Episode 10 – Healthy Snack Recipes

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Episode 10 – Healthy Snack Recipes

Listen to “Healthy Snack Recipes” on Spreaker.

Description:

Learn how to make two plant-based healthy snack recipes, one savoury and one sweet, with Physician & Culinary Medicine Expert Dr. Sabrina Falquier. The savoury snack being made during this podcast is popcorn and the sweeter snack is chocolate bark. You can join along in your kitchen or simply listen and save this episode for another time when you’re ready to make these guilt-free snacks.

Popcorn Ingredients:

  • Air popped popcorn or microwave popcorn. You’ll need ½ cup dried kernels and a paper bag (like a lunch paper bag) if you’re popping the popcorn in a microwave, or 1 store-bought bag of plain popcorn.
  • 1 ½ tsp Tabasco sauce
  • 1 tsp Tajin (which is a Mexican spice) or Chili powder
  • Lemon or lime rind (optional)

Chocolate Bark Ingredients

  • 1 – 10 oz. bag chocolate chips or a 2 – 4 oz. bar of dark chocolate (total about 2 cups chopped, before melting), cut into rough 1/4-1/2 inch pieces. If you want this to be vegan, make sure you are using vegan chocolate.
  • Toppings of your choice. Some suggestions;
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit of your choice (dark cherries, apricots), roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup nuts of your choice (pecans, walnuts), roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup dried, unsweetened shredded coconut
  • Fresh berries of your choice like blueberries or raspberries which are lower sugar fruits

Episode 9 – Indoor Vegetable and Herb Garden Tips

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Episode 9 – Indoor Vegetable and Herb Garden Tips

Listen to “Indoor Vegetable and Herb Garden Tips” on Spreaker.

Whether you’re considering growing vegetables and herbs indoors on a window sill, using hydroponics or smart gardens, horticulturist and guest Paul Zammit discusses realistic expectations that one should have for an indoor garden plus some indoor growing tips.

In this podcast you’ll hear:
1:20 – What to keep in mind when growing an indoor vegetable garden

3:20 – What direction should the indoor garden face if using natural light?

4:05 – Paul’s tips on growing lights

5:10 – Hydroponics explained

7:10 – Smart gardens

8:10 – Best vegetables and herbs to grow indoors

10:10 – Air purifying plants

11:40 – Toxic house plants for small children and pets

Episode 8 – Backyard Vegetable Garden Tips

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Episode 8 – Backyard Vegetable Garden Tips

Listen to “Backyard Vegetable Garden Tips” on Spreaker.

Outdoor vegetable gardening is gaining in popularity for many reasons including its mental and physical health benefits. What better way to increase the vegetable varieties in your plant-based diet than to plant them at home? In this episode about how to prepare a vegetable garden, horticulturist, professor and radio guest Paul Zammit offers tips for outdoor vegetable growing. From seeds to soil, this episode will help you plant a successful vegetable garden.

In this podcast you’ll hear:
1:20 – Bridging culinary and horticulture

3:15 – The high demand for seeds

3:40 – The importance of sunlight

4:10 – Understanding soil type

4:40 – Consider your water source

5:05 – In-ground, raised beds and container gardening

6:40 – Should people start planting seeds indoors or outdoors?

11:00 – Preparing the soil

14:15 – Fertilizing

15:50 – Best time to water

17:50 – Using mulch to conserve moisture

18:30 – Protecting the garden from insect pests and animals

25:00 – Dealing with weeds

26:50 – Top 10 easy-to-grow vegetables

Episode 6 – What is a Functional Food?

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Episode 6 – What is a Functional Food?

Listen to “What is a Functional Food?” on Spreaker.

People are increasingly looking to be proactive in supporting their health and are seeking functional foods. But what are functional foods exactly? In this episode,
founder and CEO of functional food brand JOYA, Ruth Elnekave, along with Kate Taylor Martin, owner of superfood café nutbar, provide their insights on this rising product category.

