Creamy Dill Coleslaw is the perfect healthy go-to side dish when you’re short on time or preparing food for multiple people. This plant-based, keto & paleo friendly side is packed with nutrients that are detoxifying and waistline loving.
DID YOU KNOW? Cabbage is packed with many beneficial vitamins, minerals, plus water and fiber, making it a great vegetable for weight loss & gut health.
Cabbage is full of gut-friendly insoluble fiber, a type of carbohydrate that can’t be broken down in the intestines. Insoluble fiber helps support digestive health by adding bulk to stools and promoting regular bowel movements.
In addition, cabbage is rich in soluble fiber, which has been shown to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut, like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.
Now, the trick to making a quick coleslaw with cabbage is using a food processor. Simply throw all ingredients in and process until everything is roughly chopped and well combined.
There’s a lot of room for creativity with coleslaw which makes it a fun side dish to prepare. Feel free to use different veggies, herbs and spices. Also, if you don’t have a healthy version of mayo (without vegetable or seed oils), I recommend replacing mayo with 1/2 an avocado or full fat coconut yogurt/kefir.
OR make it into a quick and healthy lunch by mixing in a can of wild tuna, salmon or sardines.
Creamy Dill Coleslaw
Creamy Dill Coleslaw is the perfect healthy go-to side dish when you're short on time or preparing food for multiple people. This plant-based, keto & paleo friendly side is packed with nutrients that are detoxifying and waistline loving.
Chop cabbage, carrots and green onion into large chunks.
Place all ingredients into a food processor and process until vegetables are roughly chopped and ingredients are well combined. Do not over process.
Eat right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within a day.
Notes
If you don't have a healthy version of mayo (without vegetable or seed oils), I recommend replacing mayo with 1/2 an avocado or 2 tbsp. full fat coconut yogurt/kefir.
Sloppy Joes with Sweet Potato “Buns” is made with whole & simple ingredients and free of added sugars. It’s a healthy gluten & grain free + paleo friendly dish. This comfort food classic will definitely be a hit with the whole family!
Are you looking for a gluten free and gut friendly replacement for buns or bread?
Sweet potato “buns” to the rescue!
Not only are sweet potato “buns” tasty, but this whole food is packed with nutrients that you won’t get from plain old bread.
There are so many classic dishes and sandwiches that you can easily transform into a healthy and gut-friendly alternative with a little help from these “buns”.
Try sweet potato “buns” with:
Sloppy Joes (see recipe below)
Burgers and sliders
Bacon, egg, lettuce & tomato sandwich (BELT)
Tuna sandwich
Pulled pork sandwich
Cut sweet potato into rounds (like I did for this recipe) OR lengthwise for larger “buns” and cook using the instructions below. Fill your sweet potato “buns” with yummy ingredients and grab it with your hands or dig in with a fork and knife – whatever your heart desires.
Sloppy Joes with Sweet Potato "Buns" is made with whole & simple ingredients and free of added sugars. It's a healthy gluten & grain free + paleo friendly dish. This comfort food classic will definitely be a hit with the whole family.
Heat avocado oil in pan then add onion and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 5-minutes or until onions become soft.
Add garlic and beef. Break a part beef and cook until beef is no longer pink.
In a separate bowl mix sauce ingredients together then add mixture to pan with beef. Add sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Let cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally. You can also lower the temperature and let cook for longer to get more flavour out of this dish.
Serve in-between sweet potato buns.
Sweet potato "buns"
Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch rounds with the peel intact.
Place sweet potato rounds in a single layer on baking sheet, brush both sides with oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Flip halfway through baking time.
Ferrero Rocher Date Balls are super easy to make with only 3 simple ingredients required! They are soft, chewy & chocolatey + naturally sweetened with dates. They are the perfect healthy snack or treat for those following a paleo or plant-based lifestyle. It’ll be love at first bite!
DID YOU KNOW? Dates have high levels of soluble fiber, which keep bowel movements regular by adding bulk to stool and helping it move faster through the intestines.
If you suffer from constipation, try adding dates into your diet as a natural constipation relief remedy. Consume in moderation.
In addition, dates are packed with vitamins and minerals and are a perfect natural sweetener and sugar alternative. I incorporate them into gut healing smoothies (like my Egg Nog Smoothie & Pumpkin Pie Smoothie) and sweet treats (check out my recipes below).
Want more delicious date ball recipes? You’re going to love these:
Then add remaining ingredients and continue to process until everything sticks together.
Lastly, scoop mixture with a spoon and roll into bite-sized balls. Coat the outside with crushed hazelnuts.
Ferrero Rocher Date Balls
Ferrero Rocher Date Balls are super easy to make with only 3 simple ingredients required! They are soft, chewy & chocolatey + naturally sweetened with dates. They are the perfect healthy snack or treat for those following a paleo or plant-based lifestyle. It'll be love at first bite!
