What's for Dinner? Resources for Quicker, Healthier, and Cheaper Dinners at Home

Here are a few tips for having a variety of healthy, quick, and inexpensive dinner options:

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Think outside the box, especially when it comes to seasonings. Have you ever noticed that many cookie recipes include salt? Salt amplifies the sweetness of the sugar and other ingredients. When it comes to savory dishes, cocoa powder or unsweetened chocolate can enhance smoky flavors. Try it the next time you make a pot of chili or making a spice rub. Experiment with herb and citrus pairings; include an herb or a warm spice like garam masala into a dessert.

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Consider frozen vegetables. Using frozen vegetables cuts down on waste. There's a reason the meme to the right exists; we start out with the best of intentions, but things happen and our fresh produce spoils before we get a chance to use it.

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One Protein or Veg, two ways. This idea builds on the notion of batch cooking. For example, I love roasted eggplant; if I roast more than one (depending on the size), I have eggplant to use in parmigiana, a sandwich, or as a side dish and enough to make a spicy eggplant dip! Remember, protein doesn't always mean meat, poultry, or fish. Quinoa, lentils, beans, and chickpeas are versatile and affordable.

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Resources for Recipes

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Eating Well--This website offers recipes and meal plans created by registered dieticians and food experts for a host of eating 'styles.' Their Thrifty section outlines recipes that are budget-friendly and provides tips for cutting down on food waste. https://www.eatingwell.com/

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New York Times Cooking Subscription--This subscription is worth its fee. From how-to guides, to weekly meal suggestions, to recipes for almost any cuisine, the New York Times Cooking app is a wealth of information. https://www.nytimes.com/subscription/cooking.html?return_url=https://cooking.nytimes.com&module=nav&pgType=front-page&campaignId=6W9YY#view-subscriptions

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Celiac.org--In addition to gluten-free recipes, this website provides information on label-reading, sources of gluten, and lists of gluten-free products. Many of the dessert recipes are so delicious you'll want to make them again and again. https://celiac.org/

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GustoTV.com--Canada's answer to The Food Network. Search for Spencer Watts' Spencer's Big 30 or Desiree Nielsen's The Urban Vegetarian. One World Kitchen is a fun show that features cuisines of different countries in each episode. https://gustotv.com/

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Tastemade.com--Search for Frankie Celenza's Struggle Meals. Great budget-friendly, limited-equipment recipes--all demonstrated by a massively entertaining chef. One of many informative and enjoyable shows. https://www.tastemade.com/shows/linear-struggle-meals/