Brussels Sprouts Sweet Potato Salad is a warm and hearty salad. Made with roasted butternut squash, sweet potatoes and shredded brussels sprouts this salad is packed with nutrition and sweet and savory flavors! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo + Vegan
I’m not sure what’s going on, but I haven’t slept through the night in weeks. I’m wide awake every night at 2 a.m and I NEVER have issues sleeping. My Mom jokes that I was the best baby ever because I would sleep all the time and they would have to wake me up to force me to eat. In adulthood, I’m the same. I need 8-10 hours of sleep or a nap otherwise I’m just a big cranky wreck.
This whole insomnia thing started after Mom left and I hate to admit this, but I think I’m scared of being alone. Why? Who knows! I’ve lived alone for longer than I’d like to admit. It dawned on me this weekend it’s because I’m sleeping with the upstairs windows open.
You see it’s been a balmy 90 degrees in Phoenix (20 degrees above normal, thanks el Nino!) but it’s in the 50’s at night so it’s that in between weather where you don’t need a/c, but without the windows open it would be stifling. Over the weekend, I caught myself imagining someone climbing into the second story of my house which is just obnoxious. My imagination really is a freak.
So anywho…I’m not sure what else could be the cause of my insomnia other than maybe the unknown of everything I’m doing in 2016. Despite that, I’m the least stressed I’ve been in more than a decade. An amazing feeling by the way! But this not sleeping thing needs to stop like pronto!
It’s hurting my brain and I’m kind of tired of this silly game. Literally and figuratively. Thanks to my obnoxious imagination I can come up with delicious recipes so at least I have that going for me. Right? Ha!
Speaking of recipes, do I have a good one for you today. You know I like simple and this Brussels Sprouts Sweet Potato Salad could not be simpler. The hardest part is prepping the veggies, but remember if you do that one time, on the weekend then your work is done all week long and you have lunch or dinner ready to go for the whole week. P.S. you can always put the kiddos to work on the prepping, it’s good for them to learn about food and helps you. A win-win!
I have to tell you, I’ve been really enjoying this Brussels Sprouts Sweet Potato Salad for lunch. I was getting tired of regular old lettuce and kale so I decided to mix things up with shaved brussels sprouts which I will definitely be doing more of (you can buy them pre-shredded at Trader Joe’s)!
Adding starchy butternut squash and sweet potato into the mix really made everything pop. This salad is sweet and savory with a tiny hint of spice and the tangy dressing brings the whole entourage together in perfect harmony. Now there goes that imagination of mine again. Soon the food will be singing!
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- 1 cup sweet potatoes, peeled & diced into 1 inch pieces
- 2 cups butternut squash, peeled & diced into 1 inch pieces
- 8 ounces brussels sprouts, shredded
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- salt & pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place butternut squash, sweet potato and brussels sprouts on baking sheet and spray with a little cooking spray then sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over vegetables and salt and pepper as desired.
- Roast vegetables 30 minutes stirring once every 10 minutes.
- While vegetables are roasting, whisk together mustard and oil in a small bowl.
- Remove vegetables from oven, toss in the dressing and serve immediately.
- Keep leftovers in the refrigerator up to a week.
What I Used For The Recipe
How do you deal with insomnia? What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever imagined?
This salad pretty much contains three of my most favorite things of all time, brussels, butternut and sweet potatoes! Love that it’s so simple and easy to make 🙂
Me too! Funny how we don’t always think about pairing things we love most together.
This looks delicious! My brother was the same kind of sleeping baby – I on the other hand neverslept . Payback means my own son never sleeps!
Haha! Sorry, had to laugh about that. Hopefully he will grow out of that.
What a great combination of food! Looks delicious! Hope your sleep gets better this week. Pinned for you! Link up your top post of the month to my #BestofBlogs linkup today on Running in a Skirt.
Thanks Julie!
have you tried cortisol manager? that helps with my insomnia. and this looks fab, as usual. LOVE LOVE!
No, but I’ll look into it. I need something to settle me down.
I’ve had a weird brussels craving lately! I love the idea of adding in sweet potatoes and mustard-yum! Thanks for linking up with us for Meatless Monday
I can eat brussels and sweet potatoes everyday!
Drink a big mug of tea before bed! I love Pure Peppermint or Celestial Seasoning’s Sleepytime Vanilla! Legit…I would not be able to sleep at 8:30 if I didn’t!
Yeah, I always drink peppermint tea before bed but it’s not working. 🙁
I think the lack of sleep has to be a sign of stress in some way or anxiety. At least it’s always that way for me! I love the sweet potato Brussels combo – you cannot go wrong!
Actually you’re probably right.
I went through the same insomnia. A colleague suggested that the second I wake up that I should head to the bathroom for a wee( even if you don’t feel you need to go). Sure enough I started going back to sleep really quickly an drew now I’m sleeping again. Many friends have tried this to combat middle aged insomnia and it works!
Oh my yum, I couldn’t even make it down here to comment before pinning! My family loves brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes and I cannot wait to make this salad. Simply delicious and genius! Thank you for sharing and linking up with us for Meatless Monday!
