holding a piece of banana bark

We Tried the Viral TikTok Banana Bark and We’re Absolutely Making It Again

By Samantha Schwab / January 16, 2024 / Comments Off on We Tried the Viral TikTok Banana Bark and We’re Absolutely Making It Again

With 58 million views on TikTok alone, frozen bananas have been taking the internet by storm. There’s thousands of recipes for chocolate peanut butter banana bites, banana “nice cream,” and tons and tons of Diana’s Bananas copycats. This “banana bark” originally created by Chanel Eats GF felt a little bit less fussy, so it caught…

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We Tried 5 Hummus Brands And This Is The Best One

By Samantha Schwab / January 13, 2024 / Comments Off on We Tried 5 Hummus Brands And This Is The Best One

Hummus is one of our favorite plant-based dips — it’s healthy, high in fiber and protein, and incredibly versatile. We love eating hummus with raw veggies and pita or adding it to grain bowls and sandwiches for its creamy texture. And, call us crazy, but we’ve even leaned into the dessert hummus trend, devouring the…

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grain bowl with kimchi

This Is The Best Grain Bowl I’ve Ever Made And It’s Officially a Go-To Meal

By Samantha Schwab / January 6, 2024 / Comments Off on This Is The Best Grain Bowl I’ve Ever Made And It’s Officially a Go-To Meal

If you’re wondering what to meal prep this Sunday, look no further. This kimchi brown rice bowl by Love and Lemons hits all of the points for a weeknight dinner; it’s healthy, comes together quickly, and, despite being vegan, is actually quite filling. This grain bowl recipe has been on my weekly rotation for years…

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viral snicker date bites on a plate

I Tried The Viral “Snickers” Stuffed Dates and I Can’t Stop Making Them

By Samantha Schwab / December 11, 2023 / Comments Off on I Tried The Viral “Snickers” Stuffed Dates and I Can’t Stop Making Them

While we hate to admit it, TikTok is actually a goldmine when it comes to finding delicious and healthy recipes. The social media platform has introduced us to blended baked oats, cottage cheese ice cream, feta eggs, and now “snickers” stuffed dates. This better-for-you version is salty and sweet and truly tastes just like the…

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vegan seafood on a plate with vegetables rice and lemons

Vegan Seafood Is On The Rise, But Is It Healthy? Experts Weigh In.

By Samantha Schwab / November 22, 2023 / Comments Off on Vegan Seafood Is On The Rise, But Is It Healthy? Experts Weigh In.

It’s no secret that vegan meat substitutes have been exploding over the past several years. While tofu, seitan, and tempeh have always been available as plant-based proteins, now you can get faux beef, bacon, charcuterie, you name it! So, it’s only natural that vegan seafood would follow. According to Whole Foods’ annual market forecast, trend…

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bowls of miracle berries

Are The Viral Miracle Berries on TikTok Actually Healthy? Experts Weigh In.

By Samantha Schwab / November 8, 2023 / Comments Off on Are The Viral Miracle Berries on TikTok Actually Healthy? Experts Weigh In.

With the leaves turning and temps dropping, it’s official: summer is over. While we mourn the end of the warm weather, it’s also a time to sadly say goodbye to all of our favorite delectable summer fruits. True, the grocery store is still stocked with any fruit you can imagine. Craving a watermelon in December?…

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Apple Crisp Baked Apple

8 Apple Recipes to Make After You Go Picking

By Samantha Schwab / September 27, 2023 /

Wondering what to do with all those apples after apple picking, or just looking for an excuse to make lots of apple things? These recipes offer some delicious inspiration.

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woman checking her skin looking unhappy

Can Refined Sugar Harm Your Skin? We Asked Experts To Weigh In

By Samantha Schwab / August 22, 2023 / Comments Off on Can Refined Sugar Harm Your Skin? We Asked Experts To Weigh In

It’s no secret that the American diet is too sugar heavy. With sugar hiding under so many different names in the grocery store — dextrose, maltose, and molasses, just to name a few — a high-sugar diet almost feels unavoidable. We already know that sugar has negative health effects, from diabetes and high blood pressure…

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Fruit Kvass

7 Immune-Boosting Mocktails to Make This Summer

By Samantha Schwab / August 2, 2023 / Comments Off on 7 Immune-Boosting Mocktails to Make This Summer

With such blissful summer weather, it’s easy not to have a care in the world — especially when you have a cold drink in hand. Healthy habits can easily be derailed when summer staples are (literally) on the table. We don’t know about you, but we find it nearly impossible to resist a refreshing beverage…

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woman checking food label

What Are ‘Natural Flavors’ And Are They Actually Natural?

By Samantha Schwab / July 10, 2023 / Comments Off on What Are ‘Natural Flavors’ And Are They Actually Natural?

After salt, water, and sugar, ‘natural flavor’ is the next most common ingredient listed on food labels, but do we really even understand what it is? Aside from improving taste, there are a number of reasons food brands add flavorings to their products. The most common is to reintroduce flavor and freshness, which is often…

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whisking matcha powder

We Tried 5 Matcha Powders — Here’s The Best Brand to Buy

By Samantha Schwab / June 21, 2023 / Comments Off on We Tried 5 Matcha Powders — Here’s The Best Brand to Buy

Whether it’s mixed into delicious treats or enjoyed in its purest form, we love matcha here at Clean Plates. The powdered green tea is typically regarded as a gentler source of caffeine and is chock-full of health benefits; it is incredibly rich in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Of course,…

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Green Soup 

7 Veggie-Packed Soups Perfect for Spring

By Samantha Schwab / April 25, 2023 / Comments Off on 7 Veggie-Packed Soups Perfect for Spring

Winter is behind us and we can bid farewell to the repetitiveness of root vegetables. With spring in full swing, we’re rejoicing in seeing new colors and flavors on our plates and in our bowls. But, what’s the best way to highlight all of these seasonal veggies? In our humble opinion, the answer is soup.…

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