Nutritious and Quick: 3 Simple Recipes for a Healthy, Balanced Lifestyle
We all want to eat healthy meals. But, hey— it ain’t easy, and it sure isn’t cheap. Besides, when we do muster the time and dime for a nutritious home meal, it’s accompanied by a serving of dishes à la carte. Meditative? Maybe. What’s for sure, dishes are the last tasks anyone wants to do after a filling meal. Instead, we opt for quick and simple healthy meals, ideally on one-pan!
When cooked on parchment paper, clean-up is quick and easy! For a sustainable option, try FSC-certified parchment paper. It’s both compostable and can be recycled with paper waste! While aluminum foil can also be recycled and save you time on dishes, there are concerns about some aluminum leaking into foods causing kidney issues and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Not convinced? Well, parchment paper actually offers other advantages like not imparting added flavor. Foil, unfortunately, is made from metal, and in addition to the chemical reaction with acidic foods, it can also add a metallic taste to foods. Parchment, on the other hand, can safely be used with acidic and salty foods. An added plus, melted cheese more easily comes off parchment paper.
Roasted Veggie Hummus Wraps by Helen Leanni
INGREDIENTS:
zucchini
squash
onions
peppers
garlic
mushrooms
broccoli
avocado oil
hummus
favorite seasonings
whole wheat wraps
DIRECTIONS:
Line cook sheet or pan with parchment paper.
Toss chopped zucchini, squash, onions, peppers, garlic, mushrooms, and broccoli in avocado oil. Sprinkle on your favorite seasonings. Substitute the ingredients mentioned above with whatever vegetables you like.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25mins.
Lightly toast your wrap and spread with your favorite hummus. Add roasted veggies and roll!
Easy Oven Fajitas by Budget Bytes
INGREDIENTS:
fajitas seasoning
2 small or 1 large onion
3 bell peppers, any color
1 lb. chicken breast*
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium lime
8 6-inch tortillas
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
1/4 bunch cilantro (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix all of the spices for the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside (chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt).
Cut the onion and bell peppers into 1/4-inch wide strips. Place them in a 13×15-inch casserole dish or a large baking sheet. Slice the chicken breast into very thin strips and add it to the casserole dish with the vegetables.
Drizzle, the vegetable oil over the chicken and vegetables, then sprinkle the fajita seasoning mix over the top. Use your hands to toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and seasoning. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over top of the meat and vegetables after they come out of the oven.
While the fajita mix bakes, toast each tortilla in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, until lightly browned on each side. Scoop a small amount of meat and vegetables into the center of each tortilla. Top with a few cilantro sprigs, a dollop of sour cream, and an extra squeeze of lime if desired.
Berry Yogurt Bars by Nourish Me Daily
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup (about 10-12) dates, pitted
2 cups oats
1 cup almond butter
1/4 cup flaxseeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
1 cup frozen or fresh berries
Recommended toppings:
coconut shreds
blueberries or raspberries
DIRECTIONS:
Soak the pitted dates in water for 10-12 minutes to let them soften. Then, drain the water.
Place the berries in a small saucepan on medium-low heat & stir occasionally until the fruits have thawed & are mashable, about 5-7 minutes. Then, remove from heat & set aside.
In a blender, add in the dates & mix on high for 3 minutes or so until smooth consistency, stopping to scrape down the sides when necessary.
Then add in the oats, almond butter, flaxseeds & cinnamon. Place on high for about 3-5 minutes until well combined.
Line a baking dish with parchment paper, then, place the mixture from the blender into the dish & press down with your hands to get an evenly flattened crust.
Top with the yogurt & evenly spread across the crust. Then, on top of the yogurt, pour over the stewed berries & spread evenly across the yogurt using the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with coconut flakes & additional fruit.
Place into the freezer for 2-3 hours until completely set. Then, take it out to unthaw, cut into slices & enjoy!
**place slices not eaten back into the freezer until ready to enjoy.
