Start Your Day with a Smoothie
Fresh fruit is a great food to start the day with, whether cut up in some way or liquefied. Smoothies are at once soothing and invigorating, luscious yet low in fat. They also offer a concentrated source of nourishment for children and teens (and indeed anyone) whose morning appetite is sluggish.
Organic Fruits and Vegetables: The Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15
Organic may be best but we can’t always afford the high price tag. What produce should you absolutely buy organic and what can you safely buy off the usual supermarket produce shelf? Here’s the list!
Summertime Meal Solution: Bagged Salads
Our hectic schedules can often conflict with our desire to eat healthier foods. Sometimes even the thought of putting together a simple salad can seem daunting. But with the help of bagged salad greens, you can create summertime meals in minutes.
Fourth of July Riot Grrrrrill: How to Veganize Your Barbeque
Vegetarians are sometimes at a loss for what to put on the grill. I know this is a crazy thought but how about – vegetables? Grilling brings out so much flavor in vegetables that you don’t even need to dress them up too much.
Quick, Fuss-Free Holiday Desserts
Undoubtedly you will have more than one day when you need to whip up a dessert but are short on time – and patience! These fast, no-fuss dessert ideas are ridiculously simple but will taste like you spent all day preparing them.
Present Soup (and Other Gifts from the Creative Kitchen)
We all know that gifts, and golden opportunities to learn and connect with one another, can show up when we least expect them. One came for us in a Chinese restaurant and when it did a tradition was born.
Figuring Out Vegan Bread
By E. Ashe When you switch to a vegan diet, you soon discover there can be a surprising number of foods that contain animal products. While many people would assume bread to be vegan, there are many types and brands that contain animal byproducts. This is the same with pretty much any processed food, so when you eat only vegan food, it’s important to check the ingredients of every product to make sure. One of the ingredients...
Vegan Baby Protein Sources
Can you tell me how to be sure my baby gets her 23 grams/day of protein and not be so dependent on dairy and eggs?
Substitutions for Cottage Cheese
Got a recipe that calls for cottage cheese? Here’s an easy substitution similar in texture which you can season according to your recipe needs.
3 Delicious Veggie Burger Recipes That Even the Most Dedicated Meat-Eater Will Love
A delicious burger is something most vegans and vegetarians find hard to ignore. Not to worry! Here are some great vegan burgers everyone will love.
Broccoli: Do you Eat the Stalk?
There are many parts of vegetables we throw away that we should eat. Broccoli stalk is a good example – there are so many uses for it. Here are a few tips for using it and a sassy salad recipe!
I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan!
Being vegan doesn’t mean you have to eat wheatgrass and alfalfa sprouts. Most grocery stores carry an array of great-tasting vegan options. You may even be surprised to find that a few of your favorite indulgences happen to be vegan!
Agave Nectar – Sweet and Natural
Why is agave good for you? Ricki Heller shares all the wonderful benefits of this delightful sweetener.
Kitchen Wisdom: Do-It-Yourself Seitan
You can run out to your local supermarket and purchase pre-made Seitan or pre-flavored cutlets… but why do that when it is so easy and cheap to make yourself!
Pumpkin – The Wonder Veggie
Fresh fruits and vegetables will always provide you with the most nutrients and natural enzymes that the body can use more readily. Pumpkin and its seeds provide many important nutrients, on top of loads of fun for family and friends.
Vegan Meals for Skeptics
Many non-vegetarians think vegans eat strange food. When serving them, rather than switching from steak to tempeh, or serving tofu or seitan to your wary guests, here are some delicious dishes that are naturally vegan and they are sure to enjoy.
Parchment Paper
In the baking world, there is one tool that is above all others: it protects your bake ware, quickly releases your goodies from pans, and makes for easy cleaning. In fact, it’s one of my favorite kitchen secrets and I rarely bake without it.
Seitan Recipes
Today’s topic is Seitan… but before I start talking about The Wheat Meat I wanted to give you my Number One tip in the kitchen. Do you have your pens out? Are you ready to write this down? This will be on the test!
Breakfast Smoothies
Smoothies are especially easy to make and clean up after if you use an immersion blender. Use these recipes as a starting point for creating combinations of your own.
Quick and Easy Vegan Desserts
Undoubtedly you will have more than one day when you need to whip up a dessert but are short on time – and patience! These fast, no-fuss dessert ideas are ridiculously simple but will taste like you spent all day preparing them.
Vegan Treats
This frozen treat is easy, light, and delicious, and you can use any fruit, from berries, to peaches, to mangoes.
Happy, Healthy Birthday – Vegan Style
Stop worrying. The Diva of Dairy Free Desserts says organically naturally delicious treats are a snap. The other parents will be asking you for recipes. Guaranteed!
Cooking with Avocados
Next time you’re looking for a versatile ingredient to add to your dinnertime arsenal, think “creamy.” Think “rich-tasting.” Think “velvety.” And then, think “green.”
How to Cook Eggplant
Throughout the culinary world when a person thinks of a vegetarian and eggplant, in most cases what comes to mind first is the Eggplant Parmesan. There is no doubt this is one of of the best ways to have it. But here are a few more delicious ways with eggplant.
Go Vegan on the Cheap
Vegan meals need not be expensive nor require unusual or difficult to find ingredients. Some of the best vegan dishes are easy to make and cheap!
Healthy Salads
Salads can indeed be entrées or main courses, but careful selection of ingredients and mindful attention to the serving size will define them as smart, rather than senseless. With so many fabulous whole foods to select from, refining the salad with smart choices assures its healthful place on the table.
