For some of us, 2015 starts off with a list of resolutions that will probably be forgotten all too soon come February (maybe April, if you’re truly committed). Perhaps you may decide that a healthy detox is in order after a month of mashed potatoes and peppermint mochas. The idea of eating solely spinach and sprouts for a month, however, may be a tad frightening and, quite honestly, very boring. Don’t fear, though — trying to be a healthy eater does not mean subsisting on a scarce diet. We at the Clog decided it was time to take some action and swap out Spaghetti-O’s for Spaghetti Squash. Therefore, we put together some healthy recipes that won’t make you hate yourself and will send you into a hunger-induced binge frenzy on stale donuts.
1. Quinoa for breakfast?
Yes, the super food darling of 2014 has reached its final meal frontier: breakfast. It’s no longer relegated to being found stuffed in a squash for dinner or mixed in with salad for lunch. Now, your good friend quinoa can act as a nice substitution for oats with its high amounts of fiber, protein and iron. Mash up half a banana and mix it up with a cup of quinoa, half a tablespoon of cinnamon and some chopped up walnuts. Presto! You are ready to take on that CrossFit class you were not looking forward to attending this morning.
2. Apple almond-butter toast
Instead of slathering your toast in butter, how about changing it up with some almond butter? It will fill you up with healthy fats and oodles of protein. Cut up some thin apple slices to put on top of the almond butter, and add a dash of cinnamon to round up this breakfast. You can even add a drizzle of maple syrup if you really find yourself missing it after giving up your weekly Sunday pancakes.
3. Almond-butter-stuffed dates
Almond butter makes a return because, man, it is awesome. Seriously. In order to make this dish, you need to take some pitted dates and stuff them with almond butter, as the recipe title clearly reminds us. If you’re feeling extra fancy, maybe sprinkle some slivered almonds and shredded coconut over the almond butter. The dates are deliciously sweet and gooey, so they act as a saving grace when the dessert cravings kick in. No, these will not replace cheesecake — because let’s be honest, nothing can — but this recipe will definitely help.
4. Collard green wraps
Carbs are the devil. At least, that’s what a lot of diets make them out to be. If you’re looking to cut down on them as well as calories, you may want to try replacing the tortilla with a large collard green wrap to swaddle your chosen filling. It’s packed with A and K vitamins that standard flour tortillas lack. As a suggestion, we like to load up our wraps with quinoa, carrots, cucumber, tomato, hummus and feta.
5. Wabi Sabi bowls
What is a Wabi Sabi bowl? We stumbled across it here, where it is explained in detail. Just use the simple formula to put together an easy lunch or dinner. You can change it up — be creative so you don’t die of boredom eating the same thing every day. Pick one grain such as brown rice or faro, a protein such as an egg, two raw vegetables and one cooked vegetable. Place it all in a bowl or container of your choosing, and it’s ready. You can add any sauce you like, such as soy sauce or maybe even some barbecue sauce.
Image Sources:Tom Schmidt, jamelah e., monica.shaw, anjuli_ayer, Jovan J, Alpha under Creative Commons.
Contact Nora Harhen at nharhen@dailycal.org.