My boss told me in culinary school he had a project that involved him having to make dishes traditional to South Africa. After doing a bit of research on African cuisine I realized they have this awesome tendency to use peanuts in their cooking. I’ve been meaning to try a Spicy Peanut Soup but haven’t gotten around to it yet…I don’t even really like soups…

Anyways, I think most of you may already know how plants don’t have complete proteins and being on a plant-based diet means you have to listen to your body and ensure you are getting enough of everything. I will get into the whole protein thing soon but for now, I will tell you that mixing grains and legumes gives your body the full 22 amino acids that make up complete proteins.

I used chickpeas today, because they are my favorite legume ever. Who the hell…

Sweet potatoes are just spectacular. They’re obviously..sweet…but with natural sugars that are released slowly into your bloodstream, preventing the jumps in blood sugar that screws with your insulin and makes you gain weight (definitely trying these in brownies!). Not only is that little tidbit awesome, but they are high in iron AND vitamin C, meaning that it is a one-stop shop for iron consumption and absorption (see Wonderful Watercress). It also has lots of vitamin D, which helps to stave off winter blues (if you’re anything like me, you are fatigued, unmotivated, mildly depressed and always at the brink of an existential crisis this time of year due to lack of sunlight and my wonderful plant lovers). They also have magnesium, which helps calm your ass down if you are stressed; and finally, they are high in potassium (an important electrolyte to regulate heartbeat, nerve signals, and kidney function)…