My Favorite Products To Celebrate National Nutrition Month

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.

Happy National Nutrition Month! It's the perfect time to focus on incorporating functional food products into your diet. And I've got some awesome products to share with you that are both nutritious and delicious!

First up, let's talk about The Secret Nature of Fruit by Dole Packaged Foods. I'm currently chewing on the Beauty Chews, which are great for not only keeping your hair healthy, but also to keep your skin and nails in tip-top shape.

These Fruit-Powered Vitamin Chews are made with fruit-based ingredients that are sustainable to boot! Since they’re functional, their goal is to utilize the natural benefits of fruit to deliver key nutrients that can help power your body in a natural way. Plus, they're made with 100% recycled plastic for packaging (rPET), and all components of the bottle are recyclable, from the cap to the bottle.

Made with a potent mix of fruits, vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and natural fruit sugars, these chews are designed to tap into the untapped potential of fruit and provide your body with essential nutrients to help you feel and perform at your best. You can find out more about them by visiting their product’s website.

Next, let's talk about CORE Bars. Adrian and I love taking these bars with us when we're out hiking or on bike rides.

I love that these bars are not only plant based, but they’re also organic. We keep them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh, as they’re made with probiotics and prebiotics to provide excellent nutrition, with a side of immune support.

The adaptogen bars come in three fun and tasty flavors: Hazelnut Mocha Chip, Salted Caramel Cashew, and Dark Chocolate Walnut. The distinctive fusion of Reishi and Lion's Mane mushrooms is considered to benefit the nervous system, possibly assisting in stress reduction and enabling you to loosen up as you nourish your body. For more on the adaptogen bars, click here.

CORE Foods also offers CORE Plant-Based Keto + Probiotics Bar in Birthday Cake Flavor.

This bar is perfect for those following a keto diet, with only 3g net carbs and no added sugar. The uniquely delightful flavor of vanilla cake complemented by the presence of rainbow sprinkles will satisfy your sweet tooth while providing superior nutrition. The bar not only has 0 grams of added sugar, it is also Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten-Free, and Vegan. For more on this bar, click here.

Last but not least, let's talk about Soulless Ginger Ale. This refreshingly low-sugar, non-alcoholic concoction designed for grown-ups was whipped up to let people socialize without relying on alcohol or the sugar-loaded options out there. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this type of soft drink all of my life!

Every Soulless Ginger Ale creation begins with a zesty, cold-pressed ginger foundation and just a touch of sweetness – with a mere 6g of sugar per can. The tantalizing lineup includes Original Ginger Ale, Lime Ginger Ale, Blueberry Ginger Ale, and Cranberry Ginger Ale, each boasting a fruity burst and a crisp, invigorating spicy aftertaste. For more info on this beverage, click here.

So, there you have it! These functional food products are nutritious, delicious, and perfect for on-the-go. Give them a try and see how they can benefit you!

Meal Planning Made Easy, The Diet Assassinista Way!

Note: This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx

This past week, we cooked up a storm in the Diet Assassinista kitchen! From stir-fries to roasted fish, pasta, and curry, our fridge and pantry have been brimming with seriously tasty ingredients. 

But how did we get from point A, identifying what we want to make, to point B, adding the foods to our grocery list? This is a question I get asked a lot, so I figured I’d give you a glimpse into how it works in our kitchen.

First, we chose to base our meals around a few delicious and convenient products that we had on hand: coconut aminos, tahini, hazelnut spread, flavored almonds, and Minute Rice!

Second, now that it’s Spring, our major inspiration was our garden where our arugula and parsley are growing like weeds. Knowing we had time to cook about four meals this week and prepare a couple wholesome snacks, we methodically built our grocery list. 

We first chose our proteins that would pair well with our pantry of products and fresh vegetables – poultry, fish, cheese, and sausage. Then we browsed our recipe library and decided on a couple recipes we’ve cooked before – stir-fried honey chicken and roasted arctic char and selected a couple that were new to mix things up – mattar paneer and pasta with sausage and arugula. Last but not least, we planned our snacks to include avocado, since our tree is full of ripe ones, and fresh fruit!

