This easy Dairy Free Pesto is the perfect complement to so many dishes! It’s quick to make and adds a ton of flavour to vegetables, meat, fish & even eggs! Plant-based, paleo, low-carb & keto. AIP version provided (see recipe notes).
Is your herb garden bursting with the amazing aroma of fresh basil? Or maybe you’re like me and just adore the smell and taste of this beautiful herb?
Summer is the perfect time to create fresh and flavourful pesto sauce since you can easily find fresh basil in the grocery stores, at farmer’s markets and in your own backyard if you’re the green thumb type!
From time to time I make a batch of pesto and store it in a small mason jar in my fridge. This makes it super easy to add fresh flavour to almost all my dishes throughout the week. You can also store your pesto in the freezer for longer (ice cubes trays are great for this).
Pesto goes great with a variety of whole foods including:
DID YOU KNOW? Traditionally, basil has been used to help reduce bloating and water retention, stomach cramps, acid reflux, and even to kill stomach worms or parasites. In addition, basil can help restore the body’s proper pH by balancing acid levels. Healthy bacteria can flourish in the gut when acid levels are balanced which leads to better digestion and a stronger immune system.
This easy Dairy Free Pesto is the perfect complement to so many dishes! It's quick to make and adds a ton of flavour to vegetables, meat, fish & even eggs! Plant-based, paleo, low-carb & keto. See AIP version in recipe notes.
Pulse basil, pine nuts and garlic in food processor. Scrape sides if needed.
Slowly stream in olive oil as the food processor is running on low. Scrape sides occasionally.
Stir in sea salt and black pepper after processing.
Use right away or store in an air-tight jar in the fridge. Use within a week or store in the freezer for up to a month (ice cube trays are great for this).
Notes
For AIP version, omit pine nuts and black pepper and add 1 tbsp nutritional yeast.
This refreshing Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie is the perfect summer time drink for when you’re chilling on the porch or kickin’ it poolside! It’s not only delicious, but packed with antioxidants and vitamins–and sweetened with Mother Nature’s candy. Only 3 simple ingredients needed to make this AIP, paleo and plant-based friendly cold drink!
DID YOU KNOW? Pineapples contain a group of digestive enzymes known as bromelain.
Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes which work together to help your digestive system break down and absorb proteins from the foods you eat.
These enzymes can be especially helpful for people with pancreatic insufficiency, a condition in which the pancreas cannot make enough digestive enzymes.
Additionally, bromelain from pineapple can help relieve stomach aches, heartburn and diarrhea, according to some research.
This refreshing Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie is the perfect summer time drink for when you're chilling on the porch or kickin' it poolside! It's not only delicious, but packed with antioxidants and vitamins--and sweetened with Mother Nature's candy. Only 3 simple ingredients needed to make this AIP, paleo and plant-based friendly cold drink!
3 Ways Gelatin Can Support Gut Health and Digestion
1. Aids in gut repair. Gelatin is beneficial for preventing intestinal damage and repairing the lining of the digestive tract, thereby preventing “leaky gut”. The gut lining is one of the body’s most important lines of defense, since it keeps food particles, bacteria and yeast inside the digestive system (where they belong) and prevents them from entering the bloodstream, which triggers inflammation.
2. Promotes enzymes and stomach acid that break down food. When you don’t produce enough enzymes/stomach acid, you can experience common digestive problems like heartburn, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. Older people often experience more digestive problems because their stomach acid decreases during the aging process and is worsened by increased stress levels. Gelatin can improve your ability to produce stomach acid and enzymes that are needed for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
3. Improves bloating and constipation. Gelatin is capable of absorbing water and fluids, which helps prevent fluid retention and stomach bloat while improving constipation.
Jello is a great and easy way to add gelatin to your diet. Give my Lemon Raspberry Jello recipe a try. It’s healthy jello for adults and kids!
Lemon Raspberry Jello
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup frozen raspberries
3/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup grass-fed gelatin
3 tbsp. honey
4-5 drops lemon essential oil (food-grade) or 1 tsp. lemon zest
Get 24% off all Young Living essential oils (including food-grade oils) here.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Add raspberries and citrus juice to blender and blend until pureed.
2. Add puree into a saucepan along with gelatin and honey and whisk together. It will be a thick paste to start.
3. Turn heat to low and continue whisking ingredients (5-10 minutes) until mixture becomes thin.
4. Whisk in lemon essential oil or lemon zest towards the end.
5. Pour mixture into a glass dish or into molds. Place in the fridge for 1-hour to set.
6. Remove from molds or cut into squares and enjoy!
Chicken Burgers with Cilantro Aioli & Zoodles is a tasty dinner recipe that you’ll want to make time and time again! These golden burgers are easy to make and taste like chicken nuggets, but they’re way healthier for you. Gluten, grain & dairy free + low-carb, keto & paleo. AIP version provided.
