Happy new year, all! It’s been a great but long holiday season and I’m sure many of you are looking to get back on that healthy bandwagon as resolutions and good intentions are being set for the year. A great way to think about making lasting changes is to implement small daily changes to lead a more plant based and healthy lifestyle as well as setting goals for physical activity.  The recommended amount of activity per week is 150 minutes, and at least 2 days should include strength training/resistance exercises.  If you are new to exercising, starting with a goal of walking 3 times per week for 3o minutes is a great way to slowly increase your physical activity, and you’ll love those endorphins!

I like to think of healthy eating as so much more than green salads with balsamic dressing. There are so many endless options that don’t have to take hours to make or burn a hole in your pocket. I love this recipe and especially love zucchini noodles, as you can see it’s already been featured in a few of my posts. They are crisp, delicious, and excellent for health and digestion! This is a great vegan dish or great for anyone who is looking to incorporate more plant based meals into their diet–you can’t go wrong, your bod will thank you!

Zucchini noodles + avocado, pomegranate seeds & shredded kale

What you need: A vegetable spiralizer (handheld or free standing such as Paderno brand)

Serving size: 4-5

Ingredients:

2 medium sized zucchinis
1 large kale leaf, shredded into small pieces
seeds from 1/2 pomegranate, about 1/2 cup
1 avocado
juice from 1/2 lime
1/4 tsp. sea salt
pepper, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Method:

Spiralize the zucchinis using whichever you device you have. I love the spiralizer by Paderno which can be found on Amazon.com. (Thanks to my bestie Jackie for the best Christmas present!)

Mash the avocado in a bowl with the lime juice, sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Add the avocado mixture to a bowl with the zucchini noodles, shredded kale, and pomegranate seeds. Toss well, and sprinkle the pumpkin seeds on top. EAT UP and FEEL THE VEGGIE LOVE.