I don't have much to say here other than this soup is awesome. Super easy and, paired with this chutney, unbelievably tasty. The combination of flavors just works. Kinda spicy, kinda sweet, kinda salty, kinda tangy—you've got it all here.

This dish—in one form or another—has been on heavy rotation in my house lately. It's quick, easy, draws upon local goodies, can be made in big batches to last a few days, and my husband likes it. Wins all around.

I'm a HUGE fan of buying food in bulk. Just so we're clear, when I talk about buying in bulk, I am not referring to the 5 gallon jugs of ketchup at Costco (although go for it if that's your jam). I'm talking about getting nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruit, spices and dried beans from the bulk bins at a health food store or local grocer. I talk about the ins and outs and hows and whys of this in my upcoming End of Summer Reboot group cleanse. The long and short of it: when you buy food in bulk, you reduce waste, limit your exposure to potential toxins like BPA, and save a TON of money. Win-win-win.

There's three things you need to know about me to understand how this sangria came to fruition:

1. I don't drink cheap wine.

2. I don't like to waste anything.

3. I'm picky about my cocktails.

So I've heard that the term "Open Sesame," the command that unlocks the treasure-containing cave in the story Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves—stems from the fact that sesame pods pop open when the seeds are mature and ready to eat. Whether or not this is true, one fact remains: sesame is a super nutritious and tasty food to work into your routine.

With mac 'n' cheese on the brain, I remembered seeing Alfredo sauce made with cauliflower on Pinterest I'm a huge fan of all things cauliflower, and figured I could puree my way to some healthy and comforting mac 'n' cheese. Back at home and armed with a glass of wine, I set out to create some yumminess. The end product was epic.

So I'm trying to curb my mid-afternoon coffee and/or dark chocolate habit. At this point in the game, I'm pretty okay with my reliance on morning java, especially on the days I'm getting up at the crack-ass of dawn to teach yoga (it's reeeeeally tough to distinguish right from left at 6am with an uncaffeinated brain).

I had family in town Friday through Sunday, so while I didn't find much time to blog about my salad concoctions, I still found time to eat my greens and successfully complete 7 full days of the Salad-a-Day Challenge. Truth be told, this was not much of a challenge for me. I love to eat leafy greens in all shapes and forms—cooked, raw, chopped, blended (yes, blended—Green Smoothies!), so I typically consume at least one big salad every day.

Sick of salads? Sounds like you need some inspiration...or some Pinspiration. Yes! That same site used to plan imaginary weddings, hoard inspirational quotes and gather organization techniques you will never use can actually be utilized for something other than killing time on commercial breaks!

My husband came home from work the other day excited to share with me a new veggie he had tried at his office salad bar.

"It's a cross between a pear and a potato," he told me, but I don't know the name."

My first suggestion for the Salad-a-Day Challenge is to make your own dressing. It's a simple way to jazz things up AND keep things healthy. Many bottled dressings are laced with sugar, corn syrup, preservatives, low-quality oils and other yucky ingredients. When you make your own dressing at home, you know exactly what's going into it, and you can alter it to fit your own personal tastes.

My homemade Larabar recipe was so popular a couple weeks ago that I thought I should post another snack bar recipe—and the timing was just right. My husband and I spent last weekend up in Maine and had every intention of heading out on one of our favorite hikes on Sunday.

I've been trying to eat as much raw as possible lately, which usually translates to lots of salads. It's easy to throw a bunch of chopped raw veggies and fruits into a big bowl, toss with a killer homemade dressing, and call it a lunch or dinner.

I'm not a huge fan of meal-replacement or snack bars—most are heavily processed with junky ingredients. Even the "healthy" ones are riddled with sketchy additives, isolates, and sweeteners.

I’m Erin Holt. I’m a holistic-minded nutritionist and yoga instructor. I couple my multifaceted education with personal experience to help others achieve optimal health. Having battled health issues in the past, I have seen firsthand how high quality food, a healthy lifestyle and a good attitude can work to reverse much of the disease that plagues us.