In spite of all the gorgeous flowers and greenery, it's still cool out, especially early in the morning. It's also a very busy time of year as the school year comes to a close with a grand finale of extracurricular activities and competitions!

Apple Pie oatmeal is a healthy breakfast treat when you want something special in the middle of a hectic week. This recipe is vegan and can be made with gluten free oats.

Ingredients:

1 cup of 7 minute oats (steel cut or rolled oats depending on your preferred texture)

2 1/2 cups of water

Dash of salt

2-3 bananas (the riper, the sweeter!)

2 apples thinly sliced

1 tbsp vanilla

1-2 tbsp lemon juice (more for sweet apples, less for tart apples)

1 tbsp cinnamon

Optional: 1/4 tsp clove, nutmeg, ginger

Directions:

1) Put sliced apples, water, and salt in sauce pan. Bring water to a boil on high heat, then turn down to simmer. Allow apples to simmer ~3-5 minutes.

2) Stir in oats & sliced bananas. Set timer for 7 minutes. 

3) Add vanill...

Crepes always remind me of lazy mornings in pajamas with pots of tea on the coffee table watching PBS dramas with my mom and sister. My knitting basket is always nearby and I hear the clinking of needles . . . 

Delicate, delicious, light yet protein packed crepes are actually incredibly easy to make! You can choose virtually any filling. This a great recipe to introduce kids to the kitchen. They can help roll in the fillings and decorate the crepes. You can also set out bowls of sliced fruit and other healthy fillings for them to build their own crepes! A very family friendly meal.

Ingredients:

2 cups white flour

2 cups milk

2 eggs

2 tbs oil (melted butter, sunflower, olive, ghee, or melted coconut all work!)

Pinch of salt

Hand whisk or use a blender to make a smooth batter.

Heat a non-stick pan with oil on medium low. (Butter browns very fast because it has a low smoke point, so ghee typically works better. You can use any of the oils listed in the ingredients options.) Sprin...

This is one of my absolute favorite, quick meals from my mom's "quick and yummy" list for light, warm weather meals.

Growing up in a family full of chefs and gardeners, I was always surrounded by aunties, grandmothers, and of course my own mom, Cindy, who was always whipping up some simple but delicious dishes.

Some of my favorites are from her summer menus. We always ate fresh, whole foods full of flavor and spices from around the globe. This is a quick dish, better the next day in my opinion- imparting notes of sweet and savory. She never made measurements and often had variations depending on what's in the fridge or in season- this is my twist on her salad by adding in wild ramps.

Ramps taste like a light zesty chive or spring onion...it's not bitter but gives a bit of spice to the dish. You can start with a few heads and always add more.

Dry Ingredients:

3 cups cooked shredded chicken in bite sized piece
2 ribs celery diced, I love to use the leaves
10 small ramps, chopped, reserve ...

Spring Chicken

This recipe works great for meal prep as well as family supper. Simply portion, package, and freeze what you make ahead of time. You can adjust the ratios of seasonings to taste. You can even leave out some of the ingredients and mix and match for variation. Lemon garlic chicken is classic--but all four of these flavors play very nicely together. Cilantro makes a fantastic addition.

Vegetarian & Vegan Version: Spring French Lentils

These same seasonings are equally delicious and satisfying with hearty French lentils. Soak the lentils for 1-2 days to sprout for maximum nutrition. Use just enough water to make the french lentils plump, soft, and slightly chewy, not too soupy. Saute lentils in olive oil, salt, and pepper, then add boiling water, garlic, ginger, and green onions. Optional: add veggies. Cover with lid. Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and garnish of fresh cilantro.  

Ingredients

• 3 parts minced garlic (Fresh is best! You can also use garlic chi
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Several delicious and delicate members of the allium family crop up in early spring. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, different flavors are nourishing to different organs and can be emphasized at different times of year to keep the body in balance with the seasons. The onion family is pungent and benefits the lungs, promotes warmth, moves impurities in the blood, reduces clotting, and expels the cold. But each member of the onion family has secondary flavors as well, nurturing additional organs.

For example, onion lowers blood pressure and cholesterol as well as breaking up phlegm and congestion in the sinuses. Tea of chopped onion simmered in water until soft and mixed with honey can sooth colds. Use small onions and take every four hours.

Leeks thrive in cool weather and are planted in fall or early spring. They over winter and store well, so are readily available while snow is still dusting the ground. The white base of this sweet, delicate plant turns translucent when...

I love The Prime, an Ayurvedic digestive reset developed by integrative neurologist Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, MD. The Prime supports gut health to help you feel great and achieve healthy weight. It is a slow progression with four phases that support natural elimination, detoxification from cells, fluids, and organs step by step. Each phase is simple and easy to do, and can fit into the busiest schedule. The gradual release of toxins coupled with proper nutrition mean you won't feel sick from detoxing. You may experience changes in urination output (usually an increase,) feel more or less energy, and have fewer cravings. When I do the Prime I feel stronger, have better bowel movements, feel lighter, and have a clearer mind.

Each one of us is an entire ecosystem of cells and bacteria. Our microbiomes are full of diverse species. In fact, we have more bacteria than cells in our bodies! Some of these bacteria are more beneficial than others. Preliminary research on rats suggests a link betwe...

Weekend mornings are a treasured time for family. It's hard to think of a more nostalgic, homey scene than Saturday morning in Dad's kitchen: fresh coffee with cream, the sizzle of bacon or sausage, a seemingly bottomless pancake pan, thick pat of butter instantly melting on the hot golden pancakes deluged by a cascade of warm berries and syrup.

We had a lot of kinds of pancakes growing up: buckwheat, buttermilk, seven grain, high protein. But the fairest of them all was the ricotta pancake, moist, fluffy, and a meal unto itself. This fresh lemon ricotta pancake with blueberries is sure to make any day feel like a special occasion. Though this pancake's decadent flavor may trick you into thinking it's dessert, the protein rich eggs and ricotta, high ratio of fruit, and light lemony zest make it a satisfying meal that leaves your tummy as happy as your tongue.

Ingredients:

1 cup blueberries (thaw and drain ahead if frozen)

3/4 cup white flour (or gluten-free flour blend)

1-2 tab...

Why do a spring cleanse?

• Allows your body to wake up and transition from winter to warmer weather
• supporting  your digestion
• reduce cravings !

Are spring cleanses safe?

 Yes they are! But not all are created equally.

Doing gentle, food based cleanses are safe but so are nutritionally supported cleanses. The big difference is the rate in which you clear or rid your body of toxins and whether you give yourself the correct nutrients and antioxidants to support the liver, kidneys and lymph systems to do so comfortably without excess side effects.

What are common side effects of cleanses?

We often hear about detox reaction which occurs because you are not supporting the liver with the appropriate nutrients to clear phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification processes at an increased rate. When this happens people feel sick-have low energy, muscle aches, feel hot, sweat more and just feel unwell.

If you support your body to detox slowly and correctly with the right nutrients and strengt...

Bonju (hello) it's been a while.....but I've really missed you!

So much has happened since I began my practice in Clovis, New Mexico in 2007. I moved to Alabama with my husband, had my first child at age 36, moved to Virginia and began managing Acupuncture in Del Ray in 2014, moved to Massachusetts, had my second child, continued to visit Del Ray and offer remote consultations, and finally moved back to Virginia just as the pandemic began! My two boys (now almost 5 & 10) are vibrant, healthy, and full of athletic energy. They love to help cook. My husband's latest hobbies are brewing kombucha and pour painting. My parents, aunts, and uncles are transitioning into their 70s and 80s, my Zija and Ziju (great aunt and uncle) their 90s!

Helping people with fertility sparked my interest in acupuncture. My step-mom suffered through many miscarriages, and after changing diet, taking herbs, and regular acupuncture treatments was filled with joy when she finally had my baby sister. Three years...

Dad's clear broth chicken soup is a family go to perfect for March storms and April drizzle. Warm, light, and satisfying,  #paleo, #glutenfree, and even #ketofriendly (just ration the carrots!) 

Now that it is spring we want to open up the senses and our energy with fresh, bright notes like cilantro, green onions and lime to support Liver.

• Spring onions aka green onions have an upwards and opening effect to supporting the qi or energy of the body.
• Ginger supports the digestion.
• Garlic is great for it's antibiotic effects.
• Carrots support the spleen/stomach and are great for your eyes as well.
• Celery (especially the tops) and sesame oil are great for the heart and blood pressure. 
• Chicken is a great source of protein. Adding some vinegar creates a lighter, quicker version of mineral rich bone broth. Bone broth not only nourishes the tendons and ligaments but also supports the kidneys which are the root of your whole body according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. This whole-chi
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