I could spend hours in Fresh Market. Fresh flowers, colorful produce, unique products, yummy coffee tastings, large bins of raw nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, and the most scrumptious sushi eva. I find very cool ideas about food combinations and flavors just browsing the store. Fresh, simple ingredients make a big statement. When cooking with quality ingredients the flavor cannot be topped. This recipe was totally inspired from a simple edamame salad in Fresh Market. It seemed just too easy to purchase the ready prepared salad, and I knew it would be more fun and rewarding to recreate it myself. Edamame Cranberry Feta Salad inspired by Fresh Market! Visually this salad is appealing and perfect for a Christmas party. I love how the sweet tart cranberries contrast the salty bites of ... View Post
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Healthier Thanksgiving Sides and Sweets
Healthier Thanksgiving sides and sweets...ahhh, how is Thanksgiving already upon us?! 2018 has unfolded in the blink of an eye and I honestly can’t believe it’s almost over. Anyone else with me?? I do love this time of year and all of the seasonal and tasty foods that come with it. With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to serve at your family gathering. Do you already have your menu set? My mom always makes her famous Southern Cornbread Dressing, which is a family heirloom recipe, very southern and loaded with butter. Sorry not sorry. So while I'm not giving up my favorites at the holidays, I'm always looking for ways to add a little bit more healthy... cue the healthier Thanksgiving sides and sweets. I don’t know about ... View Post
What is a Plant Based Diet?
This post is sponsored by Sprouts Farmers Market. Plant based eating is on trend and while you may be seeing the phrase everywhere, what does a plant based diet really mean? A plant based diet is often used interchangeably with vegan and vegetarianism, but this dietitian over here has her own thoughts on the subject. While you may see it all over packaged products that are derived from plant ingredients and popularized by the latest vegan documentary films, there isn’t a formal definition for the term. A plant based diet is having a plant forward approach to eating by putting plants as the cornerstone of your meals. Build a plate with mostly fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds and then (if you enjoy them) add animal proteins and dairy foods as a topping, ... View Post
Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice
Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice... your favorite takeout food made even healthier (and tastier) at home! We are all busy. And can feel just blah about cooking after a long day... and it’s so easy to just pick up the phone and order take-out... I know I'm game on those crazy nights of the week. What do you often turn to when ordering take out?? Interesting to note, Chinese food is one of the most ordered takeout foods in the US. Because who doesn't LOVE them some fried rice?! Sure takeout seems fast and convenient and it definitely can be, but what if you could have the same meal, just as delicious, just as fast, and a ton more nutritious made right at home?! Enter this yummy bowl of Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice. Better for you and quicker too - that’s exactly ... View Post
Winter Greens Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
This Winter Greens Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette recipe is sponsored by Juice Products Association and the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. YES YES YES!!! I'm all about this Winter Greens Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette and it's exactly what you need on your holiday table. I love getting in a bowl full of green goodness all the time, but especially around the holidays when we are bombarded with sweets. This salad bowl is so nourishing and hearty thanks to the winter greens and hearty grains. They fill you up and make you feel so freaking awesome eating it. That can't-stop-won't-stop-all-day-errr-day energy that we most definitely NEED for all the holiday shopping and getting the house ready for friends and family to visit. This Winter Greens ... View Post
5 Strategies to Eat Healthy Over the Holidays
This blog post 5 Strategies to Eat Healthy Over the Holidays is sponsored by Good Food Made Simple. It's the holiday season... and that means cookies, chocolate, and sweets galore. Holiday parties with rich side dishes and a stocked bar can get us in trouble and make it challenging to eat healthy over the holidays. And so can making 4 (four)!!! batches of chocolate chip cookies for all the cookies swaps you're attending (or is that just me?) #toomuchcookiedough But it's so good, right?! Let's be real, it's hard to keep up a balanced diet during the holidays but with a little strategery and mindfulness you can feel your best all season long. Move over chocolate chip cookie dough, we aren't tempted by you. Here are some of my best tips to help you survive the holiday feasts and ... View Post
