We know how difficult it can be to eat healthily while out but these 10 nifty hacks can make any meal healthier and more nutritious for you.
Quinoa, millet, couscous and brown rice are great additions to your salad. They’re tiny yet filling, and they soak up flavour and liquids really well so you don’t end up with soggy greens.
Related: Moroccan Couscous Salad
Up your veggie and nut intake by adding them to your smoothies. Cashews and almonds have a light flavour and make your drink deliciously thick.
Kale and spinach are also good options to boost your shake. Adding a cup won’t really affect the taste of your drink, however, it might turn your blend a bit green.
Spiralize veggies to replace pasta, swap burger buns for portobello mushroom caps or lettuce leaves, make a healthier lasagna with eggplant slices instead of lasagna sheets, or chop up cauliflower in a food processor as a replacement for rice. You could also combine the ground up cauliflower with an egg and some garlic powder to make a pizza base.
Add nutrition-packed chia seeds or poppy seeds for their fibre, omega fatty acids and essential minerals.
Bulk up meatballs and stews with chopped veggies or grains like brown rice, millet or barley. You’ll get a lot more fibre, cut down your cholesterol intake and save on meat!
Half-fill a bowl with yogurt, add oats and chopped fruit and mix. Spoon everything into popsicle molds and freeze overnight and you’ll have a delicious snack that’s way better than regular ice cream.
Instead of butter or mayonnaise, use avocado as a spread for your sandwich. For an extra tasty kick, add sliced scallions, or sprinkle some crushed cumin or sesame seeds, salt and red chilli flakes.
Instead of using regular potatoes, you can make fries or mash with plenty of other healthier root veggies. Try antioxidant-packed purple or orange sweet potato, low calorie mineral-rich celeriac, or vitamin-filled parnips.
If you have herbs and veggies that are too wilted to use in a salad, throw them into a soup. After boiling, blend everything up to make a thick, flavourful mix. Leftover greens also make a good pesto with the addition of some nuts and garlic.
Plant proteins like lentils, hemp seeds and tofu all contain amino acids and antioxidants that are nutritous and keep your heart healthy too.
Text: Yuen Yi Ying/Shape
Additional Reporting: Atika Lim