Nutrient Dense Olive Tapenade

Originating in the Mediterranean tapenade is made with olives, anchovies, capers, garlic and herbs – nutrient density at its best!

Olives are rich essential minerals calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zin and copper, polyphenols and omega-9 fatty acids that can help benefit heart, brain and mood.
Protein-packed anchovies are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and micronutrients – selenium, calcium, magnesium, vitamins B12, B6, A, K and more.Combined with garlic and herbs this is nutrient density at it’s best.

Use black olives or green olives only. Mix and match herbs. Use sun-dried tomatoes or not. You an also skip the anchovy, but it will give it a boost of flavor and nutrients.

Serving options

  • Make a “tapenade board” with veggie crudites and sliced quality bread for a special occasion.
  • Spread on cooked chicken breasts or roasted fish fillets
  • Use in wraps
  • Add as a generous dollop to green salads
  • Swirl a spoonful into soup
  • Use as a snack with veggies and rice cakes or seed crackers
  • Add it to avocado toast
Nutrient Dense Olive Tapenade
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 about 1 1/2 cups 15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 about 1 1/2 cups 15 minutes
Nutrient Dense Olive Tapenade
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 about 1 1/2 cups 15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 about 1 1/2 cups 15 minutes
Ingredients
Adjust servings: about 1 1/2 cups
Units:
Instructions
  1. in a food processor, place olive oil and 1 cup kalamata olives. Using the pulse button, process until coarsely chopped and well blended.
  2. Add 1/2 cup green olives, and pulse until blended, add remaining 1/2 cup and blend. If it is too thick, add 1 tablespoon water a time as you continue to pulse.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and pulse slowly
  4. Make it chunky or smooth, as you prefer.
  5. Refrigerate in a covered container. Use as needed.
Recipe Notes

To prepare ahead:
Tapenade will keep up to 1 week, refrigerated, in a covered container.

Modified from
Epicurious: Black and Green Olive Tapenade

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Brain Healthy Breakfast Smoothies

Here is quick, delicious, nutritious brain-healthy breakfast.

Benefits

  • Stable energy: you get all macronutrients in a glass which will provide stable energy and balance your blood sugar
  • Sharper focus: focus determines how efficiently you process information. By taking sugar and refined foods out of breakfast, you help reduce inflammation that contributes to brain fog
  • Better memory: when your brain is inflamed, it can affect your ability to form short-term memories and also connect to long-term member.
  • Better mood: Inflammation and fat dysregulation resulting from poor food choices tap into flight-fight and anxiety-driven centers of your brain. By providing your brain instead with stable and efficient source of energy from high-nutrient foods, it becomes easier to reduce anxiety and depression. Your neurotransmitters will be stable rather than firing in an chaotic, anxiety-producing pattern = promoting feelings of happiness and sense of peace
  • Reduce risk of cognitive decline: medical studies indicate nutrient deficiency (vitamins C,E, B12, B 6 and beta-carotene is linked to cognitive impairment. These breakfast smoothies pack in brain essential vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and healthy fats.
  • Stronger immune system:
  • Fast food: Fresh is best. You can store in a mason jar with a lid – or another airtight container – for 24 – 72 hours. This minimizes oxidation which breaks down nutrients and changes the color. Shake well before drinking

Basic formula

  • Liquid: Nut milks, oat milk, grass-fed whole dairy milk, kefir, coconut water, filtered water
  • Leafy greens: spinach, baby kale, mix of greens
  • Nature’s fats: seeds (chia, flaxseed, hemp seed, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower and/or nuts (almond, cashews, pecans, walnuts, nut butters)
  • Fruits: use organic if it’s on the Dirty Dozen list, go seasonal to increase the diversity of micronutrients, use shredded veggies (carrots, beets, zucchini) or pureed (beet pumpkin, sweet potato, butternut squash). Red/purple fruits are especially rich in brain-boosting phytochemicals
  • Spices: allspice, cocoa, cinnamon, ginger, tumeric (with a pinch of black pepper)
  • Sweeteners: Add bananas or dates. use nature’s sweeteners: honey, maple syrup, molasses or stevia