In this podcast you’ll hear:
2:00 – Kate’s journey to opening superfood café nutbar
6:30 – Ruth’s path to founding functional food brand JOYA
10:45 – What are functional foods?
12:45 – Functional foods you already have at home
14:45 – Medicinal mushrooms
16:30 – Matcha
17:00 – Fermented foods
17:50 – Can collagen be vegan?
19:00 – Are functional foods expensive?
26:20 – Misleading information about functional foods
32:00 – What are adaptogens?
36:30 – Is chocolate a functional food?
44:45 – Ruth and Kate’s top 3 functional foods

Episode 5 – Algae: The Food of the Future?

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Episode 5 – Algae: The Food of the Future

Listen to “Algae: The Food of the Future?” on Spreaker.

It has been touted as the food of the future and the most nutrient dense food on the planet. In this episode, Catharine Arnston, Founder & CEO of Energybits, discusses algae which she describes as a food that’s “a gift to us from mother nature”. Packed with vitamins, minerals and protein, it’s a multi-billion-dollar crop in Asia but not particularly well known as a food outside of Asia.

In this podcast you’ll hear:
1:15 – How Catharine got into the algae business
5:00 – Algae as a food
9:00 – Algae subcategories: Macroalgae and micro-algae
9:30 – 2 types of microalgae: 1) Blue-green 2) Green
10:15 – Difference between spirulina and chlorella
22:00 – How is microalgae grown and processed?
24:45 – Beware of heavy metals in algae
27:25 – NASA’s use of algae on space missions
28:50 – Products made from algae
29:45 – Algae trials related to COVID
30:30 – The science behind algae
31:15 – Are there health warnings?
33:45 – Benefits of algae for a plant-based diet
39:15 – Chlorella as a detoxifier and immunity booster
44:15 – Companies bringing algae to the mass market 

If you want to give algae a try you can visit the ENERGYbits® website at energybits.com. Use discount code AFN for 20% off your order!

If you use the discount code to make a purchase, Alternative Food Network will earn a commission at no cost to you. We do this only for products we like. 

Episode 4 – Plant Based During Coronavirus: Livestream with Fay and Ashley

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Episode 4 – Plant Based During Coronavirus: Livestream with Fay and Ashley 

Listen to “Plant Based During Coronavirus: Livestream with Fay and Ashley” on Spreaker.

This is the audio version of a livestream virtual meetup with Fay and Ashely. We chat about their life during COVID-19, what they’re eating and what plant-based items they keep in their pantry.

 

Episode 3 – The Plant Based Diet: Healthy Fat

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Episode 3 – Healthy Fat

Listen to “Healthy Fat” on Spreaker.

In this 20 minute episode, Fay and Ashley are back discussing fat, why our bodies need fat and what plant based foods have healthy fats. You’ll also get great information about cooking with plant-based oils and their smoke points. As a bonus for our audience, Fay and Ashley have provided some great plant-based recipes (below).

In this podcast you’ll hear:
2:45 What are the four types of fats?
3:20 What are saturated fats?
3:50 What are trans fats?
4:30 What are mono-unsaturated fats?
4:45 What are poly-unsaturated fats?
5:30 Coconut cream
7:40 Examples of plant-based foods with good fat
9:00 Avocado
11:30 Why do we need fat?
12:15 How much fat should someone have on a daily basis?
14:00 Cooking with plant-based oils and their smoke points
17:45 Baking and cooking with avocado oil
19:30 Ashley’s cashew cheese sauce
19:45 Fay’s coconut whipping cream

This episode’s show notes are brought to you by Vurbl. Vurbl is launching new technology for audio creators like us. Join the beta at https://vurbl.com/.

Recipes

CASHEW CHEESE SAUCE (courtesy of Ashley Kitchens)
Ingredients
2 cups soaked cashews
¼ cup nutritional yeast
2 tbsp. miso paste
Squeeze of lemon
Water to thin it out

Instructions
Blend ingredients.
Pour into a bowl. Add dash of cayenne pepper.