1cuphazelnuts, dry-roasted (instructions in notes)
4heaping tbsp. cacao or cocoa powder
1/8tsp.sea salt
Instructions
Soak dates in water for 30-minutes and drain.
Add hazelnuts into food processor and process until nuts are chopped into small pieces.
Add dates, cacao/cocoa powder and sea salt into the food processor with hazelnuts and continue to process until ingredients start to stick together.
Scoop out mixture with a tablespoon and roll into balls.
Optional step: Add a handful of hazelnuts into the food processor and process into small pieces. Roll balls in mixture to coat the outside.
Enjoy these delicious date balls right away or store in an air-tight container in the fridge for later.
Notes
How to dry-roast hazelnuts:
Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare the Hazelnuts: Spread the hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. You don't need to add any oil or seasoning.
Roast the Hazelnuts: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast the hazelnuts for about 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on them and stir occasionally to ensure they roast evenly.
Check for Doneness: The hazelnuts are done when their skins start to crack and they turn a golden brown color. You should also be able to smell their nutty aroma.
Cool and Remove Skins: Remove the hazelnuts from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. To remove the skins, place the hazelnuts in a clean kitchen towel and rub them together. The skins should come off easily.
Lemon Amaretti are a delicious variation on a classic Italian almond cookie. These chewy cookies are absolutely delicious and bursting with refreshing lemon flavour! Made with simple & natural ingredients and free from refined sugar, gluten, grains & eggs.
DID YOU KNOW? Food-grade lemon essential oil can be used in a variety of recipes (from sweet treats to savory dishes) to replace lemon zest or lemon extract.
Lemon essential oil is a highly concentrated derivative of lemons that comes from cold-pressing the lemon peel and not the inner fruit. The peel is the most nutrient-dense portion of the lemon in terms of fat soluble phytonutrients.
Lately I’ve been experimenting with lemon essential oil in my smoothies and baked goods – and OMG, I’m hooked!
Lemon essential oil not only packs a flavourful punch, but it makes my food taste like I’m some kind of pro chef . The best part is – no more chipping my shellac nails on the evil zester!
Tips for incorporating lemon essential oil into recipes:
Lemon Amaretti are a delicious variation on a classic Italian almond cookie. These chewy cookies are absolutely delicious and bursting with refreshing lemon flavour! Made with simple & natural ingredients and free from refined sugar, gluten, grains & eggs.
10dropslemon essential oil (food-grade), OR zest of 1 lemon
2tspvanilla extract
1/4tspsea salt
25-30raw almonds, to top cookies
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients in a food processor (or mix by hand in a bowl) until a batter forms and holds together. If batter is too moist, add more coconut flour. If batter is too crumbly, add more coconut oil.
Scoop batter with a small spoon, place on baking sheet and form into preferred shape. Leave 1-2 inches of space between cookies. Top each cookie with an almond.
Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes or until edges start to brown. Let cool on baking sheet. Once cooled, store cookies in airtight container.
Sautéed Garlic Chard is the perfect healthy side to your next meal. It’s easy to prepare with only 3 simple ingredients needed. Serve this AIP friendly, paleo, keto & plant-based side with fish or meat.
DID YOU KNOW? Just one cup of cooked Swiss chard provides a whopping 636% of your daily vitamin K needs! Vitamin K is an essential nutrient for bone health — and reduces fracture rates because it activates the major non-collagen protein that helps form bones.
This nutrient – along with calcium which is also found in Swiss chard – helps modulate bone metabolism, aids in bone growth, and protects the body from bone mineral loss common in the aging process.
Sautéed Garlic Chard is the perfect healthy side to your next meal. It's easy to prepare with only 3 simple ingredients needed. Serve this AIP friendly, paleo, keto & plant-based side with fish or meat.
Place chard in stove-top pan with a touch of water, cover pan and let chard wilt over medium-low heat.
Once chard is wilted and stems are tender, reduce heat to low, drain any excess liquid and add garlic, olive oil and salt. Cook for a couple more minutes, uncovered, while coating chard in olive oil.
This Almond Butter & Banana Slice brings me back to my Little Jen days. After a long day of school, I would go to town on peanut butter and banana slapped between Wonder Bread.
Given that my Little Jen days are long gone, I’ve made some healthy modifications to one of my favourite snacks. It still tastes yummy as ever and my body (and waistline!) doesn’t hate me for it.
The kale caraway slice from Live Organic Food is packed with whole food ingredients and nutrients. It’s my go-to when I’m craving something that resembles bread.
Here’s why the kale caraway slice from Live Organic Food is awesome…
Gut friendly – gluten & grain free
Low carb & high fiber
Paleo, vegan & keto friendly
Nutrient rich & organic ingredients
You can find Live products online and at many stores in Toronto and around the GTA. I usually get my favourite Live products from Nature’s Emporium and Ambrosia.
Now, give this guilt free, gluten free and grain free snack a try!
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