Starting combinations

Berry Almond Joy

  • 1 cup frozen berries for the fruit
  • 2 tablespoons coconut
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter

Chocolate Strawberry

  • 1 cup strawberries for the fruit
  • Add 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa to the spices

Ginger Spice

  • 1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
  • Pinch of black pepper (to activate tumeric)

Mango Lassi

  • 1 cup mango for the fruit
  • kefir for the liquid
Brain Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
2 5 minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 5 minutes
Brain Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
2 5 minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 5 minutes
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Place milk in blender. Add seeds, spices and leafy greens. Blend thoroughly.
  2. Add fruit, blend. Add ice and blend.
  3. If you find it needs sweetening, use a banana or 3 - 4 dates. Skip the sugar. If that's a deal breaker, add 1 tablespoon honey, maple syrup or a pinch of stevia (make sure there are no additives)
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3 Way Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Going local for the variety, delicious ripe and nutrient-rich seasonal produce.

Local, luscious red strawberries have SO much more flavor than those shipped hundreds of miles. And strawberries are good mood red foods. But because of pesticide overuse, strawberries rank #1 on the Dirty Dozen list. Another reason to go local. Although they may not be labeled “organic”, local farmers generally follow organic practices.

Variations

  • Basic: Toss sliced (or diced) cucumbers and strawberries with 1/4 cup chopped mint or basil, fresh lime juice and olive oil to taste
  • Green salad: toss it all together with greens (arugula, spinach, lettuces, shredded kale). Or serve over the greens for a pretty presentation
  • Mix and match: add diced tomatoes. Or red bell peppers. Make up your own combinations 😊

  • Full meal: toss with 1 cup of quinoa or other grains (brown rice, barley)

Additions

  • Sliced or diced avocado
  • Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)
  • Soft goat cheese or feta cheese

You can “stretch” the organic strawberries by adding either tomato or red bell pepper to make it more cost-effective.

3 Way Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Print Recipe
Last year I discovered strawberries and avocado combination. This year it’s strawberries and cucumbers. Like most Color My Food recipes this is more of guideline and can be made different ways. Also, changing how the cucumbers and strawberries are cut changes the texture. Instead of slicing in rounds, cut into large dice. Or peel the cucumber into ribbons with a vegetable peeler and cut the strawberries lengthwise rather than horizontally into rounds.
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
3 Way Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Print Recipe
Last year I discovered strawberries and avocado combination. This year it’s strawberries and cucumbers. Like most Color My Food recipes this is more of guideline and can be made different ways. Also, changing how the cucumbers and strawberries are cut changes the texture. Instead of slicing in rounds, cut into large dice. Or peel the cucumber into ribbons with a vegetable peeler and cut the strawberries lengthwise rather than horizontally into rounds.
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Toss the cucumber, green onions, mint and strawberries in a bowl.
  2. Drizzle vinaigrette and toss again.
  3. If using greens, you can serve on top of the greens or mix into the greens.
Recipe Notes

Salad dressing: CMF Basic Salad Dressing

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Nut Crusted Salmon

This nutrient dense, delicious recipe is also good brain food.

Salmon is rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids that

  • help build brain cells
  • fight inflammation in the brain and
  • increase production of brain growth hormones that give your brain the ability to grow and change

Nuts have a mix of protein, healthy fats and slow-burning carbohydrates. They’re also rich in fiber, zinc, iron and essential vitamins.

You can add veggies tossed with olive oil, sea salt and minced garlic to roast with the salmon. Some of my favorites are:

  • asparagus
  • green beans
  • broccoli

Leftovers make a filling second meal.