WHIPPED GUACAMOLE (courtesy of Fay Knights)
Ingredients
4 medium-large ripe avocados
1 organic lemon or 3 limes juiced
1 tsp organic garlic powder (or 1 crushed garlic clove)
1/2 tsp organic onion powder
1 tsp fine pink Himalayan salt
1/2 tsp organic ground black pepper
punch smoked paprika optional

Instructions
Add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend on medium for 20-30 seconds.
Taste test and add more lemon/lime juice, salt, and pepper if desired.
With a rubber spatula, transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy!

COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM (courtesy of Fay Knights)
Ingredients
1 can full fat organic coconut milk
1-3 tbsp powdered organic cane or maple sugar depending on how sweet you like it – if you use maple, the whipped cream may have a more cream like colour instead of white.
1 tsp organic vanilla extract

Optional:
pinch cinnamon and/or fine pink Himalayan salt

Instructions
Refrigerate coconut milk can the night before.
Day of: start by putting a medium metal or glass mixing bowl in the freezer while gathering your ingredients and doing step 3.
Remove can of coconut milk from fridge, flip over and open the can from its opposite side. Pour out the water that has separated from the coconut fat. Tip: pour it in a sealable cup and store in the fridge to drink later or add to smoothies.
Remove bowl from the freezer. Scoop out coconut cream that is left in the can (after pouring out water) into the bowl and add organic powdered sugar and vanilla.
Beat on low with an electric mixer until well combined (maximum 1 minute).
Serve with your favourite fruit or dessert right away or cover bowl tightly with wrap and store in the fridge.

Notes
Lasts in the fridge for up to 5-7 days Do not over beat. If it’s over beaten the coconut fat will start to liquefy. You can substitute maple syrup, honey, or coconut nectar instead of powdered cane sugar but do not use more than 1-2 tsp because it will become too liquidy and will also separate a bit when stored in the fridge. Use a high fat coconut milk. These generally say “full fat” or “premium fat” on the can. Do not use cans that say “light” – light versions have very little fat content (not enough to make the whipped cream). 

Episode 2 – The Plant-Based Diet: Plant Based Meat Alternatives: Healthy or not?

Read more about the article Episode 2 – The Plant-Based Diet: Plant Based Meat Alternatives: Healthy or not?

Episode 2 – Plant Based Meat Alternatives: Healthy or not?

Listen to “Plant Based Meat Alternatives” on Spreaker.

We’re back with Fay and Ashley discussing plant based meat alternatives. We discuss ingredients of plant based burgers and whether the store-bought varieties are a healthy option.

We’re back with Fay and Ashley from episode 1 discussing plant based meat alternatives. We discuss plant based burger ingredients and whether the store-bought varieties are a healthy option.

What you’ll hear:
2:30   Why Ashley and Fay changed their meat-eating habits
5:00    Are plant based meat alternatives healthy?
6:30    What are plant based meat alternatives made of?
9:30    Homemade meatless alternatives
13:00  Store-bought meatless burger ingredients
14:30  Price comparison of beef v. plant based burger
16:45   Thumbs up or down on meatless burgers?

This episode’s show notes are brought to you by Vurbl. Vurbl is launching new technology for audio creators like us. Join the beta at https://vurbl.com/.

The Plant-Based Diet: What Is It and How To Start

Read more about the article The Plant-Based Diet: What Is It and How To Start

Episode 1 – Plant Based Eating: What is it and how to start?