Cranberry Cream Cheese Braid (+ VIDEO)
This Cranberry Cream Cheese Braid recipe and video post is sponsored by the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA). You guuyyyysss.. I am like so excited to share this little gem of a recipe (and video!) with you today. This Cranberry Cream Cheese Braid brings back all the feels for me because it’s my grandmother’s old southern recipe and one that my mama would make for us during the holiday season growing up. Squeee! I ever so slightly made some adjustments to her Cranberry Cream Cheese Braid recipe because that’s how I roll...I like to keep things fresh and up-to-date, but every single bite is savor-worthy, just like old times. So grab your cup of coffee and your most comfiest sweatpants, and cozy up to a slice of this Cranberry Cream Cheese Braid. Ahhhh. Mama ... View Post
Eats and Fitness in Review: Week 1
I've posted a few WIAW "What I ate Wednesday" blogs on here in the past and you all seemed to really like them, so I figured I'd start a series of our weekly eats and workouts keep me on track with cooking at home more, accountable to my fitness routine, and to hopefully help to inspire you with ideas to answer the question, "what's for dinner?". With Parker starting to eat more than just purees and knowing how important the family meal is, we want to establish a healthy routine for him of eating together as a family. Last week was a short week for us since we were on vacation at the beach. But here's a look at our meals and workouts. Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas with Mango Slaw. This meal was so good! I had some leftover shredded chicken in ... View Post
Best of Holiday Recipes
Breakfast, salads, sides, and mains...these holiday recipes are reader favorites and the best of Love & Zest! According to you all, the best recipes on my blog are holiday recipes! These are the recipes with the most pins, views, and shares.... So I thought I'd put them all in the same place for you this holiday season. Whether you're looking for breakfast, sides, or mains to fill your menus, give some of these tried and true favorites a try! Breakfast Roasted Cranberries & Quinoa Oatmeal Apple Pie Quinoa Breakfast Bowl Pumpkin Blender Waffles Sides ... View Post
7 Ways to Eat Healthy While Traveling
We're headed to California today!!! Pinch me. Pinch me. In honor of the trip, I thought I would share with you all some tips on eating healthy while traveling so nobody has to fall off track! Selfishly, I’m writing this post for myself too. With all the trips and travel this fall and I hate the feeling I get from eating unusual airport food, and getting thrown off my meal pattern. Just ick. I’m doing it different this time. Pinky promise... and details below. The number one trick to successful healthy travel eating and healthy eating in general: wait for it… PREPARATION! Here’s my short list of my favorite travel snacks and ways to prep ahead to nip those travel eating woes in the tush: ... View Post
Leucine: Shedding Light on Protein
How much protein do I need to eat in a day? It’s a common question that I get when working with athletes. We all know that protein is essential but what’s the optimal amount and can too much be harmful? You might have heard the fear stories that eating too much protein can cause kidney problems, but this isn’t likely in the healthy athlete. {Of course, check with your doctor before changing your diet drastically.} While you might be more dehydrated if you are pounding the protein, the bigger problem is your body might be missing out on important nutrients. Hello, vitamins and minerals?! We need more than amino acids to perform optimally, stay healthy, and prevent disease. I’ve seen athletes on 50% calories coming from protein diets and they’re missing the mark on many vital nutrients ... View Post
10 Tips for a Healthy Tailgate + RECIPES
Who's ready for some football?? I know someone in our house is beyond pumped for the first college football game of the year, and it's not the cat. My husband has been looking forward to the start of football season all year long. Can you relate? I love Auburn football, and I support my UCF team and after that, I'm done. He's picking me up from the airport tonight so he will be missing the first part of the game #truelove. I have ulterior motives for loving the start of football season--> FALL! When it's a game weekend aka every weekend from here on out, we make a festive dish and I go out and do my thing such as shopping, decorating our house, or gardening. I can hardly wait for Labor Day weekend to begin because I plan to do just that! For those of you that will be going to a ... View Post