Food Fundamentals

Two people holding a wooden crate filled with fresh, plant-based vegetables, including bell peppers, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, and garlic. The background shows lush green foliage.

So Many Ways to Shop!

This article tackles the topic of shopping for food! I recently met a new friend who shared a story that stuck with me. When she first moved from India to ...

A glass bowl overflowing with plant-based delights like raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries rests on a dark slate surface. Additional berries are scattered around it, set against a dark background with dramatic lighting highlighting the vibrant red and deep blues.

Food Fundamentals

So Many Berries!

Stefan Schielke

Berries stand out as the tastiest and most nutritious fruits of all. If I was stranded on a desert island and could pick only one food to sustain me, it ...

Slices of various citrus fruits are arranged against a white background. From left to right: lime, grapefruit, lemon, and orange. The grapefruit is shown as a halved segment while the others are in wedges—perfect for a colorful plant-based dietitians display.

Food Fundamentals

When you think of citrus fruits, what comes to mind? For most North Americans, oranges, mandarins, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are standard fare. Some adventurous citrus eaters also include ...

A smiling snowman with twig arms and a dotted line for a mouth stands proudly in the snowy landscape. Snow gently falls around it, and bushes and bare trees are visible in the background, creating a serene, plant-based winter wonderland.

Food Fundamentals

Winter Foods

Stefan Schielke

Chilly winter weather makes you crave warm, comforting foods. Winterizing your food choices can increase the variety and nutrition in your diet and make it even more healthful! Here are ...

A white plate on a rustic table holds six vegetarian appetizers with rye bread, topped with cream, thin carrot ribbons, capers, and dill. A small dish of brown sugar and glasses with light drinks are nearby. Soft, warm, blurred lights in the background add ambiance.

Food Fundamentals

So Many Holiday Appetizers

Stefan Schielke

The holiday season has arrived! For many of us, the festivities are about three things: family, fun, and food. First is family, including our “chosen family” or dear friends! If ...

A ceramic reindeer-shaped dish filled with vegan sesame-covered balls, tied with a green bow. Beside it, a small plush polar bear and scattered red and gold glittery balls lie on a wavy patterned surface.

Food Fundamentals

So Many Holiday Treats

Stefan Schielke

When you think about holidays of days gone by, what are the memories you cherish most? I remember skating, skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing. I remember reading stories, singing songs, making ...

A festive stuffed toy wearing a Santa hat and red scarf sits beside a red napkin with a ring on the table. A platter holds plant-based peanut butter cookies partly dipped in chocolate and a pile of chocolate pieces.

Food Fundamentals

Kids in the Kitchen Holiday Treats!

Stefan Schielke

Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or another holiday tradition, treats like cookies, squares and loaves are a delightful part of the season. But more than that, they bring families ...

A variety of condiment bottles and jars, including plant-based soy sauce, hoisin sauce, pesto, peanut butter, chili sauce, and spreads, are arranged in rows on a white surface. Different shapes and sizes represent various brands.

Food Fundamentals

So many Sauces

Stefan Schielke

Oh sauces, how they elevate our foods! While they seem rich and a little indulgent, when they are made from whole foods, they boost both nutrition and flavor. Sauces can ...

Two grilled onion slices with visible grill marks are placed on a white background, highlighting their cooked textures and slightly caramelized edges. These savory onions make a delightful addition to any vegetarian or plant-based dish, embracing wholesome flavors guided by dietitian insights.

Food Fundamentals

So Many Onions

Stefan Schielke

Onions are a member of the allium family, which includes onions, scallions (green onions), shallots, leeks, chives, and garlic. Onions are one of the most common food staples in households ...

Ceramic bowl filled with vibrant yellow lentil soup, garnished with fresh cilantro and a drizzle of red oil. Perfect for a vegan spread, the intricately patterned bowl rests on a decorative platter, surrounded by greenery and spices.

Food Fundamentals

Celebrating Soups and Stews

Stefan Schielke

There is something soothing about a hot soup or stew, especially during the winter months. Soups and stews are a part of the cuisine of almost every culture, so exploring ...

Various types of sweet potatoes and yams are displayed on a textured surface. The image shows purple, orange, and pale yellow varieties, both whole and sliced, perfect for any vegetarian or plant-based diet, highlighting the vibrant color contrast and variety in texture.