Listen to “Plant Based Eating: What is it and how to start?” on Spreaker. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or a meat eater interested in integrating more plant-based foods into your diet, there’s no question that plant-based has gone mainstream. But it’s more than just fruits and vegetables. A plant-based diet can include nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes and beans also. And it is not synonymous with being a vegan. Technically, a plant-based diet contains proportionately more foods from plant sources. In this podcast about plant-based eating, the stories and health struggles of Fay Knights and Ashley Swanson are revealed. After consulting with healthcare professionals and doing their own research on plant-based eating, they each decided to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diet and achieved positive results. One criticism of a plant-based diet is that it is too expensive for the average income-earner. However, both Fay and Ashley agree that cooking plant-based at home is not expensive. Ashley can do it for less that $3 per meal! This episode’s show notes are brought to you by Vurbl. Vurbl is launching new technology for audio creators like us. Join the beta at https://vurbl.com/. If you’re thinking of adding more plant-based foods to your diet or are looking for more plant-based recipes, here are some breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes: BREAKFAST PEANUT BUTTER BANANA SMOOTHIE (Courtesy of Fay Knights) Ingredients
  • 1 1/3 cup organic unsweetened coconut milk or preferred milk alternative
  • 1 tbsp coconut milk powder
  • 2 tbsp organic smooth peanut butter
  • 1 small banana
  • 1 tbsp hemp hearts
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • ¼ tsp organic ground cinnamon
Optional
  • 1 tbsp unflavoured collagen powder
  • 1 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder unsweetened
Instructions:
  1. Add all ingredients to blender, blend on high until smooth and enjoy!
Notes:
  • This smoothie also works well with any other type of nut butter, i.e.: almond, cashew, Brazilian nut, and hazelnut.
  • You can also substitute the maple syrup for coconut nectar
  • If you don’t have coconut milk powder, add a spoon of organic coconut oil or coconut cream.
BLUEBERRY-GREEN SMOOTHIE (Courtesy of Fay Knights) Ingredients
  • 1 ½ cup organic coconut milk or preferred milk alternative
  • 1 tbsp coconut milk powder
  • ½ teaspoon grated ginger
  • 2 tsp maple syrup
  • 2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach or kale or both
  • ½-¾ cup organic blueberries
  • ½ a banana, frozen or regular
Optional:
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 serving unflavoured collagen powder
  • ½ scoop vanilla vegan protein powder (look for no sugar added)
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to blender, blend on high until smooth and enjoy!
BAKED PUMPKIN STEEL CUT OATS (Courtesy of Ashley Swanson) Ingredients
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground allspice
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup or coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • 1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 (14 oz) can full fat coconut milk
  • 4 ½ cups water or plant milk
  • 2 cups steel cut oats
Toppings: pecans, pepitas, hemp seeds, sliced apples, maple syrup, plant milk Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients, except steel cut oats, in a large pot on the stove. Over med-high heat, bring to a soft boil.
  2. Stir in steel cut oats. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes (stirring every 5-10 minutes) or until oats are tender.
  3. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Serve immediately or portion out into your meal prep containers for the week. Top with your favorite toppings, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a splash of plant milk.
Recipe Notes You can try making this in the oven for a more hands-free approach. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, mix well. Pour mixture into oven safe dish. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving or portioning out into meal prep containers. LUNCH CREAMY CARROT-GINGER SOUP (Courtesy of Fay Knights) Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion roughly chopped
  • 2 -3 tsp freshly grated ginger
  • 3 cups organic low-sodium chicken broth or veggie broth works well too
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 lb bag of organic baby carrots this is usually the small bag, the big bags are 2lbs
  • 1 cup frozen butternut squash
  • ½ can full fat coconut milk
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Pinch of fresh or dried thyme
  • Sea salt & ground pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. In a medium-large pot, heat olive oil on medium-high and add in chopped onion. Sautee for 2-3 minutes. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper and then add in the ginger and sautée for 1 more minute.
