How to Eat Good Food

Food is what fuels us. It gives us the energy that we need every day to learn, move, think, and create. Food is both a necessity of life, and one of life’s simplest pleasures. But let’s face it — as students, we’re all busy people, on tight budgets, and it can often be a challenge to eat food that we feel good about. Nonetheless, I’m a firm believer in the power of wholesome food to get me through all of the late-night studying, lab reports, and lectures. Eating right keeps me feeling motivated, inspired and energized. With good food in my system, I feel like I can take on anything.

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of kitchen experimentation and come up with a solid collection of simple, satisfying, and inexpensive plant-based recipes to keep me going. My cooking style is best described as ‘mainstream vegan’ — despite being 100% plant-based, I always use basic, affordable ingredients, and prepare them in ways that are quick, easy, and accessible. I don’t mess around with endives, pomegranates, or immersion blenders. But beans and rice, sweet potatoes, peanut butter, and bananas? Now we’re talking.

So, I encourage you to try out a couple of my best ideas for delicious, nutritious food that you can make from scratch, with very little time or talent. Eat well, feel great, conquer the world. Believe me, you can do it!

(Just click on the links to view my original recipes.)

Classic Hummus

A versatile vegan staple! It’s a good idea to always have a supply of delicious, homemade hummus on hand for quick lunches and snacks.

I enjoy mine with multigrain rice crackers, or spread on toast then topped with sprouts and fresh, sliced tomato.

Get my recipe for Classic Hummus.

Go-to Green Smoothie

I have tried out many (MANY) different smoothie recipes over the years, and this creamy, green delight always stands out as my favourite. It’s simple, customizable, and packed with plenty of nutritious energy.

My daily green smoothie is easily the best part of my mornings!

Get my Go-to Green Smoothie recipe.

 

Kale Caesar Salad

This salad is a wholesome take on a familiar classic. The dressing is homemade, using raw cashews as the creamy base, while the addition of kale adds great texture and a nutritional boost.

Plant-based skeptics are always impressed by this one, and I frequently serve it to friends and family when we share a meal together. It’s wonderful alongside any pasta dish or soup, and can also be enjoyed alone with a topping of baked tofu or roasted chickpeas.

Get my recipe for Kale Caesar Salad.

 

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

A fall or winter favourite, this oh-so-simple soup can be made in the colder months using ingredients that are still available from local farmers.

The warm, comforting flavour of the squash really shines through with the addition of only a few subtle herbs, spices and other basic vegetables.

Get my recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash Soup.

 

Cozy Veggie Chili

Protein-packed chili is a hearty and flavourful option for an easy weeknight meal.

This tried and true recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and yields a large enough batch to keep you full all week.

Also, you can never go wrong with a side of avocado toast…

Get my recipe for Cozy Veggie Chili.

 

Simple Baked Tofu

This tofu recipe honestly changed my life.

Learning to love tofu will definitely improve your experience with plant-based protein sources, and I promise that this easy and versatile recipe is the perfect place to start.

The tofu is marinaded using 5 simple ingredients, then baked in the oven for less than half an hour. Enjoy your tofu straight-up, or add it to a bowl with brown rice and veggies, throw it on top of a salad, add it to a wrap… the possibilities are endless.

Get my Simple Baked Tofu recipe.

 

Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

Although sweet potatoes are undoubtedly delicious on their own, they can also be greatly enhanced with the addition of some simple cajun spices and crisp oven-roasting.

Get my recipe for Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges.

 

Mocha Magic Smoothie

Start your day the right way… with chocolate and coffee blended together into a delicious (and still decently healthy) smoothie. I also recommend this one as a little post-workout refuel, or an extra boost for those late-night study sessions.

Grab my Mocha Magic Smoothie recipe.

I hope that you enjoy some of my favourite vegan eats! If you get a chance to try out any of these recipes, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to share some of your own plant-based recipes as well, as I’m always on the lookout for new, creative ideas. Happy eating!