Wellness in Every Beautiful, Bite

I love beautiful food, we really do eat with our eyes first. Enjoying a beautiful meal is of my life’s great pleasures.

I have deepened my love and appreciation for food over the years while trying my best to educate myself along my personal wellness journey. I have found that if I know why I am eating certain foods and the benefits for my overall wellness, I am more engaged and purposeful with choosing recipes for me and my family. I feel like my mindset is immediately upgraded when I know I am eating food that powers my body on a cellular level. When it tastes delicious and looks divine, all the better!

This dish is a perfect example of what I love and draws me in. Fennel has become a favorite vegetable over the last couple of years. I roast it, put it in soups or sauté it with other vegetables. Blood oranges are stunning, but they also have the nutrients we need to keep our immune systems strong.

Let’s break down the health benefits of this salad:

Fennel:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Weight Management
• Heart health with potassium and folate

Blood Orange:

• Vitamin C
• VItamin A
• Manganese
• Dietary fiber 

Garlic

• Reduce cholesterol levels
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Boosts your immune system 

Green Olives

• Antioxidants
• Reduce chronic inflammation
• Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids

Olive Oil

• Lowers risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce blood pressure
• High levels of vitamin and mineral content

Lemon

• Alkaline the body
• Improves digestive health
• Weight control to flush out toxins

Dill

• Heart health flavonoids
• Can reduce LDL cholesterol
• Offers digestive support

Sea Salt

• Reduces fluid retention
• Balances electrolytes
• Nourishes adrenal glands

Recipe courtesy of Always Hungry Fats

Salad

• 2 blood oranges peeled or cut into wedges
• 1 large fennel sliced thinly
• 2 cloves of garlic sliced thinly
• Handful of green pitted olives sliced into wedges or wheels
• 1table spoon of extra virgin olive oil
• Shaved grana padano cheese

Dressing

• 1 small lemon juiced
• 2 table spoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Handful of chopped dill
• Sea salt
• Cracked pepper

Directions

• Place the blood oranges and fennel into a large bowl and set aside
• Place all of your dressing ingredients into a separate bowl with the exception of the dill and mix well. Set aside
• Fry your garlic and olives in a table spoon of olive oil for 3 minutes, make sure the heat is medium/low so the garlic doesn’t burn
• Remove garlic and olives from pan and add to your bowl of dressing
• Pour your dressing over the blood oranges and fennel, mix well
• Season with sea salt, cracked black pepper, and finish with dill and grana padano cheese