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30 Minutes or Less

Spring Mix Salad with Blueberries, Almonds, Feta, and Honey Vinaigrette

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Close-up overhead image of spring mix salad in a bowl.

Fresh and seasonal spring mix salad with blueberries, almonds, feta cheese, and a simple honey vinaigrette! The perfect warm-weather lunch or side dish, loaded with healthy ingredients.

Overhead image of spring mix salad in a bowl with water on the side.

What You’ll Need To Make Spring Mix Salad

Spring Mix Lettuce – Spring mix is a simple assortment of dark leafy greens. Each brand makes theirs a little differently, but every batch of spring mix is flavorful and super healthy. If you can’t find any spring mix, you can certainly turn this into a spinach salad instead, with 5 ounces of fresh baby spinach.

Sliced Almonds – Every salad needs a little crunch! I love buttery, lightly toasted sliced almonds in my spring mix salad. However, if you don’t have any almonds, any chopped nut will go great in this recipe. Or for a nut-free version, add in some roasted sunflower seeds instead!

Feta Cheese – Some salty feta cheese takes this spring mix salad over the top! Add as much to your salad as your heart desires. Or, if you don’t have any feta, a nice soft goat cheese also tastes great here. And for a vegan or dairy-free option, simply leave the cheese out of the salad – still super tasty!

Honey – A touch of honey balances out the otherwise extremely savory vinaigrette. With plenty of balsamic vinegar, the vinaigrette needs a little sweetness to help mellow it out. And for a vegan version, replace the honey with two tablespoons of maple syrup.

Honey vinaigrette being poured over spring mix salad.

Tips and Tricks

  • Dress the salad right before serving! Avoid storing this salad already dressed, since the vinaigrette will cause the spring mix to wilt. So if prepping ahead of time, keep the honey vinaigrette on the side until ready to eat.
  • Have fun with this healthy salad recipe! This simple lunch or side dish is a great way to use up any fresh veggies or berries you might have on-hand. Strawberries taste delicious in place of the blueberries, and a yellow onion can be subbed in for the red onion.

Add Protein

For a heartier meal, add any of the following:

Spring Mix Salad with Blueberries, Almonds, Feta Cheese, and Honey Vinaigrette
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Spring Mix Salad with Blueberries, Almonds, Feta Cheese, and Honey Vinaigrette

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: Sides, LunchDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

side servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

Fresh and seasonal spring mix salad with blueberries, almonds, feta, and a simple honey vinaigrette! The perfect warm-weather lunch or side dish, loaded with healthy ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1 5-ounce package spring mix lettuce

  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

  • 1/2 English cucumber, chopped

  • 1/2 red onion, chopped

  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds

  • 1/4 cup feta cheese or goat cheese

  • For the honey vinaigrette:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  • Assemble all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a jar with a lid, secure the lid then shake until combined. Drizzle over spring mix salad and enjoy!

Recipe Video

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30 Minutes or Less

Cookie Dough Date Bites

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Two cookie dough dates bites stacked on top of each other.

Healthy 5-ingredient cookie dough date bites! They’re vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and totally delicious. Whip up a batch of these healthy snacks in just a few minutes!

Cookie dough date bites in a bowl with milk and chocolate chips on the side.

What You’ll Need to Make Cookie Dough Date Bites

Medjool Dates – Pitted medjool dates are the base of these bites. I love medjool dates for how naturally sweet and soft they are (compared to other varieties of dates). You can either buy them whole and remove the pits yourself for this recipe, or get them already pitted. I use and recommend Trader Joe’s Pitted Medjool Dates, they’re a great deal!

Rolled Oats – Any kind of rolled oats will work in this recipe! Simply avoid using whole or steel cut oats in your cookie dough date bites. The oats in this recipe are a great source of complex carbohydrates. They help to balance blood sugar levels while enjoying this sweet treat!

Peanut Butter – Creamy, unsweetened peanut butter helps these date bites stick together! However, if you don’t have/don’t like peanut butter, you can use any nut or seed butter you’d like. For a nut-free snack, use unsweetened sunflower seed butter instead.

Chocolate Chips – I use and recommend Enjoy Life’s Mini Chocolate Chips for this recipe, but any chocolate chips or chocolate chunks will do the trick. Or, for a totally sugar-free option, replace the chocolate chips with unsweetened cocoa nibs – even healthier!

