12 Quick Vegetarian Family Friendly Recipes

July 30, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Foodie.com. All opinions are my own.

Lately I have been really into finding quick and easy vegan family friendly recipes so that when baby #2 finally arrives (my due date is today BTW) we have a stock pile of recipes. Neil is going to be doing most of the cooking for the first two weeks so the easier and quicker the recipe the better. Another important factor for me was that not only are the recipes quick and easy and of course healthy but that we also have a good variety of recipes to choose from.

My top five favorites from the collection above are:

Loaded Lentil Sloppy Joes: these bring me back to my childhood although back then they weren’t vegetarian and the sauce came from a can. This is a much healthier version and what’s more fun then a delicious, messy meal?
Super Creamy Vegan Mac & Cheese: honestly I could eat vegan mac and cheese most days of the week and Edith and I usually have it at least once per week for lunch. This recipe is super creamy and you can easily bulk it up with some veggies.
Creamy Sundried Tomato & Avocado Pesto: another pasta dish but this time a little different and more sophisticated but still kid friendly.
Tempeh Chow Mein: I love Chinese take out but for one we haven’t found any great Chinese take-out in Portland and it’s not always the healthiest option. This however is a great at home option and way healthier!
The Ultimate Veggie Sandwich: Sandwich night is one of my favorite night of the week and this recipe is filled with lots of veggies and can easily be customized to the taste of the each family member.

What are your favorite quick family friendly recipes?

Healthy Seasonal Recipes with PAM | Warm Cherry Tomato Bruschetta

July 23, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls Leave a Comment

Something exciting happened this past weekend…TOMATOES! Yes finally our local farmers market vendors have tomatoes and I am seriously in heaven. You would have thought the two huge heirloom tomatoes and three pints of heirloom cherry tomatoes would have lasted us all week but since I have been on a crazy tomato kick we are already out of them….four days later.

I am hoping that this baby makes his/her appearance very soon but I am also hoping that we can make it to the market to stock up on super sweet and juicy local tomatoes. I am salivating just thinking about buying more. Lately my favorite way to enjoy them has been on top of toast. Sometimes simply raw and sliced up with a little salt and pepper and other times I like to saute them up with a little onion or shallot and serve warmed.

Warm Cherry Tomato Bruschetta

Serves 4-6

1 pint of cherry tomatoes, quartered
PAM Organic Olive Oil Spray
1/4 cup minced red onion or shallot
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
4-6 slices of sourdough bread

Directions:

Toast up your sourdough bread; you can simply do this in a standard toaster, under the broiler in your oven or if you have a grill try grilling up your bread (my favorite method).
Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Spray to coat the bottom with PAM Organic Olive Oil Spray <– this spray keeps things light and healthy plus clean up is a breeze. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until onion is soft.
Add in the cherry tomatoes and garlic and cook until the cherry tomatoes start to break down; this should just take a few minutes.
Season with red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.
Top each slice of toasted sourdough with the warm cherry tomato topping.

Leaving up to 99% less residue, PAM is your ally in the kitchen and allows you to save time during prep and clean up.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by ConAgra via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of ConAgra.

Summer Entertaining with Blue Diamond // Antipasto Plate with Almond Cheese Stuffed Peppers

July 21, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 3 Comments

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. As always all opinions are my own.

Neil and I have always enjoyed entertaining whether it’s a pizza party, a potluck or our annual pumpkin beer tasting dinner. My favorite time to entertain however is during the summer when the days are longer, the sun is out and there is little need to do much cooking. I prefer to whip up some salads, grill veggie burgers and of course set out a few snack plates to start off any gathering.

I am particularly partial to antipasto platters because there is little work involved for me and they just look beautiful. I head to the grocery store pick up a few varieties of olives and various other antipasto bar items including peppers (hot and sweet), artichokes, roasted garlic, marinated tomatoes and basically anything else that looks good. I will finish off my platter with toasted bread, pita chips, crackers and hummus. Since I don’t like to do everything store bought I usually add in my own little treat and this time I made almond cheese stuffed peppadew peppers.

What you’ll need for the almond cheese:

One 6oz tin of Whole Natural Blue Diamond Almonds, soaked in filtered water overnight
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (this provides the cheesy flavor)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoons sweet white miso
1 tablespoon water
salt and pepper to taste

Simply toss all of the ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor and process until smooth and then stuff your peppers and enjoy!

Share you summer entertaining tips below! One of my top tips is to keep it fresh and simple so that you can also enjoy the party!