Food Fundamentals

So Many Sweet Potatoes

Stefan Schielke

What is your favorite way to eat sweet potatoes? I absolutely love stuffed sweet potatoes such as Southwestern Sweet Potatoes (see recipe below). I also love sweet potato wedges baked ...

A wooden crate brimming with freshly harvested beets, perfect for a vegan feast. Their deep purple and red skins, accompanied by leafy green tops, hint at nutritional richness. The roots and stems are slightly dusted with dirt, underscoring their farm-fresh appeal.

Food Fundamentals

So Many Autumn Harvest Foods

Stefan Schielke

There is nothing quite like walking through a farmers’ market surrounded by big old trees in bright hues of yellow, orange and red. The cool fresh air, the crunchy leaves ...

A ceramic dish holds a vibrant medley of small potatoes—red, purple, and yellow—perfect for any vegan feast. These smooth-textured delights are arranged in a casual, overlapping manner, making them an ideal choice for a plant-based dietitians display.

Food Fundamentals

So Many Potatoes

Stefan Schielke

Potatoes are the most popular vegetable on the planet. On average, Americans eat 126 pounds of potatoes a year. Yet, despite our love for potatoes, they are one controversial vegetable! ...

A colorful assortment of gourds and squashes in various shapes and textures, including green, orange, and yellow hues. Perfect for a dietitian-approved, plant-based display, the mix includes smooth and bumpy textures for a vibrant autumnal arrangement.

Food Fundamentals Uncategorized

All About Squash – Brenda’s Nutritional Information

Stefan Schielke

Autumn is squash season, and for many of us that means pumpkin pie and butternut squash soup. However, for the people of South and Central America, squash has served as ...

Six children wearing colorful party hats are celebrating a birthday with a delightful spread of plant-based snacks and drinks. They sit around a table filled with presents, under a Happy Birthday banner and balloons. The children are smiling and joyful as they enjoy the vegetarian feast.

Food Fundamentals

Birthday Bashes and other Plant based Parties

Stefan Schielke

So Many Kids in the Kitchen is 1 year old, and oh what a year it has been. Anu, Ava, Ella, Maxwell, Mia, and Nora have become role models for ...

A cheerful family enjoys a sunny afternoon in the park. The parents, both smiling vegan enthusiasts, are giving piggyback rides to their joyful children. The mother and daughter are on the left, while the father and son are on the right, all beaming against a lush green backdrop.

Food Fundamentals

Celebration Foods

Stefan Schielke

Happy 1st Birthday to the “So Many Cooks in the Kitchen” team! Congratulations! You made it to this milestone with SO MANY resounding successes. You are an outstanding resource for ...

Spoons filled with vibrant spices like turmeric, chili powder, mustard seeds, and peppercorns are artfully arranged on a dark surface. Surrounding them are star anise, cinnamon sticks, garlic, red chili peppers, and rosemary—a feast for any vegan or plant-based diet enthusiast.

Food Fundamentals Uncategorized

Fighting Disease with Flavorful Herbs and Spices

Stefan Schielke

The inexpensive jars of herbs and spices sitting in our cupboards have a history that is beyond extraordinary. Herbs and spices have been used for flavoring foods, and for treating ...

A person in red shorts, perhaps a vegan adventurer, leaps off a wooden dock into a calm lake. The clear sky hosts a few clouds, while a line of trees paints the background—a scene as refreshing as living plant-based.

Food Fundamentals

Keeping Cool in Hot Weather

Stefan Schielke

What is your favorite way to cool down in the hot summer sun? While jumping into a cool lake is an appealing choice, lakes are not always handy. It is ...

A white bowl filled with sliced strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and kiwi, garnished with mint leaves. This vibrant plant-based spread showcases a dietitians dream of fresh fruits. Two whole strawberries and a sliced lime rest on a wooden surface. A patterned bowl partially visible behind.

Food Fundamentals

Making the Most of Desserts

Stefan Schielke

Ah, dessert, a part of the meal we too often relish and regret all at the same time. It is little wonder when we think of the ingredients that are ...

A group of six people, including children and adults, are having a plant-based picnic on the grass. A man in the center is cutting a watermelon while others watch and smile. A basket of fresh fruit is nearby. Its a sunny day with a blue sky and scattered clouds.

Food Fundamentals

Picnic Foods

Stefan Schielke

Family picnics make for some of the best memories of all. A picnic on a sunny day brings the benefits of fresh air and sunshine. Sunshine allows us to make ...