Stay Happy and Healthy
Whenever I need something super quick to cook up for dinner, I always cook up a little vegetable bowl. It can be super satisfying after a nice long workout at the gym and you can mix up the vegetables and proteins to make it the perfect treat for you.
This is a great healthy salad recipe that is light and filling. Perfect for adding with some nuts, tempeh, or grilled Halloumi cheese.
You can top these breadsticks with any of your favorite toppings or leave it as is and make a pizza out of it.
These salads are all super quick and easy to make ahead of time to make the busy weekday mornings a bit more manageable. Feel free to make each of these salads your own!
Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 15oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1 medium beet, peeled, and quartered 1 clove garlic 2 Tbs almond butter 3 Tbs fresh lemon juice ¼ cup avocado oil ¾ tsp pink himalayan salt 2 yellow squash, cut longways 2 zucchini, cut longways 8 slices of gluten free bread cilantro, chopped
Serves 6 Ingredients: 2 tsp. coconut oil 2 large shallots, chopped ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro stems, plus 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves, for garnish 2 Tbs. greem Thai curry paste 1 tsp. curry powder 1 tsp. ground turmeric 1 15-oz. can light coconut milk ¾ cup low-sodium vegetable broth 1 12-oz. pkg. firm tofu,
This a perfect soup to have on a cold evening that is both light and filling. The soup is so smooth it makes a perfect accompaniment with some flatbread or cheese bread. Add a side salad to help bring in some freshness to the plate.
Serves 4 Ingredients: 4 medium russet potatoes 1 cup drained marinated artichoke hearts, oil reserved, hearts halved or quartered if large 1 medium zucchini, halved and sliced 1/2-inch thick (1 cup) 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (1 cup) 6 Tbs nutritional yeast, divided 1 Tbs kefir milk 1 Tbs herbs de providence 1 Tbs
Serves 4 Ingredients: extra-firm tofu, completely drained ½ cup orange juice ¼ cup gluten free soy sauce 1 Tbs coconut sugar 1 Tbs minced fresh ginger 1 Tbs sunflower seed oil 2 tsp Sriracha 2 cloves garlic, thickly sliced 2 Tbs avocado oil 1 Tbs rice vinegar 1½ cups cauliflower, blended into rice sized
Raw Pumpkin Cheesecake Makes about 24 bites Ingredients: 1½ cups raw cashews 1 cup pitted dates ½ cup almond flour 1 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tbsp almond milk ⅓ cup maple syrup ⅓ cup canned pumpkin ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg Directions: Soak the cashews in water for 1 hour. Discard the water. Pulse
This gazpacho is both healthy and refreshing with a slight kick of heat. The salad on top adds to the flavor and makes it an all encompassing dish. Adding roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds is another great addition to the meal. It is also super easy to make and perfect for a variety of tastes.
This Chickpea Succotash is absolutely delicious and perfect over some fresh cooked quinoa. The mix of flavors between the lemongrass and the tomatoes make a great combination of flavors while keeping the dish light and fresh.
This super easy salad is perfect for a quick dinner or for lunch prep for the next day. If you want to add something extra, simply add in some quinoa, beans, or rice.
This is the perfect recipe for a summer curry. The lightness of this recipe makes you forget its hot and has all the taste you could possibly want. It also wont make you feel too full after you eat which is a huge plus.
The sweet plums combined with the hearty arepas and lentils give this dish a wonderful combination of flavors. This is a perfect dish for the whole family with no additional sides needed. Its relatively easy to make as well making it fun for kids to help out with. Feel free to add your own spin with your favorite ingredients.
These tacos are perfect for any meal and super easy to whip up for the whole family. If you need to make something for the meat lovers, cook up some chicken on the side. The flavors in this dish however should do the trick on its own to make any meat lover think differently about tofu.
This is a fantastic dish to fill you up on a deliciously healthy and hearty meal. The vegetable spiraled pasta allow you to eat the pasta for lunch or dinner without worrying about the carbs from typical pasta. It is a great spin on a puttanesca pasta that will want you to eat it all week. It is also a great dish for kids to eat their veggies without the overpowering taste of them.
These veggie sandwiches are perfect for a picnic or even lunch meal prep throughout the week. They are super delicious with jam packed flavor. You could even add a bit of cheese if you desire. Serve with some chips or yuca fries for a complete meal.
These fritters are super easy to make and great for those remaining items you have in your fridge. Simply add some coconut yogurt on top, some extra veggies or tofu on the side and you have a quick delicious meal in minutes. You could also add some chicken on the side for the non veggie heads.
This sun-dried tomato pesto sauce is a great spin to any pasta. The almost sweet taste of the tomatoes make it an irresistible dinner. Feel free to put your own spin on it with some cheese and your favorite veggies. Adding some squash is a delicious addition.
This is a great side dish to make along with some vegan sausages or a lentil and kale salad. It is super easy to make and absolutely delicious. It is also quite light since it isn’t loaded with potatoes like a normal gratin. The added nutritional yeast into the breadcrumbs add a cheesy crunchy element to the dish.
