Did you know that 80% of Americans don’t eat the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables?
If you want to turn over a new leaf, eating healthy is a great starting point to achieve wellness. But without prior experience, you might have no idea what to put on your superfoods list. It might discourage you since the options are overwhelming.
Don’t panic, we can help.
With this guide, you’ll learn some delicious superfood recipes to kickstart your healthy lifestyle. Read on and find out how eating healthy can change your life.
What Are Superfoods?
Superfoods are dishes with high nutritional density, meaning it’s great for your health. Take note, the American Heart Association states that the criteria required for superfood classification aren’t clear, meaning food deemed “healthy” could fall under this classification. The safest bet is to reserve the term for food that pack at least 3-5 important health benefits, vitamins, and minerals.
Superfood Recipes
With nutrient dense foods, you can make delicious dishes out of them. Here are five great recipes to ensure your healthy diet has a more definite shape:
1. Baked Artichoke Hearts
This is a healthy side dish that complements chicken, beef, and pork meals.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you need:
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt
- 1/2 low-fat milk
- 2 tsp of mixed dried herbs
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 can of artichoke hearts
The yogurt should be fat-free while the low-fat milk should only have 1% of fat.
Cooking Directions
Preheat the oven until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit while coating a 2-quart baking dish using a cooking spray.
Put the eggs along with the yogurt, herbs, milk, and a quarter-cup cheese in an electric mixer bowl. Beat it for three minutes using high settings before adding artichokes and stirring.
After that, pour the contents into a baking dish and bake it for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know it’s cooked enough when you can insert the knife in the middle and it comes out clean. Serve it after sprinkling the remaining quarter cup of cheese.
2. Warm Freekeh Salad With Chicken and Vegetables
This is best for a weeknight dinner since it’s rich in branched-chain amino acids.
Ingredients
For this dish, you need:
- 1 cup of uncooked freekeh
- 2 1/2 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 tsp and 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 2 julienned carrots
- 3 cups of baby spinach
- 1/2 cup of shiitake mushrooms
- 1/2 cup of sliced red peppers
- 3 cloves of diced garlic
- 1 tsp of dried thyme leaves
- 2 medium cooked beets
- 2 cups of cooked chicken breast
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
You can either use whole or sliced mushrooms. Chop the cooked beets into 1/4-inch pieces and shred the chicken. You can add more black pepper if you desire.
Directions
Put the freekeh and broth in a saucepan, covering it until it boils. Decrease the heat and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes and put it in reserve. While it cooks, use a large saucepan and put 2 tsp of olive oil over medium to high heat.
After that, add the carrots and sauté until it gets softer. Cook the spinach, mushrooms, peppers, and garlic on the pan, tossing until the spinach wilts. After that, put the thyme and beets and let it saute for another minute.
Drain the liquids from the freekeh and put it in a large bowl, adding the chicken and tossing. In a small bowl, put 2 tbsp of olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper. Whisk until well-mixed then add it to the freekeh mixture.
To serve it, use the vegetable mixture as toppings to the freekeh and chicken.
3. Spinach Salad With Fried Egg and Goat Cheese
This salad has texture, a complex flavor profile, and delicious egg yolk.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbsp minced shallot
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 3 tbsp and 1 tsp of divided olive oil
- 3/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 4 large eggs
- 5-oz packed baby spinach
- 2 oz goat cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/4 cup pepitas
Ensure you get crumbled goat cheese for the best results.
Directions
Put the vinegar and shallot in a bowl, letting it stand for 10 minutes. Add the pepper, mustard, 3 tbsp oil, and ¼ tsp of salt. Whisk it until everything combines.
Use a nonstick skillet and use medium heat. Put 1 tsp oil and swirl it to coat. Add the eggs and cook until the whites set and turn over to let it cook for a minute for runny yolks while sprinkling with salt.
Divide the spinach among four plates and top each with an egg, 2 tbsp of goat cheese, and blueberries. Add a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds. To top it off, drizzle some vinaigrette.
4. Cashew-Goji Berry Bars
This is a good pick-me-up if you want healthy snacking.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you need:
- 1/2 cup pitted dried dates
- 1/2 cup pitted prunes
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 1 tbsp creamy cashew butter
- 3/4 cup dried goji berries
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Switch other nuts and berries to change flavors.
Directions
Use a food processor bowl to combine the dates, prunes, and hot water. After 20 seconds of processing, put the cashews and cashew butter to the mixture. It takes a minute to combine the mixture until you add the goji berries, vanilla, and salt.
Use a parchment-lined work surface to turn the mixture out. Ideally, it should be a 16×5-inch rectangle, around 1/2-inch thick and cut into 8 bars. Refrigerate until it becomes firm and sets to finish preparation.
5. Lemon Drop Energy Balls
This recipe has a natural sweetness with dates and maple syrup.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you need:
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp grated lemon zest
You can use cashews as substitutes for almonds.
Directions
Use a food processor to make almonds crumble then add dates, maple syrup, lemon juice, coconut, vanilla, and salt. After combining, put the lemon zest and process for 30 seconds.
Scoop the mixture and use moist hands to roll 1-inch balls. Use a mixture of coconut and lemon zest to sprinkle each ball. Put on a baking sheet and refrigerate for an hour before it’s ready for serving.
Get More Superfood Recipes Today
These are some great superfood recipes you can try at home. Use them to kickstart your healthy lifestyle.
But it doesn’t end here because there’s a lot more to learn when it comes to maintaining your health. Feel free to check out our other guides to discover other great tips.
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