UA-141369524-4

Pavlova Tropical Fruit Pie

Pavlova dessert is a delicious meringue based dessert with fruit. You usually see Pavolovas piled high with berries. But a tropical twist to that can be with fruits like pineapple, kiwi, guava, bananas, mango, and cherries to make a rainbow effect as in eat-from-the-rainbow anti-inflammatory healthy.

Rainbow meringue pie recipe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can also omit the sugar in your egg-white meringue base. And instead of a traditional meringue base altogether, you can add a grit or oat pie base bottom.

Either way is a way to enjoy the tropics from home, and the healthy benefits of tropical fruits.

Loaded with Vitamin C and fiber, they also have minerals and  are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Most tropical fruits are also very juicy to quench your thirst and cooling. Instead of reaching for a beverage with calories, eat healthy tropical fruits.

What’s fun about a Pavlova is you can make it your own swirls and patterns.

Rainbow meringue pie recipe.
Print

Pavlova Tropical Fruit Meringue Pie

This is a lighter pie version with tropical fruits that are high in Vitamin C..
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Equipment

  • pie baking pan

Ingredients

  • Tropical fruits, chopped
  • Meringue (or grit pie bottom)
  • 1 15 ounce cream of coconut can

Instructions

  • For Pavolva, whip egg whites to make meringue base. Add to a pan that will be your presenting dish/pan or use a Silpat for easy transfer. Alternatively you can make a grits pie base that's quicker to bake, with grits, egg, and coconut oil that complements tropical fruit flavors. Alternatively, you can grind oats and bake them to use as the base.
  • Bake in 200°F oven until it feels solid and formed (like packed snow).
  • Decorate with fruit (dragonfruit, pineapple, passion fruit, and guava). If you want to use less fruit sugar or for a breakfast Pavlova, you can alternatively add berries and green bananas.
  • Pipe coconut cream (solid flesh of coconut)

High Fiber Food List and Surprising Facts

High fiber food helps you have a naturally gut healthy life. And if you’re fiber-maxxing these days, some foods are higher fiber in each food category.

high fiber foods printable list.

Besides this printable graphic, check out the selected list below of highest fiber foods.

…Which btw, increasing fiber may be catching on as a trend, but it not a new healthy idea. Your GI tract has always loved you and those before you for increasing fiber.

…and it has been on a nutritional label for years, but is still often overlooked.

The dietary fiber line item is under the carbs category, but indigestible, unlike carbs (that are digested).

And the indigestible fiber supports a healthy gut life.

…Where the fiber we eat comes from foods that have outer plant-based fiber, such as wheat and fruit skins.

Wheat bran and prunes are good examples of the XX in fibermaxxing, as super fiber foods.

And basically, there are two kinds of fiber that make up dietary fiber count: soluble and insoluble. 

Many plant-based foods have both, but when we think of fiber to help food passage, it’s the insoluble fiber kind that we need more of daily.

Think of insoluble fiber as a growing bigger tumbleweed in the desert.

Healthy foods are all around us.

And in the gut, that could be a wad of cabbage or popcorn moving through your body’s water channel tract.

…Or it could be other daily foods like leafy greens, nuts, lentils, beans, and plant-based foods that also have high fiber counts.

Fiber foods are usually affordable foods year-round at places like Aldi grocery stores… and you can find interesting fresh-off-the-farm grown seasonal foods at local farmers markets, such as different kinds of radishes and leafy greens.

Rainbow chard.

The common mature version of these plants generally have more fiber than say microgreens that are the baby versions, and super healthy for other reasons.

Then there are the cereal grasses with fiber, such as wheat, that can be added in your daily diet, like in a fiber healthy brownie recipe that you can make and even enjoy for breakfast.

…And another breakfast way to get in these fiber foods is from organic fruits in a smoothie.

Adding fruit skins to your blender helps you consume more fiber.

Today women are recommended to get approximately 25-30 grams, and for men, 30-38 grams of fiber.

And these are just a few high fiber food suggestions where you can rack up more gram points:

Smoothies – Fruit and veggies are good sources of fiber, and whether it’s a sweet smoothie or green smoothie, your body fiber benefits. Or a veg-fruit blend of the two like in a green mango smoothie.

…Oh, and you can make delicious dessert smoothies too (which is my favorite), like a blueberry cheesecake smoothie.

Did you know cocoa powder has 7-9 grams of fiber per ounce? That’s double or more fiber than. in a medium apple. Finding an unsweetened and natural cocoa powder (not an alkalized Dutch processed) is healthier.

