Broccoli Salad

Now that the warm weather is upon us, no one wants to cook and heat up the kitchen to test the air conditioning bills. Here is a salad that you can make in advance and it's even better the next day. Loaded with antioxidants, good fats, and yummy bacon goodness, who can resist? Great with sandwiches or grilled meats.

3 small heads of broccoli(usually one big bunch), cut into bite sized pieces
3/4 C. cashews chopped
1/2 C. dried cherries or cranberries(no sugar added)
1/2 red onion, finely diced
4 strips of bacon(nitrate free if you can find it), crumbled
1/2 C. non fat Greek yogurt
1/2 C. canola based mayo
1-2 TBS. sugar(to taste)
4 TBS. white wine vinegar

In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, yogurt, sugar and vinegar and set aside. In a large bowl, combine broccoli, cashews, onion, cherries and bacon. Pour dressing over the top and toss. Store in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. Serves 6-8.

Creamy Dreamy Yogurt Dip

This is my favorite dip with fresh fruit! It's packed with probiotics for digestion, protein, calcium and it tastes great. Watch the fruit disappear in your home when this dip is around!


1 C. Greek Yogurt
1-2 TBS. Honey*
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix together and serve with lots of fresh fruit to dip!

*IF your little one is under 18 months, be sure to use agave syrup or maple syrup to sweeten instead of the honey.

Good Morning Parfaits

My family loves these for breakfast or snack time. They are easy to make, delicious, and even your little ones will love to help build their own.

Good Morning Parfaits

2 1/2 Cups Plain Greek Yogurt*
1 Cup prepared whole wheat couscous
1 Banana, chopped
1 Cup chopped strawberries
4 TBS. sunflower seeds
4 tsp. flaxmeal
honey to taste
vanilla to taste

*Note: when choosing dairy products, more fat is better for younger children to aid in nourishing their developing brain. I generally use whole milk yogurt for my 2 year old.

Place measured yogurt into a bowl and add a couple tablespoons of honey and 1 tsp of vanilla to start. Mix to combine until you have enough of both to suit you. Place each of the ingredients into its own bowl and allow each family member to create their own parfait! You can use cute dessert dishes to add to the fun. Here's how I would build mine: layer of yogurt in the bottom, a bit of flax, bananas, yogurt, flax, strawberries, yogurt and finish it off with sunflower seeds. This recipe is delicious and provides lots of protein, calcium, Vitamin E and C. You get good fats from the flax, fiber from the seeds, whole grains from the couscous and a load of potassium! Not to mention, honey is a great natural antimicrobial agent! Enjoy!