Category Archives: Plant Protein

Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl

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This post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, in conjunction with Healthy Aperture, as part of a blogger cooking contest. All content, opinions and enthusiasm remain my own!

I’m starting to get those fall-time feels! Cooler weather, cozy meals, seasonal flavors, and this year more family time around the dinner table. Not only are we staying home more and eating out less, we’ve also got a couple college kids who are able to extend their visits thanks to this new online learning situation. Quick, easy and affordable! This budget-friendly family favorite makes a great fall-inspired dinner on busy nights. White cheddar and pumpkin make stone ground grits so creamy, and chipotle chile powder adds just a touch of smoky heat. Add my suggested toppings to make it a balanced meat with under 400 calories and 20g protein per serving. Gluten free, lower carb and meal prep / freezer friendly. Get more quick and easy meal recipes and clean eating ideas at thefitfork.com

That being said, I’ve had to flex my creative cooking muscle to come up with budget-friendly ideas that will keep my three hungry guys filled up without breaking the bank (and interfering with my running shoe budge, lol). Cheesy, hearty meals are ALWAYS a winner with them, so I’ve relied on flavorful Cabot cheese, along with staples from my pantry) to create a Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl. Continue reading →

Mediterranean Walnut Picadillo | Plant-based Pantry Recipe

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Disclaimer: I received free samples of California Walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by California Walnuts and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Because grocery shopping is challenging right now, my recipe for Mediterranean Walnut Picadillo makes use of pantry items and basic ingredients commonly stocked in most kitchens. Mediterranean Walnut Picadillo - Plant-based Pantry Recipe

Plus, this easy savory walnut recipe is plant-based and suitable for a variety of diet types including vegan and gluten-free along with Paleo and Whole30 if you drop the rice it’s served on. Read on to learn how to make a walnut meat alternative and create this tasty dish! Continue reading →

Instant Pot Tex-Mex Bean Medley | Pantry Prep

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As a lifelong Texan, most of our celebratory meals include a side of beans – typically pinto beans, that’s the Lone Star way. However, during this recent Corona Virus situation, I couldn’t find a single pinto bean or dried bean of ANY variety on the store shelves to pair with a brisket taco recipe I was delivering to Mom’s house for birthday!

Instant Pot Tex-Mex Bean Medley

That got me to thinking about the abundance of “this” and “that” that I already have piled up in my pantry — half empty bags of various food staples that “I’ll get around to finishing up sometime.” Well, “sometime” was TODAY and I created Instant Pot Tex-Mex Bean Medley using only the mish-mash of beans, canned goods and dried spices that I already had on hand! Continue reading →

Amazing Watermelon Beet Smoothie for Post Workout Recovery

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This post is sponsored by Watermelon.org, however all opinions, content, and enthusiasm remain my own. #WatermelonEveryday

Scenario: You’ve run long or exercised hard, now you’re depleted by every definition of the word. Your body rose to the demands of the workout, but now it’s DONE, every resource is exhausted – physically, nutritionally, even mentally. You’re too tired to track down or make a square meal, but know you need some quality refueling STAT. Sound familiar?!Watermelon Beet Smoothie for Workout Recovery

My Amazing Watermelon Beet Workout Recovery Smoothie saves the day by whipping up in minutes to make the most of your workout gains. This happens courtesy of all the key nutrients that allow your taxed body to recover quickly so that you can perform again tomorrow at your best. Read on to get this easy smoothie recipe that’s a real game changer . . . and tastes amazing too! Continue reading →

Bánh Mì Soup | Vegetarian, Vegan-friendly

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This post is sponsored by Sweet Earth Foods, however all content, editorial comments and enthusiasm remain my own. Thank you for considering products that support The Fit Fork.

Soup or a sandwich, it’s so hard to decide! Bánh Mì, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich, is one of my favorite lunches – all those sweet crunchy vegetables and distinctive herbs packed into a baguette, so scrumptious. But, as cold-natured as I can be, a piping-hot soup seems a more practical cold-weather meal. So, to enjoy the best of both, I created a Bánh Mì Soup – it’s just as vibrant and lively as it’s namesake sammie, but ready to chase away the chill! Banh Mi Noodle Bowl Soup

Today’s Bánh Mì Soup is bread-free thanks to a swap of the crusty baguette for crowd-pleasing rice noodles. Just a trivia FYI, the bread is a holdover from when French had colonial control of Vietnam in the late 1880s. Notably, Bánh Mì Soup is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets thanks to Mindful Chik’n. Read on to learn more about this new plant-based protein from Sweet Earth Foods and get the Banh Mi Soup recipe. Continue reading →