Start the day right with this healthy baked banana porridge containing walnuts, banana and cinnamon. Bananas are a good source of the amino acid tryptophan, which the body needs to make the feel-good hormone serotonin. When eaten with a carb source such as oats, the brain can absorb the tryptophan easily.
Our healthy breakfast recipes are worth getting out of bed for and they’ll keep you energised all morning.
Easy egg-fried rice
Make your own healthy egg-fried rice with our easy recipe. It’s filling enough to eat as it is, simply add a dash of soy or chilli sauce as needed.
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You’ll never run out of ideas with our quick and healthy recipes.
Linguine with avocado, tomato & lime
Technically this low-calorie pasta has six ingredients, but the chilli is optional so you could leave that out. It can also be served cold as a pasta salad.
5-ingredient falafel
Make falafel with just a handful of storecupboard ingredients. What you do next is up to you… we like the crunchy, spiced chickpea bites in a wrap with a good squirt of chilli sauce.
Browse 20 ways with chickpeas.
Inside-out chicken kiev
A quick, easy, low-fat recipe with just three ingredients. Here, we take the crunchy golden coating, succulent chicken and garlic butter of a classic kiev but make it a little lighter.
See more of our healthy chicken recipes.
Salmon & spinach pasta
A fresh, healthy pasta dish that’s ready in a flash. A handful of punchy ingredients make for a colourful supper that’s high in folate, fibre, iron and omega-3.
Discover our best healthy salmon recipes.
Super berry smoothie
If you’re always in a rush in the morning and tend to skip breakfast, try blasting up a smoothie in a blender. This vitamin C-packed super berry smoothie contains just five ingredients including oats, so it’ll help to sustain you until lunch. To keep you going for longer, add a spoonful of whey powder – this protein hit will help to keep hunger pangs at bay. Check out our review of the best protein powders to buy.
3. Super stews
It’s not easy to find a stew (healthy or not) with just five ingredients, but this squash & coconut curry is just the thing. If you like, supercharge it with a spoonful of chia seeds added along with the reduced fat coconut milk, or sprinkled over the top at the end for texture. Chia seeds are the hot health ingredient at the moment, boasting high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, protein, fibre, calcium, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Creamy pasta with asparagus & peas
Take five ingredients and whip up this simple green vegetable fusilli supper for two, plus hit 3 of your 5-a-day. Outside of asparagus season, you could use green beans or broccoli instead, you’ll still get plenty of goodness.
Read up on the health benefits of asparagus.
Healthy pancakes
Who said pancakes were a no go for breakfast? These healthy ones make a wonderful start to the day, they get their fluffy texture from whipped egg whites. Instead of topping with chocolate spread or maple syrup, stack them high with fresh berries and a spoonful of low-fat yogurt.
If you’re plant-based, you should see our best vegan pancake recipes.
5. Savvy snacks
Ready in just 10 minutes, keep these dried fruit energy nuggets to hand when you’re on the go – they’re a great way to beat chocolate cravings. If you really can’t resist, for a few more ingredients but no extra time, you can make energy bites containing a sprinkling of cocoa along with omega-3-rich flaxseed. The subtle, chocolate flavour with an energy kick is sure to combat an afternoon lull and make the perfect exercise snack, too.
Check out our quick and healthy recipes for more speedy suppers and snacks. Plus, if you’d like to find out more about the benefits of different foods with recipe suggestions, then our health section is the place to start.
Lemony prawn pasta
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