Food rut...need meal ideas please!

[calebsmommy25]

Since the new year I have started making better meals for our family, focusing mostly on me. My goal is to make vegetables the main event at most meals, with proteins and grains being a side. I've always cooked quite healthy for us, but am guilty of making meat and grains our main dish. On occassion I feel that this will be okay, but pasta and/or bread were eaten too much.

I am being a bit more strict with myself because I need to drop some weight, but still pretty well balanced because I am breastfeeding. We have been eating loads of salads filled with veggies, avocado, lean chicken, a bit of cheese here and there. A bit of olive oil, vinegar or hot sauce for dressing. I know the hot sauce sounds weird, but with chicken or black beans, yummy! Yogurt with fruit, oats, almonds for snack, breakfast, dessert. Eggs, fritattas with veggies, chicken stir fry, veggie and bean soup, etc. Fruit and veggies for snacks with hummus. WW pumpkin carrot muffins with flaxseeds for a treat.

It is kind of basic, but I am new to making veggies the main star of our meals. We have no allergies, and aren't opposed to trying new things. Who can help?

[mumkimum]

Baked sweet potatoes are easy to make a meal around - top with chili, veggies with some kind of gravy or sauce, black beans and salsa.

Indian dishes are a great way to focus on the veggies - make some rice and 2 veggie dishes and you're set, it's plenty of food.

Something like a veggie stew or chili (lentil chili, groundnut stew - with loads of veggies and peanuts, moroccan stews with lentils olives and eggplants).

Squash is another good option, I'm a big fan of spaghetti squash with tomato sauce. But they're large and hearty, we'll have them with honeybaked lentils and green beans or broccoli a lot.

Shepherd's pie combines a lot of veggies too and can be made with any meat you like (or none) and as many different veggies thrown in as you care to add.

[velochic]

Have you tried the vegetarian forum above? When I need a veggie idea, that's where I head.

[lil_earthmomma]

Giant meal salads are awesome!!!

Some different ones to try:

chicken cesear salad (1/2 cup Homemade mayo, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tbsp anchovy paste, 1 tsp worchestershire, the juice from one lemon, handful of parmesan cheese, 2 cloves garlic and a tbsp of onion. (I just dig into the center of a halved onion, no need to chop! Blend it up, thin with a bit of milk if nec and serve over baby spinach and romaine, and grilled chicken! Or leftover roasted chicken!)
shrimp thai salad (I like to make spicy thai peanut sauce and thin it out a bit with coconut milk and drizzle it over grilled shrimp on mixed greans with grated carrot, green onion and red and yellow peppers.)
egg salad salad
ginger steak salad (slice steak thin, add grated carrot, cucumber, tomato, purple onion, thinly sliced cabbage (I like purple for the color it adds) bean sprouts and dressing of sesame oil, grated ginger, soy sauce, vinegar and garlic. Salt and pepper to taste. YUM! Cook the steak and then throw it into the dressing and chill before serving)

Soups are another really easy way to make the meat the garnish and flavor of a dish, and veggies the bulk of the meal!

[Sol_y_Paz]

baked and breaded eggplant, top with some tomato/basil sauce and cheese. You can find a lot of recipes for this online, this is a big hit here. Serve with a side salad and a very small baked potato. Or instead of the baked potato, whole wheat noodles

Portabella grilled Fajitas - cut the mushrooms, onions, and poblanos (or bell peppers) into thin strips, toss lightly with olive oil and spices (I use coriander, cumin, garlic, salt, onion powder, and crushed pepper) and toss on the grill. Top with guacamole and pico de gallo, wrap in whole wheat tortillas

Try your hand at making sushi, it is actually pretty easy. And the combos are endless. Serve with miso soup, it only takes a short time to make and it is so good.

There are three

[smeisnotapirate]

When I get into a rut, I go and roast a head or two of garlic, mush it up with some olive oil, salt, and pepper, add tomato sauce, and throw in whatever veggies your family loves. We love olives, artichokes, peas, corn.......... anything on hand works. Serve over pasta with some garlic bread. It comes out different every time, and is such an easy base to work with.

[napless]

Rice Pilaf with Spinach and Veggies

We had this the other night. It was delicious!


2 Tbsp/30 mL olive oil

1 1/2 cups/375 mL chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 Tbsp/15 ml dried mint leaves

1/8 tsp/.5 mL pepper

5 oz/140 g spinach (about 2 bunches), stemmed, washed and chopped (you should have about 4 cups/1 L)

3 Tbsp/45 mL lemon juice

4 cups/1 L cooked rice

1 cup/250 mL frozen peas

1 Tbsp/15 mL dried dill

1 cup/250 mL crumbled feta cheese

In a heavy pot, heat the oil over medium heat.
Add the onions and sauté them until they begin to soften (about 5 minutes).
Add the garlic, mint and pepper and sauté for a couple of minutes more.
Add the spinach, lemon juice, and rice.
Rinse the frozen peas in a colander under running water to thaw them. Add them to the pot.
Add the dill.
Stir to mix everything well.
Lower the heat and cover the pot. Cook for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is limp and the pilaf is hot.
Transfer to a serving bowl, immediately sprinkle with the feta, and serve.

[napless]

How about quiche?

This crustless zucchini quiche is delicious!


Preheat oven to 375F/190C.

1 medium zucchini, in one inch/2 cm cubes

2 cups/500 mL cottage cheese

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup/250 mL Cheddar cheese, cubed

3 Tbsp/45 mL melted butter

3 Tbsp/45 mL flour

1 clove garlic

1 tsp/5 mL dried basil

1/2 tsp/2 mL salt

1/4 tsp/1 mL pepper

Grease a pie plate.
In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Mix well.
Pour into the pie plate.
Bake for at least 1 hour, until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

[calebsmommy25]

Wow! Thanks for all of the ideas, def. giving me some inspiration. I am making note of everything and will try to incorporate some of these fantastic recipes into our weekly meals. Keep 'em coming!

[Ravenlunatic]

I focus on serving (2) veggies a night with the meat and/or starch being a side dish. Interestingly enough my DH eats a little differently so often there is actually plenty of starch and meat, I just don't choose it.

I like the suggestions you've already gotten - portobello mushrooms as a hamberger is awesome - spag squash with beans or tomato sauces - butternut squash with syrup and walnuts - vegetable chili - roasted root veggies.

I think if you start experimenting with ways of cooking and just choose at least one new veggie a week you will discover many ways of incorporating more veggies into your diet.

[Alyantavid]

I just made this last night. Everyone loved it!

[calebsmommy25]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

I just made this last night. Everyone loved it!

That simply looks divine. I think I will use that for my next pasta dish!!!

[notjustmamie]

It's winter--how about soups! You can make veggie soup or meat-based soup, but you don't have to use a whole lot of meat in the soup.