As usual, all of this planning went to good use because we had a game plan that made one week’s worth of cooking a breeze. So without further ado, let me share with you the highlights of our week:

Pasta with Sausage, Arugula, and Flavored Almonds

New to our recipe repertoire, we made Pasta with Sausage and Arugula. But we adapted the recipe to include a frico with Recipe 33’s seriously delicious garlic and dill flavored almonds. You can tell these almonds are made with real ingredients because they absolutely took this recipe to the next level! The pasta cooked up to about six servings, so we had food for a couple days, which gave us one night off from cooking. Yay!

[Check out Recipe 33’s Special Offer: Save $2.00 on any 4oz bags by clicking here to buy the flavored almonds and using the code TryRECIPE33].

Mattar Paneer with Minute Rice

While we’ve made mattar paneer before, we wanted a quick weeknight recipe to pair with our Minute Rice. This recipe was wholesome and tasty, and within 45 minutes, we cooked the meal and had all the dishes cleaned up! And this was another dish that was great for a couple days of leftovers.

Minute rice is such a great product to have on hand. Cooking up in just 60 seconds, it’s perfect for nights when we’re short on time, and is BPA-free and 100% recyclable. Minute rice also pairs well with so many of our favorite weeknight dishes, including another recipe we made this week, stir-fried honey chicken with bok choy!

Avocado Halves with Coconut Aminos

Speaking of our stir-fry staple, which is similar to this one, we often forget that it’s best to marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes before preparing everything else. Often, that leaves us a little hungry before dinner is ready.

But this week, coconut aminos saved the day! Having it on hand for the stir-fry, as it’s a 1:1 soy sauce replacement, we simply sliced and pitted a ripe avocado and poured in the sauce, which makes for such an amazing snack. With 72% less sodium than soy sauce, there’s nothing like Coconut Secret’s sauce because it’s packed with umami flavor and a slight hint of sweetness. 

Arugula Salad with Tahini

With our plan to cook another weekly staple, roasted arctic char, we wanted fresh greens to go on the side! So we paired our home-grown arugula with Mighty Sesame Tahini, which is so creamy and super easy to use, unlike other tahinis! Instead of spooning tahini from a jar, all you have to do is shake the bottle, squeeze, and enjoy! 

I love having this stuff on hand because it’s super creamy and nutrition packed. Plus, it helps me put a delicious salad together in no time. 

Bananas and Strawberries with Hazelnut Spread

And now onto snacks! In 2022, I’ve been committed to getting back into a serious running and strength training program. 12 weeks in, I find that I really need some healthful snacks to keep me energized between meals. 

So this week, I chose to pair Nutiva’s Classic Hazelnut Spread with bananas and strawberries. This spread has 40% less sugar than the leading brand, is certified organic, vegan, and best of all, really hits my sweet spot! I also love Nutiva’s products in general because of their commitment to regenerative farming practices, which go hand-in-hand with creating healthier communities. 

All in a Day’s (or Week’s) Work!

While our weeks tend to be busy between work, socializing, and getting in some exercise, we always commit some time to the kitchen to ensure that we’re getting in meals and snacks that support a healthy lifestyle. But that doesn’t mean we have to spend ALL of our time in the kitchen with meal prep and clean up.

So my advice to those who want to get into meal planning is that by keeping convenient ingredients in your pantry like coconut aminos, tahini, Minute Rice, flavored almonds, and hazelnut spread, you can ensure that your week of cooking and snacking as nutritious as it is tasty!

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If you loved the recipes and produmentioned in this post, you will also love my recipes for: Hearts of Palm Pasta with Sausage Ragu, Stir-Fried Mushrooms and Tofu with Bok Choy, Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry, and Roasted Trout with Herbs and Summer Squash! 

Fish Tacos and Chili, Oh My! A Review of Homemade's Meal Kits by Ayesha Curry

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Happy Taco Tuesday, everyone!

