seasonal breakfast solution perfect for a cool fall morning!  Make the night before for a super portable breakfast or morning snack. Each cookie contains whole grains, heart-healthy walnuts, dried fruit and of course the nutritional powerhouse vegetable, pumpkin.  This cookie has it all!  Plus, it is gluten-free and completely vegan. When you see canned [...]

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Classic Homemade Hummus

Homemade Hummus Recipe

Creamy, filling and incredibly addictive.  I make hummus all the time and this is one of my favorite versions.  Serve as a dip with raw veggies and chips or use as a spread for your sandwich or wrap in place of mayo or meat. Health Benefits of Chickpeas Chickpeas are a plant based protein and [...]

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Chocolate Trail Mix Tart

Healthy Chocolate Honey Tart

Dessert out of healthy packaged snacks! This is a recipe makeover – a lightened up (and allergy friendly) version of Giada DeLaurentiis’ Chocolate Honey Almond Tart.   I substituted unsweetened almond milk for the heavy cream and sunflower seed butter for regular butter.  I also upped the nutrition content by incorporating a seed based trail mix [...]

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Mashed Lima Beans

Mashed Lima Beans

This unique twist on the classic mashed potatoes is much easier (and faster) to make since frozen lima beans cook quickly and don’t require any peeling.   Plus, lima beans are packed with fiber, protein and important nutrients to keep you healthy.   Their light green color is gorgeous paired with any entrée. Lima beans are considered [...]

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Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake

Chocolate Mug Cake

Instant, heavenly chocolate  cake in 3 minutes flat – no oven needed! The current mug craze is great for keeping portion control in check.  This recipe puts a vegan, gluten-free healthy twist on traditional mug cake.  It is light and fluffy and oh-so moist. Ingredients 3 tbsp brown rice flour 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder [...]

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No-Cook Breakfast: Simple Muesli with Fresh Fruit

No Cook Breakfast - Easy Muesli with Fresh Fruit

A no-cook, healthy breakfast that you can make the night before – no fuss in the morning!  It is full of fiber, fruit and whole grains to start your day on the right track. Ingredients ½ cup unsweetened almond milk 1/3 cup steel cut oats ½ cup fresh seasonal fruit (suggestion: ½ nectarine (diced), blueberries [...]

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Gluten-Free Cookie Bites

Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies

I recently received a sample of all four flavors of Enjoy Life Food’s Crunchy Cookies.  Each box has 14 large, handcrafted cookies.  Flavors include Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Suar Crisp and Vanilla Honey Graham.  Like all Enjoy Life products they are completely free of wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy and other common  food [...]

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Pink Frozen Lemonade

Pink Frozen Lemonade

Summer is not officially over yet (not until Sept 22nd at least)!  It is important to stay hydrated especially throughout thehot summer months. We are made up of roughly 60-70% water and it is important that we replace what is lost through everyday activities and workouts.  Even being slightly dehydrated can have a negative affect on [...]

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“Pesto” Veggie Soup

Pesto Veggie Soup

Loaded with fresh veggies and a powerful pesto-like flavor makes getting your nutrients fun!   Print “Pesto” Veggie Soup Serves: 4-6   Ingredients 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 vidalia onion, chopped 1 bag of baby carrots (about 2 cups) 1 bag of mixed broccoli and cauliflower (about 4 cups) 4 cup low sodium broth [...]

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Crunchy Double Chocolate Truffles

This amazingly decadent dessert is allergy friendly, gluten-free and vegan (especially great for those with nut allergies).  The inside is full of heart-healthy sunflower seed butter and mixed with crunchy chocolate granola.  The outside is a crunchy chocolate shell.  The final product is similar to a Ferrero Rocher. Makes 8-10 truffles Ingredients ¼ cup Enjoy [...]

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Chocolate-Berry Sorbet

This heavenly dessert is for everyone out there without an ice cream maker (and with a dairy allergy)!I wanted an easy to make, quick dessert that was dairy free… I have been experimenting with the ingredients and proportions and so far this is the best combo for a rich and creamy texture with the right [...]

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Mayo-Free Coleslaw

Cole+Slaw

This healthy side dish is a great alternative to salad. Cabbage is an inexpensive veggie and full of fiber, vitamin C & K and other important antioxidants. Rather than the typical mayo-based dressing, this recipe uses a light dressing loaded with herbs. Adding the nectar, granny smith apple, pistachios and avocado takes coleslaw from basic [...]

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Cold Mint Pea Soup

This recipe is inspired by a past colleague of mine who keeps a health blog with fitness tips and nutritious recipes.  Her version of the recipe can be found here.  Thanks, Monica! This cold soup is super easy and quick to make (definitely under 5 minutes). I slightly modified it by adding spinach to the [...]

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Watermelon-Lime Berry Fusion

After a Memorial Day BBQ party you are typically left with watermelon and possibly a hangover.  The inspiration for this smoothie came from that very situation.  I wanted to create an incredibly thirst-quenching “cooler” to enjoy on a hot and humid day.  Watermelon is 92% water and 8% sugar, plus it has electrolytes to help [...]

