Michele StuevenWhile the pandemic is still very real and holidays of indulgence are just behind us, it’s time to seriously think about boosting our immune systems and cleansing our bodies of toxins for a healthy new year. Here are seven ideas to help spice up your dry January, kick off a cleanse and plant yourself into Veganuary.
Sun Valley-based gourmet food service Z.E.N. Foods (Zero Effort Nutrition) is designed for anyone struggling with their weight, on a strict calorie-controlled diet, families, and anybody who just wants to boost their immune system. The menu changes weekly with a variety of seasonal options like vegetarian, weight loss, healthy lifestyle — or you can design your own menu. They also have cold-pressed juice cleanses, as well as spa experience cleanse that includes cold-pressed juices, raw soup, salad, detox tea and Himalayan detox bath salts.
Everytable meal service founded in South L.A.’s mission has always been to make sure everyone in all neighborhoods has access to nutritious, fresh food at affordable prices. Select from a rotating menu of more than 28 locally prepared hot plates, salads and wraps, breakfast dishes, and more. Get $10 off your first order of $40 at Everytable.com. They also have 25 locations across Los Angeles where you can pick up.
Courtesy Everytable
To kick off dry January, pop superstar Katy Perry has launched De Soi, a line of sparkling ready-to-drink non-alcoholic apéritifs with natural adaptogens.
Perry and co-founder Morgan McLachlan have combined ethnobotany and natural distilling practices to create tonics intended to promote relaxation and revitalization.
The De Soi product line is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and contains no artificial flavors or colors, served in ready-to-drink cans and bottles.
De Soi Golden Hour is made with a blend of l-theanine derived from green tea, maca, leafy herbs, lemon balm — botanicals known to soothe stress and boost mood.
The fruity Champignon Dreams apéritif is made with reishi mushroom and passionflower along with l-theanine from green tea, with notes of strawberries and grapefruit. The Purple Lune elixir is a blend of ashwagandha, tart cherry and l-theanine, with notes of blackberry nectar, vanilla oak and rose petals.The brand’s three expressions are available at www.drinkdesoi.com in 750 mL bottles or 4-packs of 8 oz. cans.
De Soi Champignon Dreams (Courtesy De Soi)
Veggie Grill is participating in Veganuary and will be celebrating with the return of their Orange Chickin’, and a special VG Rookie Day where each guest who eats at a Veggie Grill with a vegan first-timer will receive a BOGO meal for their friend (in-store only, all locations!). VG Rookie Day is on Wednesday, January 12.
The Italian-based Flower Burger West Hollywood + Flower Burger Ghost Kitchen are serving those ultra-colorful, IG-worthy plant-based burgers at their new brick-and-mortar location in West Hollywood using 100% natural and vegan ingredients. A few menu highlights include The Jungle Burger, which features an oat and red bean patty along with oven-baked zucchini and a green bun colored with spirulina powder and turmeric, as well as the Cherry Bomb made with a lentil-based patty with a pink bun, colored with cherry and beetroot extract.
Plant-based Honeybee Burger is launching the new “Piggy Bee” sandwich in partnership with OmniFoods. The vegan “Piggy Bee” will be made using two pieces of OmniPork Luncheon with melted cheddar cheese, their JUST egg souffle with a fire roasted pepper sauce. Plant-based OmniPork Luncheon contains 0 mg cholesterol, is rich in protein, and provides dietary fiber, potassium and calcium. Compared with canned pork counterparts, OmniPork Luncheon has far fewer calories, total fat and sodium levels. It also is cruelty-free, non-GMO and Buddhist-friendly, without added hormones, antibiotics or MSG, and does not use any carcinogenic nitrate as preservatives.
tahini date smoothie bowl (Courtesy POM Wonderful)
If you’re looking to add a healthy recipe to your breakfast rotation, try this tahini date smoothie bowl to kick off the day:
Servings: 2 | Makes: 4 cups
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
Sesame Oat Crumble
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
3 Tablespoons white and black sesame seeds
1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1⁄4 cup walnuts, chopped
2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch kosher salt
Preparation:
Tahini Date Smoothie Bowl
4 pitted Medjool dates
1 cup plain whole milk yogurt
1/3 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
2 frozen bananas
1⁄4 cup tahini, well-stirred
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 unsweetened almond milk frozen ice cubes
1 cup fruit for topping including bananas, kiwi, mango and pineapple
1/3 cup POM POMS Fresh Arils
- For the Sesame Oat Crumble: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and melt butter. Add the sesame seeds, oats and walnuts, and allow to toast until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the maple syrup, cinnamon and salt, and stir to coat. Allow to cook until the oats are covered in the maple syrup and lightly caramelized, about 2 minutes. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet to cool completely. Set aside.
- For the Tahini Date Smoothie Bowl: To a blender, add dates, yogurt, POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, frozen bananas, tahini, vanilla, cinnamon, and almond milk ice cubes. Blend until smooth, adding more POM Juice if needed.
- Divide the smoothie between two bowls and garnish with extra fruit, POM POMS Fresh Arils and the sesame oat crumble.
Tip: Make into a traditional smoothie by adding 1⁄2 cup unsweetened almond milk or water for a thinner consistency.
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