Food For Life® English Muffins
An english muffin’s most defining characteristics are its nooks and crannies but the ingredients to make this breakfast favorite are even more important because most of these round fork-split yeast-leavened breads are made with enriched white flour, sugar, oil, dairy products, and scary sounding ingredients (mono and diglycerides) which from a nutrition standpoint is not optimal. Read more 
Black Beans, Kale, and Plantains: Soft Tacos or Bowls
Ordinary tacos or bowls can become ho-hum so when it’s time to spice things up a bit, consider making soft tacos or bowls with black beans, kale, and plantains. Add the usual toppings – chopped, sweet multi-colored tomatoes and chunky guacamole – for flavor, color, and pizzazz and consider sprinkling pumpkin seeds on the tops of the bowls or tacos for an added crunch (I use activated sprouted salted pumpkin seeds but some people prefer the unsalted variety and that’s just fine). Read more
French Broad Chocolates: The Buddha Collection
French Broad Chocolates – an Asheville, North Carolina-based company that includes a chocolate factory, a chocolate bar library (French Broad Chocolate Boutique), and a dessert restaurant (French Broad Chocolate Lounge) in the heart of downtown – also makes the most decadent, beautiful, and scrumptious chocolates called The Buddha Collection. With no dairy, gluten, soy, nuts, eggs, or corn syrup, The Buddha Collection is beloved by vegans and omnivores alike. Read more
Harvest Veggie Roast
Every Autumn (in most states), the leaves on the trees seem to explode in a rainbow of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. But, enjoying the array of color is not limited to outdoors. Vegetables – particularly root and squash varieties – are plentiful so consider making a Harvest Veggie Roast in your kitchen. Golden potatoes and orange carrots combined with purple cauliflower adds just the right amount of boldness in color and flavor to this roasted vegetable dish. Read more
Pumpkin Butter Bread
Pumpkin Butter Bread is a rich, moist bread with hints of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mace and clove that give the bread depth and flavor. The recipe calls for using two types of pumpkin – pure, unadulterated organic pumpkin (with no additives) and Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter (made of pumpkin, sugar, lemon juice, pecans and spices) but you can substitute additional pumpkin for the pumpkin butter. Despite its name, there are no butter, eggs, or dairy ingredients in Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter meaning this quick bread is plant-based (vegan). Read more
Salted Pumpkin Seeds by Living Intentions
Take your snacking skills to a whole new level!
Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds by Living Intentions – a company based out of California – are pumpkin seeds that have been sprouted and then lightly seasoned with mineral-rich Himalayan crystal salt and cold pressed olive oil. Certified organic, Non-GMO, gluten-free, and plant-based, Living Intentions Salted Pumpkin Seeds are minimally processed to ensure a nutrient-dense but incredibly flavorful snack. Read more
BuckWHAT Nosh Bar
A bar for any time of the day, made only with the most natural of ingredients.
The BuckWHAT Nosh Bar is made with seven simple ingredients: dates, raisins, buckwheat, gluten-free oats, almonds, chia, and cinnamon. There are no added sugars, syrups, or sweeteners because the raisins and dates provide enough sweetness. A bar that is both chewy and crunchy, the BuckWHAT Nosh Bar is the ultimate snack bar for that mid-morning or late afternoon pick-me-up. Read more
Chocolate Pecan Bars
Chocolate Pecan Bars are rich, moist, crunchy dark chocolate nutty bars that will remind you of a chocolate pecan pie (without the corn syrup) although my daughter says these gooey treats taste like cookie/candy bars. In fact, these bars were born of a “disastrous” mistake made when I added too many pecans to a chocolate pecan pie recipe with the idea that more is better. Read more
Lupa’s Tropical Paradise Sprouted Trail Mix
Lupa’s Tropical Paradise Sprouted Trail Mix is paradise in a packet. Made of all organic ingredients: currants, cashews, pumpkin seeds, pecans, brazil nuts, dehydrated mango slices, maple cinnamon walnuts (made with organic walnuts, organic Grade A 100% pure maple syrup, and organic Saigon cinnamon) and walnuts, Lupa’s Tropical Paradise Sprouted Trail Mix is the trail mix to take along to the beach or when you just want a wholesome, delicious healthy snack. Read more
Why The Big Picture Matters
Several years ago I started making donations to sanctuaries specializing in the rescue of animals from slaughter houses and abused “homes.” The stories were heartbreaking and I knew my dollars were primarily going to the veterinary care of the animals, food, shelter, and the selfless staff devoted to taking care of these animals.
When a cow escapes from a slaughter house in Brooklyn, I cheer for the cow (and curse the people chasing the petrified animal) and often send a donation to the kind person who rescued the terrified animal. So, before I go further, I want to unequivocally say these charities deserve our support because they spotlight the abuse and horrific way people treat most animals. They make us think twice about our choices. Read more
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