This high-protein Health Nut Smoothie Bowl will kickstart your day and boost recovery. Read More
Smoothie Breakfast Bowl
This delicious Smoothie Breakfast Bowl is super healthy and helps build muscle. Read More
Matcha Hemp Energy Bites
These Matcha Hemp Energy Bites fuel for your muscles during your endurance training. Read More
Coconut Yoghurt Banana Bread
This Coconut Yoghurt Banana Bread is soft and moist and oh so good! Read More
Avocado Oat Crackers
These Avocado Oat Crackers with crushed red chili are my favourite healthy snack. Read More
Green Smoothie Bowl
This Green Smoothie Bowl is the best way to ‘eat’ and enjoy your green smoothie! Read More
Beluga Lentil Kale Beet Stew
This Beluga Lentil Kale Beet Stew with apple is just what you need to warm up on a crisp Autumn day. It’s comfort food at its best. Fall is the season for slowing down. Even in the kitchen it’s important to slow things down. In the Fall our bodies require more warming foods as the temperature drops. This Beluga Lentil Kale Beet Stew has a warming effect and grounding effect on our bodies. Lentils and root vegetables like carrot, shallots and beets can help us to restore balance. When we transition from summer into fall, we can sometimes feel a little ungrounded or even a bit sluggish. Read More
Green Quinoa Salad
This light and refreshing Green Quinoa Salad combines the earthy and pungent flavours of the Middle-East with the freshness of green herbs. The fresh herb paste made with fresh parsley, dill and fresh mint and extra virgin olive oil is really the star of this dish. It transform the quinoa into something completely different. The bitter flavours of the fresh herbs, arugula and green onion sing in your mouth. For some sweetness I have added dried chopped apricots and I used a Za’atar spice mix to spice things up a little. Za’atar is a dried herb mix used in Middle Eastern cuisine. It’s a real party in your mouth. Read More
Spinach Feta Omelette
This Spinach Feta Omelette with fresh basil is super delicious and very quick to prepare. It’s great for breakfast or lunch and even as a light dinner with a green salad on the side. To cook the omelette, I used a method that is often used in the Provence, which involves turning your omelette around instead of folding it in half. Both sides become nicely browned this way making the omelette even more tasty. Omelettes are such a great way to create a super quick and tasty meal. The best part is that you can add any ingredients you like. Feta cheese, spinach and basil are such a great combination. Read More
Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies
These no-bake Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies taste delicious and are great as a healthy sweet treat or dessert. I made them for the first time during our Mindfulness Retreat in Friesland last weekend. I wanted to create a healthy, (refined) sugar-free dessert for our retreat guests. I found this recipe for Raw Hazelnut Chai Brownies on Green Kitchen Stories and I decided to tweak the recipe a little and give my own twist to these easy-to-make brownies. By adding ground hazelnuts to the recipe and more cacao powder they become more firm in texture, almost like a fudge, and have a stronger chocolate flavour. Read More
Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
These California-style Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos are easy to make and utterly delicious. During my trip to California I fell in love with Cal-Mex, the Californian interpretation of Mexican food. On menus you see different styles and names, including Tex-Mex, Fresh-Mex or Baja Style Mexican Food. It’s healthy, fresh and vibrant food that tastes simply spectacular. Enjoy these crispy Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos. Serve them with pickles and fresh cilantro, Mango Pico de Gallo or Fresh Tomato Salsa or homemade guacamole.Read More
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
I love the fresh and clean taste of Vietnamese Summer Rolls. They are the perfect bites for summer. I even have become a bit addicted to them lately. They are so easy and quick to make and you can use all your favourite ingredients. Basically, you can use anything you have in your fridge and combine as you like. Vietnamese Summer Rolls are also fun to eat and share with friends. You can lay out all the fresh ingredients on the table and let everyone create their own summer rolls. Read More
Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
These Chewy Oatmeal Cookies are the best oatmeal cookies ever! They are a such a great and easy healthy alternative to store-bought cookies. They are refined sugar-free, very quick to make and only contain natural ingredients. For weeks I have been baking many different batches to find the perfect cookie but these are the ones that made it across the finishing line. I love the fact that are gooey and chewy.Read More
Harissa Lemon Chickpea Bowl
This super easy and quick Harissa Lemon Chickpea Bowl is delicious on a warm summer evening. It’s both spicy and refreshing and makes a great light evening meal or lunch dish. All the fresh ingredients, the cucumber, zucchini, lemon, cilantro, mint and parsley, add a clean, crisp taste. The Harissa dressing adds a sweet, smoky spiciness. If you don’t want to spend lots of time in the kitchen or have a big group of friends coming over, this is the perfect dish.Read More
Jerusalem Artichoke Lentil Salad
This warm Jerusalem Artichoke Lentil Salad is so delicious and very easy to make. I love adding Le Puy lentils to my salads. They have an earthy, delicate flavour and they hold their shape during cooking. They also combine really well with the earthy, nutty and slightly sweet flavour of the Jerusalem artichokes. I have roasted the Jerusalem artichokes in the oven which enhances their natural sweetness. The Mustard Honey Balsamic dressing is sweet and pungent, which is just perfect to balance of the earthiness of the lentils and Jerusalem artichokes. Read More