Sunshine Burger Recipe + Giveaway | California Burger

July 2, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 19 Comments

Disclaimer: I received Sunshine Burger product to review without monetary compensation. All opinions are my own. I was given the opportunity to review through the Sweat Pink Ambassador community.

There was a time when we ate veggie burgers all the time at our house but over the past few years we have been diversifying our meals more so now when we do have burgers we like to go all out. It also happens that summer time is our favorite time to indulge in veggie burgers because it’s grilling season and there is also a summer bbq party to host or attend.

While the standard burger toppings (lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard and onion) are fine a burger is always better if there is upgrade to toppings. Some of my favorite combinations include bbq sauce, sauteed mushrooms, crispy onion rings and vegan cheese slices. I also love a good “cheese” burger with lots of banana peppers and pickles and of course your standard toppings. When I’m feeling a little crazy going a more Tex-Mex route is always fun with toppings such guacamole, salsa and refried beans. However, while all of those are great combinations my current favorite is what I like to call the California Burger.

Ingredients:

Tomato, sliced
Red Onion, super thinly sliced
Micro Greens or Sprouts
Avocado, sliced
Vegan Cheddar
Whole Wheat Bun
Garden Herb Sunshine Burger – cook based on instructions on the box
Herbed Vegan Mayo (1 tablespoon each freshly chopped basil, chives, parsley and lemon juice with 1/3 cup vegan mayo)

Simple and easy to put together! I like to slather a healthy serving of mayo on each side of my bun and then I place the micro greens on one side and the tomato, onion and avocado on the other. I make sure to melt the “cheese” onto the burger and then that goes in the middle. Then it all gets smooshed together and I gobble it up. P.S. this is messy so get the napkins ready or just lick your fingers like I do.

Now I have been a Sunshine Burger fan for years now so I was thrilled to work with them. My favorite way to eat them (besides the recipe above) is either on top of a salad or in a wrap. They are seriously delicious and they are free of gluten, wheat, soy, corn, oats, dairy, eggs, tree nuts and peanuts AND Non-GMO project verified. <—All the more reason I love these burgers. My favorite flavors are the Garden Herb and the Hemp & Sage Breakfast but now that I see there is a Loco Chipotle one I am going to have to try that one out because I love chipotle flavored foods.

Want to try Sunshine Burger out for yourself? Sign up for the e-newsletter and receive a coupon. Take advantage of the Find-A-Store feature, where you can locate local grocery stores that have Sunshine Burger products so you can use your coupon!

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Blue Diamond Almonds| Red, White & Blue Smoothie Bowl

June 30, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 5 Comments

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond Tastemakers. As always all opinions are my own.

It’s almost the Fourth of July! Are you ready for cookouts, fire works and parades? Well why not start the celebration with a yummy 4th inspired smoothie bowl filled with lots of delicious things to get your celebration weekend started off on the right foot.

Red, White and Blue Smoothie Bowl

Serves 3-5 (depending on how hungry you are)

Ingredients:

5 frozen bananas (you could always use fresh ones as well or a combo)
2 cups frozen mixed berries
1-14.5oz can of lite coconut milk (or other milk of your choice)
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blue Diamond Toasted Coconut Almonds
Honey or Agave Nectar
Coconut Flakes
Granola of your choice

Instructions:

Place bananas, frozen berries and coconut milk in a high speed blender and blend and until smooth. If you are using all frozen fruit then you may need to stop and scrape down the blender a few times to help it out.
Pour/scoop into bowls and top with a sprinkle of granola, lots of berries, a sprinkle of coconut flakes, a drizzle of honey or agave nectar and as many Blue Diamond Toasted Coconut Almonds as you desire.

The big question: what does the toddler think?? SHE LOVED IT. I swear she ate more then we did and kept asking for more and more almonds!

How are you celebrating the Fourth? I think we are going to lay pretty low and just relax as a family!

How to Navigate the Baseball Stadium (the healthy way!)

May 30, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 1 Comment

It’s baseball season! Who else is excited? Neil and I are big Yankees Fans and are getting Edith into the game as well. Unfortunately we never seem to live in a city that has a major league team so we watch most of our games on TV but when we do head the park we are always thinking about what we are going to get to eat. We are hoping next year to make it up to Seattle for a Mariners/Yankees game and we already know we will be getting ourselves a Field Roast Frankfurter when we do. That’s one of the great things about ballparks today – you can find healthy options that are often vegan, vegetarian and/or gluten free
I have to say when we went to Yankee Stadium our options were more limited so we chose to eat before heading to the field and while we did share fries at the game, however we decided to head to Candle Cafe post-game for dinner. We could have easily had junky food like veggie burgers, beer and more fries but decided to treat ourselves to a healthy tasty dinner after the game <–best decision.

