May 2025 - Plant-Based Updates from Melissa
🍊What's Growing, What's Cooking, and a New Mocktail 🍊
At last, summery temps have arrived! I had just felt confident to plant pansies outside with the chilly nights. It’s so nice to wear shorts again!
Have You Tried Growing Microgreens?
Inside, I am growing chia microgreens - yes, like the Chia Pets of the 80’s! I just tossed chia seeds on top of potting soil and sprinkled with a little water twice a day - placing them near a sunny Western-facing window. A perfect topping for avocado toast, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and stir-fries.
Microgreens are the tender shoots of plants - just a few inches in height,, they’re nutrient dense and a fun project.
Here is a great how-to guide from Penn State extension, including what you need to know about food safety with microgreens.
I also tried growing red bell peppers from seeds, but they didn’t sprout so am now trying leaf lettuce.
Thank you for reading over the past few years: this is my 50th newsletter!
Light Orange Tangerine Mocktail
Made with tangerine ginger Topo Chico and light orange juice beverage- simple and not too sweet!
Trending Recipes
15-Minute Thai Peanut Tempeh with Rice
Fresh Tomato Lime Salad Dressing with Cilantro - perfect for fresh spring salads!
Crispy Baked Cauliflower Bites
Mother’s Day Ideas
30 Best Vegan Mother's Day Recipe Ideas
Time-Saving Idea Using AI
Have you wondered how you say AI could help you save time at home? I just tried asking Chat GPT to change my handwritten grocery list into text. Not only did it read my very messy handwriting pretty accurately, but also grouped things into categories like produce and pantry.
I copied this into a note on my phone so it is easy to edit and access from the store.
Then I asked it to plan two meals with this food on this list. This time, the meals that it came up with where a bit strange, but it's probably because it was a small shopping list.
Featured In The Media
The #1 Protein You Should Be Eating More of on the Mediterranean Diet, According to Dietitians -Eating Well
14 Recipes With a Can of Chickpeas (That Aren’t Hummus) - Clean Plates
8 Ways to Get Protein Without Eating Meat - Yahoo
RD Newsletters
Kathryn Piper (The Age-Defying Dietitian) specializes in evidence-based nutrition and wellness strategies to support healthy aging. Her focus is on empowering individuals to look and feel their best at any age. Sign up for her newsletter for valuable insights and tips on maintaining vitality, enhancing skin health, and aging gracefully through the power of nutrition.
Check out her Simple Fruit-Infused Water Recipes
Mandy Tyler (Nutrition By Mandy) focuses on sharing easy to implement sports nutrition strategies to support optimal performance. Make sure to sign-up for her weekly sports nutrition newsletter for valuable sports nutrition tips and insights to boost performance.
Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?
Learn more about how nutrition can affect sleep from this podcast episode: What to Eat for Better Sleep. Hosted by Joan Salge Blake PhD, RD, this interview with author Jessica Cording, Registered Dietitian provides practical tips for food choices to promote a good night’s sleep.
Snacking: please take a moment to answer this poll:
🌍April Presentations
Volunteering: A Recipe for Success - for the International Affiliates of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Do You Want to Blog? How a DIY Food Blogger Navigates Technology - For the Nutrition Informatics Dietetic Practice Group
What I’m reading/watching
On Netflix: A funny look into a young woman’s life in Nanuvet, Canada: North of North
Referral link: Sawari Ride Service
Have you tried a private ride service to the airport? It’s a fantastic feeling to be picked up at your home and driven right to the airport (or wherever else you’re headed).
It saves all of the hassle of driving to a parking lot, waiting for the shuttle to take you to the gate - and especially when you are coming home and the shuttle either has to come to the airport to get you, is full and they have to send another, or needs to keep circling the airport to fill up the shuttle!
So if you’re in Bucks County PA, I highly recommend Sawari Ride Service. They are reliable, with consistent drivers, new, clean vehicles, and reasonable prices. (Sawari has also just expanded to San Francisco)
Please use my referral code when you set up your account in their app “MA5826” - I’ll receive a discount on my next ride, and then you’ll have your own referral code you can share with friends.
Shopping day!
Are you growing any spring vegetables? Let me know in the comments!