St. Paul’s Monastery’s Newest Collaboration: Benedictine CARE Wellness Program
In January of this 2022, the Sisters of St Paul’s Monastery were approached with a unique proposal to expand the programming offered by the Benedictine Center. The proposal involves a collaboration between the Monastery and an existing health and lifestyle program developed and directed by one of our Oblates, Teri Rose.
CARE Snack: Hummus Deviled Eggs
Model to your guests that classic favorites like Deviled Eggs can be transformed into nutrient-rich versions that work towards health goals, not against. These classic appetizers are filling, delicious, and gorgeous to serve.
CARE Breakfast: Butternut Squash and Apple Crumble with Cottage Cheese
Recipe adapted from McKenzie Hall, Food & Nutrition Magazine 2016, Photo Copyright Food& Nutrition Magazine Dec 2016
Spicy Burrito Salad: 4 ingredients, 4 minutes, CARE balanced
Proof that nutrient-rich, whole foods-based, balanced meals don’t need to be fancy! Here I use a Red’s Burrito and balance it with a generous cup of Power Greens, an extra serving of left-over roasted chicken breast (adjust according to the right amounts of you), and use low-sugar salsa as my dressing. That’s it! This meal provides all your macronutrients, 8 grams of fiber and a host of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
Food as Medicine: The Hottest Take on Toast
Media is flooded with the ever entertaining “What’s Hot/What’s Not” lists. This recipe reminds me of them. Though I am a HUGE fan of avocados, when it comes to ‘purposeful, tool-providing’ meals this CARE Liver & Immune Support Pesto Toast is HOT and Avocado Toast is “still good but NOT as much going on than this toast”… truly, DO still eat avocados, even add a slice to this toast if you need more fat servings, just upgrade and prioritize the pesto! ;)
Food as Medicine: Liver & Immune Support Pesto
Enjoy 1 tablespoon, 2 times per day, for 3-4 days, when under heavier stress or fatigue. For therapeutic benefits throughout the year, enjoy regularly on your weekly meal plans. This pesto is excellent on eggs, stirred into soup, on top of whole grains, tossed with veggies, or simply spread on one piece of sprouted bread.
Full system support: And although I named this recipe ‘liver and immune support pesto’, as you can see from the purpose of each ingredient detailed below in the notes section, this pesto supports your whole system.
CARE Recipe: Asparagus and Cucumber Salad with Jicama (Prebiotic-fiber rich side salad)
This salad tastes so incredibly fresh, and it will surprise you at how fast it is to make. It’s perfect to have ready to go for when you walk in the door and want to start nibbling. Full of volume, fiber, and nutrients – you won’t have to feel guilty for enjoying this (vs. chips). Adapted from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food (April 2009)
CARE Recipe: Tomato Cucumber Tabouli (Incredible fresh side to pair with grain and grilled protein)
This recipe is a simple variation of the Cauliflower Quinoa Tabouli recipe. I love four things about both these recipes: 1) remarkable amounts of nutrition and therapeutic properties, 2) the freshness, 3) the burst of flavors in every bite from mincing the veggies, and 4) that it’s a great failproof template to mix and match veggies and acids (like lemon juice and vinegar) to create endless varieties (which leads to #1 being on your plate more often!).
CARE Snack: Vegan Coconut Berry Popsicles (3 per snack serving!)
It’s summer. It’s hot. Anything cold sounds great. Anything sweet and cold sounds even better! So how about making popsicles that are loaded with antioxidants and fiber (and greens!), balanced to keep you satiated, and encourages you to eat more than one! Perfect for a long day in the yard or movie night instead instead of mindlessly snacking on candy! (This recipes is a simple take on the CARE Coconut Berry Smoothie.)
CARE Snack: Fresh Peaches and Pistachios
So simple, yet so perfect. Savor this snack in a place that allows you to see, feel, and smell summer. Pistachios are high in lutein needed for eye health (it’s what gives them their green color). Lutein is important when we are exposed to higher rates of oxidation in eye cells from exposure to the sun. Peaches are rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene (the orange coloring) and pectin, a prebiotic fiber (food for our good gut bacteria). So simple, yet so perfect.