Try one of these tasty recipes!
Breakfast
- 4-3-2-1 Trailmix
- Breakfast Bars
- Chocolate Raspberry Walnut Scones
- Ginger Pear Muffins
- Go Bananas!
- Homemade Granola
- Homemade Whole Grain Bread
- Hot Multigrain Cereal
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
- Pumpkin Pie Granola
- Quick Breakfast Strata
- Raspberry Cornmeal Pancakes
- Strawberry Crepes
Lunch/Dinner
- 13 Bean Chili
- Asian Ginger Turkey Burgers
- Asparagus and Turkey Bacon Alfredo
- Baked Nacho Platter
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Black Bean Burgers
- Black Pepper Chicken and Squash
- Butternut Squash Risotto
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Butternut Squash Tortellini
- Chicken & Spinach Alfredo Pizza
- Chicken Carne Asada Tacos
- Chicken Potstickers with Snap Peas
- Falafel
- Fresh Margherita Pizza
- Garden-Fresh Summer Pasta
- Healthy Chicken Parmesan
- Healthy Cobb Salad
- Healthy Homemade Pizza
- Homemade Gnocchi
- Honey-Glazed Tofu
- Italian Tortellini Soup
- Kentucky Burgoo
- Maple Glazed Pork Chops
- Masterful Meatballs
- Narwhal Salad
- Pasta Fresca
- Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes
- Pesto Gnocchi Pasta Salad
- Popeye Pasta
- Spaghetti Squash
- Spicy Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese
- Spicy Southwestern Turkey Burgers
- Spicy Vegetarian Gumbo
- Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Stuffed Peppers
- Stuffed Zucchini
- Tempeh Sloppy Joes
- Tomato Basil Barley Risotto
- Turkey Sloppy Joes
- Vegetable Phyllo Rolls
Side Dishes
- Corn and Black Bean Salad
- Corn Muffins
- Couscous with Feta and Tomatoes
- Cranberry Apple Sauce
- Famous Bruchetta
- Foolproof Guacamole
- Garlicky Cherry Tomatoes
- Heirloom Tomato Salsa
- Homemade Pita Bread
- Jalape??o Poppers
- Kale Chips
- Mint Juleps
- Pepper and Bean Pasta Salad
- Perfect Tabbouleh
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Fall Veggies
- Roasted Garbanzo Beans
- Salsa Recipes
- Spiced Mixed Nuts
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Summertime Sangria
- Tomato, Basil, & Mozzarella Salad
- Whole Wheat Garlic Breadsticks
Desserts
- Baked Apple Crisp
- Candied Citrus Peels
- Carrot Zucchini Bread with Candied Ginger
- Chocolate Chia Energy Bars
- Christmas Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread
- Cocoa Brownies
- Dark Chocolate Truffles
- Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Healthy Rice Crispy Treats
- Irish Soda Bread
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Pumpkin Bars
- Summer Fruit Tart
- The Best Pumpkin Bread
- Vegan Pumpkin Pie
Check out some of my favorite Cookbooks!
- Local Flavors by Deborah Madison
- Clean Food by Terry Walters
- Cook This Not That! by David Zinczenko
- How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman
- The New Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen
- The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook by Amy Riolo
- Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
- Eat Drink and Be Vegan by Dreena Burton
- I Love Trader Joe’s Cookbook by Cherie Mercer Twohy
- Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Homemade Fruit and Vegetable Juice
Another rainy day in Chicago – or at least that’s how it started. The sun came out just in time for the Bears game, if only we had a grill my Sunday would be complete. Since we’ve moved into our new garden apartment we have been meaning to clean up the backyard and put a small grill out on the patio for football season. Sadly, we haven’t gotten around to it yet. So instead of grilling, I juiced. Friday I went to Stanley’s for tons of fruits and vegetables. If you live in Chicago and have never been to Stanley’s, you’ve got to...
read moreFrench Onion Soup
Fall is finally here! The crisp, cool, and unfortunately rainy weather this morning inspired me to make my first soup of the season. And nothing says cozy comfort food quite like French onion soup. Yesterday I stopped by Crate and Barrel Outlet, and these French onion soup bowls were calling my name as a perfect addition to my kitchen for the winter (plus they were dirt cheap, can you say impulse buy?). French onion soup is one of the easiest soups to make, here’s what you’ll need. Ingredients: 5 large yellow onions 3 Tbsp butter 1/8...
