SF food
fromThe Atlantic
7 hours agoHow the Whole-Grain Trend Went Wrong
Refined grains can lead to health issues, while whole grains are promoted for their benefits, though their actual health impact is debated.
George Harrison's Dark Horse Lentil Soup recipe features ingredients such as 1 red chili, cumin seeds, onions, garlic, lentils, tomatoes, and green peppers, showcasing his love for Indian cuisine.
The American Heart Association recommendations emphasize eating more plant-based protein instead of meat and drinking less alcohol, contradicting the recent food pyramid updates that suggest increased red meat and whole milk consumption.
These tiny packages pack a nutritional punch-so much so that the advisory committee for the 2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommended upping the daily serving size of legumes and promoting them as a protein source over meat and seafood. Navy beans, for example, are especially fiber-dense, and lentils are protein powerhouses.
For someone aiming to end the global livestock industry, Bruce Friedrich begins his new book called Meat in disarming fashion: I'm not here to tell anyone what to eat. You won't find vegetarian or vegan recipes in this book, and you won't find a single sentence attempting to convince you to eat differently. This book isn't about policing your plate.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. There's a lot you can do with canned chickpeas. Also known as garbanzo beans, these versatile legumes are great to keep stocked in your pantry for bulking up meals with more protein, preparing scrumptious appetizers and dips, and making a number of soups and stews among other dishes. In Tasting Table's deep dive ranking grocery store canned chickpea brands, the 365 Organic variety from Whole Foods was picked as the very best offering.
Sometimes all you need is to curl up on the couch with a big bowl of pasta, wearing an old sweatshirt that can handle a little tomato-sauce splatter. After all, it's comfort food with a heavy emphasis on the comfort - all carbs and sauce and warm, full feelings. But what if you could get that same satisfaction with the added benefit of a little protein boost with just one easy swap? All you have to do is reach for a box of edamame pasta.
Soaked and blended, cashews become a stand-in for heavy cream, keeping stuffed shells, soups, pasta sauces, and desserts luxuriously dairy-free. Toasted and roughly chopped, they add crunch to salads, curries, stir-fries, and more. There are so many reasons to love cooking with these seeds-that's right, "cashew nut" is technically a misnomer, since they grow outside the fruit rather than inside a hard shell like true nuts.
Need an easy lunch or dinner idea? Try brown lentils! Alex and I love eating lentils for lunches or dinners, since they're full of plant-based protein and keep us full for hours afterwards. This brown lentils recipe results in perfectly seasoned, tender lentils. You can eat them as-is, or add them as a component to tacos, salads, and more. They're a simple protein that makes an easy vegan recipe or healthy dinner!
If you've ever visited Hungary or sampled some of the several Hungarian dishes you need to try at least once, it's likely you know about goulash - the European country's beloved national dish. While the meaty-stew goodness that is goulash (gulyás) has been a staple since the 18th century, it is possible to transform the hearty dish into a satisfying and delicious plant-based meal by swapping the beef for filling vegetables like turnips, carrots, and potatoes, protein-rich legumes, or even soy meat substitutes like tempeh.
Lentils are an inexpensive source of protein, and they can take on many flavor profiles easily and without much effort. The tiny legumes are great in salads, but they really come alive when simmered with alliums, vegetables, spices, and a flavorful broth. Lentil soups and stews can be simple or extravagant, depending on how you garnish the soup, but they always make for a hearty, satisfying meal.
Dynamic duo beans and greens come together again in this pantry-friendly soup. Toasted garlic, tomato paste, and smoked paprika boost store-bought vegetable stock (use a base like Better Than Bouillon for superior potency) into a rich broth. Chickpeas and Swiss chard hang on to their texture in the brew, but use whichever white beans and hearty greens speak to you.
Why to Make This Quinoa Chili This quinoa chili is seriously good, full of savory flavors that wrap you like a cozy sweater. It's modeled after that quinoa chili from our lunch date, this time using our favorite fire roasted tomatoes. It's simple and flavorful, with tons of savory veggies and of course, quinoa! Quinoa acts as the texture of where meat would be in this vegan chili, and brings in loads of plant based protein.
Barley, the grain that is featured in this dish, is one of our most nutritious grains; it contributes protein, thiamine and niacin. Barley also is a rich source of dietary fiber. For a vegan rendition, use vegan yogurt and maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing and use olive oil instead of butter when sauteing the mushrooms. The dish is a main course salad and should be served at room temperature.
If there's one thing I know as a Registered Dietitian, it's that most people probably don't get enough vegetables. No matter how many bags of spinach or heads of broccoli you buy, they'll often die a slow death in the back of your fridge. Even I get into a pattern of avoiding vegetables in favor of richer, carb-y dishes to fuel me through the winter.
If you're trying to eat more vegetables, consider slurping more soup. Most of them rely on vegetables as a base, and from there, it's easy to add even more for a belly-filling, nourishing meal. Without much effort, you can easily work two servings of vegetables into a single bowl. Soup also happens to be one of the most simple and soul-warming things to make, a breeze to customize and easily packed for lunches,