Top 50 Delicious, Healthy Banana Recipes For Breakfast & Dessert!

When you hear the word ‘banana’, does your mouth water, thinking about the creamy, sweet fruit that is extremely popular the world over, or does the thought of the texture make you feel a little queasy? You either love bananas or you hate them, but one thing is for sure, and that is, bananas are incredibly nutritious and extremely versatile when used as a baking or raw food ingredient. If you are one of the millions of people who do like the taste of bananas, then these 50 healthy banana recipes will keep you going for quite a while!

Nutritional Information

Bananas have a number of powerful health benefits. They are rich in fiber, antioxidants and several essential nutrients. A medium-sized banana (118g) contains 9% of your recommended daily intake of potassium, 33% vitamin B6, 17% vitamin C, 8% magnesium, 10% copper and 14% manganese. One banana has around 105 calories and is made up of mainly water and carbohydrates.

A Brief History Of Bananas

When you think of bananas, do you think of tropical holidays and cocktails by the beach? Bananas are believed to have originated in Malaysia, about 4,000 years ago, before spreading into the Philippines and India. Arabian traders introduced them into Africa, where Portugese explorers were first introduced to them, later taking them to America. Bananas were not sold in the US until the 19^th century, because the fragile fruits were not able to travel far. However, the development of refrigeration and improved transport in the 20^th century saw the sale of bananas skyrocket, becoming far more widely available. Most tropical and subtropical regions around the world grow bananas today, with major producers in South and Central America.

Healthy Banana Recipes

Bananas are so versatile when used as an ingredient, and, similar to sweet potato, apples and avocados, they can be used to substitute a multitude of carb-loaded and sugary traditional baking ingredients like flour, sugar, cream and butter!

Breakfast

1. Fluffy Kefir Banana Pancakes – Using kefir as a substitute for buttermilk, these delicious vanilla-flavored pancakes are filling and satisfying. The probiotics in the kefir gives the immune system a well-deserved health kick and the banana and maple syrup give them a sweet, caramelized taste.
2. Two Ingredient Pancakes – Okay, hold the press! We have pancakes made from just two ingredients. It takes literally seconds to mix the batter and just a few more minutes to cook them! And these two-ingredient pancakes surprisingly taste absolutely delicious! You’re welcome.
3. Gluten Free Cardamom Banana Pancakes – Vegan, gluten-free, flavorful and healthy. What more could you want in a pancake? If you’re a fan of sweet, decadent breakfasts or desserts, then this perfect match of caramelized banana and exotic cardamom was made for you! Free from processed sugar, and rich with vitamins, fiber and nutrients that won’t cause a sugar crash, they are perfectly healthy and are quick and simple to make. Plus, they give you the perfect reason to leap out of bed in the morning when your alarm sounds!

4. Blender Banana Rice Gluten-Free Waffles – Talk about creativity with leftover food! This is the perfect breakfast option when you have leftover rice from the night before. These healthy waffles are super quick and easy to whip up, using bananas, rice, eggs (or a vegan alternative), coconut sugar, coconut oil, almond milk and a couple other base ingredients for a great weekend breakfast or brunch.
5. Breakfast Cookies – You can’t really beat cookies for breakfast – for ease, speed, cleanliness, and, let’s face it, deliciousness! These hearty cookies are packed with healthy, filling ingredients including oats, nut butter, seeds and fruit. They are the perfect grab-and-go option for busy mornings, and they taste incredible warmed up on a cold day.
6. Banana Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits – If you’re more of a night owl than a morning bird then this scrumptious make-ahead breakfast is perfect for those mornings that you know aren’t going to be pretty! All you have to do is blend all the super healthy, nutritious ingredients and let them sit in the fridge overnight to thicken. Add bananas, oats, walnuts and coconut, and your own favorite medley of garnishes, and you’re good to go – brain fueled and energy boosted!

