Category Archives: cut calories

Overnight Apple Cinnamon Chia Pudding

Posted in breakfast, cut calories, low-carb, Snacks, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, sweet treat, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss ideas by

Craving something sweet? Or maybe looking for an easy breakfast on the go… try this Apple Cinnamon Chia Pudding recipe. I found it when Armando and I were on our annual cleanse after the holiday indulging.

This tastes like you are indulging but it is a gluten free treat packed with fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and various micronutrients that our bodies need. I call it yummy.

Apple Cinnamon Chia Pudding

• 1/3 cup chia seeds

• 1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup light coconut milk (or water)

• 1 medium chopped apple (chopped fresh or slightly sauteed in coconut oil)

In a bowl combine chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, and coconut milk. Leave in the fridge overnight stirring once after 10 minutes. In the morning add chopped apple, a pinch or two more of cinnamon. Have in between meals as a sweet snack or to satisfy a craving.

Other topping options (swap out the apples):

Coconut Chia Seed Pudding Topping Suggestions

• Citrusy Coconut Chia Pudding. Add ½ teaspoon lemon zest or orange zest.

• Berry Coconut Chia Pudding. Top with fresh blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries. This combo is especially tasty with lemon or orange zest.

• Chocolate Coconut Chia Pudding. Top your coconut pudding with mini chocolate chips.

• Vegan Coconut Chia Pudding. Use pure maple syrup instead of honey.

• Add Some Crunch. Top your pudding with toasted coconut flakes, granola, or toasted nuts.

• Coconut Chia Jam Pudding. Top with 1 tablespoon of your favorite jam.

Peruvian Quinoa Soup with Cilantro & Avocado

Posted in cut calories, gluten free, low-carb, soup, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly by

 Servings: 6

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium-large red onion finely chopped
4 chopped serrano chilies, finely chopped (reserving a bit for garnish)
4 garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon coriander, freshly toasted and ground
1 cup white quinoa
6 cups low sodium chicken stock
1  bunch cilantro, chopped (reserving a few sprigs for garnish)
juice of 3 limes (or to taste)
1 avocado, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the oil and over low heat saute the onions, garlic, and chiles. Sauté until they’re soft, about three minutes.

Add the ground coriander, stir, and then add the quinoa.

Toast quinoa for a minute or so, stirring as you do. Add chicken stock and cook on low -medium until the quinoa is tender (approximately 15-20 minutes). It will absorb a lot of broth, so plan on adding more broth or water to get the consistency just right.

Taste. Play with salt, lime, and serrano until the balance is to your taste. 

Top with avocado and cilantro and enjoy this lovely, healthy soup!

Green never tasted so good!

Gardener’s Ratatouille

Posted in cut calories, italian, side dish, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss ideas by

Here’s a fresh and tasty way to use up the midsummer garden surplus of zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes and peppers.  

Servings: 8 cups

Ingredients

  • 4 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 cup onions diced (approx I medium onion)
  • 2 cloves garlic minced (approx 2 tsp)
  • 1 cup bell pepper (any color)
  • 2 cups zucchini and/oe yellow squash large diced
  • 2 cups eggplant, diced
  • 3 cups fresh tomatoes chopped
  • 3 Tbsp fresh herbs, chopped (parsley, basil and oregano)
  • salt and pepper to taste (roughly 1 tsp each)

Instructions

  • In a large saute skillet, heat  olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. 
  • Add the remaining vegetables and garlic. Cover, reduce heat simmer 30 minutes or until veggies are cooked thru. A
  • Stir in the fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered for an additional 5-10 minutes.  (Don’t overcook).
  • Garnish  with more fresh herbs as desired and Enjoy!  

Herbed Quinoa Chicken Salad

Posted in chicken, cut calories, dairy-free, gluten free, salad, side dish, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, weight loss ideas by

Pomegranate Mint Quinoa Chicken Salad

Hearty and healthy chicken salad bursting with fresh herbs

Prep: 15 minutes

 Cook: 15 minutes

 Total: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

This pomegranate mint quinoa chicken salad with lime dressing is satisfying and delicious! Eat alone, on toasted bread as a sandwich, or on top of fresh spinach.

Ingredients

Salad

• 3 cups quinoa, rinsed, cooked and cooled

• 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded

• 1 cup pomegranate seeds (or dried cranberries)

• 1 bunch fresh cilantro or parsley leaves, packed and chopped (approximately 1/4 cup) (parsley

• 1 bunch fresh mint finely chopped (approximately 1/4 cup)

Dressing

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 teaspoons lime zest

• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (approximately 1 lime)

• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Cook quinoa ahead of time and allow it to cool. 

