By Katy Duncan, Contributing Blogger
If one of your New Year resolutions was to eat healthier, you’ve found just the right post! Eating a healthier diet is a great resolution to set. You are what you eat, and if you eat healthy, nutritious foods that fuel your body, you’re bound to look and feel great.
Sometimes, eating healthy isn’t always practical for a busy schedule though. I get it, work and school are ramping back up in full force and you’ve got enough on your plate without worrying about what’s on your plate.
Here are a few recipes to carry you through breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They take minimal amounts of time to prep, are easy to store for multiple meals, and are both good tasting and good for you!
Keep reading for some meal plan inspiration.
Overnight Oats Three Ways
Overnight oats are as simple as they sound. Make them in the evening, leave them overnight, and you have breakfast ready for you the next day. There are so many ways you can make these, flavors to explore, and ingredients to try. These can be made in advance and last up to 5 days in the fridge so you have breakfast for a full week.
Here are a few blends of overnight oats to get you started on your healthy oat journey!
1. Peanut Butter Banana Oats
Ingredients:
- ¼ Cup Rolled Oats
- ½ Cup Milk (can be substituted with almond, soy, or coconut milk for dietary needs)
- 1-2 Bananas (mashed)
- 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter (can be substituted with almond butter)
- 2 Tablespoons Walnuts (or another type of nut like pecan, peanut, or cashew)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a mason jar or airtight container. Can mix together or add in layers.
- Chill overnight or for at least 4 hours.
- Stir up when you’re ready to eat or dig right in and enjoy!
2. Carrot Cake Oats
Ingredients:
- ¼ Cup Rolled Oats
- ½ Cup Milk (or substitute)
- 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup or Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Grated Carrot
- 2 Tablespoons Pecans (chopped)
- 2 Tablespoons Raisins (optional)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a mason jar or airtight container. Can mix together or add in layers.
- Chill overnight or for at least 4 hours.
- Stir up when you’re ready to eat or dig right in and enjoy!
3. Strawberry Oats
Ingredients:
- ¼ Cup Rolled Oats
- ½ Cup Milk (or substitute)
- 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup or Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Yogurt
- ¼ Cup Strawberries (chopped)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a mason jar or airtight container. Can mix together or add in layers.
- Chill overnight or for at least 4 hours.
- Stir up when you’re ready to eat or dig right in and enjoy!
Sushi Bowl
Sushi bowls are a hot trending meal right now. A sushi bowl is filled with sushi roll ingredients like shrimp, imitation crab, cucumber, avocado, seaweed, and rice. You can get creative with assembly and prepare everything in advance to be in containers for easy lunches at home or at work.
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Cook the rice till done and allow it to cool to room temperature. Place in the fridge to chill. Rice will be served cold.
- Prep all other ingredients for assembly; Avocado, cucumber, carrot, seafood, and seaweed sheets.
- To serve: Layer approximately 1 cup of rice in a bowl first and add toppings in layers or in a circular shape. Have fun with it!
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sriracha mayo. Enjoy!
Crockpot Soup
It’s still winter which means it’s still soup season. Crockpot soups are easy to prepare, last several days, and basically cook themselves. All you have to do is add everything to the crockpot, sit back, and let it go. A healthy soup option is Tuscan Chicken Soup. Bold flavors, easy to prepare, delicious to eat.
Ingredients:
- 2 Lbs Chicken Breast (whole, boneless, skinless breasts)
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon of Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 6-8 Cloves of Garlic (pressed)
- 1 Onion (chopped)
- 1 15 oz. Can Artichoke Hearts (drained)
- 1 9 oz. Jar of Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Oil
- 8-10 oz of Spinach
- 2 Cups Heavy Cream
- Optional Garnish when Served: Grated Parmesan, Croutons, Basil
Directions:
- Add chicken breast, seasonings, garlic, onion, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes to the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours or till chicken is cooked thoroughly and pulled apart easily. Shred chicken.
- Add shredded chicken back to crockpot if shredded outside of it. Add spinach and heavy cream. Cook for additional 10-15 minutes or till the soup thickens.
- Garnish if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Eating healthy doesn’t have to take a huge chunk of time out of your day. You can easily meal prep all of these recipes at the beginning of the week and spend hardly any time cooking during the workweek. Make your food work for you, not the other way around!
