Plant-Based Dinners You Can Be Inspired By
It’s officially Spring, which means it’s time to dust off our green thumbs! Whether you’re exploring the benefits of growing your own produce or choosing to shop locally, fresh plants will soon be filling our kitchens, and it can be fun to get creative with plant-based dishes.
There are many benefits of a plant-based diet, but there also benefits to simply trying to add more plants into your existing diet. By adding more plants to your diet, you’ll be adding more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy fats that we often don’t eat enough of. With the right inspiration, it’s pretty easy to center a whole dinner around a plant-based entree.
If you’re looking to go simple, these avocado grillers could be the perfect place to start. Avocados are full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, as well as healthy fats that are hard to work into our diets regularly. They’re also a great source of fiber! For this recipe, simply cut up two avocados into equal slices and add sliced onion and bell peppers. Throw everything on the grill and let it cook until it browns, but don’t let it burn. Layer these into a gluten-free corn tortilla, and you’re ready to enjoy a unique twist on this plant-based dinner.
Another option is to turn a classic dinner side into a tasty entree with these roasted spiced carrots. This recipe combines paprika, cumin, salt, fennel seeds, and sunflower oil (another great substitution for this would be olive oil or truffle oil for the courageous Simple Eaters) to flavor fresh carrots. It also includes a creamy tahini sauce using tahini, garlic, lemon, salt, and water. Assembled on wild rice with pine nuts and pumpkin seeds, this recipe is full of flavors and originality to get inspired by. The carrots and pumpkin seeds in this dish are both linked to improved brain health and activity.
If you’re feeling really adventurous, check out this plant-based lasagna. This vegan and gluten-free option is a great way to sneak four cups of dark, leafy greens into your diet. Spinach is a great option here. It contains beta-carotene, which helps to fight diseases, eye conditions, and can even help fight against cancer. While this dish may take a little more time to prepare, the benefits (and the flavors) will be worth it!
Hopefully you can use these recipes as a source of inspiration to include more plant-based foods in your diet. If you’d like to catch up on more tips and advice for healthy eating and cooking like a chef, be sure to follow me on Instagram at OfficialChef and check out SimpleEatsTV on YouTube.
Always remember Eat with a Purpose!
Resources:
https://www.consumerreports.org/diet-plans/plant-based-diet/
https://www.naturalnews.com/041308_spinach_health_benefits_superfood.html
https://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/12-foods-active-productive-healthy-brain/
