Finding delicious and healthy recipes to add to your weekly repertoire might be a fun challenge for some, however for others it can be a tedious task. If you fall into the latter category, know that you aren’t alone. While many have their go-to healthy dinners that they lean on, eating the same food day in and day out can get repetitive quite quickly.
Instead of turning to take-out dinners or heating up a healthy frozen dinner, why not check out IGA’s range of Healthy Living Recipes.
We’ve asked our in-house dietitians, Anna and Alex from The Biting Truth to share their favourite Healthy Living recipes this season and break down how they achieved this status!
1. Lentil and Mushroom Bolognese
This one-pot lentil and mushroom bolognese is a plant-based twist on an Italian classic and the perfect winter warming recipe.
We’ve had our fair share of pasta dishes and can honestly say that this one-pot lentil & mushroom bolognese is up there with the best of them. It’s hearty, full of flavour, and easy to prepare. If you’re a meat lover or have a meat lover in your household but would like to enjoy more meatless meals, this recipe is a good starting point. The hearty combination of lentils and mushroom along with pasta ensures you get a good dose of protein and fibre, making this dish a wholesome and satisfying option.
This recipe also packs in 10 plant-based foods, providing you with an abundance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and supporting your gut health.
2. Black Rice Salad with Edamame, Cashews and Poached Salmon
This dish easily makes our top 5 recommendations. Not just because it’s mouth wateringly delicious, but because it’s loaded with nutrients.
Salmon is a food we encourage our clients to include in their diets 1-2 times a week (if you enjoy it of course!). This is because salmon contains a unique combination of omega 3 fatty acids, protein and vitamin D – along with a whole array of other important nutrients. For us, this recipe has been a great way to enjoy salmon with a tasty Asian twist.
We love the unique combination of salmon and black rice. Black rice is particularly high in antioxidants and protein, which may provide many health benefits and helps to leave you feeling satisfied.
3. Healthy Nachos
Nachos uphold all the rules of the most beloved comfort foods – it contains crunchy carbs, cheese plays a central role, and you can top them with just about anything. Unfortunately, those same qualities tend to make them a nutritional nightmare. Not in this case!
This Healthy Nachos recipe is loaded with nutrient-rich vegetables and beans in place of meat – making it much better for you, and just as satisfying.
Making your own baked tortilla chips is quick and easy, and you can take comfort in knowing that they are baked with a touch of extra virgin olive oil and not deep-fried, so you’re cutting back on the unhealthy saturated fat.
4. Healthy Cheese Burger
It’s time to fire up your grill and get ready to make everyone’s favourite fast food: burgers. Although burgers have a reputation for being unhealthy and high in kilojoules, it doesn’t have to be that way.
We love that these burgers contain a variety of vegetables that are low in kilojoules and high in fibre, helping to keep you satisfied. The recipe also calls for lean beef mince, which reduces the amount of unhealthy saturated fats.
Pair this veggie packed beef patty with a wholemeal bun and you have yourself a tasty (and nutritious) twist on a fast food favourite!
5. Thai Peanut Noodle Salad
Salads are the ultimate way to add more wholesome vegetables to your diet – and if you think salads are boring, then think again! Packed with crunchy veggies, rice noodles and a scrumptious garlicky, gingery peanut-lime dressing, this Thai Peanut Noodle Salad recipe will hit the spot. It’s a great one to make ahead of time and enjoy as lunches or dinners throughout the week and is super simple to pull together.
The reason this recipe makes our top 5 is that it contains a whopping 13 plant-based ingredients! This means it is jam packed with fibre and antioxidants and will help to nourish your healthy gut bacteria. We recommend that you aim to consume 30 different plant foods a week for optimal gut health and this recipe means in one meal you’ll be ⅓ of your way to reaching this goal!
