Just in time for Easter or Passover, try this healthy and tasty side dish: Maple Roasted Asparagus. It’s super easy and the majority of its flavor comes from Canadian Maple Syrup, balsamic vinegar and fresh thyme. Maple syrup is super healthy and far more comprehensive than you might expect. The only product in our diet coming directly from a plant’s sap, this natural sweetener features over 54 antioxidants that can help delay or prevent diseases caused by free radicals, such as cancer or diabetes. In addition, maple syrup features high levels of zinc and manganese, keeping the heart healthy and boosting the immune system.
Tag: Side Dishes
Vegetarian Quinoa Recipe
My daughter, Leigh, had to make a Peruvian Quinoa recipe for her advanced Spanish 2 class, which gave her and I the chance to come up with a new quinoa recipe. We experimented with many recipes, but we loved this Vegetarian Quinoa. Luckily, for me, my three kids love quinoa, and it’s a fabulous ingredient because it’s gluten free, rich in protein, contains all 9 of the essential amino acids and so much more. Quinoa is high in iron which helps our red blood cells stay healthy, high in lysene, essential for our tissues growth and repair. This superfood is also high in Riboflavin (B2) which is super important for our brain health and improves our energy and metabolism. It also has twice as much fiber as other grains. Need I say more? Enjoy this for lunch as a side dish or afternoon snack. I spooned it over fresh arugula with some crumbled feta cheese, and it was a great, healthy lunch. Here’s to a great and healthy week ahead!
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
It’s the time of the year when Brussels sprouts are at their peak, and my three kids and I really like them! As you know, Bacon makes anything taste better, so these Brussels Sprouts with Bacon are at the top of our Brussels sprout side dish list. This recipe is a great side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays or anytime during the week. Brussels sprouts only have 28 calories in a 1/2 cup. They are a good source of fiber and low in carbohydrates (only 6 grams in 1/4 cup). Brussels sprouts provide you with 20 essential vitamins and minerals. A ½ cup serving provides 48 mg of vitamin C, and 604 IU of vitamin A, which supports healthy eyesight. Brussels sprouts provide more than a day’s worth of vitamin K for men, and 91 percent of the daily value for women which may help strengthen your bones. Brussels sprouts, along with other cruciferous vegetables, contain isothiocyanates, which helps prevent cancer and also may reduce your risk of heart attack.