Passover Week

This evening begins the Jewish holiday of Passover. This week long holiday is a celebration of freedom in the Jewish faith, with traditions including celebratory meals and symbolic foods and restrictions. This can be a tough time for many of us, trying to navigate the dietary changes and also being faced with huge feasts. Luckily you can fit two cheat days into the Passover week, so take advantage of that and try to stay as clean as possible the other days. Plan ahead and find healthy and clean alternatives that fit into your Passover plans, such as these suggestions and recipes below.

For Passover ONLY, some breakfast, lunch and dinner options:

1)  MATZAH: 1/2 sheet original Matzah with 1 tbsp of peanut butter (or sunbutter if you can’t do the peanut for Passover)
2)  MATZAH AND FRUIT: 1/2 sheet Matzah with 1 tsp of peanut butter or sunbutter with 1 piece of fruit or 1 cup of fruit
3) EGGS: 4 egg whites and 1 cup of veggies or 2 regular eggs with garden salad
4) Basic grilled chicken or turkey with 1 sliced cucumber and 1 chopped pepper – in a bowl you will have the 4 oz of protein with a sliced cucumber and 1 slice pepper. Salt pepper lemon – always yummy
5)  Light tuna or chicken salad or egg white salad with 1 matzah (1 tbsp light mayo)
6) 1/2 cup cottage cheese with 1/2 cup fruit
7) Chubby Potato:  1 large white potato with 1 cup of veggies on top and 1/4 cup of melted cheese and bake 
8) For dessert you can do any fruit with peanut butter
9) Peanut butter ice cream cups – combine 1 tbsp of peanut butter and 2 tbsp of whip cream and place in cupcake pan and freeze.  Makes 12 – you can have 1 for a dessert or snack.

Squash Kugel

This is a super healthy recipe that puts an delicious twist on a classic dish.

Ingredients:

•2 medium butternut squash, cut in half, seeded

•3 tablespoons vegetable oil

•2-3 egg whites

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•1 teaspoon cinnamon

•¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

•½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

1. Rub squash with a dab of oil.

2. Place cut side of squash down on metal baking sheet.

3. Bake squash in the oven at 350 degrees for 40-60 minutes (until soft).

4. Scoop out the squash, discard the skin.

5. Place squash in food processor with the rest of the oil, egg whites, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt. Puree until smooth and creamy.

6. Place in a 9-inch tart pan or casserole dish and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

7. Serve!

Charoset

This traditional dish is already a great recipe for eating clean.

Ingredients:

•2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into cubes

•2 cups walnuts, chopped

•1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

•½ cup orange juice

•1 tablespoon lemon juice

•¾ cups currants

Instructions:

1. In food processor, combine all ingredients until desired texture is achieved.
2. Serve!

Make Your Own Maror

Combine 1 horseradish root (about 4 inches) peeled and chopped with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a food processor. Pulse until horseradish is well ground. Store in a glass container until ready to serve.

Bitter Herbs Salad

Combine 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, 1 small head of radicchio, 2 cups arugula, 1 stalk of celery, 2 scallions (chopped), 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1/4 cup chopped dill, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional) and dressing (1 garlic clove, salt to taste, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil).

Coconut Macaroons