One cookie dough date bite with a bite taken out.

Tips and Tricks

  • If the mixture seems too dry and won’t stick together, try adding either 2-3 tablespoons of melted coconut oil or an additional 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter. Though keep in mind that while the mixture might seem a tad too crumbly to stick, these bites will hold their shape once refrigerated.
  • Store cookie dough date bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or the freezer for up to 3 months! I love stocking my fridge/freezer with these bites for a quick and energizing snack when I need it.

This Recipe is….

  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy-Free
  • Vegan
  • Plant Based
  • Sugar-Free (use unsweetened chocolate chips)
  • and packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber!
Cookie Dough Date Bites
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Cookie Dough Date Bites

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: SnacksDifficulty: Easy
Servings

12

bites
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

Healthy 5-ingredient cookie dough date bites! They’re vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and totally delicious. Whip up a batch of these healthy snacks in just a few minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup medjool dates, pitted

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter, unsweetened

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • pinch of salt

  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips (I recommend mini chocolate chips!)

Directions

  • Add all ingredients except chocolate chips to a food processor and pulse until a dough forms. All ingredients should be very finely chopped, and mixture will appear crumbly but should stick together when pressed between your fingers.
  • Add in chocolate chips and give just 2 or 3 pulses to incorporate.
  • Use a cookie scoop to scoop mixture, then roll between your palms into balls. Place on a parchment-lined plate and refrigerate for 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe Video

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Dairy-Free

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Icing

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healthy carrot cake muffins with cream cheese icing on top, stacked on top of each other.

Perfect carrot cake muffins, made healthy! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, yet oh-SO delicious. These healthy carrot cake muffins come together in just one bowl, in about 30 minutes!

What You’ll Need to Make Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

Oat Flour – You can either buy pre-ground oat flour, or simply grind oats into a flour yourself. I always make my oat flour myself because it’s cheaper, and super easy. To do this, place rolled oats into a blender and blend until a flour forms, and no large oats pieces remain.

Apple Sauce – If you don’t have any apple sauce, feel free to use 1/2 cup of mashed banana instead! Though if you do use apple sauce, please make sure it’s unflavored and unsweetened for this recipe.

Maple Syrup – These refined sugar-free carrot cake muffins are naturally sweetened with maple syrup. I love the flavor of maple syrup in these muffins, you won’t even miss the sugar. However, if you don’t have any maple syrup, you can use an equal amount of honey instead!

healthy carrot cake muffins with cream cheese icing on top and milk on the side.

Tips and Tricks

  • Avoid over-mixing the muffin batter! If you mix too much, your muffins will turn out tough, instead of soft and tender. Therefore, mix all ingredients until just combined, then stop.
  • Let these healthy carrot cake muffins cool completely before icing. I know it’s tempting to ice and eat these delicious little muffins right away. But if they’re too hot when iced, the icing will melt and slide right off. So practice some self-control, and leave them to cool for at least 20 minutes first!
  • These muffins are best stored at room temperature, in an airtight container, for up to three days. However, if you live in a warm climate (or are baking these in the summer), you may want to consider storing them in the fridge. If stored in a very warm place, the cream cheese icing may spoil.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: While I haven’t tested this option myself just yet, you should be able to make these vegan carrot cake muffins by substituting the eggs for flax eggs! Or, use this Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer in place of the eggs in this recipe.

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Icing
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Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Icing

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: Snacks, DessertDifficulty: Medium
Servings

12

muffins
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

Perfect carrot cake muffins, made healthy! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, yet oh-SO delicious. These healthy carrot cake muffins come together in just one bowl, in about 30 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/2 cup apple sauce, unsweetened

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup

  • 1/4 cup milk, I used non-dairy milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 cups oat flour

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup shredded carrots

  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

  • 1/4 cup raisins

  • For the cream cheese icing:

  • 1/4 cup softened cream cheese, I used non-dairy cream cheese

  • 3 tablespoons softened butter, I used non-dairy butter

  • 2 cups powdered sugar

  • 2-3 tablespoons milk, I used non-dairy milk

  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a muffin tin with muffin liners.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, apple sauce, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla extract.
  • Add in the oat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until everything is just combined.
  • Then, fold in the shredded carrots, chopped walnuts, and raisins until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  • Bake muffins for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted down the center of one muffin comes out clean. Remove muffins from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
  • While muffins cool, make the cream cheese icing by adding all ingredients to a bowl and whisking until smooth and well-combined. Then, spread or pipe cream cheese icing on top of each cooled muffin.

