Pecan Stuffed Medjool Dates

Dates are a healthy snack or dessert idea and stuffed with peanut butter are delicious on the go snacks for kids and adults. Because of their natural sweetness, dates are known as “nature’s candies.” Medjool dates are ideal for this recipe because of their size and plumpness. You can use creamy or crunchy peanut butter, or another butter like almond butter. They are made of only 3 ingredients: dates, peanut butter (or other nut/seed butter), and pecans. They are impressive to serve at a get-together but are extrememly easy to make.

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Blue Cheese & Pear Salad

Blue Cheese & Pear is a perfect salad for autumn and the holidays. It includes fresh greens, avocado, dried cranberries, chopped pears, caramelized pecans, and crumbles of blue cheese. The tangy mustard vinaigrette perfectly compliments the creaminess of the blue cheese. You can also use walnuts and tart apples in place of pecans and pears with good results. It’s a perfect side for special occasions but simple to make for everyday meals.

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Easy Roasted Eggplant With Lemon Tahini Sauce

Eggplant, also known as aubergine, is available year round. It’s a wonderful, hearty vegetable that can be used in amazing ways. One cup of cubed eggplant contains 20 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 5 percent of your daily doses of both potassium and folate. It’s rich in flavonoids like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid which may help fight cancer and protect cells from damage.

Today’s recipe is another veggie dish classic, Roasted Eggplant with Lemon Tahini Sauce. Choose medium or small eggplants that are shiny, smooth, firm, and heavy for their size. You can slice the eggplant in small circles or do long oval slices. It makes a great appetizer or side dish. For a main entree, add nuts such as pistachio nuts.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Today’s easy-to-make recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite is Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s a comforting blend of tender chicken, savory spices, and a medley of veggies, all simmered to perfection in your trusty slow cooker. I’m trying to eat healthier and am using low-sodium chicken broth and boneless skinless chicken breast. You could use boneless skinless chicken thighs too. This soup is great year-round, but it’s really comforting when the temperature lowers. I’m using my homemade taco seasoning which saves me money and time. I love adding avocado and Greek yogurt as my optional toppings.

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Easy Eggplant Pizza without Flour!

Eggplant, also known as aubergine, is available year round, but it’s in peak season from July through the end of October. It’s a wonderful, hearty vegetable that can be used in amazing ways. One cup of cubed eggplant contains 20 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 5 percent of your daily doses of both potassium and folate. It’s rich in flavonoids like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid which may help fight cancer and protect cells from damage. It is also perfect for many meatless meals.

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How To Eat Takeout Without Ruining Your Diet

When you’re trying to stick to a healthy diet,  getting takeout is usually out of the question. After all, most takeout foods are very unhealthy, even if you don’t go for a burger or a pizza. If takeout is necessary, remember to have a good balance in your food order and to allow yourself a treat from time to time. The key is learning how to make takeout healthier.

 

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Grilled Peaches & Cream Cheese

Peaches are a fabulous summer treat. Besides being a tasty summer dessert, peaches do great things for our bodies. Loaded with anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and A , peaches are low in calories (39 in 100 grams). They contain flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin, which help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals. This helps protect us from various diseases. Rich in minerals, peaches contain potassium, fluoride and iron. Iron helps form red blood cells. Potassium helps regulate heart and blood pressure. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Research also indicates that they help prevent obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

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