Though the current national health crisis has altered everyday life, some things worked to our advantage. Take, for instance, cooking at home. Many have swapped out takeout and restaurants for home-cooked meals as households nationwide tighten their purse strings and remain close to home. Such practices have made it easier to save money and improve overall health and wellness.
The only problem is, after more than six months preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at home, things tend to get boring. Chances are, you’re having a challenging time coming up with new, affordable, convenient, and nourishing ideas to satisfy your tastebuds. Fortunately, there are some practical solutions. Continue reading for healthy fall meals your family will enjoy.
Pasta Dishes
Pasta is very affordable. It’s also very filling and a favorite for most. Whether you prefer traditional spaghetti, vegan lasagna or baked ziti or pasta dishes like creamy vegan alfredo, pesto, and vegan butter garlic sauce, you can create various dishes. Incorporating ingredients like veggie noodles, whole-wheat pasta, organic vegetables, spices, and herbs can give your pasta meals a nutritional boost. The best part is pasta dishes don’t take long to prepare; they’re easy to store and reheat well for simple meal prep ideas you can enjoy all week long.
Soups and Vegan Chili
If you’re going to keep warm this fall, adding soups and vegan chili to your weekly meal plan is ideal. These comfort foods are delicious, easy to store, and convenient to prepare. All you need is a crockpot, a cutting board, and a good knife to cut up your favorite ingredients. Rather than making your typical tomato soup and chili, you can mix things up by looking for crockpot recipes online. Healthy options like vegetable soup and white bean chili are ideal for proper nutrition.
Stir-Frys
Do you miss ordering your favorite dishes from the local Chinese restaurant? While splurging to support small businesses is fine on occasion, you can make some popular dishes from home. For instance, veggie stir-frys over rice, pasta, or veggie noodles are a tasty treat. With the purchase of fresh ingredients and jarred sauces like soy, teriyaki, and sweet and sour, you’ll find your meals come close to the pros. While the pots and pans you have will do, purchasing things like a cutting board, knife, wok, and frying pans from brands like Made In Cookware offer the best results.
Warm Sandwiches
Salads and subs might be ideal for summer lunches. Now that the weather is a bit cooler, it’s best to prepare warm sandwiches. Perfect for breakfast or lunch, they’re affordable and easy to make. All you need is a panini press or a sandwich maker. Lightly grease the cooking device and add your favorite protein, vegan cheeses, and veggies. Close the cooking device, and in just a few short minutes, you’ve got a quick and easy meal ready to go.
Sweet Treats
What meal is complete without delicious sweet treats? While you may not have time to bake things from scratch, there are plenty of no-bake vegan dessert options your family will love. From peanut butter chocolate bars and chocolate almond cake to strawberry cheesecake and coconut cups, there’s a dessert for everyone to enjoy. The best part about no-bake recipes is that they often take half the time to prepare and clean up. They’re also great to try with the kids as you don’t have to worry about anything working with the heat from the oven.
Everyone is cooking more than ever amid the pandemic. While it’s a great way to save money, incorporate healthier ingredients, and spend quality time with family, it’s only so long before you run out of ideas. Fortunately, there are some affordable, simple, and healthy home-cooked meal ideas to keep you nourished and cozy all season long. Provided you have the cookware and devices discussed above, a few simple recipes to follow along with, and a few moments, you can prepare meals your family will certainly want seconds of.