  • Toss roasted salmon and veggies with greens, add rainbow vegges (carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, etc)
  • Add to a grain bowl, mix in additional veggies and drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette or pesto
  • Make a wrap with pesto and greens
Nut Crusted Salmon
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Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Nut Crusted Salmon
Print Recipe
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a baking pans with olive oil. Place salmon in center of pan of pan. Dust with salt and pepper
  2. In a small bowl mix Dijon, honey (and red pepper if using it). Brush evenly over top of salmon.
  3. With a spoon carefully spread chopped nuts over salmon, gently pressing to stick.
  4. Please in center of oven and bake 15 minutes or until center is barely cooked through. It will continue to cook a couple of minutes after removing it from the oven. Let it rest 5 minutes before serving.
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Nutrient-Dense Cabbage Mushroom Ramen Soup

This delicious immune-boosting, brain-healthy, cancer-fighting soup combines some of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods.

Cabbage

Cabbage, part of the nutrient-dense cruciferous family, is rich in vitamin K which can help boost memory. Red cabbage has additional antioxidant phytochemicals that protect neurons from damage caused by oxidative stress. These flavonoids can also help improve mood and memory.

Ginger

Ginger has proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It is digestive aid that helps breakdown of protein, and it soothes the gastrointestinal tract.  It can also help cognitive functioning, focus and memory.

Mushrooms

Nutrient-dense mushrooms are rich in essential brain nutrient B vitamins and minerals like zinc and manganese. There are several immune-boosting ingredients empower your body to react quickly and powerfully when we are exposed to disease-causing pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.

Onions and Garlic

Throughout history people recognized onions and garlic offered immune protection and could help them get well faster when they got sick. Onions and garlic are rich in:

  • anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds
  • antioxidant flavonoids shown to boost memory and protect neurons from injury
  • brain essential B vitamins

Seaweed

Seaweeds are one of the best foods to obtain essential minerals. The high mineral content supports nervous system function. They also contain high amounts of vitamins, as well as protein.

Sesame seeds

Rich in calcium and abundant in other minerals, particularly zinc and iron, sesame seeds also provide vitamin E.

Nutrient-dense Cabbage Mushroom Ramen Soup
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Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Nutrient-dense Cabbage Mushroom Ramen Soup
Print Recipe
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
Soup
Toppings
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. In a stock pot, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onions and mushrooms. Cook 5 minutes until they soften.
  2. Add garlic and ginger and cook 2 – 3 minutes stirring occasionally. Mix in soy sauce.
  3. Immediately add broth, water, and cabbage. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and add in ramen noodles. Cover and cook over medium 5 – 8 minutes until the ramen and cabbage are tender. Stir in the sesame oil, remove from heat.
  4. Sprinkle with toppings and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

*Seaweed is optional. I generally have some in the pantry in the form of seaweed snacks. It defintely improves the flavor and obviously the health benefits as well.

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Roasted Red Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts

Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower) have powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and DNA-enhancing properties that help keep your brain fighting fit and protect your body from cancer. The color in red cabbage comes from flavonoids called anthocyanins which improve memory, digestion and heart health.

[su_expanding_quote_book alignment=”full” source_author=”Joel Fuhrman, MD” source_title=”Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Natural Defenses” full_quote=”ITCs (natural chemical compounds) in cruciferous vegetables have proven and powerful immune-boosting effects and anti-cancer activity. They enhance defenses against bacterial infections and have natural antimicrobial effects that can be utilized to boost natural cellular defenses. Certain ITCs detoxify and/or remove carcinogenic compounds and kill cancer cells.. ” short_quote=”natural chemical compounds in cruciferous vegetables have proven and powerful immune-boosting effects and anti-cancer activity. “]

Versatile

  • Makes a great side dish to roasted fish, pork tenderloin, or meatloaf
  • Make it into an entrée over quinoa topped with sunflower or pumpkin seeds and a tahini salad dressing
  • Turn leftovers into breakfast with an poached or hard-boiled egg on top
  • Use leftovers for a lunch salad – toss with dark leafy greens, add seeds (sunflower or pumpkin) or chopped nuts and avocado or a dollop of hummus
  • Use leftovers for a lunch salad – toss with dark leafy greens, add seeds (sunflower or pumpkin) or chopped nuts and avocado or a dollop of hummus

