This delicious smoothie will not only satisfy any chocolate cravings, it will also give you a boost of nutrients to fuel your body.

As a Stonyfield blogger, I received free samples of Stonyfield yogurt and Barlean's products to develop this recipe. All opinions expressed are my own.

I make a lot of smoothies- not only do I love them but my daughter loves them too.  Smoothies are great as a post workout snack or an on the go breakfast.  They’re also one of the few things I know my daughter will always try.  And I can add in all sorts of healthy ingredients! 

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Chocolate for breakfast?  Not only is this satisfying smoothie bowl delicious, it’s good for you too, packed with almost 12 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber!

I was asked to participate in the @CocoaVia #HeartMonth campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I was compensated for my time.

In case you haven’t noticed, smoothie bowls are all the rage right now.  Thicker than a traditional smoothie, smoothie bowls are eaten in a bowl with a spoon rather than being sipped through a straw.   A smoothie bowl is a more substantial meal than a smoothie and is a great way to jumpstart your day.  And you can have fun with smoothie bowls, customizing them with your favorite ingredients and toppings.  People go all out on social media creating beautiful smoothie bowls that look like pieces of artwork.  I was inspired to create my own delicious smoothie bowl that would satisfy my appetite, give me a boost of nutrition, and also provide me with enough energy to get through the morning.  

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Packed with fresh ingredients, my Sunshine State Cioppino is the perfect light post-holiday meal.

This post was sponsored by Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company.  As always all opinions expressed are my own.


I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  But now that the holiday is over, you may be looking for some lighter dishes.  My Sunshine State Cioppino definitely fits the bill.  Packed with flavor and fresh, nutritious ingredients, it’s the perfect post-holiday clean eating dish.

This dish is a twist on cioppino, a classic seafood stew that originated in San Francisco.  Cioppino was originally developed by Italian fisherman who used whatever fresh seafood they had caught that day including crab, fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, and squid.  It’s typically made with a tomato-based broth that’s infused with wine and served with plenty of crusty bread for dipping.  I decided to make a version of cioppino using fresh Florida seafood.  After all, I’m a Floridian now so why not take advantage of the bounty of fresh, local seafood? 

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These nutty, no-bake granola bars are packed with nutrition and flavor!

Happy Nut Day!  No, I’m not nuts- today is actually National Nut Day!  And it just happens to coincide with this month’s Recipe Redux post day so we were all challenged to share a healthy nut-filled recipe. 

   

I love using nuts in all forms in my recipes- whole, sliced, chopped, nut butter, you name it!  They are actually one of the most nutritious snacks you can eat and are packed with many beneficial nutrients including heart-healthy unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

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Packed with Asian flavors, these mini tuna meatballs are perfect for summer entertaining!

I love summer cooking, don’t you?  When I think of summer recipes, I think of simple dishes that are easy to make and even easier to eat.  I think of recipes that can feed a crowd for a casual backyard get-together, a picnic or even a trip to the beach.  When summer comes around, I definitely prefer dishes that can be popped in the oven or cooked on a grill rather than those that involve sweating over a hot stove! 

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Your whole family will love these sliders that are packed with color, flavor and important nutrients.

We eat a lot of seafood in my house.  Not only is it nutritious, seafood is quick and easy to cook, which makes it perfect for weeknight meals.  Now that I have a toddler, I appreciate this even more.  On most nights, I turn to family-friendly dishes that I know I can get on the table in a short amount of time.   

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A quick and easy version of a classic Indian dish, this delicious biriyani features U.S.-grown rice and can be made in just thirty minutes.

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by USA Rice Federation and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Think rice!  In honor of National Nutrition Month, the USA Rice Federation challenged the RecipeRedux members to create our own nutritious and delicious recipes featuring U.S.-grown rice. 

Whether you prefer white, brown, wild, black or red rice, U.S.-grown rice has you covered!  Not only is it delicious, but U.S.-grown rice is healthy, sustainable, locally-grown, GMO-free, affordable, and versatile.  How can you beat that?  You can use it in so many ways, from savory to sweet.  Try pairing it with other nutritious foods like seafood, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables for a perfect meal.  An added benefit- it’s also gluten-free and easily digested.  Because it is the least allergenic of all grains, rice cereal is often recommended as a first food for babies.

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A simple topping of breadcrumbs, herbs, lemon and olive oil is the perfect way to dress up salmon for a quick, nutritious weeknight meal. 

Over the last few months I've become very active on Instagram and I've found it to be an incredibly supportive community.  It's given me the opportunity to interact daily with other foodies, bloggers and food companies.  Recently, I was fortunate to strike up a relationship with Sizzlefish, a wonderful seafood supplier with a simple mission- to offer direct delivery of top quality fish to customers so that they can reap all of its amazing health benefits.  They provide fish from the best-quality fisheries, packaged into individual portions and ready to be turned into fantastic meals.

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Making homemade jam has never been easier!  Before the summer officially ends, why not preserve the sweet flavor of your favorite berries by making a batch of jam?  Homemade jam typically requires a lot of time and equipment.  In order to get it to thicken properly, you usually have to use a thickening agent like pectin along with a significant amount of sugar.  My quick and easy Blackberry Chia Jam will take you only about 15 minutes to make and it uses the natural gelling properties of chia seeds.

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A lot of people think of scallops as gourmet, restaurant food but the truth is that they’re really easy to make at home.  They’re perfect for a light, fast and easy meal because they only take minutes to cook.  I didn’t grow up eating scallops and didn’t really discover them until I was an adult.  Now it’s a safe bet that I’ll order them if I see them on a restaurant menu.  When I was in culinary school, I learned the proper way of cooking them and now I love to make them at home.  In restaurants, scallops are often basted in butter and served with rich sauces but on their own, they're actually really good for you.  Scallops are low in calories and packed with lean protein.  They’re rich in a wide variety of nutrients including selenium, phosphorus and zinc.  In addition, compared to other seafood, scallops are typically low in mercury.  Scallops are also low in saturated fat but have heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  Because of the numerous health benefits of omega-3s, the USDA dietary guidelines recommend eating two servings of seafood per week.  So the next time you reach for salmon or tuna, consider trying something different and grab some scallops instead.

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When most of us hear the word "chia," we think of the novelty plants that were popular in the 80s. But lately, chia has been gaining super food status in the culinary world because of its numerous health benefits. Chia is actually an ancient seed native to South America and has been a staple in Mayan and Aztec diets for centuries. It has a mild flavor and is available in black or white seeds. It can be found in specialty food stores or health food stores.

Chia seeds have a similar nutritional profile to another super food- flaxseed. Head to head, chia seeds actually have even more omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and antioxidants than flax. And unlike flaxseed, chia seeds can be digested whole and don't have to be ground. They also have a longer shelf life.

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