Start the Year with Real, Delicious Foods

Our friends over at Bon Appétit recently launched the 2015 Food Lover's Cleanse, which is all about re-focusing on balanced, healthful, home-cooked food that tastes wonderful and makes you feel great, physically and emotionally.

That's a philosophy we can get behind, all year long. So in the spirit of the Food Lover's Cleanse, here are a few ideas for cooking your way to a happier, healthier you using some of our favorite nutritious ingredients.

An Apple (Cider Vinegar) a Day

Apple cider vinegar has become a favorite superfood for aiding digestion, clearing the sinuses, boosting energy and more. (Albert Katz swears by a tonic of Gravenstein vinegar, local honey and hot water every day.) In our recipe for Slow-Cooked Beef Bone Broth, it also helps release vital nutrients from the bones.

Tip: Your butcher should be able to provide you with beef bones. We found ours at Berkeley's Café Rouge.

Nuts about Nuts

Packed with protein, vitamins, fiber and healthy fats, nuts are a nutritious choice. And with oils, spreads, whole nuts and sweets to choose from, it's easy to work these wholesome nuggets into your diet. J. Leblanc Walnut Oil is one of our favorites for adding bold, toasty nut flavor to salads, roasted vegetables, even our morning pancakes.

Want more? Browse our Nuts about Nuts collection to discover even more ways to enjoy nuts.

A Rainbow of Rice

We love that rice is versatile, encourages us to get creative with our vegetables, and also that it comes in a range of colorful varieties, each with its own flavor profile: aromatic white, minerally red, nutty black.

Did you know? Wild rice is an entirely different species of aquatic grain. Try it tossed with that wonderful walnut oil we mentioned above in a hearty Wild Rice Salad.