I love pasta but I would usually feel bloated and uncomfortable after eating it anyway due to the gluten in the wheat, so it’s not a huge sacrifice to switch to gluten free pasta made from a whole grain. I’ve tried so many different GF pastas, fancy ones, cheap ones, and I keep returning back to the only one I like — Trader Joe’s organic brown rice penne. Here is a foolproof way to cook gluten free pasta.

Here’s a really quick and delicious recipe I developed using chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. I love them so much I literally could eat them every day! Served with a whole grain rice and lentil crackers and coconut (or other) yogurt, this is a high-protein and very satisfying meal.

I used to love crab cakes and salmon cakes but since I went through treatment for cancer I’ve transitioned into a mainly vegan and gluten-free anti-inflammatory diet. I’m always looking for ways to get a lot of vegan protein in my foods without a lot of fat. Chickpeas/garbanzo beans (I use these terms interchangeably) are always a good choice for me. They have about 14.5 grams of protein in one cup (cooked) and 268 calories, plus they are high in fiber, at 12.5 grams dietary fiber per cup. I love their versatility, their creaminess when pureed. These veggie cakes feature mashed garbanzo beans and peas and are stuffed with more grated veggies. They’re nutrient dense and delicious.

There are so many good things about these raw vegan summer rolls, I just don’t know where to begin! Riceberry is a whole grain rice with a purplish color and it can be found in Thailand. I found these riceberry rice papers so I had to try them out, even though I’ve never successfully rolled a summer roll in rice paper. It’s a little tricky but my rolling got a little better with practice. Notice the beautiful mauve color of the rice paper. But ordinary white rice paper will work just fine too.

Rendang is a curry popular in Indonesia and Malaysia and contains lots of immune-boosting favorites like garlic, ginger, shallot, turmeric lemongrass and kaffir lime. Although it’s popular to use beef in rendang, my version is vegan and uses kabocha instead. It is anti-inflammatory, alkaline and an excellent anti-cancer dish.

KEFIR HACK: Probiotics are most effective when consumed as food —rather than in pill form. Coconut water kefir is my favorite probiotic drink and it’s easy to make here in the tropics or at home. Raw organic coconut water kefir can be prohibitively expensive when purchased at a top grade natural foods market but this hack is cheap and can be done while traveling. The probiotics that emerge with fermentation make kefir excellent for gut problems and for boosting immunity, something we all need more of during this Coronavirus scare!

Zucchini banana bread made with coconut flour and almond flour and sweetened with erythritol. It is gluten-free and paleo friendly, plus it's fairly anti-inflammatory and nutrient dense so it's an excellent choice for cancer patients and survivors.

Red cabbage is the new kale! Raw, it’s a gorgeous color, crunchy, slightly peppery. When cooked it becomes sweeter and hearty. It is nutrient-rich, has anti-inflammatory properties, and helps promote healthy gut and bones.

Green beans are in season pretty much all year round in Southern California and it’s easy to find high quality organic green beans. I started using this recipe when I was following a vegan diet. This recipe has an Indian influence but it’s extremely versatile. It can be a scrumptious side dish to accompany a roasted chicken, kebabs, fried rice or a curry. Buy fresh organic dried coconut flakes, unsweetened, and raw organic cashews.

Minestrone is a thick vegetable soup of Italian origin, usually with beans and pasta. My version is vegetable dense and omits the pasta and the parmesan rind traditionally used to add umami. Instead, I add fresh basil pistou (like pesto but thinner and without cheese) to bump up the flavor. It’s vegan but the flavors and texture are hearty and you won’t feel you’re missing anything.

I don’t normally eat mac ‘n cheese but many people told me it was the only thing they could eat after chemotherapy treatments. So when I started chemo for my breast cancer I decided to come up with at least a healthier version of mac ‘n cheese. This would be considered an occasional treat as part of an anti-cancer diet. My version uses gluten free pasta and grass-fed organic cheese and milk.

You don’t have to wait for the holidays to make these super yum nutrient rich KETO PUMPKIN NUT MUFFINS. They are grain free and sugar free but nobody notices or cares because they’re so good! I added low FODMAP and paleo hacks too! Needless to say I will be making these a lot in the next few months as part of my anti-inflammatory anti-cancer diet.