The new year snuck up on me, but not in a stressful way. I breathe it in slowly like an unexpected breeze and inhale it deeply with intention like so much steam rising from a tea cup. As we approach a new year we set goals, raise our hopes, and reset for our next year of adventures. Whether we start the new year off with a prayer, a mantra, a wish, a motivating phrase or a list of goals, most of us have something in common…we start the year with a positive challenge, a growth mindset and renewed energy.
I have found I stay motivated when I choose to embrace positive thinking and make changes in my life that are additive rather than subtractive. My challenge this year is to enter the year with choices to embrace fullness rather than scarcity. For example, instead of saying “I want to lose weight, eliminate sugar from my diet and spend less time in front of the TV” I am choosing to say, “I want to fill my diet with nutrient dense food, fill my time with outdoor exercise and surround myself with people who hold me accountable to my best self.”
I believe that the more optimism we include in our language the more sustainable positive change will be in our lives. Eating healthfully is something that helps me implement growth into many areas of my life, and this is why I am providing you with 5 recipes that I have collected that will allow you to kickstart your year and achieve your goals. I hope that these recipes encourage you to embrace fullness through the tools of being mindful, hopeful, thankful, soulful and beautiful. Let’s live our lives fully!
MINDFUL
Food For Thought: With fresh berries and nutrient dense proteins, this dish is designed with your mental energy in mind! Enjoy this meal and allow it to supercharge your mind with clarity and creative energy.
Blueberry Quinoa Salad:
- ½ cup quinoa, dried
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- ½ cup dried cherries
- ½ cup chopped cashews
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
- 4 cups arugula
- ½ cup maple ginger dressing + more for serving
Maple Ginger Dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 limes juiced
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar* I used red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
HOPEFUL
Food For Action: This meal is designed with activity in mind. It’s rich in healthful qualities and can be prepared and packed easily for a picnic, hike or beach day. Enjoy this meal and allow it to be an active participant of the life you’ve hoped and imagined for yourself.
Ingredients:
- 1 large ripe avocado
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- 2 whole grain pita pockets
- 4 butter lettuce leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 4 slices
THANKFUL
Food For Friends: Instead of feeding four like the rest of the dishes, this meal is enough for a party of eight. Allow this meal to provide you with the opportunity to surround yourself with the people that you are thankful for.
Ingredients:
- 1 package (10 ounce) Lasagna Pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil + more for drizzling
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 15.5 ounces soft tofu, crumbled
- 7 ounces baby spinach
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup vegan ricotta
- 26 ounce jar tomato sauce
- 2 medium-sized tomatoes, sliced into rounds
- 8 ounce bag shredded mozzarella vegan cheese
SOULFUL
Food For Your Soul: This meal is designed to remind you that you can eat the things you love. Remember that eating healthfully can be fun and can feed your spirit. Remember that giving yourself permission to enjoy life is not cheating.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (I used olive oil)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- Thumb sized piece of ginger, grated
- 3 tbsp red curry paste
- 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 1 14 oz can of coconut milk
- 3-4 large sweet potatoes
- 2 cups of spinach
- 1 lime, juiced
- Cooked rice (I used quinoa)
- Dry roasted peanuts
BEAUTIFUL
Food For Your Eyes: This colorful array is here to remind you that beauty exists in everything, even in our food. Feast your eyes on the wonder of life and let it fill you with light and joy.
Quinoa Salad:
- ¾ cup uncooked quinoa
- 1-2 cups shredded red cabbage, depending on how much crunch you like
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 small red onion, diced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup diced green onions
- ½ cup cashew halves or peanuts (honey-roasted is good)
- Optional: 1 cup edamame or chickpeas
- Fresh lime, for a bit of tang
Dressing:
- ¼ cup all natural peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce, gluten-free if desired
- 1 tablespoon honey (use agave if vegan)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Water to thin, if necessary
Shopping List:
- 1 16 oz Bag of quinoa – $4.99 (3)
- 1 Basket of fresh blueberries – $2.50 (1)
- 8 oz of Dried cherries – $4.99 (1)
- 1 16 oz Bag of cashews – $4.99 (2)
- 1 Bunch of green onions – $1.00 (2)
- 1 Bag of arugula – $2.49 (1)
- 1 Jar of olive oil – $4.99 (4)
- 1 Jar of maple syrup – $7.99 (2)
- 4 Limes – $0.76 (3)
- 1 Jar of White wine vinegar – $1.99 (2)
- 2 Inch piece of ginger – $0.50 (3)
- 1 Clove of garlic – $0.50 (3)
- Salt and pepper to taste – $2.00 (3)
- 1 Large ripe avocado – $1.00 (1)
- 4 Whole grain pita pockets – $1.69 (1)
- 1 Head of butter lettuce – $1.99 (1)
- 1 Bunch of fresh basil – $1.50 (1)
- 4 medium tomatoes – $3.50 (1)
- 2 Onions – $1.78 (1)
- 1 Jar of red curry paste – $2.49 (1)
- 1 Tub of smooth peanut butter – $2.49 (2)
- 1 14 oz can of coconut milk – $1.00 (1)
- 3-4 Large sweet potatoes – $2.99 (1)
- 1 Bag of spinach – $1.00 (2)
- Dry roasted peanuts – $3.99 (2)
- 1 Package (10 ounce) Lasagna Pasta – $1.65 (1)
- 15.5 oz soft tofu, crumbled – $1.50 (1)
- ¼ Cup + 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast – $7.99 (1)
- 1 Cup vegan ricotta – $4.99 (1)
- 26 oz jar tomato sauce – $1.99 (1)
- 8 oz bag shredded mozzarella vegan cheese – $4.99 (1)
- 1 Purple cabbage – $1.50 (1)
- 1 Red bell pepper – $1.00 (1)
- 2 Carrots – $1.00 (1)
- 1 Bunch of cilantro – $1.00 (1)
- 1 Jar of soy sauce – $3.49 (1)
- 1 Jar of sesame oil – $2.99 (1)
$85-$100 *Prices may fluctuate depending on tax, store, sale and season. I paid $89.50 this week.
References
Garcia, J. (2017, May 22). Blueberry Quinoa Salad with Maple Ginger Dressing. Retrieved December 31, 2017, from Trendeing.com,
Foodie Blog website: https://www.trendeing.com/foodie-blog/blueberry-quinoa-salad-with-maple-ginger-dressing
Gracia, J. (2017, September 4). Vegan Lasagna. Retrieved December 16, 2017, from Trendeing.com, Foodie Blog website:
https://www.trendeing.com/foodie-blog/vegan-lasagna
Silcock, E. (N.D). Satay Sweet Potato Curry. Retrieved December 31, 2017, from www.bbcgoodfood.com website:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/satay-sweet-potato-curry.
The Ambitious Kitchen, Monique. (April 4). Satay Sweet Potato Curry. Retrieved December 31, 2017, from www.ambitiouskitchen.com
Whole Foods Market. (2014, July 29). Avocado, Lettuce and Tomato Pita Pockets. Retrieved December 31, 2017, from Homemade
Healthy Recipes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjBYrwSPzFE&list=PLDFmQ1Ea1sUUSl8BaxGtK9NByJnVdwt01&index=8+