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Southwest Jicama Slaw

Just coming back from the Southwest has inspired me to experiment with new flavors and ingredients.  This fresh and healthy jicama salad is perfect as a fun side for a BBQ. Ingredients 1 large jicama, peeled and sliced thinly into short strips 1 can black beans, rinsed 1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped ½ cup [...]

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Almond Butter and Berry Smoothie

This morning I woke up craving a refreshing and filling smoothie.  But, oh no!  Out of protein powder… What is a healthy foodie to do?! My protein powder is what gives my smoothies their thick texture so I had to think quick for a substitution… So, I’m thinking thick and then it comes to me: almond [...]

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Yummy Batter Cookies

I named these after the fact that I couldn’t stop eating the batter.  But don’t let the name fool you, the actual cookie post-baking is incredible.  These are by far my favorite gluten-free, vegan cookies yet!  And for those who know me, I make cookies almost every other night and love to experiment with different [...]

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Mango Sorbet

Vegan Healthy Mango Sorbet Recipe

Shown with berry garnish This refreshing and extremely healthy homemade sorbet dessert is perfect to end any meal and just so happens to have a difficulty factor of … zero. Servings: 2 Ingredients 2 cup frozen mango, unsweetened ½ cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk Preparation Allow frozen mango to thaw out for 5-10 minutes Place [...]

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A Complete Breakfast Solution

Shown without wild blueberries Part of finding your way to a healthier you starts with breakfast. Why is breakfast important?  It kick-starts your metabolism for the day and helps give your body the energy it needs to think faster and more clearly while preventing overeating later in the day by keeping you satisfied.  I cannot [...]

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Tex Mex Quinoa

I’m always looking for new ways to prepare quinoa.  This southwest twist takes quinoa from basic to flavorfully fun and colorful.  The addition of the black beans is great for added protein and fiber.  Top with an avocado and extra lime juice just before serving for an extra wow factor. Ingredients ½ cups dry quinoa [...]

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Warm Honeycrisp Apple Dessert

This cozy dessert is as delicious as warm apple pie.  America could benefit from this naturally-sweetened and vegan twist on their classic dish.  Americans love their apples… we eat about 120 apples apiece each year.  Like all fruits, they contain natural antioxidants to give your body a strong defense against disease. This recipe sneaks in [...]

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Southwest Quinoa Burger

My husband found this recipe in Men’s Health magazine and we tried cooking it together.  It was very easy to make and turned out way better than we expected.  It did actually look and taste very similar to a real burger.   And, the southwest flavoring made for exceptional taste.  You can consider it husband approved [...]

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Cilantro-Jalapeño Sauce

This sauce is fresh and packs a spicy punch from both the jalapeño and garlic.  It is versatile and can be used for chicken, fish, burgers, wraps or with your favorite sandwich.  It can also add an uplifting zest to your salad or pasta dish.  Any way you use it, you will be refreshed and [...]

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Gluten-Free Chocolate Walnut Cookies

This easy recipe is quick to make and the cookies won’t last very long either!  The brown rice flour is much lighter than whole wheat flour, which is a bonus for those going gluten-free.   This dessert is completely guilt free – it is made of whole grains, heart-healthy walnuts and is 100% vegan. Ingredients Dry [...]

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Walnut Spice Cookies

I wish there was a way to capture smell on this blog cause WOW these cookies will make your home smell amazing!  The texture turned out GREAT and I just couldn’t stop eating them!  Good thing they are healthy.  Bonus for anyone that is gluten intolerant… they are gluten free (and totally vegan too).  Makes [...]

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White Bean Hummus

This makes for a healthy (and easy to prepare) Super Bowl dip.  It is creamier than hummus that is made from chickpeas and is a huge crowd pleaser.  Pair it with raw veggies, whole grain pita slices or honey whole-wheat pretzel sticks. Ingredients 1 12 oz. can of white beans (cannellini beans) 1/8 cup canola [...]

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Slow Cooker Vegan Split Pea Soup

Who said eating healthy is expensive?  This easy and budget-friendly crockpot winter soup is filling, flavorful and full of fiber and antioxidants. Split peas are a legume and high in protein, iron, fiber as well as other vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.  They are extremely affordable – I bought mine at Whole Foods for less than [...]

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Vegan Brownies

This chocolaty dessert is so decadent and moist that you would never be able to tell they are vegan.  The best part about vegan brownies?  No eggs, so you can eat the batter J Ingredients 3/4 cup 100% whole wheat flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 3/4 [...]

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Avocado Crostini with Pistachios

This recipe’s inspiration came from an appetizer at an excellent restaurant in downtown DC – Cork Restaurant & Wine Bar.  It combines four rich and satisfying ingredients that balance each other out well from both a taste and texture perspective.  It can be served as a unique appetizer or a healthy, high-fiber snack (or even [...]

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  • About Elaine

    As a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, my goal is to teach people that healthy cooking can still be gourmet and delicious. Follow me as I explore how to create healthy versions of my favorite dishes and learn why specific ingredients are good for your body. Many of my recipes are vegan and free of the most common food allergens.

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