7. Tofu Waffles With Baked Banana Sauce – This clever recipe is completely vegan and uses tofu as an alternative to buttermilk because of its ability to create the perfect waffle – fluffy inside and crispy outside. As a result, this breakfast is packed full of protein!
8. Banana Zucchini Overnight Oats – Another perfect roll-out-of-bed and grab-and-go breakfast that will fuel and nourish you for the day. Simply mix the 5 ingredients together, and, voila! You have your breakfast sitting in the fridge waiting for you in the morning!
9. Baked Oats – Oats, blueberries, walnuts, banana, raisins, plant-based milk, maple syrup and cinnamon – the perfect breakfast concoction, and a quick, easy one to whip up at that! And unlike bircher muesli, it is served warm – perfect for winter or cold, frosty mornings!

10. Dark Chocolate Almond Banana Bakes Oatmeal – Another delicious, satisfying and warming oatmeal breakfast for cold or early mornings when only a comforting breakfast will do. And what’s more – making it is an absolute breeze. It’s just a matter of combining the dry ingredients, adding the wet ingredients, and baking!

Muffins

11. Blender Banana Oatmeal Muffins – There isn’t one unhealthy ingredient in these gluten-free blender muffins. The main ingredients are bananas, oatmeal, and Greek yogurt, and, since they’re loaded with fiber and protein, they are extremely satisfying and filling!
12. Banana, Yogurt & Cinnamon Muffins – Banana and yogurt – a match made in heaven. Add the cinnamon, chia seeds and almonds, and you have a flavorful, nutritious low-carb dessert or breakfast that is full of fiber with no refined sugar, and they are super handy to grab as you race out the door!
13. Banana Cauliflower Muffins – Sound appealing? Maybe not, but you actually won’t be able to detect the cauliflower in these yummy, moist muffins, and it’s a great way to get one of your veggie servings into your day! Topped off with a delicious peanut butter icing, and these muffins are a winning dessert or snack for the kids.

14. Banana Nut Muffins – Taking all of 10 minutes to prepare, these tasty muffins are packed full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. Unlike shop-bought muffins, there is less sugar, meaning they have a nice balanced sweetness, instead of being overly sweet, and they can work well as a morning tea snack if you’re feeling hungry before lunch.
15. Vegan Chocolate Banana Muffins – Healthy enough for breakfast but good enough for dessert – you can’t really argue with that! These muffins are rich, fudgy and ultra-chocolatey, but they are vegan, using coconut oil instead of butter, and unsweetened almond milk instead of dairy milk.
16. Blueberry, Coconut & Banana Wholemeal Muffins – Coming in at just 175 calories per muffin, these make an idea breakfast-on-the-go or morning tea snack. They are quick and easy to make, and, let’s be honest; you can’t really beat a blueberry muffin!

17. Salted Caramel Banana Bread Muffins – If these muffins have a stand out feature, it’s their texture – the soft moist muffin paired with the crunchy granola topping is to die for! Delicious and decadent, but healthy enough not to feel too guilty, they’re sure to be a winner with the whole family!
18. Banana & Rhubarb Mini Muffins – If you’re a fan of rhubarb, then this is the recipe for you! And the cute little light muffins are the perfect picnic treat when rhubarb is in season in spring. The tangy, fruity flavor and beautiful color of the rhubarb works perfectly with the creamy banana and moist muffin base.

Banana Bread

19. Coconut Banana Bread – We had to include banana bread in this blog, because, let’s face it – it’s a classic for a reason. It’s delicious, easy to make and super healthy. This is a great option, because it calls for wholemeal spelt flour instead of traditional white flour, and includes coconut (yum!), vanilla and cinnamon – the perfect combination of delicious ingredients – and with no refined sugar!

20. Banana Bread Snickerdoodles – If you always make the same old banana bread when you find overripe bananas in the fruit bowl and want to try something a bit different, this creative take on a couple of classics is the perfect option! They are gluten free, soft, gooey and deliciously sweet, as well as being super quick and easy to whip up! 

