Author: Megan

Hi, I'm Megan - a food enthusiast and blogger. I love all things Nutrition, Health, and Decorative Design! My husband, Ryan, and I relocated for his job to a new state and a new city and I wanted to ignite my passion, but wasn't really sure how I would go about doing it. After much thought, research, and soul-searching it hit me like a ton of bricks 'Why not blog?' Thus, my long time passion became a reality. ​I'm so excited to share my joy for cooking delicious, organic, all-natural meals that are super easy to make as well as dabble in and share some of my decorative designs! My background is in Nutritional Sciences, Food and Nutrition, and Education. So Nutrition and Health are an integral part of everything I believe in...and I will just leave it at that!!!

Meatless Monday: Seasoned, Baked Garbanzos Beans and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

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PictureEating healthy can be simple!

Eating healthy can be easy!

Eating healthy can be delicious!

…..And Healthy can be last minute!

When you throw a meal together it does not always have to come from a recipe. Unless you are strategically planning out your 4 week cycle menu for your home, dinners are often times, if not most of the time, a  conglomeration of what you have left over in the refrigerator and pantry.  Garbanzo beans are a true staple in our home I add garbanzo beans to pretty much everything.

So what is a Garbanzo bean, or should I say Chick Pea??  Well, there are two varieties, but the one I am referring to are the legumes you can get canned in any local grocery store.  The other variety is a smaller-darker legumes.  Either one  you choose is packed with nutrition! These beans are one of the oldest cultivated legumes in the world!!!  These legumes have certainly found their way into various cultural and ethnic cuisines from Turkey to Portugal and after 7,000+ years remain a staple in many cultures even today!!

Some of the amazing nutritious benefits you can get from consuming these power-house legumes are:

*High in Fiber
*High in Folate
*High in Manganese
*Great source of Thiamin, Zinc, and Vitamin B6
*Low in Saturated Fat
*Help to regulate Blood Sugar Levels
*Provides powerful protection against free radicals due to its antioxidants and phytochemicals!

Even though these legumes are small boy-oh-boy are they mighty.  Adding legumes to salads, soups, or even in homemade burgers will not only add to the above listed nutrition but adding  legumes whenever possible will keep you fuller longer and help you push past ‘the mid-afternoon snack attack’ cravings.

Here is my easy meatless meal I threw together which is filling, has a good amount of flavor that is not overwhelming, but was done as a last minute meal.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans of Garbanzo beans
  • 1/2 teaspoon of  Himalayan sea salt and pepper
  • olive oil
  • Brussels Sprouts

Directions:

  1. Rinse Garbanzo beans and spread onto a cookie sheet
  2. Drizzle olive oil and mix the oil over the beans and sprinkle salt and pepper
  3. Preheat oven at 375 degree bake for 22-26 minutes or until baked.
  4. Sliced Brussels Sprouts and sautéed with olive oil and Himalayan sea salt and pepper

Enjoy!

Healthy Falafels that are Gluten-Free and Vegan!!!

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PictureWhat’s high in protein, fiber and keeps you feeling fuller longer? 

It’s a Falafel!!!!! 

When it comes to trying new recipes with ingredients you already love…then I AM TOTALLY in!!! Today, I’m sharing, my version of Healthy Falafels…what the heck is a Falafel you might be asking yourself?

A Falafel is predominately a Middle Eastern food and has been coined the “The Hot Dog of The Middle East.” Or “The Meatballs of the Middle East.”  Since there is a cloud of mystery as to where these icons originally originated from you will most certainly see regional differences to some of the ingredients but generally, falafels are made with either garbanzo beans, fava beans, flour, (in this case gluten-free flour), and spices for an amazing pop of flavor.
Falafel’s are commonly served in a pita type pocket or roll of flat bread with some sort of fresh vegetable or salad and a yogurt, tahini (sesame seed), or hot sauce.  If you have ever tried a veggie burger, the Falafel is very similar in consistency and texture.  In some places, the Falafel is served by with a tomato sauce with spices similar to our tomato sauce with meatballs.

Falafels are also very popular among Vegans.  In case you were wondering, someone who follows a strict vegan diet simply put they do not consume anything that comes from a mother or has a bladder. 

Falafels are usually pretty healthy…let’s just say the Falafels that are not deep fried are very Healthy and Nutritious!

Go ahead and make “The Meatballs of the Middle East”  I know you’re all going to love them!

Cheers!

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. Garbanzo Beans
  • 1 cup Spinach
  • 1 bunch of cilantro
  • 1 bunch of parsley
  • 1/4 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Lime Juice
  • 2 Tablespoons of Tahini
  • 1 Onion
  • 4-6 Garlic Cloves
  • 2 Tablespoons of Namaste Foods Quinoa Flour
  • 3/4 Teaspoon of Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil

Directions:

  1. Add chickpeas in the Food processor and blend well until they have a paste-like consistency.
  2. Put them in a large bowl and blend in all the other ingredients, except oil.
  3. Add in the quinoa flour into the mix
  4. Heat some oil in a non-stick frying pan. ( I used Olive Oils)
  5. Make the patties – 1 Tbsps per patty.
  6. Fry them 2 minutes on each side. The Falafels should be crispy on the outside and soft but not mushy on the inside.
  7. Put the falafels on a plate covered with a paper towel in order to absorb all excess oil.
  8. Serve!

Avocado Toast

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PictureHello, Friends!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

I am not joking when I say that I LOVE avocado toast!!!  I have literally eaten this delightfully crunchy, creamy goodness for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Maybe not all in the same day but on many occasions when I don’t necessarily feel like cooking dinner or if it’s TOO hot outside. 

This delicious toast hits the crunchy, creamy mouthfeel without adding other unnecessary sugar, or unhealthy fat.  

One of the great things about this snack is not only can you peel and store the avocado ahead of time but you can definitely take this super easy and satisfying snack on the go. 

Avocados are very nutritiously dense.  Meaning they contain a wide variety of nutrients, vitamins, healthy fats, fiber and even protein.  Here are just a few of these amazing benefits of avocados:

    • Monounsaturated fatty acids (good fat)
    • High in folate
    • High in potassium 
    • Contain Phytonutrients -> such as polyphenols and flavonoids
    • Contain Carotenoids -> specifically Lutein

 

I also wanted to include just a few of the MANY health benefits of adding Avocados to your lifestyle:

  • Avocados can easily be used to substitute fat in baking 
  • Helps to regulate Blood Sugar
  • Protect against some cancers
  • Promote healthy eye health
  • Fights against free-radicals
  • Help to increase nutrient absorption
  • May help protect against strokes
  • Helps to control against High Blood Pressure

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 Slices of Bread to toast
  • 1 Avocado
  • Salt and Pepper