Diligent Spoon

A nutrition blog that promotes healthy eating habits and recipes

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Menu
  • Home
    • About
  • Food
    • Meals & Planning
    • Healthy Eating “in the Wild”
    • Snacking
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Mains
    • Salads
    • Snacks
  • Fitness
    • Equipment & Products
    • Injuries
    • Running
    • Workouts
    • Yoga
  • Philosophy
    • Healthy Living Mindset
    • Making Healthy Habits
    • Personal Perspectives
  • Debunking
    • Fad Diets
    • Nutrition News and Research
    • Biochemistry, Physiology, Thermodynamics
  • Favorites
  • Don't Like Turkey | 6 Alternatives to Turkey on Thanksgiving
    Food,  Mains,  Meals & Planning

    Don’t Like Turkey? Here Are 6 Alternatives For Thanksgiving

    November 4, 2021 / 0 Comments

    So you don't like turkey. Here are 6 holiday-worthy alternatives for Thanksgiving, including gluten-free and vegetarian ideas.

    read more
    Brook Hagen

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    15 Red White and Blue Food Ideas

    15 Red, White, & Blue Food Ideas

    July 1, 2021
    Which less sugar greek yogurt is the best | We tested 5 kinds

    Which Less Sugar Greek Yogurt is the Best

    January 16, 2021
    Is Shopping At Whole Foods Worth It?

    Is Shopping At Whole Foods Worth It?

    September 22, 2019
  • Easy Vinaigrette Dressing in 2 Minutes & 3 Ingredients
    Recipes,  Sauces and Dressings

    Make Your Own Vinaigrette in 2 Minutes

    September 10, 2021 / 4 Comments

    One of my favorite things to make at home is salad dressing. You may have read my past post about my all-time favorite Magic Sauce dressing recipe. While I love Magic Sauce, it has a lot of ingredients, and I don’t always feel like getting the blender out to make it (no matter how much I love my blender). Thank goodness for vinaigrette. No matter what the situation, if you have oil, vinegar, and a bottle to put it in, you can make this tangy and delicious dressing or marinade. I’ll be the first to admit that store-bought bottled vinaigrettes are super convenient and come in all kinds of creative…

    read more
    Brook Hagen

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    Salad Slam | Perfect Salads in 4 Simple Steps

    Salad Slam! 4 Simple Steps to Perfect Salads

    July 16, 2020
    Killer Slow Cooker Chili

    No Beans About It – Killer Slow Cooker Chili

    October 14, 2020

    The Best Breakfast for Sustained Energy

    June 16, 2021
  • Best Breakfast Bowl for special diets
    Breakfast,  Food,  Meals & Planning,  Recipes,  Special Diets

    Best Breakfast Bowl for Special Diets

    June 16, 2021 / 2 Comments

    If you’ve read my original Best Breakfast post, you probably know that I love a big bowl of nutritious goodness to start my day. But what if you’re vegan, or doing the Whole30? If you’ve read some of my other content, you know I’ve practiced and respect many special diets. So,this post is meant to demystify and lay out your perfect breakfast bowl, no matter what your food preferences or restrictions. Gluten-free: You’re in luck-the original Best Breakfast Bowl is already gluten-free! 1/2 cup whole milk plain yogurt (eg, Fage Total 5% Greek) 1 banana, sliced 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 tablespoon no-sugar-added peanut butter, nut butter, or chopped…

    read more
    Brook Hagen

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    The Best Breakfast for Sustained Energy

    June 16, 2021
    Healthy Indulgence | Mocha Smoothie

    Favorite Diligent Indulgence – The Mocha Smoothie

    June 14, 2021
    Fall in Love With Pumpkin Breakfast Bowls

    Fall in Love With Pumpkin Breakfast Bowls

    September 30, 2020
  • Breakfast,  Food,  Meals & Planning,  Recipes

    The Best Breakfast for Sustained Energy

    June 16, 2021 / 3 Comments

    What’s your ideal breakfast – black coffee, biscuits and gravy (I heard recently that’s Portland’s signature breakfast), a granola bar on the way out the door? Breakfasts range from zilch to 1000-calorie sugar-and-fat bombs, and everything in between. My “historical” breakfasts have been high-carb, medium protein, and low fat. Think pancakes with strawberry jam (made with love by my mom), Frosted Mini Wheats with skim milk (a 90s favorite), and many derivations of oatmeal …  As I’ve gotten wiser (ahem, older) and more aware of how breakfast impacts my energy levels, I’ve observed that these common and carb-forward breakfasts, although delicious, left me feeling super lethargic – and starving –…