21. Flourless Banana Bread – This gluten-free banana bread smells and tastes so delicious, it’s hard to believe how healthy it is. And, with just 5 ingredients, it’s so quick and simple to create as well! Just oatmeal, bananas, eggs, maple syrup and baking soda blended together and baked for less than half-an-hour. Enjoy!

22. Applesauce Banana Loaf – This dairy-free banana bread uses apples as a substitute for butter and milk, and, instead of using all flour, it is half substituted with ground almonds, reducing the carb factor. It is a yummy, moist take on banana bread, and the apples actually work extremely well with the bananas!
23. Chocolate Banana Babka – This recipe looks extremely indulgent, but it is actually quite healthy, vegan and free from refined sugars. It is a very soft bread that resembles babka extremely well, despite being plant-based. There’s no oil and it is low in fat, with bananas and a little maple syrup providing the sweetness.

24. Zucchini Banana Bread – The secret to hidden nutrients, fiber and perfect moisture in this recipe is zucchini – who’d have thought? A great way to eat one of your fruits and one of your vegetables for the day, while getting something quite wholesome and filling into you! 

Smoothies

25. Strawberry Banana Beet Smoothie – Let’s be honest – you can’t beat the scrumptious taste of strawberries and bananas together! This is another way versatile bananas come in very handy – substituting cream and ice-cream to make a milkshake or smoothie thick and creamy. And with the beetroot, you get an added boost of nutrients as well as a show-stopping mouth-watering rich pink color that is sure to tempt any palette! 

26. Bloat-Busting Banana Smoothie – This recipe was created by Dr. Oz to help blast belly bloat and improve digestive health. Plus, it’s extremely delicious! Along with bananas, the recipe calls for protein-packed Greek yogurt, sweet dates, and some almond milk.
27. Tropical Smoothie – If you like pina coladas… then you’ll love this healthy tropical-inspired smoothie. With coconut milk, banana, pineapple and mango, it is a healthy, refreshing and filling beverage for a warm day.
28. Creamy Blueberry Smoothie – This energy-boosting vegan smoothie has just 5 ingredients, and each one of them is bursting with nutritious fiber, antioxidants and vitamins – almond milk, blueberries, avocado, chia seeds, and, of course, banana! Together, they create one big power smoothie that is creamy and satisfying, with plenty of fiber to keep you going for the day.

29. Strawberry, Banana and Spirulina Smoothie – Looking for a hardcore health boost, but want it to taste good, too? We hear you, which is why we’ve found this strawberry and banana smoothie that is boosted with healthy ingredients, including spirulina, spinach and chia seeds.

30. Kale, Coffee & Almond Butter Recovery Smoothie – This might be the ultimate post-workout smoothie when your body is craving nutrients, healthy fats, caffeine and, well, deliciousness! Maca powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds, cinnamon, kale, dates, almond butter and bananas make for a fiber-rich, antioxidant-dense recovery meal-in-a-cup that you can whip up and enjoy!
31. Green Smoothie – Is this the best green smoothie ever invented? Maybe… Packed with essential nutrients and micronutrients, it is great for the liver and digestive system. Best of all, you can choose your greens, with suggestions including spinach, Swiss chard and beet greens. Simply added to frozen bananas, avocado, peanut butter powder, vanilla and water, it makes for the perfect nutrient-boosting beverage!                                          
32. Creamy Turmeric Smoothie – Nutritious and energy boosting, this vibrant colored smoothie will give you an energy kick for the day. It is absolutely bursting with energizing flavors, including pineapple, ginger, lime and turmeric, along with the creamier flavors of banana, almond milk and coconut, creating the perfect cocktail of tastes!

