Making Time for Some Green In Your Life, Leafy Greens!

So, here’s a working salad recipe that has quickly become a go-to thing for me and my family. The ingredients are pretty easy to put together. And, it also goes over fairly well with children, too. Which is a plus if you want to encourage healthier eating.

INGREDIENTS LIST

• 1 Pound of Baby Spinach or Spring Mix Salad Greens
• ½ A Pound of Dates (without the pit)
• Olive Oil
• Soy Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• 6 Ounces of Shelled Sunflower Seed Kernels
• One Medium to Large Apple

Note: Typically I eyeball my measurements, but if you don’t want to get too carried away, using a teaspoon helps!

Step 1

Take your leafy greens and rinse them in cool water. Shake off excess water. Drain well and set aside in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2

Wash off your apple and peel it completely. You can either chop it into moderately thin slices or chunks. Sprinkle apple pieces over greens in bowl.

Step 3

Chop up your dates into halves or throw into bowl uncut.

Step 4 (Making the Dressing)

Take a small bowl or mug, and pour olive oil and rice vinegar into your container with a 1 to 1 ratio. If in doubt, use a little under ¼ of a cup of each. Add a dash or two of black pepper and garlic powder, about 1 teaspoon of each into liquid. Also add about 2 teaspoons of soy sauce. Whisk together with a fork for about a minute before pouring over your salad.

Step 5

Top your salad with a healthy handful of sunflower kernels. Toss around lightly to coat with dressing. Plate and enjoy!

• Average time to put together: Under 20 minutes!
• Serves 2 to 4 adults depending on appetite and portion size.
• Cost: $

5 Ultimate Must-Haves for Fighting Cold & Flu Season

You know when you feel it coming on. Sniffles. Aches and pains. A fever begins creeping up on you, leaving you breaking out into a sweat. Don’t panic! Whether you choose to get a flu shot before cold and flu season begins, there are 5 things you definitely want to keep handy in your kitchen cupboard.

Spot A Cup of Tea

Tea is a typical remedy that many people love to grab when they are feeling ill. Depending on the type of tea chosen, in addition to warming your body up from the inside out, you can also take advantage of healthful properties.

Consider these types of teas to have on hand when you want to brew a cup…

• Green tea (full of antioxidants)
• Peppermint tea (the menthol helps break up congestion and is soothing to itchy throats)
• Ginger tea (strong and bitey, but helps reduce phlegm and warms you from the inside out)
• Lavender tea (lightweight and floral, it helps you feel calmer)

• Chamomile tea (helps reduce inflammation and is great right before bedtime)

Ginger Root

• Ginger root adds a nice flavor to many dishes, and a little goes a long way. You can boil ginger root to make a ‘tea,’ enjoy ginger candied or in cookies, or mince some ginger for your rice, noodle, or soup before eating.

Citrus Fruit

• Lemons and limes are going to be your best friend. Citrus helps perk up your senses, leaves you feeling fresh and invigorated, and can even be used for cleaning counter tops and surfaces to remove pesky germs naturally! As far as the cold and flu go, enjoy having a half of a grapefruit for breakfast. Slice a lemon or lime and add it to your tea, or if you dare, choose to suck on a lemon or lime slice directly.

A Bowl of Broth Will Do

• You can choose to make your own broth using scraps of vegetables, or even bone from leftover meals if you want. Boil down your choice of ingredients in a giant pot with at least 4 quarts of water. Throw in some spices like salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. Once the stock has reduced to about a cup or so, strain the contents, and keep a little bit behind to puree it with the liquid in a blender. Make soup, warm up, and feel better.

Garlic

• Much like ginger, garlic has some bite to it when you consume it. Consider this one remedy that has helped me expel mucus and phlegm pretty quickly. Boil some water for some tea, and set a bowl with a large towel on your counter space in kitchen. Take 2 to 3 reasonable pieces of garlic and mince it up finely. Pour yourself some orange juice and set both the garlic and orange juice to the side.

Once the water is hot enough, pour some into the bowl, and some into a cup for your choice of tea. Take the minced garlic into a large spoon, and down it without chewing, chasing it with glass of orange juice. Trust me, you’ll want that chaser. Afterward, breathe in steam from boiling water, leaving a comfortable distance between yourself and the steam so as to not burn yourself. Make sure your cover your head and the bowl with the towel to trap in the heat.

The Wrap Up

So, now that you know of 5 definite must-have items to keep in your arsenal for cold and flu season, you give yourself more options to help yourself feel better sooner. Stay wrapped up. Think prevention first. To your health!

Resources:

https://www.npr.org/2015/08/22/432906006/this-is-not-a-parody-an-npr-story-about-homemade-vegetable-broth

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/garlic-fights-colds-and-flu

http://vkool.com/ginger-for-flu/

https://theherbalacademy.com/ten-homemade-herbal-teas-for-cold-and-flu-season/