Tag: autumn

Stuffed Bell Peppers

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This colourful mouth watering dish is a great way for you (and your kids!) to get some vegetables, protein, iron, vitamin A, & C! This recipe will give you all three macronutrients (protein, carbs and fat) in one. It’s super easy and the gorgeous colours match the fall season!

You will need:

  • 6 bell peppers
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced or 1 tsp garlic paste
  • ¾ – 1lb lean ground beef
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper 
  • ½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup frozen or canned corn (unsalted)
  • 1 cup tomato sauce (unsalted)
  • 5 cups of water 
  • 1 cup low fat (<18% M.F.) low sodium mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions:

  1. in a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp of canola oil on medium-high heat and sauté the onions  until softened.
  2. Add minced garlic or garlic paste, and sauté for 1 minute. 
  3. Add the ground beef and mix together. Season with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. 
  4. Meanwhile, slice the top of the peppers off and remove the inner membranes and seeds. 
  5. In a separate pot, boil water and place the cut peppers inside for 3-4 mins until they’re a bit soft. (This cuts down baking time in the oven). Drain well and place upright in baking dish. 
  6. Once meat is cooked, add the tomato sauce and corn. Let it simmer for another 10 minutes until reduced. 
  7. Now stuff each pepper with the filling, and top it with mozzarella cheese. 
  8. Bake at 350°F in the oven for 15-20 minutes!

*Want a vegetarian version? Use TVP (soy protein) instead of beef, or black beans and quinoa!*

Nutrition Information (per serving):

250 kcal / 20g protein / 21g carbohydrate / 7g fat

Photo Credit: Cooking Classy

Warm Vegetable Chili

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As the daylight hours begin to dwindle and the cold weather approaches, I for one gravitate towards more simple recipes that don’t require too much of my energy. You know, the ones where I don’t need to stick something in the oven for about 40 minutes and twiddle my thumbs while I wait for it to cool (😂). Warm Vegetable Chili is just one of those recipes that won’t sacrifice speed for nutrition – this perfect mix of protein, fibre, and veggies is an excellent addition to your autumn repertoire. Bon appétit!

You will need:

  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) frozen vegetables
  • 1 ½ tsp of garlic and ginger paste
  • 14 oz (398 ml) red kidney beans
  • 14 oz (398 ml) black beans
  • 5.5 oz (156 ml) tomato paste
  • 28 oz (796 ml) chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) turmeric
  • 1/2 tbsp (7 ml) chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp (2 ml) paprika
  • 1/2 tsp (2 ml) vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) freshly chopped coriander
  • Grated marble cheddar cheese
  • Corn chips

Instructions:

  1. Sauté vegetables and garlic paste in a pan with olive oil on medium heat. 
  2. Drain and rinse red kidney beans and black turtle beans using a large colander. Add to pan and stir.
  3. Add the rest of your ingredients with the exception of cilantro. Allow for mixture to simmer for 25 minutes.
  4. Remove mixture from heat and allow to slightly cool. Garnish with coriander.
  5. Serve on table with bowls of grated cheese and corn chips. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information (per serving):

280 kcal / 14g protein / 45g carbohydrate / 5g fat

Photo credit: Marco Verch

Creamy Garlic Chicken

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Ever wanted to have a creamy garlic chicken without all the saturated fat from cream? Well now you can! Try our new recipe where we use 2% milk instead of heavy cream and still manage to get a nice creamy texture! 

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 4 skinless chicken breast
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼  tsp garlic powder
  • ¼  tsp paprika
  • ¼  tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • ¾ cup 2% milk
  • 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions: 

  1. In a large pot, heat canola oil. 
  2. In a separate bowl combine spices together and spread it over chicken pieces.
  3. Sear the chicken pieces on each side for 2-3 minutes. 
  4. Add minced garlic and saute for a minute. 
  5. Add the low sodium broth and stir to incorporate everything together (including any flavours stuck to the bottom of the pot). 
  6. Cover with a lid, and cook for around 15-20 minutes until chicken is well done. 
  7. In a bowl or cup, whisk the cornstarch into the milk and add it to the cooked chicken. 
  8. Saute on a medium to high heat, stirring occasionally, until your desired sauce thickness is reached (~5 mins).  
  9. Serve with a side of lightly roasted green beans, broccoli or asparagus.

*Add mushrooms to add both flavour and some fibre. 

Nutritional information (per serving):

175 kcal / 27g protein / 4.4g carbohydrate / 4.7g fat

Photo credit: Salt & Lavender

The Colourful Quinoa, Black Bean, and Veggie Bowl

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With autumn finally here and the leaves changing colour, why not cozy up on the couch with a bowl of quinoa that’s as red and orange as the season itself? This recipe is chock full of protein, vitamin C, folate, and fibre. The best part? The balance of protein and healthy carbs makes it a wonderful meal item choice, so be generous and share this goodness with family and friends 😉

You will need:

  • 1 cup of quinoa, uncooked
  • 1 cup of canned black beans, drained and rinsed.
  • 1 cup of red peppers, chopped
  • 1 cup of sweet corn
  • 1 cup of grape tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup of green onion, chopped
  • ½ tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions:

  1. Add quinoa and 2 cups of water to a small pot.
  2. Cook quinoa over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil.
  3. Quickly lower heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Drain any excess fluid and place the remaining quinoa in a large bowl.
  4. Add drained and rinsed black beans, red peppers, sweet corn, grape tomatoes, and green onion to quinoa. Stir with large wooden spoon to combine ingredients together well.
  5. Prepare vinaigrette by combining lime juice, olive oil, and salt in a very small bowl. Whisk and add to the other ingredients.
  6. Divide into four and serve 😊

Nutritional information (per serving):

275 kcal / 11g protein / 46g carbohydrate / 6.5g fat

Photo credit: Marco Verch