Healthy eating inspiration – five of my favourite vegetarian meals

How are those new year healthy eating resolutions going? I’ve already featured a round-up of my favourite healthy soup recipes, as well as my favourite healthy smoothie blends on Cardiff Mummy Says this month. But if you’re looking for inspiration for nutritious, low-fat meals that are still comforting and warming for the middle of winter, then here are five of my favourite recipes for family meals, or just for the grown ups to enjoy.

All are vegetarian, mostly vegan or easy to adapt, plant-based and clean eating, packed full of vitamin-rich vegetables and iron-rich lentils and/or beans. They’ve been some of the most popular recipes I’ve included on Cardiff Mummy Says in the last year, so if you haven’t seen them before, I hope you enjoy them.

Let me know if you give any of them a go, either in the comments section below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page, or you can tweet me on @cardiffmummy 

For all of my recipe ideas, visit the Food section of my blog.

1. Moroccan Vegetable Tagine

I love the deep blend of flavours in this tagine and the way the sweetness of the dried fruit and the smoked paprika contrast with the spicier elements. It’s a gorgeous dish packed full of vegetables and general goodness.

2. Spinach and red lentil dhal

I know lentils are a vegetarian cliche – but they’re so good for you! They’re low in fat, high in protein and packed-full of magnesium, folate, iron, zinc, vitamins B1 and B6 plus loads more. The spinach in this dish is also full of iron and vitamin c, not to mention all the other vegetables too. Plus it’s super-tasty too – I’ve been cooking this dish since 2009 and still love it. Luckily, my children do too.

3. Four-bean chilli

We love Mexican food in our house and quite often have this on a Friday night with tacos or tortilla wraps. It’s also great over a jacket potato, or just on its own with some home-made guacamole to accompany.

4. Butter bean and tomato gratin

This was inspired by a dish I found in a supermarket magazine. It’s such a delicious blend of flavours, with the lightness of the warm salad perfectly complimenting the hearty tones of the gratin.

5.  Portobello mushrooms stuffed with sundried tomatoes, black olives and pine nuts

It’s so easy to reach for sandwiches at lunch time, but I know a lot of people try to cut down on bread at this time of year. These mushrooms are a great alternative lunch-time dish, or just as perfect for brunch, or as a vegetarian option for a roast dinner. Using smaller chestnut mushrooms instead makes a great canope. I served these at over Christmas and they all went within minutes.

Let me know if you give any of them a go, either in the comments section below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page, or you can tweet me on @cardiffmummy 

For all of my recipe ideas, visit the Food section of my blog.