Bergamot Almond Polenta Cake
This Bergamot Almond Polenta Cake has an intense citrusy and floral flavour. It is one of the most delicious cakes I have eaten in a long while. Using fragrant Bergamot Oranges makes all the difference in this cake. As Bergamot Oranges are sometimes hard to get, you can also use a less acidic and more floral lemons like Meyer lemons or Amalfi lemons (the ones used to make limoncello). Whatever you’re buying make sure you use organic, unwaxed lemons or Bergamot oranges as the peel plays a big part in this recipe.Read More
Vegan Carrot Halva
This Vegan Carrot Halva is based on a popular Indian dessert called gajar ka halwa. It resembles a sweet rice pudding or rice porridge. For this carrot porridge, grated carrots are cooked very slowly, until you get a mushy, porridge-like consistency. Carrot halva is traditionally made with milk, ghee and cream. For my Vegan Carrot Halva I have used coconut rice milk and coconut oil instead of dairy. It tastes absolutely amazing served warm with a generous scoop of ice-cream and some roasted almonds and coconut flakes on top. Read More
Cashew Raisin Chickpea Balls
These sweet Cashew Raisin Chickpea Balls are inspired by an Indian sweet called Besan Ladoo. They remind me a little bit of halva, the nutty and crumbly Middle-Eastern dessert usually made from tahini (sesame paste) or nut butter. The chickpea flour used for these balls gets a similar nutty flavour and crunchy texture once toasted. The cashew nuts are toasted along with the chickpea flour which gives the cashews an intense, caramel-like flavour. The raisins add a nice chewy and gooey bite. Read More
Silky Smooth Pink Smoothie
This Silky Smooth Pink Smoothie makes an amazing lunch. You won’t believe how creamy and delicious this smoothie is. The avocado and banana gives this smoothie texture but it also makes it filling enough for a meal. If you are struggling with green smoothies, this is a great way ease yourself into the business of smoothie making. This smoothie also makes a great post-workout smoothie and will help replenish your muscles and speed up your recovery. Read More
Persimmon Avocado Kale Salad
This refreshing and brightly coloured Persimmon Avocado Kale Salad is gorgeous, healthy and just perfect for the holidays. Persimmons are in season right now and I cannot get enough of them. The subtle sweetness of the persimmons works really well with the slight bitterness of the kale. I just love the fresh taste and feel of this salad: crispy pomegranates, refreshing persimmons, crunchy fennel, creamy avocado, fresh goat’s cheese and a zesty, slight sweet lemon-honey dressingRead More
Espresso Date Chocolate Fudge
This dairy-free Espresso Date Chocolate Fudge with pistachio nuts is rich and decadent and very easy to make. It requires no baking and combines all my favourite flavours: the intensity of dark chocolate, the richness of a strong espresso, the spiciness of cardamom and cinnamon, the soft, chewy caramel-like flavour of o fresh Medjoul dates, the nuttiness of pistachios and the salt kick of the sea salt flakes.Read More
Cranberry Almond Chocolate
This Cranberry Almond Chocolate is absolutely delicious and will satisfy your chocolate cravings without the guilt trip and energy dip that usually sets in right after enjoying your chocolate treat. This Cranberry Almond Chocolate is made with 100% natural ingredients like coconut sugar, raw cacao powder and pure cacao butter. It does not only taste good; it is also much healthier for you than the chocolate you can buy in stores. By making your own chocolate, you can not only feed your chocolate cravings (just a little) but also enjoy the highs without the lows.Read More
Pumpkin Walnut Bread
This Pumpkin Walnut Bread is absolutely to die for and gluten-free and dairy-free. This week I have been experimenting with different kinds of pumpkins in my kitchen, and, yes, I have been going a bit crazy. I love pumpkins in fall. They are naturally sweet and warming. I made a huge batch of pumpkin puree this week to make my own Pumpkin Chai Lattes. I made way more then I needed, so I decided to switch up my recipe for walnut banana bread and made Pumpkin Walnut Bread instead. We have been enjoying it for breakfast or as a sweet treat with our cup of tea. Read More
Red Rice Caper Sweet Potato Bowl
This super delicious and hearty Red Rice Caper Sweet Potato Bowl is inspired by a roasted root vegetable dish in Ottolenghi’s cookbook Plenty. I love the sweetness of the caramelised root vegetables and the freshness and acidity of the dressing and herbs. I have been eating a lot of roasted veggies lately at home lately, in many forms, shapes and variations, but this is my winning dish. This is a great dish for fall coming home on a a cold, rainy evening. It’s my idea of comfort food! Read More
Glutenfree Glory Bowl
This Glutenfree Glory Bowl is super healthy and super delicious. It’s meatless, gluten-free and jam-packed with goodness. This is a great way of getting your nutrients in. This bowl is packed with healthy veggies like beets, carrots and bok choy and nutrient-dense ingredients like almonds, sesame seeds, brown rice noodles, and apple cider vinegar. This Glutenfree Glory Bowl is inspired by one of the dishes they serve at my favorite beach spot Aloha Beach in Wijk aan Zee.Read More
Indian Spiced Roasted Chickpeas
These Indian Spiced Roasted Chickpeas are the ideal healthy snack. If sweets are not your thing and you love your bag of chips or salty roasted nuts, this is a great healthy alternative. They are nice and crunchy and I love how the spices linger in your mouth after eating them. These Indian Spiced Roasted Chickpeas are best when you make them using dried chickpeas, because they become crispier, but you can use canned chickpeas instead. They are a great snack on the go or a delicious party nibble. Read More