…And that you can add to a chocolate fiber-y coconut chocolate smoothie.

For more healthy smoothie ideas, get the FREE smoothie guide.

Green lentils – Peas and lentils are related, but from different plants or parents. They’re like cousins to each other. And you can make  mushy peas with higher fiber via green lentils, that substitute green peas (that don’t have as much fiber).

Navy beans – The queen of high fiber beans are navy beans. Navy beans are also called pea beans (they have that in common with chickpea-garbanzo beans that also have both pea-bean in the names).

They may not be as easy for you to source as other beans, but are often found in a 15-bean bag. You can easily make this a healthy meal in a homemade bowl of turmeric soup.

And if you’re having a tough time finding these beans (vs cannellini or Great Northern beans that navy beans are often confused with), check out dry beans at places like Walmart markets that usually have a larger selection at lower prices. And you can’t go wrong with pinto beans either.

But if you’re hesitant about beans altogether, you can avoid the reason why many people sometimes stay away from the bean digestive effects…

Tip: And if that’s your bean experiences after digested, try a bag of dried beans. Soak the beans overnight or longer in a bowl of water. Absorbing the water, the beans will expand and grow in size, maybe as big as a lima bean, so add more than enough water to fully cover. Then low and slow cook the beans until soft.

Try them and note the difference for your body. Either way, it will be a different experience than canned beans.

Psyllium husk – This is one of those supplemental powders that has been around. It’s definitely an alternative, but one that often comes with additives and sugar. You can get enough fiber from your healthy food diet if you try.

…So maybe challenge yourself to get enough fiber from foods? Because then you’re eating more plant-based foods that also offer vitamins, minerals, and anti-inflammatory body benefits. Just a thought.

Artichoke – This a prebiotic food that feeds good bacteria (good for a gut baby). The common globe artichokes look more like pretty green roses with the concentric petals.

You’ve probably also heard of Jerusalem artichokes… that are tubers (like water chestnuts or potatoes) and not related to those artichokes. They actually look more like potatoes on the outside. But that’s okay if you get confused between the two, as both are fiber healthy.

Both artichoke types have prebiotic fiber (inulin) that feeds good bacteria, found also in asparagus, chicory root, garlic, bananas, alliums (e.g. onions and garlic).

Passion fruit – The passion fruit is also passionate in fiber with about 25 grams per cup compared to 8 grams in berries like raspberries, that are also considered high fiber fruits.

But passion fruit is great for people who don’t love sweet fruits, but if you do, you can pair with other tropical fruits in a smoothie, like sweet dragon fruit, pineapple, or kiwi that are easier to source. Or add in to coconut.

Avocados – You can find avocados on so many healthy lists, but as for fiber, it’s also a winner! It’s higher than many fruits. So add the superfruit in your smoothies, dips, and smears. You can try with coffee that’s a laxative, in a 2xx morning avocado coffee smoothie. 🥑 And then grow a little avocado plant from seed.

Prunes – These are dried plums that are good snacks that have balanced soluble and insoluble fiber. Plus you’re eating the skins that are mostly insoluble fiber (reason for daily fiber) and the flesh or pulp is soluble.

And they taste consistent. Because you probably remember the plum tastes from in season vs. off season where they can be sweet or sour.

For prunes, the natural fruit sugar in them act as laxatives. They make great home snacks (and not so much take-a-long-snacks). And you can try adding to your cooking, like pairing with meat if you eat.

Wheat bran – A wheat kernel has bran (outer layer), germ (inner seed) and endosperm (middle layer). Whole wheat flour has all, but the bran has the higher insoluble fiber, like most skins.

Flour is also more processed. But you can easily add wheat bran into your bakes like a whole grain roll or daily biscuit. You can also get this in your fortified cereals if you don’t like to bake.

Barley – Getting both soluble and insoluble fiber, barley has both like prunes.

To prepare, it’s easier than dry rice. It’s closer to quinoa where you can dry toast for a minute (optional), and then cook in water until soft.

It’s a good alternative to rice or oats. It’s a healthy ancient grain like buckwheat and amaranth where you can add a little into your bakes.

…That makes this ‘lil home baker happy. 😊

Virgin Berry Tea Mocktail Drink – Mother’s Day

Virgin berry tea is a mocktail drink that can be made delicious for a special Mother’s Day drink.

Virgin berry tea mocktail drink for special Mother's Day.

