Adulting is hard — especially that part about "eating right." Get these healthy homemade dishes in your recipe wheelhouse and you'll be on your way to true grown-up status.
Adulting Made Easy
Being a real-deal adult goes beyond putting in your 9 to 5 and submitting rent on the first of the month. In fact, proving your status as a grown member of society extends all the way into your kitchen. You can prove to yourself and everyone else that you can cook like a real-live grown-up simply by mastering these healthy homemade dishes from Food Network Kitchen.
Breakfast Is No Longer Optional
As an adult, a little thing called breakfast is no longer optional. Thankfully, this hearty breakfast dish is packed with cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. (Leaving the apple skin on gives your fiber count an extra boost.) Most of the fat is a healthy monounsaturated fat from the nuts.
You Need to Take Your Lunch to Work
Now that you're a full-fledged grown-up, nailing down an hour of your day to find a healthful lunch can be tricky. The solution? Pack your own! Dream up a better desk lunch by packing these cold noodles to go. They're vegetarian, but still full of protein, thanks to the soba noodles and peanut butter. Go ahead and double the recipe to cover lunch for another day.
Dinner Can't Just Be Eggs
In the big leagues, dinner doesn't have to be the same speedy operation night after night. Breathe some life into your routine by making this quick, stuffed spud instead. Clocking in at about 400 calories, this protein-packed dinner (17 grams) is super satisfying and makes for easy cleanup.
Late-Night Snacks Happen
A late-night slice of pizza or pint of ice cream might have been your go-tos in college, but grown-up you relies on a more refined midnight snack that's healthier to boot. These crunchy, fiber-packed tacos use roasted seaweed snacks as taco shells. Stuffed with heart-healthy avocado and smoked salmon, they are perfect for a guilt-free late-night snack.
Doing It Yourself Is Better (and Cheaper)
When you're bopping from book club to happy hour to band practice each night, your busy schedule mandates meals on the fly. This salad is inspired by a popular menu item at a healthy restaurant chain, which we love — but we also love saving money. So set aside some time during your week to make this vinaigrette, which makes enough for about five salads. And if you're super ambitious, go ahead and prep enough ingredients for a week's worth of lunches.
You're Leaving on a Jet Plane
If you're becoming an airport regular traveling for work — or you just can't resist your parents still doing your laundry — mastering air travel means B.Y.O.A.F (Bring Your Own Airport Food). This fiber-packed vegetarian version of a classic French sandwich is great for travel and will save you from any airport food court. It's the perfect way to use up whatever fresh veggies you have on hand, plus it gets better as it sits, so make it the night before an early flight.
Sometimes Your Night Doesn't Go As Planned
After a night of knocking back one too many drinks, cure your hangover woes with this healthy elixir. The bright flavors of kiwi and ginger are tempered by creamy coconut milk and hemp seeds in this clean-tasting smoothie.
You Need That Extra Something
You've finally made it to the end of a long day at work, and making a beeline to your couch sounds more compelling than getting on an elliptical. With dried apricots, plus sesame and hemp seeds, these no-bake, nut-free bars will give you that little burst of energy you need so you don't become a couch potato.