5 Easy Recipes To Get You Started On Your Plant-Powered Diet

When people find out that I’m a plant-based chef, they often express concern over the time and effort they believe they'll have to expend in order to eat healthy, tasty, plant-based meals. I’m going to let you in on a big secret: Eating healthy is easier than you think. And with a few basic recipes, you're going to find that food preparation the plant-powered way is fast and easy.

1. Super Green Blend 

At the start, you just want to get ANY variety of dark leafy greens into your system. This will evolve and grow, and you'll add and combine many varieties along your plant-powered journey. The variations are endless! For now, though, I’m keeping it simple. A super-easy blend recipe contains only two ingredients (plus filtered water). That’s right: two.

In a blender, add 1 cup of fresh organic pineapple, three kale leafs (any variety) with the stalks removed, and finally three cups of filtered water.

Don’t want the sweet? Simply swap the fruit for organic cucumber, then add your kale and filtered water.

For another variation, add any kind of fruit, kale and coconut water.

By doing this daily, you're getting a great dose of phytonutrients that will support your body in optimum health. With kale, you're getting substantial amounts of vitamins K and A, plus manganese enzymes that help neutralize free radicals. Pineapple has a very high vitamin C content and can speed the healing of bruises.

2. Quick Tomato Sauce

This recipe is so easy to make! It yields a fresh, sweeter, more alive version to a traditional tomato sauce.

In an iron skillet or wok, slightly blacken tomatoes on high heat — no oil. If the pan is very hot, it will sear the outside and seal in the juices. This should take just a few minutes. Don't overcook.

Transfer to a blender, add cashews, olive oil, and sea salt. Blend until smooth. Serve over your favorite pasta.

3. Raw Cookies

These cookies are supercharged with energy, and the kids love to help out with these. Prep time: 15 minutes or less.

Directions:

In a food processor, pulse almonds until mealy in texture.

Add cacao nibs, hemp seeds, cacao powder, shredded coconut and sea salt. Pulse until mixture is well incorporated.

With the motor running, add one date at a time, making sure you remove the pits before! After 4 or 5 dates, you'll see the mixture ball up on one side of the bowl. You may need to redistribute the mixture and process it again to make sure the dates are mixed in.

Form the cookies into 1-inch balls or squares. If desired, roll in hemp seeds or shredded coconut.

4. Kale Salad

This salad is a great one to take to work, as it holds up well. The dressing actually works on the leaves and makes them more tender and easy to digest. Massaging kale with the right intention can prove to be a powerful meditation practice!

In a large salad bowl, prepare the dressing in the bottom of the bowl. Using a fork or a whisk, mix all the ingredients together. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Add the kale leaves, stalks removed, with leaves torn into smaller 2-inch sections. The leaves will reduce in size as they're tenderized by the dressing, so don’t make them too small.

Using your hands, start massaging the kale making sure to coat the leaves well.

When the kale has reduced in volume and the leaves are tender, add in the shredded carrot, shredded beat and raw pine nuts. Toss and serve!

5. Cleansing Beet Soup

We love this soup as support when we need to get back in balance and give our bodies a rest from digesting heavier foods. It’s great in colder climate or winter months.

Directions:

Chop all veggies into medium-size country style pieces.

In a pot over medium heat, sauté garlic in olive oil. Add celery and stir until the color brightens.

Add beet greens, cilantro, lime, cayenne pepper and filtered water. Before serving, add a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Serve.

Bonus: Walnut Pate

This is a great spread to have on hand for sandwiches or appetizer.

Place all ingredients in a vitamix or food processor. Process and mix until mixture becomes creamy. If you use a vitamix, use the plunger to distribute the ingredients so they incorporate well. Use small amounts of water ; 1 tablespoon at a time to adjust consistency

Bon Apetite!

These recipes and more can be found in our Jai Seed e-cookbook and as part of the MBG's Ultimate Guide To Plant-Based Nutrition video course. All our recipes are offered in the spirit of fostering creativity and simplicity in preparation. Eating to live is both revolutionary and evolutionary. PLANTPOWERED isn't just a diet; it’s a movement into better health and realizing the best, authentic version of YOU, just the way nature intended.

Wishing you JAI, or Victory, in your life,