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21 Simple, Quick, & Easy Meals
All tagged Antioxidant
This Superfood Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory superfoods, from cacao and cacao nibs, to gut-healing cauliflower and iron-rich spinach. The frozen cauliflower adds creaminess without you needing to add a banana! And the coconut is a healthy fat that helps your body absorb all of the nutrients from the mint and spinach. The cacao nibs make you chew your smoothie, which slows down your consumption and creates mindful eating.
This Apple and Goji Berry Kale Salad tastes like fall with every bite! When you “massage” the kale with your hands, the kale becomes sweeter and softer, so don’t skip this step. Sweet apple, crunchy sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and chewy and tart goji berries are a match made in heaven. And if you’re anything like me, you eat salads for the awesome toppings 😉 And this salad delivers the best toppings!
Serves: 2
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
Pinch of salt
1 head of kale, torn into small bite-size pieces
1 apple, chopped into small pieces
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon goji berries
How (your directions):
Add kale pieces to a large bowl. Top with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and a pinch of salt.
Massage kale for 3-4 minutes with your hands.
Add apple pieces, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and goji berries.
Toss to combine and enjoy!
Why (the science): Goji berries are high in fiber and the antioxidant zeaxanthin, which helps protect your cells from damage.
Most green juices on the market are sneakily loaded with sugar from too much fruit, fruit juice, or fruit concentrate, which can cause blood sugar spikes, inflammation, and weight gain. This Cucumber Lime Celery Juice is made with hydrating green veggies and lime, keeping sugar content low, while providing your body with vitamin C, chlorophyll, and antioxidants to boost your immune system.
Serves: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 large cucumber
4 celery stalks, rinsed
1 lime
2 cups cold water
How (your directions):
Slice the cucumber into 4 large chunks and add to a highspeed blender.
Chop each celery stalk into 2-3 pieces and add to the blender.
Squeeze the juice of one lime into blender. Add 2 cups of cold water.
Blend on high for 1 minute.
Place a nut milk bag into a pitcher. Pour cucumber lime celery juice through the nut milk bag, and squeeze the bag until all the juice is in the pitcher and only the pulp remains in the nut milk bag.
Enjoy immediately or store in fridge for a day to be enjoyed later!
Why (the science): Green juices do not contain fiber, healthy fats, or protein- so don’t replace meals with them. However, this green juice provides an additional way to hydrate and helps you get more antioxidants in your body between balanced meals!
If you’re in search of a healthy, freezer-friendly meal prep recipe that can be enjoyed for on-the-go breakfasts or afternoon snack, then this recipe is for you! Italian Inspired Egg Muffins freeze beautifully, but they also last in the fridge for 5 days. Serve them with toast and fresh avocado, or serve with a salad for a light lunch.
Serves: 6-12 (1-2 egg muffins per serving)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
½ freshly grated parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 eggs
¼ cup unsweetened plant-based milk
Pinch of salt and pepper
How (your directions):
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line a 12-cup muffin pan with parchment paper muffin liners.
In each muffin cup, add a tablespoon of chopped fresh spinach and a few pieces of diced tomato.
Sprinkle each muffin cup with Italian seasoning.
Top each muffin cup with 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese.
In a large Pyrex measuring cup, whisk eggs, plant milk, salt and pepper.
Distribute egg mixture evenly among the 12 muffin cups.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Enjoy hot, room temperature, or even cold!
Why (the science): Herbs are rich in antioxidants, so don’t skip the addition of Italian seasoning. It adds both flavor and nutrition!
Who doesn’t want to make a recipe in under 30 minutes that can last all week in the fridge, and be enjoyed at any meal, be that breakfast or dinner! This Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Fresh Mint and Creamy Goat Cheese is rich in antioxidants, as well as protein to keep you full and satisfied. Make once, enjoy all week! The perfect simple meal prep recipe 😊
Serves: 6
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
3 tablespoons orange juice (juice from 1 blood orange)
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 lb. strawberries
20 fresh mint leaves
2 oz. goat cheese
Walnuts to serve
How (your directions):
Add 1 cup quinoa and 2 cups water to a large sauté pan. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, create an easy vinaigrette by adding orange juice, olive oil, and salt to a large bowl. Whisk and set aside.