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30 Minutes or Less

Magic 3-Ingredient Gluten-Free Bagels

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These 3-ingredient gluten-free bagels are truly magic! No yeast, kneading, rising, or boiling in water required. Just three simple ingredients, and these bagels are ready to eat in 30 minutes!

gluten-free bagels on a baking sheet with cream cheese on the side.

I like to think I know a thing or two about bagels. Not only were they my favorite food growing up, but I currently live in Brooklyn – home of the BEST BAGELS in the WORLD! So ya, I’ve had some really good bagels. A bagel should be toasty on the outside, fluffy on the inside, easy to slice through, and ready for toasting – and these gluten-free bagels are just that.

Now I’m sure you’re wondering – Sam, why bother making your own bagels if you can just buy literally the world’s best bagels from that place down the street. Well, I’ll tell you exactly why – because I can’t find a single good gluten-free bagel! They’re near impossible to track down. And the ones I do find are either too dense or extremely overpriced (or both). So I quickly realized if I wanted a gluten-free bagel, I’d just have to make it myself. And that, friends, is how the magic 3-ingredient gluten-free bagel was born!

3 gluten-free bagels stacked on top of each other.

What You’ll Need to Make 3-Ingredient Gluten-Free Bagels

Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour – Your gluten-free flour must contain xanthan gum! If it doesn’t, add 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum to this recipe. Gluten-free all purpose flours I use and recommend are Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Baking Flour and King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour, both of which contain xanthan gum. I used the King Arthur flour in these bagels and they turned out perfect!

Baking Powder – We replace the yeast found in traditional bagel recipes with baking powder. Baking powder makes it so we don’t have to wait for our bagel dough to rise before baking. Instead, we can simply shape, then bake these bagels right away – super easy!

Greek Yogurt – Any plain and unsweetened Greek yogurt will work in this gluten-free bagels recipe! I even used Kite Hill’s non-dairy Greek yogurt to make my bagels dairy-free.

gluten-free bagels on a plate with cream cheese on the side.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: To make vegan and gluten-free bagels, use a vegan greek yogurt and leave off the egg wash.

gluten-free bagels on a baking sheet with cream cheese on the side.
4.03 from 67 votes

Magic 3-Ingredient Gluten-Free Bagels

These 3-ingredient gluten-free bagels are truly magic! No yeast, kneading, rising, or boiling in water required. Just three simple ingredients, and these bagels are ready to eat in 30 minutes!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 bagels

Ingredients

  • 2 cups gluten-free all purpose flour, see Noted
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1-2 cups plain unsweetened Greek yogurt, dairy-free if necessary

For topping:

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • pinch of salt
  • everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc.

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Then, add in 1 cup of Greek yogurt and stir until a shaggy dough forms.
  • Using your hands, mix and form the dough into a smooth ball. If the dough seems too dry and won’t come together in a ball, add in more Greek yogurt – you may have to use an additional 1 cup of yogurt to reach the desired consistency.
  • Divide dough into 6 equal parts and shape each part into a ball. Use your thumbs to make a hole in the center of each ball, then gently pull to form a ring resembling a bagel.
  • Transfer bagels to the prepared baking sheet. Make the egg wash by whisking together the egg, water, and salt in a small bowl. Brush each bagel with egg wash and top with whatever toppings you’d like (or leave plain).
  • Bake bagels for 20-22 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking, until bagels are uniformly golden brown. Let cool slightly before slicing, topping, and eating.

Notes

  • Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour: Your gluten-free flour must contain xanthan gum, if it doesn’t add 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum to this recipe.
  • Gluten-free bagels will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Or, you can freeze them for up to 3 months! Because of the yogurt, these do not keep well at room temperature.

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal
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    30 Minutes or Less

    Jennifer Aniston Salad

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    close-up image of jennifer aniston salad in a serving bowl

    The viral Jennifer Aniston salad is super easy to make! Loaded with fresh ingredients – cucumber, red onion, parsley, mint, and feta – all tossed in simple lemon dressing. It’s not just healthy, but totally delicious too!

    overhead image of Jennifer Aniston salad with pistachios and dressing on the side.

