Food

Your taste buds will celebrate once spring asparagus makes its annual appearance at local markets. These whole grain patties are the perfect way to take advantage of its vegetal sweetness and tender texture. Soft silken-style tofu is a great base for this lively sauce, but you can also make it using plain yogurt or sour cream. Leftover sauce is great on sandwiches and burgers. Bread crumbs are an easy DIY kitchen project. Simply grind up slices of day-old bread into fine crumbs using a food processor and then store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

There’s no need to rely on store-bought—making your own cracked grain warm cereal is a cinch. This version will start your day off with plenty of fibre to keep you feeling satisfied all morning long. As they rehydrate, the apple chips infuse the porridge with natural sweetness. You can also top the cooked cereal with a drizzle of maple syrup or add a few splashes of warm milk.

Raise a toast

Chewy spelt holds up wonderfully in salads, and this one is sure to become your new go-to picnic or potluck option. Mackerel contains a boatload of heart-healthy, brain-nourishing omega-3 fats. Take the extra step of parboiling the potatoes to shorten their roasting time considerably. This ensures that the outsides don’t become crispy well before the interiors are cooked through. If making this salad ahead of time, it’s best to toss the greens in just before serving so they don’t become soggy. To expedite the process of preparing large, slow-cooking grains such as spelt and Kamut, try soaking them overnight. This will slash the simmering time by about 25 percent.

Millet, a gluten-free whole grain, is the base for this warming vegan main course; quinoa works just as well. Cumin and cayenne work in tandem to add a savoury, spicy, anticancer edge to the meal.

Make it a main

Saffron is expensive, though a little goes a very long way. Its floral and earthy flavour makes it a natural pairing for the subdued notes of cauliflower, another cancer-preventive ingredient. These ingredients are encased in a galette, a round, flat pie that is free-form and rustic looking.

Stay seasonal

Moroccan cuisine is known for its heavy-handed application of spices, making the dishes of North Africa ideal inspirations for healthy home cooking. This carrot salad is influenced by the Moroccan spice route and is a textural winner.

Sweeter still

This spicy-sweet shake works as well for breakfast as it does for a snack or dessert. Cardamom lends a chai tea-like flavour to the mix, while turmeric gives myriad health benefits and a sunshiny hue. Black pepper is added to increase the bioavailability of turmeric and the anticancer effect of cardamom—and to spice things up a touch more.

More protein

Transform your morning oatmeal into something more special with these gluten-free pancakes. Warmed up with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, they’re a sweet and stackable way to promote good health.

Oat flour

Fingerling potatoes really do look like fingers, and they make brilliant finger food. Serve this tray of fried chip-free nachos for dinner, or as an appetizer at your next gathering.

Walking the line between savoury and sweet, the classic Waldorf salad gets a boost of nutrition from quinoa and beta carotene-rich sweet potato.

Our childhood tuna melts were the ultimate quick dinner for parents. Here, they’re all grown up (yet still equally enjoyed by kids) with sharp Asiago cheese, juicy tomatoes, and dark greens. This complete meal can be served with whole grain or gluten-free toast to soak up the juices or enjoyed as is for a grain-free option.

Switch up the stir-fry by leaving rice behind and replacing it with caramelized roasted sweet potatoes. Once sliced, they’re ready to take on a sticky broccoli-tofu topper for a meal that will satisfy your takeout cravings.

Accordion potatoes, sometimes called hasselback potatoes, are an elegant (and fun!) way to mix up your stuffed potato game. By making gentle slits in the potato flesh, you create the perfect holder for any number of flavour enhancers.

Spring has truly sprung on this vibrant sheet pan supper. Roasting radishes is a new way to enjoy the springtime treat, mellowing their sharpness. In-season asparagus and juicy, mustard-crusted salmon (packed with protein and omega-3s) make this meal feel worthy of a special occasion—even though it’s a cinch to prepare. Whenever possible, choose organic ingredients.

As a good source of plant-based protein and calcium, tofu deserves to be given the royal treatment with a slick, salty-sweet miso butter. Broccoli and cucumber noodles round out the meal for a vibrant, healthy, and fast alternative to takeout.

This vegetarian tray uses a handful of fresh ingredients and an economical pantry staple: white beans. Full of fibre and protein, this tray gets a touch of Moroccan zing when served with a garlicky, spiced yogurt perked up with orange.

Traditional salade niçoise is not a weeknight-friendly endeavour, dirtying every pot and pan in the house. But if you put it on a sheet pan, this classic, wholesome French salad can be made on any night of the week. Serving the salad warm means it can be enjoyed year-round.

No one will know that these decadent-tasting chocolate cakes are infused with lentils. In fact, the moisture they provide lets you cut back on the amount of fat needed. If needed, you can make the cakes using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend instead of whole wheat pastry flour.

When it comes to tofu, people fall into two camps: “more please” or “meh.” Maple syrup is a surprising way to transform a tofu basher into a tofu lover. Tofu is a good source of low-fat protein, while spinach adds a splash of colour and plenty of vitamin K.

Teaming up peanut butter with creamy brie cheese is a surefire way to reinvent the humble grilled sandwich. Add an easy DIY fig jam, and you have a handheld meal that will appeal to all generations of a household. Extra fig jam can be spread over toast or even grilled meats.

Despite seemingly not having a lot in common, after one taste you’ll agree that matcha green tea powder and scallops are worthy of being in each other’s lives forever. Here, matcha’s vegetal sweetness is a delicious complement to buttery scallops, rounded out nicely by a butternut mash.

Skip the bread and boost the comfort food factor with a baked potato boat to cradle kale, mushrooms, and poached eggs. Along with potassium, fibre, and protein, this complete meal will leave your taste buds satisfied until dinner.

Bored with basic chicken? It may seem counterintuitive, but simmering chicken alongside berries produces tender meat that is further enhanced by a complex sweet sauce that’s sure to become a family favourite.

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