Fig and Fennel Rocket Salad
This Fig and Fennel Rocket Salad is simple but delicious. This salad is inspired by one of my new favourite breakfast, brunch and lunch place in town, Bakers and Roasters. It’s a cosy place in district de Pijp which serves wholesome breakfasts, excellent coffee, delicious salads, home-made pies and beautiful juices. Last time we went there they served a simple fig salad. I love simple food; it’s the ingredients that matter. And if you use beautiful fresh produce and high-quality ingredients, you can’t go wrong. Read More
Minestrone For A Rainy Day
This Minestrone for a Rainy Day is the perfect dish at the end of the summer. As fall is creeping in upon us, it’s time to start cooking more warming foods.The temperatures at night have dropped and our evenings are getting darker and darker. Yesterday after a few bike rides through town, my clothes and shoes were soaked right through as rain came pouring down from the sky. These relentless rains are the first tell-tale signs of autumn. Cold weather calls for warming foods. This bowl of soup is my idea of comfort food at the end of a long cold and rainy day.Read More
Fresh Fig Green Smoothie
This energising Fresh Fig Green Smoothie is an excellent way to start your day. Figs are a great source of energy without crashing your blood sugar. Figs are not only utterly delicious and a great source of energy; they are very healthy too. Rich in dietary fiber, potassium, calcium and manganese, figs can help with sugar balance, weight management and the regulation of blood pressure. This time of the year beautiful ripe figs are abundant. I like to get the most of them while the season lasts. Nothing beats the unique taste and texture of sweet, ripe, fresh figs. Read More
Cannellini Bean Wild Rice Salad
This Cannellini Bean Wild Rice Salad with sweet corn, tomato and guacamole is inspired by Mexican food but with some Italian twists. I have used typical Italian ingredients such as homemade oven-roasted tomatoes, cannellini beans, Italian tomato paste, lemon, balsamic vinegar and basil leaves. I have used them in typical Mexican dishes like guacamole and corn salad. We enjoyed cannellini beans in many dishes during our trip to Italy. Very popular in Tuscany, they are widely used in soups and saladsRead More
Watermelon Mint Feta Salad
Summer is here! This Watermelon Mint Feta Salad celebrates summer and is really refreshing on a hot day. I love the salty-sweet combination of the watermelon and feta with the crisp mint and the slightly bitter baby Swiss chard. I used fresh lemon and a beautiful cold-pressed extra virgin olive and drizzled it generously on top. The olive oil mixed in with the juices of the watermelon and lemon is absolutely delicious. If you eat it with some fresh bread, you can use the bread to soak up all the leftover juices.Read More
Pickled Beet Carpaccio with Feta
This Pickled Beet Carpaccio with Feta celebrates the beauty of seasonal produce. It’s a beautiful fresh summer salad that is can be enjoyed on its own or with some slices of nut or olive bread. Pickling is a great way to ‘cook’ your vegetables while preserving most of the nutrients in the vegetables. Pickled vegetables are also more easily digested than raw vegetables and are a great way to eat ‘raw’ when you have issues digesting raw food. Read More
Roasted Eggplant Pomegranate Dip
This Roasted Eggplant Pomegranate Dip is absolutely delicious. It has a refreshing summer flavour. Recently I got inspired to cook more Middle Eastern-style food by Ottolenghi’s amazing cookbook Plenty. I love everything eggplant, especially when roasted or grilled. That lovely soft, buttery texture and that beautiful smoky, sweet flavour. I love the combination of flavours in this Roasted Eggplant Pomegranate Dip. It’s great with a simple green salad or some fresh home-made bread. Read More
Fresh Garden Herb Salad
This Fresh Garden Herb Salad literally brings you close to the source and gives you a taste of the season. It’s brilliant in its simplicity. You cannot go wrong with it. Simply use fresh, local and seasonal produce or even better your homegrown herbs and salad leaves. I must admit that I bought some of my salad ingredients at our local organic shop but some it was grown right here in my home. Read More
Sweet Red Pepper Fennel Soup
This Sweet Red Pepper Fennel Soup celebrates the flavour of deep caramelised slow roasted veggies. The soup has a lovely sweetness to it. Roasting enhances the naturally sweet flavors of the Roma tomatoes, fennel and bell peppers which browns and caramelizes the veggies. I love this deep, dark caramelization that naturally occurs when you slow roast. It takes almost an hour to prepare but requires only very little food preparation and is so easy to prepare. It’s hands-off cooking at its best.Read More
Mixed Italian Salad
This Mixed Italian Salad celebrates the beauty of pure flavors and fresh produce. As I am planning a trip to Italy soon, I have become slightly obsessed with cooking Italian food. My cabinets are stocked with items like polenta, risotto rice, tomato passata, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, buffalo mozzarella and lots of fresh vegetables that remind me of Italy. Read More
Pear Kiwi Goji Berry Smoothie
This sweet and delicious Pear Kiwi Goji Berry Smoothie is a real surprise to your taste buds. Often my kitchen disasters end up becoming my greatest recipes. I had a brilliant plan for a smoothie combo in my head but the fruits I planned to use were not ripe yet. When things like this happen, I end up combining whatever I have at home. Often the strangest, most unusual, and bizarre combinations work out amazingly well. This combo of kiwi, pear and goji berries is definitely one of those quirky combos that can happen by accident only but I love it. Read More
