Amanda Capritto, Author at Clean Plates

These Calming Drinks Will Make You So Chill

By Amanda Capritto / April 7, 2021 /

The foods we eat and the beverages we drink can make us feel energized, focused, or completely chilled out. And right now, we’re in the mood to feel cool, calm, and collected. You, too? We bring to you a few of our favorite calming drinks.

The Frozen French Fries I Always Keep in My Freezer

By Amanda Capritto / April 1, 2021 /

Here’s something we all can agree on at Clean Plates: Every once in a while, you’re going to want French fries. This is especially true if you have children, in my case, twin teenaged boys. Which is why I don’t personally ever go without french fries in my freezer. Specifically, these frozen French fries.

From Hearty Salads to Quick & Easy Dinners, Here’s What We’re Cooking This April

By Amanda Capritto / March 30, 2021 /

Vibrant salads that showcase spring produce, quick and easy dinners that let us make the most of the extra hours of daylight, and plant-forward meals that are substantial enough to fill us up — here are 10 perfect-for-April recipes.

5 Delicious Chia Seed Recipes That Aren’t Mushy at All

By Amanda Capritto / March 21, 2021 /

We really want to fully embrace chia seeds around here at Clean Plates. After all, they’re packed with protein, fiber and omega-3s. But some of us just can’t get past their tendency to make everything into a mushy mess. That’s why we’re so excited about these delicious and not-mushy-at-all chia seed recipes.

25 Protein-Packed Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

By Amanda Capritto / March 18, 2021 /

A high protein meal, in balance with some combination of fats, complex carbohydrates, and fiber, helps us stay full longer and makes us less prone to crashes and cravings. We’ve got you covered with high protein recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

What to Eat When You Have Brain Fog

By Amanda Capritto / March 9, 2021 /

Brain fog is likely a symptom of something else going on in your body. And not even a triple espresso is going to snap you out of it. Here’s what to do instead.

The 12 Recipes We’ll Be Making on Repeat This March

By Amanda Capritto / February 26, 2021 /

March is anticipation. It’s that transition month where we are so yearning for spring, warmer weather, and more hours of sunlight. We’re looking for new inspiration in the kitchen: lots of spring veggies, some citrus, and a little bit more lightness whenever possible.

Easy Meal Prep Tasks You Can Get Done in 15 Minutes or Less

By Amanda Capritto / February 19, 2021 /

Meal prep doesn’t have to be a thing you do all day, sacrificing one of your weekend days (usually Sunday, it seems). Instead, it’s more doable if you break meal prep, which can seem insurmountable, into smaller tasks.

This Tomato Sauce Is Even Better Than Rao’s

By Amanda Capritto / February 15, 2021 /

Jarred tomato sauce is so easy to mess up. Too often, it’s loaded with sugar, salt, excessive oregano (what’s up with that?) and/or other undesirable elements. I have tried so many of them, whether they’re basic grocery store brands or specialty Italian ones. I’ve long been a fan of Rao’s — and it still has a place in my pantry — but I have a new favorite.

How Long Leftover Rice Will Keep in the Fridge (and Ways to Use it Up)

By Amanda Capritto / February 11, 2021 /

Maybe you leftover rice after a night of Chinese takeout. Or maybe you like to make a bit pot of rice in the beginning of the week so you don’t have to make rice multiple times a week. Whatever the reason, it’s not uncommon to find yourself with leftover rice in the fridge. It’s also not uncommon to forget how long that rice has been there or to wonder, Is this rice still good?

What to Eat When You Really Need to Focus

By Amanda Capritto / February 9, 2021 /

You know the feeling: Staring at your computer screen, flipping back and forth between Facebook, email, and that thing you’re supposed to be working on… but not getting much work done at all. When you need help staying focused and sharp, and coffee isn’t cutting it (hello, afternoon crash and burn), certain foods, herbs, and supplements may help.

Nigella Lawson’s Roasted Chicken Is Perfect

By Amanda Capritto / February 9, 2021 /

There’s very little that’s as perfect as a perfectly roasted chicken — especially when it’s Nigella Lawson’s Slow Roasted Garlic and Lemon Chicken.

The One Thing I Do Every Week to Make Sure I Eat Lots of Veggies

By Amanda Capritto / February 3, 2021 /

Meal prep can sometimes seem like one more thing to do. Or something that you’d like to do, but you don’t think you have the time. But here’s a little secret I’ve discovered: You don’t have to meal prep everything all at once. And you don’t even have to meal prep on Sundays! I’ve been starting off my week by making a big sheet pan of roasted vegetables.

Here’s How to Start 2021 with Kindness and Mindfulness

By Amanda Capritto / December 28, 2020 /

It’s natural to feel all the feels on New Year’s Day. The holidays seem to serve up every emotion and the first day of the new year is no exception. Its arrival signals both an end and a beginning; the holidays are over, but a new, blank slate stretches out ahead of us.

How to Make the Perfect Cup of Tea

By Amanda Capritto / December 23, 2020 /

As I write this, it strikes me how much today is very much a tea kind of day. It’s Monday. It’s pouring and the wind is blowing every which way. It’s mid-afternoon, and I have barely put a dent in my to-do list. But there is always time for tea. And so I stop, and make tea — in order to better write about how to make a perfect cup of tea.

Got the Holiday Blues? Make These Healthier Cookies

By Amanda Capritto / December 10, 2020 /

Sometimes wellness mean eating the cookie — or, at least, making the cookie. I firmly believe that holiday cookies are the answer to the holiday blues. Here is a healthier take on my mom’s old-fashioned sugar cut-out cookies.

Noom vs. Weight Watchers: What’s the Difference?

By Amanda Capritto / March 10, 2020 /

Noom and WW (formerly Weight Watchers) are two trendy diets that have established their place as strongholds in the wellness and weightloss industries. These two diets are both scientifically proven to help people lose weight, though they use different approaches and focus on different aspects of healthy living.

Why You Need a Mental Health Day (and How to Take One)

By Amanda Capritto / February 26, 2020 /

Burnout is a real mental health issue. And yet many people still find it difficult to prioritize taking care of themselves by scheduling a mental health day. Here’s why you need one and how to take one.

Paleo vs. Keto Diet: How They Are Similar & Different

By Amanda Capritto / February 26, 2020 /

In this quick guide we cover what both diets are, what makes them similar and different, and which foods you can and can’t eat on each eating plan. So, whether you’re in the decision process of starting a new diet or want to learn more about these styles of eating, it’s critical to cut through the hype and dive into the truth about which diets you’re considering. Here are the basics.

What to Eat and (What to Avoid) When You’re Feeling Burned Out

By Amanda Capritto / October 31, 2019 /

Work-related stress and anxiety are at an all-time high. In fact, it’s gotten so bad that the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed burnout an official medical diagnosis. We often blame burnout on external factors, such as workload, relationships, and stressors as simple as rush hour traffic.