Brown rice is the perfect fall-day companion. Use it in soups, with almond or rice milk as a morning treat, accompany with a sweet squash, or just eat it alone!

Brown rice is packed with nutrients—and has many healing properties, including its ability to reduce appetite, lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease, and reduce metabolic syndrome.

For those of you carb-weary, please rethink your stance. Carbs are nutrient-poor in the form of super processed bread, cookies, crackers, chips, etc. But when you eat a whole grain, nutrient packed food such as brown rice, it can add so much to your healthy diet.

So, yep, brown rice is a super healthy staple of most diets around the world, and given its nutrient-density, should be a staple in your kitchen as well. So STOCK UP, your pantry will love you for it.

Easy Brown Rice Stir Fry

For this recipe, feel free to simply throw together frozen vegetables, frozen brown rice, and whatever sounds good. I usually just open my freezer and pull out whatever looks good that night. These ingredients are simply guidelines (and it is great), but get creative and don't stress if you don't have every ingredient on this list.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 4 Tbsp tamari (wheat-free)
• 1-2 skinless, boneless breast halves, thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 Tbsp olive
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 4 tsp minced fresh ginger or 1 tsp powdered
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 cups short-grain brown rice, cooked and cooled
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2/3 cup chopped scallion

* Any other great vegetables you can think of

Instructions:

1. Stir walnuts in medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until lightly toasted (3 minutes). Drizzle 2 Tbsp tamari over walnuts: stir until tamari coats walnuts (45 seconds). Cool. These can be made ahead and stored at room temperature in airtight container for 3 days.
2. Combine chicken, 2 Tbsp tamari and 1tsp honey in a medium bowl. Toss to coat and let stand 15 minutes.
3. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and stir-fry 30 seconds. Add cooked rice, red pepper and sesame oil: reduce heat to medium and stir-fry until heated through (about 5 minutes). Season with salt and pepper. Divide rice mixture among plates. Sprinkle with green onions and walnuts