Parmesan & Veggie Quinoa Skillet

This one pot Parmesan & Veggie Quinoa Skillet combines fresh veggies with Parmesan cheese & hearty quinoa. This vegetarian-friendly recipe is the perfect dish to whip up when you are craving a little healthy comfort food...

 

As many of you know, I donated a kidney to my fiance in October of 2021. If you follow me on Instagram, then you may also know that we have had our struggles and setbacks since our surgeries a little over 1 year and 3 months ago. 

While his kidney function and numbers are better than they have been in over 15 years, the reality of life post-transplant was not exactly something that we felt we had really been made aware of or had been sufficiently prepared for. Over the course of the past 15 months, Colin has experienced emergency surgery, hospitalizations, 2 mild rejection episodes, more ER visits than I can remember, and numerous medication changes to try to find the right combination for him.

And while we are thankful that the surgeries, hospitalizations, and rejection episodes seem to now be a part of our past (knock on wood), we are still struggling with the latter two- particularly the medications. Colin takes quite a few medications to help prevent rejection and keep his blood pressure in check. They all can have significant side effects, and some of the meds and dosages are worse than others.

While we are leaving it to his team of docs to try to find the right combo and dosages of his much needed medications, we are doing what we can as a couple to lead healthier lives together. That includes eating healthier, going to the gym more each week, and cooking at home more often.

Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussel Sprouts Quinoa Salad

Inspired by the flavors of fall, this Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussel Sprouts Quinoa Salad makes the perfect side dish for a holiday dinner. It also happens to be hearty enough to serve as a vegetarian-friendly main dish...

Over the last year and a half or so, I have become obsessed with all things quinoa. In fact, I usually have some type of quinoa salad for lunch most days of the week now. 

My obsession with this super grain started when I decided that I was ready to make some healthier lifestyle choices and drop some of the weight I had been carrying around for a few years. A major part of what I changed about my diet was making green smoothies for breakfast and then having variations on quinoa salad for lunch at least 4-5 days a week. 

If we are going to be technical about it, quinoa really isn't a grain at all. It is actually what they call a super seed. 

Just one cup of cooked quinoa contains 9 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber (keeps you full for longer!). And if you happen to be following a gluten-free diet, quinoa could definitely become your new best friend. 

I decided to take my love for this super seed past the lunch table and right onto my holiday dinner table this year (even though leftovers of this quinoa salad would definitely make an amazing lunch option the next day). 

Inspired by the flavors of fall, this Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussel Sprouts Quinoa Salad makes the perfect side dish for a holiday dinner. It also happens to be hearty enough to serve as a vegetarian-friendly main dish.

Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad

Inspired by one of my favorite sushi rolls, this Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad makes the perfect quick & easy lunch idea...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of StarKist Selects E.V.O.O.®.  

With my youngest back at school 5 days a week now & the busiest time of the year for most of us food bloggers just around the corner, I am ready to get re-focused on some of my own personal goals that I want to accomplish before the end of the year. One of my biggest goals for this past year has been to work towards getting myself to a better & more healthier place physically. 

I have come a long way in the past few months- making my gym time & yoga practice a priority and making better choices when it comes to my daily diet- but I don't want to lose any of that progress as we head into the upcoming holiday season.

In addition to having a vitamin-packed green smoothie for breakfast most mornings of the week, I have also been focusing on creating healthier quick & easy lunch ideas. One of my go-to's for lunch at home or on the go is a filling quinoa salad. 

I usually make a big batch of quinoa at the beginning of each week so I can conveniently have it hand in the refrigerator. Sometimes I toss it with tuna, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, & a light dressing, and sometimes I saute veggies to add to it & serve it warm.

But perhaps one of my new favorite ways to enjoy a quick & flavorful quinoa salad for lunch is with this super easy recipe I am sharing with you all today for my Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad...