June 30, 2011

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe & Vega Book Giveaway!

135 comments

Hello friends!

I have a great recipe and giveaway for you all today. Meet Mediterranean Quinoa Salad:

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Pretty, huh? 🙂

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A couple months ago, I was sent a book by the Vega team to review, written by Peggy Kotsopoulas, their newest spokesperson. The book, Must Have Been Something I Ate, offers a holistic nutrition approach to wellbeing, and includes detailed information about nutrients and which foods will do what for your health.

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I have found the book to be really interesting — I haven’t finished reading it yet, but it’s basically a sort of Nutrition 101 crash course! Kind of like a way more interesting version of my biochemistry classes 😉

The book also features a section of plant-based whole foods recipes, which I love! Earlier this week, I decided to whip up a batch of the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad for lunch. It’s very much an “Anne recipe” — super quick and easy, but still healthy and delicious!

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Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and chopped
  • 1/2 bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • Pinch fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • Juice of 1/4 lemon

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

mediterranean quinoa salad
May 6, 2019 by Anne

A healthy quinoa salad inspired by Mediterranean flavors.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield
4-6 servings
Pin This

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and chopped
  • 1/2 bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • Pinch fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • Juice of 1/4 lemon

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Then enjoy:

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So delicious and SO simple. I loved it! And according to the book, it provides energizing B vitamins, muscle-relaxing magnesium, and blood sugar balancing fiber. Win!

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I’m excited to try more of the recipes in the book, too — there’s some really interesting and creative ones, and they are all either vegetarian or vegan! I’m especially curious about the Hummus, Fig, and Olive Tapenade Crustini, the Chocolate Mousse (made with pumpkin!), the vegan Lemon Berry Tart, and the quinoa cookies. Yum!

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Vega Book Giveaway: Must Have Been Something I Ate, by Peggy Kotsopoulos

Here’s your chance to win a copy of the book! I’ll be giving one away to one lucky fANNEtastic winner.

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Here’s how to enter to win — each option is an additional entry!

  1. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite super nutritious food or recipe is and why. Recipe links are welcome!
  2. Tweet about this contest on Twitter (include a link to this post and @fannetasticfood),and then leave another comment telling me you tweeted. Please make sure you are following me on twitter, too!
  3. If you have a blog, mention and link back to this contest in one of your posts, and then leave another comment letting me know you blogged about it.
  4. Mention and link back to this contest on Facebook, then leave another comment telling me you Facebooked it. Please make sure you have “liked” fANNEtastic food on Facebook, too!

Be sure to post a separate comment for each entry option you do.

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U.S. Residents only, please! I will announce the winner next Tuesday (July 5, 2011).

Good luck!

- anne

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Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

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135 comments
  • Not a US resident unfortunately but my favourite nutritious food is oats - I love how many different ways I can prepare it and it never fails to be tasty! At the moment this is the way I'm eating it most: http://somethingtochewover.blog.com/carrot-cake-porridge/
    Reply
  • Wow- that salad looks YUM. I might need to make that tonight! Not a lot of local veggies ready here in the mountains yet, though..... My fave lately is raw oatmeal, yogurt, berries, nuts and flax seeds....maybe a little peanut flour thrown in. It works for me as any meal! MMMM
    Reply
  • My fav summer recipe right now is Watermelon Salad! mmmm I ate nearly the entire bowl last night. http://yogapeach.com/?p=1237 Twittered the contest, left a comment, facebooked the contest and signed your fb wall! Yoga Peach
    Reply
  • My new favorite is your chicken salad recipe. I'm not a fan of mayo, so it is just perfect for me!
    Reply
  • I like the name of the book! I swear any recipe with oats is magical. Everyone needs some oats in their life!
    Reply
  • Lately I can't get seem to eat enough bananas - with oatmeal, green monsters, and snacks, sometimes I eat three a day! Gotta love a delicious, versatile food that's packed with nutrients and is also CHEAP!
    Reply
  • I love nutritional yeast- I can use it to help fulfill my rampant cheese cravings and it's full of nutrients that my growing baby needs:-).
    Reply
  • I am Canadian but I had to write that I loved this recipe idea for summer time :) I have a fave summa salad this year http://lauren-whatlaurenlikes.blogspot.com/2011/06/if-you-like-it-then-you-shoulda-put-lid.html
    Reply
  • Mmm that salad looks good! My favorite nutritious food is a smoothie post-workout. I love them because you can throw anything and everything in the blender and whip up a complete meal in no time!
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  • My favorite nutritious food is spinach! I've recently jumped onto the green monster bandwagon, and love that I am now able to incorporate greens into my breakfast :-)
    Reply
  • I love sweet potatoes because you can serve them savory or sweet!
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  • I'm a huge lover of oats - I can't get enough of them! I like to make oatmeal nearly every morning ... it never gets old! Oats, skim milk, banana, ground flax, sunflower butter, chia seeds. Mmmmmm
    Reply
  • My favorite nutritious food is currently kale. I would have never pictured myself eating it, but I love kale chips. They are a great addition to my lunches and helps me get some greens in! The book had me sold at pumpkin in the chocolate mousse.. must try!
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    • I would just like to say that I am LOVING kale chips right now- i just introduced my entire office to them and i have some converts! Such a better alternative to potato chips!
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  • Mmm, I'm a new lover of quinoa, so I'll be making this recipe for sure this weekend! My favorite recipe of the week is actually a Southwest Stuffed Pepper. I had leftover taco meat and quinoa. So I combined that with leftover corn off the cob, a can of rotel tomatoes, and kidney beans. Stuffed some gorgeous yellow and orange sweet peppers and topped with a little shredded cheese. So good and excellent for work lunches. I topped with avocado, salsa, or sour cream. So, so good!
    Reply
  • I've recently jumped on the quinoa bandwagon, and the chia seed bandwagon and I'm loving them both! Even still, I don't think anything will ever be much better than a big 'ol salad, stuffed with all of my favorite veggies. The more colorful, the better!
    Reply
  • I have been a vegetarian for almost 20 years and have only recently started eating quinoa and I love it, and the never ending ways to enjoy it! My other favorite food is Irish steel cut oatmeal, which is why I look forward to breakfast. I usually add 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries, 1 tbsp. fresh-grind almond butter (not from a jar), cinnamon, nutmeg, and a tbsp. of flax seed. It's a very hearty breakfast for about 300 calories and will keep you full until lunchtime. Have a great day! Angie S. in Houston, TX
    Reply
  • This chopped Greek salad was the salad that I compare all others too, and doesn't even need dressing (the juices make their own dressing!) http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeid=142371 CHANGED MY LIFE!
    Reply
  • I love baked goods made with greek yogurt!
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  • The quinoa salad looks awesome, I will definitely have to try that recipe! My favorite healthy recipe is my souped up version of the Green Monster - banana, skim milk, spinach, with chocolate protein powder and peanut butter. It's so filling that I have it as a quick and tasty dinner at least once a week!
    Reply
  • I love the quick & easy, yet still delicious recipes too like this one above! Last night's dinner was a winner - quinoa mix with chickpeas, tons of veggies, and covered with a ginger teryaki sauce.
    Reply
  • I absolutely love quinoa and like to make it into salads like the one you made! Currently though, my favorite go-to healthy snack are my Triple Nut Crunch Granola Bars- http://eathealthybehappylivewell.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/triple-nut-crunch-granola-bars/ I make a batch each week and have a few a day as a morning snack or a pre-workout snack. With all of the nuts, it keeps me super full for long periods of time!
    Reply
  • I've been throwing spinach into my smoothies lately for an extra kick of nutrients!
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  • I have a favorite Quinoa Salad too - Quinoa & Avocado Salad (http://www.arunningtale.com/2011/06/foodie-friday_24.html) It is so good, especially if you like cilantro (I love it). I make it in larger batches and then have leftovers for lunches.
    Reply
  • Your salad looks amazing - can't wait to try it! I love lentils - this salad is a lot of chopping, but is SO worth it - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/moroccan-lentil-salad/detail.aspx
    Reply
  • I love a good quinoa salad for a nutritious recipe. My recent faavorite (b/c it's impossible to pick just one) is my quinoa, spinach, mango salad. http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2011/06/nrolfw-update-more-mango/
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  • Without a doubt....BLUEBERRIES! I am convinced these little, antioxidant, filled anti-agers will keep my skin looking good for years to come! I eat TONS in greek yogurt. PS - I am making your friend's strawberries from yesterday's post tonight! :)
    Reply
  • I usually go for broccoli when I'm feeling a bit blah from eating bad. This book looks great, I think I'll make that Quinoa Salad today, just need some Feta.
    Reply
  • I love spinach! I have a handful in my morning smoothie and sometimes more for salads/stirfry dishes that day as well!
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  • I love "green monsters" for my super healthy breakfast! http://newbalancenicole.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/green-monster/ ----> here is my recipe :)
    Reply
  • I LOVE Quinoa! It's so versatile and I enjoy making everything from cold dinner salads to warm oatmeal-like breakfast creations.
    Reply
  • I love fresh foods! I've been learning about healthy eating in bits and pieces over the past 3 years. And by far the biggest thing I've learned is you simply can't replace yumminess or nutritional value with convenience foods! :-) (So I can't really pick just one...) OK...so my husband's *favorite* is mashed sweet potatoes. A close second are faux-potatoes (steamed cauli mixed with a little bit of reg. white potato - thrown in the food process with a bit of butter, milk, salt and pepper...it is his way of getting his potato fix without the blood sugar impact of reg. potatoes...he's diabetic :-) ).
    Reply
  • I absolutely love The Scrambled Egg Muffin recipe, which can be found at fANNEtastic food.com It contains eggs, spinach, basil, cheese, spelt flour, tomato, milk. This is a terrific healthy breakfast for busy folks and the kids like it too. Great for busy mornings getting kids ready for school.
    Reply
  • I see that salad for lunch in my very near future. My favorite healthy food is green monster smoothies. They are a definite go-to that always tastes great and I always feel great when I drink one every morning.
    Reply
  • I just tweeted
    Reply
  • This is my favorite super nutritious dish http://www.thewannabechef.net/2011/01/13/vegged-out-quinoa/
    Reply
  • I don't have one favorite, Anne! My fave super nutritious foods are (in no particular order): oats, Greek yogurt, berries, almonds, spinach and quinoa.
    Reply
  • YUM! My favorite nutritious food would probably be greek yogurt because it tastes great, has lots of protein, and is a good way to get in my daily calcium!
    Reply
  • I tweeted about the giveaway, too. :)
    Reply
  • I don't have a recipe but my favorite nutritious foods are oats, Greek yogurt, quinoa, avocado, nut butter, spinach, almonds and all fruit!
    Reply
  • This is my favorite for breakfast and sometimes for afternoon snack: http://www.bethenny.com/2010/05/13/healthy-brown-rice-breakfast/ Very tasty and filling!
    Reply
  • My favorite super nutritious food right now is any veggie or fruit roasted on the grill! I'm loving them all, and usually pair them with a grilled salmon fillet, place them on top of a bed of greens, or mix them into a bowl of cooked whole wheat pasta and add a little goat or blue cheese for creaminess.
    Reply
  • I have been hearing so many great things about this book lately! Funny enough, quinoa is one of favorite healthy foods. It is so satisfying, nutritious and delicious.
    Reply
  • Great giveaway! My favorite nutritious food would probably be a greek yogurt bowl mixed with berries and peanut butter! YUM!
    Reply
  • I'd love a grilled portobello burger right now.
    Reply
  • My favorite superfood right now is spinach...in a smoothie, sauteed, as the base of a salad. Can't get enough! Weird, I know!
    Reply
  • My favorite superfood right now is wheatberries! I make a big batch on Sunday and toss it with fresh veggies and left overs to make a delicious lunch.
    Reply
  • I'm also finding a new obsession with wheat berries. So chewy and delicious!
    Reply
  • Mmm, that salad looks so good. When I need something super nutritious I don't always have the time or energy to make something so I usually just make myself green smoothies with banana, spinach and whatever fruit is in the freezer. So yummy and good :)
    Reply
  • I love Mama Pea's Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna. Easy to make, healthy, and so delicious!
    Reply
  • Anything with sweet potato in it! I love adding beans and veggies to a meal with sweet potatoes for a nutrient packed powerhouse!
    Reply
  • I absolutely love anything involving fresh berries! Summer is by far my favorite season, and I love that I get to top it all off with fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries...you get the idea ;)
    Reply
  • Artichokes! (Great post, too!)
    Reply
  • My favorite healthy go to meal is: Grilled chicken with grilled veggies. I usually use a rub on the chicken: garlic and onion powder, chili powder, and cumin. For the veggies: nutritional yeast, garlic and onion powder. Lately we've been eating a ton of squash, thanks to our CSA:)
    Reply
  • My current favorite lunch is some tuna on Garlic Bible Bread (some yummy flatbread type stuff I just discovered). I think next time I'm going to add some avocado or hummus and tomatoes to liven it up even more!
    Reply
  • One of my favorite go-to healthy meals is a take on Chipotle's Vegetarian Burrito in a Bowl. I take some brown rice, black beans, a couple scoops of salsa, some shredded cheese and a small dallop of guacamole. Sometimes I add shredded lettuce or other miscellaneous veggies I have on hand. Use your imagination! You have your complete proteins with the rice and beans, some healthy fats from the guacamole, some lycopene from the tomatoes in the salsa and great flavor! Can't be beat!
