Lunch Date Newsletter #24: All the health news & recipes you need to know

Happy Wednesday friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week so far – you’re halfway to the weekend already. I’ve got a great collection of articles for you to catch up on today, from “Myths About Fruit Snacks” to the importance of a daily reading habit. After I show you the recipes that caught my eye, I’m sharing some of my favorite meals from the week, and a book on organization I can’t wait to read.

Speak soon!

xx,

Caroline

My Recent Press:

• Your Ultimate Guide to No-Bake Energy Bites & Bars – The Huffington Post

What I’m Reading:

Food, Nutrition & Health:

• The ‘astounding’ reinvention of popcorn as “Millenial friendly, cool and healthy” – Food Navigator
• Is Rinsing Your Sinuses Safe? – U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Persimmons Pack a Vitamin C Punch – Food and Nutrition
• Local Claims Are Rising Star as Sun Sets on Organic Claims – Food Navigator
• More Foods That Will Fill You Up – The Daily Meal
• The Ins and Outs of Health Claims on Food Labels – The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Myths About Fruit Snacks – Real Mom Nutrition
• Why We’re Willing to Pay More for Ancient Grains – The New Yorker

Exercise:

• Lack of exercise responsible for twice as many early deaths as obesity – University of Cambridge on Science Daily
• Tai Chi Boosts Immunity to Shingles Virus in Older Adults – National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• How Post-Workout Food Rewards Can Sabotage Your Goals – The Washington Post
• The Week Your New Year’s Resolution to Exercise Dies – The Wall Street Journal

Leadership:

• Leaders Need a Daily Reading Habit – George Ambler

What I’m Salivating Over: 

Breakfast:

• Candied Ginger, Almond and Quinoa Granola – Eats With Well Others
• Simple Baked Oatmeal Recipe – fANNEtastic food
• Rise and Shine Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins – The Foodie Physician
• Popped Amaranth Granola with Dried Cranberries & Almonds (Naturally Sweetened) – Caroline Kaufman Nutrition

Salads:

• Chicken and Quinoa Salad with Asian Dressing – Fox 13 Now
• Mediterranean Orzo Salad – The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Main Courses:

• Grilled Chicken and Strawberry Salad Wrap – The Pioneer Woman Cooks
• Shortcut Vegetable Ragu (gluten-free, 30 minute meal) – Iowa Girl Eats

What I’ve Been Up To:

I’ve been really happy with my healthy breakfasts and dinners this past week.

One big highlight was last night’s dinner from Ellie Krieger’s ‘Weeknight Wonders’ cookbook: Corn and Quinoa with Sausage and a Crisp & Cool Shredded Romaine Salad. Quinoa is a Peruvian superfood like kiwicha – see my recipe for popped kiwicha granola! We tossed cooked quinoa in a skillet with browned jalapeno chicken & turkey sausage, fresh tomatoes, diced onions and peppers, corn, parsley, and lime juice, and served it next to a perfectly simple, cooling shredded romaine salad.

I’ve also been digging into my popped kiwicha granola (also called amaranth), and love it on top of plain lactose-free yogurt with mandarin orange wedges for breakfast:

On the non-food front, I’m excited to read my new book, “the life-changing magic of tidying up: the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing” by Marie Kondo. I absolutely believe that a clean, healthy home has the power to affect our mental and physical health and I’m excited to see what I can adopt and share with you!

See you for another Wednesday lunch date next week!

I’d love to hear from you: What was one thing that made you happy last week?