Like many of us out there, during the shorter and darker fall, winter, and early spring days, I often find myself unexcited (to say the least)  to tackle my daily to-do list. Until that summer sun comes out of hiding, it is the thought of enjoying a warm cup of coffee that generally motivates me to crawl out from under my cozy covers in the morning. While my deep love of the comforting beverage has made me suspicious that I am just a little prejudice, the science is in, and I couldn’t be happier.

This crafty recipe utilized a bounty of fresh herbs and spices to really make the flavour pop. Herbs and spices are great because, in addition to adding extra antioxidants and beneficial nutrients to dishes, they make recipes easily tailorable to your tastes. And with the herb and spice variations to try, the possibilities with this recipe are endless!

Those looking for a super quick & easy, nutritious (but oh so delicious) sweet snack, listen up!! These amazing no-bake oat fudge bars are here to meet your needs… because who doesn’t love a nutrient packed fudge bar dessert option. Complete with quality protein, an ample amount of healthy fat, as well as fibre-rich complex carbs, these bars provide a nutritious and satisfying sweet snack option to add to your intake.

In creating this recipe, I utilized the famously delicious peanut butter and banana combo; but I thought I'd kick things up a notch with the addition of banana chips and whole peanuts. What resulted is a deliciously sweet and crunchy cereal mix, that makes for a convenient nutrient boost to be enjoyed at anytime of day. In addition to the classic peanut butter banana flavour, I chose to increase the fibre, flavour, and interesting texture of this granola with the addition of diced figs.

Loaded with protein and containing a healthy dose of vegetable fibre, this hearty breakfast option will keep your appetite satisfied throughout the morning. And by omitting the butter and flour crust of traditional quiches, these bites are pretty low cal too!

Ginger is probably best well known for its tummy taming properties. This root has a long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. Additionally, ginger provides immune boosting properties and powerful antioxidant & anti-inflammatory effects that will help keep you going strong this flu season. As far as flavour, ginger adds a special zest to this oatmeal cookie recipe, to help it stand out from the pack.

With festive gatherings quickly filling up our agendas, it’s about time that I share a recipe for a nourishing bite size party appetizer. Whether it’s a casual holiday potluck with close friends, or a more formal gathering where you’re looking to contribute to the buffet table, this versatile finger food is sure to be a welcome addition.

This dish would be a fantastic, nutrient dense addition to your holiday meal, which will contribute nicely to balancing your macros (the recipe is low fat and sugar, and high fibre). It is also a great dish to bring to potluck style gatherings - be it a sit down meal, or a stand and socialize type of do. This nourishing, veggie based, dessert-like meal addition will likely become a favourite at the dinner or buffet table - a favourite that you can feel really good about enjoying!

December is upon us at last! To kick off the holidays, and spark the season’s fire in your hearts, I want to share a delicious deep, dark, rich, fudgy brownie recipe with you – with a secret ingredient. Black beans! In addition to adding fibre and nutrients to this decadent recipe, this ingredient adds a rich, earthy-sweet component and a soft, gooey texture.

While traditionally used in Japan, soba noodles are becoming more and more common in the North American diet. Thanks to their mild nutty flavour and striking nutrition profile, soba noodle are a praise-worthy addition to a healthy diet. As soba noodles are rich in complex carbohydrates, and this recipe adds a healthy dose of poly and mono-unsaturated fats as well as a significant amount of protein, this balanced, vegetable packed recipe is a nourishing option to spice-up your daily intake.