Do you ever look in your fridge and pantry and think ugh, I have nothing to eat… Trust me, this happens all the time at our house. It might seem easier to order delivery or go out to eat, but that can get unhealthy (and expensive!) really quick. If you stock your pantry and fridge with just a few staples, you are guaranteed to have something you can throw together! You don’t have to cook like you’re on MasterChef, and sometimes simple is best.
Here’s a few tips:
Think protein first. This can be plant or meat based. You can always throw a few chicken breasts in the freezer to have on hand.
Include veggies. Fresh, canned or frozen are all great options. Frozen vegetables have just as many vitamins as fresh, and you don’t have to worry about when it will go bad. There is nothing worse than opening your produce drawer to bad veggies… All forms of vegetables are good!
Spice it up. Don’t forget to add fresh or dried herbs, condiments, and oils. This is where your flavor will come in.
Here is one of my go to recipes when I think my fridge and pantry are empty. I can still throw together a quick, healthy, and delicious dish!
Rainbow Quinoa Bowl
Ingredients:
Tomatoes
Carrots
Frozen riced broccoli
Red, white and brown quinoa (pre packaged and microwaveable)
Herbs of choice
Dressing Ingredients:
1 TBSP Olive Oil
1 TBSP White Balsamic Vinegar
½ TSP Lime Juice
Garlic Salt and Pepper
Instructions:
- Wash all produce
- Microwave quinoa and add a little olive juice, seasoned salt, dill and any other herbs you’d like.
- Put all ingredients in a bowl or mason jar.
- Make the dressing. I used olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, lime juice, garlic salt, and pepper. You can use any combination of ingredients for your dressing or use a pre-made dressing.
This is a super versatile dish that I ate two different ways. For lunch, I added it to a bowl and topped with grilled chicken. This made a delicious and filling salad. The next day, I ate it as a side dish to my dinner. You can also have this on hand for nutritious snacking! Happy Cooking!
By Isis Hargrave
Isis is a Fitness and Nutrition Coach at enduraLAB. Book a nutrition consult or personal training session with her here!
