If you are interested in living a minimalist lifestyle or becoming more conscious of what you eat to promote your sustainable well-being, it’s time to try sustainable recipes! Let’s explore some sustainable meal ideas you can incorporate into your daily life to help with your path to sustainable well-being.
Sustainable food is less about convenience and focuses more on what is best for the environment. Consumption, production, distribution, and packaging are many factors of food sustainability.
Sustainable farming efforts that don’t have adverse effects on animals and the environment play a vital role in sustainability. If you want to start making more sustainable food choices, you can begin to slowly and gradually work your way toward healthier eating habits.
How to Incorporate Sustainable Recipes and Meals Into Your Diet
Begin with reducing food waste at home and being mindful of the food you choose at the store. Choose foods that are in season and produced locally to reduce air miles and decrease the amount of plastic you purchase. It is that simple.
Listening to your body and respecting its needs is also a form of sustainable wellness. Here are some sustainable recipes to plan more sustainable meals for you and your family while giving your bodies what they need without restrictions.
1. Lime Summer Quinoa Salad
This sustainable recipe is perfect during the summer, but you can enjoy it all year round. It’s best to make when the ingredients are fresh and in season to be as sustainable as possible. To make a delectable salad, you can always substitute ingredients out of season with whatever you prefer.
This salad provides an abundance of protein, so it’s great for serving as a main dish. You’ll need two limes, two cups of quinoa, chickpeas, or lentils, and some almonds, cilantro, and basil herbs to make this sustainable salad. To make the dressing, you’ll need honey, olive oil, and sea salt.
2. Black Bean Soup
Black bean soup is an excellent meal for vegans since it doesn’t require meat. Soups are perfect for fall months when the weather is getting cooler and you want a warm and comforting sustainable meal.
You can make black bean soup with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen cupboards – celery, black beans, onions, and carrots. You can top this soup off with avocado, sour cream, salsa, and whatever else you want to use! Cumin and fresh lime juice are fantastic to season this soup with and it can be ready in half an hour for you to enjoy.
3. Creamy Pasta Primavera
Who doesn’t love pasta? With this creamy pasta primavera, you can eat a big bowl of pasta pretty much guilt-free. This vegan-friendly sustainable recipe calls for almond milk instead of dairy and uses fresh ingredients to make this flavorful meal.
Fresh herbs, garlic cloves, peas, carrots, and cashews make the bulk of this pasta. Seasonings like onion powder provide a touch of flavor, while the zest of lemon juice increases the pungency.
4. Mushroom Balsamic Chicken
Balsamic chicken and mushrooms is an excellent entree you can make for one of your sustainable meals. Mushrooms have myriad health benefits and are an excellent source of protein and vitamin D. Mushrooms are also likely to help with headaches since they are high in riboflavin, which is known for decreasing migraine frequency.
This recipe calls for one pound of chicken breasts and 10 ounces of mushrooms. You’ll need flour, pepper, butter, balsamic vinegar, and chicken broth to make this sustainable meal. Sautee the chicken and mushrooms in a pan with the other ingredients any way you like to make this delicious meal.
5. Cauliflower Fettucine
Cauliflower fettuccine is another fantastic pasta recipe you can make and enjoy guilt-free. It uses cauliflowers to make a creamy sauce that you can use for many other dishes – you can even use it for alfredo sauce. After you roast your cauliflower, cook some broth, garlic cloves, cauliflower cores, and crushed red pepper until they’re nice and tender.
Then, you’re going to blend this mixture with flour, butter, milk, and parmesan cheese until it’s smooth and you have your sauce. You can refrigerate this sauce later or top off your pasta with roasted cauliflowers and this sauce and voilà! You have healthy pasta that will invigorate your tastebuds!
Sustainable Wellness Food Habits
Different food habits can help you be more sustainable with your meals. You can eat slower to promote the absorption of your food to reduce waste and your food consumption. Mindfulness practices can encourage being more present and in the moment and improve your body’s digestion.
Setting aside time for meals to eat with your family can also encourage sustainable meals and relationships with your food. Look for healthy alternatives to high-sugar foods and sweeteners to incorporate into your sustainable recipes and nourish your body by making conscious, healthy eating decisions every day.
Promoting Sustainable Well-Being
Eating healthily can lead to a kinder and greener environment. Utilize these sustainable recipes to assist with your journey to sustainable living.