33. Dreamy Banana Tahini Smoothies – Using creamy bananas, rich tahini and filling oats, you can trick your body into thinking you’re indulging in a decadent dessert, when, really, you’re nourishing your body with healthy, nutritious ingredients! And this tasty smoothie takes just 5 minutes to prepare.
34. Mint Chocolate Smoothie Bowl – Rich, sweet, creamy and yet refreshing, this healthy bowl is full of goodness and natural ingredients, including bananas, avocado, almond milk, mint leaves, chia seeds, granola and berries. It makes a great throw-together breakfast, or afternoon snack!
35. Dairy-Free Strawberry Milkshake – Easy to prepare and healthy, this dairy-free milkshake is deliciously creamy, without having to add milk or ice-cream! Frozen strawberries and bananas give the milkshake its thick, creamy texture, and the natural sugars in the fruit means you don’t have to add any refined sugar. Just blend and enjoy!

Ice-Creams

36. Strawberry, Mango And Banana Swirl Ice Cream – One of the many uses of bananas is in no-churn ice-cream, and in this case, healthy vegan ice-cream. The base of this delicious, summery ice-cream is purely bananas – no refined sugar, heavy cream or eggs. And all you need is a few fruits and a food processor! Blended bananas create a similar texture to traditional ice-cream, and, in this case flavoured with strawberries and mangoes, and sweetened with honey.

37. Frozen Chocolate Covered Banana Pops – During the hot summer months, it just feels natural to indulge in a bowl of ice-cream or reach for an ice pop. Instead of stocking up the freezer with processed ice-creams, full of refined sugar, try your hand at these homemade frozen banana pops. They’re covered in dark chocolate and have an ideal ice-cream-like texture. If you aren’t in the mood for dark chocolate, you can dip the banana in yogurt and then homemade granola instead. Yummy!
38. Banana Mango Sorbet – No ice-cream machine needed and just two ingredients – this recipe couldn’t be simpler. And on top of that, it’s super healthy and scrumptious! By blending bananas and mangos together and then freezing them, you can create an ice-cream-like texture, thanks to the effect freezing has on the bananas.

39. Mint Chocolate Chunk Nice-Cream – Using banana again to create that beautiful ice-cream texture and creaminess, along with non-dairy milk, mint, greens (for a health kick) and chocolate chunks, this is a delicious, refreshing summer treat, but a guilt-free one!
40. Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream – I know we’re focusing heavily on ice-cream, but come on, it’s hard not to! Bananas create the perfect alternative frozen treat, and if you’re looking for something guilt-free, then look no further. With only two ingredients (frozen bananas and peanut butter), this homemade ice cream is dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free!

Snacks & Desserts

41. Guilt-Free Raspberry Chocolate Brownies – These soft, moist brownies are rich and sweet, but with avocadoes and bananas as the base, they are as guilt-free as you could get in an indulgent dessert! The raspberries create a sweet, tangy ‘pop’ to the creamy, chocolatey ingredients for the ultimate comfort food on a cold winter’s day (or, let’s face it – a warm summer’s day!).

42. No Bake Chocolate Banana Energy Balls – If you’re looking for a treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth but won’t make you feel guilty, then these tasty energy balls are just the ticket! Loaded with chocolate chips, banana, coconut, oats, flaxseed, chia seeds and cinnamon, they are the perfect pre or post-workout snack, and they are also great for a hard day at work if your job is laborious.

43. Chocolate Banana Brownies – So quick, so easy and just four ingredients – bananas, nut butter, cocoa powder and coconut flour! Sweetened by the bananas, these easy-to-make brownies are perfect for people who don’t like their desserts too sickly sweet.
44. Banana Peanut Butter – Okay, we may have stumbled upon the most delicious thing ever invented: banana peanut butter. That’s peanut butter flavored with banana. It’s so simple and genius, you have to ask yourself why you haven’t thought of it before! Simply blend bananas and peanuts or peanut butter together to make a mouthwatering spread that is perfect for muffins, pancakes, smoothies and oatmeal.

