By Molly Patrick
Jul 10, 2021,
Meet the plant based couple: Melinda and Jeff
I had the chance to chat with artist Melinda and her trauma surgeon husband Jeff recently. They are an inspirational plant based couple, and I was honored to connect with them.
They had over a decade of experience eating plant based but still faced struggles cooking at home. They were tired of eating out and relying on processed vegan foods.
Fast forward to Melinda and Jeff discovering Clean Food Dirty Girl. Together, they have found joy in our Meal Plans and love cooking together. Jeff’s cholesterol has markedly decreased, and he was able to stop all cholesterol medication after fully embracing a whole-food plant-based diet.
Melinda loves the vibrant colors of the Meal Plan ingredients and can’t believe how much she loves cooking after so many years of disliking it.
Here’s what you will walk away with after watching our chat with the plant based couple:
- Whole food plant based eating is for men, too!
- How whole-food plant-based eating can support heart health.
- The best tool to get you from hating to cook to loving it.
“Jeff and I have always been interested in health and wellness, but we haven’t always eaten healthy. Jeff was an elite athlete in college, and I was a dancer. We’ve always been physically active, even after he shifted to working as a surgeon, and I began working as a consultant and artist. When we met I was an unhealthy vegetarian who ate a lot of sugar, dairy, and processed foods. He was a big meat eater. We ate out a lot.
Melinda Abrams
Jeff’s high cholesterol (really high!) inspired us to do some research and make different food choices. The research and data were what got us started, but feeling dramatically better is what keeps us making healthy choices. That, and the super delicious recipes and Meal Plans from Clean Food Dirty Girl!”
Closed captioning available.
Have you made a lifestyle change with your partner? What challenges have you faced as a plant based couple? We would love to hear about it in the comments below!
Ingredients
Instant Pot Ingredients
- 1½ cups uncooked quinoa (285 g)
- 1 cup red onion, diced (130 g)
- 1¾ cups water (415 ml)
- ½ cup parsley, chopped (10 g)
- ¼ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- 6-8 cloves roasted garlic, finely chopped (see link to recipe below)
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- 2½ tablespoons lemon juice (zest before juicing)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (about 5 turns)
Stove Top Ingredients
- 1½ cups uncooked quinoa (285 g)
- 1 cup red onion, diced (130 g)
- 3 cups water (710 ml)
- ½ cup parsley, chopped (10 g)
- ¼ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- 6-8 cloves roasted garlic, finely chopped (see link to recipe below)
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- 2½ tablespoons lemon juice (zest before juicing)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (about 5 turns)
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse with water. Tap the strainer against the sink to remove as much excess water as possible. Set aside for now.
- Press the sauté setting on your Instant Pot (IP) and heat the inner pot for 2 minutes. Add the quinoa and onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until the quinoa is lightly toasted and fragrant and the onion is soft. There should be enough excess liquid from the onions to prevent sticking, but if necessary, you can add a bit of water.
- Turn the IP off, add the water, parsley, and red pepper flakes and stir. Lock the lid into place, making sure the nozzle is in the sealing position. Use the manual setting and set the timer for 6 minutes. Use the natural release method when the timer goes off.
- After all the pressure has been released from the pot, take the lid off and add the roasted garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Fluff the quinoa with with a fork to incorporate the ingredients.
Stove Top Instructions
- Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse with water. Tap the strainer against the sink and remove as much excess water as possible. Set aside for now.
- Heat a pot over medium heat for 2 minutes, then add the quinoa and onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until the quinoa is lightly toasted and fragrant and the onion is soft. There should be enough excess liquid from the onions to prevent anything from sticking to the pot, but if necessary, you can add a bit of water.
- Add the water, parsley, and red pepper flakes and stir. Bring the water to a boil, then immediately turn the heat down to super low and cover the pot with a lid.
- Gently simmer for 20-25 minutes, until all the water is absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy and soft.
- When quinoa is done cooking, turn off the heat, remove the lid from the pot and add the roasted garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Fluff the quinoa with a fork to incorporate the ingredients.
Notes
Wishing you a happy week. May it be filled with supporting your loved ones.
Xo
Molly
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