Mango Spinach Coconut Smoothie
This bright-green Mango Spinach Coconut Smoothie with mango, spinach and young coconut is a great way to fuel your body. It gives you a natural energy boost. Mango and banana are naturally sweet which help to balance the flavor of the spinach. Chia seeds are a great source of protein with all 8 essential amino acids and is rich in fiber, Omega 3 fats and minerals. Coconut flour like Chia seeds is another complete source of protein. It is high in fiber and helps support healthy digestion. Both coconut flour and oil contain healthy MCTs (medium chain triglycerides), which are used immediately by the body to create energy. Read More
Grapefruit Carrot Fennel Juice
This Grapefruit Carrot Fennel Juice is sweet, tart and tangy all at the same time. It is not only delicious. It is really healthy too. I love the combo of grapefruit, fennel and carrot in a salad so I thought why not make a juice out of it. Grapefruit is a great source of vitamin c, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. The rich pink color of grapefruit is due to lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight free radical damage. Research suggests that lycopene-rich foods such as apricots, pink grapefruit, guava, papaya and watermelon can help lower cholesterol and even reduce the risk of getting diseases like diabetes and cancer. Read More
Mango Coconut Granola
This gluten-free Mango Coconut Granola with pecans, shredded coconut and dried mango is really delicious and super healthy! I serve it with coconut yoghurt or cashew nut yoghurt, fresh mango and some extra shredded coconut on top. I usually have smoothies for breakfast in Spring and Summer. They are healthy, quick and easy but ever since I have discovered these two raw vegan yoghurts I have been treating myself with a delicious bowl of yoghurt with home-made granola and fresh fruits on the weekend. Read More
Berry Coconut Yoghurt Smoothie
This Berry Coconut Yoghurt Berry Smoothie is so delicious and really good for you. It boosts your immunity and is a great breakfast or recovery sports drink. I only recently discovered coconut yoghurt at a health food store in Amsterdam and I have fallen head over heels in love with it. Coconut milk yoghurt tastes unbelievably good. It contains plant-based probiotic cultures which aid with digestion and support gut health. Read More
Orange Pineapple Ginger Smoothie
This Orange Pineapple Ginger Smoothie is another sunny smoothie. Pineapple tastes amazing in smoothies. It has a sweet and exotic flavor, but is also know for its many health benefits. Pineapple is high in vitamin C which can help fight off infections. It also contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein. It can supports digestive health and aid in digestion. Bromelain is also known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Pineapple is alos a great source the trace mineral manganese, which a component of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps fight free radicals. Free radicals occur naturally in the body but can damage our cell membranes and DNA. They can speed up the aging process and even play a role in the development of many diseases.Read More
Mango Avocado Bean Salad
This Mango Avocado Bean Salad is a bit of summer on your plate. It is fresh, simple, colorful and has a nice crunchy texture. I love the combination of sweet mango, spicy chili and creamy avocado. I remember having tasted this combination of flavors before when I was on a yoga retreat in Bali. This dish takes me back down memory lane. Read More
Sauerkraut Cranberry Apple Salad
This Sauerkraut Cranberry Apple Salad is super healthy and supports your gut health. I love fermented foods and believe its an important aspect of our diet. Fermented foods, like sauerkraut and atjar, are rich in enzymes and healthy bacteria that support digestive health. Our digestive system is at the core of our being and the foundation of our health. Read More
Chocolate Almond Cinnamon Dates
What do you do when you have 1 kg of fresh Medjoul dates at home and someone drops by and gives you three bars of 85% dark organic chocolate that you don’t usually eat? I got inspired to get creative in my kitchen. Last year we visited friends and they served us large fresh chocolate covered dates. They were so delicious that I couldn’t get enough of them. Today I have tried to recreate these delicious treats by pitting my fresh dates and giving them a warm chocolate bath.Read More
Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad
This Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad with grilled eggplant, zucchini and bell pepper is a quick, easy and super tasty meal. It will take you no longer than 15 minutes to have a bowl of this salad ready. I love making salads with quinoa. When the quinoa still has a bite to it, it makes a great salad ingredient. Quinoa is a great pseudo grain to include on a gluten-free diet. It’s also rich in essential amino-acids such as lysine and isoleucine. Read More
Fennel Avocado Chickpea Salad
This Fennel Avocado Chickpea Salad contains the best of everything. Essential Fatty Acids in the form of hemp oil, tahini and avocado. High-quality protein the form of quinoa and chickpeas and an alkalinity boost from the fennel, lemon, red cabbage, raw coconut vinegar, fresh mint, parsley and alfalfa. I love using Raw Coconut Vinegar in my salads. It supposedly has even more healing effects than raw apple cider vinegar as it is rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. The naturally occurring acids found in raw coconut provide the body with essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium.Read More
Cinnamon Ginger Carrot Juice
