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!
Brussels Sprouts Sweet Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweet potatoes peeled and diced into 1 inch pieces
- 2 cups butternut squash peeled and diced into 1 inch pieces
- 8 ounces Brussels sprouts shredded
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 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 one week.
Notes
- My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my nutrition clients.
Nutrition
What I Used For The Recipe
Yum! This looks delicious!
Thank you!
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!
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. 🙁
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'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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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'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!
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.
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!
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.
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.