Brain Building Pesto With Asparagus

Asparagus, parsley, and basil are rich in the anti-inflammatory antioxidant quercetin and folic acid, which nourishes the growing baby’s brain and spinal cord. Serving it over zucchini noodles increases enzymes in food to balance blood sugars. The Romano and anchovies are rich in calcium and minerals.

Ingredients

For the pesto:

1 cup of parsley

2 cups of basil

1/4 cup sundried tomatoes

4 cloves of garlic

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup pine nuts or shelled pistachios

For a dairy free version or for added calcium and vitamins add 3 anchovies

For the sauté:

2 carrots sliced

1 red bell pepper cut into slices

1 bunch of green onions cut into 1” pieces

1 bunch of asparagus chopped into 1” pieces

For the noodles:

3 small zucchinis shaved into thin strips with a potato peeler

juice of 1/2 lemon

salt and pepper

Romano cheese to taste.

Toss the zucchini, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl and place in fridge for 20 minutes.

Blend the parsley, basil, sundried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and optional anchovies together in a food processor.

Sauté all vegetables, except zucchini, lightly. Add in the pesto from the food processor. Serve over zucchini or pasta and season with Romano cheese to taste.

Try this Neapolitan Pudding for Hormone Balance

Chia seed pudding is one of the best things you can eat to increase your fiber consumption and balance your hormones due to it’s high fiber and iron concentration. Chia seeds are naturally low in carbohydrates. The fiber works to remove excess hormones in your body and balance your blood sugars. This recipe is diabetic friendly, gluten free, and wonderful for anybody trying to lose weight, especially on the abdomen. It can be used to help ease morning sickness and relieve first trimester constipation.

Recipe

1/2 cup chia seeds

1 can full fat coconut milk

1-3 drops of almond extract

1-3 drops of stevia (optional)

Quart Mason jar

1/4 cup chopped almonds

2 pieces dark chocolate cut into small pieces

3/4 cup chopped frozen or fresh cherries

Mix your chia seeds, coconut milk, almond extract and optional stevia in a mason jar. Fill the mason jar to the top with water and stir. Let chia seed pudding set for 30 minutes at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator to allow chia seeds to bloom. Once the chia seeds have bloomed, stir the mixture again.

Dish up a serving of the pudding. Add in chopped almonds, cherries, and dark chocolate. Enjoy!

*Note: For a fat-free version, replace water and coconut cream with plant-based milk such as almond or flax.

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are some of our suggestions for how to feast

It’s so easy to go overboard with the sugar around the holidays. Tips on how to keep your blood sugar balanced are to accompany sweets with protein and fats, keep hydrated (carbs require more water to digest), stick to serving sizes (think 1/2 cup for rice, potatoes, and higher carb foods), and eat lots of fiber from fresh and cooked vegetables (brussel sprouts, salad, carrots, slaw, etc), seeds, and whole grains.

Here’s some healthy recipes to try:

If you’re wondering how to make healthy desserts that avoid common allergens such as wheat and dairy see:

Magdalena Wszelaki’s gluten free and paleo friendly recipes that everyone will love

For desserts rich in nourishing minerals see:

Lily Nichol’s dark chocolate bark with raspberries and pumpkin seeds

Did you know babies born to mothers who eat chocolate during pregnancy cry less?

Rebecca Katz’s tripple tripple brittle

This recipe is rich in zinc and other trace minerals that balance hormones.