    read more
    Brook Hagen

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    Pumpkin Power Muffins | Delicious, Easy, Gluten-free

    Pumpkin Power! Easy Gluten-Free Muffins to Energize Your Fall

    September 16, 2021
    Fall in Love With Pumpkin Breakfast Bowls

    Fall in Love With Pumpkin Breakfast Bowls

    September 30, 2020
    Best Breakfast Bowl for special diets

    Best Breakfast Bowl for Special Diets

    June 16, 2021
  • Healthy Indulgence | Mocha Smoothie
    Breakfast,  Food,  Recipes,  Snacking,  Snacks

    Favorite Diligent Indulgence – The Mocha Smoothie

    June 14, 2021 / 3 Comments

    This creamy, chocolatey treat can be whipped up in your blender in less than five minutes. Gluten-free, vegan, and dairy free. What has under 250 calories, plenty of protein, some healthy fat, and tastes like a chocolate dream-come-true? I’m so excited to introduce you to Mocha Smoothie. I developed this recipe when I was an e-campus student taking all my courses from home. It was summertime, so hot outside, and I wanted to have a healthier, lower calorie alternative to a Frappuccino. Oh … and I wanted to be able to make it at home to save time and money. Plus, I made extra coffee every morning, and I did…

    read more
    Brook Hagen

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    The Best Breakfast for Sustained Energy

    June 16, 2021
    Fall in Love With Pumpkin Breakfast Bowls

    Fall in Love With Pumpkin Breakfast Bowls

    September 30, 2020
    Pumpkin Power Muffins | Delicious, Easy, Gluten-free

    Pumpkin Power! Easy Gluten-Free Muffins to Energize Your Fall

    September 16, 2021
  • Fiesta Pasta | Make a Plant-Based Dinner Meat-Eaters Will Love
    Mains,  Meals & Planning,  Recipes,  Special Diets

    Make a Plant-Based Dinner Meat-Eaters Will Love

    May 20, 2021 / 0 Comments

    Are you looking to add more plant-based meals to your diet, but are not sure where to start or afraid your family won’t like it? Believe me, I’ve been there! When I was a vegan for a few years, I constantly tried different dinner recipes, hoping that they would be easy, use “normal” ingredients, and – most importantly – be edible. Not just for me, but also for my kids and husband. After many fails, complaints, and even ridicule from my meat-loving family, Fiesta Pasta is one plant-based dinner that even has the meat-eaters going back for seconds. Goal: Plant-Based Dinner That’s Easy and Delicious The goal here is to…

    read more
    Brook Hagen

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    Amazing Chicken Salad

    Amazing Chicken Salad in Under 30 Minutes

    August 19, 2020
    Make the Ultimate Comfort Food This Winter | Chicken Vegetable Soup

    Make The Ultimate Comfort Food This Winter – Chicken Vegetable Soup

    February 14, 2021
    Make a Gluten-free Whole30 (or vegan) Dinner in Under 30 minutes

    How to Make a Gluten-free, Whole30 (or Vegan) Dinner in Under 30 Minutes

    May 6, 2021

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Disclaimer

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I hold a BS in Dietetics (Missouri State University) and an MS in human nutrition (Colorado State University). The information I provide is based on my formal education and practice in dietetics, human nutrition, and biochemistry; and my experience as a runner and athlete.  Any recommendations I may make about exercise, nutrition, supplements or lifestyle; or information provided to you in person or on this website are for information purposes only and do not take the place of professional medical advice.

Affiliate Disclosure

I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Diligent Spoon, LLC does not accept money for editorial gear reviews.

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