This Cinnamon Ginger Carrot Juice can help reduce inflammation. Whether you are an athlete or just working out a couple of times a week in the gym, inflammation is a natural part of recovery. If our diet is high in inflammatory foods or you are working out too much, inflammation can build up in our system. This can negatively impact your recovery as an athlete. By increasing your intake of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods the oxidative stress that builds up during a training session can be eliminated. Anti-inflammatory nutrients, such as ginger, cinnamon and turmeric, can help you recover from a training session. Read More
Hearty Winter Salad
This Hearty Winter Salad with radicchio, pumpkin oil and walnuts is great on a cold winter day. Although it’s almost spring, winter greens such as radicchio are still in season. Radicchio is one of my favorite winter greens. Hearty, slightly bitter radicchio and sweet refreshing romaine lettuce are combined with walnuts, celery and pomegranate seeds. The pomegranate and celery add crunch and freshness. The Date Balsamic vinegar softens the bite of radicchio and walnuts. Pumpkin seed oil makes a great winter salad dressing with its nutty flavor. It works surprisingly well with the sweet Date Balsamic Vinegar. This is one the best salads I have had in a long time. Enjoy!Read More
Strawberry Chocolate Smoothie
This Strawberry Chocolate Smoothie is a green smoothie in disguise. Romaine Lettuce is rich in chlorophyll but has a rather neutral flavor. Green smoothies can sometimes have a distinct bitter taste. Romaine Lettuce works great for making a a lighter and sweeter smoothie. In this smoothie it helps to bring out the fruitiness and sweetness of the strawberries instead of overpowering it. If you are craving something sweet, this Strawberry Chocolate Smoothie is a great healthy fix. The combination of strawberries, banana, cacao, avocado and almond milk creates a silky smooth, creamy chocolate drink. This Strawberry Chocolate Smoothie is the best way to get a healthy chocolate fix! Read More
Pomegranate Beet Recovery Juice
This Pomegranate Beet Recovery Juice is great before a work-out or if you need just that little bit of extra energy. Research into the benefits of beet juice have showed that drinking beet root juice before your work-out can reduce the amount of oxygen you need to perform as an athlete. As such it is an effective pre-workout energiser and can boost your performance. As it makes your muscles work more efficiently, it can even help to increase your endurance and reduce post-workout fatigue.It’s not just great to boost performance before your work-out, it makes a great recovery drink too as it high in antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. Read More
Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate
This recipe for Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate combines the best of both worlds. I love the warming and comforting effect of a great Chai Latte and the intensity of a hot chocolate. A Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate is the perfect drink on a cold day, wrapped up in a warm blanket. Around the holiday season we tend to indulge in our cravings. For most of us when we get a craving, it’s for sugar, especially in the afternoon or right after dinner. This Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate will satisfy your sweet tooth without creating a dramatic spike in your blood sugar levels. The best way to get a quick pick me up while enjoying the sweetness of life.Read More
Apple Radish Arugula Salad
This Apple Radish Arugula Salad is very refreshing. It is a simple dish with clean flavors and a nice crunchy texture. I love the fact that this Apple Radish Arugula Salad is not only healthy and tasty but very pretty too with all those different textures and colors. There’s something really pretty about radishes with their white, almost translucent interior and bright-red margin, but did you know that they are super-healthy too? Radishes are surprisingly rich in vitamin C which supports your immune system and the antioxidants in radishes can help fight free radical damage. Radishes, thinly sliced, are a great addition to any salad and can help you to get your daily healthy dose of vitamin C in. Read More
Quinoa Mint Lemon Tabouleh
This Quinoa Mint Lemon Tabouleh is a so delicious and it is very easy to make. I love the simplicity of its flavours, I often don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen but at the same time it is important to me to feed myself well in order to maintain my busy and active lifestyle. I also don’t want to lose out on flavour. I love eating good food. Food that feeds my body and nourishes my soul. Most of my recipes are therefore not only quick and easy to make; they are super healthy and deliciou too. You’ll have this lovely refreshing bowl of Quinoa Mint Lemon Tabouleh ready under 15 minutes.Read More
Pineapple Mint Cucumber Smoothie
This Pineapple Mint Cucumber Smoothie reminds me of Ibiza and hot summers. It’s a great drink on a hot summer day but also a fantastic electrolyte boost after a long workout. Replenishing electrolyte levels is crucial for recovery after a workout and can help boost performance in the long run. Most store-bought sport drinks, however, are loaded with sugar, additives and have little or no nutritional value. If you regularly exercise for more than an hour, replenishing electrolyte levels and getting the right nutritional building blocks in your body is a must. Read More
Red Power Salad
My lunch today at de Ysbreeker inspired me to create a new recipe based on the principle of red power, a Red Power Salad with red quinoa, red cabbage, red beets, pomegranate seeds and cranberries. When it comes to health, the colours on your plate matter. Phytonutrients, also known as phytochemicals, are the nutrients often concentrated in the skins of fruits and vegetables, that are responsible for their color. This salad focuses on the antioxidant power of the red/purple family of phytonutrients,which have been found to protect against heart disease and even cancer.Read More
