Dinner for two doesn’t have to be extravagant. This great quick meal when there isn’t much food in the pantry. These pasta side dishes are great to have on hand for when you really don’t feel like spending much time in the kitchen.
One packet generally serves four people as a side dish but also make a great dinner for two when you add a few extras. This time I added one chopped carrot, roughly 1/4 cup of peas and one small tin of tuna. The idea of adding the extra items is to make more of a nutritionally balanced meal, plus add some more volume to fill you up. Another great bonus is the fact that it cooks in very little time. The directions say you can cook it on the stove top or in the microwave.
I’ve also made this a few times when it’s just me needing dinner. The other half goes into a container in the fridge and that’s lunch for the next day sorted!
There is a range of optional ingredients that you likely have on hand. Some of the options I have used before are:
Breakfast is my absolute favourite meal of the day, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will eat breakfast before I leave the house. I choose toast or cereal most days, but sometimes I like to switch it up. Porridge or pancakes are great for days when I have a bit more time. But when I started working out, I discovered the beauty of eating a high protein breakfast to give me the energy to start my day.
I generally have all of the ingredients on hand, so it’s often an easy choice. This high protein breakfast is often on high rotation during the winter, as I prefer a warm breakfast to warm me from the inside.
Peel the banana and break into pieces in a mug then microwave for about 30 seconds
Mash the banana then add the peanut butter, stir to combine
Add the oats, stir to combine
Add the milk, stir to combine
Microwave for 30 seconds, give it a stir then microwave for another 20-30 seconds
Nutrition Information (based on the brands I used)
kJ - 2,107 F - 21 C - 65 P - 15
One of the main reasons you would make a smoothie bowl is to take numerous photos for your various social media accounts.
I’m honestly not a fan of having a smoothie in a bowl. I find it really difficult to eat. Or is it drink? Either way, I have decided that I like to drink my smoothies from a glass.
The first thing you need to make a delicious smoothie bowl is frozen fruit. I always have blueberries or raspberries in the freezer and they are perfect for this. Not only are they tasty fruits, but they also have an amazing colour, for those Instagram posts of course. Bananas are another great option to make sure your smoothie is thick. If you like it extra thick, use a frozen banana.
Blend the blueberries, milk and protein powder in a blender.
Empty the contents of the blender into a bowl.
Strategically place the chopped fruit in the bowl.
Sprinkle chia seeds on the top.
I have read a lot about the different things that can be done with Quest bars and was craving something sweet. I trolled some hashtags on Instagram and browsed Pinterest but decided that I could wing it.
I was surprised that they puffed up a bit and actually looked like square cookies. It’s best to eat them fresh out of the oven as they go a bit hard once they have cooled.
Dip always makes a great snack. And, for those that have a bit of a sweet tooth like me, this protein fruit dip is a protein-packed afternoon treat. You can eat this straight from the bowl with a spoon, add fruit to the bowl, or use it as a dip with fruit. You can even cover fruit in the dip and freeze it for a cool treat.
I find chocolate or strawberry protein powder works well. But vanilla is my absolute favourite for this recipe. I haven’t had the chance to test it with any other flavours. But I’m sure it would taste amazing with cookies and cream.
Measure out Greek yoghurt into a bowl.
Mix in one scoop of protein powder with a spoon.
Serve with fruit or eat it on its own as is.
If you don’t have a pair of scales handy, 40g of Greek yoghurt is roughly 4 heaped teaspoons.
Kathleen (noun), newly 30, bustling employee, inventive house wife & wannabe creative, just wanting to share the favourable parts of my life.