I never thought I’d see the day where a chicken burger would find its way to the top of my list of favourite dishes, but the day has come.
I didn’t think much of these sticky patties as I cursed at them while struggling to roll them into balls. BUT after just one bite of this golden burger with cilantro aioli, I thought I was eating a chicken nugget! The combination of flavours was bang on – and for all the cilantro haters out there, you could hardly even taste it.
I had a big bag of organic zucchini from Costco in my fridge, so I got a little creative and made some tasty zoodles as a base for the chicken burgers. It turned out to be a great complement to the burgers.
Now check out this awesome keto & paleo friendly recipe. It may just make it to the top of your list of fav foods too!
What you need for Chicken Burgers with Cilantro Aioli & Zoodles:
Chicken Burgers with Cilantro Aioli & Zoodles is a tasty dinner recipe that you'll want to make time and time again! These golden burgers are easy to make and taste like chicken nuggets, but they're way healthier for you. Gluten, grain & dairy free + low-carb, keto & paleo. AIP version provided.
Add mayo and cilantro into a small bowl and mix together. Set aside in fridge until ready to serve.
Burger Patties
Add all burger patty ingredients into a bowl and combine using your hands.
Form 4 large burger patties. Once you've flatted the patty, press your finger into the center to form an indent in the patty (this will help cook the center of the burger).
Cover bottom of frying pan with avocado oil and set temperature to medium-high.
Add burgers to pan when oil is hot and cook over medium heat, flipping occasionally. Burgers should get golden as they cook. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the burger (~10-15 minutes).
Zoodles
Spiralize zucchini and set aside in a bowl.
While burger patties are cooking, use a separate pan and sauté garlic in olive oil until fragrant (medium heat).
Add in zucchini noodles and toss using tongs to coat noodles in oil.
Add salt and pepper and continue to toss. Cook for 5-minutes then transfer to plates.
Add chicken burgers on top of zoodles, top with cilantro aioli (or other toppings of choice) and enjoy!
Notes
For AIP version: Omit cumin in burger patties and the cilantro aioli topping. Instead top burger patties with AIP friendly burger toppings like sliced avocado (or guacamole), pickles, onions, etc.
Haddock with Mustard & Thyme is a simple & flavourful fish recipe! It only takes 20-minutes to prepare, so it’s great for the busy work week. This recipe is AIP friendly, paleo, keto & low-carb!
DID YOU KNOW? Haddock is very low in calories (77 calories per 3 ounces), high in protein (17 grams per 3 ounces) and an excellent source of selenium, phosphorus and some of the B vitamins.
If you don’t like or can’t find haddock, you can use another white fish of choice. I recommend sourcing out wild sustainable fish whenever possible.
What you need for Haddock with Mustard & Thyme:
Wild haddock fillets (or other white fish of choice)
Haddock with Mustard & Thyme is a simple & flavourful fish recipe! It only takes 20-minutes to prepare, so it's great for the busy work week. This recipe is AIP friendly, paleo, keto & low-carb!
Kombucha “Mulegarita” is a refreshing cocktail made with simple ingredients like kombucha, ginger tea, lime and tequila. It’s the perfect drink to quench your thirst this summer! See non-alcoholic version in the recipe notes.
Here’s why Kombucha is one of my go-to healthy thirst quenchers during the hot Summer days …
Kombucha is a fermented beverage consisting of black tea (or other teas) and sugar (cane sugar, fruit or honey). The tea and sugar combo is fermented by bacteria and yeast commonly known as a “SCOBY” (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast).
This functional probiotic food helps to support a healthy gut by aiding in digestion with its high levels of beneficial acid, probiotics, amino acids and enzymes. The bacteria found in kombucha are the beneficial kind that compete with “bad” bacteria in the gut.
Additionally, some research has linked kombucha to ulcer prevention & healing–and helping to stop candida from overpopulating the gut.
Look for unpasteurized organic kombucha. Many health food stores and conventional grocery stores carry it in the refrigerated section. You’ll find a variety of brands and flavours.
So, if you’re looking for a healthy alternative to sodas to satisfy your craving for something fizzy or if you’re looking to create some cool cocktails this summer, I highly recommend giving kombucha a try!
Kombucha "Mulegarita" is a refreshing cocktail made with simple ingredients like kombucha, ginger tea, lime and tequila. It's the perfect drink to quench your thirst this summer! See non-alcoholic version in the recipe notes.
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.