Alkalising Recovery Juice
This Alkalising Recovery Juice with citrus fruit is tasty, refreshing and best of all, it boost your recovery after an intense work-out. Did you know that eating alkalising foods is crucial to repair your body after a work-out? Physical exertion builds up lactic acid in the body. In an acidic body lactic acid is not properly flushed out of your system. Instead it builds up in your body, which can result in post-workout tension, fatigue and muscle stiffness. Ever suffer from days of muscle soreness and fatigue after an intense work-out without understanding why? Check out what you ate the days before your work-out and the days after.Read More
Super Antioxidant Smoothie
This Super Antioxidant Smoothie with swiss chard and pear is the best way to start your day. Swiss Chard is one of the most nutritious vegetables around. wiss Chard is perhaps most celebrated for its high variety of antioxidants. Researchers have found at least three dozen of antioxidants in Swiss Chard, much higher than most vegetables, that help combat oxidative stress. Antioxidants are your best defense against fighting the stresses of our daily living environment and therefore crucial for your health. Read More
White Lightning Juice
This White Lighting Juice with white turmeric, honey, lemon and coconut water derives its name from its effect on your taste buds. They will light up in new and surprising ways. A big part of is due to the type of turmeric I have used in this juice. My friend recently told me about white turmeric which I have wanted to buy forever but had never been able to find. She gave me some yesterday and here’s the result, a juice that will literally light up your taste buds. White turmeric has a lighter, whiter flesh than yellow turmeric, but its flavor is more pronounced and in my opinion more delicate. Read More
Super Power Bowl
This Super Power Bowl nourishes your body on many levels. Ever wondered what to eat after a long work-out ? Well, this is it. Recently, I have gotten into the habit of doing endurance work-outs on a rowing machine. I have noticed that I need to feed myself differently than after my usual yoga practice. Right after my work-out I drink some coconut juice to rehydrate. And then about 1 hour after my work-out I have what I call my Super Power Bowl. It contains everything you need to boost your recovery and your performance as an athlete. Read More
Sweet Potato Carrot Orange Juice
This Sweet Potato Carrot Orange Juice is spectacular. Initially, I wasn’t drawn to the idea of juicing sweet potatoes. Juicing sweet potatoes? You must be kidding me! Or that’s what I would have said to you not so long ago. The idea of juicing this starchy vegetable just sounded plain weird. But as I found out, sweet potatoes make the tastiest, sweetest, smoothest and most nutritious juice I have ever tasted. They are super-healthy too. Read More
Roasted Red Beet Hummus
This Roasted Red Beet Hummus is inspired by a birthday party I went to last weekend. My friend loves beet hummus and he had a really yummy store-bought red beet hummus on the dinner table. As I love all my foods fresh and I avoid packaged foods as much as I can, I thought I’d try to recreate my own recipe with fresh roasted beets and herbs. The store-bought one is pretty good but I am pretty sure ‘I beet it’ with this recipe (pun intended). Read More
Red Lentil Coconut Soup
This Red Lentil Coconut Soup is yet another great lentil dish. The spices used in this dish not only enhance the taste of this soup, but also make it more nutritious. If you are prone to gas or bloating, adding the right spices can make a world of difference. Fresh ginger and many of the spices used in curry powder such as cumin and coriander help to reduce any of the side effects that legumes are often associated with. Red lentils are super healthy. Rich in dietary fiber, iron, folate and magnesium, they give energy, stabilise blood sugar and support heart health. Read More
Beluga Lentil Goat Cheese Salad
This Beluga Lentil Goat Cheese Salad is delicious in its simplicity. Over the years I have fallen in love with lentils. I love a good Dahl or lentil soup. There’s something heart-warming and nourishing about lentils. They are also great sources of protein, especially if you are on a vegetarian or vegan diet. rarely eat cheese as I try to avoid dairy but when I do I make sure I enjoy it. You can enjoy this Beluga Lentil Goat Cheese Salad on its own as I often do or as a side-dish to a larger meal or salad.Read More
Quinoa Zucchini Raisin Salad
This Quinoa Zucchini Raisin Salad is light and refreshing. It has only a few ingredients and it’s very quick and easy to make. You’ll have it on your table in less than twenty minutes. I love the fresh and clean flavours of the raw crispy zucchini, fresh herbs and lemon-honey dressing. The lemon juice and zest infuse the whole dish with a wonderful tangy flavor. The honey and succulent raisins add a beautiful sweetness. If you are looking for a light and easy-to-digest meal, this Quinoa Zucchini Raisin Salad is the perfect dish for you. It’s great for lunch or to bring along on a picnic. Read More
Vegan Raspberry Thyme Sorbet
OMG. This Vegan Raspberry Thyme Sorbet is heaven. Technically, it’s a sorbet and not an ice cream. Plus it looks like a granita as it does not scoop well. But what’s in a name. It tastes absolutely amazing. It’s vegan and it’s raw. It’s not too sweet, as I like my sorbets to have a bit of a tangy taste. The fresh, juicy raspberries are the first things you’ll notice in this lovely sorbet. The Thyme and the Mint in the honey add a distinctive herbal and pungent flavor. Do need I to say more?Read More
