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We’re always in search of cozy comfort foods for crisp winter evenings, but you know what’s even better? When the recipe takes less than an hour, start to finish. Here’s a recipe for healthy vegetarian chili that you can customize with your favorite beans. Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books you used to read as a child? Well here’s a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-inspired veggie chili. The adventure: Customizing it with your favorite beans! And once your selections are made and the veggies are chopped, this recipe should take about 40 minutes to prepare, from beginning to satisfying end. Vegetarian Chili Feeds the Crowds Here’s the recipe, which is fully customizable based on bean preferences and can also be adapted to slow cooking.

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There is no shortage of sweet treats during the holiday season, making it hard to keep our health on track. With all of the delicious aromas mixed into holiday cookies -- vanilla, peppermint, molasses, ginger, pecans and chocolate --the dessert table could use a healthy makeover that doesn’t compromise flavor. We challenged Caitlin Bus, Registered Dietitian with Renown Healthy Heart Program, to come up with a healthier cookie recipe to share with your family and friends this holiday season. These vegan thumbprint cookies are soft, slightly chewy, nutty and sweet, made with almond flour, a hint of maple flavor and topped with raspberry jam (or the jam of your choice). Even better, these holiday cookies require just eight simple, healthy ingredients and are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, oil-free and optionally sugar-free too!

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There are a few simple ways to encourage healthy aging that can translate to an improved quality of life. Here are some expert tips.  What does healthy aging mean to you? If you’re like most people, you’re looking forward to removing the negative from your life — negative energy, thoughts, people and activities that don’t contribute to your best life.  And while that’s a noble goal, too often we forget about ways to strengthen the positive parts of our lives. Expert Herbert “Buddy” Coard III, Ed.D, psychologist with Renown Behavioral Health, provides us with five positive behaviors to focus on to improve happiness and life satisfaction. Healthy Aging in 5 Easy Steps: 1. Connect – Make connections with friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. When you build strong connections, they can help enrich your life with new experiences and opportunities. Besides, having a support system to call upon when you need a favor is valuable as you age. 2. Be Active – Make time to get moving and work those muscles. Being active can include walking, practicing yoga, playing a game of pickleball or dancing. Exercise makes you feel good and keeps you health. Pick a physical activity that you enjoy, and don’t make excuses. Not only will being active help you build stronger muscles, it also helps you build strong connections with others. If you need a workout buddy, Meetup is a great resource to find like-minded people that share common exercise goals. 3. Take Notice – Be mindful and become more curious. Like a child, see the wonder and beauty of the world. Notice the things around you — the weather, the landscape, the mood and feelings of the people around you. By taking notice, it’s easier to learn to appreciate the things that matter. 4. Keep Learning – We never stop learning. Keep trying something new — a new course you’ve always wanted to try or a more challenging task someone has solicited for your help. Challenges keep us on our toes and increase our confidence and excitement in our day. OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno), brings diverse educational and social opportunities to active older adult learners (50+). EPIC (Educational Programs Inspiring the Community), offers a divers curriculum ranging from art classes to Accelerated training certificate courses. 5. Give – Be generous with your time, your knowledge and your talents by giving to friends, family and even strangers. Some easy ways to give is to show thankfulness, smile at people and volunteer. Sharing of yourself to a wider audience gives you a greater reward than just doing things for yourself. Nevada Volunteers Volunteer at Renown Health Practice these five tips to improve happiness and quality of life at any age.

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Meet your new go-to healthy chili recipe for fall. Made to share or freeze the leftovers for an easy lunch or dinner. There’s nothing like homemade chili to warm you up on those cold winter nights. With just the right amount of comforting flavors and garden-fresh veggies, this crowd-pleasing favorite could prove to be your go-to healthy comfort meal.

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Pumpkin spice is a wonderful reminder of all things fall and cozy. This tasty pumpkin bread recipe is a favorite of both adults and kids. It incorporates fragrant fall spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and clove into a moist and surprisingly healthy bread. We replace regular flour with ground gluten-free whole grain oats courtesy of a blender. You won’t even notice our healthy substitutions of nonfat Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce.  You’ll not only love the taste of this pumpkin bread, but also the wonderful aroma as it bakes filling your house with a mouthwatering scent. This generous recipe makes two loaves, one to keep and another to share with a friend or neighbor.

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Who knew that pumpkin bread can be nutritious and delicious? Caitlin Bus, Registered Dietitian with the Renown Healthy Heart Program shares her expertise on how to make a healthy and hearty pumpkin bread with homemade oat flour and natural substitutes for sugar. Give it a try!

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Bruschetta Chicken Bake is quick, affordable, and super easy to prepare on a busy schedule. The best part is that you don’t even have to pre-cook the chicken! Instead, serve this meal with a bagged salad and a crusty loaf of bread, and you’ll have a healthy, homemade dinner on the table in no time!

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Often, when we think of Italian dishes, we think of pasta. In fact, there are more than 600 different pasta shapes, each holding the task of delivering Italy’s flavors.  While we all crave pasta, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a cup of pasta shells contains about 166 calories, 6 grams of protein and 32 grams of carbohydrates. When you add all the other comforting ingredients that comes with cooking Italian, it’s nearly impossible to keep it healthy.  Caitlin Bus, Registered Dietitian with the Renown Healthy Heart Program shares a healthier version of an Italian favorite –deconstructed manicotti using zucchini as a substitute for noodles. If you’re looking for a healthier Italian dish and wondering how to use a spiralizer to turn vegetables into noodles, this recipe is for you.

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Looking for the most delicious plant-based, protein-rich salad to add to your recipe repertoire? Look no further. We asked our registered dietitian, Caitlin Bus, with Renown Healthy Heart Program for the one recipe that all her class participants rave about. Caitlin’s popular recipe offers a bounty of fiber and protein. This dish is a showstopper because quinoa is a healthy grain. A cup contains 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, compared to 4 grams of protein and only 1 gram of fiber in a cup of white rice. With the perfect amount of citrus flavor combined with corn, bell pepper, and beans this dietitian approved quinoa salad will be a staple for all occasions. Enjoy!

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If you’re looking for an easy cake recipe for those last-minute gatherings, give this no-fuss lemon cake a try. By keeping yellow cake mix and lemon jello on-hand, you’ll only need to buy fresh lemons to quickly whip up this tart and tasty treat!

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A warm, comforting bowl of soup is always perfect for a winter meal. The creamy potatoes, tender chicken and vegetables in this recipe will make this a new favorite. Even better - you can make this recipe ahead in your slow cooker and freeze the leftovers.

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Celebrate African Heritage and Health Week with this healthy and comforting vegan stew. Exotic spices and nutty peanuts make the flavor profile of this dish unforgettable and crave-worthy. Serve with brown rice for a complete and filling meal!

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