Food Labels: How Bad Brands Happen to Good People
You know what we’re talking about. Those pesky imposters that use front label trickery to insinuate that their brands are healthy but they actually have hidden trans fats and high amounts of sodium, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners and flavorings. How many times have you fallen prey to these front label tricks that pop up on many of the most-popular brand name foods?
Healthy Dessert Recipes: Bean Cakes
I’ve been able to come up with healthy “cheesecakes” and pound cakes. And now, cakes with the nutritional punch of beans! Yes, they are rich, satisfying and delicious.
Food Coloring – The Scary Truth
Before you indulge your children (or yourself) by purchasing those neon-colored snacks and drinks (read: blue sports drinks), you might ask yourself: Are these artificially colored foods really harmless? Our food sleuths have a few colorful words to say about the matter.
V8 Vegetable Juice – You Could’ve Had a V8, But Should You?
DOINK! You could’ve had a V8. But the better question may be, should you have had a V8? It depends on which variety of V8 you’re drinking.
Cooking Rice
Confused about what rice to choose when you are preparing a meal? Here’s a brief look at some of the most popular rices.
Vegan Lunch Ideas
Tired of the same old lunches? Here are a few ideas to help you look forward to having your midday meal.
Vegan Marshmallows
As a gourmet whole foods chef I don’t have experience with marshmallows. But after reading the ingredients of store bought marshmallows, I have a better option for you.
Best Cookware
A well equipped kitchen is the first element of a home cook succeeding and enjoying cooking. Here are Ann Gentry’s recommendations on what to buy.
Vegetable Stir Fry
Vegetable stif fry is a versatile dish that pairs with almost anything. Here are a few ideas on how to make a great one.
Vegan Cake
Having touble getting your cake to come out tasting light and delicious? Here are a few tips on how to create a delicious vegan cake.
Vegan Pancakes
Do your pancakes come out rubbery and flat? Here are some easy tips for you to make the perfect vegan pancake!
How to Caramelize Onions
Golden, sweet and delicious, caramelized onions make a wonderful addition to so many foods, giving a deep deliciousness to the dish. Here’s how to caramelize them just right.
Instead of White Flour
Q Some recipes call for whole wheat flour and unbleached white flour. I’d rather not use white flour. Can I just substitute more whole wheat for the white flour or is there some other type of flour I should use? A If you are baking cakes, crusts, cookies or muffins, I’d suggest using whole wheat pastry, barley, rice or oat flours. You can use one flour alone preferably the whole wheat pastry or barley...
Egg Yolk Substitute
There are lots of substitutions out there for eggs. But what about egg yolks? What can give the same texture and color and still be vegan?
How to Cook Tofu
Looking for ways to make tofu more appealing to your family? Here are a few ideas that we think will make most everyone love tofu!
Arrowroot and Kudzu – What’s the Difference?
Is there a difference in arrowroot and kudzu or can they be used interchangeably?
How to Cook Brown Rice
Does your brown rice turn out too hard, not fluffy, or too soft? Here is a quick how-to for perfect brown!
Olive Oil
Most recipes that I use or read contain olive- oil for sautéing. But should we cook with olive oil?
Buying Organic Produce
What produce is advisable to buy only organic? Are there any safe non-organic produce? Ann Gentry offers her experienced advice on what to buy.
Cooking with Seitan
Here are three easy and straighforward tips for cooking with seitan. Follow these and you should be able to create a delicious dish!
Quinoa Cooking Tips
Quinoa is high in protein and fiber, tastes delicious and has a nice nutty crunch. Any Gentry shares with us how to cook it so it comes out perfect every time!
Energy Boosting Drinks
Need an energy boost? Want to slip something into your juices or drinks to give you a bot more get-up-and-go? Here are a few tips to add a bit of umph to your beverages!
Collard Greens
Collard greens are some of the most nutritious greens there are – they even beat broccoli in nutritional scoring! Here’s an easy way to cook them that makes them come out delicious every time!
Vegan Muffins
Tired of soggy-topped muffins? Here are a few tips on how to make perfect vegan muffins every time!
Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables
How can I get my daughter to eat more vegetables when she hates anything green?
Dairy Free – What Are Good Vegan Sources of Calcium?
I want to give up dairy products. Could you please tell me what should I eat to give my body calcium?
Green Onions and Scallions – Are They the Same?
Are green onions and scallions the same thing? Which part are you supposed to use, the white or green?
Sprouted Potatoes – Are They Edible?
Is it safe to eat potatoes that have begun sprouting or that have turned a little green?
Seaweed
When a recipe calls for a cup of seaweed, like wakame, do they mean a cup before it’s soaked or to take a cup of it after it’s been soaked?
Nutritional Yeast
What is nutritional yeast, and why is it found in almost every vegan cookbook?
Frozen or Canned – Which is Better?
Is frozen or canned produce more or less healthy than fresh produce in terms of nutrients, additives, pesticides, etc?
Tempeh
I see tempeh in my store but I’m not sure what to do with it when I get it home. Can you give me some ideas? Does it need to be cooked? Marinated?
Vegan Rich and Creamy Frosting
How can I make a creamy frosting that isn’t just a watery glaze? I want it to be rich and creamy.
Vegan Cheese
Q How do you make tofu cheese? I’ve seen it served at a few veg restaurants but I’m clueless as to how to make it. A This is a top secret process at Real Food Daily! We worked many years to master how we produce it. So, I will not go into detail as to how we currently make it. I will share with you the traditional method I was once taught which is the base for making good tofu cheese. Take fresh firm...
Cool, Easy Vegan Treats for Summer
These treats can actually be a nutrient source for little ones who seem too busy playing to eat! I designed the recipes to be inexpensive, mostly low in fat, and easy and quick for parents and grandparents to make.