45. Coconut Cream Date Caramel Banoffee – Love banoffee pie but can’t justify the serious cream and sugar overload? This healthier alternative will be your best friend when you feel like indulging! Using dates instead of caramel, sugar-free biscuits, coconut oil and nuts instead of the buttery, sugary crust, and coconut cream instead of regular cream, this will not have you questioning your choices for the rest of the day, with a bloated belly!
46. Chewy Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies – These may look and sound indulgent, but they are vegan and gluten-free, with no refined sugar and plenty of healthy, wholesome ingredients, including oats, chia seeds and, of course, bananas!

47. Cherry Garcia Paleo Banana Bread Bars – These paleo, vegan bars are packed with wholesome, natural energy-boosting ingredients, for the ideal healthy snack. If you’re trying to curb your hunger or sweet cravings, then this is the ticket!
48. Hazelnut, Banana & Chocolate Chip Granola Bars – These sweet, nutty, chewy bars are so handy for work, picnics and school lunches. Hazelnut, chocolate and bananas were all made for each other, and this easily prepared slice that can be cut up into individual bars is a super handy breakfast, morning tea or afternoon snack!

49. Healthy Banana & Chocolate Pudding – Using just a few natural ingredients, this gluten-free, dairy-free dessert can be enjoyed completely guilt-free! But the healthy ingredients don’t make it any less moist, decadent and mouthwatering, so it will work for dinner parties and date nights!
50. Coconut, Strawberry & Banana Cream Pie – This lavish vegan dessert is sweetened with dates, meaning there’s no refined sugar, filled with bananas and strawberries for a vitamin and potassium boost, and spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. It’s a dessert to impress guests at any dinner party or afternoon tea!

P.S. Take a look at the 5 veggies that boost female metabolism and burn off lower belly fat.

Read More

Top 6 Remarkable Health Benefits Of Almonds (+ Recipes)

 Although almonds have always made an appearance in trail mixes and snack jars, their popularity has never been as impressive as it is now. The tasty tree nut is significantly less fatty than most of its nut siblings and it can be ground up to make a gluten-free flour substitute for baking, or blitzed into a delicious versatile nut butter that is also great for baking, as well as snacking. Almond milk is often used as a substitute for cow’s milk, and as an ingredient in vegan foods. This has led to a huge increase in almond sales around the world, and on top of that, researchers have found a number of remarkable health benefits of almonds, from aiding weight loss to improving heart health… 

Nutritional Value Of Almonds

Almonds are actually edible seeds that grow on trees called Prunus dulcis, or, almond trees. They are native to the Middle East, but today the US is the world’s largest producer of almonds.

Nutritional Breakdown (per 28 grams/1 ounce)

Calories – 161
Dietary fiber – 3g
Protein – 6g
Fat – 14 g
Calcium – 7% of RDI
Iron – 6% of RDI
Vitamin E – 37% of RDI
Manganese – 32% of RDI
Magnesium – 20% of RDI
Copper – 14% of RDI
Phosphorus – 14% of RDI

Read More

16 Creative Ways To Eat More Vegetables

Eat your veggies! We’ve heard that line since we were little kids. Your parents may have even withheld dessert until you finished all of the green stuff on your plate (did you toss your Brussels sprouts to the dog under the table too?). It seems even as adults, many of us struggle to get the recommended serving of daily veggies. Think about it … how many vegetables did you eat today? One salad? A few broccoli florets dipped in salad dressing for an afternoon snack? While it’s better than nothing, the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services actually recommends people eat nine servings of fruits and veggies every day. That translates to about 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables daily. To help you bump up the number of veggies you eat throughout the day, check out these 16 creative tips.

Breakfast

1) Juicing

Juicing is one of the best things you can do for your body. It’s great for your digestive health since the food is already broken down. It also helps keep you hydrated, helps your body stay alkaline, can boost your brain power, detoxes your cells, and provides you with a natural energy boost. Of course, I can’t forget one of the main benefits of juicing: It gets you to eat plenty of vegetables without even realizing it. You may even eat a wider variety of veggies you may not otherwise eat. Instead of chewing stalks of celery, which doesn’t sound very appealing to many people, you can simply drink the celery juice. Don’t like the taste of celery? Add some fruit to your morning juice to mask the taste!
You can juice just about any vegetable your little heart desires — from cucumbers, celery, and bell peppers to carrots, beets, and spinach. You can also add fresh herbs into your juicer for an extra kick of flavor and nutrients. While the possibilities are pretty much endless, here are three juice recipes. You can follow them as they are or play around to add your favorite vegetables.

