Tag: vegan

Red Velvet Smoothie Bowl

A tropical oasis featuring several superfoods.

A mini tropical oasis in the middle of winter could be at your fingertips. This was my first experience eating dragon fruit so I did some research. Dragon fruit is known as Pitaya roja in Central and South America, and Pitahaya in central Mexico. It is sometimes called “lady of the night” or “queen of the night” as its flowers only bloom during the night. Nutritionally, dragon fruit is recognized for its high vitamin C content and its ability to aid digestion. However, some other possible benefits of dragon fruit consumption may include cancer prevention, improved cholesterol profiles, stabilized blood sugar levels, and improved immune system functioning. I would love to hear your thoughts on this nutrient-rich breakfast in the comments below or via social media (Instagram, Twitter).

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Ingredients:

Smoothie:

  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 0.5 cup raspberries, frozen, organic if possible
  • 0.5 cup blueberries, frozen, organic if possible

Toppings:

  • goji berries
  • dragon fruit
  • hemp, sesame & buckwheat seeds

How to:

  1. Soak oats and chia seeds in almond milk overnight.
  2. In the morning, mix the soaked mixture with frozen fruit in a blender.
  3. Pour into bowl and decorate with toppings.

PCOS Powers:

  • raspberries = low glycemic index fruit, high in anti-oxidants, may help lower inflammation and prevent cancer
  • chia seeds = high in omega 3s which can help decrease high testosterone and improve egg quality
  • goji berries = high in protein, anti-oxidants, beta-carotene, and may improve men’s sperm count
  • hemp seeds = high in protein, fibre, and essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 & 9) which may improve cholesterol profiles, may reduce inflammation

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Green Power Smoothie Bowl

34 grams of plant-based protein in this smoothie bowl.

It was challenging to find a fitting name for this smoothie bowl recipe as there’s a lot going on here. Practically every superfood currently in my kitchen got featured in today’s breakfast. With properties such as being low glycemic, high in protein (34 grams) and high in fiber (24 grams), this is a healing breakfast for PCOS-fighters. I usually keep chopped fruits and veggies in the freezer ready to go for smoothies. Not only does this make smoothies colder, but also thicker. Nut butters will also help thicken smoothies. Have fun dreaming up your own smoothie bowl masterpiece and please share your creations with me in the comments below.

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Ingredients:

Smoothie base:

  • 0.5 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 cups frozen chopped kale, organic if possible
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 4 ice cubes
  • 1 scoop plant-based protein powder
  • 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
  • 1 inch chunk of fresh ginger

Toppings:

  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • coconut
  • goji berries
  • raspberries, organic if possible
  • banana

How to:

  1. Blend almond milk, ice cubes, and banana in a blender until smooth.
  2. Slowly add kale, ginger, protein powder and peanut butter blending after each ingredient.
  3. Pour into a bowl and top with any fruits and seeds you have in your kitchen.

PCOS Powers:

  • kale = good source of calcium which helps to improve egg and follicle development
  • chia seeds = high in omega 3s which can help decrease high testosterone and improve egg quality
  • raspberries = low glycemic index fruit, high in anti-oxidants, may help lower inflammation and prevent cancer
  • ginger = anti-inflammatory, may help decrease fasting blood glucose and HbA1c
  • goji berries = high in protein, anti-oxidants, beta-carotene

Sweet Potato Chips with Avocado Dip

Looking for a nutritious game day snack?

These nourishing sweet potato chips make for a great movie night or game-day snack. They are infinitely healthier than most store-bought chips and are still delicious. Ps. if you’re thinking about skipping the oil, consider that it helps us absorb the nutrients, like beta-carotene, in the sweet potato!

Sweet Potato Chips

Ingredients:

  • 1 sweet potato (sometimes called a yam)
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 tsp rosemary
  • 1 tsp thyme

Avocado dip:Avocado Dip

  • 1 avocado
  • 1 garlic clove
  • splash of almond milk

How to:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Wash and scrub sweet potato.
  3. Slice sweet potato as thinly as possible with a sharp knife (a mandoline would work better if you have one).
  4. Toss sweet potato slices in oil, rosemary, and thyme.
  5. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet with parchment paper on it.
  6. Cook in oven for 10 minutes and then flip and cook for another 10 minutes.
  7. As chips are cooking, mix avocado, garlic, and almond milk in a food processor until smooth and creamy.
  8. Keep an eye on the chips near the end as the edges can burn quickly.

PCOS Powers:

  • sweet potato = anti-inflammatory, medium glycemic index food but high in fiber & studies have shown they may assist blood sugar regulation (even better if boiled not roasted), high in beta-carotene which may improve fertility, may increase adiponectin levels in those with type 2 diabetes, shown to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer
  • rosemary = anti-inflammatory, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells
  • thyme = anti-septic, anti-fungal, may help lower cholesterol

Sweet Potato Yam Chips with Avocado Dip

Have you made sweet potato chips before?