Slice strawberries and chiffonade the mint. Add to bowl with the vinaigrette.
When the quinoa has cooked for 15 minutes, turn off the heat, but leave the quinoa in the covered pan for 5 minutes.
Fluff the quinoa with a fork, then add to the bowl. Stir to combine.
Place in refrigerator for a few minutes to cool. Once cooled, crumble the goat cheese into the quinoa salad.
Serve room temperature or cold, and top with walnuts.
Enjoy for lunch or dinner (or even breakfast!) throughout the week.
Why (the science): Mint and other herbs are high in antioxidants, which helps reduce inflammation and boost your immune system, which helps you feel better in general!
Creamy Buckwheat Porridge is a no-fuss, gluten-free breakfast made quickly in a blender. Think of it as an exciting alternative to overnight oats! Simply soak the buckwheat to soften this pseudocereal, then blend with oatmeal and chia seeds. Creamy Buckwheat Porridge is a great meal prep breakfast, too- just fill a few glass jars, top with your favorite fruits and nuts, and grab-and-go. Buckwheat helps prevent blood sugar spikes, so you won’t feel an energy crash after this naturally sweet breakfast.
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes (then allow to soak 4 hours or overnight)
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 cup buckwheat groats, soaked 4 hours or overnight in water
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 pear, roughly chopped
1 ½ cups oat milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Toppings: sliced kiwi, blackberries, sliced almonds, or any fruit and nut of choice
How (your directions):
Begin by submerging and soaking 1 cup of buckwheat groats in water for 4 hours or overnight.
Once soaked, drain and rinse buckwheat.
Add buckwheat, cinnamon, pear, oat milk, and chia seeds to a blender.
Blend on high for 60 seconds until smooth.
Spoon smooth porridge into 4 glass jars, then top with your favorite fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Enjoy immediately or refrigerate and enjoy throughout the week.
Why (the science): Buckwheat contains the antioxidant, rutin, which helps reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure.
Light and fluffy Vegan Raspberry Muffins are the perfect meal prep breakfast to enjoy throughout the week. You’ll be absolutely adored if you make these for someone special on Valentine’s Day! These muffins are significantly lower in sugar than traditional muffins, and the raspberry preserves help sweeten the muffin and add extra raspberry flavor. The whole wheat pastry flour is my secret nutrition weapon when it comes to baking- it’s whole wheat (hello, health benefits of fiber and vitamin E for blood sugar control) but is light and fine like all purpose flour.
Serves: 8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 tablespoon flax meal
3 tablespoons water
1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 tablespoons cane sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons melted vegan butter
2 tablespoons raspberry preserves
1 cup raspberries
How (your directions):
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Line a muffin tin with 8 liners, then set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together flax meal and water. Set aside while preparing dry ingredients.
To a large bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Once the flax egg has thickened, add almond milk, melted butter, and raspberry preserves to the flax egg. Stir to combine.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until flour is just moistened.
Fold in raspberries evenly through batter.
Using an ice cream scoop, evenly distribute batter among the lined muffin tin.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove muffins from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for 3 minutes.
Transfer muffins to a cooling rack.
Enjoy warm, room temperature, or toasted for breakfast throughout the week!
Why (the science): Raspberries are rich in the antioxidant, ellagic acid, which reduces inflammation in the body and repairs DNA.