Isn’t it great that we get to celebrate this holiday every week? I sure think so! Last week, Homemade by Ayesha Curry sent me a meal kit to try out, and not only did I receive an amaaaazing recipe for Fish Tacos with Chipotle Crema, but I also got to try Hearty Beef Chili with Cornbread!

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Both meals totally blew my socks off. They taste homemade in the best of ways, but you can tell that Ayesha and her chefs at Homemade are seriously talented at whipping up recipes that are easy to make while featuring high quality ingredients and that they can teach even the most novice cook how to improve their own game in the kitchen.

Ayesha’s meal kit is by far my favorite I’ve tried, and I’ve certainly tried a handful. What makes her kits even better is that they’re super eco-friendly – just about every item that the ingredients are packaged in can be recycled, reused, and/or composted. It’s like they thought about everything I ever wanted in a meal kit and made the perfect kit, just for me!

If you want to try Homemade, check out their website. The meals are affordable and taste way too good!

The recipes are below.

Fish Tacos with Chipotle Crema and Cilantro Lime Rice

Adapted from Homemade's Fish Tacos with Chipotle Crema and Cilantro Lime Rice

Serves 2
Time: 45 Minutes

Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced, divided (seeds removed if desired)
Juice of 1 lime, divided
12 sprigs cilantro, leaves and tender stems, chopped, divided
1 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp ground cumin
2 tbsp kosher salt
Kosher salt and
Olive oil
2 (6 oz) cod fillets
8 small flour tortillas
1/4 cup Mexican crema
1 cup cabbage slaw
1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
1/2 cup long-grain rice

Directions
Preheat oven to 375F and arrange the oven racks to the upper third and lower third positions. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 

In a bowl, whisk together the garlic, 2 tsp chipotle, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp cilantro, honey, cumin, 2 tsp kosher salt, and 3 tbsp olive oil until combined. Pour the mixture into a large resealable plastic bag. Reserve the remaining lime juice and cilantro for the cilantro-lime rice. Cut the cod into 8 evenly sized pieces and place in the bag with the marinade. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

While the fish marinades, cook the rice: Place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear. Transfer the rice to a small saucepan and add 1 cup water and 1/4 tsp slat. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, an stirring once, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered.

Remove the fish from the marinade and arrange on the prepared baking sheet: discard the marinade. Stack the tortillas on a large piece of foil and wrap tightly. Place the tortillas and fish in the oven and bake until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the crema and reserved adobo sauce. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in 2 tbsp of the remaining lime juice and the remaining cilantro.

To assemble the tacos, place 1 piece of fish in each tortilla, drizzle with spicy crema, and top wit cotija and cabbage. Serve with cilantro lime rice alongside.

Hearty Beef Chili with Cornbread

Adapted from Homemade's Hearty Beef Chili with Cornbread

Serves 2
Time: 55 Minutes

Ingredients

Cornbread
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cups cornbread mix

Chili
1 small red onion, diced, divided
1 red bell pepper, diced, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz kidney beans
8 oz pinto beans
8 oz lean ground beef
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground cumin
8 oz crushed tomatoes

Directions
Preheat oven to 400F. Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare the cornbread and chili ingredients. 

Stir cornbread mix, 2/3 cups water, green onions, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until well blended. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cook on a wire rack until ready to serve.

While the cornbread bakes, make the chili. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until browned, 4 to 6 minutes, using a spatula to break up any large pieces. Transfer the beef to a bowl, leaving the fat and juices in the pan. Add 1/2 cup red onion, 1/2 cup bell pepper, and garlic, and sauté until the onion begins to soften, about 6 minutes.

Stir in the chili powder, oregano, cumin, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the beef, beans, tomatoes, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chili has thickened (add more water if you like your chili a little more liquid), about 20 minutes.

Cut the cornbread into squares and serve with the chili. Garnish chili with remaining bell peppers and red onions.

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If you loved this recipe, you will love my recipes for Mushroom Tacos with Fried Eggs, Steak with Cilantro Mayo and Tomatillo Salsa, and Texas-Style Chili with Pork and Red Kidney Beans!