If you began your new year with healthy aspirations, we’re here to help you maintain them. Today, we’re excited to feature three healthy recipes from dietitian/nutritionist McKel Hill. Her blog, Nutrition Stripped, is a great go-to for healthy living inspiration, recipes and more, and today she’s sharing three delicious, flavorful recipes with us to ensure that we’re meeting our healthy eating goals while never compromising flavor. Enjoy!
SB Note: We have enjoyed finding organic food at a great value (perfect for your health resolutions) at Kroger, under their Simple Truth Organic label.
Stripped Green Smoothie
This green smoothie is made with plenty of dark, leafy greens as well as sweet fruits and citrus. It’s a delicious start to the morning, and it’s a perfect energy boost to start — or get through — your day!
McKel Hill’s “Stripped Green Smoothie” is a delicious way to start the day and get a healthy energy boost. Image: McKel Hill
- 2 cups of filtered water
- 1 cup of coconut water (or double the filtered water)
- 1 large bunch (5 heaping handfuls) of organic lacinato kale/regular kale
- 1 large head of organic romaine
- 5-7 large stalks of organic celery, chopped
- 1 organic apple, cored and chopped
- 1-2 bananas, chopped
- ½ cup organic cucumber, chopped
- ½ cup of cilantro
- ½ cup of parsley
- Juice of 1 lemon/Meyer lemon
- 4 Brazil nuts
- dash of cayenne (optional yet recommended)
- dash of cinnamon (optional yet recommended)
- dash of turmeric (optional yet recommended)
- Using a high-speed blender, pour filtered water(s) into the blender.
- Add chopped celery stalks and romaine lettuce first, and turn on low speed to puree.
- Gradually increase the speed and add chopped kale.
- Add all remaining ingredients and blend until creamy.
- *At this point you may add more water to achieve your desired consistency.
- Pour into individual airtight mason jars or other airtight liquid container.
Dark Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Avocado is the secret ingredient in this decadent but healthy dessert. The finished product, which is creamy and satiating, is non-dairy and vegan, plus it’s full of healthy fats, fiber and nutrients. It’s perfect as a snack or the final course to a delicious meal.
This is a rich, creamy and decadent mousse made of avocados and dark chocolate. Image: McKel Hill
- 2 large avocados (or 4 small)
- ¼ cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk (adjust to your desired thickness)
- 2 tablespoons of raw organic cocoa powder
- ½ bar of your favorite high quality dark chocolate, melted
- 2-3 dates, pitted
- 1 tablespoon of coffee/espresso
- ½ teaspoon of organic vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs (optional topping)
- 1 tablespoon of shredded coconut (optional topping)
- fresh berries
- Melt the dark chocolate over a stovetop (or microwave safe bowl).
- Combine the melted chocolate sauce with the remaining ingredients in a blender or bowl.
- Combine using a high speed blender or a hand mixer. Blend or mix until creamy and smooth. The texture will resemble a fluffy mousse.
- Spoon into a bowl or wine glass (for some flare) and garnish with toppings of your choice. Enjoy!
Rawlnut Burritos
Eating foods in their raw state is a great way to retain the highest concentration of nutrients, antioxidants and minerals. This burrito dish is spiced up with cayenne and jalapeños, and the pico de gallo is the perfect topper.
Rawlnut burritos are tasty and filling. Image: Katie Newburn Photography
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 3 large tomatoes, diced
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 jalapeño peppers, chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- In a food processor, combine the walnuts, almonds, oil, onion, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, cayenne, salt, and black pepper to taste. Pulse to combine, then taste and adjust seasonings.
- Gently pulse in the cilantro.
- Store rawlnut filling in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Enjoy leftovers with salads or sandwiches.
- In a small bowl, stir together all the ingredients.
- Adjust the salt and black pepper as desired.
- Store the pico de gallo in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Fill each romaine lettuce leaf with about 1/2 cup rawlnut filling, as much pico de gallo as you like, and other fillings, if desired.
- Roll up like a burrito and enjoy!
Here’s to long-lasting health and delicious meals!
McKel Hill, MS, RD, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Founder of Nutrition Stripped, a healthy living website dedicated to optimizing wellbeing through recipes, nutrition advice, fitness, and now the Society, a healthy meal planning membership. Click here to learn more.
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