Gluten free Nut and Seed Bread
This Nut and Seed Bread beats any energy drink or power bar. It gets you going and keeps you going. It is packed with whole grains and dietary fiber that provide energy and a sense of satiety to last you through your day. The nuts and seeds are a great source of protein which helps the body to build muscle. It’s great to take with you on a long hike or if you are a busy person who is always on the go. Read More
Endive Blood Orange Salad
This Endive Blood Orange Salad is pure simplicity. The ingredients speak for themselves. I love blood oranges and couldn’t resist buying a whole bunch of them at the local market last weekend. The ones I bought were very sweet and dark red. Their intense flavor and sweetness pair really well with bitter flavors, such as Belgian endives, hemp oil and walnuts. The date balsamic adds another layer of sweetness to this dish. If you enjoy delicious and fresh flavors on your plate, this is going to be one of your favorite salads. Read More
Black Bean Quinoa Chili
This spicy Black Bean Quinoa Chili is healthy, nourishing and balances blood sugar. It’s full of flavour and packed with nourishing vegetables and protein in the form of quinoa and black beans. When you struggle with blood sugar imbalance it’s important to eat mostly slow carbs in plant form. This recipe is full of slow carbs that release sugar in your bloodstream slowly, such as shallots, tomatoes, zucchini, red peppers and parsley. Read More
Going Gluten-free Can Change Your Life
Could going gluten-free change your life? Many people are unknowingly gluten intolerant or sensitive. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, spelt and barley. Lots of common foods contain gluten, such as breakfast cereals, bread, pastries and pastas, but also many unexpected foods like soy sauce, ketchup, stock cubes and other processed foods contain gluten. Symptoms of gluten intolerance can be vague and therefore often go unnoticed. Read More
Home-made Granola
When you are gluten-intolerant or sensitive, it can be hard to find out what foods are right for you. Breakfast especially can be hard to work around as most store-bought cereals and breads contain gluten and high amounts of sugar. Making your own granola can be a great and healthy option for you. You can mix up this recipe by adding coconut flakes, your choice of nuts, seeds or dried fruits.Read More
Root Vegetable Gratin
This Root Vegetable Gratin is a delicious, hearty and filling vegan dish. It has a no-cheese crunchy crust and is a perfect warmer on a cold day. Plus it’s really healthy. Root vegetables are some of the most underappreciated vegetables around. But they are nutritional powerhouses, widely available in winter and very inexpensive. Feel free to experiment with rutabagas, turnips. Beets, parsnips and other root vegetables in this recipe. Enjoy what’s out there in your local market!Read More
Green Power Soup
This Green Power Soup is a heart-warming version of a high-nutrient green juice. When it’s so cold outside, I find it hard to stomach a cold, green juice. But I don’t want to go without that super plant power of a great green juice either. So here’s an heart-warming green power soup that will not only keep you warm on a cold day but will help feed every single cell of your body and eliminate waste. I have used spinach and broccoli in this one but you can add kale, Swiss chard, purslane or any other green leafy vegetable to your taste.Read More
Sweet Potato Brussels Sprouts Curry
This Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprouts Curry is amazing. I love a good Thai curry but nothing beats making your own curry paste. It’s easy to buy ready-made Thai curry paste but making your own paste adds so much more freshness, flavor and fragrance to the dish. The inspiration for adding the Brussel sprouts and apples to this curry came from an amazing Thai curry recipe I saw on The Green Kitchen. They are right. Brussels sprouts and apples might seem unconventional in a curry, but they fit in perfectly.Read More
Digestive Calm Juice
This Digestive Calm Juice uses fennel and pear to relax the digestive system. Fennel reduces intestinal cramping, gas, flatulence and bloating. People with leaky gut or Inflammatory Bowel Disease can benefit from fennel because of its antispasmodic qualities that help to relax the digestive system and its anti-inflammatory effects. Pears are great for digestive health as they are rich in pectin, which is soothing for the digestive system. Read More
Broccoli Sweet Potato Soup
This Broccoli Coconut Sweet Potato Soup is delicious and very easy to make. I love the combination of sweet potatoes and ginger. The ginger and pepper gives this soup a nice kick and bring balance to the sweetness of the potatoes and coconut. A no-nonsense soup with wholesome ingredients that makes a great lunch or a starter. You can puree the soup in a blender for a smooth and creamy texture or serve it as is.Read More
Quinoa With Sweet Potato
This delicious quinoa salad with sweet potato, avocado and walnuts is super-healthy and gives you the fuel you need for an active lifestyle. The three main ingredients -quinoa, sweet potatoes and avocado- are low-glycemic and can help regulate blood sugar. If you have a sweet tooth, sweet potatoes are great as they satisfy your sweet cravings without spiking your blood sugar. This dish will give you a slow release of energy and is exactly what your body needs if you have a lot of work ahead of you or are planning a work-out later on in the day.Read More
Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate
