Recipes

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Sweet Potato Pancakes
This recipe is one of my new favorites for pancakes - because sometimes you just want pancakes, right?! Or if you're more of a waffle person (to be honest I love them but haven't made them in forever) I suspect you can use this batter for that too! Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A (from beta-carotene) and potassium, which support immune function, vision, and heart health.

Ingredients:
  • 2 Sweet Potato (small)
  • 4 Egg (whisked)
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 2 tbsps Maple Syrup
Instructions:
  1. Peel sweet potato and dice into small cubes. Fill a saucepan with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Drop the sweet potato in and steam for 7 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain off the liquid and transfer the steamed sweet potato to a bowl and mash with a fork. 
  2. Measure out about 1/2 cup of mashed sweet potato per serving and add it to a bowl. Add in the eggs and mix well. 
  3. Melt coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, pour pancakes in the skillet, no more than 1/8-1/4 cup of batter at a time. Cook each side about 3-5 minutes or until browned. Divide pancakes onto plates and top with cinnamon and maple syrup. Enjoy!




Sheet Pan Salmon, Fennel, & Sweet Potato

Sheet Pan Salmon, Fennel, & Sweet Potato
I love having delicious sheet pan recipes on hand for this time of year! It's always busier and this is a delicious recipe that is easy to throw together. Plus it incorporate sweet potatoes which  are a fall favorite for a reason—they're packed with nutrients and health benefits! They’re an excellent source of beta-carotene, which our bodies convert into vitamin A, helping boost eye health and the immune system. They're also high in fiber, aiding digestion and helping to keep you feeling full longer.

Ingredients:
  • 2 Sweet Potato (Japanese, small, cubed)

  • 1 bulb Fennel (sliced thin)
  • 
1 Yellow Onion (large, chopped into large wedges)
  • 
1 tbsp Avocado Oil (divided)
1/2 tsp Sea Salt (divided)

  • 1 1/2 tbsps Fresh Oregano (chopped, divided)
  • 
1 lb Salmon Fillet

  • 1/2 cup Green Olives (pitted)

  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
Instructions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF (215ºC). 
  2. Place the sweet potato, fennel, and onion on a large baking sheet. Add 2/3 of the oil and season with half of the salt and half of the oregano. Toss to combine. 
  3. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. 
  4. Remove the baking sheet and add the salmon. Drizzle the salmon with the remaining oil, salt, and oregano. Return to the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness, or until cooked through. 
  5. Scatter the olives on the baking sheet and squeeze lemon juice over top of everything. Divide evenly between plates and enjoy!
 

Carrot, Chocolate Chip & Banana N' Oatmeal Bake

Carrot, Chocolate Chip & Banana N' Oatmeal Bake
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy carrots, one of nature's tastiest root veggies. The cooler weather makes them sweeter and crunchier, perfect for soups, stews, or snacks. Their bright orange color comes from beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A—a nutrient essential for eye health. So this recipe is a delicious way to get in your carrots this season!

Ingredients:
  • 1 3/4 cups Canned Coconut Milk
  • 
3 Banana (medium, ripe, mashed)

  • 1/4 cup Coconut Flour
  • 
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 
6 Carrot (medium, shredded)

  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (plus more for garnish)

  • 1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chips
Instructions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together all the ingredients until well combined. Transfer to the baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 55 minutes. 
  3. Garnish with shredded coconut (optional). Slice and enjoy!

Chai Coconut Ice Cream

Chai Coconut Ice Cream
I really wanted to try this ice cream, it brings in a little bit of fall with that chai flavor and yet has the summer aspect of ice cream-plus coconut ice cream is so creamy and delicious!  

Ingredients:
  • 28 ounces coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground ceylon cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon cardamom
  • ⅛ teaspoon whole cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ cup Grade A dark maple syrup
  • 1 drop of cardamom essential oil
Instructions:
  1. If you own a large blender, blend all of the ingredients until smooth. Otherwise simply place in a large bowl and whisk well.
  2. Follow the instructions on your ice cream maker to freeze your ice cream (I always add just a couple of minutes to the time listed for coconut milk ice cream). It generally takes about 20 minutes.

Sauerkraut and Hummus Sandwich

Sauerkraut and Hummus Sandwich
Did you know that sauerkraut is actually really beneficial for your gut health? It contains a high level of probiotics, which help you have a healthy digestive system. Sauerkraut is rich in dietary fiber, which helps keep you regular and feeds the good bacteria in your gut. It also contains vitamins C and K, and antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation and support the immune system. Integrating sauerkraut into your diet can contribute significantly to maintaining a healthy gut and overall well-being. It's important to choose a sauerkraut that is from the refrigerated section of the store (or better yet homemade from a farmers market!) as that has the ability to still have the probiotic strains alive and well! 

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup Hummus (some of the ones with the lowest amounts of glyphosate are Simple Truth Organic Garlic, Good & Gather Roasted Garlic, and O Organics traditional hummus-bonus that they're all store brands!)  
  • 
1 tbsp Hemp Seeds

  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric

  • Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)

  • 2 slices Gluten-Free Bread (I love me some Schär or those baked from Farmers markets) 
  • 
1/4 cup Sauerkraut (drained)
  • 
1/2 cup Baby Spinach
Instructions:
  1. Mix together the hummus, hemp seeds, and turmeric, until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. 
  2. Scoop the hummus mixture onto one slice of bread. Add the sauerkraut and spinach on top. Close the sandwich and enjoy!
 
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Meet Leah Negrin

 
I am a bold, beautiful, sometimes timid, usually happy, essential oil, nutrition junkie. Although at 39 I feel as if I've had several careers over a lifetime (or at least sometimes when I look back at my resume that is what shines through). I've been a paralegal, an office manager, an administrative assistant, worked in commercial lending and have finally landed on nutrition.

My journey to nutrition started many years ago when my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease and food had to change for the family. From there, along my own health journey I’ve helped people not only figure out what to eat but how to do it so that it can work for them sustainably. For almost seven years I’ve been counseling people on their nutrition and weight loss journeys. 

Finally getting some sunshine in Southern California *Photo credit  Brittany Hassett 

I am knowledgeable about what purpose food serves your body and I focus on finding sustainable options when it comes to food; this also led to my love of essential oils. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop where a registered dietitian spoke about using essential oils in her practice to help her patients. I was floored. I knew that #plantsheal but I didn't realize that others in the 'conventional' medical community thought that as well!! Learning that it was possible to incorporate these magical little bottles gave me a huge sense of hope.


Alina, myself and Caitlin (oily bffs) *Photo credit Anne Negrin

 
As I learned more about these oils I was diagnosed with increased intestinal permeability or as many of us know it, leaky gut. Leaky gut has been around for quite awhile but many of us are just learning what this is or why this is even more common these days than ever before. Many issues can be related to leaky gut including autoimmune diseases. Receiving this diagnosis just led me down a path further to learn about nutrition and how to best serve my body and take care of myself.


Enjoying a vegan ice cream cone in Budapest! *Photo credit to Michelle Owen 

Since birthing our sweet baby boy at home earlier this year I’ve been incredibly passionate about helping other women too who are pregnant and new mothers with their nutrition. Eating healthy for your pregnant body and your postpartum self is a game changer for both mother and baby.

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