food to glow

A little late to the National Vegetarian Week party, but better late than never!

Here at food to glow we are omnivores, but because of my work as a cancer health educator I know the health value of eating a plant-centred diet. And I try and practise what I preach. Most of my recipes are vegetarian and vegan because that is how my family and I eat eat ninety per cent of the time.

There are a slew of statistics to endorse reaching for a vegetable kebab over wolfing down a well-done burger (sorry fans of In-N-Out Burger) – lower risk of early death, lower weight, lower risk of numerous cancers, stroke, heart disease, osteoarthritis, gout – I could go on, but you get the picture.

Instead of dwelling on the health aspects, or touching on the ethical issues, I will keep it light and luscious with some of my top vegetarian and vegan posts. Interestingly, some of my top posts are because of being ‘discovered’ by some serious power pinners on Pinterest, despite being a lazy bones when it comes to social media. Thank you, whoever you are!

So, here is a week of meat-free eating to whet your appetite and keep you healthy. Just add plants!

My top salad (at least according to Pinterest) – Quinoa Bowl with Citrus, Avocado and Edamame

“Cream” of the Crop Soup (again, according to Pinterest) – “Creamy” Zucchini, Walnut and Thyme Soup

Fancy something sweet? Here’s my Apricot and Citrus No-Bake Bars

Feel like baking? Lemon-Berry Polenta Cake is a favourite at my cancer nutrition classes

Or something different? Tamarind and Shiitake Tofu with Sesame “Seaweed” (this is the post that got me Freshly Pressed in my first year of blogging – we make it quite a lot)

These two cracker recipes are great little dippers (and pinned quite a lot, despite the dodgy photos)

And a couple of dips to go with them – Super-smooth Hummus and Beetroot and Cashew Hummus

Over-stuffed Vietnamese Savoury Crepes for an unusual but simple supper

Fibre and flavour in Tunisian Chickpea and Vegetable Tagine

And finally two drinks to wash it down – or rather one to sup and one to cure what ails you! Frozen Banana and Almond Wake-Up Shake and Spiced Golden Turmeric Milk

There are lots of bloggers bigging up the virtues of vegetables this week. Two of my favourites are Ren Behan and Jacqueline Meldrum (Tinned Tomatoes). Please go and see what they have to share this veg-tastic week.

If any of you are doing something special for National Vegetarian Week – a competition, recipe roundup, link party – let me know and I will add your link here too!

Thanks for indulging me with a round-up of my own recipes. I’ll be back in a day or two with an original vegetarian recipe to round off the week. I’m thinking Greek!