Cinco de Mayo may be over but that’s no reason you can’t enjoy a Latin themed dinner almost any night.  With warmer weather (finally!) here, light, fresh, vibrant meals are on top of my list for family dinners. Cauliflower offers a lighter option for traditional dishes with rice and you can even use it in Pizza, mashed “potatoes,” spicy “wings,” poppers, soup, roasted or grilled, the possibilities are endless!  As a member of the important white color family in the micronutrient-rich rainbow, cauliflower is a great choice for immune supportive, cancer preventive and natural liver detoxification promoting nutrients.  Read more about the benefits of eating the rainbow here.

Beans and rice are a staple of a balanced vegetarian diet. Brown rice can be a healthy whole grain choice, rounding out the amino acid, protein building blocks with beans.  But we don’t necessarily need to eat this traditional pair in the same meal.  A well-rounded, varied diet with many plant-based foods can give your body what it needs.  Read more about how plant-based eaters can get the proper balance of nutrients for optimal health and wellness.   Beyond fiber and protein, black beans also provide us with important antioxidants, like anthocyanin, the same phytonutrient responsible for the purplish/blueish hue found in blueberries, purple cabbage and grapes.