“stuffed.”

They say breakfast is essential to starting your day off right, as it should be the biggest meal of the day. Lunch is lighter, but also needs to fill you up with healthy protein and fats. About the time you start getting a little hungry, it’s nice to have something quick, healthy and delicious you can whip up in minutes. We found these smart and easy lunch/ brunch meals that accomplish just that. They can also be a quick snack in between meals too, if you’re still wanting something, but don’t want to feel bloated.

These veggie protein “bowls” can be as creative as you like with any type of vegetable you can fill with hummus, quinoa, chicken salad, tuna, shrimp, you name it! The great part is you can be vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian or a meat eater and these still work!

Eating lighter with more nutritionally dense food has helped so many aspects in our world. In addition, it alleviates the cravings for the things we try to stay away from.

Have fun with your own combinations of this bowl-style eating. The possibilities are endless!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

seeded.

Have you ever been curious about the average amount of produce each person consumes per year? We have! So what we found is a flowchart of approximately what each person eats over 12 months. We have a wide variety of plants calculated by the amount each one produces and what most people would need to grow to satisfy that need.

Think about the last time you made a vegetable soup. Most of us might start out with a mirepoix, which is onion, carrots, celery cooked in oil or butter. It’s the base for the most fabulous tasting soups! So already, we need three types of vegetables, just to start, for one meal with leftovers. From there, we might add spinach, fresh peas, some type of squash and potatoes. Then some fresh herbs, juice of one lemon and some Celtic salt to finish. For one healthy meal, that’s quite a lot of produce. Realistically, it makes sense that this is a good example of what the average person needs for a year’s worth of meals.

Due to climate and elevation, some produce produces a bigger crop than other places. Greenhouses can solve a lot of those challenges! It’s something to think about. After all, it’s a way to eat seasonally, right from your own backyard, any time you want.

XO, The Bloom TDL

(image via pinterest)

grow.

Recently, we spoke to someone who expressed their concern about the lack of fresh produce at their grocery store this winter. With the cold weather we’ve had, just imagine how hard our farmers work to bring whatever fresh vegetables and fruits to market they can. So we thought, why not grow your favorite vegetables inside the comfort of your home?! With consideration for space, these inside veggie gardens are designed to grow vertically, keeping the plants elevated to reach the maximum light, keeping your counters clutter-free. Now, that’s our kind of garden!

All sorts of lettuce, aromatics, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and squash can fit, depending on the size of the containers. You don’t want to crowd the roots, so opting for a good-sized planter for larger plants is best. Finding the brightest space in your kitchen would be an ideal area to grow your vertical garden. You can make it fun by getting your family involved, as it’s a great weekend project!

Finding the vegetables and fruits you want to grow is the easiest part. Selecting the color planters that match your kitchen is important, as is choosing the hardware to hang it from is next. There are endless planters to choose from online and your local nurseries.

Once you get your favorite seeds planted, it won’t be long before you see little seedlings sprout, developing into plants you can enjoy and create beautiful, nutritious meals with, all at arms length from your own kitchen sink!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

Bark.

Chocolate for breakfast? Why not?! This delightful, unexpectedly easy sweet treat can be made and enjoyed with just a few simple ingredients. White chocolate chips, we prefer Ghirardelli Classic White Chips, plain Greek yogurt, dried strawberries, dried blueberries, dried raspberries, toasted granola and roasted pumpkin seeds are all you’ll need for this salty, sweet combination that’ll be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth, in a healthier way!

In a glass bowl, melt down 1 1/2 cups of white chocolate chips in a microwave. Place the glass bowl in the microwave for fifteen seconds, remove and stir the chocolate, place back in the microwave for another fifteen seconds, repeating until all chocolate is all melted. No more than one minute total. Add 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt to the melted chocolate, stirring until completely mixed. On a sheet pan, place a layer of parchment paper down onto the pan. Pour the melted chocolate and yogurt mixture onto the pan, spreading it out flat, approximately 1/4 inch thick. Place sliced strawberries, blueberries, granola and the pumpkin seeds on top of the yougart mixture. We don’t list measurement for the toppings, add what you like, in the portion you prefer.

Cover baking pan with aluminum foil and place in the freezer for one hour. Once bark is solid, break into pieces and ENJOY!

Note: Milk or dark chocolate can replace the white chocolate, if you prefer. Also, fresh fruit can replace the dried fruit, if eaten within a day or two. 🍓🫐

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

sidecar.

We have discovered some of the most incredible deep fried bits of dough, with the exception of the famous Krispy Kreme, of course. If only for smell-o-vision!

These perfect gourmet doughnuts are all the rage with their perfect exterior crunch and tender moist cake inside. With too many elegany flavors to mention, we’re highlighting the top twelve for this week. They also use an organic, sustainable palm oil that gives the outside “crust” that unique texture.

We’ve tried the Butter and Salt, the gluten free Chocolate and the Old Fashion, not featured here. They delighted our tastebuds and elevated our outlook on a cleaner dessert. Although they are as delicious as they come, one cannot live on sweets alone. They are a treat every six months or so, talk about willpower!

So if you happen to be anywhere near a Sidecar doughnut location, give them a try, you won’t be dissapointed. We never are, unless regret sets in for not getting a few more of each!

Note: Call ahead to see what flavors are left for the day, they do tend to sell out.

XO, The Bloom TDL

hot chocolate.

In the blockbuster Christmas film, “The Polar Express,” they dedicate an entire scene to a very special hot chocolate. It’s served to the eager children on board this magical train, on it’s way to meet Santa Claus. It leaves an impression on your heart to witness the sheer delight on their faces, indulging in this hot freshly poured, comforting concoction.

We’re inspired by magical film so much that we thought to highlight this sweet, creamy chocolate drink here. Variety is the spice of life, so indulge in an unexpected twist on this childhood favorite!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(image via pinterest/she knows)

{ Dark CHOCOLATE 101 }

While those heart-shaped boxes of milky, cream-filled bonbons don’t qualify, recent studies show that pure dark chocolate is actually really, really good for you! That doesn’t mean you should stack a massive supply next to the remote control and settle in for the winter, but wouldn’t that be FUN!?!  But in moderation, you can enjoy the glorious taste of dark chocolate guilt-free.

LOOK FOR…

Appearance High-quality dark chocolate should have a high-gloss sheen, not a “bloomed” (blotchy, almost dusty) look.

Feel Because it starts to soften at about 97 degrees, good chocolate should melt in your hand.

Sound You should hear a solid snap when you crack off the corner of the bar, proof that it was tempered (or melted and cooled to the desired crystal structure) properly

Enjoy these irresistable selections…XO ~ Tresors De Luxe

( chocolate and jewelry…what more does a girl really need?!?)

Dark chocolate truffles rolled in bittersweet cocoa…

Rich in antioxidants, it satisfies the deepest darkest cravings…

IMAGES VIA PINTREST ;D