By Caitlyn Elf

I try to go vegetarian at least once a week both for my wallet and my waistline. However, with these cold temperatures it’s hard to resist the urge to dive head first into a bowl of turkey chili or chicken soup. That’s why for this week’s Recipe Makeover I decided to take one of my favorite meat-based recipes and make it fit for a vegetarian!

Using this Chicken-and-Sausage Gumbo recipe, I made some super simple tweaks to not only make it meatless, but also up the fiber content so it will be sure to leave you just as satisfied as the original. Trust me on this one, you won’t miss the meat one bit!

Follow the substitutions below to spoon your way to a hearty, vegetarian gumbo!

• 1 (3.5-oz.) bag boil-in-bag rice (Here I used 3.5 ounces of brown rice to increase the fiber in the recipe)
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil (In place of the vegetable oil I used 1 tbsp. canola oil for even greater heart-health benefits)
• 2 cups chopped roasted boneless, skinless chicken breasts; about 2 breasts (To make this meat-heavy dish vegetarian, I replaced the 2 cups of roasted chicken breast with a soy protein-based chicken such as Light Life Smart Cutlets)
• 8 oz. turkey kielbasa, cut into 1-inch pieces (For this I used 8 oz. of meatless sausage (such as Trader Joe’s sausageless sausage)
• 1 (14.5-oz.) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth (In place of the fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth I simply used a fat-free, less-sodium vegetable broth)

With the very first spoonful I brought to my lips, I knew that this was going to be just as good as the classic. The soy protein-based, vegetarian substitutions did a great job of keeping the soup nice and hearty while also making it healthy and meatless! Even the carnivores in your life will have a hard time turning down a piping hot bowl of this stuff!

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By Jenna Weber

This week’s menu is all about keeping your heart healthy! Salmon, tofu and legumes make up the protein sources in these easy, delicious meals and provide vitamins and minerals to keep you feeling and looking your best! Explore new flavors with the fire pot soup, which is the perfect warming meal on a cold winter evening. On your busiest day, try my sweet and spicy glazed salmon sandwich—it’s ready in twenty minutes and combines zesty flavors and heart healthy fats. Enjoy!

Grocery list
1 yellow onion
1 large carrot
3 cloves garlic
2 4-5 oz. wild Atlantic salmon fillets
paprika
cumin
chili powder
cayenne pepper
honey
1 lemon
pretzel rolls (or regular rolls)
mayonnaise
lettuce
tomato
3/4 lb. raw shrimp
8 oz. extra firm tofu
Thai curry paste (available at large supermarkets and Asian markets)
Thai basil leaves (available at Asian markets)
fish sauce
brown sugar
1 14-oz. can coconut milk
1 quart chicken broth
1 6-inch stalk lemongrass
1 lime
2 red or green Thai chilies
dry jasmine rice
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno
garam masala (Indian spice mix available at most large grocery stores)
1 butternut squash
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes in tomato juice
1 quart vegetable broth
dried red lentils
2 15-oz. cans chickpeas

Sweet and Spicy Glazed Salmon Sandwiches
This quick and easy dinner is ready in less than a half hour!

Makes two large sandwiches

2 4-5 oz. wild Atlantic salmon fillets
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1-2 tbsp. honey
1/2 lemon, juiced
pretzel rolls (or regular rolls)
mayonnaise
lettuce
tomato

1. Preheat broiler on high.

2. Mix together the chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, paprika and cayenne pepper.

3. Rub the salt on the salmon fillets, followed by the spice mixture. Lay fillets in a pie dish or on a tin foil-lined sheet tray and drizzle the honey over top. Broil fish for 5-8 minutes, until flaky but still pink. Remove from oven and drizzle lemon juice over top.

4. Prepare sandwiches by smearing mayonnaise on one side of the pretzel roll, then topping with a salmon fillet. Top with lettuce and tomato, followed by other half of roll. Serve warm.

Next page: Thai Fire Pot Soup

Skip the morning OJ and try this nutritious, good-for-your-belly juice instead. Packed with exotic fruity flavors, this 50-calorie shot is a good substitute for a daily multivitamin.

The product: GoodBelly Plus probiotic juice drink ($3.99 per pack; Available at Whole Foods Market, Safeway, and specialty stores nationwide)

The taste factor: The juice comes in four flavors: Blueberry acai (our favorite), mango, strawberry, and pomegranate blackberry. Although it contains 17 vitamins and minerals, we couldn’t taste a thing but juicy goodness.

The health factor: Probiotics, or “good bugs,” promote healthy digestion and can help with icky tummy troubles like gas, bloating, and constipation. GoodBelly—which contains a patented probiotic strain—is organic, dairy-free, soy-free, and 100% vegan.

Editor’s pick: Take this shot with your breakfast in the morning or use as a midday pick-me-up. GoodBelly promises that after 12 days you’ll notice an improvement in your digestive health or the product is free.

Why we love it: One little 2.7 oz shot will satisfy your juice craving and make you feel like you’re doing something good for your body—an excellent addition to our healthy living goals for 2012!

Skip the morning OJ and try this nutritious, good-for-your-belly juice instead. Packed with exotic fruity flavors, this 50-calorie shot is a good substitute for a daily multivitamin.

The product: GoodBelly Plus probiotic juice drink ($3.99 per pack; Available at Whole Foods Market, Safeway, and specialty stores nationwide)

The taste factor: The juice comes in four flavors: Blueberry acai (our favorite), mango, strawberry, and pomegranate blackberry. Although it contains 17 vitamins and minerals, we couldn’t taste a thing but juicy goodness.

The health factor: Probiotics, or “good bugs,” promote healthy digestion and can help with icky tummy troubles like gas, bloating, and constipation. GoodBelly—which contains a patented probiotic strain—is organic, dairy-free, soy-free, and 100% vegan.

Editor’s pick: Take this shot with your breakfast in the morning or use as a midday pick-me-up. GoodBelly promises that after 12 days you’ll notice an improvement in your digestive health or the product is free.

Why we love it: One little 2.7 oz shot will satisfy your juice craving and make you feel like you’re doing something good for your body—an excellent addition to our healthy living goals for 2012!

By Caitlyn Elf

This time of the year, comfort food seems to call our name at every meal. The only problem: while it’s warming our souls, it may also be adding unwanted pounds to our bodies. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. It is possible to have a hearty, wholesome meal that will fill you up and satisfy your cravings while also adding nutrition to your diet.

For this week’s Recipe Makeover I tackled a classic comfort food dish—The Dijon Croque Monsieur. Using this recipe, I made just two easy substitutions to increase the fiber and reduce the sodium for a healthy mid-day meal.

• 8 (1-ounce) slices Italian bread (For this I substituted 8, 1-ounce, slices of whole grain bread for added fiber)
• 6 ounces thinly sliced ham (To cut down on the typically high sodium level, I used low-sodium ham)

This sandwich came out perfect! The heartiness from the whole grain bread only added to the comfort of the dish and the extra sodium in the ham was certainly not missed! A healthy lunch to serve for the whole family or savor for yourself.