Shaken, not stirred, you can easily make a mocktail drink like this with your Magic Bullet blender recipes and brunch waffles. You can shake the ingredients over your shoulder and this will create a smooth frothy tea beverage like this virgin berry tea drink that all ages can enjoy.

This goes well with at a brunch with berry lavender tea scone, berry shortbread no-bake recipe, blueberry cheesecake, lemon strawberry trifle, Belgian waffles, and even cardamom cookies (…that could be the card for mom?).

Happy Mother’s Day!

Btw, when my mom was with us on earth, she spent most of her working career as a dressmaker, so this light pink and purple color berry tea celebrates her life well and fits into the 2026 Met Gala’s Costume Art theme she would’ve liked. She never ate desserts with sugar, but had plenty of fruit.

…Oh, and if your mom is more a Mint Julep Kentucky Derby type, then you can try this Virgin Mint Julep tea drink anytime of day.

Print

Mother's Day Virgin Hibiscus Berry Mocktail Drink

This is a virgin pink and lavender celebratory and festive mocktail drink with healthy notes that any mom would love! The drink checks the boxes for the service and quality time love language mom as she kicks up her feet to sip on this special mocktail that can be made into a cocktail.
Course beverage
Cuisine American
Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Equipment

  • martini strainer or other strainer

Ingredients

  • blueberry tea
  • hibiscus tea
  • can of coconut cream (or heavy cream)
  • blueberries and strawberries
  • lavender tea bag

Instructions

  • Reserve the thickest part of the coconut cream. Then mix the thinner part of the cream to make a milk consistency that will be used for blending.
  • Combine brewed blueberry tea and hibiscus tea and milk consistency cream. Shake up and strain to create the lavender purple color layer. Optional: add berries to this layer if you wish.
  • Freeze the first layer.
  • Repeat the second step but omit the blueberry tea to make the pink color layer as red and white make pink. Optional: add berries to this layer if you wish.
  • Freeze the second layer.
  • Add the thick coconut cream to the top. Add a little of the milk consistency cream to make the thickness of choice.
  • Decorate with dried hibiscus and lavender tea leaves, and/or fresh fruit.
  • Enjoy and watch the drink change colors!

Virgin Blue Curacao Drink – Healthy and Light

Virgin blue curaçao drink is a light beverage that reminds me of the tropics and warmer poolside and beach weather, that seems to drift earlier and earlier. Or maybe, spring break that’s more of a calendar planned event.

virgin blue curaçao light healthy mocktail beverage drink.

The virgin drink is a citrusy sweet vibe that you can infuse with coconut water, pineapple juice (and orange juice).

Or you can give a tropical boost with passionfruit (less sweet), mango (more sweet), or both.

Fun fact: coconut water comes from baby coconuts and coconut milk comes from mature coconuts. And you can make your own homemade coconut milk from mature coconuts.

Because coconut water comes from baby coconuts, it has young, pure tastes… (a lot like when we were young coconuts 🥥). And it’s a hydrating water with electrolyte (minerals) that will help boost. It’s definitely a healthy substitute, instead of sodas.

To make the healthy blue virgin drink, blue spirulina is added as a super healthy antioxidant (anti-inflammatory) food. It’s also a natural blue food color that will give the turquoise blue in the virgin blue curaçao drink.

I first discovered the ingredient in a smoothie bowl that was called the Mermaid bowl. And it turned heads. It turned my head. Never thought a smoothie without a mermaid could do that. 🧜‍♀️

And you can source the blue spirulina ingredient online. It’s much easier now than it was 5+ years ago, when it wasn’t as common an ingredient.

You can also use butterfly pea tea, but it will give you more of a greenish hue, because it’s lighter and less concentrated. Whereas the blue spirulina is more concentrated and you want to use very little… maybe less than a pinch, but I wouldn’t touch the powder with your fingers.

Also, you don’t want to wear white in case it ends up on you, and then you can end up with a light blue or tie-dye blue and white shirt. 👕

But the azure blue spirulina color is amazing and the healthy benefits too, so the ingredient is worth the fun effort. 💙🩵

For 5 ounce drinks or larger, you want to add about 1/8 tsp (or just a wee bit of the powder that you carefully portion out that’s hard to measure).

An easy way: What you can do is dip your smallest teaspoon you have and tap it back in the bag. And then use what’s left on the teaspoon and stir.

That’s actually the first method. But it won’t dissolve the blue spirulina powder completely…

virgin blue curaçao refreshing mocktail drink.

So the second technique, is shaking. You can do this with a Magic Bullet blender capsule. Or any kind of shaker…where you shake over your shoulder like a champ.