Immune-Boosting Green Juice – This recipe calls for leafy greens, celery, ginger, and a lemon. All of these ingredients pack a ton of vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system and detox the body. It also calls for pineapple, apple, and mint leaves to give it a robust flavor.
Hot Pink Juice – Made with beets, carrots, kale, celery, ginger, a lemon, and an apple, this juice recipe proves a drink doesn’t have to be green to be super nutritious!
Carrot Apple Ginger Juice – After reading the name, you can pretty much guess what ingredients are used in this juice recipe! Now let’s talk about the benefits — it’s great for your skin, eyes, and immunity!
*It’s important to note that vegetable juice should not replace a full meal because it simply doesn’t contain enough protein or fiber. Instead, drink vegetable juice along with your meals or in between meals.

2) Smoothies

While many doctors call fresh juice a 15-minute expressway to health, smoothies aren’t far behind. The blended drink is also extremely easy to digest, meaning your body will absorb more nutrients. Additionally, it can get you to eat more produce than you otherwise would. If you’re someone who thinks smoothies are just chock full of sugar and fruits, though, think again. While fruit smoothies are extremely popular (and certainly delicious), there is such a thing as vegetable smoothies. All you have to do is toss your veggies into a blender with some liquid and voila — you have a refreshing and healthy vegetable smoothie. The real trick is to mask the vegetable taste by pairing your greens with one or two sweet pieces of fruit. This will make the drink both nutritious and delicious. Some other great smoothie building tips include:

• Put your liquid in first. Surround the blades by water or juice so they can move more easily.
• Start slowly. If your blender offers different speeds then start on the lowest speed. Then work your way up to faster speeds that will puree your veggies/fruits.
• Use organic ingredients whenever possible to avoid pesticides, chemicals, and GMOs.

3) Omelets

Over the years, eggs have gotten a pretty bad reputation. Some people avoid eggs altogether because they believe the high fat and cholesterol content make them unhealthy. Then there are the people who only eat egg whites because they believe the yolk is the only unhealthy part. According to researchers, the truth is, eating whole eggs is extremely good for you. They are a great source of protein, healthy fats, and good cholesterol. Plus, adding some vegetables into your morning eggs just bumps up the nutritional value even more. Some veggies that taste great in an omelet include:

• Bell peppers
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

You can either add one vegetable to your morning eggs or mix in a whole bunch. Here are some delicious mixtures:
Skinny Greek Omelet – With a mixture of veggies, onions, and basil leaves, this is a great brunch or “brinner” option!
Vegetable Frittatas – Have a little more fun with your egg/veggie mixture by making omelet muffins. This delicious and easy-to-make frittata recipe calls for onions, basil, zucchini, and peppers. Of course, you can always swap out any of these vegetables for your favorites!

Lunch/Dinner

4) Stir-Fries

Stir-frying is a quick cooking method where meats and vegetables are seared over a high heat. It requires little oil, doesn’t take much time to cook, and it’s typically loaded with vegetables. While stir-fries are usually associated with Asian food, you can use a variety of other flavors.
Asian Zucchini Stir Fry Noodles – This dish is the ultimate take-out fake-out! The sauce tastes just like a healthier version of the one served at your local Chinese store. The biggest difference is this recipe ditches the rice noodles and uses zucchini noodles instead. I’ll talk more about veggie noodles (and how to create them) below!

