Healthy Diet Archives - Peak Performance

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Do You Want Sugar With That?

Posted on Nov 17, 2017

This blog likes to pride itself on not following trendy fads while also emphasizing a healthy lifestyle. Something caught my I eye that other day while I was cooking. I often use diced frozen onions in recipes, they’re convenient, but mainly it’s because chopping onions makes me cry horribly and leaves me with mascara smeared […]

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Healthy Lunch Meal Prep

Posted on Jul 08, 2017

Meal prep is a great idea for a number of reasons-convenience, cost effective and keeps you eating healthy. Hopefully you will enjoy trying out these lunch bowls. I am the first to admit that I’m kind of a procrastinator. I’m not the pack your lunch the night before kind of girl. I have the best […]

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Farmer’s Market Recipe

Posted on Jun 16, 2017

Tis the season to enjoy our local Farmer’s Markets! The weather is warmer and our growing season is in full swing. Menasha’s farmer’s market started last week, Appleton and Neenah’s begin tomorrow! One of the best things about summer is the array of fresh produce we have at our local markets. I love to get […]

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Quick Pizza Dough

Posted on Mar 23, 2017

This time of year you might find yourself spending a lot of time with your TV taking in March Madness. What goes good with basketball? Pizza of course! We’re doing a Throwback Thursday and digging into our archives. Making your own pizza dough is easy and delicious. By making pizzas at home you can create […]

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Healthy School Lunches: Breaking the PB & J Rut

Posted on Oct 07, 2016

Occasionally we will be re-sharing our posts from the past, kind of a Flashback Friday if you will. We felt this post from two years ago was still very relevant with great ideas to free yourself from the PB & J rut. Now that kids have been back in school for a month you may […]

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Which Fad Diet is Right for You?

Posted on Sep 24, 2016

An alternative title for this article could be “If Cavemen Ate So Healthy Why are They Extinct?” The Werewolf Diet- A diet that revolves around fasting and specific diets that change with each lunar cycle. This is a new and improved variation of the popular grapefruit diet. The Tapeworm Diet–Exactly what it sounds like, you swallow […]

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Healthy Diet: Tofu 101

Posted on Sep 20, 2016

Although it has a mythical reputation for being a scary, unapproachable food, tofu can actually be really good. And apart from tasting good, it also does a lot of good for your body! Most people think that tofu is reserved for vegans and vegetarians, but in reality, it makes a great addition to virtually any […]

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Healthy Harvest: In-Season Produce To Eat This Fall

Posted on Sep 06, 2016

When you’re picking up produce at a grocery store or farmer’s market this fall, you’ll be sure to find a rich harvest of fruits and vegetables. Autumn’s in-season produce vary in color, flavor, size and texture, which makes for beautiful, mouth-watering fall dishes! Here are a few fruits and veggies to keep an eye out […]

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3 Simple Steps To Adopting A Vegetarian Lifestyle

Posted on Aug 23, 2016

Becoming a vegetarian isn’t for everyone, but it does have some fact-based health benefits that are worth considering. “A large body of scientific literature suggests that the consumption of a diet of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and fruits, with the avoidance of meat and high-fat animal products, along with a regular exercise program is […]

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Clean Eating: Not Just A Fad

Posted on Aug 12, 2016

For those of us who were fortunate to have grandparents that were farmers, we remember clean eating as a way of life. One of my favorite memories includes a Mason jar of pasteurized milk. I can remember my grandmother shaking it vigorously before pouring me a glass. While the milk was safe for consumption, it wasn’t homogenized causing the cream to […]

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Healthy & Hydrated: What You Need To Know About H20

Posted on Aug 02, 2016

A nice, long drink of cold water on an 85 degree summer day is not only refreshing, it’s essential to your well-being! Without water, our organs can’t function properly, our bodies can’t maintain a stable temperature and our joints can’t stay lubricated. So, how can you fight dehydration during these hot summer months to keep […]

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Eating Local: Fox Valley Farmers Markets

Posted on Jul 26, 2016

‘Tis the season of farmers markets! It doesn’t get much better than fresh, local produce. Doing your weekly grocery shopping at one of the several farmers markets located in the Fox Valley this farm market season might just be the best thing you can do for yourself and your community! Here’s why: Most produce items […]

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Healthy Diet: Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables

