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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!
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.
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
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!
OMG YOU BROUGHT THANKSGIVING to March! I LOVE YOU!!
G! You know I’m pumpkin, squash, sweet potato girl YEAR ROUND!
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!
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!
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.