5) Cauliflower Rice

When cauliflower rice is made correctly you can almost fool yourself into thinking it’s the real thing. Start by chopping your cauliflower into large chunks. Then, throw your veggie into a food processor and begin pulsing. This will create small bits that resemble the size of rice grains. Be careful not to over process, though, or else your cauliflower rice will end up more like cauliflower powder. It may take a few tries before you get it just right, but it’s definitely worth it! This dish is absolutely delicious and your brain won’t even realize you’re munching on a plate of veggies.

Just like with regular white or brown rice, cauliflower rice can be prepared in a number of different ways to compliment a variety of dishes.
Mexican Cauliflower Rice – This dish features a mixture of vegetables and is topped with hot chili pepper. Did you know hot peppers can help rev your metabolism? Double bonus!
10 Minute Healthy Fried Rice – If you prefer the classic fried rice taste that you would get at a Chinese restaurant then this is definitely a great recipe for you. The only difference is it’s not loaded with carbs and the sauce is way healthier.

6) Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Give someone a head of cauliflower and they can turn it into a handful of different meals! In my opinion, this one is really cool. If you avoid pizza because you eat gluten-free or just don’t want to eat all of the carbohydrates then you’re in luck. You can easily swap out the dough crust for a cauliflower-based crust. There are a bunch of different recipes on the internet, but I am sharing one that is easy-to-make, won’t take you much time to whip up, and your taste buds will love.
To make this cauliflower pizza crust, start by putting chunks of cauliflower into a food processor and pulse (just like with the rice recipe). Then you will microwave the cauliflower powder, let it cool, and ring out any liquid. Once you add in the remaining ingredients you will be left with a beautiful dough ball! Spread it out to look like a pizza crust, pop that baby in the oven, and voila!

7) Cauliflower Steak

Throw some cauliflower on the barbie! If you’ve ever eaten grilled veggies then you know how delicious they are. The grill brings out a special flavor that can be rather addicting (good thing they’re vegetables and your waistline won’t mind if you go back for seconds)! When you’re making this dish, you won’t need a food processor. Simply chop the cauliflower into thick slabs (3-4 inches thick), season it, and grill! If you don’t have a grill, you can also make your “steak” in the oven. Why not try it both ways?

Grilled Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Steak – This dish only takes about 10 minutes to make and is loaded with flavor. No need to buy any dressing – this recipe will show you how to make your own healthy Chipotle dressing.
Cauliflower Steaks with Ginger, Turmeric, and Cumin – If you’re looking for a superfood dish that will work as a natural pain killer and digestive aid then you must make this one. Ginger, turmeric, and cumin are some of the most powerful spices on the planet. They are known to boost the immune system, fight cancer, and benefit the body in many other ways.
Crispy Parmesan Cauliflower Steaks – Give your “steak” an Italian twist with this breadcrumb-coated cauliflower steak. It’s topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.

8) Cauliflower Buffalo “Chicken” Wings

In the middle of your healthy eating streak have you ever gotten a craving for buffalo wings? They’re fun during football season, parties, or just for dinner in front of the television. Since not everyone’s diet allows for chicken wings, why not try a healthier alternative like cauliflower buffalo wings? They will definitely taste different than traditional wings, but they’re still delicious and a whole lot of fun.
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Bites – Just like with any wing dish, feel free to play around with the flavors. This recipe uses a buffalo sauce, but you can also toss your cauliflower florets in barbecue sauce, parmesan sauce, or any anything other wing sauce your taste buds crave.

9) Veggie Burgers

Veggie burgers made our list of “17 Foods You Think Are Healthy, But Aren’t.” That’s because when it comes to veggie burgers, many are loaded with unhealthy fillers such as yeast extract, cornstarch, and gums. That certainly doesn’t mean that healthy store bought veggie burgers don’t exist, you just have to read the ingredient label very carefully. If the first few ingredients listed aren’t vegetables … RUN! To be on the safe side, you can also make your own veggie burgers at home. They only take a few minutes to whip up and will bring you peace of mind knowing exactly what you’re eating:
Black Bean Veggie Burger – The black beans give this burger a nice consistency and offer your body a healthy dose of fiber. Did I mention that fiber aids digestion?
Spicy Chickpea Veggie Burger – If you have a can of chickpeas tucked away in your pantry then its time to cut it open and get cooking! Chickpeas are another great base that will hold other veggies together to create a healthy meal.

