{Be Nourished} Roasted Cauliflower

Sometimes I am exhausted at the end of the day, but I don’t want to go to bed yet.  I want to vedge on something.  I am really good at vedging.  I am also really good at tricking my brain into thinking I am indulging in a salty treat, when I’m actually nourishing it with nutritents! (shhhh, don’t tell!) Haha!  Take that brain!  One of my past somewhat (read: regular) indulgences was popcorn.  When I got a hankering for popcorn, I would eat a whole bag of microwavey, buttery yumminess.

Then one day, I read the ingredients.  Woah.  Lots of artificial stuff, and most brands contain trans fat and tons of calories.

On top of that, the bags are coated with PFC’s (“chemicals that have been shown to suppress immune function in children and cause cancer in animals: source), and the fumes given off by the artificial butter (diacetyl) while the popcorn pops are widely considered toxic (Discovery Health).  It’s considered “safe” to consume microwave popcorn, but it’s also considered “safe” to eat meat that eats GMO corn instead of grass, is pumped full of antibiotics and hormones, is exposed to lethal levels of methane, and gets no exercise……so you be the judge there.

What to do?  What to do!???!?!?!?!  Solution: replace popcorn with roasted cauliflower!

Benefits of cauliflower: super high in vitamin C.  Also contains a decent amount of vitamin K, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, fiber, and manganese and a dash of other B vitamins, magnesium, and iron.

Benefits of olive oil: high in unsaturated fats, which are vital and heart healthy, no trans fat, and it’s delicious

 

Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower
a healthy drizzle of olive oil
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
a dash (or 5) of paprika

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450F.
Break cauliflower into bite size pieces and place into a large bowl (this can be done in advance)
Drizzle with olive oil (don’t drench, just lightly coat)
Stir cauliflower until the olive oil is evenly distributed.
Place on a large cookie sheet and season with garlic salt, pepper, and a dash of paprika for color and a little spice.
Roast in oven for about 40 minutes, stirring halfway, and watching closely at the end.  The cauliflower should be lightly browned when done.
Add to a bowl and eat like popcorn!

 

Fun things to add:

garlic (roast with the cauliflower)

Red pepper (slice and toss with cauliflower but add halfway to oven)

Goat cheese (crumble some in after the cauliflower is done)