🍝 Lunch Combo HEART Exam: Isola Arrabbiata Sauce + Amylu Chicken Meatballs + Taste Republic Linguini + Good Planet Vegan Smoked Gouda
👩⚕️ Hey friends! I’m a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, but not your NP. This is for entertainment only, not medical advice. I don’t only eat “perfectly healthy” foods—I eat what works for me (yes, including pasta, meatballs, and cheese!).
❤️ H = Health
Let’s check those labels like I’m back in clinic, but for your pantry 🩺😋
Isola Arrabbiata Sauce (16oz)
✅ Labeled gluten free & vegan
✅ Tomatoes, water, olive oil = first 3 ingredients
🍅 Tomatoes = anti-inflammatory & rich in potassium/iron
🧮 60 calories per ½ cup, 1g protein, 7g carbs, 3.5g fat
Amylu Chicken Meatballs with Roasted Veggies
✅ Chicken raised without antibiotics
✅ Gluten free, pork free, no nitrites
🍗 150 calories per serving, 14g protein, 9g fat, 3g carbs, + a sprinkle of fiber, calcium, iron, potassium
Taste Republic Fresh Linguini
✅ Certified gluten free, 100% dairy free
🍝 230 calories, 6g protein, 45g carbs, 2.5g fat per serving
3g fiber (yay gut health!)
Good Planet Vegan Smoked Gouda
✅ Dairy free
🧀 Flavor = Gouda-adjacent but not quite the same nostalgia hit
💛 E = Eating
Sauce: Spicy, rich, tomato-y goodness 🌶️🍅. Loved it with the meatballs.
Meatballs: Juicy, with a sweet corn note. Browned them in olive oil before simmering in sauce = chef’s kiss 👩🍳.
Linguini: Fresh, soft-yet-firm, gluten-free magic. Everyone in the family (even non-allergy kiddos + hubby) approved. Pricey, but worth it.
Gouda: Alone = meh 😬. Melted on top = okay. Probably not a repeat buy.
🌍 A = Accessibility
All from Whole Foods:
Isola Sauce: $7.69
Amylu Meatballs: $6.99
Taste Republic Pasta: $5.99 (9oz)
Good Planet Vegan Gouda: $1.91 (sale, 1.5oz)
💙 R = Rhythm Rating
Here’s how my foodie “patients” charted out on the EKG monitor:
🍗 Chicken Meatballs = ❤️ Sinus Rhythm (solid, dependable, tasty)
🍝 Linguini = 💓 Tachycardia (so good it made my foodie heart race!)
🍅 Arrabbiata Sauce = ❤️ Sinus (spicy but balanced)
🧀 Vegan Gouda = 💙 Bradycardia (slow heartbeat… probably won’t buy again)
Bonus: Served broccoli on the side 🥦 (yes, from that magical Whole Foods bag) + strawberries & blueberries 🍓🫐 to round out MyPlate.
💕 T = Tell Me More
My mom? She’d hate the spicy sauce 🌶️.
Meatballs? Unsure—she’s anti-veggies-in-meat.
Pasta? She’d love it (already has, but still gripes about the price 😂).
Cheese? She’s sticking with her “real deal” dairy.
Final Note
🍴 Not medical advice, just my personal plate. I am also NOT a chef/professional cook or photographer!
💌 I hope you’re all living safe, happy, and healthy.