    Jennifer Aniston recently described her perfect salad as, “bulgur wheat, cucumbers, parsley, mint, red onion, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, and pistachios.” And OMG the internet went CRAZY for it! Recipes similar to the salad the Friends actress described quickly popped up all over TikTok. The Jennifer Aniston salad went viral. So, as a foodie and fellow salad-lover, I had to give it a try for myself.

    My version of the salad contains everything Jennifer described – bulgur wheat, cucumbers, parsley, mint, red onion, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, and pistachios – my only addition is a simple lemon, olive oil, salt, and black pepper dressing. Since Jen didn’t offer up a dressing herself, this is what I envisioned a salad like this being tossed in. And let me tell you, it TOTALLY lived up to the hype!

    Dressing being poured over the Jennifer Aniston salad.

    What You’ll Need to Make the Jennifer Aniston Salad

    Bulgur Wheat or Quinoa – In keeping this super authentic to Jen’s recipe, I used bulgur wheat in my salad. However, bulgur wheat can be hard to come by, so I also offer up the option to use quinoa instead. Both are hearty, protein-rich, super nutritious grains. Never had bulgur wheat? It’s most similar to farro or barley, but smaller grain. Bulgur wheat has a nice nutty flavor, and will keep you full without feeling weighed down.

    Garbanzo Beans/Chickpeas – What’s the difference between garbanzo beans and chickpeas? Literally nothing! They’re two names for the exact same thing. Jennifer Aniston called them “garbanzo beans,” but I call them “chickpeas,” so that’s what we’re sticking with. Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein, especially in this salad recipe!

    Feta Cheese – Greek brined white cheese, made from sheep’s milk. Feta adds the perfect salty bite to this salad! And because it’s made with sheep’s milk, it has a lower lactose content. Meaning, those whoe are lactose intolerant (aka ME!), may have an easier time tolerating feta cheese. I, personally, can enjoy it in small amounts without any issue. However, if you can’t tolerate feta, or simply need a dairy-free option, check out my “make it vegan” section below!

    Parsley and Mint – Don’t skimp on the fresh herbs! Fresh parsley and mint are my favorite parts of this salad. They add a super fresh and vibrant component to this recipe. Therefore, don’t leave ’em out!

    close-up overhead image of Jennifer Aniston salad.

    Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Gluten-Free: Yes, bulgur wheat contains gluten. Therefore, opt for quinoa instead of bulgur wheat to make this Jennifer Aniston salad entirely gluten-free.

    Make it Vegan/Dairy-Free: For a vegan/dairy-free salad, either leave out the feta cheese, or replace it with your favorite vegan feta. I love the Violife Vegan Feta, it tastes and crumbles just like the real thing!

    Jennifer Aniston Salad
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    Jennifer Aniston Salad

    4 from 16 votes
    Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
    Servings

    4

    servings
    Prep time

    10

    minutes
    Cooking time

    15

    minutes
    Total time

    25

    minutes

      The viral Jennifer Aniston salad is super easy to make! Loaded with fresh ingredients – cucumber, red onion, parsley, mint, and feta – all tossed in simple lemon dressing. It’s not just healthy, but totally delicious too!

      Ingredients

      • For the bulgur wheat/quinoa:

      • 1 cup bulgur wheat or quinoa, dry

      • 2 cups water or vegetable broth

      • For the salad dressing:

      • 1/2 cup olive oil

      • 1/2 cup lemon juice

      • 1/2 teaspoon salt

      • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

      • For the salad:

      • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

      • 1 cup English cucumber, chopped

      • 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled

      • 1/2 red onion, diced

      • 1/2 cup roasted salted pistachios, roughly chopped

      • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

      • 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

      Directions

      • Add either bulgur wheat or quinoa to a small saucepan, along with water or vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook over low heat for 12-15 minutes. Once bulgur wheat or quinoa has absorbed all liquid, remove from heat and let stand covered for an additional 5 minutes. Then, remove lid and fluff with a fork.
      • While the bulgur wheat or quinoa cooks, make the salad dressing by adding all ingredients to a bowl and whisking to combine.
      • Add cooked bulgur wheat or quinoa to a large bowl, along with the remaining salad ingredients. Pour dressing over salad and toss, then either serve immediately or let chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.

      Recipe Video

      Notes

      • Leaving the salad to chill for a few hours before eating will increase the flavor!
      • Leftover salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. No need to store the dressing separately.

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