Spring—the season of growth and change—is finally here. Doesn’t it inspire you to implement some healthy changes into your life? Because we know you said yes, we have a simple tip that will keep you from spending hours in the kitchen or an entire paycheck on groceries. What is it? Rotating vegan dishes into your weekly meal plan. This one change alone can provide tons of health benefits and add variety to your diet without taking up all of your tie and money.
Vegan dishes full of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans offer numerous nutritional benefits:
- Improve your cardiovascular health by reducing your intake of saturated fats.
- Get a healthy dose of carbohydrates and protein to keep your body running smoothly.
- Fill up on fiber, magnesium, potassium, and folate to aid your digestive system and provide balance to your body.
- Take in a plethora of vitamins and antioxidants to help boost your immune system and organ function, and promote healing within your body.
In addition, research shows that a vegan diet can help prevent diseases ranging from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and many cancers to arthritis and osteoporosis. Incorporating vegan dishes to your lifestyle can provide physical benefits as well, such as weight loss, higher amounts of energy, and an increased lifespan.
But enough about the benefits of a vegan diet—let’s get to the food! Here are four vegan wild rice recipes to get you started:
Wild Rice Quinoa Salad with Asparagus and Lemon-Turmeric Vinaigrette
This recipe makes for a delicious summer entrée or as a great side dish to balance heavy marinated ribs or grilled chicken at a summer barbecue. The spinach, asparagus, wild rice, and quinoa base offers a tantalizing mix of texture and superfoods while the dressing packs a powerful punch full of taste and antioxidants to also benefit your health. If you are bringing this to a cookout, you can even make it a day ahead. It’s that delicious and that simple.
Ginger and Lemongrass Infused Thai Soup with Crisp Tofu and Wild Rice
To keep the flavor train moving, this nutrient-packed dish combines Asian influence, bold ingredients, and a spring-influenced flavor palette in one colorful and beautiful bowl. The wild rice and tofu absorb the flavors of this dish beautifully, and it will have you thinking of warm summer getaways to tropical islands.
Creamy Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup
For a smoother and milder transition into spring, try this soul-warming wild rice soup with healthy and earthy morsels of mushroom. This recipe contains three parts—the rice, the soup, and the tantalizing cashew cream—but takes only an hour and a half, with most of the time spent cooking and developing savory flavors on the stovetop. This thicker soup develops complex flavors nicely.
This summery, fruit-filled dish successfully blends vibrant fruits with the nutty and earthy flavors of wild rice. It’s easy enough to make for a light spring meal, and will perfectly pair with some light protein as well. Enjoy the complex flavors and textures of this meal with friends and family.
These four healthy and delicious vegan recipes are excellent at adding some heart healthy and nutrient-boosting meals to your diet. Try these and then experiment with your own creations!