I’m trying to (as of like, yesterday) drink green tea. Every day. Coffee in the morning (with collagen–most of the time!) and then late morning/early afternoon, a cup of green tea, with lots of water in between. My sister Kate suggested even putting some tea bags in a mason jar in the fridge over night and having it cold-brew style. I like that idea too. It’s all hearsay anecdotal stuff (the research is actually there, but I just haven’t read it!) but I keep hearing that green tea really is so good for you. I’ve always wanted to drink it more, but have never totally loved it, and thus just hadn’t ever added it to my routine. No more excuses! It’s in the rotation! Benjamin button my face, green tea!
You know those vegetables like kohlrabi at the grocery store that you have no idea what to do with? The ones that aren’t even on your radar? I’m going to buy them! Figure out how to cook them! And then eat them! I get in ruts where I prepare and eat the same vegetables over and over again–broccoli, peppers, carrots, spinach, celery, onions, potatoes, etc. But we should eat all the colors of the rainbow and different varieties of each! They all can offer something a little different. Plus, exposing them to my kids seems like a smart idea. Do you do this? How do you cook obscure vegetables? Help me with my kohlrabi. And fennel.
I’m trying to fill small bits of time throughout my day reading from some of my favorite positive nutritional books. Nourishing Traditions is always one of those. Even a page while I drink my coffee. And, don’t laugh, but if you want one that has some pretty decent info (much less deep and thorough than Nourishing Traditions) in laymen’s terms get TB12. Some very good info on both at home workouts and also simple, somewhat easy-to-adopt nutritional information.
I’ve listened to a few of these Funk’tional Nutrition podcasts in the car and love everything I’ve heard. Very whole-food, gut health based which is totally up my alley. If you’re looking for a conversational way to take in some good health info, give one a try. On that note, do you have any other health type podcasts you like?
What are you doing for better health these days?
kohlrabi is a STAPLE in our house!! We just cut it up and eat it as a snack or chop it small and add to salads. It is so refreshing!
Thank you for sharing! I’m always trying to better my nutrition, so these are some good recommendations. 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
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Every morning I’ve been drinking goop Glow in my water which fights free radicals and makes your skin glow!
woah, woah, tell me more.
The website will do a much better job explaining than me so I’ve put the link below. I’ve had friends using it for months and have noticed a difference in their skin! I’m just finishing up my first month now. It tastes like Tang and gets me to drink a full glass of water pretty quickly which I love as well.
https://shop.goop.com/shop/collection/goop-shop/goopglow
you had me at people noticing a difference in their skin. suuuuper intrigued. thank you for coming back and explaining more.
I have been on a green tea kick as well lately and every night I make a concoction of juice from a whole lemon, tablespoon of acv, and squirt of honey into a mug of hot water. My favorite way to use fennel is Giada’s chicken Milanese with tomato fennel sauce- so good!
you are GOOD.
I love eating kohlrabi raw, as I would eat a carrot or celery. My mom, growing up and to this day, makes a vegetable/fruit platter every night for anyone who is home to enjoy, which most of the time includes kohlrabi. Other than that, it is great in any stew, vegetarian or meat based.
so easy! thank you!
My boyfriend buys random vegtables at the farmer’s market and then surprises me with them “Hey Ame, guess what I got?? Let’s find a recipe!!” On this random veggie adventure, we have picked up two cookbooks- Sarah Britton’s Naturally Nourished and Martha Stewart’s Vegtables that have changed our vegtable gams. Go for it!!
i love that he does this! steve would be like, “guess what I got?! DORITOS!”
For kohlrabi our favorite is to make fritters with about half carrots and half kohlrabi. I grate them and use a little flour and an egg to stick everything together and then add some chopped green onions and salt for flavor. They’re good plain or topped with sour cream. We get a lot of kohlrabi in the early weeks of our CSA box every year and this is my favorite way to eat them so far! I also like them in a gratin, but that’s not so popular with the rest of my family.
Hi Bridget- I add fennel to my chicken soup all the time. Another good idea is place lots of fennel cut in larger strips with thin slices of lemon olive oil and s and p on a sheet pan. Put chicken thighs on top and bake until chicken thighs are done. Delicious, easy, affordable.
that sounds soooo good.
Kohlrabi is great raw… or steamed! Love it.
Hi Bridget, I love kohlrabi raw in a salad. Just chop into small square pieces and add Some lettuce and smoked mackarel. Sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice and eat a little ciabatta bread with it. Enjoy!
LOL at the DORITOS comment, Bridget! That’s my husband, too.
I first ate kohlrabi after listening to this podcast episode:
https://www.gimletmedia.com/surprisingly-awesome/6-broccoli
Favorite fennel recipe! Even the kids eat it up: http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/lazy-sunday-casserole
I brew a satchel of green tea with a satchel of fruity herbal tea – Stash brand mango passionfruit together with the green tea is delish!
I LOVE fennel! One of my all-time favorite recipes is this one: https://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/arugula-fennel-and-orange-salad.html It’s bright & wicked flavorful, but uses all things that are available in the winter, which is perfect for winter dinner parties (or if you’re me, put some roasted chicken, goat cheese, & chopped almonds on top and have it for lunch). Have fun with your new veg!