What is better than risotto? How about a jambalaya/risotto mix. That is exactly what this recipe is and it is so easy to make. As with any risottos, this recipe takes time to make but is completely worth it in the end and not extremely complex in the end. This also makes a great meal prep recipe to store and reheat later in the week.
Granola makes a great snack or addition to salads and yogurt. It can be difficult to find a good glutenfree one too, but this recipe is delicious and super quick and easy to make. It is also easy to make your own depending on your taste preferences, but this is just what I enjoy.
Potato salad is a classic for BBQs, picnics, lunches, and parties of all kinds. It is known for being super easy to cook up and this recipe really is no different. It does however is healthier than most in the fact that it does not use any mayonnaise and thus also keeps it vegan friendly.
Croquettes make a great appetizer for a dinner party, a great picnic lunch, or even just a great dinner with a lovely side or rice or beans. This recipe is super easy to cook up and tastes delicious. Add a bit of veganaise, chives, lemon zest, or anything else to enhance the delicious flavor and make it a bit of your own. You can also store these in the refrigerator for later meals if need be.
This salad is super quick and easy to make and filled with great flavors and veggies. You can even mix up other vegetables in to the salad to make it personal to you. I personally love this salad with spinach and sometimes a bit of kale, especially to add a bit more protein, but you can replace that with lettuce for a more traditional thai salad.
It can be hard to cook for a large group for the holidays while also staying healthy and not missing out on the flavor. Below are some great recipes for a delicious, healthy, vegetarian (or easily substituted vegan), and gluten free course dinner. Its surprisigly filling that you will be stuffed to the last fork full.
As a substitute for ground meat, this recipe uses polenta to give it that similar texture. The recipe in general is quite hearty with bit of a spice. It is a perfect recipe for those cold, windy winter nights. It doesn’t take tremendously long to cook, making it a great choice for a middle of the week recipe for dinner. You can add you’re own favorite cheese, however I personally love the flavor of the vegan shredded pepper jack.
These oat bars make a great snack to refuel and reenergize your body. They are super easy and quick to make while also being absolutely delicious. You can substitute your favorite ingredients into them easily to make them fit your tastes.
Sometimes Thanksgiving Dinner can be difficult for someone to eat healthy and be a vegan, vegetarian, and/or gluten free. Here are three super easy, quick, and delicious sides that make perfect healthy accompianments to any Thanksgiving feast. Try them for yourselves and put your own spin on things to fit with your other sides and tastes.
This is a super tasty oatmeal recipe that is perfect for a nice fall morning. Soaking the oats overnight make it super quick to make up the next morning. You can also keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days if you want to prep some for the week.
What’s better the celebrating the spooky nights of Halloween with friends? How about some delicious meal ideas for any adult Halloween party or dinner. Start with some lovely appetizers including these chipotle cheese topped bats, then enjoy some delicious red pepper soup, and followed by the hearty bean compote.
Quinoa is extremely versatile and super easy to make. I especially love having some warm quinoa in the fall and winter since it tends to have that hearty feel to it. Here are some easy ways to add some delicious quinoa to any of your favorite meals. I used tricolor quinoa however feel free to make it your own.
This a great recipe for when you want to make something a little different for a great party, while still being delicious and healthy. Its also a great alternative for nachos. You can also make it your own by adding some topping to it, so play around and be creative.
These bar are super filling and delicious. They make the perfect breakfast meal with some fruit and or yogurt. They are also full of healthy goodness that will keep you energized for the day. You can substitute the dried cherries for cranberries, raisins, chocolate chips, or really anything to make them more fitted for you.
Buddha bowls are filled with natural, healthy, and delicious ingredients and this recipe is no exception. It is jam packed with protein and carbs making it a perfect post workout meal. It is also super easy to make and can be made in larger batches and saved in the refrigerator making it an easy meal prep meal.
This recipe will make your kitchen smell delicious and is super easy to make. It also makes a great family meal or can be saved in the fridge for lunches later in the week. There might be some water build up the longer it sits, but just pour it out before reheating the pasta. You can add any of you favorite vegetables to personalize for you and your family too.
These wraps are perfect for a picnic or weekend lunch. They are light and filling and are super easy to make. It also makes plenty of vegetables that you can mix with rice or quinoa later for another meal. I used the WraP Original wraps for this recipe which not only adds a bit more flavor but holds everything together super well. I personally believe these are some of the best gluten free wraps I have used.
For a quick dinner or lunch meal prep try out these lentil and pea cakes. You can easily store them in the refrigerator and heat them back up for your meals throughout the week. The carrot sauce makes the dish complete with the perfect added flavor and color.
It doesn’t need to be hard or time consuming to pack up some great lunches for work or school. Bento boxes are a great way for packing up a variety of different lunches easily and you can buy them in a variety of stores. Here are a few ideas for some healthy and filling lunches that are easy to pack.
These kale chips make the perfect quick, healthy snack for any occasion. The nutritional yeast adds the perfect amount of flavor without it being overpowering and loosing its nutritional value. I recommend serving them almost immediately from the oven to make sure they keep their crunchy texture.
