Food

Pasta with a simple sauce is likely a weekly, even daily, staple in most homes with little ones. This plant-based dish may not include meat, but protein is still high on the list. The puréed cannellini beans add a thick, creamy texture to the sauce, as well as protein. Paired with lentil pasta, this dish will provide flavour and your kids’ daily portion of protein.

Sushi is a fast-growing favourite among kids today, but it isn’t always budget friendly. Surprisingly, it’s quite simple to make at home and easy to customize so there’s something for everyone. Adding beets to the sushi rice during the cooking process adds a fun natural pink colour that your kids will love. This is also a fun meal for getting your kiddos in the kitchen and involved in meal prep. This finger food is great for trips to the beach or a casual dinner on a busy night. It works perfectly in school lunches or as a great on-the-go snack. You can fill these sushi rolls with all your kids’ favourite vegetables and proteins. Don’t forget to make some for yourself!

This fresh-tasting, creamy soup once again proves green is the colour of health. And it’s a plant-based soup that brings the protein. Serve it as a starter for a meal or as a light meal itself along with some toasted crusty bread.

For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, each slice of this veggie-studded egg casserole is super satisfying. Because it’s a make-ahead dish, it’s convenient when you have little time to spare to get a meal on the table. Chunks of crusty bread soak up some liquid to give the casserole a heartier texture. But try to give the precooked casserole some time in the fridge—the flavours will mingle together and the bread will have a chance to soak up some of the liquid. Not into bread? You can replace it with frozen diced hash brown potatoes. For the richest flavour, use half-and-half or whole milk. But you can also use lower-fat milk or unsweetened dairy-free milk if desired. Consider serving with your favourite salsa and/or avocado slices.

This somewhat nontraditional curry emphasizes protein and ease of preparation. Taking the liberty of blending winter squash and peanut butter into the curry sauce lends it a nice sweetness and extra-creamy mouthfeel. It’s the perfect dish to reheat, as leftovers only get more flavourful. Serve with a pile of rice.

Fall root vegetables such as parsnips or celeriac make a delicious combination with the autumn season’s arguably biggest star—the apple. Choose a tart apple like Granny Smith or a sweet-tart apple like Pink Lady for this silky soup thickened up with a cashew cream to deliver not only a winning texture but a healthy dose of dietary fibre and some added protein. Tarragon is a supporting actor in this play, working nicely with the apples in a bright, tasty oil as garnish.

The apple in these turkey meatballs might not be immediately visible, but it’s working behind the scenes to help bind them together and adds sweet flavour and juiciness. Chinese five-spice powder—a blend of star anise, ground fennel seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon—lends lively flavour, alongside ginger and garlic. Packed full of protein, these meaty bites are a good source of vitamin D and iron and make for a tasty party appetizer.

Select the ripest figs you can find to add gorgeous sweetness to this hearty salad, which is just as useful for a family dinner as a workday lunch. Carrots and chickpeas are dressed in a savoury tahini yogurt dressing with Middle Eastern-inspired flavours. A little goes a long way with this fibre- and protein-packed salad, which keeps well in the fridge.

Luscious figs loaded onto hearty flatbread make a satisfying breakfast or brunch. They’re sweet and delicious when paired with savoury cinnamon-flavoured crunchy pumpkin seeds and tart goat cheese. And, with a dough enriched with whole wheat flour, hempseeds, and nigella, these flatbreads are sure to be satisfying. They’re also chock full of fibre and protein, and with 6 mg of iron, you’ll be on your way to 31 percent of the recommended daily value.

Whether you build this meal in a bowl or a jar or serve it family style, this raw “noodle” main course will satisfy your need for the punchy tastes of Thai cuisine. Tip: To make Pad Thai even more substantial and add another textural component, top with half an avocado per serving.

This quickly blended soup uses fermented miso paste, sweet raw corn, green onions, and zucchini, turning creamy without any dairy whatsoever. A sweet-spicy fruit swirl brings everything together. Tip: Instead of a swirl, top with a raw salsa of diced tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and lime juice.

This marriage of nutritional superstars is sure to bowl you over with fresh flavours, great textural contrasts, and visual appeal. Not just for the birds, millet has great corny flavour, and cooking it in cilantro water is a way to make it even better with extra herby taste. To make each bowl shine even brighter green, you can swap out black beans for edamame or lima beans. It can also become vegetarian by swapping out chicken for cubes of smoked tofu. Serve the bowls for lunch or dinner.

Pile It On

Israeli or pearl couscous is called ptitim in Israel. Small balls of toasted semolina flour are a type of pasta. With a lovely smooth texture and the ability to take on many delicious flavours and aromatics, it’s an easy solution for dinner. For the gluten free, substitute with short-grain rice. Wine Pairing: Les Hauts de Lagarde 2013, Bordeaux, France Tip: This dish is also delicious served at room temperature, if you wish. Refrigerate poached salmon, snap peas, and prepared couscous separately just until no longer hot. Then arrange and serve as above, garnished with almonds and green onions.

This salad is bound to impress and can be made with a variety of organic vegetables. Mix it up a bit by using other spicy greens such as mustard and arugula. Wine Pairing: Southbrook Triomphe Organic Cabernet Franc Rose 2011, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario Tip: Want to go vegetarian? Replace salmon and chicken with diced sautéed organic tofu and sliced almonds.

Tip: Change it up

Forget the heavy, stick-to-your-ribs stews of winter: This zesty and bright spring stew will leave you feeling light and revitalized.

No grain, no gain

Well-balanced flavor and clean carbohydrates make this soup a delicious, functional favorite.  

If you think pumpkin is best trotted out twice a year as a pie filling, think again. Chef Luptak prefers using Rouge vif d’Étampes pumpkin, a French heirloom variety, when he makes this salad. “Rouge vif d’Étampes” means “bright red from Étampes”—an old commune in France. These flat pumpkins were a fixture in Paris’s central market in the late 1800s.

Going to ground

Zucchini is a surprisingly chameleon-like vegetable—I find myself using it frozen in morning smoothies, puréed in desserts and now, grated in pizza crust! This zucchini pizza crust is a great way to sneak in extra servings of vegetables, and it is naturally lower in carbohydrates and higher in fiber compared with traditional crusts. This recipe pays homage to a cauliflower crust, which is one of my most popular recipes from my blog. Both of these recipe components, the crust and pea pesto, can be enjoyed on their own, yet when combined, it’s evident they’re meant to be enjoyed together.

As a matter of flax

From Nutrition Stripped: 100 Whole-Food Recipes Made Deliciously Simple © 2016 by McKel Hill. Reprinted with permission by WilliamMorrow Cookbooks, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Soup is the ultimate detox food. It incorporates into the body easily, taking a load off of your digestive system while making you feel taken care of. Make a vat of this to sip and snack on when hunger pangs strike, or slurp up a large serving as your main course meal.

Semi-firm, brined halloumi cheese is perfect for outdoor cuisine because it holds its shape when heated on a grill. The exterior becomes crispy while the interior turns velvety. It’s just one reason why this flame-licked salad is destined to become a campfire tale for years to come. If taking up residence at a cottage with an oven, the peppers, halloumi, and pitas can be prepared under the broiler. You can also press the easy button and bring along a jar of roasted red peppers.

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