Valentine’s Day. An oft-deemed “Hallmark holiday” that for many, inflicts feelings of anxiety, profound loneliness, or simply a sense of nausea coupled with give-me-a-break’s and an eye-roll or two. Yes, I understand that the historical significance of Valentine’s Day has been lost on most, or that the socially constructed pressure of one little day in February seems ridiculous, but what if we shifted our paradigm? What if we see February 14th as an invitation to honour and celebrate LOVE...
Read moreCreamy Roasted Beet Dip
Beets are one of the most incredible vegetables. They contain a number of important substances, including betaine, fibre, iron, betacyanin, folate, and pectin, all of which aid in detoxification and digestion. For example, pectin helps clean the toxins that have been removed from the liver, allowing them to be flushed out of the system instead of reabsorbed by the body, and betaine is the substance that encourages the liver cells to get rid of toxins...
Read moreTurkey Meatballs with Apple, Cranberries, and Walnuts
I've always wondered why we reserve the killer combo of cranberry and turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Aside from the occasional turkey sandwich, most people are limited in their exposure to this nutritious and delicious bird. Famously known for its abundance of tryptophan - an amino acid that has been time and time again linked to improved cognitive function, muscle and tissue growth an repair, enhanced sleeps, and of course it's positive effects on mood balance (it's basically nature's anti-anxiety "drug") - turkey is packed with protein and is incredibly satiating. Plus it's rather easy to find in free-range form...
Read morePakora Fritters
Many people don’t realize how easy fritters are to make until they try them. They're so versatile, and provide a tasty and seemingly impressive side to bring to dinner parties and potlucks. Fritters also make great batch-cooking snacks, whereby they refrigerate and freeze easily, ready to go when you need a little somethin’-somethin’ at the flick of an oven nob...
Read moreSpiced Sweet Potato Loaf
The fall baking frenzy has officially begun in the Whole Happy kitchen! To be quite honest, I bake a tonne all year round (if you haven’t already noticed, coming up with alternative baked good recipes is one of my favourite things to do), but there’s something special about baking during this season. Perhaps it’s the inherently warming and comforting nature of baked goods that lend so well so that cozy fall vibe. Perhaps spending time indoors when the whether gets colder and wetter doesn’t feel so bad when you have something sweet and aromatic wafting from the oven. Or perhaps it’s because autumnal produce lens so well to sweet treats like pumpkin spice muffins, apple cinnamon pudding, and spiced plum cake, and as I’m sure you can guess…sweet potato loaf...
Read morePurple Power Smoothie
Purple hued fruits and veggies are some of the most nutrient-dense foods available to us! Purple foods contain important nutrients called anthocyanins, which are responsible for the blue, red, and of course purple colours of some fruits and vegetables. As an antioxidant, anthocyanin protects against cell damage from free radicals, and has also been shown to protect against H. Pylori, the bacteria that promotes the formation of stomach ulcers and urinary tract infections...
Read moreLemon Blueberry Muffins
There’s just something so fresh and summery about blueberry and lemon. And this classic combo goes so beautifully in a big old fluffy muffin! But if that muffin makes you feel sick, tired, grumpy, and bloated, well all of a sudden blueberry and lemon doesn’t seem so “fresh," does it? Well, like all my recipes, I aim to find alternatives that satisfy various wellness considerations and dietary restrictions. This particular recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free for anyone avoiding those common allergens and irritators. And of course, like ALL the recipes on the Whole Happy blog, it’s 100% refined-sugar free. Best of all, it’s foolproof!..
Read moreThai Turkey Burgers
I could probably eat burgers every day. They’re incredibly easy and take no time to make, and taste just as good in between a bun, grilled Portobello mushrooms, or even on top of a salad. They’re also the perfect little nutrient-dense package for those busy days when you need a protein hit on-the-go...
Read moreGrain-free Granola (paleo, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
WARNING: This sh* is addictive as fuh! But seriously you guys, I’m almost nervous to share this recipe with you. Once you realize how easy, adaptable, and satisfying making granola at home is, it will be hard to stop. Below is my basic grain-free granola recipe. But like all things, I seriously encourage you to make it your own...
Read moreRecovery Cookies
Wanting to make some grain-free, dairy-free treats, that also worked to reduce inflammation and aid in tissue recovery from the wounds of the C-section, I constructed my client some anti-inflammatory recovery cookies, and man are they tasty! My client even mentioned to me that they were the perfect thing to munch on during those middle-of-the-night feedings when baby is needing a snack of his own...
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