Eating your vegetables has never been so easy! Make pulled BBQ at home in 25 minutes using only a few easy, whole food ingredients. Mushroom and Artichoke BBQ would be a delicious plant-based option at your outdoor picnic and summer BBQ parties 😊
Serves: 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. white or baby bella mushrooms, diced
2 15-oz. cans baby artichokes in water, drained and diced
1 ¼ cup favorite BBQ sauce
Assembly: toasted whole wheat buns, coleslaw
How (your directions):
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Add garlic, mushrooms, and diced artichokes. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.
Add favorite BBQ sauce and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring only occasionally to allow for caramelization.
Serve immediately on a warm, toasted whole wheat bun with ¼ cup of coleslaw!
Why (the science): Mushrooms are a rich source of selenium and glutathione, antioxidants that lower inflammation in the body.
Soaked oats are made more fun and delicious by making a blueberry almond milk with fresh summer blueberries! A colorful bowl of oats, coconut, and fresh and dried fruit, this Blueberry Muesli Bowl will keep you energized for hours. Using quick cooking oats allows the muesli bowl to be ready within 30 minutes, without needing an overnight soak to “cook” the oats.
Serves: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
½ cup almond milk
½ cup fresh blueberries
½ cup quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon chia seeds
Toppings: Blueberries, dried mulberries, unsweetened desiccated coconut, goji berries
How (your directions):
To create the blueberry almond milk, add almond milk and blueberries to a high-speed blender, and blend for 30 seconds.
To a cereal bowl, add quick cooking oats and chia seeds. Pour blueberry almond milk over oats and chia seeds. Stir to combine, then allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Tip: You can refrigerate this blueberry muesli if you like your oats cold or if preparing overnight.
Top with blueberries, dried mulberries, unsweetened desiccated coconut, goji berries, or YOUR favorite toppings. Sliced strawberries, slivered almonds, and mint would be delicious!
Why (the science): Blueberries contain polyphenols, compounds which are known to boost brain health and prevent cognitive decline!
These Pink Pancakes are perfect for Valentine’s Day brunch or Christmas morning! I mean, look at that color 😊 And they couldn’t be easier to make, since they’re made in a blender. Serve them with butter and maple syrup, and perhaps a dusting of cocoa powder for something sweet and elegant. Or try my savory version with slices of avocado, wedges of blood orange or grapefruit, and a drizzle of tahini. You could even pack the savory ones for lunch and eat them at room temperature…yum!
Serves: 2 (2 plate-size pancakes or 9 silver-dollars)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup plant milk
1 cup roughly cubed beet (raw, not cooked)
½ teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
Coconut oil for cooking
Savory toppings: avocado slices, blood orange or grapefruit sections, drizzle of tahini, freshly ground pepper
Sweet toppings: butter, maple syrup, a dusting of cocoa powder
How (your directions):
In a high-speed blender, add oats, plant milk, cubed beet, baking powder, and salt. Blend until smooth.
In a large skillet, heat coconut oil over medium heat. Pour pancake mix into whatever size you prefer.
Once the sides are cooked and the tops are bubbling, flip the pancakes.
Allow to cook on the second side for 3 more minutes.
Serve immediately with your favorite sweet or savory toppings!
Why (the science): Beets contain the pigment betalain, which is considered a potent antioxidant which fights inflammation and oxidative stress.
There’s a reason pear and blue cheese salads are a classic- these salads are rich flavor while incredibly easy to make. In fact, in 5 minutes (or less, if you are a quick pear slicer!), you can create this Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette. This special salad is rich in heart-healthy omega-3’s and antioxidants. Of course, the recipe can be extended for however many family members or guests you may be entertaining. An elegant dish that any salad-hater will love 😊
Serves: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
Dijon Vinaigrette
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
Pinch of salt and pepper
½ cup olive oil
Pear and Gorgonzola Salad
2 handfuls spinach
½ ounce walnuts
½ pear, sliced paper thin
1-inch cube gorgonzola blue cheese, crumbled
Drizzle of Dijon Vinaigrette
How (your directions):
Prepare the Dijon Vinaigrette by whisking all ingredients together. Vinaigrette can be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for future use.
