Vegan Curried Risotto with Lentils

Curried Risotto: In an effort to be healthy and incorporate more vegetarian protein into my diet I came up with this recipe using basmati rice, red lentils and broth.

Power Balls (DIY Cliff Bars)

Since starting P90X (and figuring out I was allergic to whey protein powder) I’ve been looking for whey-free ways (ha!)  to get my protein into my diet. Since Clif bars have about 10g of protein per bar I had been eating them obsessively - not the most frugal obsession (they’re cheapest at Costco if you were wondering). I was already lamenting the preservatives and various other unpronounceable ingredients in the bars when a friend informed me of the concern over hexane used to extract the soy protein they used in Clif bars. Serendipitously I stumbled upon an Energy Ball recipe from the Healthy Foodie - a fellow Canadian! I used Vegan protein powder like Vegan Shakeology because it contains a balance of different plant-based proteins.

Easy Gluten-free Seed Crackers

The best thing about these crackers - other than the fact that my gluten-free friends can eat them and my gluten-loving friends actually love the taste too - is that the recipe is so easy you can pretty much memorize it after attempting it once. It basically just includes a half cup of four types of seeds - the crackers bind together through the magic of Chia Seeds (cha-cha-cha-chia!). When you add the water to the chia seeds they excrete clear jelly an stick the whole mixture together. Chia seeds are also magical because they are packed with all sorts of nutritional value - hence the name Endurance Crackers.

Make-Ahead Butternut Squash Frittata

Butternut Squash Frittata makes an awesome make-ahead brunch.

This make-ahead vegetarian Butternut Squash Frittata will save you time on weekday mornings (something I eternally need more of!) and is 21 Day Fix friendly, vegetarian, paleo and gluten free. Make it on Sunday and then eat it throughout the week. I microwave it for about 30 seconds and eat it with whole grain quinoa toast.

It's packed with protein and incredibly simple to make. Frittatas are also super versatile - you can serve it for breakfast lunch or dinner! Each serving (1/6 of a pie) is 206 calories, 10g of fibre and a whopping 126% of your recommended intake of Vitamin A. If you don't have butternut squash you can use sweet potato which has a similar taste and is also packed with vitamin A. Vitamin A is great for your skin, hair, bones and eyes. It can also help with your immune system which is why it's great to eat vitamin A rich foods in the winter when colds and flu are rampant and your skin is dry.