Earth, Plants & Power

07/20/2026

It’s been a while, but we’ve been extremely busy moving from Colorado to Maine! Yesterday we took a break from unpacking & organizing to do the quintessential Maine activity - pick blueberries! A lovely couple I befriended when I was out for a run has a big field of blueberry bushes (& some very friendly chickens) a mile down the road.
$25 for 5lbs! A steal for this superfood chockfull of antioxidants! Fun fact - Maine provides 99% of fresh blueberries in the US! We actually have a couple of blueberry low bushes in our yard. 🫐
Blueberry muffins, smoothies, pancakes, crisp etc., etc. What should I make first?? 😋 🌱 💪

05/14/2026

Life has been extremely chaotic with our move approaching, our boys graduating, & dive season in full swing, etc. We need to keep our bodies optimally fueled. A few new protein-packed recipes we’ve been enjoying are quick & easy to throw together: Street Corn Bowls, Vegan Egg Salad, & Marry Me Chickpeas. (Recipes in the comments.)
Yet another recent study found that those who eat the most plant protein have lower overall cancer risk. Researchers tracked ~200K participants over ~11 years. Compared to those who ate the least plant protein, people with the highest intake had significantly lower overall cancer risk.
Plant-based foods have compounds that animal proteins don’t - fiber, antioxidants, & polyphenols. AND artery-clogging dietary cholesterol is found only in animal products. Heart disease is the #1 killer in the US & globally. (Study abstract in the comments.)❤️ 🌱 💪

04/07/2026

Soup season never ends in my book. 🍜 I made this creamy vegetable soup this weekend, and it was a hit. It's hearty, chock-full of veggies, and made creamy with cashews. Definitely a keeper! 🌱 💪 (Recipe in the comments)

04/03/2026

“Dietary patterns higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal products have been associated with lower coronary heart disease risk and more favorable coronary heart disease risk factors and metabolome profiles.” -American Heart Association 🌱 💪

American Heart Association bucks Trump administration line to suggest prioritizing plant-based protein over meat

03/28/2026

Now that spring has sprung & the temps are rising, I’m cooling down & fueling up with this delicious Orange Julius Smoothie! 🍊 It’s one of Hank’s favorite recovery drinks after diving practice.
Throw in a blender:
Ice
1/2 cup plant-based milk
1/3 cup OJ
1/2 frozen banana 🍌
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
Scoop of vanilla protein powder
Sq**rt or two of honey or agave syrup
1 tsp each of flax, chia, & h**p seeds for additional protein, fiber, & omega 3’s
Add water to desired consistency.
Blend & enjoy! 🌱 💪

03/15/2026

Scrumptious Vegan Monster Cookies! 🍪 Eating a couple before I head out for a snowy run.
Recipe in the comments. 🌱 💪

03/08/2026

I’m nuts over nuts! 🥜
I try to incorporate raw, unsalted ones (especially walnuts) into my diet daily.
Why??
Nuts:
Reduce inflammation & oxidative stress.
Improve blood sugar control.
Support a healthy gut.
Aid in brain health. 🧠
Provide a source of protein & healthy fats.
May reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, especially stroke.
For a deeper dive into the Predimed study and for a couple of recipes see the comments. 🌱 💪

03/01/2026

Eat plants, fight cancer!
Case in point, my lifelong meat & potatoes dad switched to whole food plant based eating last February to keep multiple myeloma at bay. He was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma in 2017. He was fortunate to be enrolled in a trial at Dana Farber in Boston, and went through 2 years of treatment (including chemo.) While there is no cure for multiple myeloma, we were thrilled that he was considered in remission afterwards.
But over the past couple of years his m-spike (a blood marker for the disease) was creeping up again. I did some research & came across a trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. Their Nutrivention Study has been investigating how whole food/plant-based eating & supplements like omega-3’s, flax seed, & curcumin can slow the progression of multiple myeloma, & they’re seeing VERY promising results.
This convinced my dad to jump on the plant based bandwagon. His m-spike is holding steady so far, he’s lost weight, chronic back pain is alleviated, and after having a quadruple bypass in 2023, we know this way of eating supports his ticker best. ❤️
While he will have to fight this awful blood cancer from returning for the rest of his life, my dad has the power of plants on his side! 🌱 💪

Study shows lower risk for multiple myeloma as well as pancreatic, prostate, breast and kidney cancers

02/10/2026

Grateful to my mom & dad for sharing this piece from PBS with me. I’m a plant-based geek so I immediately purchased the book. Thought I’d share in case anyone else is interested…
🌱 💪

In his new book “Meat,” Bruce Friedrich argues that the way we produce meat is unsustainable — for the climate, the planet and public health — and that the solution isn’t eating less of it, but making it differently. From lab-grown meat to plant-based alternatives, he says a food revolutio...

02/01/2026

You can’t beat baby bok choy! 🥬
I made this tofu soba noodle dish last night & it was a winner! 😋
Bok choy benefits:
-A cruciferous veggie containing potential anti-cancer compounds glucosinolates & isothiocyanates.
-Contains calcium, vitamin K, phosphorus, & magnesium for bone health. 🦴
-Folate & B6 helps prevent the build up of homocysteine which damages blood vessels & increase risk of heart disease & stroke. ❤️
-Terrific source of vitamin A & beta carotene for eye health. 👁️
Recipe & articles in the comment section. 🌱 💪