Four Quick & Healthy Recipes to Kickstart Your Wellness Journey

Eating healthy can be a challenge if you have no idea where to start. Experimenting with new foods and recipes is a must! By no means am I a health or food expert, but I want to share a few versatile recipes full of all the good stuff - that I’ll never get bored of, and hopefully you won’t either.

1. Coconut yogurt sauce - great for dips and dressings

There are no exact measurements for this: it entirely depends on your taste and consistency preferences. Start with at least a cup of unsweetened coconut yogurt and add lemon (a quarter if you’re not sure where to start), olive or avocado oil (a teaspoon is a good estimate), and season with garlic powder (or finely chopped garlic if preferred), honey, salt, and pepper. If you’d like a more liquid consistency, add a tiny bit of water. This sauce is 1,000,000 times healthier than any dressing you’ll find at the grocery store, so hope you like it!

2. Tomato and cucumber salad - never disappoints as a side

Chop some tomatoes and cucumbers however you prefer. Add some avocado slices, finely chopped onions, lime, olive or avocado oil, salt, pepper, and any extra seasoning (I love the Paleo Blend from Sprouts) or herbs (chopped cilantro is a great choice). Sprinkle some feta or goat cheese on top and, if you want some crunch, add some sunflower seeds!

3. Garlic green beans with pine nuts - you’ll want to eat the whole tray if you make it right

Turn on the oven to 350 degrees. Personally, I add aluminum foil to a baking sheet to make cleaning quick and easy. Add green beans to tray, spray with avocado oil, and toss around. Blend pine nuts with chopped garlic and roasted garlic olive oil - I blend this for 2 seconds in my Nutribullet, shake it, and another 2 seconds after that. Add this paste to the green beans and then sprinkle salt and pepper on top. Cook as long as you’d like depending on how cooked you like your green beans - but make sure the pine nuts don’t burn!

4. Overnight oats - one of the healthiest, most customizable breakfast options

As the name implies, you’ll want to prepare this the night before. Grab a cup, container, or mason jar if you want to be cute. Pour some water or your milk of choice so that oats are completely covered (I recommend Bob's Red Mill if you're new to oats). After that, it’s totally up to you: honey, cinnamon, chocolate chips, nuts, seeds, and just about any fruit will do. Mix and match til you find your favorite combination!

These are all modifiable, so if you prefer dairy yogurt for sauces, or if you want to add in some radishes in your side salad, or if you hate green beans but want to cook garlic broccoli with crushed almonds instead - try whatever your mind and body are craving.

As you begin trying and embracing nutritious food, I’d love to hear from you! Share your variations, tips, and new recipes to help inspire someone else’s next favorite meal. Happy cooking, and here's to discovering the foods and flavors that make us feel our best!