    Reply
  • My new absolute favorite is grilled eggplant brushed with an agave olive oil seasoning mix. It is so good. Serve it up with a quinoa salad and I am good to go. I will try the Mediterranean salad now.
    Reply
  • I FB liked you, posted the story, tweeted and am following you now.
    Reply
  • I made a very similar salad the other night. Quinoa makes the BEST salad!
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  • Great post! I'm a huge Vega fan so I was excited to hear that you liked Peggy's new book. I just became of fan of yours on FB as well. My favorite healthy food is almond butter. It goes with everything from sweet to savory (and it's a great snack on a spoon right out of the jar). :-)
    Reply
  • My favorite go to healthy meal right now is a fruit smoothie. It is so quick to make and its loaded with so many vitamins!
    Reply
  • I LOVELOVElove Ezekiel bread! It's sprouted grains, so it's crazy healthy, has 4g of protein, and each slice is only 80 calories (I think regular sandwich bread has about 120 calories/slice). And since it's supposed to be refrigerated, it lasts forever. (I just finished a loaf that I'd had for about 3 week!)
    Reply
    • Yes! I keep mine in the freezer - my fave is the cinnamon raisin. SO good!
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  • I'm a big fan of blueberries in anything!
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  • Posted on FB!
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  • I love apples. they are a great food, easy to take on the run,and can be used in many ways!
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  • Massaged kale salad is great - you can throw anything into it and it's super fast and easy!
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  • I always seem to have a different favorite, but i would say black beans are my favorite. I can put them in almost anything I eat. They are so versatile!
    Reply
  • i love kale massaged with lemon, olive oil, and salt and peppa...so refreshing and nutritious!
    Reply
  • tweeted :)
    Reply
  • The most nutritious food I eat is quinoa. I love it. My favorite way to cook it is in this Quinoa Apple Salad that's based on a Waldorf salad recipe (no mayo tho') The dressing is made from plain yogurt with cinnamon and vanilla added to it.
    Reply
  • I'm back on my beet kick- I'm obsessed with making a salad with arugula, sliced beets, red onion, goat cheese and a twist from my black pepper grinder. Sometimes I throw in red seedless grapes for a bit of sweetness. I swear it's so flavorful you don't even need a dressing! Seriously... i've had one almost every day this week.
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    • Beets are so freaking delicious.
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  • I (and my family, too!) LOVE to make lentils and add them to Bertolli Organic pasta sauce (Basil, Oregano, Garlic flavor), a little bit of honey, extra italian herbs, onions, garlic, and a little bit of Dijon mustard. We then take this mixture and wilt some kale and other veggies (summer squash, okra, etc.) with it, and serve it open-faced on Ezekiel buns or over spinach. It is sooooo good!
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  • I love these Spicy Turkey Burgers from Eating Well: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/spicy_turkey_burgers_with_pickled_onions.html
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  • A big cup of green juice first thing in the morning: hands down! Kale, apple, carrot, and cabbage - yum!
    Reply
  • I actually love your Veggie-tastic Minestrone Soup. It's easy and very delicious!
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  • Avocados! I love them sliced up and eaten plain, mixed in with salads and pastas, or as guacamole. I know fANNEtastic food has a great hummus guacamole recipe, but when I usually make guacamole, I mash up some avocados, add in some pico de gallo, and then add a little salt, pepper and lime juice. Yum!
    Reply
  • That quinoa salad looks amazing. I was trying to think of a gluten-free side dish to take to a family cookout this weekend and I think I know what I'm gonna bring now. :-)
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  • Love your blog! I read it every morning during breakfast :) My favorite healthy recipe is the is Angela's Green Monster (Oh She Glows)!
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  • And posted a link on Facebook! :)
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  • I'm loving kale lately! yumm!
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  • I shared a link to you on facebook!
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  • I love Tempeh-Quinoa burgers because they are healthy and delicious!
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    • That sounds amazing... recipe?!
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  • Lately my fave recipe for dessert is Oh She Glows cookie dough balls! OMG, amazing!! I am also loving your 5 minute peanut butter oat balls!
    Reply
  • definitely green juice in the morning and before workouts. it gives me more energy than coffee!
    Reply
  • Lately I've been loving nutritional yeast. I put it on and in everything! I'm a vegetarian transitioning into a vegan diet, so it's a great source of protein and B vitamins.
    Reply
  • I love Mama Pea's Mmm Sauce over steamed broccoli and cauliflower!
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    • I keep hearing about that sauce - need to try it!
