
Then, just remove the burritos from the freezer when you're ready to eat. Freeze the burritos in individual servings by wrapping each burrito in aluminum foil before baking. Dip in your favorite salsa.įreezes well too. Mix sauteed vegetables with black beans, corn, cheese, rice, and taco seasoning and wrap in a whole wheat tortilla. Perhaps you want to try my quick and simple burrito wrap. Mix sauteed vegetables with your favorite burrito recipe. To increase fiber and protein in your diet, try something new by serving over dried pastas made from chickpeas, lentils, or black beans. If you want protein in your sauce, add some pre-cooked ground beef, ground turkey or rotisserie chicken that has been diced. Mix sauteed vegetables with your favorite garden-style spaghetti sauce. Once done, these cooked vegetables can be mixed into spaghetti sauce, used as fillings for burritos or tacos, and stirred in with scrambled eggs. Let them cook slowly until they are cooked to the tenderness of your liking - from firm to the bite ("al dente") or on the softer side. After a few minutes, add vegetables and stir. In a large saucepan on the stove, place 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil of choice and heat on medium heat. Sprinkle five to ten nuts on top for even more protein and an extra crunch. To increase protein, add cooked diced meats, such as rotisserie chicken, cubed pork or beef, or a can of chickpeas (drained) or cubed tofu. Serve the sauce on the side so that each person can add the desired amount and control their own calories. I start by sautéing an onion for about 10 minutes so it adds a caramelized taste before adding the rest of the vegetables. On stove: Stir fry or saute Quick stir fry vegetables recipeįor stir fry, just follow the direction on the package, except enhance the mixture by adding vegetables that need to be used up. Whether you cook your stir fry mixtures on the stove or roast them in the oven, they are very versatile and can be used in a variety of meals including stir fries (their original intent), sauces, burritos, sheet pan dinners, healthy bowls and mixing with scrambled eggs. Tip: These stir fry mixtures are often in the refrigerated produce section of the grocery store near the pre-washed lettuce. Adding an onion, a few forlorn stalks of celery, limp carrots, and a few slices of red peppers not only prevents these veggies from going to waste, but also adds color and increases the quantity of the dish for a healthy lunch the next day. Not only do I eat a medley of vegetables from the package, it's a good opportunity for me to add other vegetables from my refrigerator that need to be used up. Whenever fresh pre-cut vegetables from stir fry mixtures are on sale, I buy a few bags. My favorite pre-cut vegetables are the following:Įnjoy these healthy vegetable recipes for weight loss Use pre-cut stir fry mixtures to create the vegetable part of a healthy make-ahead meal Especially since I cook daily, I have justified that it's okay to use pre-prepped vegetables - at least some of the time.

However, it's still cheaper and healthier than going out to eat, and I can control my portions and ingredients. If I don't buy the pre-prepped vegetables on sale, they are definitely more expensive. However, now with a new phase of our lives (our "help" has graduated), I am enjoying having the option to use pre-cut vegetables. When our two daughters were younger and helping in the kitchen, ripping lettuce for salads with their little hands, pinching off the ends of green beans, and peeling carrots, were times of bonding and opportunities to teach healthy cooking skills. Sales of one of my favorites, diced butternut squash, increased by 41%, and with its time saving qualities, I can see why.

Even though pre-cut vegetables are controversial due to the increased amount of plastic packaging, pre-cut produce sales have increased rapidly in the last few years. However, since my commute time has doubled and my energy level has halved (thank you menopause!), I have not only resorted to buying fresh pre-cut produce, I have embraced it, at least for some of our meals. I've always been a "do it yourself kitchen snob". Henze, MPH, MS, RDN - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Global Public Health EpidemiologistĪre you interested in some healthy and delicious vegetable recipes to help you lose weight but are worried about the time necessary to wash and chop? Never fear because fresh pre-cut veggies are here!