read moreBBQ Chicken Salad
Without a microwave, leftovers for lunch have to be strategically planned at my new apartment. This BBQ chicken salad is actually something that is served at the café at my work, and I decided to come up with my own healthy recipe for it to eat at home! It looks a little sloppy, but once you realize how easy, delicious, and versatile it is, you won’t mind. Ingredients: 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken tenders 1 vegetable bouillon cube (any kind will work) 1 jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped 5 scallions, chopped 1 cup...
read moreRed Quinoa and Black Bean Salad
Last week I made a big batch of Red Quinoa and Black Bean Salad and ate it all week for lunch! It was so simple and really REALLY good! What is quinoa? Quinoa (keen-wah) is an ancient Incan grain that comes in both white and red colors. Quinoa has the most complete amino acid profile of all grains meaning it has all of the essential amino acids needed for building bones, strengthening muscles and maintaining healthy blood and skin. Quinoa is rich in fiber, iron, B vitamins, and protein – making it a great protein alternative for...
read moreWorld’s Best Sweet Potato Fries
Ever since I started making my sweet potato fries this way, I’m officially addicted! Take advantage of fresh herbs this time of year as they are in season and abundant at farmer’s markets everywhere! Yes these fries take a bit more time than using simply salt and pepper for seasoning, but the extra effort is SO worth it! Ingredients: 2 sweet potatoes 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped 1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped 1/2 tsp sea salt pepper to taste Preheat oven to 450*F. Leaving the skin...
read moreCherry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
Don’t let the word “cookie” fool you. These little bites are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and the most important nutrient at breakfast – protein! Don’t let a busy schedule be your excuse to skip breakfast. These make the perfect portable breakfast for anyone on the go! Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats 2 Tbsp wheat germ 1 Tbsp millet 1 Tbsp chia seeds (don’t know about these powerhouse seeds, click here!) 1/2 cup dried cherries (raisins work too) 1/4 cup protein powder 1/4 cup unsalted cashew...
read moreEasy Breakfast Frittata
Making a frittata is not only one of the simplest breakfast meals you can make, but also a great way to start your morning off with some fresh veggies! Any leftover vegetables you can find in your fridge will do. Ingredients: 1 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 onion, chopped 1/2 bell pepper (I used red and orange), chopped 1 cup spinach, chopped 1 whole egg + 3 egg whites 1/4 cup skim milk 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp black pepper Pinch of cumin Preheat oven to 350*F. In a large skillet, cook vegetables in olive oil until soft. In a...
read moreAsian Chicken Salad
I always find that salads made at restaurants seem to be so much more satisfying and flavorful than any boring old salad I could possibly make at home. So instead of my usual weekend trip to Panera for lunch I decided to challenge myself to create an equally delicious salad at home! Here is what I discovered. First, presentation of the salad is key. If it looks boring, it probably will taste boring. Be prepared to test your knife skills to get your veggies looking just right! Second, a variety of flavors is essential; this salad features...
read moreThe Perfect Grilled Onion
I hope everyone had a fantastic Memorial Day! We had incredible weather in Chicago for the holiday. I went on a bike ride, met up with some friends at the beach, and had everyone over later for a cookout by the pool! Lately, Will and I have been obsessed with making onions on the grill. You can put these grilled onions on a hotdog, bratwurst, burger, or just eat them plain (they are that good!). Here’s what you do: Ingredients: 1 large yellow onion 1 small pat of butter 1 bullion cube (any kind will work) Aluminum foil Peel the...
read moreJambalaya & Cauliflower Rice
I recently got a new Paleo cookbook, The Primal Blueprint Cookbook and thought I would try a new recipe for dinner tonight! Not only was this Jambalaya delicious, but the idea of cauliflower rice is genius! If you have picky eaters in your family or are trying to incorporate more veggies into your diet, cauliflower rice is a great way to sneak cauliflower into to any meal. If you are adding cauliflower rice to a soup or stew you do not need to cook it ahead of time. However, if you are serving cauliflower rice alone as a side you will want to...
read moreAbout Me
My name is Amari Cheffer and I am a Registered Dietitian, blogger, and food enthusiast! I started blogging back in 2009 to document my lifelong love affair with food and nutrition. I am a licensed Registered Dietitian with a Master's in Nutrition Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Things I hate most include tasteless diet foods, excuses, hopeless weight-loss advice, and quitters. If you have time to breathe, you have time to eat healthy. It's all about problem solving and planning ahead for your one-of-a-kind lifestyle.
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