The weather has been a bit of a mixed bag lately with some beautiful warm autumn days and a few cooler days reminding us that winter is on the way.
Not only is it in-between weather time for knowing what to wear, it is also the time that we start thinking about what to eat. Hot or cold? Lightweight food or comfort food?
I thought I’d list some ideas for simple warm meals to help you. While the basic ingredients and portion sizes don’t change from what you have on your food plans, you might like to experiment with ideas on how to use those ingredients. Disclaimer here: I am no flash cook, but I like tasty, easy to prepare and make meals that don’t take a lot of thought or work.
Breakfast
Most people tend to stick to one or two options for breakfast. Keeping it simple, quick and no fuss. If you are looking for a warmer start to the day, try these.
Porridge (ideally making with milk, or adding protein powder at the end)
Poached or scrambled eggs, or an omelet
Lunch
Frittatas are a great way to incorporate lots of veggies and to use up ‘bits’ out of the fridge. There are so many variations, but here is one on my website
Likewise, there are so many possible variations of stuffed potatoes (or kumara)
Basically, wash and stab a jacket potato, pop in the microwave for a few minutes, until just tender when squeezed, and then add one of these toppings -
100g cooked, shredded chicken, mix with a teaspoon of your favourite sauce, warm in the microwave and then stuff the cooked potato with it.
125g of cottage cheese, pile onto the cooked potato or kumara, top with 1 tsp (or less) of sweet chilli sauce and serve with additional veggies.
Serve with a good amount of salad or slaw, or leftover steamed or baked veggies.
Soup – lots of soup recipes on my website but my go to is to make a big batch of this thick veggie soup - remember to add 100g cooked chicken to each bowl.
Or, make a big batch of a mince dish (savoury/chilli/curried) and warm some through for lunch, serve with additional steamed veggies.
Dinner
Again, it is just using the ingredients you have on your plan, in the portion sizes and making something out of them. Multiplying protein etc for multiple servings.
Crockpot meals
Stir fries
Roast a whole chicken
Bake veggies such as pumpkin, kumara, potato, carrot, beetroot, onion etc in a baking dish sprayed with a good layer of olive oil spray. Work out portions and make multiple servings to last a few nights, or to take and warm up for lunch. (Lunch: serve on baby spinach leaves, with a serving of protein and a blob of garlic or pesto yoghurt).
Make hot ‘rice salad’ by using unlimited cauliflower rice, ½ cup of corn kernels per serving, plus free veggies such as red onion, capsicums, broccoli florets etc. Serve with 100g smoked or roasted chicken breast, or two eggs, or another portion of some kind of protein. Make enough to take for lunches the next day.
Another recipe using cauliflower rice is Chicken Tikka
This is probably the most popular recipe on my website – chicken pizza!
This lemon chicken casserole is popular too
This simple moroccan mince dish is easy and very tasty
Remember, you can use canned tomatoes, stock and seasonings to flavour food. Simple food tastes good!
I will be on leave from
25th May - 12th August 2023
Please remember that I am going to be away on an extended break, with my last day of work being Thursday morning 25 May.
That means there are only SIX more weeks of work if you were planning on having a catch up before I head off. My diary is filling up, so please get in touch now if you would like to make an appointment before I go.
First day back is not until 12 August.
Enjoy the warmer food ideas,