  2. Add in carrots then pour in broth and water, ensuring all ingredients are covered with liquid. Bring to a boil and let boil for 10 minutes.
  3. Add in garlic powder, thyme, coconut milk, and squash. Boil for another 10 minutes.
  4. Poke carrots with fork, they should be tender and easy to fork – that’s when you know it’s ready.
  5. Remove from heat and then with a handheld blender, blend until creamy (about 3 minutes).
Optional:
  1. Top with toasted walnuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Notes Serve hot or let cool and store in the fridge for up to three days. You can also store in an air-tight container in the freezer and thaw out 8-12 hours prior to using. SAVOURY JACKFRUIT BOWLS (Courtesy of Ashley Swanson) Serving: 3-4 Creamy Cashew Butter Sauce (Makes enough for one (14.5 oz) can jackfruit) Ingredients
  • 2 heaping tbsp cashew butter (or any combination of nut/seed butters)
  • 1 tbsp tamari
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 2-6 tbsp hot water (add 2 tbsp at a time to thin)
Instructions
  1. Add ingredients to a small bowl (except water) and whisk well to combine.
  2. Add water, 2 tbsp at a time, to thin.
  3. Taste test. If too savory, add a little maple syrup (1-3 tsp). If too thin, add more nut/seed butter. Add mixture to jackfruit (see below).
Jackfruit Mixture Ingredients
  • ½ yellow onion
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can jackfruit
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Sautée ½ diced, yellow onion until translucent, about 5 min.
  2. Add 1 (14.5 oz) canned jackfruit, shredding it with your fingers as you do so, and cook for another 3-5 min.
  3. Pour sauce over jackfruit mixture and stir well to combine, cooking for another 3-5 min.
  4. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with cooked quinoa, greens or broccolini, cooked butternut squash or sweet potatoes, and a lemon tahini dressing.
DINNER CHICKPEA MASALA (Courtesy of Fay Knights) Ingredients
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1 can organic cooked chickpeas
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup frozen cubed carrots
  • 1 small diced onion
  • 1 small crushed garlic glove or ½ tsp organic garlic powder
  • 1 ½ cups organic tomato sauce
  • ½-1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ tsp each salt & ground pepper
Optional
  • handful of finely chopped parsley
  • pinch of cumin or coriander
Instructions
  1. Prepare basmati rice as per package instructions.
  2. Wash and strain chickpeas.
  3. While rice is cooking, in a media pot, sauté diced onions and garlic on medium-high until slightly golden (2-3 minutes).
  4. Add in all remaining ingredients to pot, pour water in last.
  5. The amount of water to add can vary slightly.  You want to make sure all ingredients are covered with liquid (not swimming in it but just enough to cover). If the tomato sauce you use is more runny, you will need less water. I typically need around ½-1 cup of water.
  6. Stir all ingredients well then put the lid on.
  7. Once the sauce starts to simmer, turn heat down to medium and let cook for 10 minutes.
  8. If after 10 minutes you find the masala too watery for your liking, remove lid and cook for an additional 5 minutes or add 1 tsp of cornstarch.
  9. Plate desired amount of rice and top with chickpea masala and enjoy!
INSTANT POT LASAGNA SOUP (Courtesy of Ashley Swanson) Servings: 6-8 Ingredients
  • 20 oz frozen veggies (I used 10 oz mirepoix & 10 oz carrots)
  • ½ cup split lentils
  • 5 oz diced tomatoes (I used fire roasted)
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • Italian herbs (1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried sage, 1 tsp dried thyme plus 1/2 tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp onion powder)
  • 4 cups veggie broth (add more to thin, mine is more stew-like)
  • 6-10 no boil lasagna noodles
  • 1 cup chopped frozen greens
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients (except lasagna noodles and greens) to an Instant Pot and stir well to combine. Add lasagna noodles, making sure they’re submerged in liquid.
  2. Place lid on securely with quick release valve closed and manually set Instant Pot to 3 minutes.
  3. Once cooking is complete, use quick release valve to release pressure fully, then carefully remove lid.
  4. Mix in 1 cup chopped frozen greens.
  5. Dish out into meal prep containers and store in fridge for 5-6 days.
  6. Reheat portions daily and top with nutritional yeast and red pepper flakes.
All content or opinions expressed in this blog are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please seek advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare practitioner.