Either way will do the job.

But I like the Magic Bullet because it’s easy and one less tool cup to have to rinse and clean.

Then when it’s fully mixed up, pour in your drinking glass.

You can add a little seltzer water or club soda if you want to give a fizzy mocktail finish. And of course, a zhugh like orange zest or coconut shavings… and voila!

virgin blue curaçao drink ingredients is coconut water, blue spirulina powder, juice, and regular or seltzer water.

This is one Virgin Blue Curaçao ocean-inspiring drink that’ll have you dreaming. 🌊 Curacao btw comes from the Spanish word that means heart ❤️💙 If you like this, you may like a light no-cream (but delicious) Virgin Pina Colada. 🧉Or a virgin pretty in pink mango blueberry mocktail. 💕

Print

Virgin Blue Curacao Beverage

This is a healthy and refreshing virgin blue curaçao mocktail beverage that can be enjoyed by all ages.
Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

  • 1/8 tsp blue spirulina powder
  • 5 oz pineapple and orange juice combined
  • 2 oz coconut water
  • 1 oz water or seltzer water
  • shredded coconut and orange zest zhugh (optional)

Instructions

  • Stir in spirulina powder to juice and coconut water.
  • Shake in a Magic Bullet blender capsule or in a shaker.
  • Add additional water, or fizzy water.
  • Zhugh with coconut, orange zest, and/or cherry on top.

Anti-Inflammatory Recipes – Get FREE Guide

Anti-inflammatory recipes help you practice daily meal prep and healthy eating habits, that pay off in your long run toward longevity. Below are  recipe links from this blog to inspire your year, no matter what season you’re in. To your anti-inflammatory life! 🎉

anti-inflammatory recipes.

Because an anti-inflammatory diet helps protect against inflammation in the body (skin, joints, teeth, vital organs) that are health warning signs.

And preventing inflammation flare-ups help protect against and prevent chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases that are still among the highest causes of mortality.

Chronic inflammation is linked to tell-tale body signs that can also lead toward certain cancers and cognitive decline.

And type 2 diabetes (or lifestyle diabetes) is the one of the fastest growing diseases on our planet. No matter what genes you were bestowed, anti-inflammatory habits help fight against what’s stacked up against you in the  environment that you don’t have control over.

You can read about my inflammatory journey signs and preventative anti-inflammatory lifestyle ways that dodged flareups.

Anti-inflammatory foods were and are a leading source of prevention, where anti-inflammatory spices are a big deal. Adding more spice in your life and to your diet helps support better health and longevity.

And sticking to an anti-inflammatory diet is also a remedy from following Diet Culture of some kind. It’s a long-term healthy eating strategy.

Where whole and minimally processed healthy food and ingredients in meals and bakes you eat are at the core of anti-inflammatory foods and your health eating. Anti-inflammatory foods are real (nutritious) foods that the body recognizes as healthy

And this includes plant-based foods, so eating plant-forward helps the body. And foods on a Mediterranean diet, which is a type of anti-inflammatory diet that includes healthy proteins and healthy fats, such as wild fishes and olive oil.

👉 To learn more, grab my FREE Anti-Inflammatory Diet Food Guide with printable food lists to help you make more healthy decisions for grocery food shopping. And get insights about an anti-inflammatory diet in the free guide.

And here on these pages of Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle (Winter/Spring edition), you’ll discover simple and easy recipes you can make weekly. And get inspiration about anti-inflammatory living and seasonal foods you can lean into (that are more abundant and coins per ounce). To turn the pages forward/backward, click on the arrows at the lower corners of the pages. ↪

Turmeric Soup

Mushy Peas

Healthy Chicken Salad

Salmon Salad (No-Mayonnaise)

Radish Salad

Sourdough Bagel

Healthy Mayonnaise  (Egg yolks)

One of my favorite meals is weekend brunch. 😊 You can make your own no-butter bearnaise for a lower-calorie and anti-inflammatory-infused olive oil brunch sauce to pair with delicious savory meals like Eggs Benedict (with French bistro vibes🍽️). You can make this recipe and other healthy-conscious (but always tasty) waffle iron recipes.

And low-sugar desserts where the sweet tooth list is growing (variety is the spice of life! 🍥)

🍴You can also get more anti-inflammatory recipes and food ideas for the table from the Summer/Autumn anti-inflammatory food recipes. 🥄 That for some may be the season you’re celebrating and living out (literally or figuratively!).