This is a perfect example of what my dinners look like these days: loads of baked sweet potatoes, greens and fresh veggies. I don't use any oil or salt and yet the whole meal ends up being so flavourful and delicious I can hardly believe it! My secret? Lemon or lime juice and herbs and spices!  Feel free to add a pinch of Himalayan salt if you want to, but I am JUST SAYIN: I don't use any when I make this. I also used to think I HAD to use oil to get my potatoes just right, but I was wrong! I have learned that if you bake them on parchment paper and spray them with a bit of lemon or lime juice (this adds flavour too) they will turn out perfectly crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside - exactly how I love them. You might be thinking: "But Emily - those aren't sweet potatoes because they aren't orange!" Well, my friend, they actually are! Sweet potatoes come in many varieties. There are white ones (my favourite), orange ones, purple ones, and all kinds of variations in skin colour, flavour and more. Also, yams and sweet potatoes are NOT the same! Go figure.




In case you didn't know - I eat a whole foods, plant based, high carb diet. What the heck does that actually MEAN? Basically I just eat a lot of fruit, vegetables and whole grains. I also enjoy a bit of nuts, seeds, beans, tofu, and super foods like cacao, coconut oil, spirulina, maca, and more. And I eat as much as I freaking want, because why restrict foods that are good for me!? I have always loved eating huge amounts, and this diet allows me to do that with only positive effects. I am strong, healthy and happy! The key to a healthy diet is simply whole foods, lots of fruits and veggies, and eating enough for you. If you think you're full after a meal like this but then craving a donut later... you should eat more of this! I notice that when I eat as much as I desire throughout my day, I don't crave richer foods later on. But when I don't eat enough, I start thinking about how good some greasy vegan burgers would taste. In those cases I just stuff my face with a giant smoothie or a huge plate of something like this recipe and my mind is back to normal. It is simply about fuelling your body with what it needs. Your brain is an organ, and your diet and lifestyle affect it like any other organ. If you suffer from chronic anger, depression or stress - check out what your diet, sleep schedule and exercise regime look like. I am no doctor but it seems like common sense that eating well can improve these mental (i.e. physical) problems. For example, ADHD is correlated with high processed sugar consumption. I could give countless examples of a psychological disorder being related to poor diet and lack of exercise. Again, I have no certification in nutrition or medicine, but the data speaks for itself. Of course sometimes a healthy lifestyle will not solve all your problems, but the evidence is there that is can solve quite a few. Check out documentaries like Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days, and SuperJuice Me! to learn more about this. And if you are into books read Eat To Live by Joel Fuhrman. Let thy food be thy medicine!

SWEET POTATO FRIES with GARDEN SALAD + SWEET CORN

Wedges:
2 sweet potatoes
1 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 lemon or lime

Salad:
3 cups swiss chard leaves
1/2 cup sweet corn 
1/2 cup sliced tomatoes
1 thinly slice shallot
1 lemon or lime
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Make the wedges: preheat your oven to 420 degrees. Slice the potatoes into wedges, circles, or whatever shape you like. I don't peel them. Put the slices into a large bowl and dump on the herbs, spices and then spray on the lemon or lime juice. Shake it all up until they are evenly coated. Bake on parchment paper for 15 minutes, then flip them all and bake until they are lightly browned. I usually just stick a fork in one and bite it to see when they are done. 

Make the salad: toss everything together and spray on the lemon or lime juice! Yum!

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