Bring Comfort Foods Home

Time moves at a different, slower pace these days. It's February, nearly a year since we've all settled into home. Reflecting on the challenges and uncertainties brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, I find myself focusing on the gift of home. Step back a moment and I think you'll see it too. Why not commemorate this final month of winter by filling our homes with the food equivalent of a hug—comfort food! Nutritious and satisfying soups, stews, casseroles, nourish bowls, hearty salads, and healthy treats are my favorite way to dish up food love in my home. Time with family, cooking, sharing nourishing plant-based meals that fill our bodies, hearts, and souls with the feeling of home. February's seasonal produce is made for comfort food—root vegetables, like parsnips, sweet potatoes, and beets; cruciferous veggies like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale and cabbage; and definitely citrus! Bring on beans, lentils, and whole grain farro and barley for added flavor and a punch of fiber, protein, and texture. Comfort foods are a great way to keep up the momentum of January's plant-based challenge. I'll keep you inspired with more plant-powered recipes this month featuring comfort foods with seasonal goodness to bring into your home, starting with my favorite recipe (pictured above) for Savory Lentil Pie with Sage Pastry, which will be featured on the blog this month.

With Love and Gratitude,

Eating with the seasons means fruits and veg taste their best! Just because it's winter, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on the beauty of produce. Read more about how to power up on winter produce here.

The great thing about comfort foods is they're often one-pot meals, a balanced mix of the goodness of plant-protein, slow-digesting carbs, and veggies. Dive in with 20 One-Dish Plant-Based Meals Under 500 Calories.

Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RD is The Plant-Powered Dietitian. She is an award-winning food and nutrition journalist based in Ojai, California. Sharon speaks, writes, and blogs about her passion for delicious, healthful, sustainable plant-based foods every day. Check out her three books, and don't forget to follow Sharon on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and her blog. If you'd like to work with Sharon, please contact her here.

I'm thrilled to announce my new book California Vegan, which celebrates the plant-based eating style in California. No matter where you live, you can gain new inspiration with my recipes, stories, and photography. Preorder it now!

Cook along with me in my Instagram Live Plant-Based Cooking S how! Live from my kitchen in Ojai every Thursday at 3 PST @SharonPalmerRD.

I'm sharing my top tips on eating well this year by plantifying your diet at CNN.

Wondering about the new Dietary Guidelines? Check out my take in this great article at US News.