Kara Lydon | The Foodie Dietitian Blog

Easy Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac

February 1st, 2018 | Posted in Entree | 38 comments

Ultra hearty and satisfying, this Easy Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac is the perfect game day meal, just in time for the Super Bowl! I’ve kind of been liking my Instant Pot lately. As evidenced by my last recipe for Easy Vegetarian Chili. I took that chili recipe and modified it to make it heartier…and cheesier. Enter CHILI MAC!

For the 60-second video on how to make this recipe, watch the video below!

I haven’t had anything remotely close to chili mac since I was a kid and my grandmother used to make Hungarian goulash. I remember not caring for it that much but chili mac is 238309x better. We’ve eaten it twice in the last few weeks now (the joys of recipe testing) and have loved every bite.Before intuitive eating, I probably would have had some thoughts or beliefs about this dish. Like chili AND…

30 Best One Pot Meals

January 26th, 2018 | Posted in Entree, Recipes | 2 comments

Whether it’s the slow-cooker, the Instant Pot, or a beloved old skillet, one-pot meals can save the day. Make dinnertime a breeze with one of these nourishing 30 Best One Pot Meals.

Butternut Squash and Kale Slow Cooker Lasagna via The Foodie DietitianInstant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup via The Wandering RD

Slow Cooker Green Chile via Treble in the Kitchen

Crockpot Minestrone Soup via Kroll’s Korner

Easy Coconut Curry via Fannetastic FoodOne-Pan Burrito Bowls via How to Eat

One-Pot Chicken with Olives and Mushrooms via Teaspoon of Spice

20-Minute Stuffed Pepper Soup via Create Kids Club

Slow Cooker Greek Baked Beans via The Foodie DietitianOne-Skillet Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes via Homemade Nutrition

Instant Pot Creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Soup via Bite of Health

Lentils with Sausage and Kale via Living Well Kitchen

Spicy Coconut Quinoa and Black Beans with Pineapple via The Joy of EatingChicken & Kale White…

5 Reasons Why Diets Don’t Work

January 25th, 2018 | Posted in Intuitive Eating | 18 comments

With a new year comes the media feeding you new reasons to diet. Well this dietitian is here to explain 5 scientific reasons why diets don’t work. It’s January, which means it’s national dieting month. Which means, you’re probably being bombarded with the promises of a better life tied to the size of your body.

But there are SO many problems with dieting (and by dieting I mean ANY form of restriction, not just programs that call themselves diets, and yes, that includes cleanses and “lifestyle programs”). And I’m here today to explain why diets don’t work and why they are so freaking problematic.

But before I do that, let me just say that I can totally appreciate the allure of dieting. Diet programs have the best professional marketers. It’s no wonder they are a $67 billion industry. They profit off of the notion that you are not good enough as…

Easy Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili

January 22nd, 2018 | Posted in Entree, Recipes | 6 comments

A delicious way to eat chili in no time. This easy instant pot vegetarian chili is about to blow your mind. Chili is definitely comfort food to me. Especially when it’s slathered with cheese and Greek yogurt and tortilla chips.

And I need all the comfort food I can get right now. It hasn’t exactly been the smoothest start to the year for me. A new health diagnosis that has me back in the PT office and bad news about my new office lease for my private practice that I was super psyched about. Needless to say, I’ve had to take some time to just allow myself to feel blah these past couple weeks. In the past, I probably would’ve powered through and not let myself feel sad but last night I told Steve I just need to wallow in my grief after I called him Jack Pearson for trying to…

Vegetarian Pad See Ew

January 18th, 2018 | Posted in Entree | 24 comments

Who needs Thai takeout when you can make your own dish in the same amount of time? This Vegetarian Pad See Ew dish is the perfect recipe for an easy weeknight dinner. This post is sponsored by Mann’s Fresh Vegetables. Thanks for supporting the brands that help make TFD possible. As always, opinions are my own!

I’ve had a few people ask me for nutrition recommendations for the new year as the volume on diet culture is set at an all time high during the month of January. My nutrition recommendations for the new year are the same for all year round. You do not need to diet. You do not need to detox. Or to reset. Or to start a program. Or a lifestyle. All of those words are code for diet.

And guess what? Our bodies have innate detox systems built into them. Our liver and our kidneys are…

A New Way to Think About Self Care (Mindful Monday)

January 15th, 2018 | Posted in MindfulMonday, Self-Care | 6 comments

Getting caught up in all the pictures of green juices and spa retreats and massages on Instagram and feeling overwhelmed by self care? I’ve got a new way to think about self care that will help you feel excited about self care and not shameful. This post was sponsored by the Florida Department of Citrus. Thanks for supporting the brands and organizations that help make TFD possible! As always, opinions are my own.

I think we have a bit of a self care identity crisis on our hands.

Self care is kind of trendy right now. Everyone is telling you to be kind to yourself, to take care of yourself, and if you can just nail self care, all your problems will be solved.

You start to think well if I can just master this self care thing like I see on Instagram and drink all the green juice and…

Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts Naan Pizza

January 11th, 2018 | Posted in Appetizer, Entree, Recipes | 32 comments

Looking for a quick and easy way to make pizza at home? Try my butternut squash and Brussels sprouts naan pizza! Perfect for a veggie lovers pizza night.Naan pizza is basically the next best thing to sliced bread.

Naan bread is delicious but not just at your local Indian restaurant. It’s amazing as a convenient go-to, no-fuss pizza crust. No pre-bake, no kneading, no pulverizing a cauliflower. Just straight up bread that you can use as pizza crust. Pretty genius if you ask me.I discovered naan pizzas last year with my grilled hemp pesto peach flatbread pizza but have been searching for the perfect comeback recipe for naan bread pizzas and I think I found it. Butternut squash and Brussels sprout pizza. Which could also be renamed Kara’s Two Favorite Winter Vegetables Naan Pizza.

I love Brussels and butternut squash this time of year. I just roast ’em and then…