joy choy stir-fry

 joy choy stir fry1

Until yesterday I didn’t know there was more than one kind of bok choy.  To my amazement there are at least 20 varieties!  Bok choy, is a member of the cabbage family and is a staple food in China.  It has crunchy stems and soft leaves similar to kale.  Like rhubarb, it is another great plant source of calcium.  One cup contains 15% of your daily allowance.

Yesterday at the Farmers’ Market I purchased two beautiful bunches of bok choy, I was told they were a variety called “joy choy.”  I never heard of it before but I thought I would give it a try!

Joy Choy Stir Fry

2 tablespoons coconut oil

½ red onion, thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

2 bunches bok choy, cut into 1 inch pieces

1.5 tablespoons bragg’s amino acids, coconut amino acids or soy sauce

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

¼ cup toasted pine nuts

1 tablespoon sesame seeds (I used black sesame seeds)

joy choy stir fry 2

-Heat coconut oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium heat.

-Add onions and garlic and stir-fry for 5 minutes.

-Add bok choy, amino acids or soy sauce and red pepper flakes, stir-fry for an additional 5 minutes or until greens are wilted.

-Top with toasted pine nuts, sesame seeds and serve warm over brown rice or quinoa for a complete meal!

Don’t have coconut oil?  Substitute with olive oil.  I just like using coconut oil because it remains stable at high heat reducing oxidation.

joy choy stir fry

Need a reason to add more vegetables into your diet???

Read this AWESOME article on new research that shows a compound in plants called apigenin could stop breast cancer cells from becoming resistant to cell death.  It’s difficult to pinpoint one compound to increase in the diet because nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants work symbiotically in the body.  That’s why it’s SO important to eat a plant based diet!

www.beginwithinnutrition.com

strawberry (and hemp) fields forever

strawberry

Hemp seeds are right up there with kale and avocados on my “Super Foods” list!   Don’t worry you won’t fail a drug test or find the urge to wear patchouli from eating these little seeds!  They are a product of a plant that is similar to the marijuana plant however; it lacks the cannabinoid compounds (ah, shucks!). It is the same plant that produces hemp for the production of rope and cloth.  Eating the seeds actually does the opposite of marijuana, they boost your memory!

hemp

Hemp seeds have a mild, nutty flavor and are a great addition to your morning smoothie because they contain high levels of protein (3 tablespoons contain 11 grams of protein!).  Save your cash on those expensive protein powders and use hempseeds instead!  Not only will you be getting a great source of plant based protein, you will get a healthy dose of polyunsaturated fatty acids (ALA and GLA) as well.  These fatty acids may alleviate skin issues such as dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.  Hemp seeds also contain high levels of vitamin E, which will decrease inflammation in the body lowering your risk of cancer and heart disease as well as ease pain from arthritis.

Strawberry Fields Forever Smoothie

(2 servings)

strawberry fields

2 cups milk of your choice, preferably non-dairy (or water)

3 dates, pitted

1 ripe banana

1-2 tablespoons cashew butter

2 tablespoons hemp seeds

1 ½ cups frozen strawberries

1-2 cups baby spinach

Blend all ingredients and enjoy!

strawberry fields forever smoothie

Now, try to get that song out of your head!