Recent | Fresh n' Lean

California Farmers Lead the Nation

Posted on August 11, 2018 by Ysabel Montemayor, RD

California is home to an abundance of hardworking farmers and is the nation’s leader in agriculture. In fact, California farmers grow over one-third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the country’s fruits. Surrounded by... Continue Reading

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Nicecream

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Nina Gheihman

Who doesn’t love ice cream? What if I told you there is a way to eat ice cream all day, even for breakfast, and stray trim and healthy? Sounds like a gimmick, I know, but... Continue Reading

How to Add a Pop of Color to Your Diet

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Jennifer Le

The alarm has gone off, and it’s time for a reality check. Ideally, you had an extra ten minutes for your meditation or yoga sequence, but in reality, you’ve waltzed down the hallway, robe half... Continue Reading

“Wine” Not? Red Wine May Have Health Benefits

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Ysabel Montemayor, RD

What Are They "Wine"-ing About? You may want to grab a glass of red wine during your next happy hour. Several studies claim that moderate red wine consumption may reap heart-healthy benefits. Mediterranean countries who... Continue Reading

Is Peanut Butter Vegan?

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Cara Usher

If you’re wondering whether or not peanut butter is vegan, you’ve come to the right place. The easy answer is, yes. Peanut butter is vegan. But sometimes it’s not that clear-cut. There are a lot... Continue Reading

Time-Tested Food Advice From Your Grandmother

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Nina Gheihman

Grandmothers hold a lot of wisdom. We may not see it when we’re young, but while they are old—fashioned in some ways, they are often right about many things. This is especially true when it... Continue Reading

Weekly Wine Pairing – What to Drink with This Week’s Menu

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Camille Berry

This week's menu brings exotic flavors inspired by cuisines across the globe. It sets the table for simple yet compelling wine pairings which will help highlight each dish's finer points. Here are our must-try wine... Continue Reading

Vegan Guide to Hosting 4th of July Party

Your Ultimate Guide to Hosting a 4th of July Party

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Jennifer Le

Cue the fireworks, cocktails, and skewers! With 4th of July just around the corner, sparklers won’t be the only thing making noise this year. Every holiday, crowds gather around the block for parties and BBQ’s... Continue Reading

Fill Your Grill on 4th of July

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Ysabel Montemayor, RD

Red, White, and Food! The weather isn’t the only thing hot this summer. Put on some Red, White, and Blue and fire up the grill before watching the night sky sparkle. What to Fill Your... Continue Reading

The Real Reasons: This Fat vs That Fat

Posted on June 19, 2018 by Ysabel Montemayor, RD

All hail the avocado! When it comes to fatty foods, you might wonder why avocados are praised and ice cream is criticized. It's time to clear the air and talk about “The Real Reasons” why... Continue Reading

Is Honey Vegan?

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Cara Usher

Veganism can become complicated depending on how seriously you take it. The rules are different from one dietary vegan to the next, and these restrictions change dramatically for lifestyle vegans. These moving goalposts can make... Continue Reading

artificial, vegan leather in different colors

What is Vegan Leather?

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Cara Usher

For those who want to be purists about their veganism, there's the issue of leather. What’s normally a staple in the fashion world suddenly becomes off limits if you want to go beyond dietary veganism.... Continue Reading

Are Oreos Vegan?

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Cara Usher

Oreos are those delicious chocolate cookie sandwiches with creamy “stuffing” packed in them. There’s been a long-held belief in the vegan community that Oreos are vegan-friendly, but the question is whether or not the beloved... Continue Reading

Top 10 Most Organic-Eating Cities

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Jennifer Le

You may find yourself asking about, or better yet, aggressively berating your best girlfriends on their food choices. You call yourself queen when it comes to all of the latest and greatest in nutritional facts... Continue Reading

The Real Reasons: Going Dairy-Free

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Fresh n' Lean

There are a lot of diet plans, old and new. We want to take some time to explore the health options out there. The Real Reasons is a series designed to help you navigate the maze and... Continue Reading

Why Low Isn’t Always Good for You

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Fresh n' Lean

When we think of diets, we often imagine a huge list of “Don’ts.” Don’t eat this. Don’t drink that. Stay away from those. Steer clear of these. We're actually not fans of being restrictive. Turns... Continue Reading

wheat, barley, and rye bunches on wooden background

The Real Reasons, Part 1: Going Gluten-Free

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Ysabel Montemayor, RD

Presidents’ Favorite Foods

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Jennifer Le

The thought might not have crossed your mind as much as that ice cream sundae from your favorite restaurant, but just like us, our nation’s leaders day-dreamed about food. Menus at the White House have... Continue Reading

The 7 Worst Fad Diets in History

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Fresh n' Lean

So your friend is eating grapefruit for twelve days. Your co-worker insists on nothing but raw food for life. Mom’s new diet consists of cabbage soup three meals a day. And everyone seems to be... Continue Reading

Gout Diet: What You Need to Know

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Ysabel Montemayor, RD

What is Gout? Gout is a type of arthritis, joint inflammation, caused by a build-up of crystals in the joints. These crystals can form when the body is producing or retaining too much uric acid,... Continue Reading

Gluten-Free Recipes

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Cara Usher

Many believe that eating gluten-free means you have to miss out on all of your favorite foods, but nothing can be further from the truth. Gluten is a protein that’s in wheat products. It’s what... Continue Reading

Is Rice Gluten-Free?

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Leticia Garcia

Gluten-free is one of the biggest trends in the food industry right now. It can be hard to know what carbs contain gluten and which don’t. Carbs = full of gluten is not true. With... Continue Reading

What Does Tom Brady Eat?

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Fresh n' Lean

You might know Tom Brady as the amazing football god with an unstoppable arm, but he’s also a health nut. When you perform as he does, you have to be. Aside from endless drills and... Continue Reading

How to be Vegan on a Ketogenic Diet

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Fresh n' Lean

At Fresh N Lean, we specialize in vegetarian and vegan meals plans. But we also know that there is a lot of interest in ketogenic diets. We wanted to spend some time explaining how you... Continue Reading

packaged ion nutrition, fresh n' lean meal made with seasonal ingredients

Fresh and Seasonal Ingredients from Our Kitchen

Posted on September 16, 2017 by Jennifer Le

Have you ever had the feeling of wishing that the week was already over when it’s actually only Wednesday? You want to disappear, but right when you’re about to drop off the radar, everyone seems... Continue Reading

gluten free arugula pizza on wooden table

Why “Gluten-free” Isn’t Just A Fad

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Cara Usher

“Gluten free” – we hear it all the time these days, and some think it is simply a fad.We beg to differ. What some may not understand is that 1 in 133 people in the... Continue Reading

woman checking receipt after grocery shopping

15 Tips for Eating Healthy On a Budget

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Cara Usher

Whether you are starting out in the world of eating for optimal health, or you are looking for a new eating plan, it’s always best if it doesn’t empty our wallets, right? I hear a... Continue Reading

Healthy Afternoon Snacks

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Jennifer Le

After your day has consisted of waking up before dawn to get in 5 minutes of meditation, packing to-go lunches, running through emails, and scheduling meetings, it feels like you’ve been awake forever. By the... Continue Reading

Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Leticia Garcia

Carbohydrates are mainly sugars and starches that our bodies use as energy. We’ve all heard the saying “carbs are the enemy” or you shouldn’t be eating carbs because you will gain weight. But you must... Continue Reading

7 Vegan Snack Ideas

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Cara Usher

It can be hard to think of good vegan snack ideas if you are new to the lifestyle. Whether or not you have dietary restrictions, it's hard to find snacks that are convenient, filling, and... Continue Reading