Food

This is a twist on the usual bowl of pasta for dinner. The sauce is made with coconut milk and almond butter, so while it’s über creamy, there isn’t any dairy. Substitute wheat pasta with brown rice or quinoa noodles if you want a gluten-free option (make sure your soy sauce is wheat-free, if that’s the case).

With its heart-healthy benefits, the Mediterranean diet has long been touted as a smart and enjoyable way to eat. A typical meal is primarily made from vegetables, pulses (such as beans), whole grains, and either lean meat or fish with a liberal dose of olive oil. The cooking moves quickly in this dish so it’s best to prep all ingredients before starting.

Make dinner a DIY taco bar so all your time goes into prepping, not serving! Omega-3 rich salmon cooks up quickly. And since the oven is already on, make use of the heat to roast tomatoes for salsa (no chopping!). Use arugula or baby spinach instead of shredded iceberg lettuce to fill tacos—more nutrients and less prep!

Served at any temperature, this dish delivers and offers plenty of room for experimenting with various teas and vinaigrettes. Add another flavour edge by opting for the grill versus the pan for the salmon.

This recipe is so versatile it works well for lunch, brunch, or dinner. Feel free to substitute any greens you have on hand, depending on what’s in the garden and what’s in season. You might even try zucchini or asparagus tips. Healthy versions of frozen potatoes are now available in the natural foods section of large supermarkets. They are trans fat free and come pre-seasoned with herbs, yet provide the zinc and vitamin C of fresh potatoes. To reduce chopping, use minced garlic in oil found in jars in the produce section.

Use any kind of pasta, but for a special treat try something interesting from a gourmet pasta maker.

Warm up with this creamy comfort food. Down-to-earth flavours of cauliflower blend smoothly with a hint of sweet honey. Rocky Mountain Flatbread keeps their daily soup pots full. This soup disappears from those pots as soon as their doors are opened.

Experiment with different apples and pears and you will create a new salad every time! Leave the skin on the fruits to give maximum nutritional value and colour to your dishes. This salad is intended as a main course for lunch or a light dinner, but if used as a side dish, it will serve six to eight people.

Crêpes were a staple growing up; my mom used them to create tasty leftover dishes and quick desserts for us. Feel free to vary the fruits and filling or have them on their own as a satisfying treat.

This salsa recipe is good on its own, with grilled fish, and definitely great with chicken. Use it as a guideline only and experiment until you create your own masterpiece!

For tofu lovers, these Thai-influenced burgers won’t disappoint. The heat of the grill actually amplifies the natural sweetness of the pineapple, making it a contender for one of the best burger toppings around.

Infusing these burgers with creamy goat cheese and adorning them with a lively pesto solves the concern that lentil burgers are always too, well, earthy. In lieu of zucchini, other good vegetable topping options include tomato, cucumber, and/or grilled eggplant slices.

Replete with superfoods, these burgers are loaded with fibre. But don’t think they’ll taste like cardboard. Chipotle gives the sauce some smoky heat, but you can also use smoked paprika, cayenne, or even curry powder if you prefer.