I had recently heard about how microwaving vegetables robs them of their nutrients and just had to know the truth. What’s the best way to prepare vegetables and without removing the nutrients? I am a firm believer that getting your veggies in any form is better than not. People have asked me about frozen veggies, and I say go for it! But I wanted to make sure that when I zap my veggies on my short lunch break, I’m not removing all (or most) of the nutrients. This is what I learned in my research:

In the book Eat, Move Sleep by Tom Rath, it talks a lot about sugar. In the past few months I’ve learned so much about the negative impacts it has on us. Rath calls sugar “the next nicotine.” It kills more people than cocaine, heroine or any other controlled substance. That was shocking to me – until I really thought about it. Sugar feeds any sickness in your body. So many people, especially Americans, are addicted to sugar. But it’s not something that many people think about. Added sugar is in pretty much everything packaged and processed and it’s killing us slowly.

Quinoa (let's say it together: "keen-wah") is my newest favorite thing. It's often mistaken for a whole grain but believe it or not, it's a seed. High in iron and fiber and low in calories and fat, these tiny gluten-free burst are super tasty, especially when paired correctly. My recent concoction is what I call a Quinoa Scramble -- just what it sounds like. Scrambled eggs with quinoa and anything else your heart/stomach desires. Veggies, pesto, hot sauce, avocado and feta are just a couple of favorites additions of mine. A great replacement for pasta or rice. Good in a salad or heated alone with simply some butter and salt. My mom and I even experimented with a quinoa quiche! I often make a whole box and keep it in the fridge for easy access throughout the week. Can't go wrong!