Exhale
The official blog of the Lung Institute.
Lung Healthy Spring Brunch Recipes
The air is beginning to warm, and the flowers are starting to bloom. It’s time to enjoy all that spring has to offer, including delicious recipes. Many people will be spending time in the kitchen cooking. If you have a chronic lung disease, having a gathering might seem difficult. However, with these easy and healthy recipes, you’ll be able to enjoy your celebration. With your health in mind, you can breathe easy with these lung healthy spring brunch recipes.
Raspberry Lemonade
Packed with vitamin C and natural fiber, this specialty drink recipe will hydrate you with plenty of flavor. Because raspberries are full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories and contain high levels of various vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, folate, calcium and carotinoids, raspberries are a great choice for people with lung disease.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh or frozen raspberry purée, strained
- Ice cubes
Preparation
- In a bowl, whisk 2 cups water with the lemon juice, sugar and raspberry purée until the sugar is dissolved. Fill 4 glasses half-full with ice. Pour the lemonade over the ice to chill it, or chill mixture in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
Egg and Sweet Potato Scramble
Brunch isn’t complete without scrambled eggs. With this twist on the classic recipe, you’ll enjoy the protein and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals of eggs, iron-rich spinach, and the nutritious value of sweet potatoes, which contain thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, low sodium and vitamins A, B5 and B6.
Ingredients
- 8 eggs
- 1/3 cup milk (or non-dairy milk substitute)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 pound total), peeled, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 1 green onion, sliced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Fresh flat leaf Italian parsley
Directions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cumin, salt and pepper; set aside.
- In a large skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add sweet potato and green onion. Cook, stirring occasionally until potatoes are lightly browned and just tender, about 8 minutes. Add spinach. Cook until slightly wilted, about 1 minute.
- Pour egg mixture over potato mixture in skillet. Cook, without stirring, until mixture begins to set on bottom and around edges. Lift and fold partially cooked egg mixture so the uncooked portion flows underneath. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes or until egg mixture is cooked through but still glossy and moist. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Remove from heat and serve at once.
Lavender Infused Summer Fruit Salad
Infused with lavender and sweetened with honey, this fruit salad recipe is a dessert packed with nutrition. Your sweet tooth is sure to be satisfied.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 3/4 teaspoon dried lavender
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 peach, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
- 1 nectarine, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
- 1 large plum, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup blackberries
- 3/4 cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon small whole mint leaves
Preparation
- Combine honey, 1/3 cup water, lavender, pepper, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until honey has dissolved. Remove from heat, and cover; let steep 10–15 minutes or until room temperature. Strain into a serving bowl; discard lavender and stir in lime juice.
- Add peach, nectarine, and plum slices to honey mixture, and toss well. Add berries and mint, and toss gently to combine. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled. Serve.
Note: If fresh fruit isn’t available, it’s fine to use frozen fruit.
Success in Many Forms
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important for everyone, especially someone with a chronic lung disease. We hope you enjoy these lung healthy spring brunch recipes. Even during celebrations, choosing and cooking healthy foods can help you stay on the right track to better health. In combination with diet, alternative treatments such a cellular therapy could also help improve your quality of life. If you or a loved one has a chronic lung disease and would like more information about cellular therapy at the Lung Institute, contact us today by calling (800) 729-3065.
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