When I used to live in Italy we would eat roasted fennel all the time! Cut the fennel in half, sprinkle salt and pepper on it, drizzle some olive oil on it and then grate some parm over it – throw it in the oven until it is the texture you desire and voila!
If you really love your parm, like me, I love grating a bit more parm over it after I get it out of the oven… most of my friends would make it that way, too!
Yes! Please share more about obscure veggies. These comments are amazing already. I came across this beautiful veggie platter the other day – I didn’t know people ate raw fennel!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfWmUBWD2uR/?hl=en&taken-by=alison__wu
If you have Bountiful Baskets in your area (a coop, choose the weeks you want to participate), it’s a great savings for fruits and veggies-but the coolest part (and related to your new food goal); is the random fruit and veggies you get, like jicama, fennel, etc.! We have added many once randoms to our usual rotation:)
Kohlrabi -I used to get it in my CSA a lot and if I remember correctly it tasted a lot like broccoli stems. I treated it as such I believe. And also made a coleslaw out of it.
Fennel -roast it in olive oild if you want the kids to eat it. Totally changes the taste to this sweet, candy-like veggie. I also adore it raw in salads like arugula/fennel/zucchini w toasted walnuts and goat cheese + vinaigrette.
Green tea -I’ve always loved it, but I find the ones with ginger or jasmine or lemon or gen mai cha a bit more approachable and less bitter. The key is not to let it steep for too long and get really strong. I drink liters of the stuff though.
Myself -I’m trying to bulk up my fermented foods. Kimchi, sourkraut, ACV in fire cider (I think I mentioned on instastories that I make my own) and also more tea, less coffee/wine.
Try yogi super-antioxidant green tea! It’s blended with some herbs and it’s verrrry tasty hot or iced! Also love tjs Moroccan mint green tea. 🙂
Kohlrabi is great diced up in salsas or shredded into a slaw. Fennel can be sliced super thin and added to radicchio salads. You can also roast chicken or fish over fennel, onion, and lemon. Fennel is also good with sausage or pork.
I loooooove ice pineapple green (can be ordered on amazon) adds just a little flavor that I need.
My kiddos love artichoke…it’s fun for them to eat…and easy to make…we don’t eat it often but they actually get excited to see it at dinner time.
My family has been loving this recipe for fennel! The feta on top is GOLD
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-roasted-fall-vegetables-66056
I also add purple topped turnips, that my husband and kids are convinced are potatoes. I’m not going to correct them.
that looks sooooo good. (also, lol.)
We eat kohlrabi as a snack too, but I’ve heard it’s good spiralized. I have been wanting to try this recipe, but have not yet. I realize bacon and cheese might not be in the “nourishing” category. But your husband might appreciate? :o)
http://inspiralized.com/caramelized-onion-and-bacon-kohlrabi-spaghetti-with-shaved-parmesan/
I’ve also been so interested in the collagen thing! Does it make your coffee taste weird?
I love green tea. I drink a giant mug of it instead of coffee every morning. My favorite is Numi organic jasmine green. My new-ish healthy habit lately is drinking a tall glass of water first thing, before tea even. I’d been on a strong breakfast green smoothie kick last year but had to give it up when the weather turned cold. Just can’t do an icy cold smoothie in the middle of winter! Looking forward to picking that back up again when it warms back up.
I don’t like green tea either. I’ve tried it so many ways and I can’t do it. That pineapple one another person suggested sounds really yummy though.
I have to say, in the Spring/Summer my kids are more willing to try stuff if they pick it out at the farm stand. Something about them picking fresh makes it more desirable for them I guess? IDK. I have 3 very picky kids and I really try to get them to try everything, then they can tell me if they like it or not, and WHY. Is it the flavor, the texture, the way it was cooked?? I’m willing to to make the same veggie 100 different ways if they’ll enjoy it at some point 🙂 Sometimes I think it’s the way I make them. I can make a mean smoothie and hide them though once the weather warms up LOL! Maybe you can add cold green tea to make a smoothie? Anyone have some good smoothie recipes? 😉
loved your comment. and you’re right! if the kids are a part of the process more, they’re always more likely to try it!
Thank you for the podcast recommendation! I’ve listened to a few episodes and have really enjoyed the level of information and their approach to sharing information. Plus – they are truly knowledgeable! It’s great – thanks again.
oh i love that!
Hi Bridget
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hi tiffany! i’d love to know more! and thank you for the sweet comment 🙂
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yes! I would like to know too.
Collagen in your coffee? Tell me more! Have you told us about this?
i mentioned it on instagram i think? maybe my wellness account! but anyway, yes! i stir it in–totally water soluble and doesn’t change the flavor… AT ALL. great for skin and joint health!
I was thinking about the green tea problem and my tip is put a spoonful of coconut oil in the tea. It tastes much better and you get a serving of good fats as well! Love your blog and the health stuff and just wanted to add that your birth blogs were source of comfort for me when I had my first baby last year!