So consider these healthy tips before heading out to your next ball game:

Drink water! Lots of it! While having a beer or pop might seem like a good idea you should really limit your caloric beverages. Keep yourself hydrated especially at those hot summer games. Additionally, drinking water will help flush out toxins and extra sodium that you might take in if you are unable to find or bring healthier food options to the ballpark.
Do you research. Many ballparks have a list of concession offerings on their websites. Check them out before you head to the park so you can know whether to eat something healthy before you go or whether or not you can bring something with you. If you are going to plan on eating at the park regardless this will give you the opportunity to scope out the best options and their locations before you get there.
Choose the healthiest option. While peanuts and Cracker Jacks might sound good they are not going to leave you nourished or satisfied so when heading to the ballpark look to choose the healthier option. Many parks offer veggie burgers, salads, and even sushi which are all better options then say a hot dog, garlic fries (yeah I know these are so good though), or pizza.
Bring food with you! I know that this isn’t always an option but some parks do allow you to bring in outside food. Pack yourself a tasty meal filled with foods that satisfy you and make you feel good (don’t forget your ice pack if it’s a hot day). If you can’t pack a meal you could always throw some healthy snacks in the bottom of your purse such as baby carrots, an apple or a KIND bar.

So what parks have healthy food options:

Fenway Park – Red Sox –(part of me is cringing as I type this – DIE HARD YANKEES FAN HERE) is now offering a healthier culinary line up this season which include the addition of KIND bars to concession stand stalls!
Nationals Park – Washington Nationals- is offering up tons of healthy options and for my vegan friends lots of vegan options which even includes veggie sushi and vegan crab cakes!
Citzens Bank Park – Philadelphia Phillies- This park has been said to have the best vegetarian options and not only do they have vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options they are also on the healthy side. Healthier food options include include a variety of salads, veggie burgers and veggie dogs.
Coors Field – Colorado Rockies – Concessions here are your standard fare however if you look a little closer you can find yourself at their build your own salad bar stand. If your more in the mood for a veggie sandwich or veggie burger you can find those too.
Petco Park – San Diego Padres – Through their FriarFit program this park has worked to worked improve the nutritional value and availability of healthier food choices at the ballpark. Concession items have now been added or upgraded on the menu, plus a healthy option Kids Meal is available throughout the ballpark.*

I could highlight so many other parks but these are just a few of the options out there.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by KIND. As always all opinions are my own. I received free product in exchange for this post. There was no additional financial compensation.

*FriarFit Reference

What do you order when you go to the ballpark? Any tips or suggestions?

Giveaway & Review // Mamma Chia

May 14, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 25 Comments

Disclaimer: As part of a FitFluential campaign, I received a Mamma Chia gift set in exchange for my honest review and for the purpose of a giveaway. The opinions shared are my own.

Cha-Cha-Cha Chia!

I just had to. Now we aren’t talking about those pets that were popular in the 80’s/90’s and apparently are still on the market. We are talking about the good stuff. The stuff that you eat. Chia seeds are packed with Omega-3s and are an excellent source of dietary fiber, complete protein and antioxidants, the ancient seed was held in high esteem by both the Mayans and Aztecs for increasing vitality and strength.

Now this isn’t the first time I have talked about Mamma Chia on the blog; the first time was back in March of 2013 when I told you how much I loved the Chia Squeeze. Guess what? We still love them around here. They have become a weekly purchase around our house for Edith and myself (and sometimes Neil if he is lucky enough to get one before they are gone). Edith has one about every other day as a snack (her favorite) and I have 1-2 per week usually as an on the go snack whether we are out at the playground or I am out for a nice long walk.

I usually buy the Green Magic or the Blackberry Bliss but since trying the two new flavors Mango Coconut and Wild Raspberry I am anxiously awaiting their arrival to our local stores. Seriously they are both super delicious.

A new exciting feature from Mamma Chia their new organic bagged chia. You can purchase white or black chia seeds and they are so much fun to use to create your own recipes or just to simple sprinkle on a salad or yogurt or add to a smoothie (what I usually do). If you’re looking for recipe inspiration Janie Hoffman the Mamma Chia founder and CEO just realized a book called Chia Vitality. I haven’t finished reading the book yet but so far it’s a really great read and if you so desire there is a 30 day meal plan that centers around chia seeds and improving your health that you can follow.

Giveaway:

Total retail value: $75

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