Posted on May 24, 2016

Healthy Diet: Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables Whenever I think about healthy eating the first thing that pops into my head is lentils. Just the act of eating them makes me feel like I am supping at the fountain of youth. While there is no research to validate my theory, they are a nutritional powerhouse. […]

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Healthy Diet: Salmon Burgers

Posted on May 17, 2016

Healthy Diet: Salmon Burgers Adapted slightly from the New York Times Let’s take a minute to discuss one of my favorite ingredients: salmon. Not only is salmon a super-food but it is one of those ingredients that seems to taste good no matter how you prepare it. The variations are endless. Try smoked salmon with spinach, blueberries […]

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Healthy Diet: Fattoush Salad

Posted on May 10, 2016

Healthy Diet: Fattoush Salad Adapted slightly from Global Table Adventures Last month for book club we read Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family and Forgiveness, which chronicles food writer and blogger Sasha Martin’s attempt to make a meal from every country in the world. She starts with Afghanistan and ends with Zimbabwe. In our book club […]

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Healthy Diet: Guacamole

Posted on May 03, 2016

Healthy Diet: Guacamole Adapted slightly from Simply Recipes It is Cinco de Mayo on Thursday which, contrary to popular belief, is not just about drinking margaritas and eating tacos. It commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). It is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico […]

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Healthy Diet: Quinoa, Corn, Scallion and Goat Cheese Salad

Posted on Apr 26, 2016

Quinoa, Corn, Scallion and Goat Cheese Salad Last week we took a short break from my obsession with whole grains for a granola recipe. This week grains are back in this wonderfully fresh and satisfying salad that is equally appropriate for lunch or dinner. This recipe is an improvised riff on the classic Middle Eastern […]

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Healthy Diet: Low Sugar Cherry Walnut Granola

Posted on Apr 19, 2016

Low Sugar Cherry Walnut Granola I have been eating this granola almost every day for the last year and I need a change. Nothing too drastic, mind you, because I still love my yogurt and granola combination in the morning. The granola packs a satisfying crunch and is slightly sweet while the yogurt provides a creamy tang as a […]

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Healthy Diet: Farro with White Beans and Kale

Posted on Apr 12, 2016

Farro with White Beans and Kale I’ve been into eating grains lately and for good reason. Not only are they healthy but they elevate any meal with their heartiness. Some of my favorites include lentils, quinoa, wild rice and farro. I often cook vegetarian meals but then I find myself hungry again an hour later. […]

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Healthy Diet: Mushroom Spinach Soup

Posted on Apr 04, 2016

Mushroom Spinach Soup Adapted slightly from the NYT I just got done eating this soup for dinner and it was too good not to share it with you. I know we are supposed to be eating all things vegetable in celebration of Spring but the mercury hovered at 32 degrees all day and I needed something […]

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Healthy Diet: Indonesian Chicken Salad

Posted on Mar 22, 2016

Indonesian Chicken Salad Adapted slightly from the New York Times When the calendar says it’s spring and the weather gives brief glimpses of warmer days ahead, I start to crave lighter meals. Instead of chicken pot pie or beef stew, I crave salads, smoothies and vegetables of all kinds. It is a spring cleaning, of sorts, for […]

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Healthy Diet: White Bean Dip With Pita Chips

Posted on Jan 14, 2016

If you have hummus fatigue, as I do, then this recipe is for you. I have made white bean dip with pita chips countless times over the years and it never disappoints. It has simple ingredients, ones that are probably in your pantry right now, but lively flavor and multifunctional utility. I mostly make it […]

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Healthy Diet: Apple Rose Puff Pastry

Posted on Oct 22, 2015

October is rolling along and so are my apple recipes. This Apple Rose Puff Pastry recipe has been making the rounds on Facebook and Pinterest and it looked too pretty to pass up. It is one of those rare recipes that looks impressive, like it took hours to make, but is in fact is very […]

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Healthy Diet: Homemade Apple Sauce and Stewed Apple Slices

Posted on Oct 15, 2015

So you went apple picking with the family last weekend. Now you are stuck with a ten pound bag of apples and there is no way you can eat them all as is. There are only so many consecutive days that you can pack apples in your kid’s lunchbox. If they are like my kids […]

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Healthy Diet: Apple Pie Smoothie

Posted on Oct 05, 2015

There comes a moment when you finally feel like summer is over. There are the obvious signs like the autumnal equinox, the turn in weather or the change in leaves. Then there are signs that feel more personal. For me it is the way the sun sits lower in the sky and doesn’t warm my […]