Variations:

  • Broccoli or cauliflower instead of Brussels sprouts
  • Green cabbage instead of red cabbage
  • Sweet potatoes instead of the potatoes, OR a mix of both
  • Add turnips
  • Change out the spices: oregano and basil for Mediterranean seasons, cumin and chili for Mexican
  • Add fresh chopped herbs after roasting – cilantro, parsley, dill or basil
Sheet Pan Purple Cabbage Brussels Sprouts
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Servings
4 - 6 servings
Servings
4 - 6 servings
Sheet Pan Purple Cabbage Brussels Sprouts
Print Recipe
Servings
4 - 6 servings
Servings
4 - 6 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 425 F. Brush a large sheet pan with olive oil
  2. Wash and drain Brussels sprouts. Trim ends and cut in half. Place on sheet pan.
  3. Add sliced cabbage, chopped onion, potatoes, garlic, and olive oil. Toss well on the sheet pan.
  4. Sprinkle chili powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper over the vegetables and toss again to spread the seasonings.
  5. Place sheet pan in the oven and cook 12 minutes. Remove and toss then cook another 12 – 15 minutes.
Recipe Notes

Adapted from
https://www.okcveggie.com/home/parmesan-purple-cabbage-fingerling-potatoes-brussels-sprouts-hash

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Quinoa Pesto Bowl

Quinoa pesto bowls are versatile, nutrient-dense and delicious. Homemade pesto is quick and easy. You can use store-bought pesto for a quick dinner; as always read the ingredient label first.

Variations

  • Use snap peas, green beans, or asparagus instead of broccoli. What other vegetables could you use?
  • Use chicken instead of shrimp
  • Add edamame or garbanzo (chickpeas) and skip the shrimp to make vegetarian bowl
  • Serve over a bed of greens or shredded cabbage tossed with extra-virgin olive oil and lemon or a dash of apple cider vinegar

Double the recipe and use later in the week

  • Tossed with greens and goat cheese into a “meal salad”
  • Mash an avocado onto a tortilla, Swiss chard or collard greens, and add a big spoonful to make wraps.
Quinoa Pesto Bowl
Print Recipe
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Quinoa Pesto Bowl
Print Recipe
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
Quinoa Bowl
Pesto
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
Quinoa Bowl
  1. Toast the quinoa in a medium saucepan over medium heat until is starts popping. Add water, bring to a boil. Immediately turn down, cover pot and cook 15 minutes.
  2. Add the broccoli to the pot of quinoa and cook 5 more minutes.
  3. While the quinoa is cooking make the pesto
  4. Cook the shrimp
  5. When the quinoa is cooked, carefully mix in pesto and half of the shrimp. When serving, top with additional shrimp and pumpkin seeds
Pesto
  1. Grind nuts in food processor or blender. Remove and set aside
  2. Put olive oil and water in blender. Add 1 cup chopped parsley, blend well. Add remaining chopped parsley and blend well.
  3. Add ground nuts and blend until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste
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Crunchy Healthy Broccoli Salad

Some of the most nutrient-dense (nutrients per calorie) foods on the planet are:

  • Greens (including cruciferous like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage)
  • Beans
  • Onions
  • Mushrooms
  • Berries
  • Seeds/Nuts

Eating lots of these vegetables give us optimal amounts of immune-protective micronutrients that can fend of disease.

This salad combines 4 of those superfoods: broccoli, onions, nuts, and berries. It’s a delicious, nutritious way to eat more broccoli and change up dinner salad from leafy greens. Leftovers make a great lunch topped with some chicken and/or leftover grains.

