Holli Thompson

This simple recipe is from Whole Foods Market and could not be easier! Steamed Butternut Squash Prep and Cook Time: 7 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups butternut squash, or any variety of winter squash, cut into 1-inch cubes 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon orange juice sea salt and pepper to taste Optional: feta cheese chopped fresh rosemary 1/2 small onion sliced thin, cooked with the squash Also try combining 4 tsp finely minced fresh ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 2 tsp honey with the olive oil. Preparation 1. Fill the bottom of the steamer with 2 inches of water. 2. While steam is building up in steamer, peel and cut squash into 1-inch cubes. 3. Steam covered for 7 minutes. Squash is done when it is tender, yet still firm enough to hold its shape. 4. Transfer to a bowl. For more flavor toss squash with the oil, orange juice, salt, and pepper while it is still hot. Research shows that carotenoids in foods are best absorbed when consumed with oils.

Need some tips to get you through the big turkey day? Contrary to what you might wish for, your family and friends will most likely not be serving grilled veggies, plain, vegan turkey, and “raw” pumpkin pie. Food is about to take center stage, and old family recipes and labor-intensive preparation will win the day; the creamier, the thicker and the more “breadie” the better. How to make it through without having to loosen your belt or bloat up the next day? Here are my best survival tips: Eat your normal meals during the day. This will help you avoid extreme hunger later and the feeling that you “saved up” and are entitled to overeat. Avoid large portions of the creamy, cheesy, and breadie side dishes, but have a bite or two if you need to. This will help avoid the feeling that you “missed out”, a feeling that can backfire. Stick to lean turkey, and use as little gravy as possible. Just a drizzle will do it. Load up on the simple veggie dishes and salad items. Dessert? Try just a sliver, you know that the first few bites taste the best anyway. Most importantly, savor every bite. It…

“Lets Talk Live”, a live morning talk show on ABC, asked me to come on and share some ways for Halloween to become healthier.. Can it be done? I came up with 5 Tricks for Healthy Halloween Treats and went on the show last week. I’ll let you watch how the ladies grilled me on the REAL deal, and even taste -tasted my treats, check it out here. 5 TRICKS for Healthy Halloween Treats 1)    Add FIBER treats to slow the absorption of the processed sugar they might be eating.  (suggestions- whole grain “Froose” juice contains organic whole grains, Enviro Kids organic rice bars) 2)    Add PROTEIN treats to slow the absorption of processed sugar and help stabilize blood sugar. (suggestions-nuts or trail mixes, peanut butter crackers (organic best)) 3)    Add SAVORY snacks (carbohydrates) to fill their tummies.  Lots of kids never eat dinner Halloween night and the carbohydrates will help to calm them down. (suggestions: organic cheese crackers, pretzels) 4)    Go for NATURAL FRUIT SWEETNESS to give sweets without the refined sugars. ( suggestion: organic fruit roll ups or fruit leathers, raisin boxes, dried cranberry boxes, mini organic juice boxes) 5)    Skip the food and go for FUN PARTY TOYS…

I was recently on CBS Evening News sharing my favorite (NEW) recipes for a healthier Halloween.  I love these recipes, and so did the crew!! Take a look at how they came out. www.wusa9.com/video/default.aspx The best part? They are so simple to make.. Monster Teeth Ingredients Large red or green apples Slivered almonds Preparation 1)    Cut a large apple into quarters, and remove the core and seeds. 2)    Carve a wedge from the skin side of each quarter, and dipe exposed apple in organge juice to prevent browning.  Press slivered almonds in place for teeth. Wormy Mud Balls Ingredients 1/3  cup honey ¼ cup almond butter (peanut butter is fine, too) 2 tbsp coconut butter or unsalted butter 1 cup chocolate rice cereal 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats ¼ cup dried fruit  (goji berries were the choice used) Preparation 1)    Add cereal, oats, and fruit to a large mixing bowl. 2)    Melt honey, nut butter and butter over medium heat until smooth.  This will take a minute or two. 3)     Add to the dried mixture and fold gently.  Scoop into cupcake liners and refrigerate for 15 minutes.These will last in the refrigerator for up to a week, covered. Healthy…

October has been designated “NON-GMO” Month I had the pleasure of having dinner with Jane Goodall last year.  It was a small private dinner with friends and seated at my left was the owner of a very large, nation wide grocery store chain.  To my right was “Jane”, as everyone refers to Jane Goodall; one of my lifelong heroes and a force in the environmental and preservation movements around the world. My dinner partner to my left, knowing I was a Nutrition Coach, began our meal by giving me his opinions on how beneficial Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s) are to the world.  He believes they are the answer to world hunger, the much needed next “green revolution” and that “giving” these seeds to third world countries is our greatest gift to humanity. As I was about to give him my negative opinion on GMO’s –that they are actually taking away the farmers ability to grow their own seeds, leaving poor farmers indebted and obligated to the giant seeds companies each year for survival. My serious concerns over the untested long- term effects of splicing fish genes into a tomato seed and other abominations that apply to soy, corn, and numerous…