Spirit as Healer, Lifestyle as Medicine
Proof that nutrient-rich, whole foods-based, balanced meals don’t need to be fancy! Here I use a Red’s Burrito and balance it with a generous cup of Power Greens, an extra serving of left-over roasted chicken breast (adjust according to the right amounts of you), and use low-sugar salsa as my dressing. That’s it! This meal provides all your macronutrients, 8 grams of fiber and a host of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
The surprise in this version of egg salad is that it is actually a source of calcium, iron, and bioactive compounds called monoterpenes and flavonoids. And maybe most surprising is that these come from the…dill! In addition to the nutrients already mentioned, dill’s anti-bacterial and cancer preventing properties are also being studied. To increase monounsaturated fat and reduce saturated fat, you could substitute the egg yolks (source of saturated fat) for diced avocado (rich monounsaturated fat source).
This recipe was given to me by a client with the request to make it CARE balanced. This version is slightly changed from Elise Bauer’s post on SimplyRecipes.com in which she attempted to recreate the “Anti-Cobb” salad from the Hard Rock Café in D.C. I like this recipe because it reflects the original spirit of the Cobb salad which was to make a satisfying salad-based meal with what you have left-over in the fridge. I adapted Elise’s recipe by simply further balancing the macros, particularly carbohydrate by eliminating the mango. But all credit here goes to The Hard Rock Café and Elise Bauer!
This recipe was recommended to me by CARE member, Alana. Thank you, Alana. You were right, it is delicious!
Below, I increased the amount of chickpeas, arugula, and sundried tomatoes from the original recipe. I also used the chickpea penne pasta to increase protein content keeping the dish a vegetarian meal. But the credit all goes to SkinnyTaste.com!
Using rotisserie chicken makes this nutrient-rich, fiber-rich, produce-based salad weekday realistic. Enjoy the colors and nature sweetness of this salad as you eat it! Long gone can be the days of chicken salad meaning a drab, heavily mayonnaise-based meal.
From Abbey: “This is one of my favorite salads I’ve created because of the zucchini. Most Greek-inspired salads call for cucumber. But one time, I replaced the cucumber with zucchini and it was a big hit with my family. Why? Because I had made it the night before and it wasn’t soggy the next day like it can get with cucumbers!”
This flexible salad can be made denser for fall/winter depending on which grain you use. Heartier long-grain rice, bulgur, or spelt add welcomed comfort, while grains like quinoa and couscous keep it lighter.
This salad also uses our Kale Pistachio Pesto, packing it with flavor and nutrients. This bright green pesto is packed with flavor and nutrients (like lutein and vitamin A, especially important for eye health).
In addition to incredible volume to help keep you full, this salad provides a remarkable amount of bioactive compounds. Cauliflower is a member of the brassica family known for their powerful cancer-protecting properties. Parsley is rich in immune-supporting Vitamin C and green onions contain immune and liver boasting sulfur-compounds. Olive oil is a source of desirable monounsaturated fat and, given that all ingredients are enjoyed raw, this salad is a strong natural ‘digestive’.
This recipe is great with either canned salmon or left-over salmon from the night before. What is unique to canned salmon is the cost savings and convenience to use when preparing mid-day meals like lunch. Canned salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids and also has a high calcium contents if bought with the bones and skin (sounds much more ‘advanced’ than it really is, you can’t tell at all once mixed).
This salad is as pretty as it is nutritious. Pomegranates have various bioactive compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties against cancer cells. The arils are also a wonderful source of vitamin C and potassium needed to regulate blood pressure. The prebiotic and soluble fibers also help regulate the native strains of gut bacteria. This is a lot of health activity from something we just call “lunch”!