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  • My favorite super nutritious food is definitely oatmeal. I eat it almost every morning for breakfast. I was getting kind of bored of plain oatmeal and a quick internet search... and that was how I found your blog a few months back. Right now I'm really into adding a little peanut butter and a little banana and its delicious... I have to stop myself from eating it for dinner too. I also just bought a whole bunch of berries to try the quinoa and berry salad. I would never have thought of it for breakfast. I love berries in the morning but on their own they aren't always too filling. I'm making the quinoa now so I can try it out tomorrow!
    Reply
  • i've been digging my mom's japanese recipes lately...hijiki is a favorite. seaweed cooked in some fish broth with a little soy sauce and sugar. one of the yummiest and most nutritious dishes ever!
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  • I love making and eating a meal that i know will be satisfying plus healthy for you! I never feel guilty eating lots of veggies and fish!
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  • It's been so hot here that all I want to eat are fresh watermelon from the fridge or fresh fruit smoothies with kale.
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    • Mmm summer watermelon is the BEST!
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  • Strawberries, of course!
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  • A green monster because they are fast, easy and delicious!
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  • I tweeted! @meaganmccrea
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  • My very nutritious recipes if plain and simple - overnight oats! They taste so cold and refreshing in the morning after a workout and always start my day the healthy way :)
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  • THAT SALAD LOOKS SO YUMMY!!! I am always letting salad and am really going to try this one out... My favorite nutritous food to eat and add to stuff are chia seeds. You can add them to anything and it makes me full for hours. I put them in my vegan overnight oats or my green monsters (family look at me weird as I drink it) put them on salads and anything I really want to. I love them!!!
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  • My new favorite food is sweet potatoes! I've always been very leery of them because my grandma used to make this disgusting sweet potato casserole with all this sugar and marshallows in it (blech). But just last month I tried one at a friend's house--just plain, and it was so good. I am now eating them weekly and love that they are so easy to cook--i just microwave mine and they are done. Plus, they don't need any butter on them--they are sweet enough. win/win!
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  • Blueberries are my favorite superfood!! YUM
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  • I have a $20 a week habit. I doubt I can quit. I'm really not sure how long I'll be able to afford this. I should really try coming up with a different plan to keep myself supplied. Sometimes I just sit around thinking about thursday when I can go down to the coop to get my spinach fix. Seriously though, I like it in anything! I like spinach omelets. I even just like huge heaping mounds of it topped with fresh strawberries.
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  • Probably my morning oats - just old fashioned oats topped with a banana and peanut butter. Probably the most 100% 'real food' meal I eat all day!
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  • EGGPLANT! Can't get enough of it. My favorite recipe right now is super simple-- Chop up eggplant, toss with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and stick it under the broiler for 15 minutes. Heavenly!
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  • My favorite nutritious food would have to be oatmeal, I love it in all senses! It taste good and is good for you! Now, if you ask me a favorite recipe/preparation, then I would say smoothies! You can make it very nutritious by combining fruits, vegetables, protein (yogurt, etc), and even oats! :-) This book sounds so good, this is a super nice giveaway! Ana
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  • Not a recipe, but tonight I had one of my favorite, healthy meals: baked sweet potato, broiled tofu, and kale stir-fried with garlic and soy sauce. Simple and delicious!
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  • My favorite nutritious food is grilled asparagus! with a brown sugar/orange juice glaze salmon. Yum!!
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  • I truly love smoothies, and I sneak all kinds of nutritious goodness into them!
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  • Hey Anne! I'd love to enter the giveaway! I've been on a quinoa kick this week. Quinoa for breakfast with berries has been the jam! Yum-o! Here's a recipe link- http://fit2flex.blogspot.com/2011/06/breakfast-of-year.html Ps- I'm an RD student just in biochem and we are not learning about food. Boooooo. Phenols galore! Haha
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    • Ugh biochem is my arch nemesis!
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  • a simple salad with winter squash, candied walnuts, and balsamic dressing.
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  • Looks like a great book! One of my favorite healthy recipes (which I just made last night to bring to a barbeque) is the Barley and Red Bean Bowl from the Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook. It's the easiest thing in the world to throw together and it tastes SO good!
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  • My favorite superfood is dried cranberries! They pair well with anything, but I especially like them in my scones or on top of my salads! They give just enough sweetness and help to prevent UTI's which is win for everyone! :)
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  • Hi Anne - tried this recipe out this week. Freegin' awesome! I'm always looking for ways to add quinoa into my cooking, without actually having just quinoa. I added in some fresh garlic and red onion. I will definitely make this again. Thanks! Cheers, Tara
    Reply
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