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Healthy Diet: No Knead Bread

Posted on Sep 17, 2015

No Knead, No Work, So-Easy-Your-3-Year-Old-Could-Do-It Bread Recipe Baking bread sounds intimidating, right? All that kneading and loaf-shaping business is best left to pros. But what if I told you that you don’t even have to knead or shape, that it is so easy that a 3-year-old could make it? Welcome to the No-Knead, No-Work, So-Easy-My 3-Year-Old-Could-Do-It-Bread-Recipe. […]

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Healthy Diet: Fresh Peach Frozen Yogurt

Posted on Sep 03, 2015

Are you hot enough yet? I’m sitting in my air conditioned family room and I’m still sweating it out. But you won’t find me complaining because I know what lies ahead. It’s called January and February: the two most brutally cold months of the year. I will take hot, humid and hazy any day of […]

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Healthy Diet: Summertime Cooking Inspiration

Posted on Aug 28, 2015

Happy Friday Friends! I hope everyone had a great week. Instead of doing a weekly recipe I thought I would post some foodie links that are inspiring me to get in the kitchen and cook. Last week’s cooler weather reminded me that fall is just around the corner so I feel a particular urgency to cook […]

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Healthy Diet: Salmon Salad

Posted on Aug 19, 2015

This salmon salad is another one of my favorite summer dinners. I think the colors say it all – the corn and cherry tomatoes give it sweetness, the potatoes add creaminess and heft and the green beans, peppers and cucumbers add a satisfying crunch. A homemade vinaigrette tops it all off with some acidity to […]

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Healthy Diet: Grilled Steak Salad with Blue Cheese and Cherry Tomatoes

Posted on Aug 05, 2015

This grilled steak salad is one of my favorite summer dinners. An easy marinade adds just the right amount of sweet and salty to the meat while the creamy blue cheese, sweet cherry tomatoes and pungent red onion gives it tons of flavor. I like to use arugula for the greens because I enjoy their peppery […]

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Healthy Diet: 2 Ways to Use Your Tomatoes for Dinner

Posted on Jul 22, 2015

Nothing says summer more than the arrival of the crown jewel of summer produce – the sun-kissed tomato. If you are stuck using tomatoes in salads then here are two fresh ways to use your tomatoes for dinner instead: Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce: Ingredients: 4-6 medium sized tomatoes, cored and chopped (you can peel the […]

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Healthy Diet: Garlic Scape Pesto

Posted on Jul 15, 2015

Have you ever seen Garlic Scapes at the Farmer’s Market and not known what they are, much less how to use them? You can use them to make a delicious garlic scape pesto for your next pizza or pasta dish. Garlic Scape Pesto Ingredients: 10-12 scapes roughly chopped ¼ cup slivered almonds ½ cup extra virgin olive oil […]

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Healthy Diet: Strawberry Rhubarb Soda Syrup

Posted on Jul 08, 2015

Peanut butter and jelly. Strawberries and cream. Dark chocolate and sea salt. Honey and apples. There are just some food combinations that love each other. The two halves are made better when combined into one whole. I would also include rhubarb and strawberries in this list. The bitterness of the rhubarb and the sweetness of […]

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Healthy Diet: Carrot and Avocado Salad

Posted on Jul 01, 2015

Last week we roasted beets from Farmer’s Market to make a delicious salad. This week we are roasting carrots and pairing them with avocados. I am always on the lookout for different or unusual combinations and this recipe from Smitten Kitchen caught my eye. The sweetness of the carrots pairs beautifully with the freshness of […]

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Healthy Diet: Roasted Beet Salad

Posted on Jun 24, 2015

If there is one thing you can count on all summer long it is the abundance of beets at the Farmer’s Market. Beets are one of those foods I recently re-discovered. Up until a few years ago I thought all beets were like the ones you get out of a can: tasteless, slimy and unnaturally red. […]

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Healthy Diet: My Favorite Granola Recipe

Posted on Jun 17, 2015

If you want to cut back on your daily sugar intake, breakfast foods are a good place to start. Cereals are fast and easy but they easily contain 10+ grams of sugar per serving. Plus, cereals leave you feeling hungry an hour later because they contain very little protein. Nowadays I eat plain, whole fat yogurt […]

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