To prepare salad, place a few handfuls of spinach onto a plate. Then place sliced pears onto spinach a drizzle with Dijon Vinaigrette.
Sprinkle salad with walnut pieces and gorgonzola crumbles.
Enjoy immediately!
Why (the science): Pears are rich in flavanols, which have been shown to play an important role in improving insulin sensitivity (which means your insulin is more controlled)!
Acai bowls can be expensive, unless you make them at home! This recipe is inspired by one of my favorites in Charlottesville, VA but costs significantly less. The vanilla bean granola is special- slightly chewy, but rich in flavor from the vanilla bean and cashews. This recipe makes a lot of granola, which stores beautifully in an airtight container for a week. What are your favorite acai bowl toppings?
Serves: 1 acai bowl, 10 servings granola
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
What (your ingredients):
Vanilla Bean Granola:
3 cups rolled oats
3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup cashews
pinch of pink Himalaya sea salt
½ vanilla bean
Acai Bowl:
Handful of spinach
1 frozen banana
2 handfuls frozen mango
½ cup plant-based milk
2 tablespoons hemp protein powder
1 scoop greens powder with probiotics
How (your directions):
Preheat oven to 350°F.
For the vanilla bean granola, add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir until evenly distributed.
Pour mixture onto lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
Remove granola from oven and allow to cool.
For the acai bowl, place all ingredients in a highspeed blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into bowl and top with favorite toppings (frozen blueberries, coconut flakes, chia seeds) and the vanilla bean granola!
Why (the science): Acai is a trending “superfood,” but for good reason. Rich in antioxidants to reduce inflammation, acai also contains heart-healthy fats.
Strawberry Pepper Gazpacho is sweet with a kick! The strawberries balance the spiciness of the jalapeno, and the peppers add body and texture to this bountiful summer soup. I poured my gazpacho into two clean pasta sauce jars, making these the perfect grab-and-go meals or afternoon snacks. Because it can be enjoyed cold or room temperature, strawberry pepper gazpacho can be enjoyed anywhere, be that work, school, outdoor festival, or picnic!
Serves: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 lb. strawberries, rinsed (keep the green stems on!)
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
6-8 small tomatoes
1 jalapeno, veins and seeds removed
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
How (your directions):
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until almost smooth but leaving a little texture.
Serve immediately or keep in the fridge for 4 days.
Enjoy!
Why (the science): With colors like orange, yellow, and red, this soup is truly overflowing with vitamin C and antioxidants 😊
*Recipe updated from Purple Carrot
Isn’t there a tag line that goes something like taste the rainbow? Well I say, don’t just taste the rainbow, but eat the rainbow! This bowl could not be more colorful or more nutritious, so grab a big fork and dig in :) Serves 4
Meal prep and eating healthfully could not be easier than a Balanced Bowl, because all components last successfully in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. This means that all you have to do is assemble your lunch the night before or assemble all of the week’s lunches at once so they are ready to take with you! (Just be sure to add the avocado new each day to ensure its freshness).
Fairytale eggplant is officially the most adorable vegetable because of its tiny size and purple-white stripes! But there’s another reason to love this little eggplant: it does not have the bitterness that a typical Italian eggplant that you find at the grocery store has (you know the ones…those giant dark purple eggplant giants). Fairytale eggplant has very few seeds, the culprit for eggplant bitterness. Between the smell of homemade roasted peppers, the sweetness of a balsamic reduction, and the punch of peppery oregano, you will be transported straight to an Italian kitchen. Buon appetito!
This recipe was inspired by one of my favorite meals, served for dinner at an olive plantation I stayed at in Sicily- it was so good, I make a variation of it frequently, and my family always requests it when I visit (so you know this one’s a winner)! The cauliflower becomes nutty when sautéed, the pine nuts add crunch, the raisins add chewy sweetness, and the saffron makes it an incredible golden color!