10) Veggie Noodles

While most people love indulging in a plate full of pasta (myself included), it can leave you feeling guilty afterwards. After all, pasta is loaded with carbohydrates and gluten (which is a definite no-no for people with Celiac disease). What if I told you that you can make your favorite spaghetti dish guilt-free? This isn’t a joke. All you need is a spiralizer. It’s a tool that transforms just about any vegetable into noodles. One of the most popular veggies that people turn into noodles is zucchini. Check out this recipe for zucchini noodles with an avocado pesto sauce. It’s delicious, easy-to-make, and extremely healthy. Plus, it’s vegan and gluten-free so pretty much anyone can dig into the dish.
It’s also fun to put carrots and cucumbers through a spiralizer and add the “noodles” to salads.

11) Spaghetti Squash

This is another great spaghetti alternative. If you’ve never had it before then you may be wondering how squash can replace spaghetti noodles. Well, once this squash is cooked you can easily shred it with a fork to create spaghetti-like strands. Check out this video to see how easy it is:

 You can also cook spaghetti squash in the microwave!

12) Zucchini Lasagna

Lasagna is an Italian dish that’s made by layering pasta, cheese, sauce, and meat. To make this dish a bit healthier you can simply replace the pasta layer with strips of zucchini. Check out this great paleo recipe!

13) Zucchini Boats

In case you haven’t noticed yet, there are a lot of different dishes you can make with zucchini and this next one is really fun. Cut a zucchini in half length-wise, scrape out the center, and fill it with other ingredients. If your diet allows for meat then fill it with ground turkey or ground beef. If you like pizza then fill it with some pizza sauce and cheese. You can even fill it with a fun vegetable mix. The possibilities are endless so get creative. Once you have stuffed your zucchini with your favorite ingredients then pop them in the oven. Here are a couple of recipes that you can either follow as they are written or use as a springboard.
Turkey Taco Zucchini Boats – If you love tacos then you will love this recipe! It features ground turkey that’s seasoned like taco meat.
Mexican Burrito Zucchini Boats – In this recipe, the zucchini is stuffed with a mixture of black beans, corn, peppers, and onion. If you eat dairy-free and prefer to ditch the cheese then just leave that ingredient out.

14) Replace the Bun

At your next barbecue, if you indulge in a burger then ditch the bread bun and use two pieces of lettuce instead. This is called “protein style.” You can also replace bread for lettuce when making lunch sandwiches. It’s a great way to lower the calorie-content of your meal along with loading up on more veggies. 

Snack

15) Veggie Chips

Chips are such a fun snack, but who wants to eat all that grease? Plus, most chips are loaded with dangerous food additives. Instead of shopping for bags of potato chips, try making your own veggie chips. If you don’t have a dehydrator you can also use the oven. One of the best veggies to turn into chips is kale. Simply:

• Set the oven to 350°F
• Place kale leaves onto a baking sheet
• Drizzle with a little olive oil
• Season as you wish. Some popular seasonings are:
  • Sea salt and vinegar
  • Sea salt and garlic
• Bake until the edges are brown (about 10-15 minutes)

You can also turn your favorite fruits into chips!

16) Veggie Crackers

Toss out the Saltines and make your own veggie crackers. Most recipes are made with a dehydrator. If you don’t already have one then you may want to consider getting one. Trust me, it’s worth the investment. A dehydrator will open your cooking world to so many new dishes! Take this recipe for example. Cooked in a dehydrator, these gluten-free crackers are made with zucchini, nuts, and seeds. Yummy!

P.S. Take a look at the 5 veggies that boost female metabolism and burn off lower belly fat.

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