Images courtesy of CuisineNie: off-spring to NieNie Dialogues
I always like to see examples of how other people are eating and feeding their families. I am always looking for new ideas and recipes to try and I love to find them in blogs. It’s like getting a personal recommendation 
So, here’s just a small sample of yummy whole foods that we enjoy in my house. BREAKFAST:
- Oatmeal:
- steel cut oats (purchased in bulk). boil four cups water and add one cup oats. boil 5 minutes until oatmeal begins to thicken. Simmer on low until thoroughly cooked (takes roughly 20 minutes) Add your favorite toppings: fresh or frozen berries, bananas or raisins for sweetness, grated apple, nuts, flaxseed, cinnamon.
- Raw Oatmeal: Purchase raw oat groats at your local healthfood store. Soak desired quantity overnight. Drain and rinse in the morning and blend in food processor or blender, adding water as needed until you reach desired consistency. add cinnamon, almond milk, blueberries and/or any of your favorite toppings for cooked oatmeal.
- Sprouted whole grain toast with raw almond butter (and maybe a little agave nectar and sliced banana… mmm)
- Green smoothie
- For Elena – Organic free range scrambled eggs with LOTS chopped spinach.
- Fresh fruit (currently we’re keeping a stash of green grapes, strawberries and peaches as regular favorites) Slice up whatever you have on hand and top with cinnamon and real maple syrup for extra yumminess.
LUNCH:
- Salad, favorite combinations:
- Simple vinaigrette of balsamic, olive oil, lemon juice and agave with strawberries and walnuts and chunks of avocado (any type of fruit and walnuts is great, especially strawberries or peaches)
- Thai style with a dressing similar to the sauce for pad thai listed below
- Walnut “Meat” Tacos/Taco Salad
- Fresh fruit
- Green smoothie
- Fuzzy Navel Smoothie - This one is my favorite. I add a handful or two of spinach and usually omit the nuts.
- Raw Pad Thai – I use a veggie peeler to make carrot “noodles” and add whatever I have on hand (broccoli, cilantro, mint, basil, snow peas, some type of raw nut, raisins, green onion, sprouts, radish slices – anything goes!) and i make a sauce from a dash here and there of the following: nama shoyu (soy sauce) almond butter, agave nectar, lime juice, orange juice, cayenne pepper.
DINNER:
See this post for links to several of our favorite recipes. Here’s a few more:
- Tomato Bean & Corn Soup w/Homemade Salsa & Guacamole - this one is super easy and inexpensive. I combine 1 large can diced tomatoes and put them in a large stock pot, mash them with a potato masher (i don’t like large chunks, but if you don’t mind them, you can skip the mashing), add 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed) and frozen corn. add about 3/4 cup green salsa and water until you reach desired consistency. Season with whatever sounds good… a little hot sauce, garlic powder, oregano, cilantro… Enjoy!
- Grilled Sandwiches with Pasta Salad - grill or roast some veggies and pile on sprouted grain bread with your favorite sandwich spread and grill on the george foreman or in a pan on the stove. toss cooked spiral pasta with artichoke hearts, chopped roasted peppers, olives and a basic vinegarette – quick and yummy.
- Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread – check out recipes here and here or take a shortcut and buy canned veg chili (trader joe’s is yummy) and cornbread mix
- Snobby Joes - a healthy, vegan version of sloppy joes using lentils instead of ground meat. these are tasty!
SNACKS:
- Homemade Salsa and Guacamole
- For the salsa, I toss in whatever I have on hand. I love a simple pico-style salsa with diced red onion, fresh cilantro and diced Tomatoes or I bust out the blender and start tossing things in – tomato, cilantro, lime juice, fresh jalapeno, garlic/garlic scape, green onion and/or shallot, whatever sounds good
- For guacamole, I like it simple, just fresh avocado, cilantro (if i have it), lime or lemon juice, cumin and a little hot sauce
- Fresh Fruit
- Tea
- Dried Black Mission Figs… perfect for when you want a little something sweet. goes wonderfully with rooibos (chai) tea.
- Raw trail mix… (any or all of the following: slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, raisins, hazelnuts, walnuts, and any dried fruit mix)
- Apples & Dates = Caramel Apples!
DESSERT: All of these are vegan, thoroughly mouthwatering and quite healthy. Did i just say HEALTHY DESSERT?! ooohh yes… you must try these. The chocolate pudding is my favorite.
