Throw it Together

Have you ever had that evening when you have absolutely no plan for dinner? (Wait, that's most nights?) Maybe you have a bunch of random ingredients and want to put together something healthy and yummy. Or perhaps you just don't feel like following a recipe and just want something simple and satisfying. This happens to me at least several times a week and here's how I throw it together.

When you're following a vegetarian or even vegan diet, you should always have several things stocked in your pantry and fridge for just such a situation: beans/legumes, some type of whole grain, and a fresh and/or frozen veggie. Here are some examples of the staples I try to keep on hand..

Beans/Legumes:

• Black, pinto, navy, or kidney beans
• Lentils
• Split peas
• Edamame 

Whole Grain:

• Long grain brown or wild rice
• Whole wheat couscous
• Regular or Red Quinoa

Veggies:

• Really this can be any veggie you like, especially fresh and in season (right now tomatoes are my favorite!)
• Frozen: broccoli, spinach, kale, asparagus, corn... again really anything that is your favorite!
• Onions and garlic 

So whenever you are in a bind and need to put something healthy together, choose one ingredient from each category and cook it up! And you can also put together several ingredients from the veggie category to make your body happy. For example, in the picture above, I put together pinto beans, wild rice, spinach, garlic, onions and fresh tomatoes. We happened to top the dish with nutritional yeast (sounds nasty but it has a little cheesy flavor and B vitamins). Shredded cheese or avocado also make nice toppings for this dish. The formula is not gourmet but it's a simple and healthy dish that everyone in the family can enjoy!