These cookie dough balls are simple and delicious and make a great after dinner or movie night snack that you don’t have to feel bad about having. The sundrop chocolates add that bit of crunch just like m&ms candies, but you can really add any kind of candy or chocolates that you would like.
Jacksons Honest Sweet Potato Chips Jacksons Honest is a great company with the slogan “Goodness, Pass it on” and a charitable foundation tat revolves around the concept of nutrient density and educating people on the importance of good healthy food. Besides all their amazing history and story these chips are absolutely delicious and addicting and
Summer rolls are great for lunches or dinners. They can be made a head of time and stored in the fridge until desired. They are also super easy to make and easy to adapt with your own favorite ingredients. The almond butter sauce is both spicy and sweet and pairs perfectly with the summer rolls. These rolls especially make you feel like you went out to a restaurant in your own home.
This is a perfect dish for a summer barbecue, picnic, or party. It is super easy to make and can be easily paired with main dishes. Herbs de Provence is a super simple way to add natural herbal flavor to any dish and in this case pushes it from simple to delicious.
What could be more perfect on a summer day then a light bowl of coconut curry? In my opinion this makes a great light meal that is perfect for a quick dinner or lunch in the summer. It is super easy to make with not that many ingredients. It can also be easily adapted to make for a larger group of people if necessary.
With the warm weather approaching I had to make some time for delicious cold soups like this gazpacho recipe. I love having gazpacho for lunches or for picnics. This recipe makes it so easy to cook up that there is really no reason for you not to be able to cook it up. You can always add more hot sauce for a more spicier taste.
These tacos are super easy and delicious. Simply make up the bean salsa and add to your corn tortillas with your favorite toppings for a delicious and satisfying taco. I added some sliced mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes, and lime to mine; but you could add any toppings that you wish.
These rolls are so easy to make and are great for a healthy, quick meal. You can serve it up with a side cabbage salad or some rice to make up a full meal, or make a bunch for some appetizers. You can also store all of them in the refrigerator for lunches throughout the week.
This is a super quick and easy dessert or snack to make for an event or just for some snacks for the week. They are also so delicious and can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
This is a super simple vegetable pho recipe, however you could cook up some pork shoulder steaks if desired. I did end up cooking up a steak for my guests and then added thinly sliced pieces on top. If you would like to add the meat to the dish, simply season pork with salt and pepper and cook in the skillet (that the vegetables were cooked in) while the broth cooks, about 4 minutes per side.
Nutritional yeast is a non-active yeast commonly found on molasses and then drained and crushed into flakes or powder. It is known for having a cheesy taste and is high in health benefits. It is mostly used in vegan dishes as a cheese substitute. It has just 20 calories per tablespoon and packed with protein.
Here are 3 super easy vegetarian recipes that are perfect for weekday meals. I have one of these almost everyday of the week. Each one can be easily adaptable depending on vegetables that are more in season or taste and can be kept in a sealed container for lunches or dinners for the rest of the week.
These cookies are not only addicting, but are super easy to make and barely need any ingredients. They are more of a cookie brittle, but I prefer harder cookies over soft ones. The almond butter gives it a unique taste and makes the cookie almost sticky with the taste. I wanted something close to a peanut butter cookie and I think this one has hit the mark. You could also add some chocolate chips or mini m&ms to add something extra if you wish, however I think they are great on their own.
I was craving a veggie burger and decided instead of going to one of my favorite burger spots I would attempt to make some myself. This recipe was so easy to make and also so delicious. The patty, unlike many veggie burgers I’ve made, actually stuck together very well. I tossed together a simple spinach salad for a nice side with some homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Corn cakes, or as my grandmother would call it “mush,” are a great way to have a quick hearty meal on a cold night. The spices in the beans are just enough to bring out a bit more flavor to the dish. The mush was also super easy to make and can even be saved for lunches or dinners later in the week.
Terra Real Vegetable Chips Warning: These chips are so addicting, but also so good for you as they are made from real whole veggies. My favorite flavors of the Terra chips are the Mediterranean and sweet potato flavors, however they have so many different kinds of vegetable chips. They are also not covered in salt
This recipe is perfect for a cold night. It is a flavor packed dish that not only looks great tastes great too. The best part about it is that if you run out of spaghetti you can scrape out dome more. It may take a bit to cook everything up but in the end it is totally worth it. You can also crape out the insides and put it in a container to store for later on in the week.
I decided to make some homemade truffles for my friends and family for Valentines Day this year. This is such a good recipe and makes super delicious, healthy truffles. I decided to use both white and dark chocolate for the coating on top. I also put some red food dye in the white chocolate (which is not vegan), after all the truffles had been dipped, to make the drizzle on top of the truffles a bit more festive. Put them in some nice boxes with a bow to make them perfect for gifts.
This is the perfect quick meal for a cold winter night. It is both delicious and spicy. You can pair it with some saltine crackers, or corn bread for a heartier dish. You can also store it in the fridge for lunches later in the week and just reheat over the stove or in the microwave.