I love the warming and comforting effect of a great Chai Latte and the intensity of a hot chocolate. This recipe combines the best of both worlds. It is the perfect drink on a cold day, wrapped up in a warm blanket. For most of us when we get a craving, it’s for sugar, especially in the afternoon or right after dinner. This Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate will satisfy your sweet tooth without creating a dramatic spike in your blood sugar levels. The best way to get a quick pick me up while enjoying the sweetness of life.Read More
Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Soup
This Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Soup is a hearty, filling soup to keep you going on a cold day. I just love a steaming hot bowl of sweet pumpkin soup. However, most of the pumpkin soups I have had this year were a bit bland. Now I love the depth of Indian flavors so I decided to inject my Pumpkin Soup with Indian spices such as ginger, cumin and coriander. This soup comes close to a spicy, aromatic Indian Dahl. It has a lots of healthy fresh ginger in it. Ginger warms the body, it boosts immunity, has strong anti-inflammatory properties and is a natural painkiller.Read More
Mediterranean Dinosaur Kale Salad
This simple recipe for Mediterranean Dinosaur Kale Salad combines the flavors of the Mediterranean with the super food power of kale. I am a big fan of Dinosaur kale and we eat it at least twice a week at our home. It’s such a simple pure ingredient, easy to prepare and has so many great health benefits. Kale has been called a nutritional power house for a reason. It’s high in vitamins (K, C and A), packed with powerful antioxidants and a powerful anti-inflammatory food and there’s so much more. Read More
Alkalinity Booster Juice
This Alkalinity Booster Juice is divine! I came upon it by accident while throwing my left-over veggies and fruits in the juicer. It’s so delicious!! I have juiced the peel of the oranges which gives it a slightly bitter taste but that’s where all the Vitamin C is. The fragrant Bergamot orange adds a special touch to this juice. It’s somewhere in between a lemon and an orange. I love its perfumy citrusy smell. There’s a good reason why it’s used a lot in perfumes. Read More
Blueberry Quinoa Porridge
This Blueberry Quinoa Porridge is a delicious and healthy gluten-free breakfast option. Gluten is a protein most commonly found in wheat and other grains, such as barley, rye and spelt. If you’ve ever tried to avoid gluten, you know how hard it is to find great substitutes in your local store. Most gluten-free breakfast cereals are loaded with sugar and expansive. If you are struggling with gluten allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity, making your own is worth your while. Read More
Flu Fighter Smoothie
This Flu Fighter Smoothie gets its amazing Vitamin C boost from the blueberries, the lime and the camu camu, an Amazonian superfruit that’s rich in beneficial phytonutrients. This is a high-nutrient smoothie that gives you fuel to fight infection and disease, a great fortifier during the cold season. I’ve made this on days that I had flu-like symptoms. Each time I was up and running again the next day. The Spirulina will make this smoothie dark green. Don’t worry it tastes super healthy!Read More
Chickpea Crêpes With Mushrooms
These chickpea crêpes with tofu, kale and mushrooms are a spin on one of my favorite Indian dishes, a North Indian dish called Chole which is basically a Chickpea Curry. Instead of using chickpeas in the curry, I have made crepes with chickpea flour and fresh coriander. I have made a spicy tomato curry of tofu, kale and mushrooms. It still has that delicious spicy flavor of the original dish but is a healthier version of the one that I used to make. Read More
Blueberry Banana Rice Porridge
This blueberry banana rice porridge is a delicious and super healthy breakfast option. This is what I am living on in the morning these days, when it’s below freezing point. I get cold very easily and don’t enjoy walking into a cold and icy living room in the early morning. But this breakfast porridge is what gets me going. There’s something particularly nurturing and loving about preparing this for myself on a cold morning. It warms and wakes me up instantly. Read More
Three Beet Salad With Fennel
This Three Beet Salad With Fennel is simply delicious but what makes my heart beat even more is that it’s so brightly colored. Lots of color on a plate does not only mean it’s high in flavor but it’s high and diverse in nutrients too. The different types of beets in this salad make it vibrant, colorful, and very healthy. From now on consider each meal you prepare as a work of art. Color your plate to get the nutrients you need!Read More
Brussels Sprouts With Shallots
These roasted Brussels sprouts with pine nuts and caramelized shallots make the perfect winter dish. I never liked Brussel sprouts growing up. I found out I love sprouts when they are crisp on the outside but still solid on the inside. These sprouts are crispy and firm and the bitterness of the sprouts is balanced by the sweetness of the caramelized onions and tartness of the vinegar. If you don’t like sprouts, try out this recipe! Read More
Fennel Apple Avocado Salad
Want to surprise your taste buds with a ridiculously simple but insanely deliciously salad? This Fennel Apple Avocado salad is one of my favorites. The fennel is sweet, crunchy and refreshing and combines well with tartness of the apple and thick creaminess of the avocado. It makes a great side-dish for a heavier entree or you can enjoy it on its own. Read More
Apple Banana Cinnamon Cereal
This Apple Banana Cinnamon cereal is a tasty and easy to make breakfast which I prepare when I have run out of ingredients to make my morning smoothie or need a hearty, tasty breakfast. It is quick to make and it is a nutritious, balanced meal. Most ingredients are raw except for the quinoa. It’s gluten-free. but you can use alternatives to quinoa like oats or amaranth.Read More