Curried Veggies & Coconut Quinoa: Recipe 3 of 12

Welcome to Busy Women Mealtime Makeover! Whether you are one of the lovely busy ladies participating in the makeover or just interested in taking your meals up a notch – girl, do I have some rockin’ recipes for you! From now until March 2nd, I’ll be featuring twelve new delicious makeover-friendly recipes. These recipes are from other busy women like me and you! This week, we are focusing on eating more dark, leafy greens. (And if you want to join in and get the entire makeover PDF complete with meal plans, shopping lists and recipes, videos and photos of me cooking for added support, weekly emails with additional recipes and kitchen tips and tricks and access to our online forum, you can totally start a few days late – click here and sign up!)
Now, this is awesome. I have known my friend Jen since grade school and now we are both health coaches. Totally awesome. Now, Jen lives in sunny Florida but she still enjoys the warming foods of winter. If you have a picky eater, check out Jen’s new program called  Picky Eater Transformation.
Jen, you are busy, right? How do you get a decent, healthy meal on the table? 
Am I ever busy!  To get a good meal on the table I always make sure to have a plan for the week that includes recipes that are easily reheated and make great leftovers. My husband’s daily schedule is constantly changing (we are a military family), so these types of meals get the job done.  Without a plan, I am always tempted to eat out.
Why do you make healthy, real food a priority in your life?
As a health coach, I have seen the positive effects that real, clean food can have on a person and their health.  I have also seen the negative effects that a diet of processed foods can have.  Unfortunately this happened in my own family.  I want the lives of myself, husband and son to be long and healthy.  That is all the motivation I need.
What is your favorite thing to make when it is cold outside?
I am lucky enough to live in Florida where it does not get cold very often but when it does I love to make hearty soups.  It reminds me of being home in Pennsylvania when my mother would make her homemade chicken noodle soup.
What is that one thing that busy people can do this winter to eat a little healthier?
Learn to love your crock pot.  The cold weather and lack of sunshine can leave you feeling down and without the energy to make a good meal at the end of the day.  Starting your meal in the morning before your busy day starts gives you more free time later on and a hot, healthy meal waiting for you when you are ready.
What is your favorite gadget in the kitchen?
Definitely my butcher block.  It is large enough for me cut up all my veggies at once. Prepping for dinner is a snap!
Curried Vegetables over Coconut Quinoa
Ingredients:
3/4 cup quinoa, uncooked
1 cups organic coconut milk
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
3 tbsp coconut oil
3 cloves garlic, diced
1/2 inch piece of ginger, chopped
2 tbsp curry powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 cups of veggies of your choice (Jen used carrots, cauliflower and bell peppers)
2 cups of Swiss Chard or greens of your choice
Directions:
In a small sauce pan, combine the quinoa and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat. Simmer for 15 minutes until almost all the milk is absorbed. Once the milk is absorbed, stir in the coconut.
In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger. Cook for 2 minutes. Then add the curry power, salt, pepper, veggies and greens. Cook until crisp tender. Approximately 8-10 minutes.

Thanks Jen! 
Jennifer Kaper is a Certified Health Coach. She is launching her Picky Eater Transformation program this month.  It is a program to help parents get their children to eat more healthy.  It also focuses on upgrading the recipes of children’s most commonly loved foods. Check it out!
**Check out all the Busy Women Mealtime Makeover recipes by clicking here.**