Hope the family loves it!
First, I am highly jealous of your 90 degree weather! It is currently 30 degrees here. On a brighter note, I absolutely cannot wait to try this recipe. I love using both of these veggies. I would love to know how you shredded the brussels sprouts?
I buy shredded brussels sprouts at Trader Joes. There have been a couple times when they’ve been out so I’ve pulsed them in the food processor a bit. Easy peasy!
I always get insomnia and anxiety during periods of transition and when I’m home alone. For periods of change, I just get up and make a list of what I need to do tomorrow and do a couple things on the list. Sure, I’m tired when I wake up but then I’ve gotten done by to do list and can have a leisurely morning. Plus you sleep way better the next night. Being home alone, having a dog really helps! An alarm system achieves the same purpose but is less cute 🙂 hang in there, girl! I’ve totally been there.
So random… Was just listening to episode 3 of the love and heal podcast and at 38 minutes in they talk about this exact issue of waking up at 2 am! Could be wacky cortisol levels.
Yeah, Lindsay recommended cortisol manager. I don’t feel stressed, but like I said maybe I’m internalizing it.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s me internalizing all the changes and transition and unknown and whatever else right now. I’m glad you can relate to it! I thought about getting a dog, but not sure I’m ready for more change right now.
I’ve struggled with insomnia for awhile too. Oh, I have so much empathy. It will change the person you are.. sucks the life right out of you. I do this weird thing where I focus on my feet, then my ankles, legs and work my way up my body, while trying to relax my muscles…sometimes it works and sometimes not. I go to bed a lot earlier these days, then I wake up at 1:00 am and that allows me to go back to sleep. If I go to bed at let’s say, 10:00 or 11:00 I wake up at 4:00 am and then I can’t get back to sleep. My kids are up at 5:00 so even if I did… there’s that. Praying for you to be able to rest and find some peace. xoxo
It’s definitely anxiety related for both of us! I’m going to try your body relaxation and see if that works.
Usually I pass out and sleep all the way through the night. When I first moved out on my own, though, I would wake up every night drenched in sweat and unable to sleep. I think I was terrified of living my myself. After awhile it calmed down though. Hope you can get some rest soon!
Thanks! I normally don’t have these issues. It’s very odd for me. I usually sleep like a rock.
I go through phases (I think it’s hormone-related) when I can’t sleep well, either. This too shall pass!!
And since I just bought a bag of brussels sprouts over the weekend, I’m dying to try this recipe. You can never go wrong with sweet potatoes added in the mix!
I hope you’re right about it passing! Getting old isn’t fun. 🙁
Ever since the hormone stuff – I have had sleep probs. Even now after menopause – it stinks!!! Stress did it to me too. I personally did not find anything that helped but maybe meditation???
That’s doesn’t sound too convincing!
Yum! This looks delicious!
Thank you!
I love all things brussels and I am def pinning this one! I hope your sleep gets a bit better….can u take naps during the day? I started doing some lavendar oil before bed and it has really helped me!
I can and do allow myself to nap when I need to. Lavender oil sounds like a good idea. I’m up for trying anything!
2 of my favorite things Brussels sprouts & sweet potatoes, can’t wait to try this! Pinned 🙂 Would love for you to share at the Fitness & Food Link-Up at http://www.marathonsandmotivation.com
Thanks for the invite Angela!
OMG YOU BROUGHT THANKSGIVING to March! I LOVE YOU!!
G! You know I’m pumpkin, squash, sweet potato girl YEAR ROUND!
I love brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes! My partner is not a fan of brussels sprouts, though if I hide it with the sweet pots I feel he’ll just gobble them up anyways 😉
Haha, I always think if you roast them they’re easier to hide!
Obviously, you created this for me because you knew that I would be all over it. With regards to your insomnia–I had terrible insomnia until my Crohn’s developed. Then I started waking up with my alarm every morning and going to sleep ealy every night. I tend to wake up really early (sometimes in the middle of the night), but I rarely have trouble getting to sleep. Have you tried melatonin?
Obviously I did! Do you think your insomnia was related to your Crohn’s? I have been taking melatonin, but I’m so scared that I fight myself to stay awake until I pass out then I wake up feeling hung over because I didn’t sleep enough. I think I’m better off not taking it.
How much vinegar and what kind?
No vinegar in the recipe! Just extra virgin olive oil and dijon.
I always think about food before I’m falling asleep. Like what meals to plan and recipe ideas. Sorry you haven’t been sleeping much that but at least this recipe sounds delicious! I love how a simple ingredient like dijon mustard can make things so tasty!
Maybe I should start thinking about food when I go to bed!
This sounds delicious! What kind of vinegar did you use for the salad dressing? It’s not listed with the ingredients.
There is no vinegar in the dressing.
I made this dish last night and added some dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds and it’s officially my new favorite dish. So simple and yet so friggin delicious!
I’m so glad you liked it and THANK YOU for letting me know! Cranberries and pumpkin seeds are genius. I’m so trying that!