• In a large bowl, combine quinoa, chicken, and pomegranate seeds.

• In a small bowl wish together the dressing ingredients.

• Add dressing to the quinoa mixture.

• Season and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until just chilled.

• Just before serving, add finely chopped mint and cilantro (or parsley) mixing gently to combine.

Notes

1. 1 cup of dry quinoa yield about 3 cups of cooked quinoa.

Nutrition

Calories per 257g* Serving: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g |Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 65mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g

Sautéed Beet Greens

Posted in cut calories, side dish, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss ideas by

Sautéed Beet Greens

This is such a delicious healthy recipe to make the most of your beet greens! These sautéed beet greens are a flavorful and tasty side dish that comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients.

 Prep Time 5 minutes

 Cook Time 10 minutes

 Total Time 15 minutes

 Servings 2 servings

 Calories 91kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 bunch greens from 3-4 beets washed well and chopped into small pieces, stems and leaves separated
  • ½ yellow onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • ¼ cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth if you prefer to make it vegan)
  • ½ Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Heat oil in 10-in skillet over medium heat. Add beet stems and onion and sauté until stems and onion have softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to a minute or until fragrant.
  • Stir in beet green leaves and chicken broth and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until beet greens have softened. Stir in apple cider vinegar and salt to taste.

Weeknight Baked Lemon Dill Salmon

Posted in 30 minute meals, cut calories, fish, gluten free, low-carb, main meal, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, Uncategorized, vegetarian, Weeknight Meal, weight loss ideas by

Baked Lemon Dill Salmon

PREP TIME. 10 mins

COOK TIME. 15 mins

TOTAL TIME. 25 mins

SERVINGS. 4 servings

Skin-on salmon is helpful as the skin helps hold the fish together after baking but skinless salmon works fine too.

Ingredients

  • 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets or steaks, preferably skin-on
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
  • 1 thinly sliced lemon, for garnish

Method

  1. Prep the salmon: Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and sprinkle a little salt over it. Let it sit at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Make the dill butter: Mix the fresh dill with the butter in a small bowl.
  3. Bake the salmon: Spread 1-2 T olive oil on the fish to coat it. Place the salmon skin side down in a roasting pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes undisturbed (depending on how thick your salmon pieces are). Remove the salmon with a spatula. The salmon should be just cooked through when done.
  4. Serve: To serve, place a few thin slices of lemon on each plate. Remove the salmon pieces from the oven and place on the lemon slices with a spatula. Top each piece of salmon with about a tablespoon of the dill butter and serve at once.

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING)

560 CALORIES 40g FAT 16g CARBS 40g PROTEIN

Cranberry Cherry Smoothie

Posted in brunch, cut calories, dairy-free, Smoothies & Shakes, Snacks, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss ideas by

Here’s a cleanse-friendly shake. Yum!

Ingredients

2 scoops SP Complete or SP Complete Dairy Free
1 scoop whole food fiber (optional)
1 cup frozen cherries or berries
1/4 cup frozen cranberries*
1/4 inch ginger root (peeled)
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Yum!

Tip: fresh cranberries are only available in my area during the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) but they freeze really well. I stash a bag in my freezer when they come out and they are a perfect addition to this shake.

Asian Slaw with Cilantro Lime Ginger Dressing

Posted in asian, cut calories, gluten free, low-carb, salad, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss ideas by

My husband and I recently embarked on a “clean eating” journey. We vowed to eat more veggies and less processed foods. Clean eating doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good taste. Here is a savory salad that we found in the Standard Process Purification Cookbook. The combination of granny smith apples and citrusy lime cilantro dressing are the secret to this tasty asian slaw. Leftovers store well in the fridge too!

Ingredients

4 cups (8 oz.) thinly sliced savoy cabbage

2 cups (6 oz.) thinly sliced red cabbage

2 medium carrots (4 oz.), peeled and cut into very thin matchsticks

1 large Granny Smith apple (8 oz.), unpeeled, cored, and cut into thin matchsticks

½ tsp sea salt

2 T. plus 1 tsp. lime juice

2 T. apple cider vinegar

1 ½ tsp. stevia powder

2 T. Olive oil

1 large red onion, thinly sliced (2 cups)

1 pinch salt, optional

1 T. plus 2 tsp. minced fresh ginger

1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves

1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts, optional (not during cleanse)

Preparation

1. Combine savoy cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, and apple in large heat-proof bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Whisk together apple cider vinegar, lime juice, 2 Tablespoons water and stevia powder in a small bowl.

2. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and salt, and cook 7 to 8 minutes, or until onions are browned and bottom of pan has brown bits. Add ginger, and cook 30 seconds. Add vinegar mixture to deglaze, and cook 15 to 25 seconds, using spatula or spoon to scrape up brown bits. Remove from heat, and spread onion mixture over cabbage mixture. Toss with tongs until slaw is well combined and cabbages begin to wilt.

3. Add 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, and toss to combine. Let stand 5 minutes, then serve garnished with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and peanuts, if using.

Watermelon Gaspacho

Posted in appetizer, bbq, brunch, cut calories, entertaining, gluten free, keto, low-carb, soup, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss ideas by

I love this tangy and refreshing soup in the summer! You can serve it as a light lunch or serve it as an appetizer at your next summer BBQ. This is my version of the recipe I recently found in The NY Times from Chef Brian Streeter at Cakebread Cellers. Here it is!

Serves 8 (or 12 if appetizer portions)

INGREDIENTS

1 lb tomatoes, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped*

3 cups watermelon, cut in 1 inch cubes

1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped

1/2 large red pepper, coarsely chopped

1/2 bulb fennel, coarsely chopped

1/4 – 1/2 small red onion, coarsely chopped

2 T. Extra virgin Olive Oil

3 T sherry vinegar, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

3 T finely diced watermelon (optional for garnish)

PROCESS

  1. To make tomatoes easy to peel, fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil. Fill a separate bowl with cold water and a few ice cubes to create an ice bath while water boils. Make a small X with a sharp knife in the bottom of the tomatoes just enough to penetrate the skin. Gently place the tomatoes in the boiling water and boil for 1 minute. Remove the tomatoes from the pot and place in the ice bath. You can now easily peel the tomatoes. Next, seed and coarsely chopped them and place in a large bowl. Place all the other fruits and vegetables in the large bowl together.
  2. In a blender, in batches, puree all the ingredients except the last two ingredients (salt and watermelon garnish). add a little bit of ice water (about 1 cup) to achieve a soup-like consistency. Season with salt, taste and add a little more vinegar if necessary. Chill Thoroughly.
  3. Divide the soup among eight cold bowls or 12 small appetizer cups. Garnish each serving with a spoonful f diced watermelon. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil if desired and serve.

3 Step Lentil Soup

Posted in cut calories, dairy-free, gluten free, low-carb, soup, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, vegan, vegetarian, weight loss ideas by

What could be better than an easy and savory soup that’s chock full of vitamins and nutrients? It’s low in fat and high in fiber and protein too. Sometimes I modify this recipe and toss in a handful of cherry tomatoes while cutting in half the amount of crushed tomatoes. I make up a large batch and store it in the fridge for a quick but satisfying meal during the week. It also freezes well.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped in 1/2 inch dice
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 T fresh)
  • 2 cups dry lentils (I like red)
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • salt to taste (maybe 1/4 tsp or so)
  • ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  • Step 1. Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
  • Step 2. Stir in lentils*, and add water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until lentils are tender, at least one hour.
  • Step 3. When ready to serve, stir in spinach and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar and season with salt and pepper; taste and adjust as needed.

* Don’t forget to rinse the lentils well before placing in the pot as this removes some of the indigestible sugars that can cause you to feel bloated and gassy and also removes any dirt or debris.

Nutrition Facts 

Per Serving:

Lentil Soup Nutritional Facts

Servings Per Recipe: 8
Calories: 349

% Daily Value *

Protein: 18.3g 37 %

Carbohydrates: 48.2g. 16 %

Dietary Fiber: 22.2g. 89 %

Sugars: 3.3g 

Fat: 10g 15 %

Saturated Fat: 1.4g 7 %

Vitamin A 85 %

Niacin Equivalents: 5.7mg 44 %

Vitamin B6: 0.5mg 33 %

Vitamin C: 13.3mg 22 %

Folate: 333.7mcg. 83 %

Calcium: 98.1mg 10 %

Iron: 6.2mg 34 %

Magnesium: 104.4mg 37 %

Potassium: 969.5mg 27 %

Sodium: 130.5mg. 5 %

Thiamin: 0.4mg 39 %

Calories From Fat: 90.1