Recipes

Improve your metabolism - one delicious recipe at a time!

"I don't do "bland, and I don't expect anyone else to either. I love to tinker in the kitchen - creating recipes that are both delicious and nutritious. I firmly believe that we do not have to sacrifice taste to make healthy choices." - Sara

Pistachio Cacao Cookies

These cookies are gluten/grain free, vegan, dairy free, and much lower in sugar than traditional cookies. If you like pistachios and...

Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

These delicious holiday cookies are gluten/grain free, dairy free, vegan, and lower in sugar than your usual holiday cookie. So enjoy...

Thin Mint Cookies (grain & gluten free)

I know people look forward to Girl Scout cookie season all year round, and Thin Mints are one of the favorites. This copy cat recipe is a...

Creamy Turmeric Dressing

Turmeric is known for it's bright yellow color, and it's powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. The active ingredient in turmeric is...

Creamy Broccoli Soup

This soup is very filling, delicious and nutritious. It is creamy, but there is no cream in it (I use cashew cream instead). You can...

Easter "Reese's" Eggs

This is a fun project for the kids, and it is a healthier version of the traditional Reese's Easter Eggs. Did you know that Reese's...

Roasted Tomato Soup

By Sara Vance, Nutritionist If you are growing tomatoes in the garden this summer - you might be looking for delicious recipes... This...

Samoa Cookies (raw, vegan, grain free)

I used to be a Girl Scout troop leader, so I had a little bit of a love/hate relationship with the cookies if you want to know the truth....

Tropical Mango Tart

This dessert is grain-free, dairy free, rich in vitamin C, lower in sugar, and is beautiful too! This takes some time to make, so plan...

Passionfruit Curd

Living in the San Diego area - we can grow passionfruit vines, which are flowering tropical vines known as passiflora. They produce an...

Noisette Bars

During college, I studied abroad for a semester in Geneva, Switzerland. The Swiss are known for their watches and chocolates - and I...

Chicken Bone Broth

Sometimes referred to as "liquid gold," homemade bone broth is rich in minerals, vitamins, and collagen. Collagen is immune boosting,...

Sara's Cashew Cream

If you are trying to cut back on your milk or dairy consumption, cashew milk is a great option! Cashews are soft, light in color, and...

Sara's Roasted Green Salsa

I LOVE Fall flavors - and green chilis are at the very top of the list! For years, I have roasted peppers and tomatillos for my Green...

Creamy Veggie & Lentil Soup

This soup is truly a shining example that food can be both delicious and nutritious! One of our family favorites - this is loaded with...

Carrot Cake Muffins

A couple of years ago, I was craving one of my favorite breakfasts from my youth - Raisin Bran Muffins - so I came up with my recipe for...

Lemon Poppyseed Blueberry Cake (gluten, grain and dairy free)

Moist. It might be one of the most hated words in the English language, but when it comes to cake - it is kind of essential. This easy...

Vegan Caesar Salad

This Caesar salad is vegan, gluten free, tangy, delicious and sooooo craveable...basically it is a game changer!! Speaking of game...

Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is super fast & easy, filling, and delicious. This time, I decided I wanted to make it Mexican style, and it turned out...

Anti-aging Blueberry Smoothie

Wild blueberries are not only delicious, they are nutritious and have powerful anti-aging benefits. Rich in fiber, minerals, and the...

Cilantro Dressing

I used to like to grab a salad at a local healthy food grocery store near me - one of my favorite things was the cilantro dressing they...

Pumpkin Spice Donuts

So after I made these delicious Lemon Poppyseed donuts, and these Double Chocolate Donuts - a Facebook friend brought up the idea of...

Double Chocolate Donuts - Gluten & Grain free

So after I made these delicious Lemon Poppyseed donuts, I decided that I had to see if I could make chocolate donuts - and these turned...

Butter Chicken

I love Indian Food, and probably one of my favorite dishes is Butter Chicken, we used to call it "Tikka Masala"- but I think that is more...

Lemon Poppyseed Donuts - Gluten & Grain free

Donuts. Usually they are a vehicle for sugar, white flour, and more sugar - which surely will set you up for a sugar rush & a crash (I...

Mocha Chip Frozen Coffee

It's the middle of Summer - and it is HOT outside!! So what could be more refreshing than a nice COLD frozen coffee drink? Well, the...

"Skinny" Cookie Dough Balls

Why are these called "Skinny Cookie Dough?" These cookie dough balls contain tiger nut flour which in addition to being grain & gluten...

Gingerbread Cookies (gluten/grain free)

If you like holiday spice – you will love these cookies – they are full of spice and flavor. They are free of grains, gluten, and much...

Italian Wedding Soup

I wasn’t sure why this soup is called “Italian Wedding Soup.” So I searched on the Internet. According to the “Cooking Geek,” although...

Pumpkin Spiced Hummus

It's pumpkin spice season…yes, the time of year when…poof!...everything seems to get pumpkin spiced…among the cookies and the lattes are...

"Brain ON" Blue Milk

It’s Back to School time – which means kids need to switch from summer brain to their focused school brain. This delicious dairy-free...

Orange Dream Smoothie

I love smoothies – because they are quick & easy to make, portable, and a great way to just load up on the fiber & superfoods – to...

Mint Chip Shake

I have always loved the combination of peppermint and chocolate - it is a classic. And mint chip ice cream? It's like a Summer...

Skinny Summer Cocktails

Note: these recipes contain alcohol and are for ages 21 and up. You can also make these "virgin" cocktails by omitting the alcohol. Hot...

Mom's Pumpkin Bread (grain & gluten free)

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things was pumpkin bread - I would look forward to the fall when my mom would make her...

"Skinny" Raspberry Cream Tart (vegan, gluten & grain free)

Have you heard of “skinny starch”? It is also called “resistant starch” – because it resists digestion. What that means is that it...

Double Chocolate Peppermint Muffins

My hubby and I are invited to a holiday party tonight and my friend asked me to bring a "healthy but yummy Sara" dessert. So I decided...

Gluten Free Ramen Stir Fry

This recipe is a great way to get lots of veggies in kids, and it is fast & easy – making it a good weeknight meal – my kids love it!! ...

Tiger Nut "Horchata"

I could call this the “Sleepy time” drink because resistant starch (found in tiger nut flour) can support healthy sleep and stable blood...

The "Frosty"

As a foodie and a nutritionist – I believe that it is possible for food to be both delicious and nutritious– it just takes a little...

Chive and Zucchini Mini Omelettes

I love making these mini omelettes in muffin tins – because they are easy and you always have leftovers. These are easy enough to get...

Chicken Green Chili

The magic in this recipe comes from the oven roasted poblano peppers and the tomatillos - so rich and delicious - you could just make...

Greek Power Bowl

One of my favorite lunches is a salad with quinoa in it - I have dozens of combinations and call them "Quinoa Power Bowls" - because they...

Raisin "Bran" Muffins (Gluten & Grain Free)

A few years ago, I used to be a wheat-loving gal. I pretty much sustained myself on it - most mornings I would have a high fiber cereal...

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seeds are a superfood – they are high in omega 3 fatty acids, protein, calcium, and many other nutrients. They are also high in a...

Dark Chocolate Pecan Tart (Gluten & Grain Free)

I am not a fan of pecan pie - I find it way too sweet, and don't like how it is kind of gelatinous. But I know it is a traditional pie...