I love these great tips from Daily Bites Blog about how to make a square meal healthily. Sometimes I actually plan a day or two in our meal planning to use up leftover stuff in the kitchen. I like to make up something (often a stirfry or a soup). Here are some great ideas! Thank you Hallie! And check out her cookbooks on her site (above), too!

"Healthier square meals:

Coconut Lime Chicken Bites, cooked quinoa with peas and herbs, big vegetable salad
Shredded Vegetable Meatballs (pictured below) over brown rice pasta with tomato sauce, Crunchy Vegetable & Avocado Toss
Black bean burgers (try this recipe) with guacamole, homemade slaw, and Easy Corn Tortilla Chips
Taco Beef and stir-fried veggies served over cooked rice, quinoa, or baked sweet potatoes

See how healthy square meals can be? There’s plenty of room to incorporate vibrant super foods, clean proteins, and healthy fats. Say goodbye to the American standards and think outside the box!

photo from dailybitesblog.com

The Odd Ball

When you have absolutely no idea what to make for dinner and are running low on groceries, it’s time to make The Odd Ball. Strap on your creative thinking cap and get a little crazy in the kitchen. There are plenty of occasions where I’ve failed to plan out a meal and I’m forced to dump the contents of my crisper into a pan with a few pantry staples.

A few of my favorite “odd ball” structures:

Stir-fry. Limp veggies are perfect for stir-fry and so is leftover cooked rice, quinoa, or roasted roots. Just throw everything in a skillet with some oil and cook it up until it’s tender. Add whatever seasonings you like. For protein, toss in some cooked chicken or beef (if you have it), canned beans, or toasted nut/seeds. I always keep a can or two of chickpeas in my pantry for emergencies. Walnuts and cashews always stand by, too, in case I need some protein and fat in a pinch.
Entree salads. Whip out your handy salad chart and pile whatever you’ve got into a big bowl. Pretty much anything can be turned into salad! I even use up fruits that are getting past their prime.
Tostadas. Keep some gluten-free corn tortillas in your freezer. When you need a quick meal, thaw them, brush them with olive oil, and bake in single layers in a hot oven until they are crispy. Then top them with just about anything. Mashed beans or hummus, diced avocado or guacamole, sauteed vegetables, salsa, and scrambled eggs or cooked proteins are good options. Enjoy like individual-sized pizzas!

The Odd Ball meal is also a great one to use as your “clean out the fridge” dinner. Use up whatever you need to get rid of before your next trip to the store.