Many people ask me what I look for in a recipe. Here are the 6 things I look for: 1. Are the ingredients all whole foods and recognizable? I don’t want to wonder what an ingredient is or where it is made… remember I like foods grown on a plant, not made in a plant. 2. I look for recipes that do not call for refined or processed carbohydrates and I always stay away from any artificial sweeteners. A good recipe doesn’t rely on sugar or salt to satisfy the palate. 3. To fuel my long day I need to stay energized and prevent crashes in my blood sugar. Lean sources of clean protein and healthy fats are critical in a successful recipe. 4. Does it allow me to stick to a hypoallergenic diet with special attention towards eliminating gluten and dairy? I also take interest in recipes that limit other potentially allergenic foods such as corn, soy, peanuts, eggs and yeast. 5. Like you, I love to eat and enjoy the entire process of meal preparation. Choosing wonderfully smelling fresh herbs and colorful spices engages my sense of smell and sight and draws me into the act of cooking. This is where life can become an art and the more fun I have, the better! Research shows that when we enjoy being in the kitchen we improve our health not only by cooking high quality meals at home but also by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, improving digestion and releasing stress. 6. I’m pretty busy, so finding a recipe that is both easy to make and allows for leftovers is critical. I know that packing a healthy lunch, snack or making a quick dinner is just as important to you too.