Variations

  • Add leftover bacon, chopped
  • Add avocado, diced
  • Use pumpkin or sunflower seeds instead of nuts
  • Use raisins or other dried fruit instead of cranberries
  • Add 1/2 cup chopped cilantro or parsley
  • Mix in arugula or baby spinach for a more robust salad
  • Add leftover quinoa, brown rice or other grain for a “meal salad”
  • Top with leftover chicken
Crunchy Healthy Broccoli Salad
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Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Crunchy Healthy Broccoli Salad
Print Recipe
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
White Wine Vinaigrette
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Toss, broccoli, green onions, half of cranberries and half of nuts with CMF vinaigrette.
  2. Put into serving bowl
  3. Top with remaining cranberries and nuts.
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Nutrient Rich Granola

Homemade granola + good fats is an excellent transition from breakfast cereal. Enjoy with whole-milk Greek yogurt or kefir for sustained energy and to avoid blood sugar spikes.

  • Quick, easy and robust breakfast
  • Never boring because there are so many combinations
    • Spices
    • Nuts/seeds
    • Dried fruits (add AFTER baking)
    • Fresh fruits – bring seasons into my breakfast bowl – berries, peaches, and plums in the summer, sweet potato and pumpkin in the fall, cranberry, and gingerbread flavor in the winter.
  • Mix into fruit salad
  • Use for chia pudding toppings
  • Sprinkle on top of oatmeal or quinoa breakfast bowls for texture contrast

Variations:

  • Almond joy: use almonds for the chopped nuts, add 2 cuts shredded, unsweetened coconut. Optional – add 1/4 teaspoon almond extract when mixing melted coconut oil and maple syrup
  • Orange Cranberry: zest 3 – 4 oranges (depending on the size and how distinct you want the orange flavor) and mix in to the oats. After baking the oatmeal, add 1 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • Banana Bread: Add 2 pureed bananas to the melted coconut oil and maple syrup mix
  • Lemon Poppyseed: zest 3 lemons, add zest to oats. Add 1/4 cup poppyseed
  • Pumpkin pie: Add 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice mix to the oats. Mix 1 cup pumpkin puree with melted coconut oil and maple syrup
  • Moroccan Sweet Potato: Add 1/2 tablespoon Golden Milk spice blend to the oats. Add 1 cup sweet potato puree
  • Gingerbread Granola: Add 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon cloves, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg


Color My Food Granola
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Servings
8 servings
Servings
8 servings
Color My Food Granola
Print Recipe
Servings
8 servings
Servings
8 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325. Mix oats and cinnamon in a big bowl. Mix in chopped nuts
  2. Melt coconut oil, stir in maple syrup. Mix well
  3. Pour melted coconut oil and maple syrup over oats. Mix well.
  4. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread half of granola on each
  5. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes.
  6. Add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed and/or hemp hearts to each serving before eating.
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Delicious No-Oats Oatmeal

Granted it’s not oatmeal but what else to call it? Creamy and satisfying, nutrient-dense and RESTART friendly, this paleo cereal made itself a permanent part of my breakfast rotation. Add “cake-inspired” toppings for visual delight, gratifying contrast of texture and increased nutrient-density.

  • Carrot Cake
  • Lemon Blueberry
  • Apple Pie

What other combinations could you try? Isn’t it a whole new spin on breakfast?!

Delicious No-Oats Oatmeal
Print Recipe
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Delicious No-Oats Oatmeal
Print Recipe
Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
Carrot cake Topping
Lemon Blueberry Topping
Apple Pie
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
Non-oatmeal
  1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Mix in milk
  3. Cover and refrigerate overnight
  4. In the morning separate a desired portion size and warm up on the stove top. You can also eat it at room temperature or cold like overnight oats.
  5. Add topping of choice and enjoy!
Carrot Cake Topping
  1. Put shredded carrot, conut and chopped walnuts on top of non-oatmeal. Enjoy!
Lemon Blueberry
  1. Mix in lemon zest, top serving with blueberries and chopped nuts.
Apple Pie
  1. Over serving of non-oatmeal top with chopped apple, walnuts, and a generous dusting of ground cinnamon
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