1. Guac & Salsa
The combination of crispy chips, tangy tomato salsa and creamy guacamole is the perfect snack at home or on the go. Salsa comes in many varieties at the store but it can easily be made at home with a couple tomatoes, sliced onion, cilantro, and some other things like corn and green bell peppers. I am obsessed with avocados, so smashing them and adding onions, cilantro, and diced tomatoes makes for such a tasty dip. As long as you don't overdo it on the chips, this combo makes for a low-calorie snack that can help you eat more veggies in the process.
2. Bowls
It's been quite the trend to make "one-dish" meals, and these bowls are the perfect solution to anyone who doesn't like washing dishes. You can combine rice or quinoa with any kind of beans like black beans, chick peas, lima beans, you name it. On the side, add a handful of spinach or lettuce, and finish it off with some avocado. Top it off with your favorite sauce (like Sriracha) or dip (like hummus) and it's a perfect meal on its own. You can also add some baked yam, roasted broccoli or cauliflower, and brussel sprouts. The possibilities are endless with bowls, and you can get your daily servings of hearty vegetables from just one meal.
3. Soup
If you're a student like me on a tight budget, soups are a great way to use up left over vegetables that aren't in their best condition. As far as ingredients, you can put anything from carrots, peas, potatoes, beans, bell peppers, or tomatoes. If you like eating cooked vegetables rather than raw ones, then this is a great way to eat more vegetables from a simple, comforting meal.
4. Smoothie or Juice
There are so many ways to consume fruits and vegetables just by blending them up. You can make smoothies simply with frozen berries and bananas, or add in some greens like kale or spinach. Smoothie bowls are not only delicious but also aesthetically pleasing, making for great photos. Because the sweet flavors of the fruits usually mask up the flavors of the vegetables, smoothies or juices make it easier to consume nutrient-rich foods without munching on salad all day. Also, if you're busy with no time to properly sit down and eat, smoothies or juices are perfect as on-the-go meals. Juicing is also a great way to detox your body once in a while from all the processed foods that we eat everyday.
5. Roast Session
I have never appreciated the goodness of roasted vegetables until recently but they're one of the easiest meals to prepare. Cut up your favorite vegetables like broccoli, yam, bell pepper, cauliflower, or zucchini and spread them out on a pan. You can drizzle a bit of oil if you'd like as well as various seasonings like garlic powder, salt, pepper, or cayenne. Bake in the oven for some time and combine with anything (rice, beans, salads) to make for a filling, healthy meal. If you're into meal prepping, then this is a great way to make multiple meals at once to store in the fridge for whenever you're hungry.
6. Noodling Around
Instead of using flour-heavy pasta for your typical pasta dishes, an alternative may be using vegetable noodles. You can grate up zucchini, squash, yams, or carrots for a quick and easy way to meet your pasta cravings. The noodles can also be used in Asian-style stir-fry dishes as well. This is a fantastic and easy way to get in more veggies into your meals without eating salad.
7. Cereal or Oatmeal
We all ate cereal on a daily basis back in our elementary school days (even for some of us, even now), but you can take your ordinary cereal up a notch by adding fresh and dried fruits. This will add more texture and vitamins to your average bowl of cereal or granola. You can even flavor oatmeal by mixing in bananas or apples with cinnamon or cacao powder. This is a great solution if you're tired of your bland oatmeals and want to spice them up a little, and become healthier in the process.
8. Chip Away
Instead of eating packaged potato chips or tortilla chips, you can make your own healthier version at home. Slice up vegetables like potato, yam, carrot, or beet into very thin slices. You can either bake them or fry them and make your very own low-fat chips. You can even make fruit chips by cutting up apples or pears and putting them in the oven until crispy (and don't forget the cinnamon). They're perfect as on-the-go snacks to munch on in class or at work.
9. "Nice" Cream
It's Friday night and you're really craving ice cream, but don't want to feel the guilt afterwards. The solution to this is "nice" cream, or ice cream made only out of frozen bananas. Beforehand, peel and cut several bananas and freeze them overnight in a plastic bag. Once they're frozen solid, put them into a blender and blend until creamy and smooth. You can even add some frozen strawberries, blueberries, peanut butter, or cacao powder into the mixture for different flavors. Once you scoop the "nice" cream into a bowl, top it off with your favorite toppings like chocolate nibbles, almonds, strawberries, bananas, cookies, or anything you'd like. This is a great way to satisfy your ice cream craving without going overboard on the calories.
10. (Skinny) Dipping
There are so many dips to try out as snacks or appetizers at a home party. Hummus is extremely tasty and allows for a lot of experimentation. You can make 'colorful' hummus by simply blending up beets, turmeric, or yam into the hummus. That way, you can take in more vegetables without eating them directly. You can dip your favorite crackers, pita bread, or veggie sticks for a healthy and filling snack. I also highly recommend tzatziki and Mediterranean eggplant dips to change up your dipping experience.
