8 Delicious and Nutritious Recipes to Fuel Your Body and Delight Your Taste Buds

Healthy eating does not need to be boring or complex. As long as you have the right recipes, you can eat gorgeous, gut-healthy meals that keep your body fueled all day long. In this article we will provide you with eight simple and delicious recipes that are loaded with nutrition by incorporating whole foods and balanced macros into its tasty plates to help fuel your healthy lifestyle.

Rainbow Veggie Stir-Fry

An assortment of bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas and carrots, wok tossed in extra virgin olive oil, garlic and ginger. Throw in tofu or lean chicken for protein, and top with toasted sesame seeds for a nutty taste and a satisfying crunch.

Chop vegetables uniform pieces to avoid uneven cooking. Cook rapidly on high heat in order to maintain nutrients and crispness. Marinate tofu or even chicken in soy sauce, lime juice and chili flakes for added flavor.

Loaded with fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, and antioxidants, these deeply spiced stir-fried vegetables aid digestion and boost your immune system while their anti-inflammatory nature work hard to protect you from oxidative stress. The lean protein helps to complete the meal with essential amino acids, which are the essential building blocks your body uses to repair muscle, support your immune system, and make hormones. This is a great healthy dish for a dinner, a quick lunch or an afternoon snack.

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Made with: Cooked quinoa, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil. Include sliced avocado for good fats and added creaminess.

Rinse quinoa in water until the water runs clear; drain well in a fine mesh strainer, to remove all-bit bitterness and the quinoa is clear. Simply rinse canned black beans under water to help remove the excess sodium. For extra crunch and nutrition, top with roasted pumpkin seeds or chopped nuts.

This salad is a full plant protein (9 essential amino acids) + the gut/blood sugar help of fiber. The avocado contributes monounsaturated fats that are good for the heart, helping lower inflammation and enhance cholesterol profiles. The splash of fresh lime juice and cilantro add a nice refreshing zing, not to mention an extra burst of flavor and more antioxidants to this colorful dish, perfect for lunch and as a side dish!

Baked Lemon Herb Salmon

Fresh salmon fillets marinated in fresh lemon juice, dill, garlic, and olive oil and then baked to melt-in-your-mouth flaky perfection. Serve with steamed asparagus and brown rice for a delicious, healthy plate.

Let salmon marinate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors penetrate, and you will have yourself a delightful, flavorful salmon. When you use parchment, your baked goods release easily and they can be stored without sticking to the bottom of the pan. By steaming the asparagus until in a bright-green and tender-crisp state, an optimum amount of nutrients is preserved and the asparagus retains a nice texture.

Along with being an excellent source of protein and vitamin D, salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids that help to decrease systemic inflammation, improve heart function and support brain health. When paired with fiber-rich asparagus and complex carbs from brown rice, this meal provides all-day energy to help with muscle recovery – perfect for a nutritious dinner.

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry

Vegan sweet potato curry with sweet potato, chickpeas, and spinach all layered in one pot with tomato sauce, coconut milk, and anti-inflammatory spices such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander and warming flavors of ginger. Serve on a bed of cauliflower rice or brown basmati rice.

For the most flavor, toast the spices briefly before adding other ingredients. Toss in the spinach at the last minute to keep it bright green and full of nutrients. This is one of those dishes that, somehow, usually tastes even better the next day, the spices and flavors have had time to deepen and meld.

This curry provides you with a steady supply of complex carbohydrates which gives you slow drop of energy, whereas chickpeas are good source of plant based protein and fibre which helps in keeping you full and nourish your gut! Turmeric and ginger add powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The coconut milk contributes healthy fats for better nutrient absorption, as well as for a lush and homey quality to the dish.

Greek Yogurt Parfait

Creations of smooth layers full-fat Greek yogurt with antioxidant packed fresh mixed berries, omega-3 fatty acid filled fiber power houses of chia seeds, drizzled raw honey, and a crumbled-up crunch of crushed almonds and walnuts.

Seasonality and availability will determine if you use fresh or frozen berries, but either will bring a hit of vitamins and antioxidants to offset the sugar. Nuts were meant to be toasted just long enough for their flavor to awaken and to impart a pleasing crunch. The chia seeds soak up liquid and turn into a soft, smooth gel, lending to the creaminess of the parfait and making you feel full for longer.

This Probiotic Parfait: Helps promote good digestion with probiotics from yogurt Is high in muscle-maintaining protein Contains anti-inflammatory antioxidants from berries and nuts It’s a flexible breakfast (or super nutritious snack!) to pull out on-the-go.

Zucchini Noodles with Pesto

Homemade basil pesto made with fresh basil leaves, garlic, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and extra virgin olive oil – all tossed with newly spiralized zucchini noodles. Top with halved cherry tomatoes and more pinenuts for crunch and colour.

To produce a softer noodle consistency, quickly blanch the zucchini in boiling water before tossing in the pesto. Pesto can be kept in an air tight container, in the fridge for up to three days or frozen in ice cube trays for easy use.

This dish is low sugar and packed full of vitamin A, vitamin C antioxidants and healthy fat which makes this the perfect refreshing and light dish for summer or when you fancy a healthier, light alternative to pasta.

Lentil and Vegetable Soup

A big, warm bowl of green lentil soup made with green lentils, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, kale, garlic and a handful of fresh herbs (like thyme and rosemary), all simmered together until softened and tender and you’ve got a pot of soup with richly developed, comforting flavors. Great for batch cooking and freezing for easy, healthy meals.

If you soak the lentils for a short while before cooking, it helps to reduce the cooking time and makes them more digestible. Searing the garlic and onions before adding the broth and rice does wonders for the flavor and fragrance of the soup. If adding a leafy green, stir into the soup just before serving so it maintains its color, texture and nutrients.

This soup is high in fiber, protein, and vitamins, and is a great soup to eat during colder seasons or when you need comfort-type (yet nourishing) food that will give you energy and doesn’t weigh you down.

Dark Chocolate Energy Bites

No bake energy bites that are a mixture of medjool dates, raw cacao powder, almond butter, shredded coconut and a touch of sea salt. Pelted into bite-size balls and refrigerated until firm.

A food processor will do wonders to get that smooth sticky-osity that is so helpful when rolling out. Rolled bites ensure portion control and are ready to eat on the go. Energy bites can be refrigerated for up to two weeks and frozen for up to three months!

Filled with antioxidants from dark chocolate, healthy fat from nuts, and natural sweetness from dates, these bites are a perfect healthy & satisfying snack and sweet craving crusher without any added sugars.

Add these eight recipes to the rotation every week as nutritious, delicious meals to help manage your health and energy. With simple ingredients and an easy process, these are meals that make it pleasurable and possible to eat well.