Our fast-paced lives mean instant ramen or microwave dinners. Calming our hunger pangs means take-out food. Some prefer not to cook, while others take up the challenge of preparing their dinner. Unfortunately, they end up eating at a fast-food joint. Is it challenging to prepare a quick and healthy dinner?
Fortunately, there are alternatives for a healthier dinner. They’re easy to prepare and won’t take a hit on your budget. Check out our suggested recipes below:
Pasta dishes
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Fresh Avocado Pasta
Is using a batter depositor or pureeing fruits a challenge? Don’t worry because a fork can mash the avocado, while you can buy pasta noodles from the supermarket. Use salt and pepper to season the avocado while mashing it. Toss the mashed avocado with the cooked pasta to bind them together. No need to add oil, heavy cream, or butter. Enjoy with bread or biscuits.
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Pasta with a Creamy Pumpkin Sauce
Pumpkin is perfect as an alternative pasta sauce. It’s a rich source of beta-carotene and fiber. Canned pumpkin is also recommended for people on the go. Cook your favorite pasta and set it aside to cool. Mash the pumpkins while adding cream to make them thick. Season your pumpkin sauce with salt, pepper, and oregano. Pour it over your pasta, mix it, and enjoy eating it.
Hearty soups
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Minestrone
Minestrone is relatively easy-peasy to prepare! The essential ingredients are canned beans (of your choice), a small onion bulb, a pack of mixed frozen veggies, and a ready-made broth. Sauté onions for five minutes and add the frozen vegetables and canned beans. Add the broth and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Enjoy it while it’s hot!
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Chicken Tortilla Soup
A rotisserie chicken, crushed tomatoes, and tortillas are the essential ingredients of this soup. Sauté garlic and add these to the mix. You can add avocado cubes or grated cheese to make it creamier. After sauteing all the ingredients, add broth and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir-fried dishes
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Stir-fried veggies
Often served with rice or as rice toppings, stir-fried vegetables are a quick meal to prepare. We recommend brown rice because it’s a good source of fiber. Bok choy, bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli are the preferred ingredients for this dish. Heat a bit of oil in a pan and quickly stir-fry these chopped veggies. Smoked sausages also add aroma to the dish. Mix the cooked brown rice with the vegetables and season it with spices or soy sauce.
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Sweet Sriracha-glazed Chicken
Sriracha is a good alternative because it helps clear the sinuses and lowers blood pressure. Saute green, leafy vegetables and cooked chicken breast, but cook them quickly. Add two tablespoons of Sriracha to the mix and turn off the heat.
Skillets and casseroles
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Vegetable and Turkey Skillet
Enjoy the best of both worlds (vegetables and meat) with this skillet. Enjoy meat and vegetables with this skillet recipe. We recommend ground turkey because it provides protein, while vegetables are good sources of fiber. Cooking and preparation for this dish are around 20 minutes. You can add low-fat cheese to add taste. Satisfy your hunger pangs with this skillet dish.
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Broccoli and Chicken Casserole
Instead of cheese, use vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower when preparing this chicken casserole. Steam the vegetables in a bag to minimize cooking time and keep them crisp. Use low-calorie yogurt and skim milk to cook the chicken. Mix the steamed vegetables and chicken, and arrange them in a baking tray. Bake the casserole for 20 minutes.
A busy, urban life shouldn’t be an excuse to eat take-out. These recipe alternatives are healthy and will keep you satiated after a long day at work. Take note of these to have healthier eating habits.
