Category: Mains

Looking for a pasta-style dish without the heaviness of a pound of pasta? The equal amount of spaghetti squash will leave you feeling light yet still very satisfied! Fresh and bright sauces pair nicely with spaghetti squash, like this vegetable-broth-based garlic, tomato, and mushroom sauce. Adding a leafy green, such as organic spinach or kale, will complete the dish with colors and nutrients! We love this as a light dish for a warm summer evening or a warming dish for the crisp fall nights.

Trying to eat less meat? You’ll want to try these Lentil Quinoa Meatballs. They’re a bit different than traditional meatballs in that the flavor is slightly different, but also in that you won’t be getting saturated fat, hormones, antibiotics, or any other unwanted ingredients that come with red meat. Instead, you’ll receive tons of fiber, plant-based protein, lots of phytonutrients, and vitamins and minerals found in the quinoa and lentils. What’s fantastic about this recipe is that it’s so versatile. Make them as a party appetizer, stuff them into an organic whole grain wrap, dip them in your favorite plant-based sauce, or top them on spaghetti squash for “spaghetti and meatballs.” Tell us how you enjoy them and what fun things you pair with them in the comments below.

This recipe highlights the versatility and nutrient qualities of quinoa. The tiny seed is high in protein, fiber, iron, and B vitamins and can be used in so many ways. For this dish, it’s the pasta and the meatballs. What other food do you know that can play two major roles in one single plate? And, while making your own tomato sauce might sound daunting, our Basic Red Tomato Sauce is actually quite simple! Pro tip: Double the sauce so you have extra for dipping your meatballs!

This Lentil Minestrone has all of the elements of a healthy soup — phytonutrient-filled vegetables, fiber-filled whole-grain pasta, healing herbs and spices, and protein-powered beans. Make it for dinner guests, portion it out for lunches throughout the week, or freeze it for later so you can enjoy it in the months to come!

Want the sauce without the wings? This plant-based dish has all the flavor, and just as much protein, as the meat-based version. Enjoy this by itself, serve it as an appetizer, or savor it alongside a veggie burger. No matter how you dive in, you’re getting a boatload of vitamin C, beta carotene, fiber, and protein from this nutritious dish.

Make this recipe as-is for a hearty side, or double the recipe and enjoy it as a main meal. There’s no hiding it, squash is the star of the show here and for good reason! It makes a delicious casserole combined with other vegetables, cashew cheese, and fresh herbs. Enjoy it with summer squash during the spring and summer and butternut squash during the fall and winter. Either way, the squash is lending a hearty dose of vitamin C, phytonutrients, and fiber towards your health!

These Southwest Veggie Burgers are perfectly grillable! Even though you won’t notice the squash, it’s playing an essential binding role with its fiber and moisture (not to mention its nutritional value). Make them ahead of time and enjoy them all week long for lunch or freeze them (separated between parchment paper) so that you have the burgers as you want them in the weeks ahead.

Take the fiesta to-go with this mason jar taco salad. Not only are mason jar salads easy to assemble, but they’re also very pretty! Antioxidant-rich salsa, protein-packed beans, carotenoid-containing corn, fiber-loaded lettuce, and monounsaturated fat-filled avocado create a flavorful and oh so nutritious salad in a jar!

More of the savory breakfast type? Then you’re going to love this plant-based version of sausage and eggs! Lentil “Sausage” Scramble is super satisfying and will keep you energized all morning long with plenty of plant-based protein from the tofu and lentils, and abundant healing nutrients in the garlic, turmeric, cumin, fennel and sage.

Who needs fast food when you can make these Drive-Thru Potatoes? One bite of the layered lentils, potatoes, and savory sauce will make you more than happy to stay at home and out of that long line of cars.